Content :
- Major setback for Trump as U.S. court blocks tariffs
- Is the three-year practice mandate for judicial service welcome?
- Autonomous warfare in Operation Sindoor
- BSF fortifies village guards initiative with arms training for Jammu border residents
- EC’s single-point dashboard likely to be operational before Bihar election
- SEBI releases new framework on F&O risk monitoring
- China launches Tianwen-2 to collect asteroid samples by 2027
- Tobacco affordability fuelling cancer epidemic in India
Major setback for Trump as U.S. court blocks tariffs
Context & Background
- The Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled against key import tariffs imposed during Donald Trump’s presidency.
- These tariffs were justified by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977, especially after the so-called “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2.
- Trump had widely used tariffs as a strategic tool in foreign and trade policy, especially against China and other major exporters.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations) , GS 3(Economy ,Trade)
Key Legal Findings
- The central legal issue: Whether IEEPA gives the U.S. President unlimited authority to impose tariffs.
- The Court held that:
- IEEPA does not grant the President unbounded tariff-imposing powers.
- The challenged tariffs are not legally valid under the act.
- The President exceeded his statutory authority.
Implications of the Ruling
- Immediate legal impact:
- Majority of Trump-era tariffs are invalidated.
- The U.S. government has 10 days to begin repealing the blocked tariffs.
- An appeal has been filed by the administration.
- Strategic setback for Trump’s trade policy:
- Weakens the precedent of using IEEPA for unilateral tariff action.
- Could deter future presidents from invoking emergency economic powers for trade wars.
- Market and diplomatic implications:
- Positive response from markets anticipating reduced global trade tensions.
- Likely welcomed by trading partners affected by previous tariffs.
Broader Significance
- Checks and balances: Reasserts the judiciary’s role in curbing executive overreach.
- Trade governance: Underscores the need for legislative backing and multilateral frameworks in trade policy.
- Domestic politics: May be used politically by Trump opponents to challenge his “America First” economic agenda.
Way Ahead
- The appeal outcome will be critical—could end up in the Supreme Court.
- Congress may consider clarifying or amending IEEPA to define tariff-related powers.
- Ongoing need to balance national security concerns with free trade principles.
Is the three-year practice mandate for judicial service welcome?
Arguments in Support of the Mandate (Prashant Reddy’s perspective):
- Step in the right direction: Practical experience fosters maturity essential for judicial duties.
- High Court consensus: 21 out of 23 High Courts found young law graduates unsuitable as judges.
- Bar Council support: In 2021, the BCI criticized judges without Bar experience as “inept.”
- Limitations of training: Judicial academies cannot replicate real-world courtroom exposure.
- Emotional maturity matters: Lived experiences and age contribute to better judicial decision-making.
- Gender representation: Reservations for women may still preserve judicial service appeal.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary)
Arguments Against the Mandate (Bharat Chugh’s perspective):
- Minimal learning in 3 years: Short practice duration does not ensure deeper legal understanding.
- Lack of empirical evidence: Verdict isn’t backed by comprehensive data or research.
- Judicial service unattractive: Mid-career shift to judiciary (age 29–30) less appealing due to poor incentives.
- Accessibility barrier: Marginalised and first-generation lawyers may struggle to sustain 3 years of litigation.
- Women disproportionately impacted: Family pressure and financial barriers make litigation tougher for women.
- Entry-level hurdle: Requirement may drive away promising candidates from less elite institutions.
Practical Challenges:
- No objective metric for experience: Risks becoming a mere checkbox formality.
- Lack of clarity: Unclear how non-litigating legal roles (e.g., corporate, PSU lawyers) will be assessed.
- Documentation issues: Need for a structured, verifiable system like digital appearance logs.
- Disconnect from practice: Young lawyers often perform menial tasks, not substantive advocacy.
Constitutional & Policy Concerns:
- Judicial overreach: Supreme Court’s intervention violates Article 234, which vests eligibility criteria-setting with the executive and High Courts.
- Courtroom policymaking: Reform made without public consultation or stakeholder involvement.
