Welcome to your essential UPSC Daily News for June 13, 2025. Today's digest covers the Ahmedabad plane crash and aviation safety, India's Global Gender Gap Index ranking, and urban mobility challenges. Also featured: IAEA updates, retail inflation, MDR, India-Canada relations, the "Amrit Generation," and lessons from 50 years of the Emergency. Get your quick dose of critical news for UPSC preparation. 1. Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Risk-Prone Phases in Aviation What’s in News A fatal plane crash occurred during landing in Ahmedabad, spotlighting global concerns about the safety of takeoff and landing—the most dangerous flight phases. Key Points / Functions Takeoff and landing account for over 60% of aviation accidents due to low altitude, human error, and equipment stress. High pilot workload, limited error margin, and poor weather can escalate risks. Safety management and disaster risk mitigation remain key. International Perspectives The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) mandates strict safety protocols under the Annexes to the Chicago Convention. ICAO Safety Report 2023 shows 52% of all incidents occurred during takeoff/landing. US NTSB regularly recommends simulator training for high-risk phases. Indian Perspective The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees flight safety. India's AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) investigates aviation accidents. The UDAN Scheme aims to improve regional air connectivity and safety standards. Reports & Data ICAO Annual Safety Report 2023 DGCA Safety Bulletin 2024 IATA reports suggest pilot fatigue and outdated ATC systems as major contributors. Way Forward Mandate advanced simulator training for emergency procedures. Upgrade ATC infrastructure and deploy AI-based weather prediction systems. Establish an independent aviation safety board with statutory powers. 2.Urban Transit Crisis in India: The Mobility Challenge What’s in News India’s urbanization demands immediate improvements in public transport. With growing cities and worsening congestion, the government is under pressure to transform urban mobility. Key Points / Functions Current urban transport systems are fragmented, inefficient, and lack last-mile connectivity. Low public transport share (approx. 20% in most Indian cities). PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme promotes 10,000 electric buses under PPP mode. International Perspectives Curitiba, Brazil and Bogotá, Colombia are global role models in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Singapore’s Land Transport Authority ensures modal integration and digital ticketing. Paris promotes cycle highways and pedestrianization. Indian Perspective Policies like National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) and Smart Cities Mission aim to reform transport. PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme supports charging infrastructure and cleaner energy mobility. Integration between metro, buses, and autos is still weak. Reports & Data NITI Aayog Report on Urban Mobility (2024) recommends multimodal integration. MoHUA Urban Transport Report 2023 identifies 100+ cities with poor walkability index. World Bank Urban Mobility Report flags India’s modal share decline. Way Forward Establish Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) across cities. Promote non-motorized transport: walkways, cycle lanes. Leverage AI & IoT for real-time tracking and route optimization. 3. Global Gender Gap Index 2025 What’s in News The 2025 edition of the Global Gender Gap Index was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). India ranks 125th out of 146 countries. Key Points / Functions The Index measures gaps in Economic Participation, Educational Attainment, Health & Survival, and Political Empowerment. India shows strong performance in political representation, weak in labor force participation. International Perspectives Iceland tops the rankings for 15th consecutive year. Countries like Norway and Finland have near-total parity in education and economy. WEF calls for gender budgeting and labor market reforms globally. Indian Perspective Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP): ~36%. Initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti, and Stand-Up India launched to empower women. Gender gap in STEM education and wage disparity remain significant. Reports & Data Global Gender Gap Report 2025 – WEF ILO Global Wage Report National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5): Decline in female work participation in rural areas. Way Forward Introduce gender budgeting at local governance levels. Increase investment in women’s skill development and entrepreneurship. Enforce equal pay laws and workplace gender audits. 