Current Affairs – September 25, 2025

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Federal Structure} Ladakh Statehood Protest

Context (IE): Ladakh’s protest for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule became violent in Leh amid dissatisfaction with central regulations under Article 240.

Central Regulations for Ladakh Under Article 240

Domicile-based recruitment for Govt. jobs requires 15 years of residence or 7 years of local schooling.
Domicile certificates are issued by the Tehsildar, with appeals going to the Deputy Commissioner.
There is an 85% reservation for SC, ST, and OBC, which extends to professional institutes.
English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi languages are officially recognized, with support for Shina, Brokskat, Balti, and Ladakhi.
One-third of seats are reserved for women in the Leh and Kargil Hill Councils on a rotational basis.

Factors Behind Ladakh Unrest

Legislative Deficit: Since 2019, Ladakh has had no legislative assembly. It has reduced democratic participation and shifted power from elected representatives to central officials.
Constitutional Security: The regulations under Article 240 are revocable executive orders. In contrast, the Sixth Schedule guarantees tribal autonomy and legislative rights.
Land Ownership: Without limits on outsider ownership, the tribal population faces ecological threats from unchecked commercial tourism and resource exploitation.
Unemployment: The graduate unemployment rate of 26.5 per cent, along with the absence of a Public Service Commission, increases discontent, even with the new 85 per cent domicile reservations.
Cultural Identity: Although the Bhoti and Purgi languages have been recognised, their lack of integration into education and governance weakens the protection of Ladakh’s tribal identity.

About Ladakh

Strategic Location: Ladakh is situated between the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. It hosts India’s highest-altitude borders with both Pakistan and China.
Demographics: About 97% of the population is Scheduled Tribes, making it India’s most tribal Union Territory, characterised by a blend of Buddhist and Muslim cultures.
Governance: Since 2019, Ladakh has operated as a Union Territory without a legislature. It is managed through the Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils with limited autonomy.
Two Districts: Leh is India’s second-largest district by area, following Kutch in Gujarat. Kargil includes the remote, high-altitude Zanskar Valley near the Line of Control.
Extreme Landscape: Known as India’s “cold desert,” it features Umling La, the highest motorable pass in the world, and the Siachen Glacier, the second-longest non-polar glacier worldwide.
Natural Resources: Ladakh receives the highest solar radiation levels in India and possesses significant geothermal potential.

{GS2 – Polity – Inter-State Disputes} Almatti Dam

Context (TH): Karnataka’s proposal to raise the height of the Almatti Dam has reignited the long-standing Krishna water disputes & contradicts the Supreme Court’s order setting its Full Reservoir Level.

Karnataka claims the raise will utilise surplus water flowing to the sea under the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II awards, but the plan remains stayed by the Supreme Court.

Full Reservoir Level (FRL): The maximum elevation a reservoir can safely hold during normal operations without requiring any spillway discharge. Spillways are safety channels that release excess water.

About Almatti Dam

Almatti Dam, also known as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, is located on the Krishna River in northern Karnataka. It is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Project.
Capped FRL: It was initially designed with a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 524.25 m, but its height was reduced to 519.6 m by the Supreme Court to prevent any further increases.
Multi-Purpose: The twin powerhouses produce hydroelectricity before releasing water into the Narayanpur reservoir. It supports irrigation, drinking water supply, and helps control floods.

Ongoing Issues

Judicial Challenge: Karnataka’s attempt to acquire land for the height increase raises questions about judicial authority and could lead to new legal troubles.
Telangana’s Objection: Increasing Almatti’s height reduces Telangana’s share of Krishna water and worsens water scarcity in its drought-prone southern districts.
Maharashtra’s Concern: A higher reservoir level could lead to flooding in villages in Maharashtra’s border areas and reduce water flow downstream.

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} CSIR Scheme on Capacity Building and Human Resource Development

Context (PIB): The Union Cabinet has approved the scheme on the Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD) for the 15^th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).

