Current Affairs 11 August 2025

Content

1. Fast-Track Courts in Delhi Fail to Deliver Speedy Justice
2. New Rules for Chemically Contaminated Sites in India
3. How Artificial Intelligence is Tackling Mathematical Problem-Solving
4. India Sets an Example in Asiatic Lion Conservation
5. Plastics Treaty Talks – India Opposes Global Phase-Out
6. Gaza War Stalls IMEC, India’s Key Trade Corridor
7. India’s Agricultural Exports on the Rise

Fast-track courts in Delhi fail to fulfil promise of providing speedy justice

Basics & Legal Framework

• FTSC Objective: Expedite trials in rape and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) cases.
• Legal Mandate:
  • Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 introduced stricter provisions and faster timelines.
  • Supreme Court (July 2019) directive: Any district with 100+ pending POCSO cases must set up an exclusive special court.
• Implementation:
  • Central government launched FTSCs in August 2019.
  • 725 FTSCs functional in 30 States/UTs, including 392 exclusive POCSO courts.

Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary)

Targets & Performance

• Target disposal rate: 165 cases annually per FTSC.
• Ground reality:
  • As of June 30, 2025:
    • 1,66,882 rape/POCSO cases instituted.
    • Only 2,718 disposed of → extremely low clearance rate.
  • Delhi example: 16 FTSCs (11 for POCSO) still face backlog.

Structural Challenges

• Overloaded Dockets:
  • Fast-tracking one case often delays others due to resource constraints.
• Insufficient Infrastructure:
  • Lack of adequate judges, prosecutors, and trained staff.
• Underutilisation of Provisions:
  • Despite legal timelines (2 months for certain cases), delays persist due to procedural bottlenecks.

Criticisms

• Advocate Rebecca John:
  • Calls FTSCs a “political gimmick” — no real capacity to handle volume.
  • Limited benefit when the judiciary is overburdened as a whole.
• Advocate Shilpi Jain:
  • Notes avoidable delays — many cases could conclude quickly due to fewer witnesses.
• Victim Impact:
  • Delays prolong trauma and weaken deterrence value of the law.

Policy-Level Concerns

• Justice Delivery Paradox: Speed in select cases may harm balance across the judicial system.
• Need for Systemic Reform:
  • Increase overall judicial capacity, not just create parallel fast-track mechanisms.
  • Strengthen witness protection, digital evidence handling, and pre-trial processes.

What are the new rules on chemically contaminated sites?

Background & Context

• Legislative framework: Notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to fill the legal gap in remediation of chemically contaminated sites.
• Previous status: India had identification and guidance documents (post-2010), but no binding legal procedure for cleanup of contaminated sites.
• Scale of the problem:
  • 103 sites identified across India by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
  • Only 7 sites have ongoing remediation work.
  • Many sites date back to periods without hazardous waste management regulations.

Relevance : GS 2(Health), GS 3(Environment and Ecology , Science and Technology)

Definition of Contaminated Sites

• As per CPCB: Locations where hazardous and other wastes were historically dumped, causing soil, groundwater, and/or surface water contamination.
• Health & environmental risk: Exposure can lead to cancer, organ damage, reproductive issues, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation.
• Typical examples:
  • Old landfills and dumps
  • Waste storage/treatment sites
  • Spill sites (industrial accidents)
  • Chemical waste handling/storage facilities

Causes & Challenges

• Historical dumping: Before hazardous waste rules existed (notably before Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 1989).
• Polluters shut down: Many responsible entities have closed operations or lack financial capacity for cleanup.
• Complex contamination: Requires expensive, technologically advanced remediation (soil washing, bioremediation, pump-and-treat systems).

Evolution of the Legal Framework

• 2010: Capacity Building Program for Industrial Pollution Management Project launched.
  • Tasks:
    • Inventory of probable contaminated sites – Completed.
    • Guidance document for site assessment and remediation – Completed.
    • Legal, institutional, and financial framework – Pending till 2025.
• July 25, 2025: Rules notified to operationalise Step 3.