- Need for data-driven reform: No assessment of whether advocacy experience correlates with better judicial performance.
Broader Implications:
- Shrinking talent pool: Raising the qualifying age and practice requirement may reduce applications.
- Impact on diversity: Could dilute recent gains in gender and social representation in judiciary.
- Missed opportunity for reform: Without broader improvements (pay, working conditions, exam delays), mandate alone won’t enhance judiciary quality.
Autonomous warfare in Operation Sindoor
Strategic Context
- Trigger: Operation Sindoor was launched in early May in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
- Nature: A limited but intense four-day conflict between India and Pakistan below the threshold of full-scale war.
- New Normal: Marked the shift from traditional manned warfare to autonomous drone-centric combat.
Relevance : GS 3(Defence ,Internal Security)
Key Features of Autonomous Warfare
- No Pilots Involved: Reliance on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and loitering munitions.
- Autonomous Platforms: Use of AI-driven systems for target recognition, homing, and strike.
- Real-time ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance became continuous and dynamic through drones.
- Below-threshold Warfare: Allowed strategic strikes without escalating into nuclear or conventional war.
India’s Drone Strategy
- Pre-Strike ISR: TAPAS-BH-201 and Heron MK-II UAVs collected thermal and electronic intel deep in Pakistan.
- UAS Arsenal:
- Nagastra-1 loitering munitions (indigenous).
- Harop drones (Israeli-origin).
- Swarm drones for radar saturation and deception.
- Multi-phase Assault:
- Phase 1: Decoys and electronic warfare to exhaust SAMs.
- Phase 2: Loitering munitions for precision strikes.
- Quadcopters provided real-time ISR to the Army’s IBMS.
Key Indian Targets
- Ammunition depots, SAM batteries, radar sites, forward operating bases.
- Strategic psychological operation: Drone strike disrupted a cricket match in Rawalpindi.
- Destroyed a Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defence system near Lahore.
Pakistan’s Counter Operation: Bunyan-um-Marsoos
- UAS Assets Used:
- Shahpar-II, Burraq drones (indigenous).
- Bayraktar TB2 (Turkish), CH-4, Wing Loong II (Chinese).
- CH-901 and WS-43 loitering munitions.
- Targets: Indian troop formations, air bases, radar sites across Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
- Outcome: Most attacks neutralized by India’s layered air defence network.
India’s Air Defence Response
- Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS):
- Fusion of ground, airborne, and satellite surveillance into a real-time C2 network.
- Proved resilient despite Pakistani attempts to overload or confuse it.
- Tactical Defence Layer: Akashteer System:
- Enabled rapid threat detection and response at the battlefield level.
- Low-Level Air Defence (LLAD):
- Upgraded vintage systems (Shilka, L/70, Pechora) with modern sensors.
- Supplemented by snipers and short-range air defence.
- Advanced Systems:
- Akash / Akash-NG (medium-range).
- Barak-8, SPYDER, and S-400 Triumf for strategic defence.
- Use of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) like high-power lasers and microwaves.
Technological Evolution
- Swarm Technology: Radar confusion and defensive saturation.
- Electronic Decoys: Baiting air defences into wasting interceptors.
- Algorithmic Warfare: AI used to process ISR, select targets, and direct attacks.
Implications
- Shift in Deterrence Doctrine:
- Escalation without war—signalling power without triggering retaliation.
- Reduced Risk to Human Life:
- Achieved operational goals with zero pilot casualties.
- Information Warfare:
- Released intercepted footage and wreckage for psychological impact.
- Geopolitical Message:
- Demonstrated India’s autonomous warfare capability to regional and global adversaries.
Conclusion
- Operation Sindoor signals a paradigm shift in South Asian warfare.
- Autonomous, algorithm-driven systems are now central to deterrence.
- Future conflicts may begin with silent drones, not soldier charges.
BSF fortifies village guards initiative with arms training for Jammu border residents
Security and Defence Context
- Village Defence Guards (VDGs) are being trained by the Border Security Force (BSF) to act as a “second line of defence”.
