Current Affairs 04.09.25

ONE LINER CURRENT AFFAIRS

National

1. Supreme Court and RTE Exemption for Minority Schools: The SC has questioned the validity of the 2014 Pramati Trust judgment, which exempted minority institutions from the Right to Education Act. The concern is that blanket exemption undermines inclusivity and denies disadvantaged children access to elite minority schools, raising constitutional questions about balancing Article 21A (Right to Education) with Article 30 (Minority Rights).
2. Gender Imbalance in the Supreme Court: Post Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia’s retirement, only one woman judge (Justice B.V. Nagarathna) remains in the 34-judge bench of the Supreme Court. Since 1950, only 11 women judges have been appointed, showing severe underrepresentation. This weakens the legitimacy of the judiciary and fails to reflect gender diversity.
3. Women Empowerment through SHGs in Bihar: The PM launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Ltd. to provide affordable credit digitally to SHG women. This aims to reduce dependence on high-interest microfinance and promote women’s entrepreneurship in rural Bihar.
4. Ethanol Production Policy: The government allowed diversion of sugarcane juice and molasses for ethanol production during ESY 2025–26. This supports the National Biofuel Policy 2018, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and helps India meet blending targets.
5. Vikram3201 Processor Launch: India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram3201, designed by ISRO. Qualified for harsh launch vehicle environments, it strengthens technological sovereignty in space and defence sectors.
6. Life Convicts’ Right to Remission: The SC reaffirmed that even prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment retain constitutional rights to seek remission under Articles 72 and 161, ensuring justice and reformation-based punishment.
7. India Achieves 20% Ethanol Blending: This milestone reduces dependence on imported oil, cuts carbon emissions, and saves over ₹1.1 lakh crore in foreign exchange over a decade.
8. PM on Women Empowerment: The Prime Minister stressed that empowered women are the foundation of a developed India, highlighting SHGs, entrepreneurship platforms, and Lakhpati Didi schemes as pillars of social transformation.
9. Mental Health Initiatives: India runs programs like Tele-MANAS, Manodarpan, and the National Mental Health Programme to provide tele-counselling, student support, and nationwide mental health accessibility.
10. Green Energy Paradox: Despite 44 GW renewable energy capacity ready for deployment, lack of demand, weak power purchase agreements, and DISCOM financial stress have stranded projects, exposing gaps in India’s energy transition.

International Relations

1. India’s HADR as Soft Diplomacy: India increasingly uses Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, especially in the Indo-Pacific, as a tool of soft diplomacy. This strengthens goodwill and portrays India as a “first responder” in regional crises.
2. Anti-Immigration Protests in Australia: The “March for Australia” rallies targeted Indian migrants, reflecting rising anti-immigrant sentiment in developed countries. Despite condemnation by Australian MPs, these highlight challenges faced by the Indian diaspora abroad.
3. Seychelles in Strategic Mapping: Located in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is strategically significant for India’s maritime diplomacy, anti-piracy, and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiatives.
4. Diaspora and Remittances: India’s diaspora sent $118.7 billion in remittances (2023–24), the highest globally. Remittances play a critical role in balancing India’s current account deficit.
5. Diaspora in Diplomacy: The Indian diaspora has been crucial in lobbying for India’s interests abroad, such as during the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal, showcasing their political significance.
6. Soft Power Diplomacy: Through yoga, festivals, Indian cuisine, and cinema, India maintains cultural influence globally, complementing formal diplomacy.
7. UNCTAD Global Trade Update: It highlighted that trade policy uncertainty is now more disruptive than tariffs. Such unpredictability disproportionately hurts small economies and LDCs, affecting India’s export-driven growth.
8. Global Peace Index 2025: Released recently, it ranked countries on peace and stability, providing a backdrop to India’s foreign policy in conflict zones.
9. WHO Mental Health Atlas 2024: It emphasized that over 1 billion people globally suffer mental disorders, with suicide being the 2nd leading cause of death among young females. This global issue also shapes international cooperation in health.
10. Australia’s MPs Condemn March: Despite anti-immigration rallies, political leadership in Australia acknowledged contributions of Indian migrants, indicating diplomatic balancing acts in host countries.

