Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for April 17, 2025. If you missed the April 16, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE SC flags 3 aspects of Waqf law: ‘We do not normally stay. this an exception’ Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated it is considering staying the operation of certain parts of the contentious Waqf Act, 2025 which include the concept of ‘waqf-by-user’, representation of non-Muslims on waqf boards, and the powers of the Collector to change the status of disputed waqf land. Key Points to Ponder: • What exactly the Supreme Court on Wednesday said regarding the Waqf Act, 2025? • The Supreme Court indicated it is considering staying the operation of certain parts of the Waqf Act, 2025—can you tell what those parts are? • What is the concept of ‘waqf-by-user’? • Representation of non-Muslims on waqf boards—what you know about the same? • The powers of the Collector to change the status of disputed waqf land— what you know about the same? • “Once a Waqf, Always a Waqf”—Decode the quote in the context of Waqf Act, 2025. • What is Article 26 of the Constitution of India? • ‘The amendments in the Waqf Act are against Article 26 of the Constitution of India’—What is your take? Key Takeaways: • “We do not stay a legislation normally at this stage of the challenge unless in exceptional circumstances. This appears to be an exception. Our concern is that if waqf-by-user is de-notified, there could be huge consequences,” Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna said in an oral observation. The bench also comprised Justices P V Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan. • “As far as waqf-by-user is concerned, it will be very difficult to register. So, there is ambiguity there. You may argue that waqf-by-user is also being misused. You have a point there… You may have a point that’s being misused also, but at the same time, there is genuine waqf-by-user also. You can’t say that there is no genuine waqf-by-user either,” CJI Khanna said. • Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he will be able to justify the government’s stand that if a waqf-by-user is registered, it will continue to remain so. He said he was saying so because registration of waqf properties has been mandatory since the first Waqf Act in 1923. • Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners told the bench that “of about 8 lakh existing waqfs, roughly 4 lakh are perhaps by user and that the newly introduced provision, makes them non-existent by one stroke of the pen.” Do You Know: • The 2025 Waqf law does away with the concept of waqf-by-user. Waqf-by-user is land used for Muslim religious or charitable purpose for a long period of time – it is deemed to be a waqf even if it was not registered as such. This could potentially raise questions on the status of several such waqf properties. • The 2025 law states that if the district collector identifies any property as government land, it would cease to be waqf property till a court determines its status. The Supreme Court indicated that while the Collector can make his inquiry, the effect of his determination could be kept in abeyance. • The three-judge bench was about to dictate the interim order when Solicitor General Mehta sought to be heard for some more time. The Court then said that it would hear the case again on April 17 at 3pm before passing orders. The Court also indicated that it would decide whether it would continue to hear the batch of cases or refer to one High Court for consideration. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍CJI-led bench to hear petitions challenging new Waqf Act today 📍Waqf Amendment Act SC Hearing LIVE Updates: Supreme Court grants 7 days to Centre to respond to pleas against Waqf Act Justice Gavai set to be next Chief Justice of India Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary What’s the ongoing story: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna Wednesday wrote to the Union Law Ministry, naming Justice B R Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. Once approved by the government, Justice Gavai will become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Key Points to Ponder: • Appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India—What you know about the same • Personality in News— Justice B R Gavai • Who appoints the Chief Justice of India? • How is the seniority of judges in the Supreme Court decided? • What does the Collegium consider while making the recommendation? • What are the qualifications required for a person to be appointed as the Chief Justice of India? • A person appointed as a Chief Justice of Supreme Court, before entering upon his office, has to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before whom? • The Constitution has made certain provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of a Judges-Know in detail • Jurisdiction And Powers Of Chief Justice of India-Know in detail • Executive Vs Judiciary for appointment of judges in higher judiciary-Know in detail Key Takeaways: • Elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, Justice Gavai, 64, will take over as CJI after the retirement of the current CJI Khanna, and remain in office till November 23, 2025. Justice Khanna will retire on May 13, 2025. The retirement age of Supreme Court judges is 65 years. • Hailing from Amravati in Maharashtra, Justice Gavai joined the Bar on March 16, 1985, and worked with Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and judge of the Bombay High Court, till 1987. • After 1990, he practised mainly before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in Constitutional and Administrative Law. He was also Standing Counsel for Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. • Justice Gavai