Category: INTERNATIONAL

Context:  Due to increased restrictions on H-1B and student visas under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, more Indians are turning to the EB-5 investment visa route.

The new “Gold Card” program, requiring a $5 million investment for U.S. residency, is drawing attention though details are pending.

Key data:

• EB-5 visa applications from India surged in 2023 and 2024, peaking at 1,428 in 2024.
• In early 2025 (Jan–Feb), 649 applications have already been filed.
• In FY2025 (Oct 2024–Jan 2025), Indian applicants filed more than 1,200 I-526E petitions, more than any prior year.

Learning Corner:

Non-Immigrant Visas

For temporary stay in the U.S.

1. H-1B Visa – For skilled professionals in specialty occupations (commonly IT, engineering). Employer-sponsored.
2. F-1 Visa – For academic students pursuing full-time study at accredited institutions.
3. J-1 Visa – For exchange visitors (researchers, scholars, interns, au pairs).
4. B-1/B-2 Visa –
   • B-1: For business visitors
   • B-2: For tourism, medical treatment
5. L-1 Visa – For intra-company transferees (managerial or specialized knowledge staff).
6. O-1 Visa – For individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
7. TN Visa – For Canadian and Mexican professionals under the USMCA (formerly NAFTA).
8. H-2A/H-2B Visa – For temporary agricultural (H-2A) or non-agricultural (H-2B) workers.

Immigrant Visas

For permanent residency (Green Card pathway)

1. EB-1 to EB-5 Visas – Employment-based immigrant visas:
   • EB-1: Priority workers (extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, etc.)
   • EB-2: Advanced degree professionals or exceptional ability
   • EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
   • EB-4: Special immigrants (religious workers, etc.)
   • EB-5: Immigrant investors ($800,000–$1,050,000 investment creating jobs in the U.S.)
2. Family-Based Immigrant Visas – For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, children, parents) and other family-based preference categories.
3. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery – For nationals from countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.
4. IR Visas – Immediate relative visas (spouse, parent, unmarried child of U.S. citizen).
5. K-1 Visa – For fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen intending to marry within 90 days of entry.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: INTERNATIONAL

Context : OPEC+ has agreed to significantly increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting September 2025

Key highlights:

• The total output hike, including a separate increase for UAE, totals around 2.5 million bpd, covering about 2.4% of global demand.
• This move marks a reversal of previous output cuts, aiming to stabilize global oil markets.
• A virtual meeting of eight OPEC+ members also discussed U.S. pressure on India to halt Russian oil imports.
• President Donald Trump wants progress on this issue by August 8.
• Despite increased output, oil prices remain high, with Brent crude nearing $70/barrel, up from $58 in April.
• OPEC+ may meet again on September 7 to consider reinstating cuts if necessary.

Learning Corner:

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

• Established: 1960
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• Founding Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela
• Current Members (13 countries) include:
  Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, UAE, Venezuela, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.

Objectives:

• Coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries
• Ensure stable oil markets and fair prices for producers and consumers
• Regulate oil production to balance global supply and demand

OPEC+

• Formed: 2016 (informal coalition)
• Members: All 13 OPEC members + 10 non-OPEC oil-producing countries
• Key non-OPEC members: Russia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Oman, Azerbaijan, etc.

Purpose:

• Cooperate on oil production decisions to stabilize global oil markets
• Respond jointly to market crises (e.g., COVID-19 demand collapse, Russia-Ukraine conflict)

Key Differences:

Source:  THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: AGRICULTURE

Context: The International Potato Center (CIP), based in Peru, is introducing bio-fortified potatoes enriched with iron to Indian markets, aiming to combat malnutrition and improve farmer livelihoods.

Key Points:

• CIP’s Director General, Simon Heck, announced that bio-fortified sweet potatoes (with Vitamin A) are already grown in Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• The focus now shifts to iron fortification in regular potatoes.
• Germplasm has been shared with the ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, and the variety is under evaluation for Indian conditions.
• A new CIP South Asia Regional Centre is being set up near Agra, in the heart of the Indo-Gangetic potato belt (largest producer in India).
• The initiative is expected to:
  • Improve seed quality and timely availability.
  • Provide better market access for farmers.
  • Support school feeding programs like mid-day meals.
  • Reduce agro-chemical dependence.
• The Uttar Pradesh government provided land for the centre, with support from the Union Agriculture Ministry and National Horticulture Board.
• CIP will work with private companies and research institutes to build seed multiplication infrastructure and ensure quality planting material reaches farmers.
• The regional centre will be governed by a committee with members from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Learning Corner:

International Potato Center (CIP) 

• Established: 1971
• Headquarters: Lima, Peru
• Affiliation: A part of the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), a global research partnership for food security.