Environment

1. Renewable Energy Paradox: India’s 44 GW renewable energy capacity remains unused due to demand-side and regulatory weaknesses, threatening energy transition goals.
2. Land Subsidence Risk: Identified as a major environmental hazard, particularly in Himalayan states and urban areas like Joshimath, caused by unplanned construction and groundwater over-extraction.
3. Ethanol Blending for Environment: Biofuels significantly cut emissions; blending 1 crore litres of ethanol saves ~20,000 tonnes of CO₂.
4. Biofuel Savings: India saved ₹1.1 lakh crore in forex over a decade through reduced oil imports, showing economic-environmental synergy.
5. Generations of Biofuels: Evolved from edible feedstocks (1st gen) to waste-based (2nd), algae-based (3rd), and engineered microbes (4th), reducing food vs fuel conflicts.
6. Climate & Mental Health: WHO linked rising stress, anxiety, and depression with climate-induced disasters and uncertainties, highlighting the human dimension of environmental crises.
7. Diversified Feedstock Policy: The 2018 Biofuel Policy allows ethanol from multiple raw materials (sugarcane, maize, rotten potatoes, waste grains), making the policy climate-smart.
8. Grid Integration Challenge: Renewable energy paradox reveals inadequate grid infrastructure and weak long-term power purchase agreements.
9. Sustainability & Farming Startups: BHARATI initiative promotes AI, blockchain, and cold-chain solutions for sustainable agri-exports, linking environment with trade.
10. Circular Economy Push: Emphasis on waste-to-fuel technologies demonstrates India’s commitment to sustainability under SDG-12.

Science & Technology

1. Vikram3201 Processor: ISRO’s indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, designed with SCL Chandigarh, is suited for launch vehicles, symbolizing progress in self-reliant chip technology.
2. Successor to Vikram1601: It builds on the 16-bit processor that powered ISRO missions since 2009, proving India’s incremental semiconductor growth.
3. Floating Point Computation: The chip’s custom ISA enables advanced calculations, critical for aerospace and scientific missions.
4. Semicon India 2025: Brought together global leaders, academia, and policymakers to shape India’s semiconductor industry with a $1T vision by 2030.
5. BHARATI Initiative: Supports agri-tech startups using AI, blockchain, and IoT, enhancing productivity and exports.
6. Agri-Tech Applications: From IoT cold chains to AI-based quality checks, tech-driven agriculture aims to modernize supply chains and enhance farmer incomes.
7. Mental Health Tech: AI and big data are being used globally to track and predict mental health disorders, showing cross-sectoral use of technology.
8. Precision Farming: Big Data and IoT applications improve pest management and weather forecasting, helping farmers meet export demands.
9. DLI Scheme: Revamped Design Linked Incentive Scheme fosters indigenous IP in chip design and manufacturing.
10. Strategic Autonomy: With indigenization of chips, India reduces dependence on foreign tech, enhancing strategic security.

Governance

1. Balancing Articles 21A & 30: The RTE-Minority case raises governance challenges of harmonizing individual child rights with group rights, testing constitutional morality.
2. Opaque Collegium: Lack of transparency in judicial appointments weakens accountability and diversity.
3. Right to Remission: SC clarified governance powers of President (Art. 72) and Governors (Art. 161), ensuring executive accountability in criminal justice.
4. Weak RTE Enforcement: Even where applicable, poor compliance with infrastructure and teacher norms shows governance gaps.
5. Resistance to Inclusive Classrooms: Social opposition to mixed schooling highlights the role of governance in bridging inequality.
6. Bihar Jeevika Governance: Aimed at digitalizing SHG lending, it reduces exploitation by microfinance institutions and strengthens institutional trust.
7. DAY-NRLM Implementation: National rollout of SHG empowerment aligns with SDG goals of poverty alleviation and gender equity.
8. Women Entrepreneurship Schemes: Stand-Up India, Mudra Yojana, and Mahila Udyami schemes showcase governance emphasis on gender equity.
9. Biofuel Policy Governance: Periodic review of ethanol diversion ensures balance between industry needs and food security.
10. Strengthening Public Education: Proposed reforms urge the state to improve quality in government schools to reduce inequality.

