News Summary · 10 minutes read
Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE preparation with our daily News Summary. Designed to save time, it highlights key national and international events from leading newspapers and government websites.
India, New Zealand sign FTA
- Signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his New Zealand counterpart, Todd McClay, in New Delhi.
- First women-led FTA of India.
- To be implemented after New Zealand Parliament ratification.
- New Zealand has committed to facilitating $20 billion in investments into India over the next 15 years.
Goods
- New Zealand will remove all tariffs on 100% goods imported from India.
- India will allow market access to New Zealand in 70.03% of the tariff lines while keeping 29.97 % tariff lines excluded (mainlydairy and agricultural products) → covers 95% of New Zealand’s Bilateral Trade with India.
Services
- New Zealand will provide market access to 118 services sectors, with Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment in 139 sectors.
- For the first time, New Zealand has facilitated trade in India’s traditional medicine services → promotes global recognition of AYUSH systems.
Mobility & Education
- Student Mobility: Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week while studying, with extended post-study work visas.
- Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) Visa: skilled Indians (up to 5000 at any given time) can stay up to 3 years.
- Working Holiday Visa: 1,000 young Indians annually can avail a multiple-entry visa in New Zealand for a period of 12 months.
India-New Zealand merchandise bilateral trade
- New Zealand is India’s 2nd-largest trading partner in Oceania.
- Merchandise bilateral trade stood at USD 1.3 billion in FY25 → exports increased by 130% in 10 years.
- India has a positive trade balance with New Zealand.
RBI tightens bad loan rules
According to revised rules:
- If one loan of a borrower with many loans is classified as a non-performing asset (NPA), all the other loans would also be considered so.
- The basis for classifying a loan as NPA remains at 90 days overdue.
- An NPA borrower will only be upgraded to ‘standard asset’ upon repayment of the entire arrears of interest and principal pertaining to all credit facilities.
- Banks need to establish automated systems to identify NPAs.
- To be implemented from 1 April 2027 (transition period: until 31 March, 2030).
SEBI amends alternative investment fund (AIF) rules
- SEBI has reduced the minimum investment required from individual investors in social impact funds to ₹1,000 from ₹2 lakh → can widen retail participation on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE).
- Social impact fund: a Category I AIF under SEBI’s framework → puts money into businesses or ventures meant to create social or environmental benefits.
- Social Stock Exchange (SSE): a fundraising platform created in 2022 on NSE and BSE for Not-for-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and For-Profit Social Enterprises (FPSEs) working for social welfare.
- AIF: a SEBI-regulated privately pooled investment vehicle that collects money from investors and invests in alternative assets → SEBI has classified AIFs into Category I, II, and III.
- Category I AIFs generally receive policy support because they invest in socially desirable areas.
- Note that it is NOT mandatory to raise social impact funds from SSE, and they can also be raised from other sources.
Online Gaming Rules, 2026
- Notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, with effect from 1 May 2026.
- Divides online games into three categories:
- Online Money Games: based on chance, skill, or both → raise concerns due to addiction, financial losses, money laundering and even suicides → completely prohibited.
- Esports: competitive digital sports, requiring strategy, coordination, and advanced decision-making skills → allowed, but registration is mandatory.
- Online Social Games: primarily skill-based and designed for entertainment, learning, or social interaction → registration is required only when the Centre notifies a specific category of such games as requiring registration.
- Establishes the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) under MeitY. Key points about OGAI:
- Chairperson: Secretary, MeitY.
- Members (6): Additional Secretary (or an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary) of MeitY, Joint Secretaries of MHA, MoF (DoFS), MoI&B, MoYA&S, MoL&J (DoLA).
- Head office: NCT of Delhi.
India broadens ATF definition
- Recently, the Petroleum Ministry expanded the definition of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to include blending of the fuel with synthesised hydrocarbons, i.e., fuel created from non-petroleum sources.
- So far, ATF has needed to comply with IS 1571. Now, it can also include synthesised hydrocarbons complying with IS 17081.
- IS 17081: Indian standard for ATF that allows blending with synthesised hydrocarbons; developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
- IS 1571: older Indian standard for conventional ATF, intended for petroleum-based fuel only.
- Input feedstock for synthesised hydrocarbons can range from biomass and natural gas, among others, and is not necessarily limited to ethanol.
- A crucial step towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
SAF Feasibility Study for India
- Launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2025, in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and with support from the European Union.
- Part of India’s roadmap to emerge as a global leader in SAF.
- Targeting 1% blending by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030.
- Aligns with ICAO’s CORSIA mandate and its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.
- COTECNA Inspection India Pvt Ltd and the Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery have been designated as India’s first SAF certification body and India’s first SAF producer, respectively.
CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation)
- A market-based measure developed by ICAO to address CO₂ emissions from international aviation.
- ICAO’s baseline for the scheme is 85% of 2019 emissions.
- Airlines offset emissions growth above the baseline by purchasing and cancelling CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs)—high-integrity carbon credits from verified projects—or by using CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF) like SAF, which reduce offsetting obligations.
- Implementation Phases
- Pilot (2021-2023) & Phase 1 (2024-2026): Voluntary for participating states/routes.
- Phase 2 (2027-2035): Mandatory for most international flights, with exemptions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and small emitters.
Sahyog portal
- A centralised online platform launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2024.
- Operated by MHA’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
- Streamlines takedown notices to social media intermediaries (e.g., Meta, X) under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000.
- Enables swift removal of unlawful online content.
