CURRENT-AFFAIRS

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

Context:

In the current global landscape, U.S.-Iran tensions, the Russia-Ukraine war, and conflicts in West Asia have ignited a serious debate over the utility of international law. While some scholars perceive this as the onset of a 'norm-free world,' international law experts argue that it is not dead but remains 'resilient.'

Prohibition of the Use of Force and the Crisis of Article 2(4)

Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force or the threat of force in international relations.

• Historical Perspective: Declaring the death of international law is 'intellectually lazy.' Even during the Cold War (U.S. vs. Soviet Union) in the 1970s, lawyers like Thomas Franck had considered it dead.
• Past Violations: Wars over the last four decades including Afghanistan (1979 and 2001), Falklands, the Gulf War, Iraq (2003), Syria, and Libya have repeatedly battered this article but could not eliminate it.
• The Only Framework for Accountability: It remains the only legal and normative framework today for holding the powerful accountable.

Rise of Authoritarianism: A Qualitative Change

The challenge facing international law today is different from the past:

• Lack of Justification: In the past, superpowers justified their use of force through 'legal interpretations' (such as the expansion of self-defense), which maintained the possibility of dialogue.
• Current Arbitrariness (Svechhacharita): In today's 'populist-authoritarian' world, nations are directly bypassing international rules instead of interpreting them (e.g., American claims over Venezuelan oil). This behavior poses a greater threat to international law than military attacks themselves.

Impact of 'Invisible' International Law

International law is not limited to war and peace alone. A vast portion of it operates 'silently' to manage the world order:

• Diverse Domains: It is flourishing as a 'social phenomenon' in areas such as civil aviation, maritime resources, global trade (WTO), investment, human rights, and climate change.
• Significant Treaties: Recent developments like the 'Pandemic Agreement' and the 'Free Trade Agreement' (FTA) negotiations between India and the European Union are living proof of this.
• Impact on Daily Life: It is this law that ensures the secure flow of goods, people, and communication networks across national borders.

Judicialization of International Relations

• The increasing number of international courts worldwide (such as the ICC, International Criminal Court, and regional human rights courts) indicates a rising demand for legal avenues to resolve disputes. These institutions provide the 'agency' (capacity) for powerless nations and people to voice their concerns.

Relevance for India:

• For a nation like India, which is a strong proponent of a 'rule-based world order,' the existence of international law is extremely essential. It not only provides security to smaller countries but also serves as the foundation for global stability. We must make continuous efforts to save this system from destruction and to improve it.

Conclusion

Sermonizing on the death of international law only serves the interests of global bullies. Just as we do not abandon a 'liberal constitutional order' upon the arrival of a dictatorial regime in a country, the violation of rules at the global level does not mean the 'end of law.'

General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

Context

The Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recently released by Statistics Secretary Saurabh Garg represent a significant turning point in India's economic trajectory. Based on the new series, the growth rate for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) has been revised upward to 7.6%.

Key Statistical Changes and Base Year

• Change in Base Year: To increase the accuracy of economic calculations, the base year has been shifted from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
• Improvement in Representation: According to Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran, new data sets have been added to the new series to enhance the granularity and representativeness of the data.
• Revision of Nominal GDP: Nominal GDP for the 2023-26 period has been revised downwards, which will directly impact critical macroeconomic indicators such as the Fiscal Deficit-to-GDP ratio and the Debt-to-GDP ratio.

Comparative Detail of Growth Rates

The details of annual GDP growth (at constant prices) according to the table are as follows:

Sectoral Performance Analysis

A. Secondary Sector: The Main Engine of the Economy

• An impressive growth of 9.5% is expected in this sector.
• Manufacturing: A massive growth of 12.5% is estimated, compared to 8.3% last year. This signals 'Make in India' and increasing investment in the manufacturing sector.
• Construction: A slight decline in growth rate (from 7.1% to 6.9%) has been observed.

B. Tertiary Sector: Continuous Expansion

• The service sector is estimated to grow by 8.9%.
• Double-digit growth has been recorded in the Trade, Hotels, Transport, and Communication group (10.3%) and Financial & IT services (10%).

C. Primary Sector: A Matter of Concern

• A significant slowdown has been recorded in the primary sector, where the growth rate is estimated to fall from 5% to 2.8%.
• Agriculture: The growth rate of the agriculture sector has dropped from 4.3% to 2.5%, which could pose a challenge for rural demand and food inflation.
• Mining: A decline from 11.2% to 5% has been observed.

