UPSC Current Affair – 13 June 2025

Source: The hindu

Relevant to: International Relations, Economy, Polity

The article analyses the impact of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on international trade, focusing on U.S.-India trade ties, legal challenges by U.S. companies, and India’s strategic options in trade negotiations.

What are Trump’s Tariffs?

• • Imposed tariffs between 10% to 135% on imports from over 100 countries.
  • Claimed to address U.S. trade deficits via “national emergency” under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act.

 Legal and Constitutional Challenge:

• • U.S. businesses sued the U.S. administration for bypassing Congressional authority.
  • The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled the executive acted unlawfully in applying tariffs without proper authorization.

 Global Trade Implications:

• • The Global Trade Research Initiative estimates U.S.-India bilateral trade at $35–$40 billion annually.
  • India’s exports like steel, aluminium, digital services affected.
  • U.S. also impacted India’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits.

India’s Position and Challenges:

• • India retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods.
  • Faced WTO scrutiny when imposing counter-tariffs.
  • India should avoid any “sub-optimal trade deal” under pressure from transactional U.S. policies.

Strategic Suggestions for India:

• • Ensure Balanced Digital Trade Policies (like cross-border data flow rules).
  • Push for restoring GSP benefits.
  • Secure removal of additional U.S. tariffs.
  • Caution against Trump-style unilateralism; India should anchor its position within WTO norms and multilateral frameworks.

Way Forward:

• • U.S.-India must balance commercial interests with legal procedures.
  • Ensure India’s long-term trade interests are not compromised under transactional threats.

• • Promote a fair and rules-based trade regime globally.

MCQ:

Consider the following pairs:

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D
Explanation:
All three are correctly matched based on the context of the article.

Source: The hindu 

Relevant to: Governance 

• • As part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, urbanisation is expected to drive economic transformation.
  • India needs to develop efficient, sustainable, and financially viable public transport systems to manage increasing urban mobility needs.

Urban Mobility Challenge:

• • By 2060s, over 60% of India’s population is projected to live in urban areas.
  • There is a lack of new smart cities, unlike countries like China.
  • Existing metros and Tier 1 cities face overburdened transport infrastructure.

 Government Initiatives:

• • PM e-Bus Sewa: Introduced in the Union Budget to deploy 10,000 new e-buses.
  • PM Electric Drive Revolution (PM e-Drive): Supporting electric vehicles like e-rickshaws, e-trucks, e-ambulances.
  • India needs 2,00,000 urban buses, but only 25,000 are currently operational.

 Concerns Raised:

• • Lack of cost-efficiency and sustainability analysis in planning transport systems.
  • Trams and trolleybuses are overlooked despite being:
    • More profitable over time.
    • Environmentally aligned.
    • More stable in lifecycle cost.

MCQ:

Consider the following statements regarding urban public transport in India:

1. Trams show a long-term profitability of 45% over seven decades.
2. E-buses result in a net profit of 82% due to their electric nature.
3. India needs nearly 2,00,000 urban buses, but currently, only about 25,000 are operational.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

• • Statement 1 is correct (as per long-term lifecycle analysis).
  • Statement 2 is incorrect; e-buses show a net loss, not profit.
  • Statement 3 is correct as per estimates in the article.

Source: Indian Express

Relevant to: Governance (Urban Services, Emergency Response) ,Science & Technology (Application of tech in public service delivery)

• • Urban traffic congestion in Indian metros like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai significantly affects ambulance response times, which can lead to preventable deaths.
  • The article highlights the importance of leveraging technology to reclaim the “Golden Hour” — the critical period to save lives in medical emergencies.

What is the Golden Hour?

• • The first 60 minutes after trauma or a medical emergency, which is crucial for survival.
  • Delays in reaching medical aid during this period significantly reduce the chances of recovery.

Current Challenges:

• • Traffic delays worsen patient outcomes; e.g., Delhi’s average ambulance response time rose from 13 to 17 minutes.
  • Audit Reports (CAG) on Karnataka showed:
    • ~90,000 crash victims didn’t get timely care.
    • Dispatch delays in 6,000 cases by over 30 minutes.
  • National Average: 25–30 minutes; worse in rural areas.

Barriers to Efficiency:

1. Infrastructure Gaps:
   • Less than 20% of traffic lights in Indian cities support signal override systems.
   • Many cities still depend on manual or timer-based signals.
2. Technology Limitations:
   • GPS systems suffer from glitches.
   • Emergency apps/devices often lack integration.
3. Public Apathy:
   • 62% of ambulance drivers say motorists do not yield.
   • 45% say they must request clearance from vehicle to vehicle.

Innovative Interventions:

• • GPS-based ambulance tracking:
    • Real-time location, alerts, and route optimization.
    • In Chennai and Kolkata, reduced response time by 12–15%.
  • Signal Override Systems:
    • Allow ambulances to auto-trigger green signals.
    • Pilot projects underway in few cities.
  • Karnataka’s “Platinum Ten Minutes” initiative:
    • Target: First responders at trauma sites within 6 minutes.
    • Effective in reducing fatality risk significantly.

Way Forward:

• • Upgrade traffic infrastructure to support automated signal overrides.
  • Improve public awareness and stricter enforcement of “ambulance right of way” laws.
  • Wider rollout of emergency tech integration (GPS, alerts, dashboards).
  • Mandate door-to-CT scan time for stroke/cardiac patients.
  • Cross-sector coordination (health, transport, civic bodies) is essential.

