GS Paper 2

Seven Years of SWAYATT Initiative: Promoting Inclusive Public Procurement

Context: According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) recently marked seven years of the SWAYATT initiative, underscoring its role in promoting inclusive and equitable public procurement. The initiative focuses on integrating start-ups, women entrepreneurs, youth, and small enterprises into government procurement processes.

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About SWAYATT Initiative

SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage Through e-Transactions) is a flagship initiative launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). It aims to democratise public procurement by enabling underrepresented sellers to access government markets through digital platforms.

Key Features

  • Nodal Agency: Implemented through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
  • Objective: Improve access to markets, finance, and value addition opportunities for smaller and emerging businesses.
  • Target Beneficiaries:
    • Start-ups
    • Women entrepreneurs
    • Youth-led enterprises
    • Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)
    • Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

Special Digital Storefronts

To enhance visibility for smaller sellers, GeM hosts dedicated sections such as:

  • Womaniya – Promotes women-led enterprises and products.
  • Startup Runway – Enables innovative start-ups to showcase new products and technologies to government buyers.

About Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is India’s national online procurement portal used by government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and organisations to purchase goods and services.

  • Launch Year: 2016
  • Purpose: Replace the earlier Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) procurement system.
  • Operator: GeM Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Digital Architecture:
    • Cashless
    • Paperless
    • Contactless platform with minimal human interface.

Regulatory Mandate

  • Rule 149 of the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017 mandates central ministries and departments to procure available goods and services through GeM.

Transparency and Access

  • Bid Anonymity: Seller identities remain hidden until bid opening to prevent collusion.
  • Open Registration: Any legally registered business with GST and PAN can register and sell on GeM.

Significance of SWAYATT

  • Inclusive Growth: Expands economic participation for marginalised entrepreneurs.
  • Digital Governance: Uses digital platforms to reduce entry barriers in government procurement.
  • Women Empowerment: Dedicated storefronts promote women-led enterprises.
  • Startup Ecosystem Support: Enables start-ups to access government buyers and scale innovations.

By integrating smaller enterprises into the procurement ecosystem, SWAYATT strengthens India’s push toward transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven governance.

India–France “Special Global Strategic Partnership”: A New Indo-Pacific Anchor

Context: French President Emmanuel Macron is on a three-day official visit to India in 2026, marking his fourth visit. During the visit, India and France formally upgraded their ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership, reinforcing cooperation in defence, technology, economy, and Indo-Pacific stability.

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This elevation builds upon the Horizon 2047 Roadmap (2023), which focuses on Security, Planet, and People.

Key Outcomes of Macron’s 2026 Visit

1. Diplomatic & Institutional Strengthening

  • The partnership was elevated to a Special Global Strategic Partnership to deepen Indo-Pacific coordination.
  • An Annual Foreign Ministers Dialogue was institutionalised to monitor implementation of Horizon 2047 goals.

2. Defence and Military Cooperation

  • A BEL–Safran Joint Venture was launched to localise HAMMER missile manufacturing in India.
  • Reciprocal liaison officers were deployed between Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments to improve interoperability.

3. Technology and Innovation Collaboration

  • The Indo-French Centre for Digital Sciences was launched to co-develop trusted digital public infrastructure and emerging technologies.
  • India-France Year of Innovation 2026 was launched to promote R&D cooperation among startups and research institutions.

4. Skilling and Human Capital

  • A Letter of Intent was signed to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics.
  • France operationalised a five-year Schengen visa for Indian Master’s alumni, easing professional mobility.

5. Healthcare and Logistics

  • AIIMS Delhi will host an Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, focusing on advanced diagnostics.
  • India Post and La Poste (France) signed an LoI to modernise e-commerce logistics and digital postal services.

6. Economic and Tax Alignment

  • A protocol was signed to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), facilitating cross-border investments.

