September 02nd Current Affairs
Table of Contents
Operation Sindoor
July 21st Current Affairs Home / Operation Sindoor Why in News? Parliament’s Monsoon Session, starting July 21, 2025, is expected to feature
Alaska Earthquakes
July 21st Current Affairs Home / Alaska Earthquakes Why in News? On July 21, 2025, Alaska Peninsula was struck by
August 2, 2027 Solar Eclipse
July 21st Current Affairs Home / August 2, 2027 Solar Eclipse Why in News? A total solar eclipse is set
India’s milestone in clean energy transition
July 21st Current Affairs Home / India’s milestone in clean energy transition Why in News? India achieved a milestone by
‘Baby Grok’, child-friendly AI app
July 21st Current Affairs Home / ‘Baby Grok’, Child-friendly AI app Why in News? Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has announced
Impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma
July 22nd Current Affairs Home / Impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma Context On July 22, 2025, impeachment proceedings against
Toxic air costs Bengalureans over 2 years of life, double the impact of 1990’s
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus
- GS Paper III – Environment: Air Pollution (PM2.5), Health impacts, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- GS Paper I/II: Health and Demography, Urban Governance, Public Health Infrastructure, Geography
More About the News
In 1998, Bengaluru had an average PM₂.₅ level of 13.1 µg/m³. By 2023, this value had more than doubled to 26.21 µg/m³ This steady rise coincides with the city’s rapid urbanization and industrial growth.
Current Scenario & Impacts
- The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report from the University of Chicago reveals that toxic air now cuts over two years from the average life expectancy of Bengaluru’s residents—compared to just eight months in the late 1990s
- Between 2016 and 2021, residents could have lived 2.5–2.9 years longer had air quality met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³
- NCAP (launched 2019) aims for a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2026 compared to 2017. So far, by 2023, pollution in “non-attainment” districts declined by 10.5%, adding up to six months of life expectancy to 443 million residents, and about two months nationally
- If NCAP targets are met, cities like Bengaluru could see 2.1 years of increased life expectancy, and the national average could gain nearly eight months
- Bengaluru also ranks among the top five districts in India for PM₂.₅ emissions from diesel generator (DG) sets, according to a recent C-STEP study, intensifying pollution pressures
Multi-Dimensional Analysis
A. Health Dimensions
- PM₂.₅ particles infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, elevating risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, reducing immunity, and causing premature mortality
B. Urbanization & Infrastructure
C. Policy & Governance
- Although NCAP offers a framework, fund utilization remains poor—Bengaluru used only 13% of NCAP funds over recent years
- Progress, albeit slow, indicates gains—demonstrating potential if execution improves.
D. Social & Economic Costs
- Reduced life expectancy has broader implications: increased healthcare burden, fewer productive years, mental stress, and adverse social equity effects—low-income groups suffer disproportionately.
Challenges
- Weak Implementation of NCAP
- Bengaluru spent only ~13% of NCAP funds, reflecting governance bottlenecks.
- Bengaluru spent only ~13% of NCAP funds, reflecting governance bottlenecks.
- Source-Specific Issues
- Diesel generators, construction dust, and vehicle congestion remain unchecked.
- Diesel generators, construction dust, and vehicle congestion remain unchecked.
- Urban Sprawl
- Poor urban planning worsens vehicular density and land-use conflicts.
- Poor urban planning worsens vehicular density and land-use conflicts.
- Data & Monitoring Gaps
- Inadequate real-time monitoring limits accountability and corrective measures.
- Inadequate real-time monitoring limits accountability and corrective measures.
- Institutional Fragmentation
- Multiple agencies (BBMP, KSPCB, State Urban Development Dept.) lack coordination.
- Multiple agencies (BBMP, KSPCB, State Urban Development Dept.) lack coordination.
- Public Apathy
- Citizens often normalize pollution; demand for clean air as a “right” is still weak.
Way Forward
- Strengthen NCAP Implementation
- Ensure full utilization of funds with performance-based accountability.
- Ensure full utilization of funds with performance-based accountability.
