Content

1. Trump raises U.S. tariffs on Indian imports to 50%
2. More women than men deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls
3. What is the potential of biochar?
4. What is the status of the ‘recall’ vote in Taiwan?
5. Aadhaar face ID can ensure exam ‘transparency’: Centre

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Trump raises U.S. tariffs on Indian imports to 50%

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Basics of Tariffs & Trade Policy

• Tariff Definition: A tariff is a tax imposed by a country on the import of goods and services. It increases the cost of foreign goods, making domestic products more competitive.
• Ad valorem tariff: A percentage of the value of the good (e.g., 25% of the product’s value).
• Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Principle: WTO principle mandating non-discriminatory tariff treatment among member countries.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations ), GS 3 (Indian Economy)

Background: U.S.–India Trade Tensions

• Historical Tensions:
  • Under Trump’s presidency (2017–2021), the U.S. removed India from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2019.
  • India’s tariffs on tech and agricultural imports were long criticized by the U.S.
• Current Trigger:
  • India’s purchase of oil from Russia, seen by the U.S. as indirectly supporting Moscow amid sanctions.
  • Executive Order 14066 (March 2022): Declared U.S. “national emergency” over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, basis for this trade action.

Key Details of the New Tariffs

• Initial Tariff: 25% ad valorem duty on Indian imports (effective immediately from Thursday).
• Additional Tariff: Another 25% (total 50%) to take effect 21 days later.
• Total Impact: 50% tariff on Indian goods entering U.S. markets — a significant trade barrier.

Legal Justification Cited by U.S.

• Executive Order 14066 (2022): Enables tariff measures as national security/emergency actions due to Russian aggression.
• U.S. Argument: India’s continued oil imports from Russia undermine Western sanctions.
• Labelled India as a violator of “collective economic pressure” campaign on Russia.

India’s Response

• MEA Statement:
  • Tariffs termed as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”.
  • Cited hypocrisy: EU and U.S. continue trading with Russia in other sectors.
  • Highlighted previous Western encouragement of Indian-Russian trade (including oil).
• Diplomatic Tone: Firm but non-retaliatory, focused on dialogue and defending sovereignty in trade.

India’s Oil Trade with Russia – Key Data

• Pre-Feb 2022: India imported <2% of its oil from Russia.
• Post-Ukraine War: Imports surged to 30%+, making Russia India’s top crude supplier.
• Why?: Deep discounts offered by Russia amid Western sanctions.
• Global Context:
  • EU and G7 imposed oil price cap and shipping bans.
  • India not party to these sanctions, continued trade based on national interest.

Implications for India

Trade & Economy:

• Could affect key Indian exports to U.S. (pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery).
• May reduce export competitiveness in U.S. markets.
• Uncertainty in bilateral trade negotiations (e.g., Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), India-U.S. TPF talks).

Diplomacy:

• Further strains India-U.S. relations ahead of U.S. elections and India’s strategic balancing between Russia and the West.
• Could complicate Quad dynamics and broader Indo-Pacific cooperation.

WTO Violation?

• India’s options at WTO limited as national security exceptions are hard to challenge post-Ukraine war.
• Tariff hikes bypass multilateral frameworks, using executive orders.

Geopolitical Analysis

• Strategic Autonomy: India maintains independent foreign policy, refuses to join Western sanctions against Russia.
• U.S. Election Calculus: Trump may be using India as a soft target to project foreign policy strength.
• Double Standards: India points to ongoing U.S.–Russia trade in non-oil sectors as evidence of selective targeting.

What Could India Do?

• Diplomatic Push: Use Track-I and Track-II diplomacy to reverse or mitigate tariff impact.
• Diversify Markets: Boost trade with EU, ASEAN, Africa to reduce U.S. dependence.
• Retaliatory Tariffs?: Possible under WTO norms but may escalate conflict.
• WTO Dispute Mechanism: File complaint, though national security-based tariffs are hard to reverse.

Conclusion

• This move marks a critical moment in India-U.S. economic ties, with:
  • Rising geopolitical pressures
  • Weaponization of trade policies
  • Strategic tests for India’s non-alignment and multipolar diplomacy
• India must balance its strategic autonomy, economic interests, and global alliances carefully.