Overview of India–France Bilateral Relations

  • India’s first strategic partnership (1998) was with France, upgraded further in 2026.
  • Bilateral trade reached $15 billion (2024–25), with India maintaining a trade surplus.
  • France remains among India’s top defence partners:
    • procurement plans include 114 Rafale jets and a confirmed deal for 26 Rafale-M jets.
  • Regular military exercises: Varuna, Shakti, Garuda.
  • Digital cooperation expanded with UPI integration in France, including landmark usage at Eiffel Tower locations.
  • Space ties: ISRO–CNES cooperation includes TRISHNA satellite for climate monitoring.
  • Nuclear cooperation: Civil Nuclear Agreement (2008) and the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (9.9 GW).

Strategic Significance

The upgraded partnership strengthens India’s global positioning by supporting:

  • strategic autonomy,
  • multipolar world order,
  • Indo-Pacific security,
  • defence indigenisation and advanced technology collaboration.

Conclusion

India–France ties are emerging as a core pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific and strategic diplomacy, combining defence manufacturing, digital trust frameworks, innovation, and global governance coordination.

Karnataka Announces Ban on Social Media for Children Under-16

Karnataka has become the first Indian state to announce a ban on social media use for children below 16 years of age, citing concerns over mental health, online safety and algorithmic addiction. The proposal reflects growing global debates on regulating digital platforms for minors. Other states such as Andhra Pradesh and Goa are also considering similar restrictions.

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However, the move raises a constitutional question because Entry 31 of the Union List places telecommunications and the internet under the Union government’s jurisdiction, potentially limiting the legislative competence of states to impose such restrictions.

Globally, Australia recently enacted the world’s first nationwide law prohibiting social media access for children under 16, signalling an emerging international trend toward stricter digital safety frameworks for minors.

Rationale for the Ban

Supporters of the proposed ban highlight several concerns regarding children's exposure to social media platforms.

First, algorithmic addiction is seen as a major problem. Many platforms use infinite scrolling and personalised recommendation algorithms designed to maximise user engagement.

These systems activate dopamine reward cycles in the brain, potentially leading to excessive usage, reduced attention spans, and behavioural dependency among adolescents.

Second, cyberbullying and online harassment have become serious issues. Anonymous digital environments enable harassment that can significantly affect children’s mental health. Studies have linked cyberbullying with rising levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among teenagers.

Third, sleep disruption and developmental impacts are associated with late-night device usage. Prolonged screen exposure interferes with circadian rhythms and can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, which negatively affects cognitive development, academic performance and emotional stability.

Concerns Against the Ban

Critics argue that a blanket ban may produce unintended consequences.

One major concern is privacy risk. Enforcing age restrictions would require platforms to deploy age verification mechanisms such as biometric authentication or identity verification. This could result in the collection of sensitive personal data, raising concerns about surveillance and data misuse.

Another criticism is that bans may shift responsibility away from social media companies. Instead of reforming harmful algorithms or strengthening platform safety mechanisms, companies might simply comply with age restrictions while deeper structural problems remain unaddressed.

Additionally, a blanket restriction could worsen the digital divide. Many students rely on social media groups and platforms for peer learning, collaboration, and educational resources. A universal ban may disproportionately affect children from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack access to alternative learning tools.

Existing Legal Framework

India already has legal provisions governing children’s digital safety under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.

The Act defines a child as any person below 18 years of age and requires verifiable parental consent before platforms can process children’s personal data. It also prohibits behavioural monitoring, tracking, and targeted advertising directed at minors.

Non-compliance can attract financial penalties of up to ₹200 crore.

Conclusion

The Karnataka proposal highlights the growing challenge of balancing child safety, digital freedom, privacy, and federal legislative authority. Rather than relying solely on bans, experts suggest a multi-layered regulatory approach combining algorithm transparency, platform accountability, digital literacy and parental oversight.

Front-of-Package Labelling: A Preventive Strategy to Address India’s Rising Lifestyle Diseases

Context: The Supreme Court has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to implement Front-of-Package (FOP) labelling to enable consumers to make healthier food choices. The Court has sought a time-bound response, highlighting concerns over regulatory delays despite earlier expert committee recommendations.