Primary Objectives:

• Conduct research and development on potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other Andean roots and tubers.
• Enhance food and nutrition security, especially in developing countries.
• Promote climate-resilient and bio-fortified crop varieties (e.g., iron-rich potatoes, vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes).

Key Functions:

• Develop disease-resistant, high-yielding, and nutrient-enriched varieties.
• Work with national governments, NGOs, and private sector for seed multiplication and distribution.
• Support farmers through capacity building, training, and better market integration.
• Address malnutrition via biofortification (e.g., vitamin A in sweet potatoes, iron in regular potatoes).

In India:

• Recently partnered with the Government of India to establish a South Asia Regional Centre near Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• Already introduced bio-fortified sweet potatoes in states like Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• Working closely with ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute and the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Bio-fortification

Bio-fortification is the process of increasing the nutrient content of crops through biological means, such as conventional breeding, genetic engineering, or agronomic practices.

Objective:

To improve the micronutrient levels (e.g., iron, zinc, vitamin A) in staple food crops to combat malnutrition and hidden hunger, especially in low-income populations that rely on cereals and tubers.

Key Features:

• Done at the crop production level, so the nutrients are built into the plant itself.
• More sustainable and cost-effective than food fortification (done during processing) or supplementation (pills, syrups).
• Targets micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A.

Examples of Bio-fortified Crops:

Initiatives & Organizations Involved:

• HarvestPlus (global leader in bio-fortification programs)
• International Potato Center (CIP) – Sweet potato and potato
• ICAR & ICMR in India – Developing and promoting bio-fortified crop varieties
• FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement promotes use of such crops

Different Methods to Enrich Nutrients in Food Crops

Nutrient enrichment aims to increase the content of essential vitamins and minerals in staple foods to combat micronutrient malnutrition (hidden hunger). There are three major methods to achieve this:

Food Fortification

Definition: Addition of nutrients to food during processing or manufacturing.
How it’s done:

• Industrial mixing of vitamins/minerals into foods (flour, oil, milk)
• Often mandatory or voluntary under government regulation
  Examples:

   

  • Iodized salt
  • Iron-fortified wheat flour
  • Vitamin D-fortified milk
    Advantage: Quick, population-wide coverage

Nutrient Supplementation

Definition: Direct provision of nutrients via pills, syrups, or tablets to individuals.
How it’s done:

• Health programs, especially targeting children, pregnant women
• Short-term, clinical approach
  Examples:

   

  • Iron and folic acid tablets
  • Vitamin A drops for children
    Advantage: Targeted and immediate impact

Summary Table:

Source: THE HINDU

Category: HISTORY

Context: Pingali Venkayya 149th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Pingali Venkayya on his birth anniversary, lauding his significant role in designing India’s national flag, the Tricolour. In a social media message, the Prime Minister highlighted that Pingali Venkayya is remembered for giving India its Tricolour, which stands as a symbol of the country’s pride and unity. The tribute underscores Venkayya’s invaluable contribution to India’s freedom movement and his lasting legacy in the nation’s history.

Learning Corner:

Brief Note on Pingali Venkayya

• Born: 2 August 1876, near Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Died: 4 July 1963

Key Contribution:

• Designer of the Indian National Flag (Tricolour).
• Presented the first version of the flag to Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 at the Indian National Congress session in Bezwada (now Vijayawada).
• The original design had two colors (red and green) representing Hindus and Muslims; Gandhi suggested adding white (for other communities) and the spinning wheel (charkha) as a symbol of self-reliance.

Background:

• A freedom fighter, Gandhian, and a polymath with interests in geology, agriculture, languages, and history.
• Also worked as a lecturer and served in the British Indian Army during the Boer War in South Africa.

Source: PIB

Category: INTERNATIONAL

Context: Fresh clashes erupted in Syria, threatening a fragile ceasefire and highlighting the transitional government’s inability to assert control nationwide.