- The training is focused on civilians living in border villages along the Jammu-Pakistan border.
- This move follows Operation Sindoor, which addressed heightened terror threats in the region.
Relevance : GS 3(Defence ,Internal Security)
Reason for Reviving the VDG Initiative
- Revived in 2022 after a 20+ year gap, owing to increased terrorist activity.
- Over the last 3 years, 22+ civilians have been killed in targeted terror attacks in Jammu region.
- Key affected areas include:
- Chenab Valley
- Kathua-Samba region
- Rajouri and Poonch (south of Pir Panjal)
Strategic Importance
- Civilians are being prepared to fill critical gaps in localised early response against infiltration and terror attacks.
- Enhances community resilience and force multiplication without overextending regular forces.
Deployment for Amarnath Yatra
- 52,000+ CAPF personnel (581 companies) to be deployed for Amarnath Yatra (July 3 – Aug 9).
- Highest deployment in 3 years, indicating elevated threat perception.
- April 22 terror attack in Baisaran (Pahalgam) left 26 civilians dead, prompting escalated security.
High-Level Oversight
- CRPF Director-General G.P. Singh is in J&K for on-ground security review.
- Home Minister Amit Shah to review security in Jammu and Poonch during a two-day visit.
Implications
- Reflects a shift towards community-based counter-terror strategy.
- Addresses concerns of rural border population safety amid recurring attacks.
- May signal long-term civil-military synergy model in sensitive border areas.
EC’s single-point dashboard likely to be operational before Bihar election
Context:
- ECINET (Election Commission Integrated Network) is a single-point digital dashboard being developed by the Election Commission (EC).
- It will consolidate over 40 existing apps/web portals into one interface for better accessibility and coordination.
- Partial rollout is expected during the June 19 byelections; full implementation targeted before the Bihar Assembly elections.
Relevance : GS 2(Elections , Reforms)
Purpose and Significance
- Aims to streamline election management and enhance transparency.
- Developed in response to opposition parties’ concerns over:
- Electoral roll anomalies.
- Duplicate voter ID card issues.
- Marks a standardisation drive under CEC Gyanesh Kumar, who assumed office on February 19.
Other Key Electoral Reforms and Tech Initiatives
- Direct integration with Registrar General of India for automatic removal of deceased voters.
- Training initiatives for:
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
- BLO Supervisors and Agents — over 3,500 trained so far to cascade to 10.5 lakh functionaries.
Polling Station Reforms
- Electors per polling station revised from 1,500 to 1,200.
- Additional polling booths to be set up in:
- High-density urban areas (e.g., gated societies, high-rises).
- Goal: No voter should travel more than 2 km to cast a vote.
Voter-Centric Improvements
- Redesigned voter information slips with:
- Better visibility of serial and part numbers.
- Mobile phone deposit facility to be available at all polling stations for voter convenience and poll integrity.
Stakeholder Engagement
- 4,719 meetings held nationwide with participation of over 28,000 political party representatives.
- Consultations held with major political parties like:
- AAP, BJP, BSP, CPI(M), NPP, etc.
- More meetings planned post current byelections.
Implications
- Reflects EC’s commitment to:
- Inclusive and participatory democracy.
- Technology-led governance and efficiency.
- May serve as a case study for election process digitisation and grassroots electoral reform.
SEBI releases new framework on F&Orisk monitoring
Key Highlights
- SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has released a new framework for Futures & Options (F&O) risk monitoring.
- It includes a change in the calculation method for Open Interest (OI).
Relevance : GS 3(Economy, Trade)
Major Reform: Delta-Based OI Calculation
- The OI value will now be computed on a delta-based rather than a notional-value-based approach.
- Delta measures price sensitivity of an option relative to the underlying asset.
- This change introduces a more accurate and risk-sensitive method for assessing positions.
Purpose and Benefits
- Aims to improve market transparency and integrity.
- Helps prevent manipulation of open interest by traders using artificial positions.
- Ensures better alignment of margin requirements and position limits with real risk exposure.
