Current Affairs 02 August 2025

Content

1. The Business of Selling Babies
2. Tamil Nadu’s Engine of Progress: Education for All
3. ISRO’s PSLV-C61 Failure and Upcoming BlueBird Launch
4. Himachal on the Brink: Supreme Court Flags Ecological Collapse
5. Tariffs, Trump & Tensions: Navigating India’s Trade and Strategic Balancing Act

The business of selling babies

Introduction and Background

• India was once a major hub for commercial surrogacy due to medical tourism and regulatory loopholes.
• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 banned commercial surrogacy and sought to regulate ART practices.
• A 2024 incident involving a Secunderabad-based fertility clinic exposed a baby-selling racket under the guise of surrogacy and IVF, prompting legal and ethical scrutiny.

Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice), GS 3(Internal Security-Organised Crimes)

Key Facts and Case Highlights

• A Rajasthan couple was charged ₹30 lakh and handed over a baby unrelated to their own gametes; DNA tests revealed the fraud.
• Police raids at Universal Srushti Fertility Centre uncovered a network of egg and sperm donors, surrogate mothers, and forged medical records.
• The clinic operated without a valid license and violated both the Surrogacy Act and ART Act.
• Multiple women, including surrogates from poor states, were exploited, unpaid, and even abandoned post-delivery.
• A woman from Odisha died while escaping sexual assault, highlighting physical and sexual abuse risks.
• Brokers and clinics were found to be operating across multiple states in a coordinated network.

Governance and Social Justice Dimensions

• Failure in enforcement of Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 and ART (Regulation) Act, 2021.
• Weak monitoring by State Appropriate Authorities allowed unlicensed clinics to function.
• Reflects poor coordination between medical councils, local police, and regulatory bodies.
• Ethical concerns regarding the treatment of poor women as surrogacy supply sources.
• Violation of reproductive rights, right to dignity, and child protection norms.

Science and Technology, Internal Security Dimensions

• ART and IVF technologies were misused due to the absence of real-time gamete tracking and verification.
• Lack of tech tools like RI Witness allowed sample swapping and fake parentage.
• The scam shows how reproductive technology without ethical safeguards leads to child trafficking.
• Highlights emerging threats in the form of tech-enabled organized crime in the healthcare sector.

Society Dimensions

• The case underscores how medical tourism and commodification of childbirth impact societal norms and vulnerable populations.
• Surrogacy, which can be empowering, turned exploitative due to lack of informed consent and economic coercion.
• Shows the intersection of gender, class, and regional inequalities in reproductive health access.

Ethics and Integrity Dimensions

• The doctor in charge had a history of malpractice but resumed work due to absence of long-term accountability.
• Gross violation of medical ethics, informed consent, and the principle of non-maleficence.
• Local complicity by lodges and brokers shows the erosion of ethical values in both private and public domains.
• Treating children as saleable commodities challenges the basic tenets of human dignity and integrity in healthcare.

Legal and Policy Dimensions

• The clinic violated sections of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 — specifically sections banning commercial surrogacy.
• Also violated the ART Act, 2021, which mandates licensed clinics, donor regulation, and traceability.
• Criminal charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Sections 61, 316, 335, 336, 340) for conspiracy, fraud, and trafficking.

Recommendations and Way Forward

• Create a real-time, Aadhaar-linked national registry for IVF and surrogacy clinics to track licenses and patient records.
• Mandate digital gamete tracking systems like RI Witness in all ART facilities.
• Strengthen the enforcement capacity of State Appropriate Authorities through audits and inter-state intelligence sharing.
• Establish fast-track courts for surrogacy and ART-related violations to ensure timely justice.
• Develop a victim compensation framework for abandoned surrogate mothers and defrauded parents.
• Introduce whistleblower protection and community-based reporting systems in medical zones.

Conclusion

The Telangana surrogacy scam reveals the gap between law and practice in India’s reproductive healthcare sector. Despite a robust legal framework, the absence of technological safeguards, ethical accountability, and administrative vigilance has turned reproductive services into a front for human trafficking. A multidimensional approach — combining legal reform, digital oversight, institutional strengthening, and ethical enforcement — is essential to safeguard reproductive rights and public trust.

Tamil Nadu’s engine of progress: education for all

Introduction / Background

• The article reflects on Tamil Nadu’s sustained efforts to use education as a tool for social inclusion, particularly for students from historically disadvantaged communities.
• It is contextualised around a recent development: 135 students from Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Schools in Tamil Nadu have secured admission into some of India’s most prestigious higher education institutions.
• The article credits these achievements to systemic policy design, administrative consistency, and a long-standing commitment to social justice through education.