Key Provisions of the Rules (2025)

a. Identification & Reporting

• District administration:
  • Prepares half-yearly reports on “suspected contaminated sites.”
• State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or reference organisation:
  • Conducts preliminary assessment within 90 days.
  • Conducts detailed survey within next 90 days to confirm contamination.

b. Assessment Process

• Measures levels of 189 hazardous chemicals (as per Hazardous & Other Wastes Rules, 2016).
• If exceeding safe levels:
  • Public notification of location.
  • Restrictions on access to the site.

c. Remediation

• Reference organisation: Drafts a remediation plan.
• SPCB: Identifies polluter within 90 days.
• Polluter pays principle: Responsible parties bear cleanup cost.
• If no polluter or inability to pay → Centre/State fund remediation.

d. Liability

• Civil liability: Cost recovery from polluter.
• Criminal liability: If contamination caused death/injury → Punishable under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Exemptions from the Rules

• Radioactive waste contamination → governed by Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
• Mining-related contamination → covered under Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
• Marine oil pollution → under Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
• Solid waste from dump sites → regulated under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Notable Omissions & Limitations

• No fixed remediation timeline: Risk of indefinite delays after identification.
• Funding ambiguity: No dedicated national remediation fund announced.
• Technology readiness gap: India’s remediation industry is underdeveloped; dependence on foreign expertise likely.
• Overlap with other laws: Potential jurisdictional conflicts with waste, mining, and maritime laws.

Broader Significance

• Environmental governance milestone: First structured, legalised process for contaminated site remediation in India.
• Public health protection: Addresses cancer-causing and toxic chemical exposures.
• Polluter pays enforcement: Strengthens liability culture in environmental law.
• Alignment with global norms: Moves India closer to US Superfund model (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act – CERCLA).

How artificial intelligence is tackling mathematical problem-solving

Background – The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

• Nature of IMO
  • Prestigious, annual, global mathematical problem-solving competition for high school students.
  • Consists of 6 original problems over two consecutive days, each with a 3-hour limit per session (total 9 hours).
  • Problems test creativity, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills rather than advanced formal mathematics.
  • Problems are new and unique — never published before in literature or online.

• Medal Criteria
  • Gold: Score typically equivalent to solving ~5/6 problems correctly.
  • Silver/Bronze: Lower score thresholds.
  • Grading is strict — a single logical or calculation error invalidates the solution.

Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)

AI’s Entry into IMO 2025

• OpenAI’s Announcement
  • Used a general-purpose reasoning model, not specialized or trained for IMO.
  • Achieved Gold medal-level performance under the same time limits as humans.
  • Solutions graded by former IMO medalists hired by OpenAI (led to some disputes over grading accuracy).
  • Announcement made before the competition concluded, which some felt overshadowed human participants.

• Google DeepMind’s Attempt
  • Used Gemini Deep Think (advanced reasoning model).
  • Participated officially with IMO organisers’ permission.
  • Scored 35/42 points — a confirmed Gold medal score.
  • Solutions praised by IMO graders for clarity, precision, and ease of understanding.

Stages of AI Mathematical Capability Development

• Initial Challenges (ChatGPT launch phase)
  • Frequent hallucinations (fabricated facts).
  • Basic arithmetic mistakes and flawed reasoning.
  • Incapable of reliably solving even moderate-level math problems.

• First Major Improvement – Agents
  • Models given ability to:
    • Search the web for accurate info.
    • Use Python interpreters to perform calculations and verify reasoning.
  • Result: Dramatic increase in accuracy on moderately hard problems.

• Second Breakthrough – Reasoning Models
  • Examples: OpenAI o3, Gemini-2.5-pro.
  • Operate like internal monologue models:
    • Consider multiple approaches before deciding.
    • Revisit and refine intermediate reasoning.
    • Restart if necessary.
    • Aim for a logically consistent final answer.

• Proof Verification Systems
  • Integration with formal proof checkers like the Lean prover.
  • Used to formally verify mathematical proofs for correctness.
  • Example: AlphaProof (Google DeepMind, 2024) — Silver medal equivalent (but took 2 days).

• Reinforcement Learning with Synthetic Data
  • Models generate and test vast quantities of synthetic problems.
  • Similar to how AI mastered chess by self-play starting only from rules.

Broader Implications

• Research and innovation acceleration:
  • AI can assist in generating approaches, identifying related problems, and verifying solutions at high speed.
  • Formal proof integration can prevent errors in complex, long-term projects.
• Shift in intellectual benchmarks:
  • Human-only benchmarks like IMO may no longer remain exclusive to humans.
  • Potential need for redefining measures of human achievement.
• From problem-solving to sustained research:
  • Short-term creativity ≠ long-term research reliability.
  • Research requires sustained error-free progress over months or years — AI integration with proof systems is a step toward this.