MCQ:

Consider the following statements:

1. The “Golden Hour” refers to the first hour after a trauma when timely medical intervention is most effective.
2. Karnataka’s “Platinum Ten Minutes” initiative aims to ensure ambulance arrival at trauma sites within 10 minutes.
3. Only about 50% of India’s traffic signals currently support signal override systems for ambulances.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

• • Statement 1 is correct: The Golden Hour is a critical life-saving window.
  • Statement 2 is correct: Karnataka targets 6 minutes arrival, which falls within the “Platinum Ten”.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Less than 20% of traffic signals support override systems.

Source: Indian express

Relevant to: Indian Economy – Inflation, Monetary Policy

India’s retail inflation fell to 2.82% in May 2025, its lowest level since February 2019, due to a drop in food prices—especially fruits, pulses, cereals, and vegetables.

Current Inflation Trends (May 2025):

• • CPI inflation: 2.82%
    • Down from 3.16% in April 2025 and 4.80% in May 2024
  • Core inflation (excluding food & fuel): Edged up slightly, but within manageable range

 Food Price Impact:

• • Food inflation eased to 3.3% in May from 4.2% in April
  • Pulses fell 2% month-on-month
  • Cereals: Down 1.7%
  • Fruits & vegetables: Declined
  • Onion prices fell 22.5%; tomato prices by 16.3%

Government & RBI Responses:

• • MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) released the inflation data.
  • RBI may find more room for rate cuts in upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings.
    • Repo rate currently at 5.50% (after 50 bps hike earlier)
    • Analysts expect repo rate to fall to 5.25% in late 2025, and potentially further to 2.5% in FY26

Expert Views:

• • Aditi Nayar (ICRA): Inflation may fall to 2.5% by June 2025
  • Sujan Hajra (Anand Rathi): Disinflation to continue till Oct 2025
  • Rajani Sinha (CareEdge): Favorable weather and vegetable prices supported decline

Regional Price Trends:

• • Lowest inflation in Telangana: 0.55%
  • Highest in Odisha: 6.46%

MCQ:

In May 2025, India’s retail inflation fell to its lowest level since which of the following years?

A) 2021
B) 2020
C) 2019
D) 2018

Answer: C
Explanation: Retail inflation fell to 2.82% in May 2025, the lowest since February 2019.

Source: The hindu
Relevant for: Governance

The IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd.) is upgrading its ticketing system to counter the misuse of automated bots and agent-based unfair bookings, especially during the Tatkal booking window.

1. Record Load on System:
   • On May 22, 2025, IRCTC processed 31,814 tickets in 60 seconds – setting a new record.
2. System Exploitation:
   • High demand during peak hours and Tatkal window causes system crashes and delays.
   • Agents and bots misuse automated tools, reducing availability for genuine passengers.
3. Passenger Inconvenience:
   • Leads to frustration due to inability to access limited Tatkal tickets.
   • Widespread public criticism and need for transparency.

Steps Taken by IRCTC:

1. Major Digital Overhaul:
   • Anti-bot mechanisms implemented to block automated unfair bookings.
   • Resulted in deactivation of 2.5 crore suspicious user IDs.
2. Content Delivery Network (CDN):
   • Improves website speed and reduces crashes.
3. Aadhaar Authentication:
   • Mandatory for all Tatkal bookings from July 1, 2025, with OTP-based verification.
   • Ensures only genuine users can book Tatkal tickets.
4. Agent Booking Restrictions:
   • Authorized agents banned from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window.

MCQ:

Which of the following measures has IRCTC introduced to prevent bot and agent misuse in Tatkal bookings?

1. Aadhaar authentication
2. OTP-based login verification
3. Agent ban for first 30 minutes
4. Integration with DigiLocker

Select the correct option:

A) 1, 2 and 3 only
B) 1, 2 and 4 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A
Explanation: Aadhaar + OTP authentication and agent restrictions were implemented. No mention of DigiLocker.

Source: The hindu

Relevant to: IR, Bilateral Relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G-7 Summit in Canada (June 15–17, 2025) as a special invitee, marking his first visit to Canada in 10 years. The visit is being viewed as a potential diplomatic reset in strained India-Canada relations.

Background of India-Canada Tensions:

• • Tensions worsened after Canada’s allegations (under former PM Justin Trudeau) linking India to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
  • In retaliation:
    • Diplomatic staff was cut by two-thirds.
    • FTA talks were suspended by Canada.
    • India suspended visa services for Canadian citizens.

Key Issues to Address:

1. Diplomatic Normalisation:
   • Restoration of High Commissioners.
   • Resumption of India-Canada FTA discussions.
2. Security Concerns:
   • India’s demand to curb Khalistani threats to its diplomats and cultural centers.
3. Bilateral Signaling:
   • Both leaders, PM Modi and newly appointed PM Mark Carney, need to show mutual respect and issue positive public statements.

Significance of the G-7 Summit:

• • Not a bilateral summit, but offers a neutral platform for dialogue.
  • Can facilitate informal conversations and confidence-building measures.
  • However, a lasting diplomatic thaw will require sustained engagement behind the scenes.

Diaspora Factor:

• • Over 1.86 million Indians live in Canada, forming a strong people-to-people bridge.
  • Cultural, educational, and economic ties remain strong despite political friction.

MCQ:

What is the primary objective of PM Modi’s participation in the G-7 Summit in Canada in June 2025?

A) To sign a trade pact with Canada
B) To attend the summit as a G-7 member
C) To explore a diplomatic reset with Canada amid strained relations
D) To sign a bilateral agreement on defense cooperation

Answer: C
Explanation: PM Modi is attending the G-7 summit as a special invitee, with hopes of improving strained ties with Canada.