Explore the Daily Current Affairs 9 October 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Also download quick REVISION NOTES.
INDIA-UK vision 2035
Context: PM Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai marks his first official trip to India since taking office in July 2024. It follows the signing of CETA, described as a historic and transformative agreement by both sides.
India-UK relations:
The Indian diaspora, comprising 2.6% of the UK’s population, plays a vital role in shaping socio-economic and cultural ties between the two nations.
The India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) brings together the world’s 5th and 6th largest economies, with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching USD 56 billion in 2024.
The India–UK partnership was recently elevated through two key diplomatic breakthroughs:
- In May 2025, the Prime Ministers of both countries announced the conclusion of the India–UK FTA.
- The signing of the Double Contributions Convention (DCC), aimed at streamlining social security contributions for professionals working across borders.
This diplomatic momentum culminated in July 2025, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK, with the formal signing of:
- the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA),
- the long-term strategic blueprint Vision 2035, and
- a forward-looking Defence Industrial Roadmap.
Mains practice Question:
Q1. India–UK relations have entered a new strategic phase marked by deeper economic, defence, and technological cooperation. In this context, critically examine the significance of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Vision 2035 roadmap. How can these developments shape India’s global standing and domestic growth trajectory?
Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page no. 14)
Metal organic framework (MOF)
Context: Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi, were awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering and creating a class of materials, called metal-organic frameworks (MOF).
What are MOFs (Metal Organic Frameworks)?
MOFs are crystalline porous materials made by combining metal ions with organic ligands. These are like molecular sponges or scaffolds with an immense internal surface area.
- They are lightweight, stable, and highly porous
- Can be custom-designed at the molecular level
- Surpass zeolites (older porous materials) in flexibility and performance
Applications of MOFs:
- Water harvesting from desert air
- Carbon capture and storage
- Environmental clean-up: Filtering PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and pharmaceuticals from water
- Gas storage and separation
- Drug delivery, sensors, and catalysis
- Energy storage (in batteries/fuel cells)
- Used in green technology, environmental remediation, and even AI-designed materials.
Mains practice Questions:
Q2. Discuss the significance of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in modern chemistry and their potential role in addressing environmental challenges. (10/15 marks)
Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page no. 16.2)
Invasive Alien Species
What Are Invasive Alien Species?
Invasive alien species are non-native species that have been introduced into a landscape by accident, as exotic ornamental fishes and decorated shrubs, or as a solution to a problem such as revegetating arid land.
Key Examples in India:
| Species | Origin | Impact |
| Lantana camara | Colonial-era ornamental shrub | Displaces native flora; disrupts elephant habitats; increases human-wildlife conflict |
| Prosopis juliflora | South America | Consumes excessive water; leads to salinity in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands; destroys pastoralist livelihoods |
| Water hyacinth | South America | Clogs lakes and rivers; disrupts bird habitats; oxygen depletion |
| Yellow crazy ant | Africa | Destroys native ant species that control pests |
| Alien fishes | Various (via aquaculture, aquarium trade) | Threaten native freshwater fish; found in lakes and rivers across India |
Challenges Identified by Scientists
- Poor documentation: Limited data on range, impact, or invasion histories of many IAS
- Lack of baseline studies in freshwater systems
- Confusion over conservation priorities due to varied stakeholder perspectives
- Invasive alien species studies in India are still nascent and siloed across disciplines
Way Forward:
- Develop standardised frameworks to:
- Quantify ecological and economic impacts
- Map cumulative effects
2. Prioritise species, hotspots, and control methods
- Collaborative governance:
- Involve local communities, NGOs, scientists, policymakers
- Promote citizen science for mapping Invasive alien species
3. Policy and institutional reforms:
- Integrate Invasive alien species management into national biodiversity and climate plans
- Create a national atlas of invasive species
Mains practice question:
Q3. Invasive alien species are among the leading drivers of biodiversity loss in India. Critically examine the ecological, economic, and socio-cultural impacts of these species, and suggest a strategy for their management.
Preventive detention
Context: The article examines the controversial nature of preventive detention laws in India, especially Articles 22(3)–(7) of the Constitution, and highlights how these provisions often bypass the fundamental rights to liberty and due process.
Constitutionals provisions and judgements:
- Articles 22(3)(7) create exceptions to the protection of fundamental rights, especially Article 21 (right to life and liberty).
- Dhanya M. v. State of Kerala (2025): SC reiterated that preventive detention cannot be used as a substitute for criminal law or to bypass bail.
Other relevant cases:
- S.K. Nazneen v. State of Telangana (2023) – Law and order ≠ Public order.
- Rekha v. State of Tamil Nadu – Preventive detention is an exception to Article 21.
- Banka Sneha Sheela v. State of Telangana (2021) – Must be tested against Article 21.
Legal & Historical Background:
- Preventive detention dates back to British rule (Bengal Regulation Act of 1818).
- Incorporated in Article 22 after intense debate in the Constituent Assembly.
- Critics (like Somnath Lahiri) called it a “Police-Constable Constitution”.
- Judicial validation in A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) allowed preventive detention to exist outside the purview of Articles 14, 19, and 21.
Conflict with the Golden Triangle:
Articles 14, 19, 21 (“Golden Triangle”) are supposed to be read together post Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978), but preventive detention is still kept outside this framework due to rulings like A.K. Roy v. Union of India (1982). Preventive detention thus avoids due process, fair trial, and proportionality tests.
Arguments in Favour of Preventive Detention:
- Useful in extraordinary situations (terrorism, narcotics trafficking, insurgency).
- Helps ensure national security and public order.
- Recognized as a legitimate exception under Article 22.
Arguments Against:
- Misused to silence dissent, target minorities, or avoid bail processes.
- Undermines rule of law, judicial oversight, and due process.
- Violates natural justice principles like audi alteram partem (right to be heard).
Mains practice Question:
Q4. “Preventive detention in India operates in a constitutional grey zone, often bypassing fundamental rights in the name of national security.” Critically evaluate the constitutional validity, judicial response, and the need for reforms in India’s preventive detention regime.