Relevance : GS 2(Education , Governance)

Historical Context and Legacy

• Early 20th Century: Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency) pioneered education-led welfare with:
  • 1920: Launch of India’s first mid-day meal in a school at Thousand Lights, Chennai.
  • 1921: Introduction of a Communal Government Order (GO) ensuring representation in education and public employment.
• These policies, originally influenced by the Justice Party’s emphasis on equity, later evolved under successive governments into institutional frameworks promoting access to education.

Key Policy Instruments and Schemes

Recent Outcomes (2025 Highlights)

• 135 students from marginalized communities admitted to elite institutions such as:
  • IITs, NITs, NLUs, NIFTs, Miranda House, and other top universities.
  • All 6 ST-reserved seats at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University were secured by Tamil Nadu students.
• Students were felicitated with laptops and appreciation certificates, recognizing both their merit and the policy ecosystem that supported them.

Administrative Interventions Supporting These Outcomes

• Entrance Exam Preparation: Special training and mentorship to help students compete nationally.
• Financial Incentives: Full or partial fee waivers, scholarships, and support for entrance exam fees.
• Basic Learning Tools: Free textbooks, uniforms, and digital learning kits for school students.
• Nutrition & Welfare: In-school meals and residential hostels for those from remote areas.
• Skilling & Career Support: Vocational programs to bridge education and employability.

Educational Indicators and Performance

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education:
  • Tamil Nadu: 47%
  • National Average: 28.4%
• GER for Women:
  • Tamil Nadu: 47.3%
  • National Average: 28.5%
• These numbers reflect not just enrolment, but also inclusive participation in higher education, across gender and caste lines.

Systemic Approach over Isolated Successes

• The article stresses that these are not isolated instances of success, but outcomes of structured interventions implemented over decades.
• By starting early (school-level) and sustaining support till higher education, Tamil Nadu has built a continuum of care and opportunity for students.

Broader Governance Philosophy (As Interpreted in the Article)

• The model of governance aligns with:
  • Equity-driven service delivery rather than exclusive focus on test-based merit.
  • Balancing access, quality, and social inclusion in educational outcomes.
• While rooted in regional history, these efforts are described as replicable for other Indian states seeking inclusive development.

Critical Evaluation and Outlook

• Strengths:
  • Data-backed outcomes in GER and elite institution access.
  • Holistic integration of health, nutrition, gender equity, and education policy.
  • Clear alignment between policy design and social goals.

• Challenges (noted briefly or implicitly):
  • Ensuring long-term support through college and into employment or research pathways.
  • Tackling infrastructure and digital divides in rural or tribal belts.
  • Maintaining political and fiscal sustainability of welfare-heavy education schemes.

Conclusion

• Tamil Nadu’s recent achievements in educational inclusion reflect the maturity of a century-long effort combining policy, politics, and administrative innovation.
• The success of students from Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Schools is both an individual and systemic win, suggesting that with adequate state support, social mobility through education is achievable.
• The approach illustrates how education policy can become a lever for inclusive growth, especially when backed by historical commitment and consistent governance.

ISRO’s PSLV-C61 Failure and Upcoming BlueBird Launch

Background & Context

• PSLV-C61/EOS-09 Mission:
  • Launched: May 18, 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
  • Objective: Place the EOS-09 Earth Observation Satellite in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit.
  • Platform: Launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C61), ISRO’s most reliable launch vehicle with over 95% success rate.
  • Outcome: Mission failed due to a snag in Stage 3 of the rocket.

• Significance of PSLV:
  • Often referred to as ISRO’s “trusted workhorse” with 59 previous successful missions before C61.
  • Used for launching a wide range of satellites, including remote sensing, navigation, and commercial payloads.

Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)

Failure Analysis of PSLV-C61/EOS-09

• Failure Details:
  • PSLV-C61 had a perfect lift-off and functioned normally till Stage 2.
  • A technical snag in Stage 3 caused mission failure, preventing orbital insertion of EOS-09.

• Investigation Committee:
  • A Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) was constituted by ISRO.
  • The issue is described by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan as a “small” problem.
  • Detailed report finalized; to be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly.
  • Details to be disclosed post submission.

• Implications:
  • This marks a rare setback for PSLV’s otherwise robust record.
  • Critical for ISRO to restore global confidence in PSLV ahead of upcoming satellite launches.

