INDIA–UAE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India and the UAE have achieved their $100 billion trade target five years ahead of schedule under the CEPA (2022) and have now set a new goal of $200 billion by 2032, highlighting one of the fastest-growing global economic corridors.
Scale of Partnership
- Non-oil trade grew nearly 20% in 2025, reaching $65 billion.
- UAE investments in India since 2000: $22 billion; Indian investments in UAE: $16 billion.
- 5 million Indians live in the UAE, forming the largest diaspora community.
- Over 1,200 flights weekly connect the two countries, among the busiest air routes globally.
Sectoral Expansion
- Moving beyond oil, cooperation now spans manufacturing, finance, technology, logistics, and renewables.
- Examples:
- Reliance–TA’ZIZ: $2 billion low-carbon chemicals project in Abu Dhabi.
- Ashok Leyland: shifted electric bus production to UAE.
- L&T: contractor for major solar-plus-storage project.
- Indian banks and healthcare firms expanding presence in UAE.
Investments into India
- DP World: $5 billion for Indian ports and logistics.
- Emirates NBD: majority stake in RBL Bank – largest FDI in Indian banking.
- ADNOC: long-term LNG supply deals with IOC and HPCL.
- Mubadala: $4 billion in Indian healthcare, renewables, and tech.
- ADIA: first sovereign wealth fund to set up in GIFT City.
Policy Framework
- CEPA (2022): eliminated tariffs on 90% of tariff lines.
- Bilateral Investment Treaty (2024): strengthened investor confidence.
- Strategic defence partnership adds security dimension.
Future Directions
- Bharat Mart in UAE: wholesale hub for Indian goods targeting Africa, West Asia, Eurasia.
- Joint initiatives in digital infrastructure and capacity building across Africa.
- Artificial Intelligence: India hosted AI Impact Summit 2026; UAE a natural partner with strong AI investments.
- Corridor evolving into a global platform for trade and technology.
Conclusion
With strong policy frameworks, human connections, and expanding cooperation in AI, renewables, and global markets, this corridor is set to become a model of strategic economic integration.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ROLLBACK
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
U.S. President Donald Trump revoked the EPA’s “endangerment finding”, a key guideline that allowed regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. This move weakens earlier Obama-era fuel efficiency and emission standards.
Endangerment Finding
- Originated from Massachusetts vs EPA (2007), where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled greenhouse gases are “air pollutants.”
- In 2009, EPA concluded six gases (including CO₂ and methane) endangered public health.
- Led to the first federal GHG standards for cars and trucks (2012–16), later extended till 2025.
Impact of Earlier Regulations
- Auto industry invested in fuel efficiency, hybrid systems, lightweight materials, and electric vehicles.
- Regulatory credit markets benefited firms like Tesla, boosting EV adoption worldwide.
- Influenced global automotive trends, including India’s shift towards stricter emission norms.
Trump’s Policy Reversal
- Revoked the endangerment finding, loosening fuel economy rules for 2021–26 models.
- Aimed at reviving “gas guzzler” vehicles and boosting U.S. manufacturing jobs.
- Linked to renewed interest in Venezuelan oil supplies.
Practical Challenges
- Global auto industry is already aligned with electrification and clean technologies.
- China dominates EV supply chains, making a return to older models unlikely.
- At best, rollback may slow EV rollout in the U.S., but not reverse global trends.
Implications for India
- Risk that Indian automakers may cite U.S. deregulation to weaken domestic fuel efficiency standards.
- India’s current norms do not directly link cars to climate goals, but should treat global best practices as a guiding benchmark.
- Maintaining strong standards is crucial for India’s energy security, pollution control, and climate commitments.
Conclusion
Trump’s rollback of EPA’s authority marks a regressive step in climate governance, but global auto trends remain firmly tied to clean technology. For India, the lesson is clear: rather than following weaker norms abroad, it must strengthen its own emission and efficiency standards to align with long-term sustainability goals.
DEATH SENTENCES IN INDIA
TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY: THE HINDU
The Annual Death Penalty Statistics Report (2025) shows that while India’s death row population has risen to 574 prisoners, appellate courts are increasingly hesitant to confirm death sentences, with higher acquittal rates.
Current Death Row Status
- As of Dec 31, 2025: 550 men and 24 women on death row.
- Represents a 43.5% increase since 2016.
- Offence profile: 45% for murder. 37% for murder involving sexual offences.
Judicial Trends
- Sessions Courts (2016–2025): imposed 1,310 death sentences in 822 cases.
- High Courts reviewed 842 cases; only 70 (8.3%) confirmed.