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What is Front-of-Package Labelling?

Front-of-package labelling is a public health intervention that provides simplified and easily visible nutritional information on packaged foods.

It highlights high levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat, enabling consumers to quickly assess the health risks of a product. Unlike detailed back-of-pack disclosures, FOP labels are designed to influence behavioural choices at the point of purchase, especially among populations with limited awareness or time.

Need for FOP Labelling in India

India faces a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The ICMR-INDIAB study (2023) estimates that India has over 101 million diabetics, 136 million pre-diabetics, and high prevalence of hypertension, obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

Excessive consumption of processed foods rich in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats has emerged as a major risk factor.

FOP labelling can act as a behavioural nudge to promote healthier diets, improve nutritional literacy and support preventive healthcare. It aligns with Article 47 of the Constitution, which mandates the State to improve nutrition and public health.

Impact on Consumers and Public Health

Simplified warning labels empower consumers by enabling informed and quick decision-making. Evidence from countries such as Chile and Mexico shows reduced consumption of sugary beverages and greater awareness of nutritional risks. Over time, this could reduce disease prevalence, healthcare costs and productivity losses in India.

Further, it strengthens food system transparency and consumer rights, complementing initiatives such as Eat Right India.

Impact on Food Industry

Mandatory labelling encourages product reformulation and innovation. Companies are incentivised to reduce sugar, salt and unhealthy fats to avoid negative labelling.

This can improve overall nutritional quality in the market and foster healthier competition. However, industry stakeholders have expressed concerns about compliance costs and trade implications.

Challenges in Implementation

Key challenges include resistance from the food industry, the need for culturally sensitive and multilingual labels, and ensuring regulatory enforcement.

India’s diverse literacy levels and dietary patterns require context-specific design. Public awareness campaigns and nutrition education are critical for effective adoption.

Way Forward

India should adopt a phased and evidence-based FOP framework aligned with global best practices while addressing domestic socio-economic realities.

Integration with digital platforms, school education, and community outreach can maximise impact. Strong monitoring and stakeholder engagement will ensure sustainability.

In conclusion, front-of-package labelling marks a shift towards preventive and participatory healthcare. By promoting informed consumer behaviour, corporate accountability and healthier food environments, it can play a transformative role in tackling India’s nutrition transition and advancing long-term public health goals.

Combating Hate Speech: Constitutional and Judicial Safeguards

Context: Rising instances of hate speech in India have raised serious concerns about social harmony, constitutional morality, and public order. The issue has placed the judiciary at the centre of balancing freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) with the need to protect dignity, equality, and fraternity. Courts have repeatedly intervened to interpret existing laws and fill gaps where legislative clarity is lacking.

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Hate Speech in India

Hate speech refers to speech, expression, or conduct that promotes hatred, discrimination, or hostility against individuals or groups based on identity markers such as religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, or language.

Such speech can appear in multiple forms including public speeches, written content, symbols, gestures, images, or online communication through social media platforms.

A key challenge in India is that hate speech is not explicitly defined in statutory law, creating ambiguity in enforcement. Instead, various provisions indirectly regulate such speech by focusing on public order and communal harmony.

Legal Framework Regulating Hate Speech

India regulates hate speech through a combination of constitutional provisions and statutory laws.

Article 19(2) of the Constitution allows the State to impose reasonable restrictions on free speech in the interests of public order, security of the State, and prevention of offences.

Several laws address hate speech in specific contexts:

  • Representation of the People Act, 1951 – Sections 8, 123(3A), and 125 penalise communal appeals and hate speech during elections.
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 – prohibits speech that promotes untouchability or caste discrimination.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
    • Section 196 (earlier IPC 153A) – penalises promoting enmity between groups.
    • Section 299 (earlier IPC 295A) – punishes deliberate acts outraging religious feelings.
    • Section 353 – penalises statements likely to incite offences or disturb public order.

Supreme Court Judgements

The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in interpreting the limits of free speech.

  • Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India – The Court declined to create a new offence but directed the Law Commission to recommend a clear definition of hate speech.
  • Ramji Lal Modi v. State of Uttar Pradesh – Upheld restrictions on speech that threatens public order by insulting religious beliefs.
  • Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015) – Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, reaffirming that vague laws cannot suppress legitimate free speech.
  • Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018) – Directed governments to appoint nodal officers to prevent hate crimes and mob lynching, recognising the State’s duty to protect citizens’ dignity.

Need for Stronger Criminalisation

The rise of online hate campaigns and communal mobilisation highlights the need for stronger regulation.

First, criminalisation helps protect vulnerable communities from discrimination and social exclusion. For instance, inflammatory online posts were found to have contributed to tensions during the 2020 Delhi riots.

Second, clear legal provisions can prevent violence and communal clashes by deterring provocative speech.

Third, stronger enforcement ensures accountability of both offenders and authorities, addressing gaps seen during elections or on social media platforms.

Conclusion

Hate speech threatens constitutional values of equality, fraternity, and dignity. While India possesses multiple legal safeguards, the absence of a clear statutory definition and inconsistent enforcement weaken their effectiveness. Strengthening legislation, improving enforcement mechanisms, and upholding judicial oversight will be crucial to maintaining democratic freedoms while safeguarding social harmony.

Guarding the Uniformed Pen: New MoD Publication Guidelines & the Official Secrets Act

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is framing revised guidelines for publications authored by serving and retired armed forces personnel. The move follows controversy over an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General M. M. Naravane that reportedly contained sensitive operational details. The proposed framework will align military publications with the provisions of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923, to prevent inadvertent disclosure of classified information.

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Why the Guidelines Now?

Military memoirs and analytical writings often provide valuable insights into strategy, civil–military relations and conflict management. However, disclosures relating to operational planning, intelligence assessments, troop deployment, or diplomatic negotiations may compromise national security.

The MoD seeks to institutionalise a pre-publication clearance mechanism to balance transparency with strategic confidentiality.

The Official Secrets Act, 1923: Legal Backbone

The OSA is a colonial-era law enacted to safeguard state security and prevent espionage. It evolved from the Indian Official Secrets Act of 1889, strengthened in 1904 under Lord Curzon, and consolidated in its present form in 1923.

Objective

To protect India’s sovereignty, defence establishments, and intelligence infrastructure by penalising unauthorised disclosure of classified information.

Applicability

The Act applies to all Indian citizens, including government officials and company executives, both within and outside India.

Key Provisions of the OSA

  • Section 3 – Espionage: Criminalises approaching prohibited places or collecting information useful to an enemy; punishment up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
  • Prohibited Places: Includes defence installations, arsenals, military camps, ports, and notified infrastructure.
  • Section 4 – Evidence Standard: Communication with a foreign agent can be treated as evidence of prejudicial intent.
  • Section 5 – Wrongful Communication: Penalises unauthorised sharing or retention of official documents, codes or passwords (up to 3 years).
  • Section 10 – Harbouring Spies: Punishes knowingly sheltering individuals committing espionage.
  • Section 11 – Search Powers: Magistrates may issue search warrants based on reasonable suspicion.
  • Section 12 – Cognizable Offences: Police may arrest without warrant for most OSA offences.

Implications of the New Guidelines

The forthcoming MoD framework is expected to:

  • Mandate pre-publication clearance for manuscripts by serving officers.
  • Specify redaction norms for operational or intelligence details.
  • Clarify liabilities for retired officers who remain bound by confidentiality obligations.
  • Integrate OSA compliance with modern information security standards.

While safeguarding secrecy is essential, critics argue that the OSA’s broad language may create ambiguity and discourage academic debate. The Supreme Court has previously emphasised that national security restrictions must be proportionate and narrowly tailored.

The Larger Debate

India’s strategic environment, marked by evolving threats and hybrid warfare, demands robust information discipline. At the same time, democratic accountability and informed public discourse benefit from responsible military scholarship.

The new guidelines attempt to strike this balance by ensuring that institutional memory does not translate into operational vulnerability.