Ethical & Governance Challenges

• Timing of announcements:
  • Premature disclosures risk overshadowing human achievements.
• Fairness in evaluation:
  • Company-appointed graders create conflict-of-interest perceptions.
  • Need for independent verification standards for AI competition results.
• Motivational impact:
  • Risk of diminishing incentive for human participation if AI dominance becomes the norm.
• Originality concerns:
  • AI combines known ideas but its capacity for truly novel insights remains debated.

India has set an example in lion conservation

Background – Asiatic Lion & Its Significance

• Species: Panthera leo persica – subspecies of the lion, genetically distinct from African lions.
• Distribution: Once spread across Southwest Asia to eastern India; now confined to Gujarat (Gir National Park & surrounding areas).
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
• Ecological Role: Apex predator, keystone species maintaining prey population balance in semi-arid ecosystems.
• Cultural Importance: Symbol of strength in Indian mythology, national emblem inspiration.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Key 2025 Census Findings

• Population:
  • 2020 Census: 674 individuals.
  • 2025 Census: 891 individuals (+32% growth in 5 years).
• Historical Context:
  • 1880s: Fewer than 20 lions survived in Gir due to hunting.
  • Strict protection since 20th century led to steady recovery.
• Habitat Expansion: Gir → Girnar, Girnar–Barda corridor, Mitiyala, and now Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Factors Behind Growth

• Strict Legal Protection: Wildlife (Protection) Act enforcement, anti-poaching patrols.
• Habitat Management: Grassland restoration, prey base improvement.
• Community Involvement:
  • Maldhari pastoralists allowed to live in Gir; model of coexistence with lions.
  • Compensation for livestock depredation reduces retaliation killings.
• Political Will: PM’s directive (2024) to boost lion population and develop Barda as new habitat fulfilled.

Conservation Challenges

• Genetic Bottleneck: Single population increases vulnerability to disease outbreaks (e.g., Canine Distemper Virus in 2018).
• Habitat Saturation: Growing numbers risk human-lion conflict outside protected areas.
• Climate Change Impacts: Heavy rains, cyclones in Saurashtra affecting prey base and habitat.
• Infrastructure Development: Road, rail, and mining projects fragment corridors.

Strategic Measures Mentioned by the Minister

• Habitat Diversification: Development of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as alternative habitat.
• Global Alliances:
  • International Big Cat Alliance – covers 7 big cat species across 97 countries.
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) – addresses climate-induced threats.
  • International Solar Alliance – promotes renewable energy in conservation landscapes.
• Flagship Species Projects: Project Lion, Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Dolphin, Project Great Indian Bustard.

Comparative Context – Other Big Cats in India

• Tigers: 58 tiger reserves (up from 47), hosting ~70% of global tiger population.
• Snow Leopards: Population ~714 in India; conservation ongoing.
• Cheetahs: African cheetah reintroduction in Kuno NP (Madhya Pradesh).
• Global Species: Jaguars & pumas in Latin America; emphasis on international cooperation for all big cat species.

Governance & Policy Linkages

• Wildlife Corridors: National Wildlife Action Plan (2017–2031) focuses on landscape-level conservation.
• Species Recovery Programmes: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Wildlife Habitats funds Project Lion.
• Community-Based Models: Eco-development projects (₹189 crore launched) – safari park, interpretation centre, etc., linking livelihoods to conservation.

Plastics Treaty Talks – India Opposes Phase-Out

Background – What is the Global Plastics Treaty?

• Origin: Negotiations under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to create the world’s first legally binding plastics treaty, addressing plastic pollution across its life cycle.
• Mandate: Agreed in 2022 by UN member states to finalise the treaty by end-2024; current Geneva round is in its second and final week before the next meeting in Busan (Nov–Dec 2025).
• Scope: Covers measures on:
  • Plastic production limits.
  • Phase-out of harmful/single-use products.
  • Waste management improvements.
  • Financing, technology transfer, and international cooperation.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

India’s Stance in Geneva

• Aligned With: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran — largely oil/petrochemical producers.
• Opposed Provisions:
  • Mandatory phase-out or supply restrictions on primary polymer production.
  • Annexed global product phase-out lists with fixed deadlines (Annex Y).
  • Any article duplicating or overlapping with other international bodies (WTO, WHO).
• Demanded:
  • No global lists/dates for product bans in the main treaty text.
  • Focus on national discretion and flexibility.
  • Stronger emphasis on finance, technical assistance, and technology transfer to help developing countries meet obligations.

