GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed India's commitment to deepening economic ties with the European Union (EU) through the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Speaking at the India–Sweden High-Level Trade and Investment Policy Forum, he emphasised the significance of Indo-Swedish cooperation and India's potential as an investment destination.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA):

Background

• Negotiations started in 2007, suspended in 2013, and resumed in 2022.
• Targeted for conclusion by end of 2025.
• Aims to cover goods, services, investment protection, and geographical indications (GI).
• Expected to be India’s largest FTA till date.

Economic Significance

• Bilateral trade in 2023–24:
  • Goods: USD 41 billion
  • Services: USD 45 billion
• EU is:
  • Among India’s top 3 trading partners.
  • One of the largest FDI contributors to India.

Strategic Importance

• Counters trade barriers like rising US tariffs.
• Enables supply chain diversification and reduces dependency on China.
• Aligns with India’s strategic autonomy and EU’s Indo-Pacific vision.
• Supports India–EU cooperation in IMEEC, 6G, semiconductors, AI, and green hydrogen.

Key Areas Under Negotiation

• Market Access in Goods: Tariff reductions in apparel, auto, agriculture.
• Services Trade: Liberalization of IT services and mobility of professionals.
• Investment Protection Agreement: To ensure secure and transparent business environments.
• Geographical Indications (GI): Mutual recognition of unique regional products.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): EU pushing for TRIPS-plus standards.

Key Benefits

• India
  • Tariff elimination will benefit Indian textiles, agri-exports, and processed foods.
  • Generic pharma to get faster regulatory approvals in EU.
  • IT services to gain better access and ease of mobility.
  • Boost to FDI in renewable energy, EVs, and infrastructure.
  • Job creation in MSMEs, manufacturing, and services.
  • Tech transfer and innovation due to stronger IPR framework.
• EU
  • Access to India’s large consumer market (1.4 billion population).
  • Improved investment security through investment protection mechanisms.
  • Entry into India’s digital economy—AI, fintech, and telecom.
  • Greater role in green energy sector—solar, wind, hydrogen.
  • Supply chain diversification in line with China +1
  • Scope for strategic cooperation in defence, space, and cybersecurity.

Challenges in Finalising the FTA

• Agriculture: India wary of EU demands to open market amidst EU subsidies.
• Data regulations: EU’s GDPR vs India’s evolving data protection laws.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Affects Indian steel and aluminium exports.
• IPR concerns: EU demands stronger IPR protections; India cautious due to generic pharma interests.

Way Forward

• Balance trade liberalization with protection of domestic sectors.
• Negotiate flexible digital trade and data sharing norms.
• Address EU’s CBAM concerns through green technology cooperation.
• Use the FTA as a platform to deepen strategic partnerships across sectors.

Researchers from IIT-Madras and THSTI Faridabad have developed an AI-based model called Garbhini-GA2 to improve foetal age estimation using ultrasound scans. Trained on data from Indian women, it significantly outperforms the conventional Hadlock’s formula, which is based on Caucasian data and often misestimates foetal age in Indian populations.

Garbhini-GA2

• Developed collaboratively by IIT-Madras and THSTI.
• Uses machine learning to estimate foetal age from ultrasonography data.
• Trained on labelled data from ~3,500 pregnant women in India.

Scientific Foundation and Data Source

• Model trained using annotated ultrasound scans: size, weight, and body parts of the foetus.
• Testing conducted on:
  • 1,500 scans from Gurugram Civil Hospital (not included in training).
  • 1,000 scans from Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Comparative Accuracy with Global Benchmarks

• Garbhini-GA2 average error: ~0.5 days.
• Hadlock’s formula error margin in India: up to 7 days.
• Hadlock’s inaccuracy stems from its reliance on data from Western populations, not accounting for Indian anthropometric variations.

Significance of AI in Healthcare:

• AI algorithms (especially deep learning models) are now able to interpret medical imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs with accuracy comparable to expert radiologists.
• Example: A 2020 study in Nature showed AI outperformed radiologists in reducing false positives (by 1.2%) and false negatives (by 2.7%) in breast cancer diagnosis.
• Fields benefiting: Radiology, pathology, ophthalmology, dermatology.

