Daily Current Affairs 2025  

04/09/2025

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CA-04-09-2025

 
Why in news?
The Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited India officially from September 2 to September 4, 2025. This visit marked his first to India since taking office and coincided with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations.
 
The roadmap articulates cooperation in eight critical areas:

• Economic cooperation
• Skills development (including collaboration on India's National Centre of Excellence for Skills in Chennai)
• Digitalization
• Sustainability and green economy (including green shipping)
• Connectivity (maritime, air, digital)
• Healthcare and medicine
• People-to-people and cultural exchanges
• Defence and security cooperation

Key Highlights and Outcomes

• The leaders elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which was announced last year during PM Modi’s visit to Singapore, and now they set a detailed roadmap to advance this partnership.
• Both sides agreed to undertake a time-bound review of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to further accelerate bilateral trade.
• Singapore continues to be India's largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with cumulative FDI from Singapore to India nearing $170 billion as of FY 2024-25.
• Expansion of cooperation in emerging areas such as semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, space technology, skill development, urban water management, and civil nuclear energy.
• Singapore pledged support for India's semiconductor ecosystem and skill development, including collaborating on state-level skill centers focused on industries like aviation maintenance and semiconductors.
• The two Prime Ministers emphasized people-to-people ties as a foundation for the relationship and discussed further promoting exchanges in education and civil service cooperation.
• Both leaders also exchanged views on global issues, promoting multilateralism, ASEAN-India relations, economic integration, and a rules-based international order.

Statements

• PM Modi described the partnership as one with "purpose," rooted in shared values and mutual interest, aiming for peace, progress, and prosperity.
• PM Wong highlighted the substantial progress made in the bilateral relationship, emphasizing that it is built on concrete cooperation with momentum in new sectors, not just rhetoric.
• The relationship was characterized as future-oriented, robust, and expanding beyond traditional sectors.

This high-level visit and the roadmap aim to deepen ties between India and Singapore, reinforcing their strategic, economic, and people-centric partnership in a complex global environment.
 
 
   
Why in news?
The GST reforms reduce the GST slabs from four to two main rates: 5% and 18%, replacing the earlier 12% and 28% slabs. A new 40% rate is introduced for luxury and sin goods like pan masala, tobacco products, aerated drinks with added sugar, and high-end vehicles.
 
Highlights of GST Reforms 2025

• Two-Slab Structure: Simplification to 5% (essential goods) and 18% (standard rate for most other goods and services). This replaces the previous four slabs and reduces complexity.
• Luxury and Sin Goods: Introduction of a higher 40% rate on luxury and sin goods such as tobacco, mid-size and large cars, aerated drinks with added sugar, and personal aircraft, ensuring fairness and revenue balance.
• Relief for Common Man: Tax rates on daily essentials, household items (soaps, toothpaste, Indian breads like roti and paratha), agricultural implements, medicines (including anti-cancer drugs), and individual life and health insurance are reduced or exempted, providing direct relief.
• Boost to Manufacturing & Agriculture: Lower GST on consumer durables like air conditioners, dishwashers, TVs (LCD, LED), small automobiles, two-wheelers under 350cc, and construction materials like cement is expected to spur demand, affordability, and job creation.
• MSME Support: Simplified registration and return filing, faster refunds, and reduced compliance costs to ease business operations and strengthen cash flows.
• State Revenue & Economic Growth: The reforms improve state revenue streams and are aimed at increasing domestic consumption, manufacturing growth, and formalization of businesses.
• Administrative Reforms: Faster GST registration for low-risk businesses (96% of new applicants), streamlined refund mechanism, and better dispute resolution are expected to enhance ease of doing business.

Economic impact

Boost to MSMEs and Manufacturing

• Reduced tax rates on inputs such as cement, auto parts, textiles, and agricultural machinery lower costs for MSMEs and manufacturers, making them more competitive.
• Simpler compliance and faster refunds improve cash flows, enabling businesses to invest and grow.

Formalization and Revenue Expansion

• Simplified slab structure encourages greater compliance, broadening the tax base and improving revenue collection efficiency.
• Correcting inverted duty structures supports domestic manufacturing and export competitiveness by reducing input tax burdens and streamlining export refunds.

Investment and Economic Growth

• Predictable and stable tax environment attracts foreign and domestic investment.
• Sectoral benefits to agriculture, construction, healthcare, education, and textiles spur inclusive economic growth.
• Lower input costs and improved demand foster job creation, industrial growth, and higher consumption.