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More women than men deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls

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Context: Basics of Electoral Roll Revision

• Electoral Roll: A list of eligible voters in a constituency, maintained by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): An exercise undertaken periodically to ensure accuracy in the electoral rolls — involves addition of new voters and deletion of ineligible ones (deaths, duplicate registrations, migration, etc.).
• Purpose: To ensure a clean, updated, and accurate database of electors for upcoming elections (possibly linked to Bihar Assembly polls or general elections).

Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Electoral Reforms)

Key Numbers from the August 2025 Draft Electoral Rolls

Category	Jan 2025 Roll	Aug 2025 Roll	Net Deletion	% Decrease
Male Electors	4.07 crore	3.82 crore	~25 lakh	~6.1%
Female Electors	3.72 crore	3.41 crore	~31 lakh	~8.3%

• More women (by ~6 lakh) were deleted from the rolls compared to men.
• Female deletion rate (8.3%) exceeds male deletion rate (6.1%)

District-Wise Gender Disparity

• In 37 out of 38 districts, more women were deleted than men.
• Example: Gopalganj district:
  • Women: ↓ from 10 lakh to 8.21 lakh (−17.8%)
  • Men: ↓ from 10.37 lakh to 9.23 lakh (−11%)
  • Gender gap in deletion rate: 6.8 percentage points
  • Largest disparity in the state

Official Reasons for Deletion (per Election Commission)

1. Deaths
2. Duplicate registrations
3. Permanent migration out of Bihar
4. Untraceable or shifted addresses

Evaluating Each Deletion Factor

1. Deaths

• Male and female death rates in Bihar have remained nearly equal over past 5 years (except COVID years).
• Hence, cannot explain a significantly higher deletion rate among women.

2. Out-Migration

• Men dominate long-distance migration from Bihar:
  • For every 100 male migrants in India: 31.4 inter-state, 65.6 intra-state
  • For every 100 female migrants: Only 7.2 inter-state, 92.6 intra-state
  • Hence, more male deletions should have occurred, not female.

3. Duplicate/Untraceable Entries

• Expected to affect both genders equally and form a smaller share of deletions.

Most Plausible Explanation: Gender Gap in Self-Enumeration

• SIR relies on households filling and submitting self-enumeration forms.
• Female literacy rate in Bihar (2019–21): 55% — lowest in India
  • Male literacy: ~76%
• Low literacy among women may have:
  • Led to incorrect or incomplete form submission
  • Resulted in more involuntary deletions of female electors
• Administrative bias or procedural flaws in verifying women’s entries cannot be ruled out.

Additional Observation from Voting Patterns

• In some districts where more women than men voted in Jan 2024, women still faced more deletions.
• Implies:
  • Men had migrated out but retained their names on rolls (possibly due to better form-filling).
  • Women were more present but were removed more, likely due to self-enumeration and literacy issues.

Broader Implications

1. Electoral Disenfranchisement Risk

• Millions of eligible women may be disenfranchised due to procedural and literacy barriers.

2. Question on Electoral Equity

• Raises issues of systemic gender exclusion in electoral processes.

3. Need for Electoral Literacy Interventions

• Especially targeted toward low-literacy women in rural Bihar.
• ECI and civil society must collaborate to ensure fair access to registration and correction processes.

Related Governance & Policy Linkages

• Article 326 of the Constitution: Ensures universal adult suffrage without discrimination.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions): Ensure inclusive decision-making and participation.
• Election Commission’s SVEEP initiative (Systematic Voter’s Education & Electoral Participation):
  • Needs strengthening in women-dominated, low-literacy regions.
• Digital Divide: Online self-enumeration may further alienate women with limited tech access.

Way Forward

• Audit the SIR process: Independent review of deletion patterns and procedural compliance.
• Door-to-door verification, especially for vulnerable groups like women, elderly, disabled.
• Re-verification drive: To restore names wrongly deleted, especially in districts with high deletion disparity.
• Focused voter education campaigns: Leveraging ASHA workers, SHGs, Anganwadi workers.
• Simplify forms & provide support during form filling in regional languages.

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What is the potential of biochar?

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What is Biochar?

