09 October 2025

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer began his first official visit to India (October 8–9, 2025), marking a major milestone in post-Brexit U.K. foreign policy.
• His visit follows the signing of the India–U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025.
• The agreement aims to boost bilateral trade, investment, innovation, and cultural collaboration.
• The visit includes business and cultural engagements in Mumbai, including the Global Fintech Fest and meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The agreement aligns with the “India–U.K. Vision 2035” roadmap for cooperation in trade, defence, energy, climate, education, and people-to-people ties.

Key Points

• Largest U.K. trade deal since Brexit; expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually.
• U.K. to offer duty-free access on 99.1% tariff lines, covering 100% of trade value immediately upon enforcement.
• Indian exporters of textiles, engineering goods, auto components, and pharmaceuticals to benefit.
• U.K. sectors like whisky, automobiles, and financial services gain from tariff cuts and easier market access.
• Investment cooperation: Rolls-Royce and other British firms announced expansion plans in India.
• Visa policy unchanged: U.K. clarified that visa relaxations are not part of CETA.
• Cultural cooperation strengthened — three Yash Raj Films projects to be shot in the U.K.from 2026.

Static Linkages

• India and the U.K. share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2021) based on mutual interests in trade, security, and innovation.
• U.K. is India’s 6th largest investor (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT).
• Trade agreements are governed under Article 253 of the Constitution (Parliament’s power to implement international treaties).
• India’s foreign trade policy framework guided by the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992.
• India aims to become a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, aligning with the goals of the CETA.

Critical Analysis Pros:

• Strengthens India’s position as a global manufacturing and service hub.
• Enhances market access for Indian exports in post-Brexit U.K. economy.
• Encourages technology transfer and joint research in clean energy, AI, and defence.
• Boosts cultural diplomacy and soft power through film and education partnerships.

Cons / Challenges:

• Visa rigidity could limit mobility of professionals and students.
• Non-tariff barriers (standards, certifications) may restrict Indian exports.
• Possible trade imbalance due to high-value imports from U.K.
• Need to safeguard domestic MSMEs and agricultural sectors from external competition.

Way Forward

•  Ensure domestic readiness through skilling and standardisation for global trade compliance.
• Establish a joint monitoring mechanism to address disputes and ensure equitable benefits.
• Expand Mode 4 (movement of professionals) discussions in future negotiations.
• Strengthen innovation and research partnerships under the “Technology and Innovation Bridge.”
• Integrate sustainability and climate resilience aspects into bilateral trade initiatives.

TRIO WINS CHEMISTRY NOBEL FOR BRIDGE

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• 2025 Nobel Chemistry Prize awarded to Richard Robson (Australia), Susumu Kitagawa (Japan) & Omar Yaghi (Jordanian-American).
• Honoured for discovering Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — hybrid materials linking metal ions with organic molecules forming porous, flexible, stable structures.
• MOFs hold promise for carbon capture, water harvesting, and pollution control.

Key Points

• MOFs: Large surface area; tunable porosity; gas/liquid adsorption capacity.
• Contributions:
  • Robson: Initial concept, molecular frameworks (1970s).
  • Kitagawa: Created porous & flexible “breathing” MOFs.
  • Yaghi: Coined term MOF; developed stable, modifiable versions; extracted water from desert air.
• Applications: CO₂ capture, PFAS removal, drug breakdown, hydrogen storage, air-to-water systems.
• Over 100,000 MOFs developed globally.

Static Linkages

• Coordination compounds (NCERT XII).  Adsorption & catalysis principles.
• Links to CCUS roadmap, National Hydrogen Mission, and Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Aligns with UN SDG 6 & 13 (Clean Water, Climate Action).

Critical Analysis Pros:

• Enables clean technologies; boosts climate goals.
• Flexible, high-capacity storage material.
• Supports green chemistry & circular economy.

Challenges:

• High synthesis cost, stability issues.
• Limited commercialization; need for R&D synergy.

Way Forward

• Strengthen R&D via PM-STIAC & Atal Innovation Mission.
• Promote AI-based molecular design.
• Incentivize startups for MOF-based applications.
• Enhance global collaboration under Mission Innovation, G20 frameworks.

PERILS OF AN UNCHECKED PRE-CRIME SYSTEM

• In June 2025, the Supreme Court of India, in Dhanya M. vs State of Kerala (2025 INSC 809), set aside a preventive detention order under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 (KAAPA).
• The Court reaffirmed that preventive detention is an exceptional power to be exercised only in rare circumstances and must not be used as a substitute for criminal prosecution or bail denial.
• The ruling echoes earlier precedents like Rekha vs State of Tamil Nadu (2011) and Banka Sneha Sheela vs State of Telangana (2021), emphasizing strict constitutional safeguards under Article 22.
• Despite judicial caution, preventive detention remains widely used under central and state laws such as the National Security Act (NSA), Public Safety Acts, and KAAPA, often beyond their constitutional intent.