Economy

1. Ethanol Blending Milestone: India achieved 20% blending of ethanol with petrol, a major energy transition step. This reduces crude oil imports, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances energy self-reliance.
2. Foreign Exchange Savings: Ethanol blending saved India more than ₹1.1 lakh crore in foreign exchange over the last decade, showing how green policies contribute to economic stability.
3. Agri-Startups Boosting Exports: Under the BHARATI initiative, India targets $50 billion in agri-food exports by 2030. By supporting 100 agri-food startups with training and incubation, the initiative links entrepreneurship with global trade.
4. Trade Policy Uncertainty: UNCTAD highlighted unprecedented global trade uncertainty, which acts as a greater barrier than tariffs. For India, which depends on stable exports, this raises risks for small firms and global integration.
5. Semiconductor Industry Vision: With a goal of capturing a significant share of the $1 trillion global market by 2030, India is positioning semiconductors as a growth engine, supported by schemes like ISM and DLI.
6. Role of SHGs in Rural Economy: SHGs enable women to access credit, build micro-enterprises, and participate in local governance. This not only raises household income but also creates social capital that strengthens rural markets.
7. Diaspora Remittances: India continues to be the world’s top remittance-receiving nation ($118.7 bn in 2023–24). Remittances form a key pillar of India’s external account and rural consumption.
8. Biofuels & Rural Economy: Biofuel production (molasses, sugarcane juice, damaged food grains) creates rural employment and adds value to agricultural residues, strengthening the rural economy.
9. Stranded Renewable Assets: 44 GW renewable capacity remains unused due to weak demand and poor DISCOM finances, representing economic inefficiency and lost opportunities for investors.
10. Export Competitiveness: Agri-tech solutions like IoT cold chains and blockchain traceability improve India’s competitiveness in global food markets, strengthening its “farm-to-foreign” vision.

Social

1. Gender Imbalance in Judiciary: Only one woman serves in the SC, highlighting systemic exclusion of women from higher judiciary. This has social consequences, reducing role models for women in law and undermining legitimacy of justice delivery.
2. WHO Mental Health Reports: Over 1 billion people globally live with mental disorders. Anxiety and depression dominate, with suicide the second leading cause of death in young women (15–29). This underscores urgent social health reforms.
3. Youth Vulnerability: Nearly half of all mental disorders begin before 18, showing the importance of early interventions in schools and universities.
4. Social Costs of Suicide: Suicide among young people highlights gaps in counselling, community support, and stigma reduction. Families bear enormous emotional and financial burdens.
5. SHGs as Social Capital: Beyond finance, SHGs promote collectivism, self-confidence, and solidarity among women, enabling them to challenge gender biases and negotiate better roles in society.
6. Mental Health Burden: Disorders contribute to 0.5–1% GDP loss in several countries, while also placing heavy informal caregiving responsibilities on families, creating intergenerational challenges.
7. Resistance to Inclusive Education: Social hierarchies resist RTE-mandated 25% quota in private schools, revealing deep-seated reluctance toward socio-economic mixing in classrooms.
8. Empowerment Narratives: PM’s emphasis on women as the foundation of a developed India reflects a societal shift toward inclusive development models.
9. Diaspora Social Contributions: Indians abroad strengthen global awareness of Indian culture, cuisine, and yoga, reinforcing social diplomacy.
10. Stigma in Legal Profession: Women face stereotypes and biases in the legal system, reducing their representation in judiciary, which reflects wider social challenges.

Defence

1. HADR as Strategic Diplomacy: India’s humanitarian assistance in regional disasters (cyclones, tsunamis) acts as “defence diplomacy.” It showcases military logistics capabilities while building goodwill.
2. Vikram3201 in Defence Applications: The processor is critical not only for ISRO launch vehicles but also for defence avionics, reducing dependency on foreign microchips.
3. Indigenization and Security: Developing indigenous chips ensures that India’s defence systems are less vulnerable to supply chain disruptions or embedded cyber threats from imported technology.
4. HADR in Indo-Pacific Strategy: Naval deployments for disaster relief (Operation Samudra Setu, Vaccine Maitri) also strengthen defence partnerships.
5. Energy Security & Defence: Renewable energy adoption in bases and operations enhances resilience and reduces dependence on fossil fuel logistics.
6. Remission Rights in Military Justice: SC ruling on life convicts’ right to remission also affects military prisons, ensuring human rights in defence contexts.
7. Diaspora Lobbying in Defence Deals: Indian diaspora in the US and Europe have lobbied in favour of strategic defence partnerships, such as the Indo-US nuclear and defence technology agreements.
8. Dual-Use AI: Technologies like AI-based traceability in agriculture can also be applied in surveillance and defence logistics.
9. Judiciary and Defence: Gender imbalance in judiciary may influence how cases of sexual harassment or human rights in armed forces are handled, indirectly shaping defence culture.
10. Space Security: ISRO’s chip indigenization strengthens space security, vital for satellite navigation, surveillance, and military communications.

