Explore the Daily Current Affairs 15 October 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Also download quick REVISION NOTES.
India-Australia Renewable
Energy Partnership
Context: Renewable Energy Partnership was launched by India and Australia to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the clean energy transition, ensure supply chain resilience, and reduce dependence on China in critical energy technologies.
Focus areas:
- Solar PV tech
- Green hydrogen
- Circular economy in renewables
- Supply chain diversification
- Critical minerals cooperation
Track 1.5 Dialogue: A unique forum under REP that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academia.
Key takeaways for Prelims and Mains:
- Critical Minerals (Strategic Importance)
China dominates:
- 90% of rare earth refining
- 80% of solar module production
India is import-dependent for EV, wind, batteries on China. Australia has rich resources (lithium, cobalt) but lacks refining infrastructure.
UPSC Link: Points to India’s energy security vulnerabilities and the need for strategic autonomy — often asked in Mains or Interviews.
2. Clean Energy Targets and Achievements:
India:
- Target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030
- Achievement: Already 50% installed capacity is non-fossil (as of July 2025)
- Focus: Solar, wind, storage, hydrogen, PLI schemes
Australia:
- Target: 62–70% emission reduction below 2005 levels by 2035
- Recent Initiative: Net Zero Jobs Plan (skilled workforce)
India & Australia’s key areas of cooperation:
- Malabar Naval Exercise: Australia became a permanent member in 2020.
- QUAD grouping: With US and Japan – Indo-Pacific security.
- Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA): Signed in 2020 for reciprocal access to military bases.
- 2+2 Dialogue: Regular meetings between Defence & Foreign Ministers.
- India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA): Target: $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
- India is the 2nd-largest source of international students in Australia.
Mains practice Question:
Q1: “The India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership reflects the evolving nature of international cooperation in clean energy.” Discuss the strategic and environmental significance of the partnership.
Increasing Cyber crime cases in India
Context: Official data reveal cybercrimes such as fake job offers, online investment frauds, fraudulent social media profiles, and impersonation scams have surged in recent years.
Major highlights for Prelims and mains:
- Sharp rise in cybercrime cases in India — from about 53,000 in 2021 to 66,000 in 2022 and roughly 86,400 in 2023. (Map 1)
2. Karnataka alone accounted for more than a quarter of all cases reported nationwide in 2023. (Chart 2)
Section 66D – IT Act, 2000
“Whoever, by means of any communication device or computer resource, cheats by personating, shall be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine up to ₹1 lakh.”
Covers:
- Impersonation scams
- Deepfakes
- Fake job offers
- Forged digital documents
- Online investment frauds
Causes of rising cybercrime
| Cause | Explanation |
| Increased digitisation | Growing use of mobile apps, digital finance, social media |
| Improved reporting | Especially in states like Karnataka with proactive police |
| Anonymity online | Easier to impersonate or deceive without detection |
| Lack of digital awareness | Citizens fall prey to phishing, job scams, frauds |
| Legal lag | Tech evolves faster than legislation or enforcement |
Mains practice question:
Q2. India’s cybercrime laws must evolve in tandem with the nature and scale of digital crimes. Discuss in the context of Section 66D of the IT Act.”
Microplastics in India
Context: Study was conducted by CSIR-NIO (Goa) & AcSIR (Ghaziabad) in Mandovi estuarine (Goa) ,part of the Mandovi-Zuari system that contributes to 97% of Goa’s fish output.
Findings:
- Microplastics found in 97% of samples
- Highest in catfish (10 MP/fish) and anchovies (8.8 MP/fish)
- 11 of 19 polymer types identified were toxic
- Main sources: fishing gear, textiles, e-waste
Key Concepts for Prelims:
1. Bioaccumulation: Gradual build-up of microplastics in an organism’s body over time.
2. Trophic Transfer: Microplastics move up the food chain as predators eat contaminated prey.
3. Benthic vs Pelagic: Benthic organisms (sea bottom) tend to accumulate more microplastics than pelagic (open water) organisms.
What are Microplastics?
- Definition: Small plastic particles less than 5 mm in size.
- Types:
- Primary microplastics – manufactured as small particles (e.g., microbeads in cosmetics)
- Secondary microplastics – formed from breakdown of larger plastic debris (e.g., bottles, nets)
Impacts of Microplastics
On Marine Life
- Inflammation, oxidative stress
- Reproductive damage
- Lower nutritional value (protein, fatty acids)
- Death by starvation (stomach fills with plastic)
On Humans (via seafood)
- Hormonal disruption
- Immune dysfunction
- Neurological effects
- Increased cancer risk
On Environment
- Soil fertility reduction
- Disruption of marine ecosystems
- Bioaccumulation in apex species like sharks and humans
On Economy
- Loss of seafood export quality
- Threat to fishing livelihoods
- Tourism impact (polluted beaches)
Mains practice Question:
Q3. “The problem of microplastic pollution is not just environmental but also economic and health-related.” Examine the multi-dimensional impact of microplastics and suggest a multi-pronged strategy to address it.