• Definition: Biochar is a carbon-rich, stable form of charcoal produced via pyrolysis (thermal decomposition in absence of oxygen) of organic material like agricultural waste and municipal solid waste.
• Nature: Porous, black solid, with high carbon content (up to 80–90%) and alkaline pH.
• Stability: Remains in soil for 100–1,000 years, making it a long-term carbon sink.

Relevance : GS 3(Energy Security , Science )

What are the byproducts of biochar production?

• Key Byproducts:
  • Syngas (Synthesis Gas): Mixture of CO, H₂, CH₄ — energy-rich and combustible.
  • Bio-oil: Liquid fuel with energy density similar to crude oil.
• Quantitative Estimates (India):
  • Syngas: 20–30 million tonnes/year.
  • Bio-oil: 24–40 million tonnes/year.
  • Together, these can generate 8–13 TWh of electricity (~0.5–0.7% of India’s annual generation).
• Fossil Fuel Offsets:
  • Coal: Replaces 0.4–0.7 million tonnes/year.
  • Diesel/Kerosene: Offsets 12–19 million tonnes (~8% of production).
  • Emission Reduction: Cuts >2% of fossil-fuel-based emissions.

How can these byproducts generate electricity and fuels?

• Electricity:
  • Syngas can be used in gas turbines or internal combustion engines to produce power at small or grid scale.
  • Co-firing syngas with natural gas or coal is feasible in hybrid plants.
• Fuels:
  • Bio-oil can be refined into transport fuels, used in industrial boilers, or blended with fossil fuels.
  • Helps in reducing diesel/kerosene imports, aiding energy security.
• Circular Economy: Converts agricultural and organic waste into value-added energy products, reducing landfill burden.

How can biochar help the construction sector?

• Applications in Construction:
  • Added to cement and concrete to:
    • Improve thermal insulation.
    • Enhance durability and water retention.
    • Reduce carbon footprint of concrete (~8% of global CO₂ emissions).
• Eco-bricks:
  • Biochar can be used in compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) or fired bricks to lower embodied carbon.
• Carbon-negative Building Materials:
  • Incorporating biochar creates materials that store more carbon than emitted during production.

Why is biochar underrepresented in carbon credit systems?

• Lack of Recognition:
  • Not formally recognised as a verifiable CO₂ removal technology in many carbon markets.
  • Absence of standardised protocols for MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification).
• Technical Complexity:
  • Varying properties due to different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions make quantification difficult.
• Fragmented Policy Landscape:
  • No integrated policy framework connecting agriculture, waste management, energy, and climate sectors.
• Business Model Constraints:
  • High upfront costs.
  • Lack of viable producer–user linkages and private financing.
  • Limited awareness among investors, farmers, and startups.

How should large-scale adoption of biochar be enabled?

Policy and Regulatory Measures:

• Recognise biochar in India’s carbon market (2026):
  • Define biochar as a carbon removal pathway.
  • Issue carbon credits for its application in agriculture, waste-to-energy, and construction.
• Integrate into existing schemes:
  • National Bio-Energy Mission, Crop Residue Management Schemes, and State Climate Action Plans.

Research & Innovation:

• Invest in R&D:
  • Create region-specific feedstock standards.
  • Develop low-cost pyrolysis units suitable for Indian villages.
  • Standardise MRV frameworks for biochar lifecycle carbon capture.

Rural Deployment & Job Creation:

• Village-scale biochar units:
  • Potential to create 5.2 lakh rural jobs.
  • Engage Panchayats, FPOs, and SHGs as production and distribution nodes.

Market Development:

• Awareness campaigns for:
  • Farmers (soil health and yield benefits).
  • Startups and investors (carbon credits, fuel substitutes).
• Promote Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Carbon Finance Platforms.

Agricultural Co-benefits:

• Increases soil fertility by enhancing water/nutrient retention.
• Reduces fertilizer need by 10–20%.
• Improves crop yield by 10–25%.

Related News and Context

• Indian Carbon Market (ICM):
  • Launch scheduled for 2026, with a focus on carbon removal credits alongside avoidance credits.
• National Bio-Energy Programme (2021-26):
  • Incentivising biomass and waste-to-energy projects, under which biochar can be included.
• International Reference:
  • IPCC AR6 (2022) lists biochar among “low-risk” carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options.
  • EU Biochar Certification standards (EBC) adopted in 15+ countries.
• Mission LiFE and SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Biochar aligns with India’s commitments under Paris Agreement and LiFE lifestyle campaigns.