Fiscal and State Revenue Considerations

• Although some states expressed concerns over potential revenue losses (estimated between ?80,000 to 1.5 lakh crore), consensus was built recognizing the reforms' long-term growth benefits.
• The government estimates a net fiscal impact of around ?48,000 crore based on 2023–24 consumption data, balanced by expected revenue gains from improved compliance and growth.

Conclusion
Overall, the two-slab GST reform aims to create a virtuous cycle of economic expansion through lower prices, higher demand, easier doing of business, and wider tax compliance. It aligns India’s indirect tax system closer to global best practices and supports a more resilient and growth-oriented economy.
 
 
   
Why in news?
Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan announced at Semicon India 2025 that the government plans to broaden the DLI scheme beyond startups and MSMEs to include larger domestic semiconductor design companies.
 
About Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme

The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme is a government initiative focused on the semiconductor design sector, offering financial incentives and infrastructure support for domestic companies, startups, and MSMEs engaged in semiconductor design and deployment.

It has three key components: Chip Design Infrastructure Support, Product Design Linked Incentive, and Deployment Linked Incentive over a period of 3-5 years.
 
Key Design Elements of the Link Incentive Scheme:

• Objective: Nurture growth of domestic semiconductor design companies, startups, and MSMEs; promote indigenization and import substitution in electronics.
• Financial Incentives:

• Product Design Linked Incentive: Up to 50% reimbursement on eligible expenses, capped at ?15 crore per application.

• Deployment Linked Incentive: 4%-6% of net sales turnover over 5 years, capped at ?30 crore per application.

• Infrastructure Support: C-DAC sets up India Chip Centre providing access to design tools, IP cores, and wafer fabrication support.
• Eligibility: Domestic companies, startups, MSMEs maintaining domestic status for at least 3 years, meeting threshold sales criteria annually.
• Duration: Initially 3 years from January 2022, with a 5-year outlook for achieving turnover and scaling benefits.
• Nodal Agency: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), under Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

This scheme aligns incentives with key semiconductor design development stages to foster a self-reliant ecosystem in semiconductor design in India through financial aid and shared infrastructure access.
 
 
  Why in news?
Recently, the Kuki-Zo Council decided to reopen National Highway-2 in Manipur for the free movement of commuters and essential goods after talks with the government, symbolizing a key step towards peace and cooperation in the region. 
 
Key points about the Kuki-Zo Council:

• Formation: Established in October 2024 as a unified political and social body representing the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in Manipur, India, following ethnic violence from 2023 to 2025.
• Composition: Comprises representatives of various Kuki-Zo tribes and their traditional governing councils (Inpi), serving as an umbrella organization for collective decision-making.
• Purpose: Created to coordinate governance, peace efforts, and development initiatives for the Kuki-Zo community; it seeks political dialogue and recognition of Kuki-Zo interests.
• Recent Role: Agreed in September 2025 to reopen National Highway-2 for free movement of people and essential goods, marking a significant step towards peace and cooperation with the central government.
• Demands: Engaged with the Ministry of Home Affairs for dialogues seeking separate administration, improved medical facilities, and securing the community’s rights.
• Controversy: Faces opposition from other tribal groups like the Zomi Council, who question its legitimacy and reject the “Kuki-Zo” nomenclature.
• Significance: Represents a major step in political organization and peaceful advocacy for the Kuki-Zo tribes amid regional ethnic tensions.

 
   
Why in news?

• The advanced lithium-ion battery plant in Sohna, Haryana, was inaugurated recently by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. 
• The plant is operated by Japanese firm TDK Corporation with an initial investment of around ?3,000 crore.
• It is a state-of-the-art facility designed to produce about 20 crore (200 million) battery packs annually, meeting nearly 40% of India’s mobile phone battery demand.
• The batteries manufactured here cater to mobile phones, laptops, wearables, and other wireless devices.

Key Features of Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries

• High energy density, allowing compact size with more power.
• Long cycle life, exceeding 3000 charge-discharge cycles.
• Fast charging capabilities, supporting full charge in about 1 hour.
• Stable voltage output without significant sag during discharge.
• Enhanced safety via LiFePO4 chemistry and solid-state electrolyte development.
• No memory effect, allowing partial charging without damaging the battery.

Recent Technological Innovations

• Solid-state lithium-ion batteries using solid electrolytes for better safety and higher capacity.
• Silicon anode integration for higher lithium-ion storage and improved cycling.
• Development of lithium-sulfur batteries for future higher energy density at reduced costs.
• Use of nanomaterials and AI-driven battery management systems to optimize performance and prolong battery life.