- Transport Reforms
- Shift to electric mobility, improve public transport, and enforce congestion pricing.
- Shift to electric mobility, improve public transport, and enforce congestion pricing.
- Source Regulation
- Phase out diesel generators; incentivize solar and battery storage.
- Phase out diesel generators; incentivize solar and battery storage.
- Urban Planning Reforms
- Integrate green buffers, promote compact city design, and curb dust from construction.
- Integrate green buffers, promote compact city design, and curb dust from construction.
- Citizen-Centric Approaches
- Awareness campaigns, community monitoring of AQI, and participatory urban governance.
- Awareness campaigns, community monitoring of AQI, and participatory urban governance.
- Technological Interventions
- Expand real-time air quality monitoring and predictive AI-based pollution modelling.
- Expand real-time air quality monitoring and predictive AI-based pollution modelling.
- Health System Preparedness
- Establish specialized respiratory clinics and targeted interventions for vulnerable groups.
Conclusion
Bengaluru’s toxic air is not just an environmental concern but a public health emergency. The two-year life expectancy loss mirrors governance failures, rapid urbanization stress, and weak enforcement. Effective NCAP execution, combined with robust urban planning, citizen engagement, and source control, can transform this challenge into an opportunity for sustainable urban living.
Prelims MCQ
Q. According to recent AQLI data, Bengaluru’s air pollution now reduces residents’ life expectancy by over two years. Which of the following is not directly attributable to this reduction?
Mains Question
Q. Critically examine how Bengaluru’s worsening PM₂.₅ pollution—evidenced by doubling levels and two-year reduction in life expectancy—reflects shortcomings in urban environmental governance. Suggest integrated policy interventions to address such challenges, with specific reference to NCAP, source control (e.g., DG sets, traffic emissions), and equitable public health outcomes.
Japan Post Bank’s plan to launch a yen-backed “digital yen” (DCJPY) by FY 2026
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus
- GS-III (Economy): Money & Banking; Financial markets; Inclusive growth; E-governance; Science & Tech—IT, Blockchain; Cybersecurity.
- GS-II (Polity & Governance): Government policies for digital payments; Regulatory frameworks; Data protection; Inter-agency coordination.
- GS-II (IR): India–Japan economic & tech cooperation; standards-setting; financial interoperability.
- Prelims (Economy/Current Affairs): CBDC vs stablecoin vs deposit token; Payment Systems Act (India)/RBI Act; UPI; tokenisation
Background: Taxonomy to avoid confusion
- CBDC (central bank liability): Issued by central bank; legal tender. (BoJ still in pilot.)
- Stablecoin (private IOU): Typically e-money/crypto backed by assets; regulatory risks vary.
- Deposit token (bank liability): DCJPY = tokenised commercial-bank deposits, 1:1 redeemable, operating on permissioned blockchain; not a stablecoin or CBDC.
What DCJPY aims to solve ?
- T+instant settlement for digital securities/RWAs, cutting post-trade frictions.
- Programmable payments for subsidies/benefits by local governments.
- Interoperability rails alongside—rather than replacing—cash, cards, and bank transfers in a 42.8% cashless economy.
Implications for India
- Comparative architecture: RBI’s e₹ (CBDC-Retail) is sovereign money; DCJPY is a deposit token. Studying Japan helps India weigh public (CBDC) vs private-bank token models for tokenised Govt payments, securities settlement, cross-border pilots.
- Interoperability with UPI/RTGS: India could explore CBDC ↔ deposit-token bridges, ISO-20022 alignment, and tokenised G-secs/CPs settlement.
- Regulatory learning: Japan’s phased reforms (PSA/AML-CFT) inform India’s DLT sandboxing, VDA tax re-look, and Payment & Settlement Systems Act calibration.
- Geo-economic angle (GS-II/IR): India–Japan FinTech working groups can co-develop standards for tokenised assets, privacy-preserving KYC, and resilience norms.
Risks & Challenges
- Fragmentation risk: Multiple bank tokens without interoperability can splinter liquidity.
