Daily Current Affairs - 28 October 2025

Explore the Daily Current Affairs 28 October 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Also download quick REVISION NOTES.

Cyclone ‘Montha’

Context: Recently cyclone Montha has churned up the Bay of Bengal, affecting the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Definition: A cyclone is a large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, characterized by inward spiraling winds.

Types of Cyclones

Type	Region	Example
Tropical Cyclone	Found between 5°–30° N/S latitudes	Cyclone Fani, Amphan, Titli
Temperate (Extra-Tropical) Cyclone	Found in mid-latitudes (30°–60°)	Western Disturbances

Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation:

Warm sea surface temperature (> 26.5°C).
Coriolis force for rotation (absent near the equator).
Pre-existing low-pressure area or disturbance.
High humidity in the lower and middle troposphere.
Low vertical wind shear (difference in wind speed with height).
Upper air divergence to maintain upward motion.

Cyclones in India:

Two Major Regions

Bay of Bengal (East Coast) – More frequent & intense (~ 70%)
Arabian Sea (West Coast) – Less frequent (~ 30%)

Reasons for higher frequency on East Coast:

Warmer sea surface.
Favorable wind systems.
Funnel-shaped coast of Bay of Bengal intensifies storm surges.

Recent Major Cyclones in India:

Cyclone	Year	Affected States	Category
Fani	2019	Odisha	Extremely Severe
Amphan	2020	West Bengal, Bangladesh	Super Cyclonic Storm
Yaas	2021	Odisha, West Bengal	Very Severe
Biparjoy	2023	Gujarat	Very Severe
Montha	2025	Andhra Pradesh (as per article)	Ongoing Severe Cyclone

Cyclone Management in India:

Institutional Mechanism:

NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)
NDRF (National Disaster Response Force)
IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) – forecasts & warnings.
INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) – ocean data & early warning.

Early Warning Systems:

Doppler Weather Radars.
Satellite imagery (INSAT, SCATSAT).
Coastal alert systems, mobile alerts (IMD app, SMS).

Mitigation Measures:

Coastal embankments and mangrove restoration.
Cyclone shelters and evacuation plans.
Disaster-resilient infrastructure (houses, roads).
Community awareness programs.
Strict enforcement of CRZ norms.

Mains practice Question:

Q1. Cyclone management in India has evolved from a relief-centric approach to a risk-reduction approach.” Explain.

Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page 6)

EU – India Carbon Market Linkage

Context: Recent major development within New Strategic EU–India Agenda is the linkage of India’s Carbon Market (ICM) with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

This implies:

Under this arrangement, carbon prices paid in India will be deducted from the CBAM levies at the EU border.

It could prevent Indian exporters from being double-taxed (once in India, and again at the EU border) — incentivising industrial decarbonisation. However, serious technical, institutional, and political challenges threaten its implementation.

Key Challenges Highlighted:

1. Underdeveloped Indian Carbon Market

India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) or Indian Carbon Market (ICM) is still in early stages.
Unlike the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) — with strict caps, penalties, and verified trading — India’s market is fragmented and lacks absolute emission caps.
The EU may not recognize India’s credits unless the system meets compliance-grade standards and guarantees environmental integrity.

2. Price Disparity

EU carbon price ≈ €60–€80/tonne, India’s credits ≈ €5–€10/tonne.
This mismatch makes it hard for the EU to accept Indian prices as equivalent.
Indian industries may face both domestic compliance costs and CBAM levies — leading to resistance and lobbying.

3. Political and Sovereignty Concerns

India has opposed CBAM at the WTO, calling it unilateral and protectionist.
Linking the ICM to CBAM may legitimize a mechanism India earlier resisted.
EU oversight of India’s carbon pricing could be seen as infringing sovereignty.

4. Trust and Policy Consistency

EU’s acceptance depends on India’s ability to maintain a transparent, stable carbon market.
Any domestic rollback (under industrial pressure) could expose exporters to full CBAM costs — destabilizing trade flows.

Mains practice Question:

Q2. Carbon border taxes such as the EU’s CBAM reflect a growing intersection between trade policy and climate action. Discuss the implications of such measures for developing countries like India.

Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page 7)

U.S. Science Funding Cuts and China’s Rise in Global Research Leadership

Context: Trump administration (2025) has made drastic cuts to U.S. science and technology (S&T) funding. Simultaneously, China is rapidly expanding its investment in research and innovation, leading to a global shift in scientific leadership.

Positive Impacts on India:

a. Strategic Opportunities for Collaboration

India can fill the void left by the U.S. as a global science partner for developing nations.
Strengthened cooperation possible with EU, Japan, and ASEAN in sustainable tech, health innovation, and climate research.
Scope to partner with China selectively under BRICS, SCO, and G20 frameworks for joint R&D (e.g., clean energy, AI ethics).

b. Talent Attraction and Reverse Brain Drain

With the U.S. becoming less attractive to international researchers, Indian scientists and students abroad may return or choose India/Europe for research careers.
Opportunity for India to build domestic research ecosystems if funding, infrastructure, and incentives improve.
India can become a regional hub for South Asian and African researchers.

c. Boost to India’s Indigenous Innovation Drive

The changing global landscape reinforces the need for Atmanirbhar Bharat in science and technology.
India may accelerate policies like:
- National Research Foundation (NRF)
- Semiconductor Mission & AI Mission
- Digital India and Startup India
- National Quantum Mission
Lessons from China’s long-term planning (Project 985, 211, etc.) can inspire India’s sustained science investment approach.

Negative / Challenging Impacts:

a. Strategic and Technological Competition

China’s rise as a science superpower may marginalize India in Asia’s innovation hierarchy.
Chinese dominance in AI, semiconductors, and biotech could widen the technology gap and influence global standards-setting bodies (ITU, ISO, WTO Tech rules).
India risks becoming a technology consumer rather than a co-creator if it doesn’t scale up R&D.

b. Decline in U.S.–India Research Partnerships

The U.S. has been India’s largest R&D collaborator — in space (NASA–ISRO), health (NIH–ICMR), and education (Fulbright, Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum).
Budget cuts may reduce joint projects, fellowships, and academic exchanges, affecting Indian researchers’ global exposure.
Fewer U.S. university fellowships and grants could reduce Indian student opportunities and remittances.

c. Geopolitical Implications

The U.S.–China tech race may polarize global research networks, forcing India to balance carefully.
India may face pressure to align with Western tech blocs (like the Quad’s Critical and Emerging Tech initiative) while keeping channels open with China and BRICS.
India must ensure strategic autonomy in innovation diplomacy — neither dependent on Western funding nor Chinese technology.

d. Risk of Brain Drain to China and Europe

If U.S. labs cut research programs, Chinese and European institutions may absorb talented Indian scientists.
China’s universities offer generous funding and global positions — attractive for top researchers.

Mains practice Question:

Q3. “With global scientific leadership shifting eastward, India must redefine its research and innovation strategy.” Discuss.

Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page 9)

U.S. – Pakistan Relations

Context: Recent developments in 2025 (e.g., Pakistan Army Chief’s visits to Washington) underscore renewed U.S. engagement with Pakistan. Pakistan’s strategic balancing between India, the U.S., and China, and shifts in U.S. policy may affect India’s foreign policy calculus.

Contemporary engagements:

U.S. seeks to engage Pakistan strategically despite past distrust. For example – (a) Recently Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir visited Washington thrice in three months. (b) There are reports of U.S. – Pakistan deals on rare earth minerals and oil exploration.

Implications for India

China-Pakistan strategic partnership remains a key challenge.
U.S. re-engagement with Pakistan may:
- Complicate India’s diplomacy with Washington
- Influence regional security, particularly Kashmir and counterterrorism coordination
- Require India to strengthen strategic autonomy and defensive posture

Way forward:

India must consider:

Diplomatic balancing with U.S. and China
Strengthening military preparedness and counterterrorism
Engaging in regional multilateral platforms to offset Pakistan-China influence

Mains practice Question:

Q4. Examine how Pakistan’s dual alignment between the U.S. and China affects India’s foreign policy choices.

Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page 14)

Places in News:

1. El-Fasher: El-Fasher is a key city in the Darfur region of Sudan. Place has been consistently in news for escalating civil conflict in this region.

The main actors: