Current Affairs – November 15, 2025

{GS1 – Geo} China’s Rare Earth Export Restrictions

• Context (IE): In November 2025, China imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements, citing national security and non-proliferation reasons.

Impacts of Export Restrictions by China

• Supply Shock: Immediate rise in global prices, dysprosium projected to reach $300/kg.
• Defence Vulnerability: REEs are critical for missile guidance systems, radar, and jet engines; strategic dependency may affect Western defence supplies.
• Diversification Efforts: Japan cut its REE dependence on China from 90% (2010) to 60% (2023) by investing in Australian mines. The US are reviving mining under the Mineral Security Partnership.
• India’s Initiative: Through KABIL (2023), India secured five lithium blocks in Argentina and is exploring REE extraction in Odisha and Kerala.

Way Forward

• Global Collaboration: Diversify rare-earth supply through India–Australia Critical Minerals Alliance and QUAD Rare Earth Working Group.
• Sustainable Mining: Promote ESG-based standards via the UNEP Global Mineral Governance Framework, ensuring low-impact extraction and rehabilitation.
• Recycling & Substitution: Promote urban mining and non-REE magnetic materials (e.g. ferrites).
• Strategic Stockpiling: Establish a National Critical Minerals Reserve, similar to Japan’s JOGMEC model.

Read More> Rare Earth Elements

{GS2 – Governance} Quality Control Orders

• Context (IE): A NITI Aayog report has flagged serious concerns over the government’s aggressive rollout of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across industries.

Key Findings of NITI Aayog

• The majority of QCOs target raw materials and intermediate goods, not finished products.
• In several cases, standards imposed in India are not aligned with global norms.
• Limited BIS-accredited labs lead to testing delays, longer production cycles, and higher costs.

Impact on Imports and Exports

• Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) research shows that imports fall by 13% in the first year after a QCO and by 24% in the long term.
• Exports initially rise 10.6%, but drop 12.8% in the second year, showing no long-term export gains.
• Intermediate goods (e.g., yarn, fibres, steel) show the sharpest decline in imports (up to 30%), affecting domestic supply.

Downstream Industry Impact

• Sectors hit hardest are footwear, electronics, apparel, and employment-intensive clusters.
• Many intermediate inputs are not available domestically, leading to QCOs, shortages & cost escalations.
  • For example, polyester yarn, fibres, and steel now cost 15-30% above global prices.
• Result: Reduced design flexibility, higher production costs, and loss of export competitiveness.

Impact on MSMEs

• MSMEs struggle the most with certification fees, factory inspections, and repeated paperwork.
• Certification and testing costs of ₹10,000-₹15,000 per consignment, with approvals taking months.
• Domestic tariff-area MSMEs (unlike SEZ exporters) cannot bypass QCO restrictions, resulting in a loss of competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

{GS2 – MoHUA} Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme **

• Context (IE): The MoHUA launched Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U 2.0) to fast-track the remediation of legacy waste dumpsites.

• The initiative aligns with the government’s ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsites’ vision and Viksit Bharat 2047, aiming for cleaner and more livable Indian cities.

Objectives and Features of DRAP

• Accelerated Remediation: Fast-tracked approach for scientific capping, biomining, and bio-remediation of waste to meet the 2026 deadline.
• Urban Land Reclamation: Restored land to be repurposed for green zones and utility infrastructure.
• Pollution Control: Reduction in landfill methane emissions and leachate contamination of soil.
• Institutional Strengthening: Establishment of the SBM Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) at the National Institute of Urban Affairs for capacity building and knowledge sharing.
• Private Investment Platform: Launch of Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) by HUDCO to mobilise PPP-based and multilateral financing for sustainable infrastructure.