- Supreme Court decided 37 cases; none confirmed.
- Since 2019, confirmations by High Courts have dropped by over 60%.
Supreme Court’s Role
- No death sentence confirmed in the last three years.
- In 2025, SC acquitted and released 10 prisoners, the highest since 2016.
Reasons for Judicial Hesitation
- Concerns over quality of evidence, procedural fairness, and protection of rights at Sessions Court level.
- Growing judicial recognition of the irreversibility of capital punishment and risks of wrongful conviction.
Acquittal Rates
- Of 1,085 cases reviewed by HCs, 34.6% acquitted.
- Highest acquittals: Patna HC (78.3%), Karnataka HC (50.4%), Jharkhand HC (47%), Andhra Pradesh HC (44.4%), Allahabad HC (41.5%).
Supreme Court’s Role
- No confirmations in last 3 years.
- In 2025, SC acquitted 10 prisoners, highest since 2016.
Reasons for Judicial Hesitation
- Concerns over quality of evidence and procedural fairness in Sessions Courts.
- Recognition of irreversibility of capital punishment and risk of wrongful conviction.
- Emphasis on human rights and fair trial standards.
Challenges
- Evidence Reliability – Weak investigation and poor documentation at trial courts.
- Procedural Fairness – Inadequate safeguards for accused, especially from vulnerable groups.
- Delay in Justice – Long appeals cause mental trauma for prisoners.
- Inconsistency – Different High Courts show varying confirmation/acquittal rates.
- Human Rights Concerns – Growing global pressure against capital punishment.
Way Forward
- Alternative Punishments – Promote life imprisonment without parole as a substitute.
- Speedy Appeals – Ensure timely disposal of death penalty cases to reduce uncertainty.
- Human Rights Safeguards – Align with international norms and UN recommendations.
- Public Awareness – Educate society on risks of wrongful convictions and importance of fair justice.
- Systemic Reform – Consider gradual move towards abolition, focusing on rehabilitation and deterrence through certainty of punishment rather than severity.
What is Death Sentence?
The death sentence (capital punishment) is the highest legal penalty in India, awarded for the most heinous crimes.
- Execution is carried out by hanging by the neck until death, as per law.
- It is imposed only in the “rarest of rare” cases, a principle evolved by the Supreme Court.
Constitutional Basis
- Article 21: Guarantees the right to life, but allows deprivation “by procedure established by law.”
- Supreme Court Judgments:
- Jagmohan Singh v. State of U.P. (1973) – upheld constitutionality of death penalty.
- Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) – laid down the “rarest of rare” doctrine.
- Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983) – clarified circumstances for applying the doctrine.
Conditions under Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Murder (Section 302 IPC / BNS equivalent).
- Terrorism-related offences causing death.
- Rape leading to death or leaving the victim in a vegetative state.
- Repeat offences of rape of minors (POCSO Act provisions).
- Waging war against the State.
- Certain drug-related offences under NDPS Act.
Judicial Principles for Awarding Death Penalty
- Applied only when life imprisonment is inadequate.
- Considered when crime is gruesome, brutal, or shocks collective conscience.
- Courts weigh mitigating factors (age, mental health, possibility of reform) against aggravating factors (nature of crime, impact on society).
- Mandatory confirmation by High Court before execution.
Conclusion
India’s death row population is rising, but appellate courts are showing greater caution in confirming capital punishment, with more acquittals and commutations. This reflects judicial concern over fair trial standards and evidence quality, highlighting the need for systemic reforms to ensure justice while balancing deterrence and human rights.
INDIA–U.S. INTERIM TRADE DEAL
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India and the U.S. recently signed an interim trade agreement after tariff disputes, but the deal has raised concerns about its impact on farmers, sovereignty, and unequal tariff concessions.
Background
- In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian imports and penalised India for importing Russian crude oil.
- The interim deal reduces U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, while India makes major concessions.
India’s Concessions
- Tariff Reductions – India agreed to lower tariffs and nontariff barriers on U.S. industrial goods and agricultural products.
- Russian Oil Ban – India committed to stop importing Russian oil “directly or indirectly.”
- Purchase Commitment – India pledged to buy $500 billion worth of U.S. products (energy, aircraft, metals, technology, coal) over five years.
Potential Benefits
- Lower U.S. tariffs could help Indian textiles and labourintensive exports gain competitiveness.
- Expands Indian business presence in the world’s largest economy.
- However, benefits may be diluted as the U.S. signed a similar deal with Bangladesh, giving its textiles dutyfree access.
