Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 22nd Oct 2025

• Post-Trump era disorder: The United States under Donald Trump eroded faith in multilateral institutions and cooperative global governance.
• Rise of transactional diplomacy: Nations now prioritize national interest over ideology or values.
• India’s challenge: As global power centres realign, India has not demonstrated sufficient agility in adapting to new realities.

  2. Decline in India’s Geopolitical Influence

• Despite economic rise and global stature, India is increasingly perceived as an outlier in key international decisions.
• India’s foreign policy is often reactive rather than proactive, lacking clear strategic direction.
• The constant shifting of global power posts—from the U.S. to China, from West Asia to Indo-Pacific—requires agility that India’s bureaucracy-driven diplomacy often lacks.

• The Taliban’s consolidation and Pakistan’s influence in Kabul have diminished India’s regional leverage.
• India’s cautious approach post-2021, unlike its proactive engagement in the past, has made it appear as a bystander in key security developments.

• Post-Galwan (2020), India–China relations have stagnated.
• Despite border tensions, China’s trade with India continues to rise, while its political and strategic influence deepens across South Asia and West Asia.
• China’s renewed global activism under Xi Jinping—infrastructure, technology, and diplomacy—has left India struggling to match scale and influence.

• Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have forged new strategic alignments, such as the Strategic Defence Agreement, often excluding India.
• India’s earlier goodwill in West Asia has waned as new power brokers (Turkey, China) fill the vacuum.

• India’s Indo-Pacific policy, though well-articulated, is hampered by limited military and economic projection compared to the U.S. and Japan.
• The Quad’s strategic potential is underutilized, with India adopting a cautious posture vis-à-vis China.

• Lack of coherent long-term doctrine: India’s foreign policy remains an extension of ad hoc decisions rather than a unified grand strategy.
• Over-reliance on moral diplomacy: India continues to emphasize values like sovereignty, democracy, and peace—important, but often without adequate material backing.
• Diplomatic overstretch: India’s ambitions as a global power are not always matched by its institutional capacity or financial muscle.

• Recalibrate strategy: India must blend idealism with realism—pursuing value-based diplomacy while safeguarding hard interests.
• Reassert leadership in neighbourhood: Revitalize South Asia through economic incentives, connectivity, and people-centric diplomacy.
• Leverage multilateral forums: Use platforms like G20, SCO, BRICS, QUAD to project India’s leadership on global governance, AI, and climate change.
• Strategic partnerships: Deepen ties with middle powers like Japan, France, and Indonesia to counterbalance China’s rise.
• Rebuild credibility: India’s credibility as a reliable partner—especially in trade, defence, and technology—needs stronger institutional delivery.

India’s current predicament stems not from lack of potential, but from diplomatic inertia. In a rapidly polarising world, adaptability, clarity of priorities, and credible partnerships are essential for India to reclaim strategic space and prevent marginalisation. 

  UPSC Mains Q. “India’s foreign policy appears to be struggling to find balance between moral idealism and strategic pragmatism in a changing world order.” Critically examine.

We need a law to protect domestic workers 

• GS Paper 2:
• Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the Population.
• Mechanisms, Laws, and Institutions for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups.
• Issues Relating to Poverty and Employment.
• GS Paper 3:
• Inclusive Growth and Labour Reforms.
• Informal Sector and Employment Generation.

 In January 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union Government to enact a comprehensive national law protecting the rights of domestic workers and to set up a committee to draft a legal framework. However, the status of this directive remains unclear. The issue highlights a long-standing policy gap — while India depends heavily on domestic workers for household and care work, there is no uniform national legislation to regulate their employment, wages, or working conditions. 

  What is it all about?

• India is estimated to have 4–9 million domestic workers, most of whom are women, often from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), making them highly vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, and harassment.
• Many of them lack written contracts, social security, fair wages, and protection under existing labour laws.
• Despite multiple efforts — from the National Policy for Domestic Workers (1950s) to the Domestic Workers (Regulation of Work and Social Security) Bill, 2017 — a national law ensuring rights and protections has not yet been enacted.

  1. Judicial Intervention and the Supreme Court Directive

• The Supreme Court’s recent order emphasized the urgent need for legislative protection and directed the government to establish a committee of “subject experts” to draft a legal framework.
• The Court’s intervention came in light of criminal cases of confinement and trafficking, which highlighted systemic abuse and lack of legal recourse for domestic workers.

• 90% of domestic workers are women, mostly from marginalized communities (SC/ST, minorities, migrants).
• Many are employed in multiple households, without contracts or job stability, and are excluded from social security schemes.

• The private household setting makes labour inspections nearly impossible.
• Exploitative practices like underpayment, long hours, sexual harassment, and wage theft are rampant.
• Most are unregistered, making it difficult to ensure minimum wage or benefits.