4.International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) What’s in News The IAEA’s role in promoting nuclear energy for peaceful use is being re-evaluated globally amidst rising geopolitical tensions and nuclear ambitions. Key Points / Functions Promotes peaceful nuclear energy. Prevents diversion of nuclear materials for weapons. Conducts inspections, technical cooperation, and radiation safety measures. International Perspectives Operates under UN framework but is autonomous. Played critical role in Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) and monitoring North Korea. Supports SDGs via clean energy access (SDG 7). Indian Perspective India is a member but not a founding member. India follows facility-specific safeguards, not full-scope. Engaged in civil nuclear agreements with US, France, Russia. Reports & Data IAEA Annual Report 2024 UNSC resolutions on nuclear non-proliferation India’s Nuclear Power Profile Report – DAE Way Forward Strengthen domestic regulatory capacity via Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Enhance participation in peaceful nuclear R&D. Advocate for climate-linked nuclear energy financing. [caption id="attachment_26213" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs 13th June 2025[/caption] 5.Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) What’s in News Debates reignited over MDR charges as India pushes for a cashless economy. Concerns rise about costs borne by small merchants. Key Points / Functions MDR is a fee charged to merchants by acquiring banks or payment processors. It covers costs of infrastructure, fraud detection, and transaction processing. GOI has waived MDR on RuPay and BHIM-UPI transactions for government-related payments. International Perspectives European Union caps MDR at 0.2% (debit) and 0.3% (credit). Australia and Canada regulate MDR under competition watchdogs. In US, MDR varies by card type and merchant sector. Indian Perspective RBI does not charge or collect MDR directly. Waiver for government-initiated transactions aims to boost digital adoption. Small traders demand MDR waiver to continue post-COVID gains. Reports & Data RBI Annual Report (2024-25): Digital payments account for 82% of retail transactions. NPCI UPI Statistics May 2025: 14+ billion transactions processed. Economic Survey 2025 chapter on digital economy. Way Forward Offer MDR rebates to MSMEs. Improve awareness on zero-cost digital platforms. Incentivize adoption through GST-linked rewards. 6.Retail Inflation at 6-Year Low What’s in News India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation fell to 3.8% in May 2025—lowest since 2019. Key Points / Functions CPI tracks retail prices of goods and services. Fall driven by moderating food prices and tight monetary policy. Brings relief to households and stability to markets. International Perspectives US, EU, and Japan also report falling inflation amid global commodity corrections. IMF’s WEO April 2025 projects global inflation decline to 4.2%. Indian Perspective RBI inflation targeting (4% ±2%) remains intact. Controlled inflation aids growth and savings. Challenge: avoid stagflation amidst slowing demand. Reports & Data CPI Data – NSO (May 2025) RBI Monetary Policy Report – April 2025 FAO Food Outlook 2025 Way Forward Monitor core inflation trends (excluding food & fuel). Encourage agri supply chain efficiencies to avoid food price spikes. Continue fiscal prudence without harming growth. 7.Migratory Sharks Under Threat: A Global Marine Crisis What’s in News The FAO’s biennial report titled “Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources – 2025” reveals that over 43.5% of migratory shark species are unsustainably fished, highlighting threats to deep-sea biodiversity. Key Points / Functions Only 29% of deep-sea species are sustainably fished. Highly migratory sharks are often caught as bycatch in tuna fisheries. Key fishing zones: Western Central Pacific, Eastern and Western Indian Oceans. International Perspectives The FAO leads efforts on sustainable fishing and marine governance. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) regulate fishing in high seas. Indian Perspective India is a major tuna fishing nation in the Indian Ocean. Deep Ocean Mission aims to explore and conserve deep-sea biodiversity. India's Blue Economy Policy stresses sustainable marine resource use. Reports & Data FAO 2025 Report: 64.5% of all global fish stocks are sustainably fished. 