UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November (2025)
• Does India need nutritional transformation?
Does India need nutritional transformation?
• Bridging the Gender Gap in Civil Services
Bridging the Gender Gap in Civil Services
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• NALSAR University of Law report on fair trials
NALSAR University of Law report on fair trials
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• COP30 – UN Climate Summit 2025
COP30 – UN Climate Summit 2025
• Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025
Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025
• Exercise Malabar 2025
Exercise Malabar 2025
• Odd Radio Circles (ORCs)
Odd Radio Circles (ORCs)
• The Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ
The Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ
• A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves
A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves
Mapping:
• Angola
Angola
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
Does India need nutritional transformation?
Syllabus: Health
Source: TH
Context: India is witnessing a growing debate on nutritional transformation driven by the rise of functional foods and smart proteins, as the government explores biotech-based solutions to shift from food security to nutritional security under the BioE3 policy framework.
About Does India need nutritional transformation?
What are Functional Foods?
• Definition: Functional foods are nutrient-enriched or fortified foods designed not just to provide energy but to improve health and prevent diseases. They often contain added vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, or bioactive compounds that support immunity, digestion, or heart health.
Eg: Vitamin-enriched rice, omega-3 fortified milk, probiotic yogurt.
• Technologies Used: Nutrigenomics: Studies how food interacts with genes to enhance health outcomes. Biofortification: Increases the nutritional content of crops during their growth (e.g., iron-rich or zinc-rich cereals). Bioprocessing: Uses microorganisms or enzymes to improve nutrient absorption and shelf life. 3D Food Printing: Customises food shape, texture, and nutrient content, especially useful for healthcare diets.
• Nutrigenomics: Studies how food interacts with genes to enhance health outcomes.
• Biofortification: Increases the nutritional content of crops during their growth (e.g., iron-rich or zinc-rich cereals).
• Bioprocessing: Uses microorganisms or enzymes to improve nutrient absorption and shelf life.
• 3D Food Printing: Customises food shape, texture, and nutrient content, especially useful for healthcare diets.
• Examples from India: Zinc-Enriched Rice developed by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, helps combat zinc deficiency. Iron-Rich Pearl Millet bred at ICRISAT improves iron intake in rural diets. Private Sector Innovations: Companies such as Tata Consumer Products, ITC, and Marico are producing fortified staples and health-oriented food lines that target both rural nutrition and urban wellness markets.
• Zinc-Enriched Rice developed by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, helps combat zinc deficiency.
• Iron-Rich Pearl Millet bred at ICRISAT improves iron intake in rural diets.
• Private Sector Innovations: Companies such as Tata Consumer Products, ITC, and Marico are producing fortified staples and health-oriented food lines that target both rural nutrition and urban wellness markets.
What are Smart Proteins?
• Definition: Smart proteins are sustainably produced proteins derived through biotechnology, offering alternatives to conventional meat, dairy, and eggs. They aim to meet global protein needs while reducing environmental impact and animal dependency.
• Major Types: Plant-Based Proteins: Extracted and restructured from legumes, cereals, or oilseeds to mimic the taste and texture of meat and dairy.
• Plant-Based Proteins: Extracted and restructured from legumes, cereals, or oilseeds to mimic the taste and texture of meat and dairy.
Eg: Soy, pea, or mung bean–based meat substitutes.
• Fermentation-Derived Proteins: Produced using microbes (yeast, fungi, bacteria) to generate protein ingredients, enzymes, or fats identical to those found in animal products.
• Fermentation-Derived Proteins: Produced using microbes (yeast, fungi, bacteria) to generate protein ingredients, enzymes, or fats identical to those found in animal products.
Eg: Precision fermentation used to create milk proteins without cows.
• Cultivated Meat: Made by growing real animal cells in controlled bioreactors — providing genuine meat without animal slaughter.
• Cultivated Meat: Made by growing real animal cells in controlled bioreactors — providing genuine meat without animal slaughter.
• India’s Emerging Ecosystem: Startup Growth: Over 70 startups, such as GoodDot, Blue Tribe Foods, and Evo Foods, market around 377 plant-based and alternative protein products. Government Support: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are funding R&D in cultivated and fermentation-based proteins. Research Milestone: The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) received a ₹4.5 crore DBT grant to advance cultivated meat research.
• Startup Growth: Over 70 startups, such as GoodDot, Blue Tribe Foods, and Evo Foods, market around 377 plant-based and alternative protein products.
• Government Support: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are funding R&D in cultivated and fermentation-based proteins.
• Research Milestone: The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) received a ₹4.5 crore DBT grant to advance cultivated meat research.
Why Nutritional Transformation is Needed?
• Persistent malnutrition: Over 35% of children are stunted and 57% of women are anaemic (NFHS-5), showing that food sufficiency hasn’t translated into nutrition security, necessitating a shift to micronutrient-rich diets.
• Protein deficiency crisis: Average Indian protein intake is 47 g/day vs ICMR’s 60 g/day norm, leaving both rural and urban populations vulnerable to low immunity and chronic diseases, underscoring the need for alternative protein sources.
• Evolving dietary aspirations: With rising incomes, India’s consumers demand nutrient-dense and ethically produced foods, as reflected in the booming $25 billion functional food market projected by 2030.
• Environmental sustainability concerns: Traditional livestock farming drives 5% of global GHG emissions and stresses water and land ecosystems, making smart proteins and biofortified crops key to climate-resilient nutrition.
• Economic and health rationale: Malnutrition drains $12 billion annually in lost productivity (World Bank, 2023); investing in bio-fortification and precision nutrition can transform health outcomes and boost India’s bioeconomy.
Global Experience
• Singapore: Became the first country to approve cultivated chicken (2020), signalling regulatory openness toward sustainable and slaughter-free protein sources.
• European Union: Through its “Farm to Fork” strategy, the EU is heavily investing in sustainable protein production and transparent food systems to achieve carbon neutrality.
Significance:
• Health: Addresses India’s hidden hunger by improving access to nutrient-dense, protein-rich foods essential for public health.
• Economy: Taps into a booming $85–240 billion global smart protein market by 2030, creating jobs in biotech, agriculture, and logistics.
• Sustainability: Reduces the environmental footprint by cutting livestock-related emissions, land use, and freshwater dependency.
• Equity: Ensures that nutrition innovations reach all strata of society, bridging the rural–urban divide and promoting inclusive well-being.
Way Forward for India:
• National Framework under FSSAI: Establish clear definitions, safety norms, and labelling guidelines for functional and novel foods to ensure consumer trust and industry compliance.
• Policy Coordination: Foster synergy among Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Health Ministries to align innovation, regulation, and nutrition goals under one vision.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Strengthen biomanufacturing and precision fermentation through PPPs, ensuring both scalability and affordability in next-gen nutrition technologies.
• Public Awareness: Combat scepticism about lab-grown foods through transparent communication, awareness drives, and evidence-based education campaigns.
• Farmer Inclusion & Skill Development: Train farmers and workers for the bioeconomy, integrating them into alternative protein and biofortification value chains for inclusive growth.
Conclusion:
India’s next food revolution lies not in quantity but in quality — nourishing people while sustaining the planet. By integrating biotechnology, clear regulation, and public awareness, functional foods and smart proteins can bridge the nutrition gap. A science-led, inclusive approach can make India a global hub for sustainable nutrition and food innovation.
Bridging the Gender Gap in Civil Services
Syllabus: Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
Source: IE
Context: UPSC’s decade-long data (2010–2021) reveals that women constitute less than 40% of Civil Services aspirants, while transgender participation remains negligible, exposing persistent gender disparities in one of India’s most prestigious examinations.
About Bridging the Gender Gap in Civil Services:
Trends and Data (2010–2021):
• Female participation rose from 23.4% in 2010 to 32.98% in 2021, indicating slow progress yet staying below 40%.
• In 2021, women made up 32.98% of prelims candidates, 14.75% cleared prelims, and only 15.66% (201 women) appeared in the final merit list.
• Transgender participation remains below 0.001%, with only 4 candidates appearing in 2021 and none qualifying for later stages.
• Despite legal inclusion of the third gender in 2016, meaningful participation remains absent.
Factors Behind Low Gender Representation:
• Social constraints and patriarchy: Cultural norms and early marriage expectations continue to restrict women’s mobility and preparation time — over 60% of female aspirants cite familial or societal pressure as a deterrent (CSDS Youth Survey, 2023).