was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor in the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court from August 1992 to July 1993, and as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor from January 17, 2000. • He was elevated as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a permanent Judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. As a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai has been a part of several landmark rulings. He was part of the SC majority verdict of January 2023, which upheld the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. Do You Know: • The Chief Justice of India and the other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Indian Constitution. It is mentioned in Article 124 that appointment by the President is to be done “after consultation” with judges of the Supreme Court, as the President may “deem necessary”. Article 217, which deals with the appointment of High Court judges, says the President should consult the CJI, Governor, and Chief Justice of the High Court concerned. Further, the tenure of a CJI is until they attain the age of 65 years, while High Court judges retire at 62 years. • Apart from being an Indian citizen, the person must (a) have been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession or (b) have been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession, or (c) be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. • The constitution states: “A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting”, with the address in the same session presented to the President for removal on one of the two grounds – proved misbehaviour or incapacity. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Name your successor, Govt tells CJI UU Lalit — how is India’s top judge chosen? Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 1. What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? (2012) 1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India. 2. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only. 3. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote. 4. All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Odisha to Maharashtra, via Lanka: 4,500-km journey of Turtle 03233 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Main Examination: General Studies III: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. What’s the ongoing story: EARLIER THIS year, volunteers of the Maharashtra forest department found a solitary turtle nesting at Ratnagiri’s Guhagar beach. On closer examination, they found two glistening metal tags, one on each of its front flippers. Almost immediately, the Olive Ridley turtle had an identity – 03233 – and a back story. Key Points to Ponder: • What are Olive Ridley Turtles? • Is a Olive Ridley turtle a migratory animal? • Why do olive ridley turtles migrate? • What are the threats Faced by Olive Ridley Turtles in recent years? • What do you understand by the term ‘arribada’? • Olive Ridley turtles are classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List-True or false? • Discuss the significance of Olive Ridley turtles in maintaining marine ecosystem balance. • Analyse the effectiveness of current conservation efforts aimed at protecting Olive Ridley turtles in India. • Examine the role of community participation and awareness in the conservation of Olive Ridley turtles. • What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Key Takeaways: • The turtle, researchers found, had made a long, arduous journey of nearly 4,500 km – starting from Gahirmatha in Odisha, down the east coast, possibly taking a bend around Sri Lanka, going up to Jaffna in the north, turning around and travelling down to Thiruvananthapuram before powering further up along the west coast and finally reaching the shores of Ratnagiri. • The flipper tags, bearing the number 03233, revealed that the turtle had been tagged by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on March 18, 2021, at Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary. The turtle was one of 12,000 Olive Ridleys that got the tags clipped on to their flippers (the four flattened limbs that help turtles swim and which they use during mating and nesting) that year to help researchers track their migration patterns and areas of foraging. • According to the researchers, this is the first such migratory feat recorded among Olive Ridley turtles, which are known to be excellent navigators. • Dr Suresh Kumar, senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, who has studied the movements and migration of Olive Ridley turtles as part of his doctoral research, says the turtle’s journey took him by surprise. “I never imagined that the turtle could come all the way from the east coast to the west coast. While it may not be a rare occurrence, this is perhaps the first recorded instance of a turtle tagged on the eastern coast being discovered on the west coast. We never knew that such a migration was possible among the species.” • ZSI’s Dr Basudev Tripathy, who tagged Turtle 03233, says that its discovery on the shores of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra throws new light on the nesting patterns of Olive Ridleys. The turtles are known to exhibit a unique synchronised mass nesting behaviour called arribada, as part of which thousands of female turtles converge on beaches, mostly on the Odisha coast, to lay eggs. Do You Know: • Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles in the world. They get their name from the olive green colour of their heart-shaped shell, and inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. • Olive ridleys can grow about two feet in length, and 50 kg in weight. Scientists do not know exactly how long they live, but like other sea turtles, Olive