- Cyber & operational risk: Smart-contract bugs, validator compromise, key management.
- Run/contagion dynamics: Though fully backed, perceived convertibility and intraday liquidity must be assured under stress.
- Legal certainty & settlement finality: Need watertight statutes on token = deposit, DVP in tokenised securities.
- Inclusion: Elderly/cash-preferring users; offline capability; accessibility.
- Monetary policy neutrality: Ensure tokens don’t disintermediate smaller banks or distort transmission.
Way Forward
- Interoperability first: Common token standards, RTGS-linked settlement, on-chain DVP/PvP specifications.
- Resilience by design: Formal verification of contracts; cyber drills, real-time monitoring, kill-switch/rollback governance.
- Liquidity backstops: Clear convertibility SLAs, intraday credit lines, and transparency on reserves.
- Inclusive UX: Offline modes, assisted digital channels, strong grievance redress.
- Prudential & conduct norms: Board-level accountability, audit trails, data minimisation & privacy by default.
- India–Japan sandbox: Joint pilots on G2P subsidies, RWA tokenisation, and cross-border remittances using CBDC↔deposit-token corridors.
Conclusion
Japan’s DCJPY move signals a pragmatic middle path between fully sovereign CBDC and volatile stablecoins—keeping commercial-bank money but upgrading it for a tokenised economy. For India, already a global payments leader via UPI and piloting e₹, the lesson is to design interoperable, resilient digital money that advances efficiency, inclusion, and financial stability—and to shape emerging standards through India–Japan collaboration rather than adapt after the fact.
Prelims MCQ
Q. With reference to “DCJPY” recently in the news, which of the following is/are correct? 1. It is a yen-backed tokenised bank deposit issued by a commercial bank. 2. It is Japan’s official central bank digital currency and legal tender. 3. It targets instant settlement for tokenised assets on a permissioned blockchain. Select the correct answer using the code below:
Mains Question
Q. “Deposit tokens such as Japan’s proposed DCJPY represent an evolutionary path for digital money distinct from both CBDCs and stablecoins.”
Critically analyse this statement in the context of financial stability, inclusion, interoperability, and monetary policy transmission. In your answer, compare CBDC vs stablecoin vs deposit token architectures and suggest a calibrated roadmap for India.
All of India breathes bad air, says AQI 2025 report
Connection to UPSC Syllabus
- General Studies – Paper I: Environment (air pollution, health impact), Geography (Indo-Gangetic Plain pollution).
- GS III: Environment (pollution control, health, programs like NCAP), Science & Tech (satellite data usage), Disaster-related health risks.
- Ethics & Governance (GS IV): Policy response, public health ethics, accountability.
Background
Air pollution has remained a persistent environmental and public health challenge in India, particularly affecting urban regions and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Despite multiple interventions—such as the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act (1981), National Air Quality Index (2015), and the National Clean Air Programme (2019)—progress has been inconsistent. The latest AQLI-2025 report reveals a stark reality: all of India experiences hazardous particulate levels, with serious consequences for life expectancy.
“India’s Air Quality Crisis: Life Expectancy Cuts and the Path to Cleaner Skies”
- Key Findings
- The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report, based on 2023 PM₂.₅ data, reveals that all of India now breathes polluted air—annual average PM₂.₅ concentration is ~41 µg/m³, over eight times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
- Average Indian life expectancy is reduced by 3.5 years due to air pollution; in Delhi, it’s a staggering 8.2 years lost.
- Indo-Gangetic Plains residents could gain up to 5 years of life if PM₂.₅ meets WHO levels; states like Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Jharkhand see up to 3.7 years gain.
- Particulate pollution ranks as the greatest external threat to life expectancy in India—surpassing alcohol, unsafe water, transport injuries, HIV/AIDS.
- Context & Analysis
- This health burden demands urgent prioritization—air pollution emerges as a silent killer, deeply impacting demographic health and development.
- The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019 aimed for a 20–30% PM₂.₅ reduction by 2024; revised in 2022 to a 40% cut by 2026 in 131 non-attainment cities. Already, a 10.7% reduction by 2023 has resulted in a 6-month average gain in life expectancy for 445 million people.