• AI integrates data from genomics, lifestyle, and medical history to create customized treatment protocols.
• Example: IBM Watson Oncology has helped oncologists in 230+ hospitals globally by offering evidence-based treatment options.
• Reduces adverse drug reactions and enhances patient-specific therapy effectiveness.

• AI shortens drug development cycles by predicting drug-target interactions and molecule structures.
• Example: Insilico Medicine developed a fibrosis drug candidate using AI in just 46 days, bypassing years of traditional research.
• Potential to lower R&D costs and expand access to rare disease drugs.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools can transcribe and summarize consultations, easing the burden on clinicians.
• AI optimizes appointment scheduling, resource utilization, and patient flow.
• Leads to reduced wait times, better hospital management, and improved work-life balance for healthcare workers.

• AI-enabled IoT and wearable devices track vital signs, enabling early intervention.
• Platforms like Babylon Health and WHO’s Sarah use AI chatbots for triaging and health promotion.
• Crucial for rural and underserved areas with limited access to specialists.

• AI-integrated VR/AR systems allow immersive surgical training with haptic feedback.
• Companies like FundamentalVR simulate real surgeries, enhancing precision and skill retention.
• Adaptive learning tools personalize content for faster and deeper learning in medical education.

Challenges of AI in Indian Healthcare

• Only 45% of India’s Health & Wellness Centres in rural areas have electricity backup, hindering AI deployment.
• Absence of high-speed internet and digital medical equipment in rural India is a major hurdle.

• Lack of standardized, high-quality Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and poor interoperability across systems.
• No national guideline for data retention or centralized health data integration.
• Inconsistent data hinders AI training and may cause model inaccuracies.

• As of 2023, 45% of India’s population lacked internet access (IAMAI-Kantar report).
• Urban-rural digital inequality may lead to AI benefits being concentrated in cities, widening the healthcare gap.

• The proposed DISHA Act (2017) to govern digital health data remains unpassed.
• Lack of regulations on AI validation, liability, patient rights, and data protection undermines trust and safety.
• Absence of legal clarity discourages large-scale public-private AI collaboration.

• Use of foreign-trained AI models raises applicability concerns in Indian socio-cultural contexts.
• Issues include algorithmic bias, informed consent, health data privacy, and misdiagnosis risk in multilingual, multicultural settings.

• AI system deployment costs range from USD 20,000 to USD 1 million.
• India’s public health expenditure remains low at 8% of GDP (2020-21).
• Smaller hospitals and clinics may find it financially unfeasible to adopt AI technologies.

• India has 22 official languages and 100+ dialects, making it difficult to build universally effective AI interfaces.
• AI chatbots or systems trained in one language may misinterpret or fail to serve patients in vernacular languages, risking safety and usability.

The Rachakonda Police and Special Operations Team (SOT) arrested two individuals involved in an interstate narcotics smuggling operation, seizing 20 kg of hashish oil worth ?1.2 crore. The consignment was being trafficked from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha via Hyderabad to Bengaluru, which is emerging as a high-demand market for such contraband.

Nature of the Seized Substance:

• Hashish oil is a highly concentrated extract derived from Cannabis resin (marijuana).
• Estimated conversion: ~35–40 kg of marijuana is required to produce 1 kg of hashish oil.
• It falls under the psychotropic substances category under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Legal Framework Involved:

• The NDPS Act prohibits:
  • Cultivation, production, possession, sale, purchase, transport, warehousing, and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances without appropriate authorization.
  • Punishment under Section 20 or 22 (depending on quantity and type of drug) includes rigorous imprisonment and monetary fines.

At the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India is in the process of ratifying the “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)” Agreement, reaffirming the country’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal-14 (Life Below Water).

What is the BBNJ / High Seas Treaty?

• The BBNJ Agreement is a legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• It focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ)—i.e., the high seas, which make up nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans.

Key Provisions of the Treaty:

• Establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs).
• Guidelines for environmental impact assessments (EIA) for ocean activities in ABNJ.
• Equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources (MGRs).
• Capacity building and marine technology transfer, especially for developing countries.

India’s Position and Initiatives:

• India has signed the BBNJ Agreement and is currently moving toward ratification.
• India supports the Nice Ocean Action Panels, especially Panel-4, which targets reduction of land-based marine pollution.
• India has proposed a Six-Point Strategy for clean oceans, aligning with SDG-14:
  • Prevention of marine litter and land-based pollution.
  • Conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
  • Reduction of carbon emissions from maritime activities.
  • Capacity building and partnerships for blue economy.
  • R&D in marine biodiversity and deep sea mining.
  • Financing mechanisms for ocean health initiatives.