Key Points

• Preventive detention allows detention of an individual without trial to prevent potential future offences.
• Article 22(3)–(7) of the Constitution explicitly permits preventive detention, unlike most liberal democracies.
• India currently detains over 24,000 individuals under preventive detention laws annually (NCRB data, 2023).
• The Supreme Court has repeatedly distinguished between “public order” and “law and order”, holding that detention for ordinary criminal acts does not justify preventive detention.
• The Court in Dhanya M. stressed that preventive detention should not override personal liberty under Article 21 unless the threat to public order is grave and immediate.

Static Linkages

• The Constituent Assembly Debates (1949) revealed intense opposition to preventive detention by members like Somnath Lahiri, who termed it a “Police- Constable Constitution”.
• The landmark A.K. Gopalan vs State of Madras (1950) upheld preventive detention’s constitutionality, restricting review to Article 22.
• Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India (1978) later broadened “procedure established by law” to mean fair, just, and reasonable procedure, yet preventive detention remained partially insulated.
• A.K. Roy vs Union of India (1982) reaffirmed the validity of preventive detention laws despite expanded due process interpretations.
• Granville Austin and Gautam Bhatia have described Article 22 as India’s “constitutional aberration,” incompatible with modern democratic liberty.

Critical Analysis

• Pros
  • Enables the State to act pre-emptively during grave threats to national security or public order.
  • Acts as a deterrent mechanism in cases of organized crime, terrorism, or insurgency.
  • Provides administrative flexibility in volatile law-and-order situations.
• Cons
  • Violates Article 21 (personal liberty) and Article 19 (freedom of movement) by permitting detention without trial.
  • Judicial oversight is weak—detentions often based on subjective executive satisfaction.
  • Misuse against political dissenters and protestors undermines democratic accountability.
• Advisory Boards (under Article 22(4)) lack independence and substantive review power.
• Creates a dual-track justice system — one for ordinary citizens and another under preventive detention.

Stakeholder Perspectives

• Executive: Sees preventive detention as a necessary tool for pre-emptive governance.
• Judiciary: Recognizes its necessity but warns against routine or arbitrary use.
• Civil Society: Views preventive detention as an anachronistic colonial relic.

Way Forward

• Restrict scope of preventive detention strictly to national security and terrorism-related offences.
• Statutory safeguards: Mandate judicial pre- approval or periodic review of detention orders.
• Legislative reform: Introduce sunset clauses for all preventive detention laws.
• Transparency: Annual reporting to Parliament on preventive detention data and reviews.
• Judicial harmonization: Align Article 22 interpretation with the Maneka Gandhi due process doctrine.
• Human rights training for police and magistrates to ensure constitutional compliance.

• Event: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India (October 2025), following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025.
• Significance: Marks a decisive push to elevate India–U.K. relations into a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership.
• Backdrop:
  • India’s expanding web of trade agreements — including the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (effective October 1, 2025).
  • Ongoing negotiations for an India–EU Free Trade Agreement, with bilateral trade at $136.5 billion in FY 2024–25.
  • A changing global trade architecture amidst geopolitical realignments, supply chain diversification, and technological competition.

Key Points

• CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement):
  • Signed in July 2025; pending ratification.  Aims to double bilateral trade by 2030.
  • India’s benefits: Lower tariffs on textiles, agri-products, and pharmaceuticals.
  • U.K.’s benefits: Reduced duties on Scotch whisky, automobiles, and high-value goods.
  • Focus on regulatory cooperation, supply chain integration, and market access.
• Double Contributions Convention (DCC):
  • Exempts employers of Indian professionals in the U.K. from double social security contributions for 3 years.
  • Promotes ease of mobility and reduces costs in service sectors.
• Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT):
  • Under negotiation; will provide investment protection and boost FDI inflows.
  • U.K. currently contributes ~5% of India’s total FDI, making it the 6th largest investor.
• Vision 2035 Road Map:
  • Framework for cooperation in defence, education, mobility, climate, and technology.
  • Includes Defence Industrial Roadmap (joint development of platforms) and Technology Security Initiative (TSI) (AI, quantum tech, semiconductors, critical minerals).
• Strategic Dimension:
  • Aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and U.K.’s post-Brexit “Global Britain” vision.
  • Enhances cooperation in green finance, digital innovation, and resilient supply chains.

Static Linkages

• India’s foreign trade policy framework under Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
• Bilateral trade agreements as instruments under Article 253 of the Constitution (implementation of international treaties).
• Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes promote FDI and manufacturing synergy.
• Defence cooperation aligns with Indo-U.K. Defence Cooperation Memorandum (2015) and Defence Production Policy, 2018.
• The concept of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) explained in NCERT Economics – Class XII, Introductory Micro & Macro Economics.