Art & Culture

1. Diaspora as Cultural Ambassadors: Through festivals, music, yoga, and cinema, the diaspora strengthens India’s cultural influence globally, building a bridge between India and host societies.
2. SHG-based Handicrafts: Bihar’s Jeevika project promotes handicrafts and traditional art through women-led cooperatives, ensuring cultural heritage preservation alongside economic empowerment.
3. GI-Tagged Products in Trade: BHARATI incubator supports Geographical Indication-tagged products (Darjeeling Tea, Kanchipuram Silk), linking traditional crafts with global markets.
4. Indian Classical Arts Abroad: Indian music and dance form part of cultural diplomacy, deepening people-to-people ties.
5. Women’s Cultural Participation: SHGs also enable women’s entry into cultural entrepreneurship, such as food processing and crafts, empowering them socially.
6. Gandhian Ethos in Biofuels: Promotion of biofuels and rural self-reliance resonates with Gandhian ideas of swadeshi and village empowerment.
7. Festivals as Soft Power: Diwali, Holi, and yoga days abroad project India’s soft power, influencing cultural diplomacy.
8. Cultural Diplomacy in HADR: Relief missions also carry cultural messaging of solidarity, rooted in India’s civilizational ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
9. Migration & Cultural Conflict: Anti-immigrant protests in Australia highlight cultural resistance in host nations, showing the friction between diaspora contributions and local identity politics.
10. Cuisine as Diplomacy: Indian food abroad acts as a subtle but powerful tool of cultural influence, building acceptance of India’s diversity.

Infrastructure

1. Land Subsidence & Urban Planning: Land subsidence incidents (Joshimath, etc.) reveal vulnerabilities in infrastructure caused by haphazard construction and overuse of natural resources.
2. Stalled Renewable Infrastructure: Projects worth 44 GW are stranded due to lack of demand and PPAs, indicating systemic planning and financial weaknesses in energy infrastructure.
3. Cold Chains for Agri-Exports: BHARATI incubator emphasizes IoT-enabled cold chains and warehouses to reduce post-harvest losses and boost export readiness.
4. Digital Lending in Bihar Jeevika: Digital platforms now provide credit to SHG women, reducing transaction costs and leakages in financial infrastructure.
5. Biorefineries under Ethanol Policy: Establishing ethanol-based plants diversifies India’s fuel infrastructure and reduces urban pollution.
6. Semiconductor Fabs: Under the ISM mission, India is developing semiconductor fabs, critical for electronic infrastructure independence.
7. Tele-MANAS: This initiative expands digital health infrastructure by offering mental health counselling across states.
8. Public Education Infrastructure: Poor infrastructure in government schools remains a bottleneck in achieving the goals of RTE.
9. DISCOM Weaknesses: Power distribution companies’ financial stress leads to poor infrastructure investments, affecting renewable integration.
10. Circular Infrastructure Models: Using agri-waste for fuel represents a shift towards sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

Geography

1. Seychelles in Maritime Geography: Positioned strategically in the Indian Ocean, it plays a central role in India’s SAGAR policy and anti-piracy measures.
2. Himalayan Subsidence Zones: Uttarakhand, Himachal, and urban areas like Joshimath have emerged as land subsidence hotspots.
3. Biofuel Feedstocks by Region: Sugarcane ethanol hubs are concentrated in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra; maize and sorghum used in central India.
4. Indian Diaspora in Australia: With 840,000 residents in 2023, Indians are the second-largest migrant group, shaping Australia’s demographic geography.
5. Mental Health & Urban Geography: Urban stresses, pollution, and overcrowding are linked with rising mental health cases.
6. Renewable Hotspots: Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu have surplus renewable capacity but face grid bottlenecks.
7. Bihar & Eastern UP: Sugarcane belts provide raw material for ethanol, linking geography to policy.
8. Kerala Kudumbashree Model: Geography and socio-economic conditions made Kerala a pioneer in SHG-based poverty alleviation.
9. Indo-Pacific Region: Geography of Indo-Pacific central to India’s HADR and defence diplomacy.
10. Global North–South Divide: Migration debates in Australia reflect a geographic divide in perceptions of migration and multiculturalism.