35.5% are overfished, with major gaps in data, especially from Eastern Indian Ocean. Way Forward Enhance RFMO cooperation and shared data systems. Invest in non-invasive fishery monitoring technologies. Promote community-led marine protection zones in coastal nations. 8.AI in Healthcare: Promise and Pitfalls in India What’s in News Innovative uses of AI such as Garbhini-GA2, Virtopsy, and AI-based tools for ASHA/ANM workers are reshaping healthcare delivery—but challenges around trust, privacy, and language persist. Key Points / Functions Garbhini-GA2 (IIT-Madras): AI predicts fetal age with only 0.5 days error. ARMMAN+UNICEF: Chatbots for training health workers (94% satisfaction). Virtopsy (NEIGRIHMS): Non-invasive postmortems using AI and MRI. International Perspectives WHO promotes AI ethics in health through its “Ethics & Governance of AI” framework. Countries like Estonia and Finland are testing AI for diagnostics and public health. Indian Perspective India lacks dedicated AI-in-healthcare regulation under the DPDP Act 2023. Public health workers face issues like language barriers, limited training, and AI over-dependence. Reports & Data NITI Aayog’s “Responsible AI for All” highlights need for India-specific datasets. WHO report (2022) warns of automation bias in medical AI. Way Forward Create a dedicated AI healthcare regulator under MoHFW. Build vernacular datasets to overcome linguistic diversity. Mandate human-in-the-loop models and ensure audit trails. 9.India–Canada Relations: Rebuilding Trust Post-Nijjar Row What’s in News PM Modi will attend the G-7 Outreach Summit in Canada (June 2025). The visit is seen as a diplomatic reset after 2023 tensions involving Khalistan extremism. Key Points / Functions India–Canada ties rooted in democracy, education, and trade. Over 1.86 million Indian diaspora live in Canada. CEPA (Free Trade Agreement) talks are currently suspended. International Perspectives Canada's domestic politics heavily influence foreign policy toward India. Diaspora diplomacy has become central to global South Asia ties. Indian Perspective India rejects foreign interference and seeks security cooperation. Emphasis on mutual respect, intelligence collaboration, and trade revival. Reports & Data Bilateral trade: $8 billion+ (2022–23). India: Largest source of foreign students in Canada. Diplomatic fallout led to 1/3rd reduction in embassy staff on both sides. Way Forward Reinstating High Commissioners and resuming trade talks. Promoting multilateral engagement (G-20, UN). Tackle extremism through joint enforcement dialogues. 10.Amrit Generation: India’s New Youth Identity What’s in News A new socio-political term—“Amrit Generation”—has emerged, referring to those born post-2014, becoming central to the NDA’s vision during “Amrit Kaal”. Key Points / Functions Beneficiaries of major reforms like Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Startup India, and New Education Policy. Infrastructure transformation: Rail modernization, digital highways, Metro expansion, and Statue of Unity. International Perspectives Other nations use similar labels like Millennials (US) or Generation Z (UK) for electoral, social strategies. Indian Perspective Seen as aspirational, digital-first, and receptive to state reforms. Targeted through schemes for jobs, digital skills, and entrepreneurship. Reports & Data 103 Amrit Bharat Railway stations launched in 2025. 60+ PM visits to Northeast during NDA's tenure for inclusive growth. Way Forward Implement youth-centric skilling initiatives at the district level. Promote startup and innovation zones in Tier-2/3 cities. Ensure inclusion of tribal and rural youth in digital economy. 11. 50 Years of the Emergency (1975–2025): Lessons for Democracy What’s in News June 12, 2025, marks 50 years since the Allahabad HC verdict invalidated Indira Gandhi’s election, triggering the Emergency (June 25, 1975). Key Points / Functions Emergency provisions in Articles 352–360. Fundamental Rights (except Articles 20 & 21) were suspended. Massive press censorship, mass arrests, and centralization of power occurred. International Perspectives Global outcry over India’s democracy. Emergency became a case study in executive overreach in constitutional democracies. Indian Perspective Led to Minerva Mills judgment and Basic Structure doctrine. 44th Amendment (1978) restored rights and judicial review. Reports & Data Notable cases: S.R. Bommai (1994) on misuse of Article 356. Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions suggested reforms for Emergency provisions. Way Forward Enforce checks on constitutional misuse. Improve judicial response time in rights violations. Promote democratic education among youth.
