Current Affairs – November 05, 2025

{GS2 – IR} US-China ‘G2’ Revival **

• Context (IE): The U.S. President recently announced the revival of the “G2” concept, a proposed US-China power partnership to shape global economic governance.

Why G2 is Back on the Table?

• After the 2008 global financial crisis, China emerged as a key economic stabiliser, helping to rescue global markets through massive stimulus.
• A recent shift in US-China dynamics saw China resisting US-led trade wars and retaliating effectively, forcing Washington to move from a strategy of “decoupling” to “derisking.”
  • Trump’s return signals a pragmatic acceptance of China’s economic weight, paving the way for renewed cooperation through a G2-style engagement.
• Implications: G2 signals that the US and China may resolve tensions bilaterally, reducing space for third countries.
  • Unlike previous US support for India as a strategic counterweight to China, Washington may now prioritise economic cooperation with Beijing.

Way Forward for India

• Deepen ties with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran and West Asian partners to strengthen Asia-centred diplomacy and bargaining power.
• Use G20, BRICS+, IPEF & QUAD more actively as multilateral platforms to balance a G2-dominated order.
• India must preserve strategic autonomy, avoid taking sides between the US and China, and maintain independent engagements with Russia (energy, defence) and Europe (technology, investment).
• Strengthen India’s economic power to support its diplomacy, speed up manufacturing, make exports more competitive, and reduce reliance on imports (especially from China).

{GS2 – IR} India-Israel Joint Working Group Meeting

• Context (PIB |DD): Recently, India and Israel held the 17^th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on defence cooperation.

• Key Outcomes: An MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed to provide a unified framework and long-term strategic direction for the partnership.
  • Both countries called for a global zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, stating that both nations face common security threats.

Read More > Israel-Palestine Conflict

{GS2 – IR} India – United Kingdom Science & Technology Partnership

• Context (PIB): The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) of India and the National Technology Adviser of the UK jointly launched the pilot India–UK Science and Technology Partnership (IN-UK-STP) Dashboard.

• The dashboard is designed to monitor and analyse bilateral science and technology cooperation, serving as an evidence-based policy tool.
• Development: Jointly developed by the Office of the PSA and the British High Commission in India.
• Key Feature: It maps projects since 2018 by funding, institutions, and domains, aligning them with India–UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) goals and the SDGs.
• Significance: The dashboard allows both governments to conduct data-driven evaluation and planning, facilitating future joint research programs and technology missions.

Read More > India-UK Bilateral Talks | India-UK Relations

{GS2 – IR} India-Romania Bilateral Meeting

• Context (DDN): India and Romania held a bilateral meeting in Bucharest to strengthen trade, investment, and supply-chain partnership within the broader India-EU economic framework.

• India-EU FTA: Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to conclude a fair and mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) within the year.
• Supply-Chain: They agreed to deepen collaboration in standards, testing, and investment facilitation to build resilient and diversified supply chains.

About India-Romania Relations

• Bilateral Relations: India and Romania elevated their relationship to an ‘Extended Partnership‘ in 2013 and marked 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2023.
• Trade Relations: Bilateral trade stood at USD 2.98 billion in FY 2023-24, with India’s exports exceeding USD 1.03 billion in FY 2024-25.
  • Priority Sectors: Petroleum, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, and glassware.
• Labour Mobility: Romania will employ around 30,000 skilled Indian professionals annually to meet labour demands in construction and allied sectors.
• Defence Agreement: The 2023 Defence Cooperation Agreement provides a legal framework for collaboration in R&D, cyber defence, and co-production.

{GS3 – IE} India’s Information Technology Industry **

• Context (TH | TH): Once the crown jewel of India’s economy, the IT sector, contributing nearly 7% of GDP and employing around 6 million professionals, is undergoing major structural change.

Key Changes in India’s IT Industry

• Recent large-scale layoffs by firms like TCS and other leaders indicate a deeper, long-term shift rather than a temporary downturn.
• Industry estimates suggest over 50,000 IT jobs may be lost by the end of FY26.
• Instead of large-scale firings, firms are adopting “quiet layoffs”, performance-linked exits, delayed promotions, and voluntary resignations.

Structural Transformation in the IT Industry

• AI-Driven Disruption: Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation is redefining the very nature of IT work.
  • Routine tasks such as data entry, coordination, and basic coding are now managed by algorithms and AI agents, significantly reducing manpower needs.
• Changing Global Dynamics: Tighter U.S. immigration norms and rising H-1B visa fees have pushed Indian firms to localise operations abroad.
  • Economic uncertainties in Western markets have led to budget cuts in IT spending, forcing companies to optimise costs and focus on specialised expertise rather than scale.
• Assembly Line Model: India’s earlier IT model, mass recruitment, basic training, and deployment for global clients, has lost its edge.
  • Clients now demand cloud-native, AI-integrated, and cybersecurity-driven solutions, not armies of coders. Also, Mid-career professionals find their skills outdated in this era.
  • Demand for AI Talent: AI hiring is surging globally; India leads with 33% growth.
  • Corporate investment in AI reached US$252.3 billion in 2024, nearly 13 times the level a decade earlier.