Places in News

1. Seychelles: Highlighted in UPSC mapping due to its maritime importance for India.
2. Australia: Anti-immigration protests targeted Indians, raising diplomatic and diaspora concerns.
3. Bihar: PM launched Jeevika cooperative to support women SHGs.
4. Chandigarh: Home to Semiconductor Laboratory that developed Vikram3201.
5. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre designed the indigenous chip.
6. New Delhi: Hosted Semicon India 2025, showcasing semiconductor ambitions.
7. Geneva (Switzerland): UNCTAD and WHO released trade and health reports respectively.
8. Supreme Court (Delhi): Judgments on remission rights and RTE-minority exemptions.
9. Kerala (Kudumbashree): Model SHG project cited as a success story in women’s empowerment.
10. Australia’s Cities (Sydney, Melbourne): Epicentres of anti-immigration protests targeting Indians.

History

1. Justice Fathima Beevi (1989): First woman judge in the SC, a milestone for women in the Indian judiciary.
2. Pramati Judgment (2014): Constitution Bench exempted minority schools from RTE, later criticized for diluting inclusivity.
3. Vikram1601 (2009): India’s first 16-bit microprocessor used in ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009.
4. National Biofuel Policy (2018): Expanded raw materials for ethanol, allowing greater flexibility in energy policy.
5. Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008): Highlighted diaspora lobbying power in shaping India’s global defence and energy policy.
6. SC Composition Since 1950: Out of 287 judges, only 11 were women – highlighting historical gender imbalance.
7. India’s Ethanol Journey: The Blending programme began in the early 2000s; now reaching the 20% milestone.
8. Kudumbashree (1998): Kerala launched an SHG-based anti-poverty program, now a national model.
9. Brexit Campaign (2016): A historical example of migration securitization, shaping today’s anti-immigrant politics.
10. WHO MH Gap Action Programme (2008): A milestone in scaling up mental health services worldwide.

56th GST Council Meeting

Context: The 56th GST Council Meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved a major revamp of India’s GST structure. The new system simplifies the tax regime into two primary slabs (5% and 18%), while introducing a 40% “special rate” for sin and luxury goods. The changes will be effective from September 22, 2025, except for tobacco items, which will shift later.

Key Highlights of the Decision

• Two-rate GST Structure Introduced
  • 5% and 18% as the main slabs.
  • Special 40% slab for sin goods (tobacco, pan masala, gutka, cigarettes, bidis) and luxury items (yachts, helicopters, private jets, large cars, motorcycles above 350 cc).
• Impact on Common-Use Goods
  • Daily-use items such as hair oil, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bicycles, kitchenware, tableware shifted to 5% (earlier 12% or 18%).
  • Food products like namkeens, sauces, noodles, chocolates, coffee, butter, and pasta moved to 5%.
  • No tax (0%) on Indian breads (roti, chapati, paratha), paneer, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk.
• Healthcare & Insurance Benefits
  • Individual life and health insurance policies: moved from 18% to 0%.
  • 33 life-saving drugs and essential medicines: from 12% to 0%.
  • Spectacles: from 28% to 5%.
• Industrial & Agricultural Support
  • Cement: reduced from 28% to 18%.
  • Man-made textiles: fibre (18% → 5%), yarn (12% → 5%).
  • Fertiliser raw materials: sulphuric acid, nitric acid, ammonia cut from 18% to 5%.
• Revenue Implication
  • Estimated fiscal impact: ₹48,000 crore annually (based on 2023–24 consumption).
  • Govt. expects buoyancy in demand & better compliance to balance revenue loss.
• Sin Goods & Transition Plan
  • Tobacco products (pan masala, gutka, cigarettes, bidis): remain 28% + cess until Centre clears loans taken to compensate States.
  • After repayment (likely within 2025), these items will move to the 40% slab.
• Focus of the Reform
  • Designed for the “common man” – cheaper daily goods, medicines, and insurance.
  • Corrects inverted duty structures in textiles and fertilizers.
  • Boost to labour-intensive sectors, farmers, and healthcare.

The role of Governors in giving assent to State Bills

Context: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, led by CJI B.R. Gavai, is examining the role of Governors in giving assent to State Bills. The issue arises from the Tamil Nadu Governor case, where delays by Governors in acting on Bills passed by State legislatures became contentious. Opposition-ruled States (West Bengal, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh) have now argued that even the SC’s earlier three-month deadline is “too long” and that Governors must act forthwith.