The European Court of Justice has ruled Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme illegal, stating that granting citizenship in return for payments violates EU principles. This decision also affects similar programmes in Cyprus and Bulgaria and shifts attention toward legal residency-by-investment routes.

Golden Passport vs. Golden Visa – A Legal Distinction

• Golden Passport refers to citizenship-by-investment (CBI) schemes where individuals acquire full nationality rights through lump-sum payments or investments.
• Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment (RBI) scheme allowing individuals to reside (not immediately naturalise) in a country, with potential citizenship after meeting time-based and integration requirements.
• The ECJ ruling prohibits CBI in EU states but permits RBI as long as it aligns with national and EU standards.

Malta’s Citizenship Scheme: Features and Revenue

• Malta required a €600,000 donation, property purchase, and voluntary contributions for citizenship.
• Since 2015, the programme generated over €1.4 billion, funding public housing, sports infrastructure, and healthcare.
• Applicants contributed over €10 million in philanthropy.
• The court found that many recipients had limited ties to Malta, violating principles of genuine link under EU citizenship rules.

Broader Implications and Legal Trends

• The ruling impacts Cyprus, Bulgaria, and any other EU CBI programmes, urging states to revise migration policies to align with EU security, transparency, and anti-money laundering frameworks.
• Countries like Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy continue to run legal RBI schemes, requiring real estate, innovation, or business investments.
• Post-ruling, investment migration is evolving towards “transformational migration” that emphasises long-term economic contribution over transactional passport sales.

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) in Telangana is under investigation by the PC Ghose Commission over alleged irregularities in its design, execution, and financial management during the previous BRS regime. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy affirmed that no individual—regardless of status—would be spared if found guilty.

Project Overview:

• Name: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)
• Location: Kaleshwaram, Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Telangana
• River: Godavari River, at the confluence with Pranahita River
• Inception: Foundation stone laid in 2016, partially operational since 2019
• Objective: To irrigate ~45 lakh acres, supply drinking water, and support industrial needs across 20 districts of Telangana

Engineering and Structural Features:

• Type: Lift irrigation system — water is lifted from lower to higher elevations using high-capacity pumps
• Scale: World’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project
• Water Target: 240 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet)
• Infrastructure:
  • 28 packages under 7 links
  • Barrages: Major ones include Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla
  • Pumping stations, gravity canals, underground tunnels
  • 1,800+ km of canal network
  • Covers 13 out of 33 districts in Telangana
• Upstream Influence: Begins at confluence of Pranhita and Godavari Rivers

Hydrological Context:

• Pranahita River: Formed by the confluence of Wardha, Wainganga, and Painganga Rivers
• Drainage Basin: Seventh-largest in India, spanning Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh

SpaceX has postponed the launch of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, scheduled for June 11, 2025, which includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—the first Indian astronaut under the Gaganyaan collaboration to visit the International Space Station (ISS). The delay was due to a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak detected during static fire tests of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4):

• A private crewed spaceflight mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
• Scheduled to launch aboard Falcon 9, it is part of commercial low-Earth orbit utilization missions.

Significance for India:

• Marks a major milestone for India’s Gaganyaan programme and human spaceflight capability.
• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian Gaganyatri on a foreign commercial mission to ISS, supporting India’s international space collaborations.

Reason for Postponement:

• A LOx leak (liquid oxygen) was found in the booster propulsion bay during post-static fire tests.
• SpaceX and ISRO jointly decided to postpone the mission until leak repairs and validations are complete.

International Crew Composition:

• Includes astronauts from India (IAF), Poland (ESA), Hungary (ESA), and USA (NASA).
• Demonstrates growing global partnerships in private spaceflight missions and low-Earth orbit commercialization.

Role of ISRO:

• ISRO’s involvement in pre-launch assessments and international coordination shows India’s increasing stake in international space missions and its readiness for Gaganyaan’s independent crewed missions.