Challenges in Dumpsite Remediation

• Technical Capacity: Many ULBs lack skilled manpower and advanced biomining technologies, slowing project execution. E.g.: Only 30% of cities have functional waste treatment facilities (CPCB 2024).
• Financial Gaps: The total cost of remediation (~₹10,000 crore) exceeds available CFA allocations, requiring stronger state and PPP participation.
• Fresh Waste Management: Inadequate segregation at source (≈60%) risks re-accumulation of new dumps (CPCB 2024).
• Regulatory Compliance: Only 68% of ULBs have notified by-laws under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and less than 45% have achieved full segregation of waste at source (CPCB 2024)
• Data and Monitoring: Merely 35% of ULBs submit timely remediation progress data to state dashboards, causing delays in Central Financial Assistance (CFA) release and technical review (MoHUA 2025).

Way Forward

• Integrated Waste Governance: Establish Urban Waste Management Cells in each State to coordinate recycling policies. E.g. Maharashtra’s State Swachh Mission model ensures district-level accountability.
• Circular Economy Models: Promote biomining contracts and waste-to-energy projects through UiWIN to attract private capital. E.g. Indore’s 100% landfill-free model.
• Tech Integration: Develop a central digital dashboard tracking dumpsite status and land reuse potential. E.g. Japan’s Smart Waste Portal supports live data monitoring for landfill reclamation.
• Scientific Land Reuse: Convert reclaimed sites into urban forests, solar parks, or logistics hubs, guided by MoEFCC remediation guidelines (2022).
• Community Involvement: Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (2010) formally integrates waste-pickers’ cooperatives (catadores) into municipal waste management, providing social security and training, which helped recycle over 90% of aluminium cans and created 200,000+ green jobs nationwide.

Read More> Waste Management in India

{GS2 – MoC} Cooperative Kumbh 2025

• Context (DDN): The Co-Op Kumbh 2025, an international conference on the urban cooperative credit sector, was recently held in New Delhi.

• It was organised by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, as part of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025.

Key Highlights

• Delhi Declaration 2025: A strategic roadmap for expanding and reforming Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) was adopted to steer future policy and growth.
• UCB Expansion: A plan was announced to establish a UCB in every city with a population over two lakhs within the next five years.
• Digital Platforms: Two new digital platforms, Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan, were launched to help small UCBs in providing online payment and credit services.

Read More > Cooperative Societies in India | Amul and IFFCO Ranked World’s Top Cooperatives

{GS2 – Social Sector} Hepatitis A Vaccine Needs to be Included in UIP

• Context (TH): Public health experts recommend adding Hepatitis A vaccination to India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) due to increasing outbreaks and declining natural immunity.

About Hepatitis A

• It is an acute liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV), a non-enveloped RNA virus.
• The infection is usually short-term and clears completely without causing permanent liver damage, unlike Hepatitis B or C.
• Transmission: Primarily through the faecal-oral route from contaminated food, water, or close contact.
• Symptoms: Adults commonly exhibit fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice, while young children may remain asymptomatic.
• Treatment & Prevention: There is no antiviral cure, and management relies on rest, good nutrition, and adequate hydration. It can be prevented through vaccination.

Key Reasons for Inclusion

• Disease Burden: Hepatitis A causes 10–30% of acute viral hepatitis cases and 5–15% of acute liver failure incidents in India.
• Epidemiological Shift: Improved hygiene reduced exposure in children, but now adolescents are more vulnerable; recent outbreaks in Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi highlight this shift.
• Declining Immunity: Natural immunity has decreased from over 90% to around 50–60% in urban areas.
• Vaccine Advantage: A single-dose live vaccine offers 90–95% protection with 15–20 years of immunity; India’s Biovac-A is a safe, affordable, and effective option.

{GS2 – IR} G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Outreach Session

• Context (BS): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) Outreach Session held in Niagara, Canada.

• Objective: The G7 FMM is an annual platform where G7 foreign ministers discuss coordinated approaches to foreign policy, security, and economic issues.
  • 2025 Presidency: Canada, as the G7 President for 2025, hosted and chaired the meeting.
• Outreach Sessions: These are thematic extensions of the G7 FMM where selected partner countries are invited to contribute wider and diverse perspectives.
  • Dr Jaishankar joined the outreach session on energy security and critical minerals.