Key Highlights

• States’ Core Argument
  • Governors are “titular heads” and cannot sit indefinitely on Bills passed by elected legislatures.
  • Delaying action amounts to a “disguised denial of assent” without formally returning the Bill.
• West Bengal’s Stand (Kapil Sibal’s Argument)
  • Article 200: If the Governor disagrees, he must return the Bill “as soon as possible”, which means “forthwith/immediately”.
  • Governor cannot test constitutionality of Bills — if legislature re-passes them, he is bound to assent.
  • Constitutionality can only be challenged after notification as law, through judicial review.
• States vs. Centre Parity
  • States argued that if Governors, as high constitutional authorities, are presumed to act with integrity, the same presumption must be extended to State legislatures.
  • The will of the people (through legislatures) cannot be stalled by unelected nominees of the Centre.
• Article 167 Reference
  • The Chief Minister has a duty to inform the Governor of contemplated laws as part of the pre-legislative process.
  • Hence, Governors are already kept in the loop and cannot later stall assent.
• Political Angle: The Case reflects ongoing tensions between non-BJP-ruled States and the Centre-appointed Governors, particularly regarding delays or refusal to act on State legislation.

Tariff Uncertainty as Primary Cause

Context: India is witnessing a significant foreign investment setback, with foreign companies pulling out or halting projects worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore in Q1 2025-26. The cancellations, the highest since at least 2010, are largely attributed to tariff-related uncertainties, especially around trade negotiations with the United States. This development raises concerns about investor sentiment and India’s ability to attract stable foreign capital amid global trade tensions.

Key Highlights

• Record High Withdrawals
  • Foreign firms scrapped projects worth ₹1.97 lakh crore in April–June 2025.
  • This marks a 1,200% increase YoY and a 570% jump over the long-term quarterly average (since 2010).
• Nature of Dropped Projects
  • Classified as abandoned, shelved, stalled, or dropped due to “lack of information.”
  • Most fall under the “unclear reasons” category, but analysts attribute it mainly to tariff issues.
• Tariff Uncertainty as Primary Cause
  • Delay in the announcement of a mini trade deal between India and the U.S. created uncertainty.
  • Reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Indian imports added to the risk.
  • Economists suggest U.S.-linked investments were most affected, also due to Washington’s push to bring companies back home.
• Possible Recovery Ahead
  • EY’s D.K. Srivastava expressed confidence that investments could return once tariff clarity emerges.
• Impact on New Investments
  • Ratio of dropped projects to new announcements hit 8.8, the highest since 2010, showing severe pessimism.
  • New projects worth ₹22,490 crore were announced in Q1, 50% higher than last year’s election-affected quarter, but still 56% below the long-term average.
• Macro Implication
  • Reflects declining investor confidence amid protectionist global trade policies.
  • India risks losing its attractiveness as a global investment hub unless policy stability is ensured.

80th anniversary of its victory in World War II

Context: China marked the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II with a massive military parade at Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The event turned into a powerful show of military strength, underlining Beijing’s nuclear and missile capabilities, while also symbolising deepening ties with Russia and North Korea amid a fractured global order shaped by U.S. trade wars, Ukraine conflict, and shifting security alliances.

Key Highlights

• Grand Military Parade
  • Presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the event showcased the People’s Liberation Army’s advanced arsenal.
  • Leaders present: Vladimir Putin (Russia), Kim Jong-un (North Korea), Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), Prabowo Subianto (Indonesia), among others.
• Unveiled Military Might
  • Nuclear-capable DF-5C ICBM (liquid-fuelled, strategic, range likely 12,000+ km).
  • JL-1 (air-launched) & JL-3 (submarine-launched) missiles, signalling a triad nuclear capability (land, air, sea).
  • Long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles, boosting Beijing’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capability.
• Xi’s Message
  • Framed the global moment as a choice between “peace or war.”
  • Projected China as a stabilising power but also warned of its preparedness.
• International Optics
  • The event followed the SCO Summit in Tianjin, with many leaders staying back.
  • Kim Jong-un attended with his daughter, though details remain undisclosed.
  • The presence of Putin and Kim signalled a strategic axis countering U.S. influence.
• U.S. Reaction
  • President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Putin, accusing him of failing to deliver peace in Ukraine.
  • He also alleged a “conspiracy” against the U.S., hinting at geopolitical rivalries deepening.
• Russia–North Korea Bilateral
  • On sidelines, Putin praised North Korean soldiers for their role in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
  • Showcased strengthening Russia–DPRK military cooperation.