June 12 marks the World Day Against Child Labour, observed globally under the ILO to spotlight efforts toward ending child labour. Despite SDG Target 8.7 aiming to eradicate it by 2025, challenges persist. In this backdrop, the Velpur Model of Telangana stands out as a successful community-led initiative to eliminate child labour sustainably

Global and National Dimensions of Child Labour

• Global Burden of Child Labour
  • Data Insight: As per ILO estimates, 160 million children globally are trapped in child labour — approximately 1 in 10 children.
  • Regional Disparities: Africa, Asia, and the Pacific account for nearly 90% of child labourers
  • Post-Pandemic Setback: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities; many children never returned to school after closures, contributing to long-term dropout and labour engagement.
• Child Labour in India
  • Census 2011 Figures: 53 lakh children (5–14 years) were found working in India, primarily due to poverty, lack of access to education, and illiteracy.
  • Sectoral Employment: Children are commonly employed in beedi making, carpet weaving, and fireworks.
  • Legislative Milestones: The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, later amended in 2016, prohibits employment of children under 14 and adolescents (14–18) in hazardous occupations.
• Legal and Policy Framework
  • Right to Education: Article 21A and the RTE Act mandate free and compulsory education for all children aged 6–14.
  • National Child Labour Project (NCLP): Focuses on withdrawing children from work and enrolling them in bridge schools.
  • Challenges: Despite stringent laws, enforcement is short-lived, and relapse into child labour is common post-rescue.

The Velpur Mandal Transformation

• From Prevalence to Prevention
  • Initial Condition: Velpur Mandal in Nizamabad (erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) had a high prevalence of child labour.
  • Community-Led Drive: A campaign in June 2001, targeting children aged 5–15, culminated in Velpur being declared “Child Labour Free” on October 2, 2001.
  • Sustained Outcome: Even 24 years later, the mandal reports 100% school retention and zero child labour.
• Resistance and Reversal
  • Social Resistance: Early resistance included rumours about child kidnappings and non-cooperation by locals and eateries.
  • Behavioural Shift: Public meetings and peer recognition campaigns helped win over parents, children, and former employers.
  • Debt Waiver Strategy: Employers wrote off ?35 lakh in family debts, breaking the chain of child labour through informal bondage.
• Institutional Commitments
  • MoU with Sarpanchs: First-of-its-kind agreements under AP Compulsory Primary Education Rules, 1982, were signed with the government.
  • Infrastructure Assurance: Government committed to providing teachers, school access, and facilities.
  • Public Messaging: Villages installed boards declaring, “There is no child labour in our village,” reinforcing the social norm.

Recognition and Replication

• Institutional Recognition
  • ILO Appreciation: The International Labour Organization and national media appreciated the Velpur Model.
  • Government Endorsements: The model was featured in VVGNLI training modules, and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam sent a letter of commendation.
  • Parliamentary Presentation: The District Collector presented this success before the Parliamentary Standing Committee in November 2022.
• Community Ownership & Sustainability
  • Grassroots Transformation: The campaign turned into a people’s movement, ensuring local accountability and vigilance.
  • Cultural Institutionalisation: Celebrations during Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (2021) reaffirmed commitment; no dropouts were found during verification.
  • Peer Pressure Mechanism: Children identified their ex-employers at public meetings, creating a social accountability loop.
• National Replicability and Model Value
  • Scalable Insights: The Velpur model is a case study in community mobilisation, suitable for replication in high-risk areas.
  • Integrated Intervention: Combines legal enforcement, social awareness, financial relief, and government-community partnership.
  • Social Transformation: Proves that systemic change is sustainable only through community-led reform.

Practice Question

Q. Despite a robust legislative and policy framework, child labour continues to persist in India. Critically examine this statement in light of community-driven models like the Velpur Mandal initiative. How can such models be scaled up at the national level?

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) was recently completed, marking the first-ever rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India. With this, the entire stretch from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari is now physically connected by rail, establishing a monumental feat in infrastructure, national integration, and regional development.

Engineering Excellence in the Himalayas

• USBRL: A 28-Year Dream Realised: The 272-km-long USBRL project, sanctioned in 1996-97 and costing ?43,780 crore, overcame extreme Himalayan topography through 36 tunnels (119 km) and 943 bridges, demonstrating Indian Railways’ advanced tunneling and construction capabilities.
• Chenab Bridge: World’s Highest Rail Arch Bridge: Standing 359 metres above the riverbed (35 m higher than the Eiffel Tower), the Chenab Rail Bridge is a marvel that can withstand 260 km/h wind speeds and is designed for a lifespan of 120 years, signifying global engineering excellence.
• Anji Khad Bridge: India’s First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge: Located near Reasi, this 725-metre-long structure, suspended by 96 high-tensile cables, rises 331 metres above the riverbed and used 8,200 tonnes of structural steel, representing cutting-edge cable-stayed rail design in seismically active terrain.