Read More > Group of Seven (G7)

{GS3 – Infra} Smart Highways in India

• Context (DDN): India is transforming highways into smart, data-driven corridors under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to improve mobility, efficiency, safety, and transparency.

• Need: India’s road network is the 2^nd largest globally, and its National Highway network has expanded by about 60% in ten years, requiring advanced digital management.

Key Initiatives

• Digital Tolling: The Government is incentivising FASTag usage by doubling toll charges for cash users and charging 25% higher tolls for UPI users.
• MLFF Rollout: India launched its first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Tolling system in Gujarat, enabling fully barrier-free, in-motion toll collection.

• FASTag Pass: A new annual FASTag pass offers a fixed number of trips per year for a one-time fee, simplifying payments for frequent travellers.

• Advanced Planning: The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) functions as India’s primary digital planning tool. NHAI’s Data Lake and NHAI One app facilitate real-time monitoring.

• Citizen-Centric App: The RajmargYatra mobile app improves the commuter experience by allowing users to report safety concerns directly.
• OFC Corridors: A pilot project is installing Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) along 10,000 km of highways to create corridors supporting 5G/6G networks.
• Sustainable Practices: NHAI used recycled materials like fly ash and plastic waste in 2023–24 to promote environmentally sustainable road construction.

{GS3 – Infra} Indian Railways to Install AI Freight Safety System

• Context (IE): Indian Railways is planning to install an AI-based Locking Monitoring System ‘DRISHTI’ to improve the safety of freight trains.

• Objective: To identify unlocked or tampered doors on moving freight wagons, which pose significant security threats.
• Institutional Partnership: It is a joint effort between the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation and Development Foundation (IITG-TIDF).
• Key Benefit: The automated monitoring system decreases reliance on manual checks, thereby reducing human error and improving overall freight management.

Key Features of the DRISHTI System

• Real-Time Monitoring: The system uses AI-powered cameras and sensors to monitor and analyse door-lock conditions even when trains are moving.
• Automated Alerts: The system sends instant alerts to the operators when it detects unlocked, open, or tampered wagon doors.
• Digital Analytics: The system uses digital logs and analytics to provide real-time updates, aiding data-driven decision-making.

Read More > Railway Safety in India | India’s Railway Sector

{GS3 – Envi} Pan-India Vulture Assessment Report by Wildlife Institute of India *

• Context (DTE): The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has released the 2025 ‘Pan-India Assessment and Monitoring of Endangered Species – Vultures’ report.

• Scope: The report represents India’s first systematic, nationwide assessment of the nesting patterns and population status of four resident Critically Endangered vulture species.
  • Species Covered: (a) Indian Vultures, (b) White-rumped Vultures, (c) Slender-billed Vultures, and (d) Red-headed Vultures.

Key Findings of the Report

• Site Loss: Vultures have disappeared from 71.7% of 425 historical nesting sites, leaving only 120 active. The discovery of 93 new sites increases the total number of active nesting sites to 213.
• Population Estimate: With fewer than 2,500 nests, this indicates a total breeding population of ~4,800 vultures across India.
• Protected Areas: Over 60% of all active sites are located within India’s Protected Area network. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together account for 63% of the vulture nests.
• Carcass Absence: Indian and White-rumped vultures are mostly absent from carcass dumps, while migratory Eurasian Griffons now dominate these feeding areas.
• Major Threats: Habitat loss, competition with feral dogs, electrocution from power lines, and poisoning from veterinary drugs like diclofenac.