Reinventing India’s IT Ecosystem

• Companies like TCS have already trained lakhs of employees in AI. Thus, engineering curricula need an overhaul, from basic coding to AI and product thinking.
  • Workers with AI skills earn about 56% more on average, reflecting higher value addition.
• India’s IT growth now depends on product-led innovation, not just services; hence, government and industry must support continuous reskilling to match fast-paced automation.

Read More > Artificial Intelligence (AI): Its Socio–Economic Effects

{GS3 – Agri} Reimagining Agriculture Roadmap by NITI Aayog **

• Context (NOA): NITI Aayog launched its strategic report “Reimagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology-Led Transformation” in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• The Report leveraging frontier technologies was developed with inputs from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Google, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

About the Agriculture Roadmap by NITI Aayog

• Core Objective: To transform Indian agriculture through frontier technologies integrating AI, precision farming, remote sensing and smart mechanisation for sustainability and income enhancement.
• Digital Agriculture Mission 2.0: Three-Pillar Framework, Data Ecosystems for last-mile integration, Innovation Systems for R&D and Policy Convergence to align industry expertise with scalable reforms.
• Farmer-Centric Framework: Introduces a three-tier segmentation model Aspiring (70–80%), Transitioning (15–20%), and Advanced (1–2%) groups to offer customized intervention,
• State Leadership: Gujarat cited as a model state, leveraging Digital Crop Survey and i-Khedut portal for farm digitisation and subsidy transparency.
• Institutional Backing: Spearheaded by NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub, integrating private sector expertise with public innovation.
• Empowering Vision: Aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, aiming to strengthen farmer autonomy, data-driven decision-making, and market linkage.

Current Agriculture Status in India

• Economic Share: Agriculture contributes around 18% to India’s GDP (Economic Survey 2024).
• Employment: It employs nearly 43% of India’s workforce (PLFS 2023).
• Landholding Pattern: About 86% of farmers are small and marginal, holding less than 2 hectares (Agriculture Census 2021).
• Productivity Gap: India’s crop productivity remains 30–40% lower than global averages due to fragmented holdings and input inefficiencies (FAO 2024).
• Climate Stress: Around 50% of net sown area is rainfed, making agriculture highly vulnerable to climate variability and water scarcity (ICAR Report 2024).
• Agri-Tech Growth: Over 3,000 Agri-tech startups are now operational, driving innovation in precision farming and supply chain efficiency (NASSCOM 2025).

Read More> India’s Farm Sector

{GS3 – Agri} India’s Rising Urea Demand

• Context (IE): India’s urea consumption is projected to touch 40 million tonnes (MT) in FY 2025-26, the highest ever, driven by strong agricultural demand and unchanged low retail pricing.
• The gap between rising consumption and stagnant domestic production is creating concerns of supply stress.

Key Drivers of Rising Urea Demand

• Record consumption: Sales in 2024-25 rose to 38.8 MT, the highest ever; rabi 2025 sowing trends indicate further rise to nearly 40 MT.
• Price distortion: Urea’s MRP has remained almost unchanged since 2012 (₹5,360/tonne; ₹5,628 after neem coating).
  • Other fertilisers cost 2-7 times higher, pushing farmers to overuse urea.
• Government Interventions: It did not curb excess use,
  • Neem-coating (2015) to prevent diversion and slow nitrogen release.
  • 45-kg bags replaced 50-kg bags (2018), and Nano Urea was launched in 2021. Yet consumption rose from 29.9 MT (2017-18) to 35+ MT by 2020-21 and continues growing.

Supply Side Constraints

• Domestic output peaked at 31.4 MT in 2023-24 but fell to 30.6 MT in 2024-25, signalling a production plateau.
• Six new plants (2019-22) expanded nominal capacity, yet several run below full utilisation.
• Permanent closures of two units (Kakinada and Panki) have trimmed effective domestic capacity.
• India aims to cap imports at around 10 MT, but rising demand may increase import dependence.

Way Forward

• Rationalise Pricing: Gradually increase urea MRP to reduce overuse and move toward balanced fertiliser application.
• Demand-Side Regulation: Restrict subsidised urea bags per farmer (for example, a maximum of 25 bags per farmer per season).
• Nutrient Efficiency: Promote urease and nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrogen loss.
• Capacity Expansion: Add at least 4 new plants (1.3 MT each) to meet rising demand sustainably.
• Import Gas, Not Urea: Economically viable to import LNG to inland urea plants rather than ship finished urea to faraway consumption centres.

Read More > Fertilisers

{GS3 – Envi} CITES Verification Mission Report on India **

• Context (IE): A recent CITES report warned against misclassification of wild-caught animals and recommended that India suspend imports of endangered species until stronger verification is in place.