• Financial inequality in education: High coaching costs (₹2–3 lakh annually) limit access; rural women’s education spending is 30% lower than men’s, reducing their ability to compete (NSO Education Report, 2022).
• Safety and mobility barriers: Many women avoid relocating to hubs like Delhi due to security fears — India ranks 127/146 in Global Gender Gap Report 2024 (WEF) for mobility freedom.
• Psychological and social burden: Aspirants face time-bound marriage pressure; 40% of women drop preparation by age 27 (Vision IAS Survey, 2024), reflecting gendered expectations of “settling down.”
• Institutional and policy gaps: UPSC lacks targeted facilities such as gender hostels, counselling, or mentorship; only 15% of coaching institutes offer women’s hostels or safety provisions, limiting inclusivity.
Emerging Social Change:
• Steady upward trend: Women’s participation in UPSC rose from 23.4% in 2010 to 32.98% in 2021, showing slow but consistent empowerment through education access and awareness.
• Inspirational visibility: Role models like IAS Ira Singhal and IPS Rema Rajeshwari have challenged stereotypes, motivating more women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns.
• Government empowerment schemes: Initiatives such as PM-DAKSH and Mission Karmayogi include women’s capacity-building components, strengthening their representation in public service.
• Legal inclusion of transgender aspirants: The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 enabled inclusion in UPSC forms (since 2016), symbolising an evolving rights-based framework.
• Social awareness through education: NEP 2020’s emphasis on gender inclusion and career counselling in higher education is gradually transforming societal perceptions of women’s professional roles.
Importance of Gender-Balanced Representation in Civil Services:
• Diverse governance lens: Women officers bring community-oriented perspectives, improving welfare delivery and social policy sensitivity (World Bank Gender and Gov. Report, 2024).
• Policy inclusivity and empathy: Studies show states with higher female bureaucratic presence achieve better health and education indicators (UNDP India, 2023).
• Curbing corruption and bias: Female officers are statistically less likely to engage in rent-seeking behaviour, promoting integrity in governance (NCAER, 2022).
• Symbolic leadership impact: Visible women leaders like Smita Sabharwal (IAS) normalize female authority, inspiring broader participation in governance and politics.
• Administrative resilience: A balanced bureaucracy ensures representative decision-making, crucial for gender justice in programmes like Beti Bachao, Jal Jeevan, and PM Awas Yojana.
Way Ahead:
• Targeted scholarships & mentorship: Launch Women-in-Administration Fellowships under DoPT to fund coaching and mentorship for women and transgender aspirants.
• Transparent gender data: Mandate UPSC Annual Diversity Reports disaggregated by gender and region to track equity outcomes.
• Work-life flexibility in service: Institutionalise creche facilities, flexible postings, and sabbatical options for women officers to balance motherhood and service demands.
• Inclusive preparation infrastructure: Expand state-run coaching centres and women’s hostels in district HQs, reducing dependence on metro-based institutes.
• Societal reorientation: Integrate gender-sensitivity modules in schools and media campaigns to challenge patriarchal notions linking women’s worth solely to marriage.
Conclusion:
Gender diversity in the civil services is not a symbolic pursuit but a democratic necessity. True equality in governance begins with equal opportunity in entry. Empowering women and transgender aspirants through systemic, social, and institutional reforms will create a bureaucracy that reflects India’s real social fabric.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
NALSAR University of Law report on fair trials
Context: Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath expressed deep concern that over 70% of India’s prison population are undertrials, most of whom remain unaware of their right to free legal aid, as revealed in a NALSAR University of Law report on fair trial practices.
About NALSAR University of Law report on fair trials:
What it is?
• The Fair Trial Programme (FTP), launched in 2019 by NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, through its Square Circle Clinic, provides legal representation and advocacy support to undertrials in Indian prisons—especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Key Trends (2019–2024):
• Access to legal representation: 41.3% of undertrials had no lawyer assigned, and over 51% lacked necessary case documents.
• Socio-economic vulnerability: Nearly 68% of undertrials belonged to marginalised caste groups, and 80% worked in the unorganised sector.