Species-Specific Findings

1. Indian Vulture: Found at 110 active sites but extinct in 30% of historic ones, with around 2,758 breeding adults mainly in central India.
2. White-rumped Vulture: Once the most common species, now confined to 69 active sites, with 67% of its 1,890 adults concentrated in the Kangra Valley.
3. Slender-billed Vulture: Disappeared from all 47 historic sites and is now limited to only 12 new ones, with barely 40 individuals left.
   • Their nests are mainly found on tall, broad-canopied Silk Cotton trees in riverine floodplains.
4. Red-headed Vulture: Absent from all 10 earlier known sites and found at only five new ones, accounting for just 2.3% of total active nesting areas.

Read More> Indian Vulture Crisis

{GS3 – Envi} India’s Slowing CO₂ Emission Growth

• Context (IE): The Global Carbon Project (GCP) 2025 reports India’s fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions to grow by just 1.4% in 2025, down from 4% in 2024.

Drivers Behind the CO2 Emission Slowdown

• Early & Strong Monsoon: Reduced cooling and irrigation demand lowered peak power load. E.g. First half of 2025 power-sector CO₂ emissions showed a decline for the first time (CREA analysis).
• Renewables Uptick: Solar and wind additions met incremental demand without increasing coal use; E.g. India added >20 GW RE capacity in 2024–25, easing coal generation growth.
• Demand-Side Efficiency: Efficiency gains reduced fossil dependence; E.g., UJALA-led LED adoption cut lighting load by ~48 TWh annually.
• Policy Push: Green hydrogen, storage, and domestic solar manufacturing boosted low-carbon options; E.g.  National Green Hydrogen Mission and PM-KUSUM Scheme.
• Global Economic Conditions: Slower industrial output moderated fossil-fuel use; E.g. global emissions rose only 1.1% in 2025 despite record energy demand (GCP).

Significance of the CO2 Emission Slowdown

• Energy Transition Signal: Slower CO₂ growth reflects reduced coal dependence as renewables expand rapidly; supports India’s 500 GW RE target by 2030.
• Lower Carbon Intensity: Decadal growth fell from 6.4% (2005–14) → 3.6% (2015–24), showing structural improvements in energy efficiency.
• Global Standing: India’s growth (1.4%) is lower than the US (1.9%), strengthening India’s narrative as a responsible emitter despite rising development needs.
• Policy Credibility: Supports India’s NDC goals, 45% emissions intensity reduction by 2030 and validates schemes like PAT, UJALA, and FAME-II.
• Climate Diplomacy: Positions India as a bridge between developing and developed nations, bolstering calls for climate finance & energy equity.

Read More > Overview on India’s Climate Policy

{Prelims – Species} India–Botswana Cheetah Translocation Pact *

• Context (TH): India and Botswana formally announced a pact for the translocation of eight cheetahs during Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to the country.

• This initiative is part of India’s ongoing effort to restore cheetah populations, under “Project Cheetah.”
• The cheetahs to be translocated will be kept in a quarantine facility at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana, before they arrive in India.

About Botswana

• Location: Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, with Gaborone as its capital.
• Borders: It shares borders with Namibia (west and north), Zambia and Zimbabwe (northeast), and South Africa (southeast and south).
• Geographical Features: More than 70% of its land area is covered by the Kalahari Desert.
• Biodiversity: The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located here; it is also home to the world’s largest population of African elephants.

{Prelims – Species} Crassicaulis middletonii

• Context (NEN): The Botanical Survey of India discovered a new flowering plant, Crassicaulis middletonii, in the evergreen forests of Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district.

• Significance: The discovery represents both a new species and a new genus record for India.
  • Genus Record: It is India’s first record of the genus Crassicaulis, extending its known range nearly 12,000 km westward from its only known species in China.
• Habitat Preference: The plant thrives along stream banks and near small waterfalls in evergreen forests at about 800 metres elevation.
• Appearance: It grows up to 30 cm tall, with slender stems and white flowers tinged with pink.
• Threats: Pollution, landslides, and flash floods pose risks to its fragile habitat.
• ‘Biogeographical Bridge’: The discovery highlights the Eastern Himalaya’s role as a biodiversity corridor linking Indian and Southeast Asian floral lineages.