About the CITES Report

• Report Overview: The report was published by the CITES Secretariat after an official verification mission conducted in India in 2025.
• Investigation Reason: The investigation began following global concerns over large-scale imports of CITES-listed species by two Jamnagar-based facilities:
  1. Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and
  2. Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT).
• Mission Focus: The mission examined whether India’s wildlife import approvals complied with CITES rules and upheld their non-commercial character.

Key Findings of the Report

• Facility Standards: The Jamnagar facilities maintained high animal welfare standards, proper documentation, and valid CITES permits for their imported species.
• Verification Gaps: Indian authorities accepted import permits without verifying the animal origins or cross-checking with source countries.
• Permit Irregularities: The report identified contradictory records, misuse of CITES purpose codes, and cases of forged permits.

Recommendations for India

• Import Suspension: India should stop importing Appendix-I species until stronger verification and control systems are implemented.
• Stronger Checks: Authorities must verify animal origins and captive-bred claims through a transparent, risk-based system before granting import approval.
• Past Review: India should review previous imports from source countries (e.g., Germany, Iraq, Guyana) and take corrective action if violations are found.

Read More > CITES | 50 Years of CITES

{GS3 – Envi} Heavy Metals in Cauvery Fish

• Context (TH): A recent study found high levels of heavy metals in fish from the Cauvery River, warning of serious human health risks from prolonged consumption.

About the Study

• Study Scope: Researchers tested sediments from 18 sites and fish from 10 sites for key heavy metals: chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc.
• Method: The Geoaccumulation Index and Ecological Risk indices with multivariate statistical analysis identified both natural and human sources of pollution.

Key Findings of the Study

• Contaminant Risk: Cadmium and lead were the major pollutants; their high concentrations made fish unsafe for regular human consumption.
• Tissue Variation: Liver and gill tissues accumulated more metals than muscles, though muscle tissues also showed values above safe limits.
• Pollution Sources: Industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage were the primary human sources of heavy metal pollution.
  • Natural Input: Mineral-rich zones in the upper Cauvery basin contributed small metal traces, primarily iron.
• Recommendations: The study calls for limited fish intake, strict effluent control, continuous monitoring, and greater public awareness.

Read More > Heavy Metals and Heavy Metal Toxicity

Read More About > Cauvery River

{GS3 – S&T} ICMR Invites EoI for Nipah Antibody Development *

• Context (TH): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from Indian manufacturers to develop monoclonal antibodies against the Nipah virus.

About ICMR

• ICMR is India’s apex autonomous body for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research. It functions under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Origin: Established in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association, it was renamed ICMR in 1949.
• Mandate: To address national health priorities and translate research into actions for improved public health outcomes.
• Governance: The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chairs the ICMR’s Governing Body, while the Scientific Advisory Board oversees scientific and technical matters.

About Nipah Virus

• Nipah virus (NiV) is a single-stranded RNA virus that causes serious respiratory and neurological diseases in humans.
• It is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted from animals to humans and sometimes between humans.
• Hosts: Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the main natural hosts of the virus.
• Transmission Routes: Through direct contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated food, or contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.

Read More > Nipah Virus

{Prelims – Geo} Avalanche in Nepal

• Context (TOI): An avalanche struck Mount Yalung Ri base camp in Nepal, killing several climbers.

About Mount Yalung Ri

• It is a 5,630-meter-high peak in the Himalayan range, located in the remote Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal.
  • The Valley contains the large Tsho Rolpa glacial lake, which poses a high risk of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
• Mount Yalung Ri is situated in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area near the Nepal–Tibet border.

About Avalanches

• An avalanche is a quick, sudden slide of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope.
• It usually occurs on slopes steeper than 30 degrees when the weight of accumulated snow exceeds the snowpack’s capacity to support it.
• Triggers: Avalanches can be caused by natural factors like heavy snowfall, rapid warming, earthquakes, and rain-on-snow events, or by human activities like skiing, snowboarding, and construction.

Read More > Avalanches

{Prelims – In News} QS Asia University Rankings 2026 *

• Context (IE): The QS Asia University Rankings 2026 have been published, featuring over 1,500 institutions, making it the largest edition to date.

• The University of Hong Kong ranked first, with institutions from Hong Kong, China, and Singapore leading the rankings.

Key Highlights for India

• Representation: India is Asia’s 2^nd most represented higher education system after Mainland China.
• Top Performers: Seven Indian universities ranked among the top 100 — IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, and the University of Delhi.
• Leading Institution: IIT Delhi is India’s highest-ranked institution, positioned 59^th in Asia. It has held the top national position for five consecutive years.
• Performance Indicators: Indian institutions excelled in Papers per Faculty and Staff with PhD metrics but lagged in faculty–student ratio and international student participation.

Read More > QS World University Rankings 2026

{Prelims} One Liners

• In News – Zohran Mamdani (TH): Zohran Mamdani of the Democratic Party has been elected as New York City’s mayor, becoming the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian-origin mayor.