Concerns for India
- Farmers’ Interests – No clear protection for cereals and sensitive crops, raising fears of U.S. agribusiness entry.
- GM Food Imports – India agreed to address U.S. “longstanding concerns,” possibly opening doors to genetically modified food products.
- Unequal Tariff Structure – India removed barriers, but U.S. still imposes 18% tariffs (much higher than pre2025 average of 2.5%).
- Sovereignty Issues – U.S. retains right to reimpose tariffs if India resumes Russian oil imports, raising questions of external surveillance over India’s trade decisions.
Conclusion
The interim India–U.S. trade deal provides shortterm market access gains but raises serious doubts about fairness, farmer protection, and sovereignty. For India, ensuring clear safeguards in the final agreement — especially on agriculture and independent policy space — will be crucial to balance economic opportunities with national interests and food security.
INDIA’S POSITION IN BIO-BASED CHEMICALS AND ENZYMES
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
India has identified bio-based chemicals and enzymes as a priority sector under the BioE3 policy, aiming to reduce dependence on petrochemicals and strengthen sustainable manufacturing.
What is Bio-based Chemicals?
- Industrial chemicals made from biological feedstocks like sugarcane, corn, starch, or biomass residues.
- Produced through fermentation or enzymatic processes.
- Examples: lactic acid, ethanol, solvents, surfactants, intermediates for plastics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
What are Enzymes?
- Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.
- Widely used in detergents, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, pulp & paper, and biomanufacturing.
- Work at lower temperatures and pressures, reducing energy use and emissions.
Why India Needs Them
- Large agricultural base provides feedstock.
- Strong expertise in fermentation from pharma and vaccine industries.
- Can reduce import dependence on petrochemicals (e.g., India imported $479.8 million worth of acetic acid in 2023).
- Creates new markets for farmers and supports sustainable industrial inputs.
India’s Current Position
- Prioritised under Department of Biotechnology’s BioE3 policy.
- Leading companies: Praj Industries, Godrej Industries, Godavari Biorefineries, Jubilant Ingrevia.
- Emerging innovators: StringBio (microbial strategies).
- Enzyme market: consolidated, with Novozymes India, DuPont, DSM, Advance Enzyme Technologies, BASF SE, Ultreze Enzymes dominating (75% share).
Global Approaches
- EU: Bioeconomy Strategy links bio-based chemicals to climate goals and circular economy.
- U.S.: USDA BioPreferred Program mandates federal procurement of bio-based products.
- China: Prioritises high-value bio-based chemicals and enzymes in bioeconomy plans.
- Japan: Funds integrated research and manufacturing readiness through METI/NARO.
Risks and Challenges
- Cost disadvantage compared to petrochemicals in early stages.
- Need for reliable feedstocks and infrastructure.
- Market adoption depends on whether bio-based inputs can seamlessly replace existing ones.
Way Forward
- Develop shared biomanufacturing infrastructure (biofoundries, pilot plants, demo facilities).
- Establish standards, certification, and procurement policies to build investor confidence.
- Encourage public–private partnerships for scaling production and adoption.
Conclusion
India has strong fundamentals to become a global hub for bio-based chemicals and enzymes, combining agricultural strength with industrial innovation. With supportive policies, infrastructure, and market adoption, India can reduce petrochemical dependence and lead in sustainable biomanufacturing.
COTTON FARMERS OPPOSE U.S. IMPORT REMARKS
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
Cotton farmers across India have protested against Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement that India can import raw cotton from the U.S. at zero duty, process it, and export cloth back, warning this will crash domestic prices and hurt farmer livelihoods.
Price and MSP Issues
- Cotton imports from the U.S. rose 95.5% (from $199.3 million in Jan–Nov 2024 to $377.9 million in Jan–Nov 2025).
- MSP fixed at ₹7,710 per quintal, but farmers argue it should be ₹10,075 per quintal as per M.S. Swaminathan formula.
- Importing cheap cotton will further depress domestic prices, worsening indebtedness.
Production Data
- India’s cotton output (2025–26): 29.22 million bales.
- U.S. production (2024–25): 14.41 million bales.
- Farmers fear unrestricted imports will expose them to global competition, leading to distress and possible abandonment of cotton farming.
Challenges
- Price Crash Risk – Cheap imports reduce domestic demand and farmer income.
- Indebtedness – Lower returns intensify debt burden, increasing vulnerability.
- Food & Fibre Security – Over-dependence on imports may weaken India’s self-reliance.
- Policy Credibility – Contradicts earlier assurances of protecting farmer interests.
Way Forward
- Ensure clear safeguards in trade deals to protect tariff-sensitive crops like cotton.