• Disability and vulnerability: 58% of accused persons had at least one disability, showing intersectional disadvantage.
• Utilisation of legal aid: Only 7.91% accessed legal aid, despite constitutional and statutory guarantees.
• Bail outcomes: The programme filed 1,834 bail pleas, secured 1,388 releases, and disposed of 777 cases, underscoring the importance of systematic legal intervention.
Implications:
• Highlights systemic failures in ensuring Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 39A (Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid).
• Reveals the disproportionate incarceration of the poor, mentally ill, and socially excluded.
• Calls for reform in legal aid mechanisms, bail procedures, and pre-trial detention policies to prevent “punishment before conviction.”
Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:
GS Paper II – Governance, Polity & Social Justice
• Topics: Legal aid system, prison reforms, human rights of undertrials, Article 21, and Article 39A.
• Use in answers: Can be cited under issues of access to justice, criminal justice reforms, and judicial pendency.
GS Paper IV – Ethics
• Ethical dimensions of justice delivery, dignity of prisoners, compassion in governance, and equity in law enforcement.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
COP30 – UN Climate Summit 2025
Source: DH
Context: The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UNFCCC began in Belém, Brazil, marking the decade since the Paris Agreement and focusing on translating global climate commitments into concrete implementation.
About COP30 – UN Climate Summit 2025:
What it is?
• COP30 is the annual UN Climate Conference under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where nations assess progress on the Paris Agreement, strengthen emission targets, and negotiate finance and adaptation frameworks.
Host: Hosted by Brazil in the Amazonian city of Belém.
• To make COP30 an “Implementation COP” that turns pledges into measurable outcomes, ensuring fair, inclusive, and equitable climate transitions aligned with the principles of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).
Key Initiatives Expected:
• Global Stocktake (GST): First major review since the Paris Agreement to assess global progress and identify gaps in mitigation and adaptation.
• New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): To scale climate finance from $100 billion to $300 billion annually by 2035, with a roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion per year from all actors.
• Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA): Establishing quantifiable, measurable targets and funding for climate resilience.
• Baku-to-Belém Climate Finance Roadmap: Framework to operationalise predictable finance for developing nations.
• Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF): Brazil-led blended-finance fund to reward nations conserving tropical forests.
• Integration of Climate and Biodiversity Agendas: Linking carbon reduction with forest, ocean, and soil restoration.
Significance:
• Marks 10 years since the Paris Agreement, focusing on implementation over intent.
• Reinforces equity and justice by spotlighting the Global South’s priorities, especially finance, technology, and capacity building.
• Emphasises just transitions in energy, industry, and transport for developing economies.
Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025
Source: PIB
Context: Nationwide celebrations under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025 are underway to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and 150 years of “Vande Mataram”.
About Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025:
What it is?
• Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh 2025 is a nationwide year-long celebration dedicated to honouring the legacy of tribal freedom fighters—especially Bhagwan Birsa Munda, known as Dharti Aaba—and commemorating 150 years of the national song “Vande Mataram.”
• It seeks to promote awareness of India’s tribal contributions to nation-building and cultural identity.
Organisations Involved:
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is the nodal agency.
• Supported by Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), State Governments, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), and cultural bodies.
• To celebrate India’s tribal heritage, resilience, and patriotism while deepening national pride and fostering cultural inclusivity in line with the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.
Key Features:
• Cultural Commemoration: Mass events, exhibitions, and Janjati Gaurav Yatras showcasing tribal heroes and their contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
• Educational Outreach: Competitions, literacy workshops, and museum visits to promote awareness of tribal history among students.
• Community Empowerment: Activities like digital and financial literacy programmes in EMRS schools to enhance tribal socio-economic inclusion.
• National Integration: Mass singing of Vande Mataram, sports meets, and art exhibitions across States to foster unity and pride.
• Inclusive Development Focus: Events across states such as Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Nagaland, and Ladakh, blending traditional culture with modern aspirations.
• Major Highlight: The Janjati Gaurav Yatra (Tribal Pride March) from Ambaji and Umargam to the Statue of Unity (Ektanagar), symbolising national unity through tribal heritage.
Exercise Malabar 2025
Source: DC
Context: INS Sahyadri has reached Guam in the Northern Pacific to participate in Exercise Malabar 2025, reaffirming India’s commitment to maritime cooperation, regional stability, and interoperability among the Quad nations.