- Despite these efforts, average national pollution remains high; varied regional performance underscores uneven implementation.
- Policy and Governance Dimensions
- The report underlines the policy–health nexus, compelling stronger enforcement of NCAP, integrated with public health strategies.
- Equity concerns arise: the health burden is concentrated in the poor, urban slums, and highly polluted regions; air pollution exacerbates disparities.
- Technological aids (e.g., satellite data, remote sensing) are crucial for monitoring, as are fines, compliance tools, and citizen engagement.
Challenges
- Poor enforcement and capacity at local levels.
- Dependence on biomass, crop burning, vehicular and industrial emissions.
- Seasonal spikes (e.g., stubble burning, Diwali fireworks).
- Awareness gap among public and policymakers regarding the health impact.
- Coordination gaps between central and state governments.
- Inadequate use of technology and monitoring.
Way Forward
- Strengthen the enforcement of NCAP targets with accountability frameworks.
- Promote clean energy access (LPG, electric cooking) in rural and urban slums.
- Effective stubble burning control via incentives, alternatives to crop residue burning.
- Phasing out polluting industries, encouraging clean fuel and public transport.
- Use advanced satellite remote sensing and real-time monitoring for data-driven interventions.
- Launch nationwide awareness campaigns linking air quality and health for public mobilization.
- Promote inter-state coordination and public-private partnerships in pollution control.
Conclusion
The AQLI-2025 report delivers a stark wake-up call—air pollution is not a distant threat, but a present crisis shaving years off the lives of millions of Indians. Yet, improvements under NCAP signal that change is possible. Achieving cleaner air requires a holistic strategy: robust policy enforcement, grassroots behavioral change, technological leverage, and equitable solutions. Only through a coordinated and committed approach can India reclaim the right to breathe—and live—healthier lives.
Prelims MCQ
Q. According to the AQLI-2025 report, by how many years is the average Indian’s life expectancy reduced due to air pollution, and what is the worst-affected city where the reduction is maximal?
Mains Question
Q. “Examine the key findings of the AQLI-2025 report and evaluate the effectiveness of India’s air pollution mitigation strategies under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Suggest holistic, actionable measures to enhance life expectancy gains, with specific reference to regional disparities and technological interventions.”
About 30% of MPs and MLAs face serious criminal cases in India
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus
GS Paper II – Polity & Governance:
- Democratic Institutions: Impact of criminalisation on the legislative process, public trust, and representative democracy.
- Constitution & Law: Qualitative analysis of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and judicial interventions like the Lily Thomas ruling.
- Electoral Reforms: Necessity for legal mechanisms such as decriminalisation, fast-track trials, and enhanced voter awareness.
GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity, & Aptitude:
- Ethical Governance: Moral legitimacy of elected representatives and ethical ramifications of fielding criminals.
- Public Accountability: Voter responsibility and the ethics of political parties overlooking criminal charges for “winnability.
Background
In recent years, the criminalisation of Indian politics has become a grave concern. As per 2024 data, about 31% of MPs and 29% of MLAs face serious criminal charges—offences punishable by at least five years’ imprisonment or non-bailable in nature—declared in affidavits to the Election Commission. This marks a sharp rise from 14% in 2009. The state-wise picture is starker: Telangana (71% MPs), Andhra Pradesh (56% MLAs), and Uttar Pradesh with the highest numbers—34 MPs and 154 MLAs—tainted. This alarming trend erodes democratic legitimacy and poses systemic challenges to governance and rule of law.
Overview
1. Scale & Trends
- MP share with serious charges rose from 14 percent (2009) to 31 percent (2024).
- About 29 percent of MLAs—over 1,200 individuals—are similarly accused
2. State-Wise Disparities
- Telangana: 71 percent of MPs.
- Andhra Pradesh: 56 percent of MLAs.
- Uttar Pradesh: Highest number of tainted MPs (34) and MLAs (154)
3. Causes of Criminalisation
- Electoral Incentives: Parties favour “winnability” over clean track record.