Applications

• Electric vehicles offering longer driving ranges and shorter charging times.
• Renewable energy storage facilitating efficient use of solar and wind power.
• Industrial uses like electric ground support equipment in airports.
• Portable electronics and power tools benefiting from lightweight and powerful batteries.

 
These advancements mark a significant shift towards safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting energy storage solutions driven by both industry needs and research innovation.
 
 
   
Why in news?
In recent "Insurance for All by 2047" initiative highlights significant government efforts to make insurance more affordable and accessible to every Indian citizen as part of the vision to achieve universal insurance coverage by India's centenary year.
 
Key points about this initiative are:

• The vision aims for universal insurance penetration across India, addressing the large segments of populations currently uninsured, especially in rural and unorganized sectors.
• It focuses on creating the right insurance products for varied needs, robust grievance redressal mechanisms, simplicity and ease in insurance processes, innovation, and use of technology.
• The government and IRDAI plan to launch programs like Bima Trinity (Bima Sugam, Bima Vistar, Bima Vaahaks) to facilitate hassle-free insurance distribution and coverage, with Bima Vistaar set to launch by December 2025 targeted at rural populations with a cover of Rs 5 lakh per individual.
• Efforts include policy simplifications, increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance, awareness campaigns such as "Sabse Pehle Life Insurance," and tax relief on insurance products to boost affordability.
• This mission aligns with the broader economic and social goals of enhancing financial security and healthcare access for every citizen.

By 2047, the government envisions every Indian having protection against life, health emergencies, and property losses, supported by a growing and innovative insurance sector.
 

   
Why in news?
The Unified RERA Portal is a national digital platform launched by India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in September 2025, designed to enhance the transparency, accountability, and efficiency of the real estate regulatory ecosystem.
 
Purpose and Vision

• The portal serves as a one-stop platform for homebuyers, developers, agents, regulatory authorities, and policymakers to access a unified database of real estate projects and agents registered under RERA across all Indian States and Union Territories.

• Its launch marks a significant step toward strengthening transparency and discipline in real estate, aligning with the objectives of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

Features:

• Nationwide Integration: Consolidates data from state and UT RERA authorities into a single portal (rera.mohua.gov.in), enabling easy nationwide search and access.
• Information Access: Provides comprehensive details on registered projects and registered agents, with ongoing updates.
• Grievance Redressal: Facilitates faster resolution of homebuyer complaints—over 1,47,383 grievances have been disposed of to date. It improves processes for raising complaints and tracking order compliance.
• Monitoring and Policy Support: Enables effective tracking of stalled projects, better policymaking, and the sharing of best practices among states.
• Standardization and Uniformity: Promotes adoption of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), uniform definitions, and stronger compliance mechanisms across the country.
• Stakeholder Empowerment: Empowers citizens by mandating project disclosures, fostering trust between buyers and developers, and providing legal recourse for disputes.

Context and Implementation

• The portal was launched during the 5th Central Advisory Council (CAC) meeting, attended by Union and State housing ministers, RERA chairpersons, and stakeholder representatives.
• Recent council recommendations focus on adopting SOPs, forming a central committee within MoHUA to keep rules aligned with the parent Act, and reviving legacy stalled projects based on expert committee reports (like the one led by Amitabh Kant).

Impact and Future Directions

• The portal is expected to boost homebuyer confidence, enforce discipline among developers, and support the timely completion of projects.
• It sets the stage for future reforms including standardized compliance, effective data-driven policymaking, and robust oversight of the sector nationwide.
• By aggregating and uniformizing data, it enables every stakeholder to make informed decisions and gives government agencies clearer tools for monitoring trends and enforcing laws.

The Unified RERA Portal represents a transformative milestone in Indian real estate regulation, making the sector more transparent, responsive, and citizen-centric.
 
 
   
Why in news?
The Indian government has launched major coal gasification missions with goals for 100 million tons by 2030 and incentives over ?8,500 crore, supporting scores of new projects through Letters of Award and financial incentives.
 
Notable projects include:

• CIL-BHEL JV for ammonium nitrate production in Odisha.
• CIL-GAIL JV for synthetic natural gas in West Bengal.
• Coal-to-ethanol demonstration by New Era Cleantech in Maharashtra using CCUS.
• India’s first pilot for Underground Coal Gasification at Kasta, Jharkhand.