About Exercise Malabar 2025:
What it is?
• Exercise Malabar is a multilateral naval exercise involving the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
• It serves as a premier platform for enhancing maritime security coordination, interoperability, and joint operational capabilities among the participating nations.
Origin:
• Initiated in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the United States.
• Japan became a permanent member in 2015, followed by Australia in 2020, making it a Quad-level exercise.
History:
• Over three decades, the exercise has evolved from basic maritime coordination drills to advanced joint operations, reflecting growing strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
• It has been hosted rotationally by member countries, symbolising shared responsibility for regional security.
Nations Involved: India, United States, Japan, and Australia — collectively representing the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) nations committed to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
2025 Host: Guam, a U.S. Island territory in the Western Pacific, is hosting Malabar 2025, featuring both harbour and sea phases of the exercise.
Features of Malabar 2025:
• Harbour Phase: Operational planning meetings, communication alignment, cross-deck visits, and cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.
• Sea Phase: Advanced maritime operations including joint fleet manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare, surface gunnery drills, air defence operations, and cross-deck helicopter flights.
• Focus Areas: Strengthening maritime domain awareness, joint logistics, and coordinated response to emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
• Symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat: India’s participation with INS Sahyadri, an indigenously designed and built stealth frigate, underscores indigenous naval capability.
Odd Radio Circles (ORCs)
Source: TH
Context: Citizen scientists from India’s RAD@home astronomy group, led by Prof. Ananda Hota of the University of Mumbai, have discovered a rare twin “Odd Radio Circle” (double ORC) using LOFAR telescope data — only the second such known instance globally.
About Odd Radio Circles (ORCs):
What it is?
• Odd Radio Circles (ORCs) are mysterious, circular astronomical structures visible only in radio wavelengths.
• They are vast rings of radio emission surrounding distant galaxies, thought to arise from powerful shockwaves caused by extreme galactic events such as black hole mergers or massive energy outflows.
Discovered in:
• First identified in 2019 through data from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope, and later studied using international facilities such as LOFAR and India’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
Characteristics:
• Radio-only visibility: Detected exclusively in radio frequencies—no visible, X-ray, or infrared emission observed.
• Circular morphology: Appear as faint, ring-like or bubble-like structures, often bright along their edges.
• Immense scale: Among the largest cosmic structures, extending millions of light-years across.
• Central galaxy presence: Some ORCs surround a galaxy, while others exist in isolation, deepening their mystery.
• Twin ORCs: The newly discovered “double ORC” shows two giant plasma rings expanding in opposite directions, possibly from a central galactic outburst or collision event.
Significance:
• Scientific importance: Offers rare insights into galactic evolution, black hole activity, and intergalactic shockwave dynamics.
• Technological collaboration: Demonstrates the synergy between citizen science and advanced observatories like LOFAR and GMRT.
• Indian contribution: Highlights India’s growing role in radio astronomy and public-led scientific discovery through initiatives like RAD@home, bridging education and research.
The Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ
Source: ET
Context: The Union Government has notified the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), aimed at empowering fishermen cooperatives and ensuring sustainable, technology-driven deep-sea fishing operations.
About the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ:
What it is?
• A comprehensive regulatory framework for sustainable and inclusive deep-sea fishing within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), promoting responsible resource utilisation, digital transparency, and community-led governance in line with India’s Blue Economy vision.
Ministry: Formulated and implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.
Aim: To unlock the untapped potential of India’s vast EEZ, strengthen the livelihoods of small-scale fishers, enhance seafood exports, and ensure ecological sustainability through traceability, value addition, and responsible fishing practices.
Key Features:
• Empowering Cooperatives: Gives priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) for managing modern vessels and deep-sea operations.
• Mother-and-Child Vessel Concept: Introduces mid-sea transshipment under RBI monitoring, particularly benefiting Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, which account for 49% of India’s EEZ.
• Digital Access Pass System: Mechanized vessels must obtain a free Access Pass via the ReALCRaft portal, ensuring transparent, paperless operations; traditional crafts are exempt.