Annex Y – Controversial List

• Contents: Items proposed for global phase-out such as:
  • Single-use plastic bags.
  • Straws, cutlery.
  • Balloon sticks.
  • Microbead-containing cosmetics.
• India’s Position:
  • Even if domestically some items are already banned, opposes binding global bans as they may limit policy flexibility and ignore local socio-economic contexts.

Reasons for India’s Opposition to Global Phase-Out

• Developmental Concerns: Binding global limits can constrain industrial growth and petrochemical sectors.
• Economic Impact: Threat to jobs and export competitiveness in plastics/petrochemicals.
• Technology Gaps: Lack of affordable, scalable alternatives for all banned products.
• Trade Law Issues: Risk of WTO disputes if treaty obligations conflict with trade rules.
• Policy Sovereignty: Preference for voluntary/ nationally determined actions over one-size-fits-all mandates.

Broader Negotiation Dynamics

• Pro-Phase-Out Bloc: EU, Mexico, Australia, many African nations – pushing for:
  • “High ambition” treaty.
  • Production caps, life-cycle controls, chemical use restrictions.
• Opposition Bloc: Major oil/plastics producers – focus on waste management, recycling, and downstream solutions instead of production cuts.
• Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC): India among those calling for flexibility and national circumstances to dictate timelines.

Practical Realities of Porting Global Bans

• Implementation Challenges:
  • Infrastructure for waste collection and recycling is uneven globally.
  • High transition costs without assured financing.
• Risk of Non-Compliance: If bans are too rigid, countries may simply fail to implement, undermining treaty credibility.
• Financing Needs:
  • Grants/loans for waste management systems.
  • R&D support for biodegradable and alternative materials.
  • Technology transfer without prohibitive IP barriers.

Implications for India

• Short Term:
  • Maintains flexibility in domestic policy.
  • Protects economic interests of plastics and petrochemical industries.
• Medium to Long Term:
  • If the global market shifts towards reduced plastic use, India may face trade barriers on plastic exports.
  • Will eventually need to scale up alternatives and recycling capacity to remain competitive.
• Environmental Trade-Off:
  • Slower global phase-out means continued plastic leakage risks.
  • India’s domestic bans and EPR policies still play a key role in mitigation.

Way Forward – Balanced Approach

• India’s Negotiation Levers:
  • Advocate phased targets tied to finance & tech transfer.
  • Support capacity-building commitments before imposing production caps.
  • Push for differentiated obligations for developed vs. developing countries (CBDR principle).
• Domestic Strategy:
  • Strengthen enforcement of current single-use bans.
  • Incentivise industry shift to sustainable alternatives.
  • Enhance recycling infrastructure under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Gaza War Stalls IMEC, India’s Key Trade Corridor

IMEC Overview

• Announced at G20 2023 to connect India–Middle East–Europe via two corridors (Eastern maritime + rail, Western maritime + European rail).
• Aims to cut India–Europe transit time by ~40% vs Red Sea route.
• Includes trade, digital, electricity, hydrogen links; tariff & insurance standardisation; job creation; emission reduction.

Relevance : GS 3(Infrastructure)

Structure

• Eastern leg: India’s west coast → UAE ports → freight rail across UAE–Saudi–Jordan → Haifa (Israel).
• Western leg: Haifa → Greece/Italy ports → European rail network.

Pre-war Political Window

• Arab–Israel normalisation (Saudi expected to join).
• Geo-economic gains took precedence over Palestine issue.
• Enabled multi-state cooperation with EU, Gulf, and India.

Gaza War Impact

• 61,000 killed in Gaza; deepened Arab public opposition to Israel.
• Saudi–Israel normalisation stalled; Jordan–Israel ties at historic low.
• Political legitimacy for Israel-linked corridor collapsed.
• Red Sea attacks disrupted shipping, raising insurance and freight costs.

Operational Constraints Post-war

• Western leg politically blocked; transit rights unavailable.
• Higher marine insurance premiums in conflict zone.
• Delay in tariff harmonisation, financing, and customs integration.
• Investor confidence weakened.

Current Feasibility

• Eastern leg viable due to India–UAE–Saudi ties (e.g., UPI integration).
• Western leg uncertain until Middle East stability restored.
• Corridor now a “day-after” plan, contingent on political resolution.

Strategic Stakes for India

• Diversifies away from Suez chokepoint.
• Strengthens Gulf–India–EU value chains.
• Enhances India’s role in global connectivity diplomacy.