Ultimately, the initiative underscores a central principle: in matters of defence, the pen carries power — and responsibility.

Towards Structured State Formation: Debate on a Permanent Reorganisation Framework

Context: A Private Member’s Bill introduced in Parliament proposes the creation of a permanent institutional framework for State and Union Territory reorganisation. The initiative seeks to replace ad-hoc and politically driven decisions with an objective, rule-based process in line with evolving governance needs.

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Existing Constitutional Framework

  • Article 3 and Article 4 empower Parliament to create, merge, or alter states through a simple majority.
  • Such Bills require Presidential recommendation before introduction.
  • The concerned State Legislature is consulted, but its opinion remains advisory and non-binding.
  • This flexible mechanism enabled major reorganisations, including linguistic states in the 1950s and more recent formations like Telangana.

While this framework ensures political flexibility, critics argue it lacks transparency and institutional continuity.

Rationale for a Permanent Framework

  • Administrative Efficiency: Shifting from the earlier principle of linguistic homogeneity to modern criteria such as governance capacity, connectivity, and service delivery.
  • Institutionalisation: A permanent States and UT Reorganisation Commission could provide a data-driven, Census-based process instead of episodic political decisions.
  • Economic Viability: Mandatory financial and resource assessments may ensure new states are fiscally sustainable.
  • Sub-Regional Equity: Regions such as Vidarbha or Bundelkhand often raise concerns of neglect and uneven development.
  • Democratic Channel: Structured mechanisms may reduce violent or disruptive movements by offering legal pathways for aspirations.

Concerns and Criticism

  • Balkanisation Risk: A continuous framework may trigger multiple demands (e.g., Bodoland, Gorkhaland), potentially weakening national cohesion.
  • Inter-State Tensions: Smaller states may intensify disputes over water, power, and resources.
  • Constitutional Issues: Binding powers to a commission could conflict with Parliament’s authority under Article 3.
  • Emotional Dimensions: Identity-based demands often transcend economic or administrative logic.
  • Federal Trust Deficit: States may view a permanent Central body as intrusive, especially in politically sensitive contexts.

Way Forward

  • Comprehensive Review: Consider a Second States Reorganisation Commission for a one-time, evidence-based review.
  • Strengthen Federal Consent: Amend Article 3 to enhance the role of State Legislatures.
  • Alternative Governance Models: Use Special Development Boards, regional autonomy, and targeted funding.
  • Dialogue Platforms: Revitalise the Inter-State Council (Article 263) to manage regional grievances.
  • Eligibility Criteria: Fiscal viability and administrative convenience should be key benchmarks.

A balanced approach combining institutional clarity and political consensus can ensure that future state formation strengthens rather than fragments India’s cooperative federal structure.

Refurbished Medical Devices: Access–Safety Dilemma in India’s Health Sector

India is framing a policy to regulate refurbished medical devices to resolve conflicts between environmental and health regulators. Refurbished devices—previously used equipment restored to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards—can expand affordable diagnostics but raise safety and domestic industry concerns.

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About Refurbished Medical Devices

  • Refurbished medical devices are used equipment restored to certified safety and performance standards.
  • High-value examples include MRI scanners, CT scanners, PET-CT systems, and robotic surgery platforms.
  • They cost nearly 50–60% less than new equipment, improving affordability for hospitals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
  • Refurbishing extends device life cycles and supports the circular economy by reducing e-waste.

Current Regulatory Framework in India

  • The Medical Devices Rules (MDR), 2017 do not define or regulate refurbished devices.
  • Imports fall under Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016 (MoEFCC).
  • Import permitted for 38 items if residual life ≥7 years and warranty provided.
  • Regulatory conflict: MoEFCC allows imports but CDSCO often blocks approvals citing safety gaps.

Arguments Supporting Regulated Imports

  • Healthcare Access: Lower capital costs improve diagnostic availability in underserved regions.
  • Global Practice: Refurbished device regulation exists in the EU and USA under certified reprocessing norms.
  • Medical Training: Enables affordable acquisition of advanced equipment by medical colleges.
  • Sustainability: Reduces electronic waste and supports resource efficiency.