- Muscle & Money Power: Resources and coercion give criminal candidates an edge.
- Weak Disqualification Regime: Disqualification only upon conviction; trials drag on for years
- Voter Dynamics: Constituents may feel that criminal candidates provide quick solutions or protection, especially where state presence is weak
4. Impacts
- Erosion of Democratic Values: Legislatures lose moral authority.
- Governance Compromise: Influence peddling and policy capture by tainted representatives.
- Rule of Law Undermined: Investigations and judicial processes manipulated or delayed.
- Social Trust Declines: Public confidence in institutions falls.
5. Judicial & Institutional Responses
- Supreme Court (2013): Lily Thomas judgment mandates immediate disqualification upon conviction, striking down Section 8(4) of RPA with the three-month appeal window
- Special Courts: SC directed establishment of special courts for MPs/MLAs in 2017–18.
- Transparency Measures: EC collects affidavits; courts directed parties to explain why they field candidates with criminal cases
- State High Courts: Punjab & Haryana HC and Meghalaya HC seeking updates on pending cases against MPs/MLAs
Challenges
- Long trial durations due to judicial and investigative delays.
- Limited disqualifying power: only convictions, not charges, matter.
- Weak implementation of judicial directives, like special courts.
- Political culture where criminal charges do not deter voter support.
- Voter apathy or limited awareness of candidate backgrounds.
Way Forward
- Fast-track Courts: Set up and operationalise special courts nationwide for swift justice.
- Legal Reform: Amend RPA to disqualify individuals facing serious criminal charges (not just convictions).
- Electoral Filtering: Enable EC to refuse candidacy for cases above a disqualifying threshold.
- Awareness Campaigns: Strengthen voter education on candidate backgrounds through civic bodies and EC.
- Incentivise Clean Politics: Political parties should prioritize candidature of clean individuals, with public status disclosures.
- Voter-driven Accountability: Civil society and citizens to reject tainted candidates at polls.
Conclusion
The criminalisation of politics—rising from 14% in 2009 to nearly one-third MPs in 2024 undermines India’s democratic ethics. Institutional, political, and societal flaws enable tainted candidates. Judicial steps like the Lily Thomas ruling and special courts help, but stronger legislative reforms and enforcement are vital. Democracy’s strength rests not merely on elections but on the moral credibility and accountability of its representatives.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Which of the following statements about the criminalisation of Indian politics is correct?
1. A candidate is disqualified immediately upon being charged with a serious criminal offence.
2. The Supreme Court’s Lily Thomas judgment mandates immediate disqualification only upon conviction with at least two years’ imprisonment.
3. Lok Sabha MPs with pending serious criminal charges declined from 14 percent in 2009 to 31 percent in 2024.
Mains Question
Q. “The rising trend of criminalisation in Indian legislatures undermines the moral legitimacy of democratic institutions. Critically examine this phenomenon with reference to recent data and judicial responses. What institutional and legal reforms are needed to restore public trust and ethical governance?”
Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against roll-out of 20% ethanol-blended petrol nationwide
Relevance to UPSC
- GS Paper II (Polity & Governance): Role of judiciary — PIL, separation of powers, judicial review; Centre’s policy-making and administrative discretion. Reuters
- GS Paper III (Economics / Environment / Agriculture / Infrastructure & Energy): Energy security, renewable energy policy, Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), biofuels policy and agricultural linkages. Press Information BureauIEA
- Ethics/GS IV: Policy trade-offs, public interest vs. consumer protection, transparency and accountability.
Background
India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, aimed at reducing fossil-fuel dependence and boosting farm incomes, advanced its E20 target from 2030 to 2025 under the amended 2018 Biofuels Policy. Blending rose from ~1.5% in 2014 to 20% in 2025, supported by feedstock diversification and OMC procurement. However, challenges persist—vehicle compatibility, mileage concerns, and food-versus-fuel debates. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of a PIL highlights tensions between policy goals and consumer interests.