The CBHRD is an umbrella program designed to strengthen India’s R&D ecosystem.
Coverage: Implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), it will include all national institutions and universities, providing STEMM career opportunities under expert mentorship.
- STEMM includes Science, Technology & Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical Sciences.
Components: It includes four sub-schemes – doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, extramural and emeritus research support, national scientific awards, and travel or symposia grants.
Significance: The scheme aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and helps improve India’s global innovation performance.

About CSIR

The CSIR, established in 1942 under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is India’s leading autonomous R&D organisation.
Structure: Prime Minister serves as ex officio President, with operations overseen by a governing body and guided by a scientific advisory board.
Key Achievements: It has developed India’s first parallel computer (1986), sequenced the first Indian human genome (2009), and established the world’s first Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL).

TKDL: It is the world’s first digital library of traditional knowledge aimed at preventing biopiracy of India’s traditional medicinal knowledge by documenting it as prior art.

{GS2 – IR – UN} 80^th Session of the UN General Assembly

Context (DTH): The general debate of the 80^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York focused on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The UNGA 80 marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), 15 years of UN Women (2010), and 80 years of the establishment of the United Nations (1945).
The recently appointed General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock highlighted the session’s theme, stressing the significance of multilateralism in the face of global divisions.
Key Highlight: UN Secretary-General António Guterres promoted the UN80 reform initiative to improve the efficiency, agility, and accountability in the United Nations framework.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) is a landmark global agreement that sets goals for gender equality in 12 key areas, including health, education, and political participation and remains the most comprehensive international blueprint for promoting women’s rights.

About UN80

UN80 is a reform effort launched in 2025 to improve the UN’s effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in addressing global issues.
Workstreams: Reforms are categorised into three areas — reviewing existing mandates, restructuring United Nations institutions, and aligning operations across the global system.

Read More About > United Nations

{GS2 – IR – US-China} China to Launch K Visa Amid H1-B Crackdown

Context (IE): China has introduced the K visa for young foreign science and technology talent, amid the USA’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications.

About China’s K Visa

Eligibility: Foreign graduates from reputable global or Chinese universities with STEM degrees, as well as professionals involved in STEM research or education, are eligible to apply.
Key Features: The K visa offers greater flexibility in entry and duration, expands permitted activities, and removes the requirement for local employer sponsorship that is necessary with other Chinese visas.

STEM stands for the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Key Difference with H-1B: Unlike the capped and employer-sponsored H-1B, the K visa has no cap, is cheaper, and allows free movement across jobs and projects.

Read More > H-1B Visa Fee Hike

{GS3 – IE – Taxes} GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)

Context (IE): The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) was formally launched and is set to begin hearings from December 2025.

It will use a staggered system, prioritising older pending cases before taking up new ones.

About Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT)

Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is a quasi-judicial body created under Section 109 of the Central GST (CGST) Act, 2017, to settle disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities.

Powers and Process

It acts as a second-tier forum for resolving conflicts between taxpayers and tax authorities. It is also the ‘first common body’ for settling disputes between the Centre and the States.
- Appeals must be filed within 3 months of receiving an order from the First Appellate Authority.
- The GSTAT Rules, 2025, require all appeals to be filed online through the GSTAT portal.
Not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, it adheres to the principles of natural justice and can regulate its own procedures.
The tribunal has similar powers to a civil court. It can summon witnesses and enforce its orders.

Structure and composition

Principal Bench in New Delhi, headed by a President (former SC Judge/HC Chief Justice) to hear “place of supply” cases.
31 State Benches across 45 cities with 2 Judicial Members & 2 Technical Members (Centre & State);
- President and Judicial Members appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

The GSTAT e-Courts Portal, developed by GSTN in collaboration with NIC, is a digital platform that enables taxpayers to file appeals, track case progress, and participate in online hearings.