Concerns Against Refurbished Imports

  • Safety Risks: Unknown usage history and calibration inconsistencies may affect clinical reliability.
  • Industry Impact: Cheaper imports may undermine domestic manufacturing and PLI incentives.
  • Dumping Risk: India may become a destination for obsolete medical equipment.
  • Regulatory Gap: Lack of traceability and lifecycle data weakens post-market surveillance.

Policy Significance

A dedicated regulatory pathway under MDR can harmonise health safety standards (CDSCO) with environmental import rules (MoEFCC). Standardised refurbishment certification, device traceability, and performance validation can enable safe adoption while supporting domestic industry growth.

Way Forward

  • Define refurbished devices and create a separate approval pathway under MDR.
  • Mandate OEM-certified refurbishment and lifecycle tracking.
  • Establish performance testing and post-market surveillance protocols.
  • Align import policy with “Make in India” and PLI objectives.

Reforming Leadership in CAPFs: Proposed Law on IPS Deputation

Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed the Supreme Court that it is considering a new legal framework to regulate the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The move follows contempt petitions alleging non-compliance with judicial directives aimed at improving career prospects for CAPF cadre officers.

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Background and Current System

At present, recruitment rules reserve a significant proportion of senior leadership positions in CAPFs for IPS officers:

  • 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts are reserved for IPS deputation.
  • 20% of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts are also earmarked for IPS officers.

This system was initially intended to ensure inter-service coordination and operational expertise. However, CAPF officers argue that the fixed quota creates a structural ‘glass ceiling’, limiting their promotions despite extensive field experience.

Further, career disparities persist:

  • IPS officers typically reach senior leadership roles in 13–15 years.
  • CAPF cadre officers often take 20–25 years to reach comparable ranks.

Judicial Interventions

The Supreme Court has issued multiple rulings to address the issue:

  • Harananda Judgment (2019): Recognised CAPF officers as an Organised Group ‘A’ Service (OGAS), ensuring financial parity with other services.
  • Sanjay Prakash Verdict (2025): Directed the Centre to progressively reduce IPS deputation posts up to the IG rank within two years.
  • Review Petition Rejected (2025): The Court held that operational considerations cannot override legitimate career progression and equality.

These rulings underscore the need for administrative reform while balancing operational effectiveness.

Rationale for the Proposed Law

  • Institutional Clarity: A statutory framework can define clear rules on deputation, tenure, and promotions.
  • Cadre Empowerment: Enhances morale and motivation of CAPF officers.
  • Operational Efficiency: Promotes leadership continuity within specialised forces such as BSF, CRPF, and ITBP.
  • Litigation Reduction: Codified norms may reduce recurring legal disputes.

Concerns and Challenges

  • Security Coordination: IPS officers bring policing experience and inter-agency linkages.
  • Transition Management: Gradual implementation is needed to avoid disruption.
  • Balancing Expertise: Need to integrate both IPS and CAPF leadership strengths.

Way Forward

  • Develop a phased reduction roadmap of IPS quotas.
  • Introduce competency-based leadership selection.
  • Strengthen training and professionalisation of CAPF officers.
  • Create lateral mobility between state police and CAPFs.

The proposed reform reflects a broader shift towards professionalising India’s internal security architecture while ensuring equity in career progression.

UAE–India Corridor: A New Axis of Trade, Capital and Technology

Context: The UAE–India corridor is emerging as a high-impact economic partnership driven by aligned policies, cross-border investments, and technology collaboration. It reflects how India’s Gulf engagement is evolving from an energy-focused relationship to a strategic growth corridor connecting Asia with Africa, West Asia, and Eurasia.

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India–UAE Upswing

India and the UAE have witnessed a major acceleration in economic ties after the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), 2022. The CEPA target of $100 billion bilateral trade by 2030 was achieved five years early, leading both sides to set a new goal of $200 billion trade by 2032.