• Two main flashpoints:
  1. North – Government-affiliated forces vs. Kurdish-led groups.
  2. South (Sweida) – Government forces vs. Druze groups.
• The violence comes as the interim Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al Sharaa, tries to implement a U.S.-backed deal to reintegrate Kurdish forces and stabilize regions.
• The Sweida clashes followed attacks by Druze militants, killing at least one member of the Syrian security forces.
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed multiple deaths and injuries.
• Separately, Israel conducted air raids on southern Syria, targeting weapons depots and militant groups, further escalating tensions.

Key issues:

• Fragile ceasefire.
• Resistance from ethnic/religious minorities.
• Syrian government’s weak control.
• Israeli strikes adding to regional instability.

Source:  THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Introduction (Context)

The northeastern floods, Wayanad landslides, and rising sea levels are no longer isolated disasters, they are warning signs of a deeper, structural climate crisis that affects national stability, economic security, and ecological survival.

India’s climate vulnerability: Monsoon

• As per scientists, the Indian monsoon, once predictable, has been destabilised by global warming. 
• Increasing temperature causes increased evaporation, which results in heavier and more erratic rainfall.
• The shifting monsoon trough has hit Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh badly. Over 46 people have died in recent weeks and nearly half a million people have been affected.

As per a report by the UN office for Disaster Risk Reduction, India suffered an economic loss of a whopping $79.5 billion due to climate-related disasters in the past 20 years from 1998 to 2017.

These are not just seasonal events, but clear signs of worsening climate change.

Sea Level Rise

• India’s coastline, stretching over 7,500 km, facing a severe threat of rising sea levels, driven by climate change.
• Short-term climate phenomena such as El Nino reduced monsoon rainfall, leading to droughts.
• La Nina events may increase rainfall and the frequency of extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods, many of which wreak havoc along India’s coastal belt. 

Such erratic climatic behaviour is threatening livelihoods, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability in the region.

According to a report by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), State-wise Submergence Risks (CSTEP Report) 

• Tre are multiple Indian States at the threat of getting submerged such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala which are already prone to flooding.
• Further land loss may occur in cities

• • >10% land loss: Mumbai, Yanam, Thoothukudi
  • 5–10% land loss: Panaji, Chennai
  • 1–5% land loss: Kochi, Mangaluru, Visakhapatnam, Puri, Paradip, etc.

• Mangroves, coral reefs, and wetlands are under severe threat.
• The Sundarbans may lose up to 80% of their area by 2100, risking biodiversity and increasing vulnerability to tidal surges.

Damage to livelihood

• Impact on Agriculture

• • 47% of India’s population depends on agriculture.
  • Soil salinisation from seawater reduces crop yields and damages food security.

This decline in agricultural output can fuel price inflation and deepen reliance on non-local food sources, thereby undermining national food security.

• Rural and Coastal Livelihoods

• • Coastal communities face fishing losses, damaged housing, and health issues due to pollution and flooding.
  • Loss of fertile land leads to rural distress and migration.

A survey warns that the Sunderbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest could lose up to 80% of its area by 2100.

 The destruction of these habitats by warming waters and rising sea level could trigger species extinction and disrupt food chains, with consequences that ripple far beyond borders.

Climate Change as a National Security Concern

Around the world, many countries now see climate change as a serious security threat. For example, the U.S. military calls it a “threat multiplier” because it makes conflicts worse and affects their defence readiness. The U.K. has also started including climate protection in its foreign policy.

In India also, government should see environmental problems like a national security issue.

• India is ranked sixth on the Climate Risk Index, which shows how seriously climate change is affecting the country. 
• Experts say India is highly at risk from rising sea levels, especially because the Indian Ocean is heating up faster than other oceans. This extra heat is also making cyclones stronger and more dangerous.
• Nature can cause just as much damage or even more than an enemy with weapons.

In the 2025-26 Union Budget:

• The Ministry of Defence got ₹6,81,210 crore the highest allocation, about 13.45% of the total budget.
• In contrast, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change got only ₹3,412.82 crore just 0.067% of the total budget.

This shows that climate action is not yet a top priority in India’s spending plans.

Steps needed

• Recognise environment as core to national and human security.
• Mainstream climate adaptation into urban planning, agriculture, infrastructure, and defence.
• Strengthen institutions like NDMA, IMD, and local disaster response units with climate-specific capacity.