Quarterly Performance (FY26)

The development journey of the current financial year reflects continuity:

• First Quarter (Q1): 6.7%
• Second Quarter (Q2): 8.4%
• Third Quarter (Q3): 7.8%

Analysis: India's Economic Condition

Economic Status

• Revival of Manufacturing Sector: The unprecedented 12.5% growth in the manufacturing sector indicates that India is moving from being an 'assembly hub' to a 'production hub.' This growth is a result of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and the successful implementation of PLI schemes.
• Robustness of Service Sector: Growth of over 10% in Trade, Hotels, and IT services clarifies that urban demand and digital exports remain strong pillars of India's economy.
• Impact of Base Year (2022-23): The new base year presents a realistic picture of the economy, incorporating post-pandemic digital shifts and new data sets. However, the reduction in nominal GDP has posed new challenges for fiscal management.

Major Concerns and Challenges

• Slowdown in Agriculture Sector: The drop in the primary sector's growth rate from 5% to 2.8% (and agriculture to 2.5%) is worrying for the rural economy. This not only affects rural consumption but also increases the risk of food inflation.
• Fiscal Indicators: The downward revision of nominal GDP may make it difficult to keep the fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio within the government's set targets (such as 4.5% or less).
• Stability of Construction Sector: The 6.9% growth in the construction sector is lower than the previous year, which may indicate a slight stagnation in the pace of infrastructure projects.

Corrective Requirements and the Path Ahead

The following steps are essential to take the economy to a sustained growth rate of 8%+:

1. Structural Reforms in Agriculture: It is necessary to promote micro-irrigation and 'precision farming' to reduce dependence on the monsoon. Simultaneously, farmers' income must be improved by increasing investment in agri-processing.
2. Fiscal Consolidation: Given the reduction in nominal GDP, the government should focus on expanding the tax base and non-tax revenue (such as disinvestment).
3. Boosting Rural Demand: There is a need to increase purchasing power in rural areas through schemes like MGNREGA and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure balanced growth.
4. Promoting Private Investment: Along with government investment, policy continuity and further improvements in 'Ease of Doing Business' are required to encourage private sector investment.

Conclusion

The Indian economy remains strong on the back of manufacturing and services. Based on the new series, the 7.6% growth rate of FY26 moves India toward the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. However, the slowdown in the agriculture sector is a serious structural challenge. If India maintains the momentum of its secondary and tertiary sectors while overcoming the hurdles of the primary sector, India's growth story will be more inclusive and resilient in the medium term. Changing the base year to 2022-23 will now bring GDP figures closer to current economic realities. Nevertheless, the reduction in nominal GDP may pose a challenge for the government in achieving fiscal deficit targets.

Context:

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi on Friday officially commissioned the fourth indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), 'INS Anjadip', into the Navy at the Chennai Port.

Key Points:

• Indigenous Construction: This vessel has been built at Kattupalli by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), symbolizing the growing strength of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.
• Strategic Objective: The vessel is primarily designed to detect, track, and neutralize enemy submarines in coastal waters.
• Multidimensional Role: It is capable of successfully undertaking coastal surveillance, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
• Historic Name: It has been named to carry forward the valour and strategic significance of the historic 'Anjadip' island located off the coast of Karwar.
• Trust in India: According to Admiral Tripathi, this ship demonstrates that India’s self-reliance has now moved beyond 'Make in India' to the stage of 'Trust in India'.

What is INS Anjadip?

It is a state-of-the-art Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) of the Indian Navy. Its salient features are as follows:

• Size and Structure: It has a total length of 77 metres and has been engineered for combat effectiveness in shallow waters.
• Weapon System: It is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and an advanced Combat Management System.
• Sensor Technology: It is fitted with modern shallow-water sonars and an indigenous sensor package, which are precise in identifying threats hidden beneath the sea.
• Combat Skill: It has been specifically prepared to address the challenges of the littoral combat environment, such as agility and precision.

Conclusion:

The commissioning of INS Anjadip not only strengthens the Navy’s anti-submarine capabilities but also serves as evidence of the growing sovereignty of India’s indigenous design and industrial ecosystem on a global scale.