The Trade War on Wheels: China’s WTO Complaint Against India’s EV Subsidies

Posted inAgriculture, Current Affairs, Economy, Governance, International Relations, National Security
Why is this Relevant for UPSC CSE? GS Paper II (International Relations): Role of international institutions (WTO) in dispute redressal; Effect of policies of developed/developing countries on India (China’s aggressive trade posturing).GS Paper III (Economy): Industrial Policy (PLI Schemes); Indigenization of Technology; Manufacturing Sector growth; Effects of Liberalization.Interview Perspective: Balancing "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-reliance) with global free trade obligations. Context: In October 2025, China filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that India’s flagship Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries violate global trade norms. China claims these schemes…

Feminization of Agriculture: Invisible Hands, Unpaid Labor

Posted inAgriculture, Current Affairs, Society
UPSC Syllabus Link GS Paper I: Role of women and women’s organizations; Social empowerment; Poverty and developmental issues.GS Paper III: Inclusive growth; Agriculture (Cropping patterns, e-technology, economics of animal-rearing); Land reforms.Essay: Gender Justice; "Invisible Labor"; Rural Transformation. Context: India’s agriculture is increasingly being carried by women, but nearly half of them work as unpaid family workers, exposing a serious mismatch between “Feminisation of Agriculture” and real economic empowerment; this is why tools like the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) / Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) are crucial for measuring inclusive growth when India’s FLFPR has stayed around or below 35%…

Decoding: Hike in Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Rabi crops (2025-26) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–31)

Posted inAgriculture, Current Affairs, Economy
Syllabus Topic: GS III: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies; Minimum support prices; Technology miss ions. This topic is a classic example of how UPSC interlinks Economy (Fiscal Policy/Subsidies), Agriculture (Food Security/Cropping Patterns), and Environment (Soil Health). A Mains answer on this topic must navigate the "Iron Triangle" of Fertilizer Policy: Affordability (for farmers), Fiscal Sustainability (for the Govt), and Environmental Sustainability (for the soil). INDIAS AGRICULTURAL DUAL REVOLUTION: UPSC CSE GS3 Agriculture In-Depth Analysis: Fertilizer Policy & Pulse Self-Reliance (Rabi 2025) The Union Cabinet, in October 2025, approved two landmark decisions: the hike in Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS)…