Upcoming Indo-U.S. Collaboration: BlueBird Satellite Launch

• About BlueBird Satellite:
  • Developed by AST SpaceMobile, a U.S.-based firm.
  • Purpose: Communications satellite, enhancing global mobile broadband connectivity via satellite-to-smartphone services.
  • Mass: Approx. 6,500 kg — significantly heavier than average PSLV payloads.

• Launch Details:
  • Launch Timeline: Within 3–4 months (Expected by late 2025).
  • Vehicle: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), ISRO’s most powerful launcher (formerly GSLV Mk-III).
  • Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
  • Satellite arrival in India scheduled for September 2025.

• Strategic Relevance:
  • Continues trend of Indo-U.S. cooperation in space after the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission.
  • Builds India’s reputation as a trusted commercial launch partner.
  • Boosts ISRO’s entry into high-throughput communication satellite launches — a new niche beyond Earth observation.

Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme: Parallel Developments

• Mission Overview:
  • India’s first human spaceflight mission.
  • Scheduled uncrewed test missions: First in December 2025, followed by two more in 2026.
  • Manned launch targeted for first quarter of 2027.

• Progress Update:
  • Human-rating of the launch vehicle is completed.
  • Orbital module development is in an advanced stage.
  • Crew escape system nearing finalization.

• Relevance:
  • Technological readiness crucial post-PSLV-C61 setback.
  • Demonstrates India’s advancing capabilities in safe, human-rated space systems.

Key Takeaways & Strategic Significance

• ISRO’s transparent failure audit and timely corrective measures maintain global trust.
• The BlueBird mission will test India’s capacity to handle heavy foreign commercial payloads.
• LVM3’s increasing role post-Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan highlights India’s next-gen launcher maturity.
• Indo-U.S. space ties continue to strengthen via commercial, scientific, and strategic cooperation.
• Setback in PSLV-C61 underscores the importance of redundancy, stage-wise validation, and telemetry upgrades in future missions.

Himachal on the Brink: Supreme Court Flags Ecological Collapse

Introduction

• The Supreme Court of India has raised a grave environmental alarm over the deteriorating ecological health of Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state frequently battered by floods and landslides.
• A two-judge bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan warned that “the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish“.
• The remarks came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging a Himachal Pradesh High Court order restricting constructions in green zones.
• Himachal Pradesh has become a case study in ecological degradation owing to rapid urbanisation, unchecked tourism, and poorly regulated infrastructure expansion in a geologically fragile zone.

Relevance : GS 3( Environment and Ecology)

Current Disaster Impact and Data (2025 Monsoon Season)

• Monsoon onset: June 20, 2025.
• Losses (as of August 1): ₹1,539 crore (as per State Emergency Operation Centre).
• Human casualties:
  • Deaths: 94
  • Missing: 36
  • Houses damaged: 1,352 fully/partially
• Frequent landslides, flash floods, and road blockages across Bilaspur, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla.

Supreme Court’s Key Environmental Concerns

1. Climate Change

• The Court emphasized the visible and alarming impacts of climate change in the region.
• Increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (cloudbursts, glacial melt, erratic rainfall) are cited as direct consequences.

2. Deforestation

• Unregulated tree felling for hydropower, roads, and construction has weakened slope stability and disturbed natural drainage.
• Forest degradation is reducing natural carbon sinks and biodiversity.

3. Hydropower Projects

• Linked to water scarcity, aquifer depletion, and landslides.
• Violations of minimum environmental flow norms cited — e.g., Sutlej River now resembles a “rivulet.”
• Structural damage reported by communities living near these projects.

4. Unplanned and Excessive Construction

• Multi-storey buildings, four-lane highways, and tunnels are being constructed even in ecologically sensitive zones.
• Lack of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and compliance checks.

5. Unchecked Tourism

• Massive influx of tourists during peak season strains local resources (water, waste management, traffic).
• Increase in solid waste, vehicular pollution, and illegal construction in scenic areas.

Policy and Governance Issues

• Himachal Pradesh’s Town and Country Planning Department issued construction restrictions in green zones — but implementation is weak.
• Delay in proactive ecological zoning and land-use regulations.
• Ineffectiveness of environmental clearance systems and post-clearance monitoring.

Broader Implications

• For Himalayan States: The Himachal case reflects a pattern across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) — including parts of Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• For National Disaster Resilience: Highlights the failure to align infrastructure development with ecological carrying capacity.
• For Legal and Constitutional Accountability:
  • Article 21: Right to life includes right to a clean and safe environment.
  • Directive Principles (Article 48A) and Fundamental Duties (Article 51A(g)) reinforce environmental protection.