 
These initiatives aim to reduce import dependency, boost job creation, and transform the coal sector with advanced technology adoption.
 
Coal gasification technology
Coal gasification is a technology that converts coal into synthetic gas (syngas)—a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide—primarily used for cleaner power generation, production of chemicals, and as a feedstock for fuels and fertilizers.
 
Core Process and Technology
Coal gasification involves reacting coal with oxygen and steam under high temperature and pressure to produce syngas.

Key technologies include:

• Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC): Converts syngas into electricity with significantly lower emissions compared to traditional coal combustion.
• Underground Coal Gasification (UCG): Directly converts coal to syngas within the coal seam, reducing the need for mining and surface disposal.

Advantages

• Cleaner emissions: Syngas can be purified to remove pollutants before combustion, reducing local air pollution, SOx, NOx, and mercury emissions.
• Carbon capture potential: Facilitates capture and utilization of CO? and other greenhouse gases during the process, enabling further environmental benefits when integrated with carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) technology.
• Resource flexibility: Produces diverse outputs such as synthetic natural gas (SNG), hydrogen for industrial use, ammonia for fertilizers, and liquid fuels like diesel.

Drawbacks

• High carbon footprint: Despite lower local pollution, coal gasification processes often emit more CO? than conventional methods, posing climate risks unless mitigated by CCUS.
• Energy and water intensive: These installations require substantial energy and water inputs, making them resource-heavy compared to other technologies.
• Cost and investment: Projects are capital-intensive, needing policy support, subsidies, and public-private partnerships to be commercially viable.

Applications

• Electricity generation: IGCC plants using syngas for cleaner power generation are rapidly expanding.
• Fertilizer and chemical production: Syngas is widely used to produce ammonia, methanol, and other chemicals.
• Fuel synthesis: Coal-to-liquid (CTL) technologies produce transportation fuels like diesel and gasoline, crucial for countries with rich coal resources but limited oil reserves.

Coal gasification represents a strategic transition for energy security and chemical production, especially in India, but must be scaled with robust emissions controls and support for sustainable technologies.
 
 
   
Why in news?
On September 4, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India organized a national conference in New Delhi titled "Rights of Transgender Persons: Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices."
 
Constitutional Rights of Transgender Persons

• Right to Equality (Article 14) ensures no discrimination based on sex or gender identity.
• Prohibition of discrimination (Article 15) protects against unfair treatment in education, employment, and public facilities.
• Freedom of speech and expression (Article 19) includes expressing one’s gender identity.
• Right to life and personal liberty (Article 21) guarantees protection of life and liberty for transgender persons just like any other citizen.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

• Allows recognition of transgender identity based on self-perception.
• Provides for a certificate of identity upon application to the District Magistrate.
• Prohibits discrimination in areas like education, employment, healthcare, housing, and public services.
• Grants right of residence in the household or rehabilitation centers if necessary.
• Mandates inclusive education, healthcare (including sex reassignment surgery), and employment opportunities.
• Establishes a National Council for Transgender Persons for policy advice, implementation monitoring, and grievance redressal.

Delhi Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2025

• Detailed procedures for applying for certificates of identity with or without medical intervention.
• Enables updates of gender in official documents like Aadhaar, passports, and educational certificates.
• Sets institutional frameworks for enforcement and welfare including a Transgender Welfare Board.
• Provides legal recognition, monitoring mechanisms, and grievance redressal within Delhi.

State-Level Policy Initiatives

• Tamil Nadu in August 2025 launched a comprehensive state policy to protect transgender rights across education, employment, healthcare, housing, and safety, including revision of inheritance laws to secure rights for transgender individuals.
• The policy allows gender self-identification without requiring medical certificates or procedures.

Supreme Court Notice on Transgender-Inclusive Education

• In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Centre, NCERT, and six states in early September 2025 on a PIL demanding the inclusion of transgender-inclusive comprehensive sexuality education in school curricula.
• This move stresses the legal necessity and educational importance of gender diversity awareness to combat stigma and discrimination from an early stage.

Criticism and Ongoing Issues

• Some activists critique the 2019 Act for bureaucratic hurdles such as forced registration for official recognition.
• Lack of provisions for marriage, adoption rights, social security benefits, or public reservation quotas.
• Enforcement mechanisms and protections against discrimination and violence remain areas requiring strengthening.

Thus, transgender people in India have constitutional protections and a dedicated legal framework aimed at ensuring their rights to recognition, equality, and freedom from discrimination in key areas of life, with ongoing efforts to improve implementation and scope of these rights.

 

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