Weekly Current Affairs (15th to 21st March 2025) - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

India-Mauritius Relations

Why in News?

• During the recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Mauritius, both nations formalized multiple agreements focused on trade, maritime security, and defense. This visit marked a significant step in enhancing regional cooperation and deepening their strategic partnership. The Prime Minister was also honored with the highest national award of Mauritius, the 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.'

Key Takeaways

• Enhanced Strategic Partnership: India and Mauritius have elevated their ties, focusing on security, trade in local currencies, and mutual development, while committing to a free and secure maritime environment.
• Amendment of DTAA: Both countries agreed to ratify a protocol amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) to meet international treaty standards.
• MAHASAGAR Vision: India launched the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) initiative aimed at enhancing engagement with the Global South through technology sharing, concessional loans, and mutual security cooperation.
• Security Cooperation: Agreements were made to enhance the use of Agalega Island's new runway and jetty, developed by India, reaffirming India's support for Mauritius's sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
• Developmental Support: India announced a rupee-denominated Line of Credit to aid Mauritius in replacing its water pipelines and will help establish a police academy and a maritime information-sharing center.
• New Parliament Building: India will construct a new Parliament building for Mauritius as a gesture termed a gift from the “Mother of Democracy.”
• Multilateral Engagements: India reiterated its commitment to collaborate with Mauritius in various regional and international forums, including the Colombo Security Conclave and IORA.

Additional Details

Importance of Mauritius for India:

• Maritime Significance: Mauritius occupies a strategic position in the western Indian Ocean, making it a crucial maritime partner under India's SAGAR initiative.
• Countering China's Presence: Strengthened ties with Mauritius are vital for India to safeguard its strategic interests and secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) amidst China's expanding influence.
• Economic Relations: As a gateway for India's trade and investment in Africa, Mauritius plays a significant role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and is a major source of foreign direct investment into India.
• Cultural Links: Approximately 70% of Mauritius's population is of Indian descent, fostering strong cultural ties, including celebrations of Maha Shivratri and the revered Hindu pilgrimage site of Ganga Talao.

Importance of India for Mauritius:

• Leading Development Partner: India has been a key development partner since Mauritius's independence in 1968, providing significant financial support for infrastructure projects.
• Maritime Security Assistance: India aids Mauritius in protecting its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through naval patrols and joint maritime surveillance.
• Disaster Assistance: India has consistently been the first responder in crises, providing critical aid during events like Cyclone Chido and the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Capacity Building: Mauritius benefits from India's ITEC program, which has trained thousands of Mauritians in various fields.

In conclusion, the agreements forged during the Prime Minister's visit have significantly reinforced the strategic partnership between India and Mauritius. The initiatives outlined, including India's MAHASAGAR vision, enhance regional cooperation, counter external influences, and promote economic ties. Their shared history and cultural connections are crucial for maintaining stability and prosperity in the region.

Mains Question:

• How does India’s strategic partnership with Mauritius contribute to its maritime security and regional influence in the Indian Ocean?

World Air Quality Report 2024

Why in News?

• The World Air Quality Report 2024, published by the Swiss firm IQAir, has designated India as the 5th most polluted country in the world, showing a slight improvement from its previous position of 3rd in 2023.

Key Takeaways

• India is now ranked as the most polluted country in 2024.
• Delhi continues to be the most polluted capital globally, with a PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 µg/m³.
• Among the world's 10 most polluted cities, 6 are in India, with Byrnihat (located on the Assam-Meghalaya border) having the highest PM2.5 concentration at 128.2 µg/m³.
• Other cities with significant pollution levels include Mullanpur (Punjab), Gurugram, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Noida.
• Despite a 7% decrease in PM2.5 levels, averaging 50.6 µg/m³ in 2024, this level remains 10 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended safe limit of 5 µg/m³.
• Approximately 35% of Indian cities reported PM2.5 levels exceeding the WHO's safe limit.

Additional Details

• Pollution Sources:Major contributors to air pollution in India include:
  • Vehicle emissions
  • Industrial pollution
  • Burning of biomass
• Stubble burning: In Northern India, crop stubble burning is responsible for 60% of PM2.5 levels, exacerbating pollution during certain seasons.
• Global Context: The most polluted countries in terms of annual average PM2.5 levels include Chad (91.8 µg/m³), Bangladesh (78 µg/m³), Pakistan (73.7 µg/m³), and Congo (58.2 µg/m³).
• The report reveals that a significant portion of the global population is exposed to polluted air, with only 12 countries, regions, or territories reporting PM2.5 concentrations below the WHO's recommended limit.

In summary, while India has made some progress in reducing PM2.5 levels, the country still faces severe air quality challenges, underscoring the need for continued efforts to address the primary sources of pollution.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

Why in News?

• The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), introduced in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, replaces the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme. This initiative aims to establish the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) and aligns with India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Key Takeaways

• The CCTS serves as a market-based mechanism for regulating and trading carbon credits within the ICM.
• It aims to decarbonize the Indian economy by pricing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enabling carbon trading.