{GS3 – IE – Exports} 11 Years of Make in India

Context (PIB): PM Modi commemorated the 11^thanniversary of the Make in India initiative, highlighting its role in transforming India’s economy and entrepreneurship.

About Make in India

Make in India is a flagship program of the Government of India, launched in 2014, to make India a global design and manufacturing hub.
It is led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the motto ‘Vocal for Local’.
Objectives: To achieve a 12-14% annual industrial growth rate, generate 100 million jobs, and increase the manufacturing sector’s share to 25% of GDP by 2025.
Four Key Pillars: New processes for ease of business, new infrastructure for industry, new sectors for investment, and a new mindset where the government acts as facilitator rather than regulator.
Make in India 2.0: The initiative was expanded in 2021 to include 27 priority sectors.
Major Initiatives: It is supported by measures like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes, the PM GatiShakti, India Semiconductor Mission (2021), and the National Logistics Policy (2022), among others.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} India’s Tea Industry

Context (TH): At the India International Tea Convention held recently, India’s potential to emerge as a global superpower in the tea industry was highlighted.

India is the second-largest producer and consumer of tea globally.

Opportunities for India

Quality Focus: Higher quality tea could bring better export realisation, as seen in Sri Lanka’s success.
Market Expansion: Explore underserved regions like South America and Africa.
Domestic Growth: If per capita consumption rises to just 1 kg/year, India’s domestic market could absorb the entire production.

Challenges for India

Export revenue per kg remains lower compared to competitors.
Heavy reliance on traditional markets with limited diversification.
Per capita consumption is currently 840 g/year, far behind Turkey’s 3 kg/year (the highest globally).

Tea Board of India

It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, established under Tea Act, 1953.
The Board consists of 31 members, and it is reconstituted every 3 years.
Key functions include providing financial and technical assistance to tea growers, conducting market surveys, and implementing welfare schemes for tea plantation workers.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE)

Context (TH): The Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE), with World Bank support, has introduced a new community-centric approach to mangrove restoration.

A key innovation is the direct transfer of World Bank funds to village-level mangrove councils, enabling local participation in decision-making.

About Mangroves

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs typical of estuarine and intertidal regions, which means they grow in areas where freshwater and saltwater meet.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs found in estuarine and intertidal regions, growing in areas where freshwater and saltwater meet.

Mangrove Cover in India (ISFR 2023)

India’s mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 sq. km, about 0.15% of the country’s geographical area, with a net decrease of 7.43 sq. km since ISFR 2021.
State-Wise Change: Gujarat declined by 36.39 sq. km; Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra increased by 13.01 sq. km and 12.39 sq. km, respectively
Distribution: West Bengal has the largest share, ~42.45% of India’s mangroves, followed by Gujarat (~23.66%) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (~12.39%).

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Biodiversity Survey at Periyar Tiger Reserve

Context (TH): A biodiversity survey at Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala added 12 new species, reaffirming its status as a “living laboratory” of biodiversity.

Findings of the Survey

Eight butterflies, two odonates, and two resident bird subspecies were documented for the first time.
Butterfly Species: PTR hosts 207 species, with 8 new additions – Sahyadri Grass Yellow, Plain Orange-tip, Yellowjack Sailer, Lankan Plum Judy, Banded Awl, Hedge Hopper, Small Palm Bob, and Indian Dart.
Odonate Diversity: 108 species recorded, including two new species – Sahyadri Torrent-Hawk and Coorg Torrent-Hawk.
Bird Subspecies: Newly documented species include Bourdillon’s Blackbird and White-throated Ground Thrush.