The partnership is also diversifying rapidly:

  • Non-oil trade rose by 20% last year to $65 billion, reflecting reduced dependence on hydrocarbons.
  • Since 2000, the UAE invested $22 billion in India, while India invested $16 billion in the UAE.

The corridor is reinforced by strong people-to-people ties, with nearly 5 million Indians living in the UAE and enabling over 1,200 weekly flights, making it one of the world’s most connected migration and business routes.

Strategic Significance of the Corridor

The corridor is being reshaped by advanced sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, finance, and technology. Major projects include:

  • Reliance–TA’ZIZ $2 billion low-carbon chemicals initiative
  • Ashok Leyland’s shift of electric bus production to the UAE
  • L&T’s Abu Dhabi solar-plus-storage expansion

Financial integration is also deepening:

  • Emirates NBD’s acquisition of RBL Bank marks the largest FDI in Indian banking.
  • DP World’s additional $5 billion commitment to Indian infrastructure strengthens port-led connectivity.

Further, Bharat Mart is envisioned as a regional export platform for Africa, West Asia and Eurasia, potentially doubling India’s exports to these regions.

Key Pillars of India–UAE Cooperation

  • Policy Architecture: CEPA removed nearly 90% tariffs, and the 2024 Bilateral Investment Treaty strengthened investor confidence.
  • Technology Partnership: Collaboration on AI, data centres, and digital infrastructure, with India set to host the Global South AI Summit 2026.
  • Energy Security: ADNOC signed multi-billion-dollar LNG agreements with Indian Oil and HPCL.
  • Investment Depth: Mubadala has deployed $4 billion in India’s health, renewables and technology sectors, while the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has a presence in GIFT City.

Challenges

  • Regional geopolitical instability may disrupt investment flows.
  • Regulatory differences in taxation, labour laws and compliance create friction.
  • AI and advanced manufacturing require strong talent pipelines.
  • Overdependence on a single corridor may increase vulnerability to external shocks.

Way Forward

India and the UAE should expand joint skill development, diversify investments into healthcare and renewables, and strengthen AI-driven innovation ecosystems to make the corridor a model for Global South cooperation.

Whose Memory Is the Internet? The Debate over the Right to Be Forgotten

Context: The Supreme Court of India is examining whether the Right to Be Forgotten (RTBF) can be invoked to remove accurate online news reports. The case squarely pits the Right to Privacy under Article 21 against Freedom of the Press under Article 19(1)(a), raising foundational questions about memory, reputation, and public interest in the digital age.

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What is the Right to Be Forgotten (RTBF)?

RTBF allows individuals to seek removal or delisting of personal information from public platforms when it is outdated, irrelevant, excessive, or harmful. The Supreme Court recognised privacy—including informational self-determination—as a fundamental right in K.S. Puttaswamy (2017), from which RTBF flows. Internationally, it mirrors the EU’s “Right to Erasure” under GDPR.

However, the Court has consistently held that RTBF is not absolute and must yield when disclosure serves a larger public interest such as public safety, transparency, or historical record.

India currently lacks a dedicated RTBF statute; disputes are therefore adjudicated case-by-case. Although the DPDP Act, 2023 (Section 12) provides a “Right to Erasure,” its application to news archives and public records remains legally unsettled, and the IT Rules, 2021 do not empower intermediaries to resolve such complex normative claims.

Why RTBF in News Is Being Demanded

  1. Reformative Justice: Permanent digital footprints can punish individuals indefinitely—even after acquittal—hindering rehabilitation.
  2. Dignity & Autonomy: Puttaswamy affirms citizens’ control over personal data and protection from unnecessary public exposure.
  3. Algorithmic Harm: Search rankings can create biased “digital profiles” affecting jobs, loans, or social standing.
  4. Power Imbalance: Individuals often lack the means to challenge sensational or context-stripped reporting amplified by platforms.