Connectivity, Integration and Economic Potential

• Bridging Psychological and Physical Distances: The Srinagar–Katra Vande Bharat Express reduces surface travel to 3 hours, while upcoming New Delhi–Srinagar rail services will cut journey time from 24+ hours to 13 hours, redefining logistical feasibility and social connectivity.
• Symbol of Integration in a Sensitive Region: Launched in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the rail link stands as a symbol of national unity and civilian resilience in Jammu & Kashmir amidst geopolitical tensions.
• Catalyst for Regional Development: With enhanced accessibility, the rail line is expected to boost tourism, employment, trade and real estate across the Kashmir Valley, ushering in a new era of economic mobility and national mainstreaming for J&K.

Strategic Significance and Long-Term Implications

• Strengthening Strategic Infrastructure: Beyond civilian use, USBRL improves strategic troop and equipment movement in a region prone to cross-border tensions, reinforcing India’s defense preparedness and national security infrastructure.
• Tourism and Cultural Mobility: The route opens the religious and natural landscapes of J&K to greater tourist inflows from across the country, improving cultural exchange, interregional empathy, and soft power in a conflict-scarred geography.
• Long-Term National Integration Tool: The uninterrupted railway from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari symbolically and physically unites the Indian nation-state, potentially addressing regional alienation through development-driven inclusion.

Practice Question:

Q. "Infrastructure development in sensitive and conflict-prone regions can catalyze socio-economic inclusion and national integration. Critically evaluate this statement in the context of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL)."

A tragic stampede near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives during celebrations following RCB’s first-ever IPL title. The incident has reignited debate over administrative accountability, poor crowd regulation, and commercial exploitation of mass gatherings without sufficient safety mechanisms.

Structural and Cultural Deficiencies in Crowd Management

• Disproportionate Enthusiasm and Media-Induced FOMO: The overwhelming public reaction to RCB’s IPL victory, amplified by 24x7 visual media and social platforms, highlights a national obsession with celebratory spectacles often lacking basic safety awareness.
• Unprepared Government Machinery: State and municipal authorities displayed inadequate foresight and logistical preparedness, ignoring established protocols for crowd dispersion and emergency response, leading to preventable casualties.
• Negligent Public Behavior and Risk Denial: Despite repeated stampedes in India, people continue to participate in mass events without regard for personal safety, indicating a dangerous cultural normalization of unsafe public gatherings.

Commercialization of Sports and Institutional Complicity

• Profit over People in Sporting Events: Events like IPL, has evolved into a high-profit industry. Organizers often exceed venue capacities to maximize revenues, ignoring crowd control norms and violating safety thresholds.
• VIP Privilege and Licensing Irregularities: Reports of elite conflicts over VIP seats during IPL 2025 and instances of regulatory bypass reflect how influence-peddling undermines equitable access and lawful conduct at public events.
• Token Compensation and Devaluation of Human Life: Meagre ex-gratia payments post-stampede are indicative of how public safety violations are treated as collateral damage, without real efforts to assign accountability or institute reforms.

Broader Public Safety Crisis in India

• Widespread Neglect of Safety Norms in Public Spaces: From open wiring at food festivals to risky amusement park operations, there is rampant disregard for safety standards in public recreational areas, often with no regulatory oversight.
• Dangerous Urban Infrastructure and Mobility: Indian roads lack basic pedestrian infrastructure, and chaotic mixed traffic conditions severely compromise public safety, making every commute a potential hazard.
• No Audit Culture, No Systemic Learning: Stampedes and fatalities are followed by ritualistic suspensions or transfers without independent safety audits or long-term reforms. This cyclical amnesia perpetuates systemic impunity.

Practice Question

Q. The increasing frequency of crowd-related tragedies in India reflects a systemic failure in public safety governance. Discuss the structural gaps in crowd management and suggest institutional reforms to enhance safety in large-scale public events.