Impact on Traders and Market
- Position limits for F&O contracts have been increased under the new framework.
- Traders with low-risk positions may now have greater flexibility.
- Will require brokers and institutions to upgrade systems to incorporate delta-based metrics.
Regulatory Significance
- Part of SEBI’s broader effort to:
- Modernize derivatives market oversight.
- Mitigate systemic risk in capital markets.
- Reflects a move toward international best practices in risk-based regulation.
China launches Tianwen-2 to collect asteroid samples by 2027
Mission Overview
- China launched Tianwen-2 spacecraft on Thursday.
- Target: Near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 (also known as Kamoʻoalewa) and main-belt comet 311P.
- Objective: Collect and return samples by 2027.
Relevance : GS 3(Science and Technology)
Scientific Goals
- Study the origin and composition of asteroids and comets.
- Provide clues about the formation of the solar system.
- Help expand understanding of primitive celestial bodies.
Technological Significance
- Tianwen-2 is part of China’s broader deep space exploration program.
- Demonstrates China’s advancing space capabilities, including:
- Precision rendezvous and landing
- Sample collection and return technology
- Multi-target mission planning
Global Context
- Follows the success of Japan’s Hayabusa2 and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx missions.
- Positions China as a major player in asteroid mining and planetary defense research.
- Promotes international competition and collaboration in space science.
Timeline
- Launch: May 2025.
- Sample return expected: By 2027.
Tobacco affordability fuelling cancer epidemic in India
Tobacco Use in India – Overview
- India has 42% of men and 14% of women using tobacco (GATS2 data).
- Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is more common than smoking; India houses 70% of global SLT users.
- Bidis are more widely used than cigarettes, especially in rural and low-income groups.
- However, cigarette use is rising, even in villages, due to perceptions of modernity.
Relevance : GS 2(Health)
Health Impact
- India ranks first globally in male cancer incidence and mortality.
- Lip and oral cancers are most prevalent, followed by lung cancer in Indian males.
- Both SLT and smoking are linked to oral, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and head/neck cancers.
- Second-hand smoke exposure continues to be a public health concern.
Economic Burden
- In 2017–2018, tobacco use cost India ₹1.77 lakh crore (1.04% of GDP).
- Smoking: 74% of the cost
- SLT: 26% of the cost
- Rising tobacco use will increase both health and economic burdens.
- Low prices and wide accessibility allow even daily wage earners to afford tobacco.
Affordability Problem
- Low unit pricing:
- Bidis: Median ₹12/pack, as low as ₹5
- SLT: ₹5 median, as low as ₹1
- Cigarettes: Median ₹95, but available for ₹5; single sticks around ₹15
- Tobacco remains affordable due to static taxation, rising incomes, and undershifting by manufacturers (absorbing tax hikes to retain users).
Policy Failures and Industry Tactics
- India hasn’t matched WHO’s recommended 75% taxation of tobacco’s MRP (current GST proposal only 35%).
- The 2024 Union Budget kept tobacco taxes unchanged.
- Single stick sales (banned in 88 countries) are legal in India — evade warnings, encourage impulse buying.
- Vendors near tea stalls fuel the “chai-sutta” culture.
- Tobacco industry influences policy and targets youth and low-income groups through marketing.
WHO MPOWER Framework Undermined
- Tobacco affordability weakens control strategies:
- Monitor use
- Protect from smoke
- Offer help to quit
- Warn about dangers
- Enforce bans
- Raise taxes
Urgent Policy Recommendations
- Regular, steep tax hikes to outpace income growth.
- Ban single-stick sales to enforce warnings and reduce access.
- Allocate tobacco tax revenue to public health (e.g., cancer screening in rural areas).
- Enforce plain packaging and ban sales near schools and tea stalls.
- Strengthen compliance inspections and penalties for violations.
Conclusion
India is at a critical juncture, facing a tobacco-driven cancer epidemic with high health and economic stakes. Robust, evidence-based anti-tobacco strategies are essential to reverse this trend.