About Periyar Tiger Reserve

Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) is situated in the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills of the southern Western Ghats, near the border with Tamil Nadu.
It has a hilly and uneven landscape, with Kottamala (~2000 m) being the highest point.
Two main river systems drain the reserve: the Periyar and Pamba rivers.
- Periyar Lake, created in 1895 by the Mullaperiyar Dam, is an important water source within PTR.
Vegetation includes a variety of tropical evergreen, deciduous, grassland, & montane shola forests.
Major tribes in the area are the Mannans, Paliyans, Uralis, and Mala-arayas.
Major Faunas: Tigers, elephants, gaur, Nilgiri langurs, lion-tailed macaques, Malabar civets, etc.
Major Flora: Teak, rosewood, sandalwood, etc. It has over 170 medicinal and ~145 orchid species.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Agni-Prime Tested from Rail-Based Mobile Launcher System

Context (TH): India successfully conducted a test launch of the Agni-Prime Missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system.

The launch system on the moving train offers cross-country mobility and a quick response time.

About Agni Prime

Agni Prime is a nuclear-capable medium-range variant of the Agni class of Ballistic missiles. It has a range of up to 2000 km.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it features a two-stage solid propellant canisterised missile and is the lightest among all Agni variants.
It uses Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing one missile to release several warheads. This enables it to strike multiple targets over a large area in a single launch.
The missile employs a cold launch system for quicker preparation and supports launches in salvo mode.

Source: TH

Canisterised Missile: A missile kept in a hermetically sealed canister to prevent corrosion, ensure long-term preparedness, and facilitate mobile launches.
Cold Launch: A gas generator pushes the missile out of its canister, and the rocket motor ignites only after reaching a safe distance from the launcher.
Salvo Mode: Multiple missiles are launched in quick succession or simultaneously to saturate defences and increase the probability of a successful strike.

{Prelims – Health – Events} Global Food Regulators Summit 2025

Context (PIB): The 3^rdGlobal Food Regulators Summit 2025 is being organised in New Delhi by FSSAI under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Theme: “Evolving Food Systems – Yatha Annam Tatha Manah”, highlights the strong connection between food quality and the mental as well as societal well-being.

FSSAI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which regulates food safety in India.

Objective: To provide a global platform, bringing together international organisations like WHO, Codex, FAO, EFSA, and national stakeholders to promote harmonisation, innovation, & explore new technologies.

Read More > India’s Food Safety Standards

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Centre Extends CDS Gen Anil Chauhan’s Tenure

Context (TOI): The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, extended till 2026.

About the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

The CDS was proposed by the Kargil Review Committee (1999) and recommended by the 2001 Group of Ministers; reaffirmed by the Shekatkar Committee (2016), it was finally established in 2019.
First CDS: General Bipin Rawat served as the first CDS appointed in 2019 until he died in 2021.
Appointment: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by the PM, appoints the CDS.
Tenure: Serves until attaining the age of 65 years and has no fixed service term.
- The Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs serve for three years or till age 62, whichever is earlier.

Read More About Chief of Defence Staff

{Prelims – In News} Night-Time Lights as an Economic Growth Indicator

Context (IE): The Bihar government conducted a study (2017-2023) using satellite-based night-time light (NTL) data to assess economic growth.

Significance of Night-Time Lights

NTL serves as a non-traditional yet reliable indicator of economic activity, especially in areas with weak conventional data.
Enables block-level mapping of development, helping identify priority regions for policy intervention.
The inclusion of formerly insurgency-affected districts among “emerging districts” reflects inclusive regional growth.

{Prelims} One Liners

In News – Viksit Bharat Buildathon (HT): The Department of School Education and Literacy and Atal Innovation Mission launched ‘Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025’ for students in Classes 6-12 to design & build solutions. Four Themes: Vocal for local, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, & Samriddh Bharat.
IR Events – Defence Manufacturing Facility (TH): Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has opened a new manufacturing facility for wheeled armoured platforms in Berrechid, Morocco. This is the first overseas defence manufacturing facility set up by an Indian company.
Sports – Inline Speed Skating (DDN): India secured 5^th place (Colombia: first) at the 73^rd Inline Speed Skating World Championships 2025 in Beidaihe, China. The team earned five medals: three Gold and two Bronze.