Policy Priorities for India

• Fast-track Eastern leg with binding UAE/Saudi agreements.
• Create multilateral corridor insurance pool.
• Keep technical work alive for Western leg without political linkage.
• Upgrade west-coast ports & logistics for immediate readiness.
• Maintain backchannel diplomacy with Israel, Jordan, EU.

Risks

• Political: Prolonged conflict freezes Western leg.
• Economic: Security costs make IMEC uncompetitive.
• Technical: Fragmented standards slow interoperability.

Mitigation

• Modular implementation; risk-sharing finance models.
• Early standard-setting; customs digitalisation.
• Security cooperation in Red Sea & Arabian Sea.

India’s Agricultural Exports on the Rise

Context & Background

• India’s trade composition: Merchandise exports are currently flat or declining, but agricultural exports are showing resilience and growth.
• Significance: Agriculture trade surplus is one of the few areas where India consistently exports more than it imports, contributing positively to the trade balance.

Relevance : GS 3(Indian Economy , Agriculture)

Current Performance

• FY 2024–25 (Apr–Jun):
  • Agri exports: $13.44 billion (up 5.84% YoY from $12.69 billion).
  • Agri imports: $9.12 billion.
  • Trade surplus in agriculture: $4.32 billion.
• Full FY 2023–24: $43.74 billion exports, slightly higher than $43.71 billion in FY 2022–23.

Key Drivers of Growth

• Strong segments: Marine products, coffee, fruits & vegetables, basmati rice, and buffalo meat.
• Falling segments: Oilseeds, non-basmati rice, oilmeals, wheat.
• Government policy impact:
  • Ban/restrictions on exports of certain commodities (rice, wheat, sugar) to manage domestic inflation and food security.
  • Removal of such restrictions can directly impact export volumes.

Trade Composition

• Top 5 export items (Apr–Jun 2024–25):Marine products – $4.05B (24.05% share).Basmati rice – $1.94B (14.45% share).Non-basmati rice – $1.63B.Spices – $1.45B.Buffalo meat – $0.79B.
• High growth items: Fruits & vegetables (+13.79%), spices (+9.49%), marine products (+19.45%).
• Declining items: Oilmeals (-12.25%), oilseeds (-8.57%), processed fruits & vegetables (-2.96%).

Global Market Dynamics

• Global food price trends: UN FAO Food Price Index shows a decline from 2019–20 highs, reducing export value growth rates.
• Geopolitics & tariffs:
  • US presidential trade policy (especially potential Trump return) could impose a 50% tariff on marine products, affecting $3.5B worth of exports.
  • Brazil and other competitors could capture Indian market share in key commodities like frozen shrimp.
• Competition: Vietnam, Ecuador, and Indonesia are strengthening positions in seafood exports; Brazil in agri commodities.

Domestic Factors Affecting Exports

• Inflation control measures:
  • Export bans/restrictions on rice, wheat, sugar reduced outward shipments.
• Production trends:
  • Shift in cropping patterns and yields affect exportable surplus.
• Logistics & port capacity:
  • Growth in marine exports is tied to port infrastructure efficiency.

Trade Surplus Trends

• Agriculture trade surplus decline:
  • From $27.7B in FY 2013–14 to ~$5.9B in FY 2023–24 due to faster growth in imports.
  • Rising imports of vegetable oils, pulses, and fruits are eroding the surplus.
• Import pressures:
  • Dependence on edible oils (palm, soybean, sunflower) remains high.
  • Seasonal fruit imports (apples, pears, citrus) and pulses (lentils, chickpeas) fill domestic supply gaps.

Risks Ahead

• US tariff uncertainty: Could hit $3.5B marine exports heavily.
• Global demand slowdown: Economic weakness in importing nations may reduce demand.
• Commodity price volatility: Weather events (El Niño, monsoon variability) can affect yields and prices.
• Policy unpredictability: Sudden export bans hurt long-term buyer trust.

Strategic Implications for India

• Need for diversification: Reduce dependence on a few commodities like marine products and basmati rice.
• Value addition: Increase processed and branded food exports to capture higher margins.
• Trade agreements: Secure preferential market access with major buyers to counter tariff threats.
• Import substitution: Focus on domestic oilseed and pulse production to reduce import dependency.
• Sustainability: Align exports with climate-resilient farming to maintain long-term competitiveness.