Why Blanket RTBF Is Problematic

  1. Press Freedom: Compelling deletion of factually correct reporting threatens Article 19(1)(a) and investigative journalism.
  2. Integrity of Public Record: Erasing archives risks “memory laundering,” distorting history and accountability.
  3. Chilling Effect: Fear of future takedowns may deter reporting on crime, corruption, or public wrongdoing.
  4. Technological Limits: True erasure is nearly impossible due to mirrors and archives; suppression can trigger the Streisand Effect—greater attention to the very content sought to be hidden.

Emerging Middle Path (Likely Judicial Approach)

  • Delisting over Deletion: Remove search-engine visibility while preserving archival records.
  • Contextualisation: Require updates noting acquittals, settlements, or changed legal status.
  • Balancing Test: Weigh time elapsed, role of the person (public figure vs private citizen), nature of offence, and current public interest.
  • Independent Oversight: Empower the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) to frame sector-specific norms for media–privacy conflicts.

Why This Matters for India

As India’s digital footprint deepens, RTBF will shape reputation rights, media freedom, platform governance, and historical memory.

The Court’s ruling will likely set a precedent for how democracies reconcile privacy with transparency in the age of permanent digital archives.

Way Forward: India needs clear statutory standards—defining when news can be delisted, how long records should remain prominent, and who adjudicates disputes—to avoid ad-hoc decisions while protecting both privacy and press freedom.

MoSPI to Introduce New Consumer Price Index (CPI) Series

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is revising India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) series to better reflect evolving consumption patterns, technological shifts, and changes in household expenditure. The revision, reported by The Economic Times, marks a significant methodological update aimed at improving the accuracy and relevance of inflation measurement.

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Key Changes in the New CPI Series

Revised Base Year

  • The CPI base year will shift from 2012 to 2024, aligning the index with current consumption behaviour and price structures.

Rebalanced Weights

    • Food and beverages weight declines sharply from 45.86% to ~36.75%, reducing food dominance in headline inflation.
    • Housing, water, electricity & gas weight rises from 16.91% to 17.66%.
    • Transport and communication weight increases significantly from 8.59% to 12.41%, reflecting mobility and digital connectivity costs.

    Public Distribution System (PDS) Treatment

    • Free food grains provided under schemes such as PMGKAY are assigned zero weight, as they do not involve out-of-pocket expenditure.

    Expanded Consumption Basket

      • Number of weighted items increases from 299 to 358.
      • New inclusions: smartphones, OTT subscriptions, international air travel.
      • Exclusions: obsolete goods like VCRs and audio cassettes.

      Digital Price Collection

      • For the first time, 12 “Online Markets” in major cities will track prices directly from e-commerce platforms, improving coverage of digital transactions.

      Improved Housing Measurement

        • Rural housing rents are included for the first time.
        • Employer-provided housing is excluded to avoid price distortion.

        Greater Rural Representation

        • Rural sector weight in CPI-Combined increases from 53.52% to 55.4%, acknowledging India’s demographic structure.

        Global Classification Alignment

        • The CPI structure shifts from 6 to 12 Divisions, fully aligning with UN COICOP 2018 (Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose).

          Significance of the New CPI Series

          • Lower Inflation Volatility: Reduced food weight limits sensitivity to monsoon shocks and vegetable price spikes.
          • Contemporary Basket: Inclusion of digital services captures modern consumption trends.
          • Accurate Living Costs: Rural rent inclusion improves housing inflation measurement.
          • Global Comparability: COICOP alignment enhances international credibility of India’s inflation data.
          • Engel’s Law in Action: Declining food share reflects rising incomes and diversification of spending.

          About Consumer Price Index (CPI)

          • CPI measures changes in retail prices paid by households for a representative basket.
          • NSO publishes CPI-Rural, CPI-Urban, and CPI-Combined.
          • Labour Bureau publishes CPI-IW, CPI-AL, and CPI-RL for wage indexation.
          • Calculated using the Modified Laspeyres formula.
          • Released monthly; perishables tracked weekly.
          • CPI-Combined is India’s official inflation anchor under the RBI’s Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework.

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