Conclusion: Why Biochar Matters

• Multisectoral Gains:
  • Climate mitigation, waste management, soil regeneration, energy security, job creation, and construction innovation.
• Science-backed, scalable, inclusive:
  • With right enablers, biochar can contribute to Net-Zero 2070 targets and decentralised green growth.

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What is the status of the ‘recall’ vote in Taiwan?

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India-Taiwan Relations: Current Status

• No formal diplomatic ties (India follows One-China policy).
• But ties have improved unofficially in areas like:
  • Trade (over $8 billion bilateral trade in 2024)
  • Semiconductors (MoUs on supply chain collaboration)
  • Education and skilled manpower exchange
  • Strategic cooperation in Indo-Pacific forums (without directly naming China)

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)

Why India Should Watch This Closely

• Taiwan’s internal democratic assertion is a counter-narrative to China’s authoritarian model.
• The Bluebird Movement’s emphasis on constitutionalism and civil protests resonates with India’s democratic ethos.
• Taiwan is a potential partner in:
  • Semiconductor self-reliance (India’s ₹76,000 crore chip mission)
  • Critical technology partnerships (under Quad, India-Japan-Taiwan synergies)
  • Countering Chinese aggression in Indo-Pacific

India-Taiwan: Strategic Sensitivities

• Recall movement accused KMT of pro-China leanings → underscores Taiwan’s vulnerability to Beijing’s influence.
• India faces similar subversion risks in border regions and digital disinformation → lessons in safeguarding democracy from internal manipulation.
• India must navigate Taiwan ties cautiously, balancing:
  • Its strategic autonomy
  • Relations with USA-Japan bloc
  • Managing China’s retaliation (e.g., border tensions, economic coercion)

Democracy, Recall, and India: Institutional Comparison

Feature	Taiwan	India
Recall Law	Citizens can recall legislators via direct vote (under 3-tier process)	No recall provision at Centre/State; only anti-defection law and party whip mechanism
Legislative Gridlock	Yes, due to divided govt (Executive ≠ Legislature)	Rare, as Indian Parliament usually follows majoritarian model
Popular Protest Movements	Bluebird Movement (2024–25), Sunflower (2014)	Anna Hazare’s Lokpal protest (2011), CAA-NRC protests (2019), Farmer Protests (2020–21)
Voter Engagement	Direct recall voting at constituency level	Representative model; no provision for mid-term citizen-triggered removal
Judicial Independence Under Threat	KMT laws undermined judiciary	Similar concerns raised in India (e.g., Ordinance on Judicial Appointments, use of ordinances bypassing Parliament)

Key Lessons for India

• Need for balanced checks and balances: Taiwan’s crisis shows what happens when legislature is misused; India must protect parliamentary deliberative integrity.
• Citizen-driven accountability vs Political manipulation: India lacks a recall option, but can explore local governance-level reforms (e.g., reintroducing recall at panchayat level).
• Civil society’s role: Taiwan’s Bluebird shows how mass protest can protect constitutional values — akin to India’s history of public-led reform movements.

China Angle: Strategic Parallels

• KMT seen as Beijing’s proxy → similar concerns in India’s context over:
  • Chinese funding of Indian startups and digital apps
  • Cross-border propaganda campaigns
  • Security breaches via telecom, drones, and ports

• India should study Taiwan’s model of:
  • Legislative oversight of foreign influence
  • Tech-based surveillance laws
  • Civil society pushback against authoritarian infiltration

Political Polarisation: Indian Comparison

• Taiwan’s recall vote intensified party polarisation (DPP vs KMT).
• In India:
  • Polarisation often deepened by electoral tools (e.g., defections, Governor’s role in hung assemblies).
  • But no direct electoral mechanism exists for citizens to remove sitting MPs/MLAs mid-term.

Opportunities for India’s Foreign Policy

• India can:
  • Quietly support Taiwan’s democratic resilience under its Act East Policy.
  • Expand economic engagement (esp. semiconductors, electronics, green energy).
  • Promote people-to-people ties: academic, tech exchanges, spiritual tourism.
  • Showcase India as a democratic counterweight in Indo-Pacific architecture.