- Ensures intermediaries retain safe‑harbour status only by acting promptly on such notices. Failure to act may result in loss of this status.
- Safe‑harbour status means that online platforms are not held liable for illegal content posted by users, as long as they meet certain legal conditions set under the IT Act, 200.
India approves ₹30 billion assistance for Maldives
- India has approved the first withdrawal of ₹30 billion (₹3,000 crore) for the Maldives under the INR‑Swap‑Window of the Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Countries (2024–27).
- Notably,the SAARC Currency Swap Facility was launched by the RBI in 2012 → allows RBI to enter bilateral swap agreements with SAARC central banks for short‑term forex liquidity or balance‑of‑payments support.
- 2024-27 Framework is the latest update in the SAARC Currency Swap Facility → introduced a separate INR‑Swap‑Window with a total corpus of ₹250 billion, in addition to the USD/Euro Swap Window with an overall corpus of $2 billion.
Ethanol-blended fuel in India
- India made E20 (20% ethanol + 80% petrol, min RON 95) fuel sale mandatory from 1 April 2026 → E85 and E100 fuel is being considered for the future.
- Ethanol emits less carbon monoxide and particulate matter than petrol when combusted, however:
- Most ethanol is sugarcane-based, a water-intensive crop, which can strain water resources and affect food/sugar prices via crop diversion.
- Ethanol’s procurement cost is now higher than petrol.
- India has been pushing ‘2nd-generation’ ethanol made from crop residues, such as rice straw → can also reduce agricultural residue burnt.
Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms
- India introduced CAFE norms in 2017 to limit a manufacturer’s fleet-wide average CO₂ emissions (g/km).
- CAFE I (1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022): targeted 130 gCO2/km
- CAFE II (1 April 2022 – 31 March 2027): targeted 113 gCO2/km
- CAFE III (1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032): targets progressive reduction from 113 g/km (FY27) to 78.9 g/km (FY32) → 40% reduction from CAFE I (130 g/km).
Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) process
- Makes ethanol usable in jet engines.
- Ethanol undergoes: dehydration → oligomerization (chain elongation) → hydrogenation → fractionation
- Produces ATJ-SPK (Alcohol-to-Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene), which is chemically similar to conventional kerosene.
- ATJ-SPK is approved by ASTM International as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathway and is allowed in blends up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.
India needs more FOB contracts for imports
- There are two main types of arrangements for international shipping:
- Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) contract: seller arranges transport and exerts greater control over logistics → discourages domestic fleet growth.
- Free on Board (FOB) contract: buyer arranges transport and exerts greater control over logistics → supports domestic fleet growth.
- Indian imports are dominated by CIF contracts, which:
- Limits opportunities for Indian shipowners.
- Makes Indian imports dependent on foreign vessels.
- Such imports face delays during crises.
- Reduces the safety of Indian seafarers.
- Ideally, a significant portion of imports should be FOB and exports, CIF, for strategic control over imports and exports during crises.
- India should aim to carry at least 50% of its strategic commodities on its own ships.
Coal gasification
- Conversion of coal into syngas (synthesis gas).
- Syngas: predominantly CO and H₂, but also contains CO₂, CH₄, water vapor (H2O), and trace sulphur/ammonia compounds
- Syngas can be used as a replacement for natural gas/petroleum as the raw material/feedstock or fuel in various industrial processes. Examples:
- syngas → methanol (directly substitutes natural gas)
- syngas → H₂ for ammonia/fertilisers
- syngas → methanation → synthetic natural gas (SNG)
- syngas → Fischer-Tropsch process → liquid fuels (substitute petroleum)
- Coal gasification can reduce the import dependence on oil/gas.
- National Coal Gasification Mission (2020): India aims for gasification of 100 MT of coal per year by 2030.
Downsides of coal gasification
- Safety
- CO is toxic
- Syngas is highly flammable & explosive
- Environmental
- Can produce more CO₂ than coal plants
- Water-intensive process
- Technical
- Lower calorific value
- Requires engine modifications
- Complex technology
- High-ash Indian coal poses technical challenges
- Economic: High capital cost and unproven at large scale.
Quick Picks for Pre and Mains (QPPM)
- The Supreme Court recognised commuter safety / safe travel on highways as part of the right to life under Article 21.
- Recently, the RBI cancelled Paytm Payments Bank’s licence under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
- If a High Court or Supreme Court judge resigns during their removal process, the proceedings become ineffective and end immediately.
- Lumpongdeng island: located in the middle of Umiam Lake in Shillong, Meghalaya.
- Moh Juj: Assam’s traditional buffalo fight → Gauhati High Court ordered its ban.
- Sivakasi (Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu): leads in firecrackers, matches, printing → called Little Japan of India and Cracker City.
- INS Nireekshak: joined the 4th India-Sri Lanka DIVEX 2026 in Colombo, April 21-27.
- Dinesh Trivedi: India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
- Ashok Kumar Lahiri: new Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog.
- MS-13: transnational criminal organisation, based primarily in El Salvador.
- Borno and Zamfara: States in Nigeria
- Turkiye has restricted social media for children under 15.
- Otsuchi fires: recent wildfires in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- Tuareg rebels: insurgent groups in northern Mali who demand autonomy for the so-called Azawad region.
- Photon Valley (Atacama Desert, Chile): hosts major astronomical observatories.
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy: an immunotherapy where a patient’s T cells are genetically engineered to target cancer cells.
- A typical smart washbasin tap uses Infrared waves in its proximity sensor to detect a user’s hands.
Coming soon…