ridleys are likely long-lived — they reach maturity around 14 years of age. • According to the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there has been a 50% reduction in population size of these sea turtles since the 1960s. The main reasons behind their decline include long-term collection of eggs and mass killing of adult females on nesting beaches, and unintended capture in fishing gear which can lead to drowning or cause injuries that result in death. • These marine reptiles are best known for their unique mass nesting — also called arribada, Spanish for “arrival” — during which thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. “Arribada nesting is a behaviour found only in the genus Lepidochelys which includes the Kemp’s ridley and olive ridley sea turtles. Although other turtles have been documented nesting in groups, no other turtles (marine or land) have been observed nesting in such mass numbers and synchrony,” according to a report on the US agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) website. • While solitary nesting by Olive ridleys is known to take place in approximately 40 countries worldwide, arribada nesting occurs on only a few beaches. The coast of Odisha (where Rushikulya and Gahirmatha rookeries are situated) is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why dead olive ridley turtles are washing up on Tamil Nadu’s beaches Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 2. Consider the following statements: (2019) 1. Some species of turtles are herbivores. 2. Some species of fish are herbivores. 3. Some species of marine mammals are herbivores. 4. Some species of snakes are viviparous. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 3. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India? (2015) (a) Saltwater crocodile (b) Olive ridley turtle (c) Gangetic dolphin (d) Gharial EXPRESS NETWORK Submit restoration plan or Chief Secy faces ‘severe action’, SC tells Telangana Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: • General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. • General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story: THE SUPREME Court Wednesday told the A Revanth Reddy government in Telangana that it will have to come up with a specific plan to restore the 100 acres of land abutting the University of Hyderabad, on which the state carried out tree felling, if it wanted its Chief Secretary “to be saved from severe action”. The court said it would “go out of the way if needed” to protect the environment. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Kancha Gachibowli land issue? • Who owns the Kancha Gachibowli land—the government, UoH or forest department? • Although the 400 acres in question were a part of the 2,300 acre parcel allotted to the UoH when it was established in 1974, legally, the state government is the sole owner of the entire land—So, what is the issue? • ‘The 400 acres have never been demarcated, nor has it been notified as a forest’—What have you understood by the same? • What is “forest”? • The 1996 Godavarman judgment—What you know about the same? • ‘Any land with forest cover qualifies as “forest land”, even if the land is not notified as a forest’—True or false? • How exactly did the Supreme Court define ‘forest’ for the purposes of the Act? • To what extent did the SC’s 1996 judgment really expand the ambit of the FCA, 1980? • What about the argument that following the T N Godavarman judgment, the FCA was impeding the government’s welfare agenda? Key Takeaways: • Following protests over the felling of trees, the Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognizance, had on April 3 stopped the clearing of trees in the Kancha Gachibowli forested area near the university, and asked the Chief Secretary to explain the “compelling urgency” to remove the trees. • On Wednesday, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih said, “Under Article 142, we can do anything. For protection of environment and ecology, we will go out of the way if needed.” • Appearing for the state, Senior Advocate A M Singhvi said all activities had been stopped. He said there may have been some errors, but these were “bonafide and unintentional”. • Justice Gavai asked, “Do you have permission from the tree authority for felling the trees?” Singhvi replied, “Yes, except a small number of trees.” Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, who is also amicus curiae in forest-related matters before the court, said the state government had adopted a self-certification mode and “self-declared that these species are exempt”. • Expressing surprise, Justice Gavai cited the court’s 1996 order which said that “forest” has to be understood as per its dictionary meaning, and asked if the state authorities are above the court orders. • The court directed the state wildlife warden to explain on the next date of hearing what is being done to protect the animals which became shelterless following the tree felling. The court will hear the matter next on May 15. Do You Know: • The global standard for “forest” is provided by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations: at least 1 hectare of land with a minimum of 10% per cent tree canopy cover. While the FAO does not include areas “predominantly under agriculture or urban land use” in a forest, India counts all 1-hectare plots with 10% canopy cover “irrespective of land use” as forest. The FSI is not the only one looking at India’s forest cover. Over the years, several independent studies have reported significant loss of forests in India. According to Global Forest Watch, a World Resources Institute platform, India lost 1,270 sq km of natural forest between 2010 and 2021. • Kancha Gachibowli is one of Hyderabad’s last remaining urban forests. It is rich in