- Strengthen MSP implementation and link it to cost-plus formulas for fair returns.
- Promote domestic textile value chains using Indian cotton to boost demand.
- Balance trade liberalisation with farmer welfare and rural stability.
- Encourage technology and productivity improvements in cotton farming to remain competitive globally.
Conclusion
The debate over U.S. cotton imports highlights the tension between trade liberalisation and farmer protection. For India, safeguarding cotton farmers through MSP, tariff protections, and domestic value chain support is essential to prevent further distress while pursuing global trade opportunities.
BRIDGING INDIAN SCIENTIFIC GOVERNANCE
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
Debates on creating an Indian Scientific Service (ISS) have gained attention, as experts argue India needs a dedicated cadre of scientists in governance to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in areas like climate, health, and technology.
Current Situation
- India’s governance relies mainly on generalist civil services.
- Scientists in government are bound by civil service rules (1964), designed for administrators, not scientific work.
- This limits their ability to provide independent, long-term scientific input.
Global Practices
- Countries like France, Germany, Japan, UK, USA have scientific cadres with tailored service rules.
- Example: U.S. Scientific Integrity Policies protect scientists from political interference and ensure transparency.
Need for ISS in India
- India faces complex challenges: climate change, environment, public health, disaster management, nuclear safety, AI, biotechnology, space science.
- Without a scientific framework, India risks weak long-term policies.
- ISS would ensure scientific evidence complements administrative efficiency.
Proposed Framework
- ISS could be a permanent all-India scientific cadre, recruited through national-level selection and peer evaluation.
- Scientists placed in ministries and regulatory bodies as integral decision-makers.
- Possible specialised services:
- Indian Environmental & Ecological Service
- Indian Climate & Atmospheric Service
- Indian Marine & Ocean Service
- Indian Public Health & Biomedical Service
- Indian Disaster Risk & Resilience Service
- Indian Energy & Resources Service
- Indian Agricultural & Food Systems Service
- Indian Science & Technology Policy Service
Challenges
- Scientific advice is often reactive (for legal cases or crises) rather than continuous.
- Lack of structured training, career progression, and safeguards for scientists in government.
- Inputs remain advisory, not formally integrated into decision-making.
Conclusion
The creation of an Indian Scientific Service would be a forward-looking reform, ensuring science is not just advisory but a core pillar of governance. By integrating scientific expertise with administrative systems, India can strengthen policy credibility, resilience, and global leadership in tackling future challenges.
STARTUP INDIA FUND OF FUNDS 2.0
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, with a ₹10,000 crore corpus to strengthen India’s venture capital ecosystem and support innovation-led entrepreneurship.
About the Scheme
- Launched under the Startup India initiative.
- Designed to accelerate India’s next phase of startup growth.
- Focuses on mobilising long-term domestic capital and reducing dependence on foreign venture funds.
Financial Outlay
- ₹10,000 crore corpus earmarked for mobilising venture capital.
- Funds will be channelled through venture capital firms to support startups.
Features
- Targeted Funding Approach – Prioritises deep-tech, innovative manufacturing, and high-risk areas needing patient capital.
- Support for Early-Growth Stage Founders – Provides a safety net to reduce early-stage failures due to lack of funding.
- National Reach – Encourages investments beyond metros, ensuring innovation spreads across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
- Addressing Capital Gaps – Focus on sectors critical for self-reliance and economic growth.
- Strengthening Domestic VC Base – Boosts smaller venture funds to expand India’s investment landscape.
Challenges
- Risk of Concentration – Funds may flow mainly to metro-based startups, leaving rural innovators behind.
- Implementation Bottlenecks – Ensuring transparent fund allocation and monitoring.
- High-Risk Nature – Deep-tech and manufacturing startups require patient capital, which may deter investors.
- Dependence on Ecosystem Readiness – Infrastructure, mentorship, and market linkages must match funding support.
Way Forward
- Inclusive Outreach – Ensure startups from Tier-2/3 cities and rural areas benefit.
- Robust Monitoring Mechanism – Transparent evaluation and accountability in fund disbursement.
- Public–Private Partnerships – Encourage collaboration between government, VC firms, and industry.
- Capacity Building – Provide mentorship, incubation, and skill development alongside funding.
- Global Integration – Position Indian startups for international markets through partnerships and export support.
Conclusion
The Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 is a strategic step to deepen India’s startup ecosystem, particularly in deep-tech and innovative manufacturing. With effective implementation, it can help India become a global hub for entrepreneurship, while ensuring inclusive growth across regions.