Additional Details

• Transition from PAT to CCTS: The PAT scheme focused on energy efficiency improvements through Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts). The CCTS shifts the focus to reducing GHG emission intensity, monitoring emissions per tonne of GHG equivalent, and issues Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC), each representing a one-tonne CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) reduction.
• Mechanisms:CCTS introduces carbon pricing through two key mechanisms:
  • Compliance Mechanism: Energy-intensive industries (e.g., Aluminium, Cement, Fertilizers, Iron & Steel) are mandated to meet sector-specific GHG reduction targets. Entities exceeding targets earn credits, while those falling short must purchase credits.
  • Offset Mechanism: Allows voluntary participation from entities outside the compliance framework to earn carbon credits by reducing emissions.
• Sectors Identified: Initially includes energy-intensive industries such as iron & steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers, petroleum refineries, pulp & paper, and textiles, which account for 16% of India’s total emissions. The power sector, responsible for 40% of India's GHG emissions, may be included later.
• Regulatory Oversight: The scheme is managed by multiple government bodies, including the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the National Steering Committee for Indian Carbon Market (NSCICM).

The CCTS is vital for India’s climate goals, aiming to cut emission intensity by 45% by 2030. It promotes private sector involvement, encourages clean technologies, renewables, and carbon capture.

What is Carbon Pricing?

Carbon pricing is an economic strategy that captures the external costs of carbon emissions—such as damage to crops, rising healthcare costs, and property losses due to extreme weather—and links them to their sources. This mechanism shifts the financial burden back to polluters, allowing them to choose between reducing emissions, continuing to pollute and paying for it, or investing in cleaner technologies.

Current global carbon pricing mechanisms cover 12.8 gigatonnes of CO2 (25% of global emissions) across 89 countries. Governments typically employ three main approaches to price carbon, ensuring emissions reductions at the lowest societal cost:

• Emissions Trading System (ETS):Allows industries to trade emission units, operating through two mechanisms:
  • Cap-and-Trade: A cap is set on emissions; companies below this cap can sell allowances, while those exceeding it must buy more.
  • Baseline-and-Credit: Rewards industries that reduce emissions below a set baseline, allowing them to sell credits to others.
• Carbon Tax: Directly sets a price on carbon emissions by charging a fixed tax per ton of CO2, though it does not guarantee specific emissions reductions.
• Crediting Mechanism: Allows GHG reductions from projects to generate carbon credits, which can be sold for compliance or voluntary mitigation purposes.

What are the Challenges in Effective Implementation of CCTS?

• Target Setting and Carbon Pricing: Balancing emission reduction targets is crucial. Lenient targets can oversupply CCC, lowering prices, while stringent targets may increase compliance costs and inflation.
• Compliance and Enforcement Issues: Under the PAT, 50% of required ESCerts remained unpurchased, indicating a lack of strict compliance mechanisms that could impact CCTS effectiveness.
• Delays in Credit Issuance: Delays in issuing credits under PAT since 2021 have reduced market confidence. Similar delays in CCTS CCC issuance could hinder participation and investment in clean energy.
• Transparency: A lack of publicly available data on industry emissions and compliance could reduce market trust.

How Can India Strengthen CCTS?

• Align with International Best Practices: Adopt lessons from the European Union (EU) ETS, such as gradual tightening of caps and rigorous compliance frameworks.
• Robust Trading Platform: Introduce digital registries to track credits and prevent fraudulent activities.
• Encourage Industry Participation: Provide incentives for early adopters, such as tax benefits for companies exceeding compliance requirements.
• Promote investment in green technologies, renewable energy, and energy efficiency improvements.

In conclusion, addressing the challenges in implementing the CCTS, such as compliance issues and credit issuance delays, while aligning with international standards and encouraging industry participation, will be crucial for the success of this initiative.

Rise of Quick Commerce in India

Why in News?

• Quick commerce (Q-commerce) has significantly changed urban shopping behaviors by facilitating deliveries in a matter of minutes. While it presents advantages like convenience and branding opportunities, it has also raised concerns related to predatory pricing, data privacy issues, and the potential displacement of traditional retailers, which have led to increased regulatory scrutiny.

Key Takeaways

• Q-commerce enables on-demand delivery of goods within 10 to 30 minutes.
• It emphasizes smaller, high-demand items such as groceries and medicines.
• Major players in India include Flipkart, Ola, Blinkit, BigBasket, and Zepto.
• Concerns include predatory pricing and the impact on small retailers and employment.
• The Indian Q-commerce market is projected to grow from USD 3.34 billion in FY 2024 to USD 9.95 billion by 2029.