biodiversity, home to numerous bird, mammal and reptile species, and beautiful rock formations. Protests against the government’s decision to auction the land off stem from the need to preserve existing carbon sinks in the city. Urban forests such as Kancha Gachibowli help regulate local climates by providing shade, reducing temperatures, and increasing humidity. • For the government, the forest lies bang in the middle of Hyderabad’s Financial District. Auctioning the land would not only fill government coffers, but also attract potential investments of Rs 50,000 crore, and generate as many as 5 lakh jobs, the government says. Notably, the Gachibowli IT corridor is one of the most expensive localities in Hyderabad, boasting extremely high property rates. • Although the 400 acres in question were a part of the 2,300 acre parcel allotted to the UoH when it was established in 1974, legally, the state government is the sole owner of the entire land. Over the years, it has allocated pockets of land from this 2,300 acres for various purposes: constructing a bus depot, a telephone exchange, a IIIT campus, the Gachibowli sports stadium, a shooting range, etc. • The disputed 400 acres were handed over by the then united Andhra Pradesh government to a private sports management firm in 2003, only to be reclaimed in 2006 due to non-use. This triggered a lengthy legal battle, which eventually saw the SC reiterate that the Telangana government was the sole owner of the land. But the 400 acres have never been demarcated. Nor has it been notified as a forest, even though it is a part of the UoH’s larger forest ecosystem. This is at the heart of the current issue. • Students and activists protesting against the Telangana government cite the SC’s landmark verdict in T N Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India (1996). The apex court had held that any land with forest cover qualifies as “forest land”, even if the land is not notified as a forest. • On March 30, the government sent at least 50 earthmovers to the UoH campus to begin clear the forested land for auction. The east campus was barricaded to keep students out. This triggered massive protests in the campus. As many as 53 students were detained, and two others were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Several students were injured. The Students’ Union declared an indefinite strike even as the earthmovers continued with their work. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Kancha Gachibowli land issue: All you need to know about the protests in Hyderabad Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 4. Consider the following statements: Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World. Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1 (b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1 (c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct (d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct EXPLAINED How to read China’s better-than-expected growth figures Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. What’s the ongoing story: At a time when China is fast becoming the primary target of United States President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs, the latest economic growth data have provided some relief to Beijing. China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.4% in the first quarter of 2025, according to a press release by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Key Points to Ponder: • ‘The latest economic growth data have provided some relief to Beijing’—What is that? • What exactly press release by the China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said? • What are the reasons for upside in growth? • What is China +1 strategy? • Know the role of government and private sector’s stimulus in China's economic performance. Key Takeaways: • In other words, China’s GDP in the months of January, February and March (2025) was 5.4% more than the GDP in the same three months of 2024. This growth exceeded the expectations that most analysts had; most street forecasts varied between 4.9% and 5.2% growth. • China’s better-than-expected growth comes at a crucial time. The chart alongside shows that China’s GDP was about a tenth of the US GDP until around the turn of the century. But in the following years, especially since 2003, the Chinese economy grew fast and rapidly closed the gap with the US economy, the biggest economy through this period. • However, after 2021, when its economy was around 75% the size of the US economy, China started to lose ground relative to the US. Between 2021 and 2024, while the US economy grew from an annual nominal GDP of $23.6 trillion to $29.1 trillion, Chinese annual GDP could only rise from $17.8 trillion to just $18.2 trillion. Put simply, over the past four years, the US has extended its lead over China, its closest rival. • This has happened at a time when, led by the US, the rest of the world has tried to adopt a China + 1 strategy, which essentially refers to reducing the dependence on China. This has also been a time when the US has tried to contain China’s rise through direct legislation such as the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) Act. Do You Know: • Beyond such geo-political measures, China has also suffered from internal problems such as a slowdown in the real estate market — a development that threatened to stall the Chinese economy. • The collapse of Evergrande Group, which was once China’s largest property developer, between 2021 and 2024 is a case in point. Evergrande reportedly had unpaid debts over $300 billion. • Owing to the domestic slowdown and in anticipation of the growing attacks on the trade front from the US, policymakers in China have been providing both fiscal and monetary stimuli. • On the monetary