Way Forward

• Enforce green zone protections through legal and executive action.
• Review and audit all hydropower projects for environmental compliance and local impact.
• Moratorium on large-scale constructions in ecologically fragile belts until cumulative impact assessments are conducted.
• Limit tourism footfall using smart regulation (e.g., e-permits, eco-tourism norms).
• Strengthen disaster early warning systems and slope stabilization efforts.
• Promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities to reduce dependency on tourism and construction sectors.
• Central-state coordination on Himalayan ecological policy needed under a National Himalayan Mission framework.

Tariffs, Trump & Tensions: Navigating India’s Trade and Strategic Balancing Act

Background & Context

• US-India Relations:
  • The India–US strategic partnership has expanded in defence, tech, energy, and trade, especially after the 2005 nuclear deal.
  • Bilateral trade reached $191 billion in 2023–24, making the US India’s largest trading partner.
  • India enjoys GSP (Generalized System of Preferences)-style benefits for some sectors, though the formal GSP was revoked in 2019.

• Recent Trigger:
  • On August 1, 2025, former US President Donald Trump announced sweeping 25% tariffs on Indian goods, labelling India a “dead economy”.
  • This marks the harshest tariff regime for India among over 50 countries targeted by the US, with countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China spared harsher duties.

• Pakistan Angle:
  • Trump also claimed Pakistan had “massive oil reserves”, suggesting future oil exports to India — seen as a strategic jibe aimed at both countries.
  • These remarks drew criticism for lacking geoeconomic credibility, given Pakistan’s limited hydrocarbon exploration capacity.

Key Developments

 Trump’s Tariff Offensive on India

• Tariff Hike:
  • 25% tariff imposed on a broad range of Indian exports, particularly textiles, garments, auto parts, and electronics.
  • The hike is higher than that for 50+ other countries — indicating a strategic rebuke.

• Sectoral Impact:
  • Apparel Exporters (like AEPC) warn of:
    • Loss of price competitiveness vs. Vietnam, Bangladesh.
    • Potential mass layoffs and below-cost exports to survive.
    • Demand for government support (interest subsidies, RoDTEP, alternate market access).

• Indian Textile Exports to US:
  • Worth over $8 billion annually.
  • Account for 28% of India’s apparel exports.
  • Already under stress due to higher labour and compliance costs.

India’s Diplomatic Response

• MEA Statement:
  • Reiterated commitment to “substantive agenda” with the US.
  • Emphasized that India-US ties have weathered transitions and shocks.
  • Stressed that India’s “time-tested friendship” with Russia will not hinder its global partnerships.

• Tone of Response:
  • Measured, strategic, and forward-looking, avoiding confrontation.
  • Reflects New Delhi’s focus on:
    • De-risking foreign policy via multipolar partnerships.
    • Preserving long-term ties amid short-term political turbulence.

Trump’s ‘Massive Oil Reserves in Pakistan’ Claim

• Reality Check:
  • Pakistan imports ~85% of its oil and gas needs.
  • Past exploration (e.g., Indus Basin, Balochistan) yielded limited results.
  • No major global oil firm is actively investing in Pakistani oil fields.

• Strategic Reading:
  • The claim is viewed as a geopolitical distraction or provocation:
    • Aimed to poke India with economic insecurity.
    • Attempt to boost Pakistan’s relevance in US foreign policy discourse.

• Expert View:
  • Analysts call it “hot air, not hydrocarbons” — symbolic, not substantial.
  • Reflects Trump’s style of populist diplomacy rather than grounded strategic direction.

Broader Implications

India’s Economic Exposure

• India’s dependence on exports to the US means such tariffs can severely hurt labour-intensive sectors (textiles, gems, leather).
• Tariffs coincide with India’s manufacturing push under Make in India + PLI, making trade disruptions even more critical.

Geopolitical Balancing

• India remains committed to:
  • A non-aligned, multi-vector foreign policy.
  • Maintaining strategic ties with Russia (defence, energy) while strengthening the QUAD alliance with the US.

Need for Domestic Support

• Exporters’ Ask:
  • Immediate support via interest subvention, RoDTEP enhancements, and diversification into EU and African markets.
  • Long-term: Focus on quality, brand, and technology upgradation to withstand tariff shocks.

Conclusion

This episode underlines the volatile nature of India’s external economic environment, where political rhetoric, tariffs, and geopolitical posturing can disrupt sectoral growth. India must:

• Deepen trade resilience by expanding FTAs (e.g., EU, EFTA).
• Maintain diplomatic maturity amid provocations.
• Invest in domestic capacity and export competitiveness to withstand global headwinds.