Key dimensions & analysis
1. Legal / Constitutional angle
- Judicial restraint vs. judicial activism: The SC’s dismissal reflects restraint where the Court found no grounds to override an executive policy formulated after due process. This aligns with separation of powers principles.
- PIL locus & remedies: Petitioner sought consumer choice and labeling — a policy/administrative matter. Courts can direct procedural safeguards (e.g., transparency) but generally avoid substituting policy judgment unless arbitrary or violative of rights.
2. Policy & Governance
- Evidence-based policy: Government cites EBP Programme data and roadmap showing progressive blending (E10 → E20); administrative targets, OMC involvement and ethanol procurement policies underpin rollout.
- Inter-ministerial coordination required: Petroleum Ministry, Agriculture, Food Ministry, OMCs, Automotive Standards bodies (AIS/BIS) and NITI Aayog interplay is crucial for implementation and monitoring.
3. Economic & farmer impact
- Rural incomes: Ethanol demand supports sugarcane value chain, boosts alternative revenue streams for farmers and creates capacity in distilleries. Recent administrative moves expanded allowable feedstocks to ramp up supply.
- Market effect: Sugar mills and ethanol producers benefit; stock market movement in sugar sector noted.
4. Environmental & Technical
- Emissions: Ethanol blending reduces lifecycle CO₂ from petrol; it also lowers some local pollutants but may affect fuel economy (lower calorific value) and evaporative emissions differently.
- Vehicle compatibility: Newer vehicles (factory-calibrated for E20) are compatible; older vehicles may face performance/maintenance issues — raising regulatory questions on labelling, warranties and insurance.
5. Social & consumer issues
- Consumer information & choice: The plea’s demand for labeling and availability of ethanol-free petrol raises issues of consumer rights, transparency and reasonable alternatives during transition.
Challenges
- Incomplete consumer awareness and inconsistent labeling at pumps.
- Compatibility issues for older vehicles, warranty/insurance ambiguity and potential increase in maintenance costs.
- Supply chain risks: ensuring ethanol supply without diverting edible sugar/destabilising sugar markets (food vs fuel).
- Environmental lifecycle uncertainties (feedstock choice, land-use impacts).
- Need for robust testing standards, grievance redress, and monitoring mechanisms to track real-world impacts.
Way forward
- Mandatory, visible ethanol content labelling at all pumps + consumer awareness campaigns.
- Clear technical guidance and retrofitting standards for older vehicles, plus coordination with BIS/AIS and automakers for warranties and certification.
- Strengthen supply policy: diversify feedstocks, incentivise 2G ethanol, and monitor sugar diversion to protect food security.
- Monitoring & data collection: real-world trials, independent testing of vehicle impacts, periodic policy reviews.
- Consumer redressal framework: quick grievance mechanism for vehicle owners, insurance clarification, and dispute resolution.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the plea against E20 reflects judicial deference to executive policy shaped through planning and statutory processes. E20 combines goals of energy security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability but raises consumer and technical concerns. To ensure resilience, the rollout must emphasize transparency, labelling, technical standards, and consumer safeguards, alongside sustainable feedstock use. If implemented carefully, E20 can deliver long-term gains, though success hinges on inclusive and effective execution.
Prelims MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements about India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) and the E20 rollout:
1. The National Policy on Biofuels (2018) fixed 20% ethanol blending (E20) as a mandatory target for petrol to be achieved by 2025 without further administrative measures.
2. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of a PIL challenging nationwide E20 rollout implies that the Court affirmed that E20 cannot be subject to future judicial review on technical grounds.
3. Allowing production of ethanol from multiple feedstocks (molasses, sugarcane juice, damaged rice) can increase ethanol supply but may raise food security and land-use concerns.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Mains Question
Q. “The Ethanol Blending Programme (E20) is a policy at the intersection of energy security, agriculture and environmental objectives. Examine the governance, legal and socio-economic challenges emerging from the nationwide E20 rollout. Suggest policy measures to ensure a balanced transition that protects consumer rights, farmers’ interests and environmental sustainability.” (250 words)