side, since September 2024, the People’s Bank of China (the central bank, like the RBI in India) has slashed interest rates to incentivise economic activity. In particular, it has asked commercial banks to cut interest rates on real estate mortgages to reignite interest in the property market. • China has said the GDP growth numbers show that the national economy was “off to a good start” and “the high-quality development was advancing with new and positive momentum”. • The Chinese economy is likely to face greater constraints as a full-blown trade war with the US takes effect. In order to make up for the fall in demand for its goods — thanks to prohibitive levels of tariffs — its policymakers will have to boost domestic demand as well as find ways to sell its goods in the rest of the world. In this context, closer trade ties with Europe will be critical, not to mention finding ways to arrive at a deal with the US. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The private sector is driving China’s global dominance Type 5 diabetes recognised as distinct form of disease: why is this significant? Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What’s the ongoing story: Type 5 diabetes, which affects lean and undernourished young adults in low- and middle-income countries, has at last been officially recognised as a distinct form of the disease by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Key Points to Ponder: • What is Type 5 diabetes? • What are markers of Type 5 diabetes? • What causes Type 5 diabetes? • How can Type 5 diabetes be treated? • What is ‘distinct form of the disease’? Key Takeaways: • Neglected for decades in research, and frequently misdiagnosed, it has taken a long time for Type 5 diabetes, caused by malnutrition-induced lowering of insulin production, to gain official recognition. • Type 5 diabetes is a form of diabetes affecting lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. • Dr Nihal Thomas, professor of endocrinology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, is among the members of the Type 5 Diabetes Working Group. He told The Indian Express that the disease causes pancreatic beta cells to function abnormally, leading to insufficient production of insulin. • The term ‘Type 5’ diabetes was introduced and endorsed by Prof Peter Schwarz, president of the IDF, in January this year. On April 7, it was officially recognised at the 75th World Congress for Diabetes in Bangkok. • However, this is not a new disease. It was first reported in Jamaica as early as 1955 under the moniker J-type diabetes. In 1985, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the condition as “malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus”. But this classification was done away with in 1999 for the want of evidence of a causal link to malnutrition, which is among the definitive features of what is now known as Type 5 diabetes. Do You Know: • Dr C S Yajnik, director, Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital Pune, and a key member of the Type 5 Diabetes Working Group, explained how malnutrition begins in the mother’s womb. “If a baby does not get the right amount of nutrition while growing in the womb, it can increase the risk of diabetes later in life. For a long time, many Indians were undernourished due to hard labour, colonisation, and famines. But in the past 50 years, with rapid urban growth and development, overeating has also become a problem. When a baby is under or over nourished before birth and then gains too much weight later, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes. But if the baby stays undernourished both before and after birth, it can lead to this malnutrition-related diabetes, or as now christened, Type 5 diabetes,” he said. • Given it has only now been officially recognised, specific diagnostic criteria and therapeutic guidelines are yet to be finalised. This is what the aforementioned Working Group will be doing over the next two years, by looking at diverse populations, especially in low-income, low-resource settings. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What’s Type 5 diabetes that has been recognised after decades all about? THE WORLD UK top court says legal definition of woman refers to biological sex Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court in Britain ruled that transgender women do not fall within the legal definition of women under the country’s equality legislation and is only based on biological sex. Key Points to Ponder: • In the context of the UK Equality Act 2010, what does the term 'sex' legally refer to as per the recent Supreme Court ruling? • What is the primary implication of the UK Supreme Court's ruling regarding single-sex spaces? • Under the Equality Act 2010, which characteristic continues to protect transgender individuals from discrimination? • What does the term 'gender-critical' refer to in the context of this legal case? • How the interpretation of 'sex' as biological sex under the Equality Act 2010 affects the implementation of gender equality policies in the UK. • What is the transgender rights Act in India? • ‘The UK Supreme Court's decision to define the term "woman" based on biological sex, rather than gender identity, marks a significant and controversial moment in the ongoing debate surrounding transgender rights’—Discuss Key Takeaways: • The judgment follows a years-long legal battle over whether trans women can be regarded as female under Britain’s 2010 Equality Act, which aims to prevent discrimination. • Announcing the decision on Wednesday, the deputy president of the court, Lord Hodge, said: “The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological women and biological sex. • The ruling means that a transgender person with a certificate that recognises