Additional Details

• What is Quick Commerce: Q-commerce is a subset of e-commerce characterized by the rapid delivery of goods and services, typically within minutes. It focuses on high-demand, easily transportable items.
• Working Model: Q-commerce platforms utilize dark stores, which are local warehouses dedicated to online orders. They employ AI analytics for demand forecasting, inventory management, and personalized recommendations.
• Consumer Impact: Consumers increasingly prefer Q-commerce for urgent purchases, particularly for food and essentials, with a notable rise in preference from 5% to 12% in urban consumers over two years, according to a NeilsenIQ survey.
• Concerns Regarding Quick Commerce: Issues such as predatory pricing practices, data exploitation, the adverse effects on small retailers, environmental impacts from increased packaging waste, and challenges faced by gig workers require attention.

In conclusion, Q-commerce has revolutionized the urban retail landscape by enhancing convenience and speed. However, to ensure its sustainable growth, it is crucial to implement regulatory frameworks that promote fairness, protect small retailers, and safeguard labor rights.

Indian National Army's Legacy

Why in News?

• A veteran of the Indian National Army (INA) celebrated his 99th birthday by laying wreaths at the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Kartavya Path. The veteran joined the INA on 1 November 1943, at the age of 17.

Key Takeaways

• The Indian National Army (INA) was formed during World War II to oppose British rule in India.
• Key leaders included Mohan Singh, Rashbehari Bose, and Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The INA's campaigns were a significant part of India's struggle for independence.

Additional Details

• About INA: The INA was a military force established to fight against British colonialism, playing a crucial role in the independence movement.
• Formation:
  • Mohan Singh: Proposed forming an army from Indian prisoners of war (POWs) and gained Japanese support. He initially led the INA, recruiting about 40,000 soldiers.
  • Rashbehari Bose: A veteran revolutionary who mobilized support for the INA and formed the Indian Independence League in Tokyo (1942).
  • Subhas Chandra Bose: Became the Supreme Commander of the INA on 25 August 1943 and established the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore on 21 October 1943.
• Collapse: The INA weakened after Japan's retreat (1944-45) and surrendered after Japan's defeat on 15 August 1945. Subhas Bose reportedly died in a plane crash in Taiwan, leading to the INA's disbandment.
• INA Trials: Following the INA's defeat, many soldiers were court-martialed, sparking nationwide protests that intensified the fight for independence. The first trial occurred at the Red Fort in November 1945, involving three officers, representing unity among diverse communities.

The Indian National Army's legacy is marked by its direct challenge to British authority, fostering nationalist unity, and inspiring significant uprisings among Indian armed forces. Its influence was crucial in hastening British withdrawal from India, and the INA remains a symbol of armed resistance and national unity, with its slogan "Jai Hind" continuing to resonate in contemporary India.

Mains Question:

• Discuss the role of the Indian National Army (INA) in India's struggle for independence.

Bongosagar 2025 Naval Exercise

Why in News?

• The recent naval exercise, known as Bongosagar 2025, was conducted in the Bay of Bengal by the Indian Navy's INS Ranvir and the Bangladesh Navy's BNS Abu Ubaidah. This exercise was aimed at enhancing operational coordination, maritime security, and regional stability, in line with India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.

Key Takeaways

• The Bongosagar exercise emphasizes collaboration between India and Bangladesh in naval operations.
• It strengthens maritime security and fosters regional stability in the Indian Ocean region.

Additional Details

• INS Ranvir: This vessel is the fourth of five Rajput-class Guided Missile Destroyers, which were commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1986.
• SAGAR: Launched in 2015, SAGAR is India's foreign policy doctrine designed to enhance cooperation, maritime security, and economic growth, particularly focusing on the Indian Ocean region.
• In 2025, India introduced MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which builds on the SAGAR policy to promote security, trade, and development across the Global South.
• India-Bangladesh military exercises include the Army's Exercise Sampriti and the Navy's Exercise Bongo Sagar, along with the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT).

The Bongosagar 2025 exercise marks a significant step in strengthening the defense relations between India and Bangladesh, contributing to overall regional security and cooperation.

Electoral Reforms in India

Why in News?

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has called upon political parties to engage in discussions aimed at strengthening the electoral process. This comes in the wake of serious allegations regarding electoral roll manipulation and the existence of duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.

Key Takeaways

• The ECI oversees the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections under Article 324.
• Concerns have been raised regarding the manipulation of electoral rolls and EVM tampering.
• Proposed reforms include stronger enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and better management of election expenditures.

Additional Details

• Legal Provisions: The legal framework governing elections includes the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and 1951, which outlines the roles of election officers and the procedures for maintaining electoral rolls.
• Voting and Counting Issues: Allegations of EVM tampering have led to demands for a return to paper ballots. Critics advocate for full VVPAT verification to ensure the integrity of electronic voting machines.
• Electoral Roll Management: The ECI's efforts to centralize electoral roll management through the ERONET system aim to resolve issues related to duplicate EPIC numbers.
• Campaign Process Issues: Violations of the MCC and excessive election expenditures are significant concerns that undermine the electoral process.

In conclusion, the need for comprehensive electoral reforms in India is evident to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in the electoral process. Strengthening the ECI's regulatory powers and enhancing voter awareness are essential steps towards achieving these goals.