• Integration and Traceability: ReALCRaft linked with MPEDA and Export Inspection Council for catch and health certification, enabling eco-labelling and traceable seafood exports.
• Capacity Building: Training, international exposure visits, and access to affordable credit via PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and FIDF to strengthen fishers’ skills and market access.
• Ban on Harmful Practices: Prohibits LED fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling; sets minimum legal fish size and develops Fisheries Management Plans for biodiversity conservation.
• Mariculture Promotion: Encourages sea-cage farming and seaweed cultivation to reduce nearshore fishing pressure and diversify livelihoods.
• Safety and Coastal Security: Mandates transponders, Aadhaar/QR-coded Fisher ID cards, and integration with NABHMITRA navigation app for real-time monitoring and safety.
• National Action on IUU Fishing: Framework to deter Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing within Indian waters.
• Regulatory Reforms: Recognises EEZ-origin fish as Indian-origin resources under customs and revenue norms, ensuring national accounting of exports.
A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves
Source: TH
Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has released “A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves” to safeguard forest-dwelling tribes’ rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 during relocation and promote community-inclusive conservation.
About A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves:
What it is?
• A national-level policy framework developed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in 2025 to guide how forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers are to be treated during relocation from tiger reserves.
• It seeks to balance tiger conservation with constitutional and legal safeguards for tribal communities.
Organisations Involved:
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) – Nodal Ministry drafting the framework.
• Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – To collaborate in implementing the framework.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) – Existing regulatory authority for tiger reserves whose directives prompted the new framework.
Key Features:
• Last-resort Relocation Principle: Relocation of forest-dwelling communities to be undertaken only as a last option, and strictly after settling rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
• Consent-based Process: Mandates free, prior, and informed consent from every Gram Sabha and household before declaring any area as part of a tiger reserve.
• Co-existence Option: Recognises the right of communities to continue residing within tiger reserves, exercising FRA rights with State support for basic amenities and co-management roles.
• Collaborative Governance: Proposes a National Framework for Community-Centred Conservation and Relocation, co-led by MoEFCC and MoTA, to set procedural standards, timelines, and accountability.
• Transparency and Monitoring: Establishes a National Database on Conservation–Community Interface (NDCCI) to track relocations, compensation, and post-relocation outcomes.
• Independent Audits: Annual third-party audits of relocation projects to ensure compliance with FRA, Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, and human rights norms.
• Affirmative State Duty: Reiterates that the State has a constitutional duty to protect FRA rights, which may be curtailed only upon demonstrable ecological necessity.
• Joint Ministry Oversight: Encourages inter-ministerial coordination to ensure relocation is voluntary, rights-compliant, and scientifically justified.
Significance:
• Protects tribal rights: Reinforces the constitutional and legal safeguards under FRA, ensuring communities are not displaced without consent or rehabilitation.
• Balances conservation with justice: Marks a shift from exclusionary conservation models to community-inclusive, co-management approaches in tiger reserves.
• Prevents forced relocations: Responds to protests following NTCA’s 2024 directive prioritising village relocations, ensuring ethical and voluntary processes.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 November 2025 Mapping:
Angola
Source: IT
Context: President of India is on a State Visit to Angola, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy, trade, and technology under the India–Africa Forum Summit framework.
About Angola:
What it is?
• Angola is a resource-rich nation in southwestern Africa, known for its vast oil reserves, diamonds, and diverse landscapes ranging from tropical coasts to rugged highlands.
• It gained independence from Portugal in 1975 after a long anti-colonial struggle.
Capital: Luanda.
Neighbouring Nations: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Namibia, and Atlantic Ocean.
Geological & Physical Features:
• Topography: Angola is roughly square-shaped, rising from a narrow coastal plain to a central plateau averaging 1,000–2,000 metres in elevation.
• Highest Point: Mount Moco (2,620 m), near Huambo.
• Major Rivers: The Cuanza, Cunene, and Cuango rivers form key drainage basins; some southeastern rivers flow into the Zambezi and Okavango systems.
• Soils & Minerals: Rich in oil-bearing formations, diamonds, and metal ores; features lateritic soils and eroded escarpments.
• Ecosystems: Hosts semi-desert coasts, rainforests, highlands, and savannahs, making it one of Africa’s most biodiverse regions.
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