Conclusion

With environmental degradation impacting lives, livelihoods, and sovereignty, India must shift from reactive relief to proactive resilience. Events like Assam floods, Kerala landslides, and coastal submergence must be seen as national emergencies, not seasonal accidents.

Mains Practice Question

Q Rising sea levels pose a serious threat to India’s economic and ecological security. Discuss with examples and suggest policy interventions. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: India’s climate challenge – The Hindu

Introduction (Context)

In May 2025, the Indian government the Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances, ranking products based on ease of repair, spare part access, and software support.

But repair is not just about fixing things or managing e-waste it’s also about protecting the skills and knowledge of local repair workers, many of whom work in the informal sector. 

As India moves forward in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and environmental goals, it’s important to treat repair not just as a service, but as a valuable tradition, skill, and eco-friendly practice that deserves respect and support.

What is Right to Repair?

Right to Repair refers to the legal right of consumers to repair and modify their own consumer products, especially electronics and appliances, without relying solely on the manufacturer.

It includes access to:

• Spare parts and manuals
• Diagnostic tools
• Software updates
• Information on disassembly and repair

Significance

• Reduces e-waste by extending the life of products.
• Prevents monopolies by large manufacturers.
• Supports small-scale technicians and informal repair sectors.
• Promotes reuse, recycling, and resource conservation.
• Encourages frugal innovation and local adaptability.

Human side of Right to repair

• Right to Repair depends on human skills. It’s not just about fixing gadgets it’s about the ability and experience of people who repair them.
• In India, most repair workers learn by doing through observation, practice, and hands-on work, not formal training.
• This knowledge is called tacit knowledge. It means skills that are hard to put into words or write down, like identifying problems just by listening to a machine.
• This kind of knowledge is key to keeping products working and reducing waste. It helps build material resilience, especially in a country like India.

Yet, this ecosystem is gradually eroding. Reasons are: Product designs become less repairable and Consumer habits shift toward disposability.

Government should recognise repair not just as a service, but as valuable knowledge work and should support the people behind it through policies, training, and recognition.

Blind Spots in Digital and Skill Policy

• E-Waste Rules 2022 emphasise recycling, with little focus on repair as a preventive solution.
• PMKVY & Skill India emphasise formal certification; do not accommodate informal diagnostic repair work.
• National Education Policy 2020 celebrates experiential learning but lacks provisions to preserve indigenous technical knowledge.
• Mission LiFE promotes sustainable consumption but does not adequately integrate repairers into the policy ecosystem.

Steps needed

• Redesign products for easy repair:
  • Most gadgets today are not made to be fixed, they are compact and sealed.
  • A 2023 report by iFixit found that only 23% of smartphones in Asia are easy to repair.
  • To change this, design norms and procurement policies must include repairability from the start. 
• Adopt the Idea of “Unmaking”

• • Concepts like “unmaking” (disassembly and repurposing) enable learning from breakdowns.”
  • The electronic box should inform both hardware standards and AI-integrated systems.
• Institutional Integration:
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology can embed repairability criteria into AI and procurement policies. 
  • The Department of Consumer Affairs could expand the Right to Repair framework to include product classification and community involvement. 
• Platforms such as e-Shram, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, can formally recognise informal repairers and connect them to social protection and skill-building schemes. 
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship can consider training programmes to account for the tacit, diagnostic nature of repair work, which does not conform to standardised industrial templates. 
• Use of AI tools
  • AI tools such as decision trees can help codify typical repair pathways, while Large Language Models can capture, summarise, and translate tacit repair narratives into structured, shareable knowledge, enabling broader learning without stripping local context or expertise.
• Social Protection and Incentives:

• • Provide micro-credit, insurance, and upskilling support to informal repairers.
  • Offer repair vouchers to incentivise local repair usage over new purchases.

Conclusion

The Right to Repair must expand beyond product access to include the right to remember, to value, and to integrate centuries-old knowledge systems into modern policy. To build a truly repair-ready and just technological future, India must redesign not only its devices but its governance frameworks — with repairers at the centre, not the periphery.

Mains Practice Question

Q Informal repairers form the invisible backbone of India’s material resilience. Examine the challenges they face and suggest measures to integrate them into formal digital and policy frameworks. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: The ‘right to repair’ must include the ‘right to remember’ – The Hindu