Critical Analysis Advantages

• Enhances India’s export competitiveness in high-value sectors.
• Encourages technology transfer and industrial diversification.
• Strengthens strategic partnership amid global power shifts.
• Improves talent mobility and reduces cost barriers for professionals.
• Positions India as a manufacturing and innovation hub for global markets.

Challenges

• Ratification delays and possible political resistance in both countries.
• Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and stringent rules of origin may limit benefits.
• Labour and environmental standards could become contentious.
• Need for regulatory harmonisation and IPR alignment.
• Risk of trade diversion affecting domestic small-scale industries.

Way Forward

• Fast-track ratification and ensure policy continuity beyond political cycles.
• Create a Joint Implementation Mechanism to monitor CETA outcomes.
• Align domestic standards with global benchmarks to reduce NTBs.
• Strengthen MSME participation through technology and export support.
• Build skill mobility frameworks integrated with mutual recognition of qualifications.
• Foster supply chain resilience through co- investment in critical technologies and logistics.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Context of the News

• Bihar Assembly polls on Nov 6 & 11, 2025; counting on Nov 14.
• ECI termed it the “mother of all elections.”  
• 17 reform measures introduced to boost transparency and trust.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls removed ~69 lakh names (deaths, duplication, migration, unverified citizenship).
• Bihar is a political and institutional test case for BJP, JD(U), Congress, RJD, and ECI.

Key Points

• Polling Measures:
  • Max voters per booth reduced to 1,200 (from 1,500); avg per station 819.
  • Mobile phone deposit and live booth feeds for transparency.
• Counting Protocols:
  • Postal ballots first; EVM–VVPAT next.
  • Mandatory VVPAT count if mismatch in Form 17C or mock poll not erased.
• Tech Initiatives:
  • ECINet – one-stop digital platform for real- time turnout updates.
• Roll Purification:
  • 69 lakh deletions under SIR; plan to extend nationwide.

Static Linkages

• Art. 324 – ECI’s powers of superintendence, direction, and control.
• RPA 1950 & 1951 – voter registration and conduct of elections.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC) – evolved by consensus, not law.
• VVPAT use – mandated by SC (2013, Subramanian Swamy case).
• EVM–VVPAT audit ratio: 5 booths per constituency (as per SC, 2019).

Critical Analysis Positives

• Greater transparency via ECINet & live feed.  Reduced crowding improves accessibility.
• Roll purification curbs bogus voting.  Boosts institutional credibility of ECI.

Challenges

• Risk of wrongful deletions.
• Operational delays in counting.
• Political distrust over impartiality.
• Privacy concerns with live monitoring.

Way Forward

• Legal backing for MCC.
• Collegium system for ECI appointments (2nd ARC, Law Commission).
• Independent audits of electoral rolls.
• Wider VVPAT verification.
• Voter awareness and digital literacy drives.

INFINITE BOXES

Context & Background

• Nobel Prize 2025 awarded to Richard Robson (Australia), Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), and Omar Yaghi (Jordan–U.S.).
• Honoured for developing Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — porous crystalline materials built from metal ions and organic linkers.
• MOFs revolutionized gas storage, water harvesting, and carbon capture, redefining sustainable chemistry.

Key Points

• Structure: Metal ions = nodes; organic linkers = bridges → 3D porous network.
• Surface area: A few grams = area of a football field.
• Applications:
  • CO₂ capture and storage.
  • Water harvesting from air.
  • Hydrogen/methane storage for clean energy.
  • Catalysis, drug delivery, semiconductor manufacturing.
• Milestones:
  • 1980s – Robson: first molecular architectures.
  • 1997 – Kitagawa: “breathing” MOFs retain shape when gases move in/out.
  • 1999 – Yaghi: MOF-5, robust cubic lattice; pioneered reticular chemistry.
• Over 20,000 MOFs synthesized; Indian labs (CSIR) exploring energy and water uses.

Static Linkages

• Based on coordination chemistry and surface adsorption principles.
• Supports National Hydrogen Mission and SDG- 13 (Climate Action).
• Linked to circular economy and resource efficiency (NITI Aayog Report 2023).
• Reinforces India’s STI Policy 2020 and National Research Foundation goals.

Critical Analysis

• Pros:
  • Enables clean fuel storage and carbon capture.  Boosts water access in dry regions.
  • Encourages green industrial innovation.
• Cons:
  • High production costs and limited durability.
  • Challenges in mass manufacturing.
  • Needs stronger funding for materials research.
• Stakeholders:
  • Industry: Cost and scalability.
  • Academia: Custom design and optimization.  
  • Policy Makers: Net-zero integration.

Way Forward

• Expand R&D via NRF and PM-STIAC Missions.  
• Promote start-up collaborations under Atal Innovation Mission.
• Integrate MOFs into carbon capture projects (NAPCC).
• Skill training in advanced materials.
• Strengthen global research partnerships (Mission Innovation, CEM).