them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes. • But the court added that its ruling, “does not cause disadvantage to trans people” because they have protections under anti-discrimination and equality laws. “We counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another, it is not,” Hodge said. • Lord Hodge began his remarks by acknowledging the national conversation about transgender rights and protections, and described trans people as a “vulnerable and often harassed minority,” while noting that women had fought for centuries for equal rights. Do You Know: • The decision comes as a blow to campaigners for transgender rights, and could have far-reaching consequences for how the law is applied in Britain to single-sex spaces, equal pay claims and maternity policies. • The Equality Act 2010 and whether or not transgender women should be granted protections under the law were at the heart of the long-brewing case. The challenge was filed by the advocacy group For Women Scotland, which contended that the Act should only recognize people who were assigned female at birth. The Scottish government challenged this interpretation, arguing that transgender women having Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) should be treated as women. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍In landmark ruling, UK's top court says legal definition of woman refers to biological sex ECONOMY India’s exports to America, imports from China reach all-time high in 2024-25 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What’s the ongoing story: The concerns over reciprocal tariffs kicking off on April 2 seem to have resulted in a front-loading of shipments in March, with total exports to the US reaching an all-time high of $86.51 billion in 2024-25. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the reason for the increase in India's imports from China? • What are the factors contributing to the record-high imports from China and exports to the United States in FY25? • Know the basics—Import and Export • How Import and Export Impacts the Economy? • In the present situation, there is rising global trade tensions—why? • How trade diversion from other countries to India will impact Indian Economy? • How the recent tariff war will affect India’s GDP and GNP? • What happens if there is surge in imports? • What happens if there is surge in exports? Key Takeaways: • According to provisional trade data released by the Commerce Ministry, imports from China also surged to a record high of $113.45 billion in the last financial year. Indian exporters shipped goods worth over $10 billion to the US in March alone, which represents a sharp jump of 35 per cent compared to March last year. Overall, total goods exports remained flat. • Simultaneously, imports in the same month from China jumped 25 per cent. This is much higher than the overall 11.52 per cent increase in imports recorded during FY25. Overall trade deficit was recorded at $94.26 billion, as imports also grew by 7 per cent to hit a record of $915.19 billion in the last financial year. • The data showed that goods exports remained flat at $437.42 billion in FY25, compared to $437.07 billion during the previous financial year. • India maintained a healthy surplus in services trade, with imports in FY25 coming in at $195.95 billion. Former trade officer and head of think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Ajay Srivastava, said that India’s trade deficit with China has hit $99.2 billion in FY25, reflecting deeper structural dependencies, not just trade imbalances. • “China is India’s top supplier in all eight major industrial product categories. The PLI schemes are fuelling import growth due to their heavy reliance on imported components. What’s more alarming is that India’s exports to China fell 14.5 per cent, dipping to $14.2 billion — now lower than they were in FY14, when the rupee was significantly stronger. This signals more than a trade issue; it’s a competitiveness crisis,” he said. Do You Know: • According to the Investopedia, Gross domestic product (GDP) is a broad measurement of a nation’s overall economic activity. Imports and exports are important components of the expenditure method of calculating GDP. The formula for GDP is: GDP=C+I+G+(X−M) where: C=Consumer spending on goods and services I=Investment spending on business capital goods G=Government spending on public goods and services X=Exports M=Imports —Exports minus imports (X – M) equals net exports in this equation. The net exports figure is positive when exports exceed imports. This indicates that a country has a trade surplus. The net exports figure is negative when exports are less than imports. This indicates that the nation has a trade deficit. • Both imports and exports are experiencing growth in a healthy economy. A balance between the two is key. • The trade deflection is the redirection of trade flows from the third-country partner that has a higher external tariff, whereas trade diversion is the redirection of trade flows from third-country that has a lower external tariff. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The US wants ‘balanced trade’. Trump’s tariff’s are making mayhem that Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 5. With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2020) 1. India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports. 2. India’s imports of iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery have decreased in recent years. 3. India’s exports of services are more than its imports of services. 4. India suffers from an overall trade/current account deficit. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only PRELIMS ANSWER KEY 1. (a) 2.(d) 3.(c) 4.(d) 5.(d) For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