Risks if India Overplays Taiwan Card

• China may retaliate through:
  • LAC military pressure (as seen in Galwan 2020)
  • Trade curbs on pharma, electronics
  • Cyberattacks and espionage
• Hence, India must adopt a “strategic ambiguity + silent support” approach for now.

Conclusion: Why Taiwan’s Recall Vote Matters to India

• Shows strength of democratic institutions under pressure
• Warns against legislative overreach and institutional imbalance
• Illustrates citizen power in constitutional enforcement
• Provides India with a strategic example to:
  • Deepen democratic norms
  • Engage smartly in Taiwan-China affairs
  • Strengthen its own internal checks against authoritarian drifts

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Aadhaar face ID can ensure exam ‘transparency’: Centre

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• Aadhaar Authentication:
  • A process wherein a resident’s Aadhaar number, along with biometric (fingerprint/iris/face) or demographic data, is submitted to UIDAI for verification.
  • Returns a “Yes/No” response to confirm identity.
• Aadhaar Face Authentication:
  • Uses facial recognition by matching the user’s live face image with their photograph in the UIDAI database.
  • Involves a “liveness” check to prevent spoofing using photos/videos.
  • Useful where fingerprints/iris fail (e.g. aged, manual laborers).
• SWIK Rules (2020 & 2025 Amendment):
  • SWIK = Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge.
  • Under these rules, government/private organisations can apply for permission to use Aadhaar-based authentication for “good governance” purposes.
  • 2025 amendment clarified procedural vetting through UIDAI and portal-based application via the SWIK Portal.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance, Education)

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Combat Impersonation in competitive exams (e.g. SSC, RRB).
• Reduce fraud in welfare delivery (e.g. DBT schemes).
• Improve accuracy in identity verification (e.g. attendance, recruitment).
• Strengthen accountability of authorities via transparent processes.
• Enable access to digital services for those with worn-out biometrics.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (As of August 2025)

• Ministry of Electronics and IT to Parliament:
  • Facial authentication to boost transparency in competitive exams.
  • Aims to build aspirant trust and enhance administrative accountability.
• Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) & Staff Selection Commission (SSC):
  • Already authorized to use Aadhaar face authentication for exam candidates.
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) – August 2025:
  • Approved to use face authentication for:
    • Verifying athletes, coaches, staff under schemes like Khelo India, TOPS, and NCOEs.
    • Processes include registration, attendance, and DBT payments.
• EPFO Circular (July 2025):
  • Aadhaar Face Authentication now mandatory to generate Universal Account Numbers (UANs).
• India Post Payments Bank (July 2025):
  • Adopted face authentication for its services.
  • Framed as supporting Digital India and Financial Inclusion.
• UIDAI’s push:
  • Promoting face and iris authentication to support:
    • Elderly and laborers with damaged fingerprints.
    • Inclusion of underserved sections.
• SWIK Portal Performance:
  • Around 1–6 proposals approved per month.
  • Cumulative: 312 Union and State organisations approved since 2020.

GOVERNANCE & POLICY IMPLICATIONS

• Transparency & Accountability:
  • Real-time face verification discourages impersonation, especially in exams and recruitment.
  • Greater public trust in examination processes and welfare systems.
• Inclusion:
  • Ensures access for elderly, disabled, and workers who suffer biometric degradation.
  • Supports DBT, digital identity, and service delivery.
• Privacy Concerns:
  • Use of facial recognition raises questions on data security, consent, and surveillance.
  • Requires robust data protection frameworks and UIDAI compliance.
• Legal Framework:
  • Use of Aadhaar (especially biometric) tied to Section 4 and 8 of Aadhaar Act, 2016, amended via Aadhaar & Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019.
  • Voluntary use stressed post Puttaswamy (2018) privacy judgment.

CHALLENGES & CRITICAL ISSUES

• Authentication Failures:
  • Though facial authentication helps, it still faces tech limitations (lighting, quality, camera resolution).
  • Infrastructure gaps in rural/low-income areas.
• Consent & Voluntariness:
  • Concerns that authentication might be de facto mandatory, violating privacy norms.
• Surveillance Risk:
  • Potential for misuse or overreach of facial recognition tech if not regulated properly.
• Need for Oversight:
  • UIDAI vetting helps but independent audits and citizen grievance redress mechanisms are essential.