• Domestic workers are excluded from most national labour laws such as:
• Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
• Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (applies only in some states)
• Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
• Payment of Wages Act, 1936

• The Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act, 1982 includes domestic workers under its welfare board.
• Registered workers receive pensions, maternity benefits, education aid, and accident relief.
• However, only a small proportion of workers are registered, and many continue to earn below-statutory wages (₹37–39/hr).

• Announced plans to enact a specific Domestic Workers’ Welfare Bill (2025) to regulate wages, working hours, and contracts.
• The Bill mandates written contracts, minimum wage, overtime pay, and a 5% welfare fund contribution by employers.

• The ILO Convention No. 189 (2011) recognizes domestic work as “work” and ensures rights to decent employment, social protection, and fair wages.
• India voted in favour but has not yet ratified it — a major gap in aligning domestic law with global labour standards.
• Countries like Philippines and South Africa have enacted specific domestic worker protection laws, serving as models.

• Define domestic work clearly.
• Mandate registration of employers and workers.
• Ensure minimum wages, social security, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

• Establish a National Domestic Workers’ Welfare Fund with contributions from the government and employers.
• Ensure access to maternity benefits, health insurance, pensions, and accident relief.

• Recognize domestic workers as part of the formal labour force contributing to the economy.
• Facilitate formation of domestic worker unions and cooperatives for collective bargaining.

• Align national legislation with international labour standards to ensure dignity and equality for domestic workers.

• Article 14 & 21 – Equality before law and right to life with dignity.
• Article 23 – Prohibition of forced labour.
• Directive Principles (Articles 39 & 43) – Right to adequate livelihood and humane working conditions.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) – Promoting inclusive and productive employment.

Net FDI inflow fell by 159% in August: RBI’s data reveals

• GS-III (Indian Economy): External sector, BoP, capital flows.

  What is FDI?

• FDI: long-term investment by a non-resident entity in an Indian enterprise with management influence (equity + reinvested earnings + intra-company loans).
• Net FDI = Gross FDI inflows – (repatriation/disinvestment by foreign firms + overseas direct investment by Indian companies).

• Gross inflows in Aug 2025: $6.05 bn (lowest this FY; –30.6% y-o-y, –45.5% m-o-m).
• Money leaving in Aug 2025:
• Repatriation/disinvestment by foreign firms: $4.93 bn (–5.4% y-o-y; ~+30% over July).
• Overseas direct investment by Indian firms: $1.74 bn (–29.7% y-o-y; lowest in a year).
• Result: outflows > inflows ⇒ net FDI turned negative (–$0.62 bn).

• Net FDI: $10.13 bn, >12% higher than the same period last year.
• Drivers: +18.2% rise in gross inflows ($43.76 bn) and –6.1% fall in repatriation/disinvestment ($21.21 bn).
• Overseas investment by Indian companies also fell ~26% in this five-month period.

• A negative month reflects weak deal closures/reinvestments and higher profit repatriation, pressuring the BoP and rupee in the short run.
• The April–August improvement suggests underlying resilience, but sustaining inflows will need policy clarity, faster approvals, and stable macro conditions.

With reference to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) statistics released by the RBI, consider the following: 1. Net FDI is calculated by subtracting repatriation/disinvestment by foreign investors and overseas direct investment by Indian companies from gross FDI inflows. 2. Portfolio investments (FPI/FII) are included in FDI inflows. 3. Reinvested earnings of foreign companies operating in India are a part of FDI. Which of the statements is/are correct? a) 1 and 3 only

  Answer: a) 1 and 3 only

Deepavali fireworks send Delhi air quality inching to a five-year low

• GS Paper 3 (Environment): Pollution and mitigation strategies, environmental policies and acts.

  Key Terms 

1. PM 2.5

• Definition: Fine particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 micrometres, small enough to enter the bloodstream.
• Sources: Combustion (vehicles, biomass burning, fireworks, industrial emissions).
• Health Impacts: Causes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and premature deaths.

• Definition: A composite index used to measure and communicate air quality status.
• Categories:
• Good (0–50)
• Satisfactory (51–100)
• Moderate (101–200)
• Poor (201–300)
• Very Poor (301–400)
• Severe (401–500)

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Monitors air, water, and noise pollution and implements National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).

  1. Data Highlights

• PM 2.5 levels spiked from ~150 µg/m³ at 4 p.m. to nearly 650 µg/m³ by 11 p.m. on Deepavali night (October 20).
• Post-Deepavali AQI touched 488, compared to 233 the previous day.
• The worst AQI was reported in Dharuhera, Haryana (462).

  a. Firecracker Emissions

• Despite the Supreme Court’s limited window (8–10 p.m.) for bursting only CSIR-validated “green crackers”, norms were widely violated.
• “Green crackers” emit ~30% less smoke, but their large-scale use still significantly raised PM levels.

• Low wind speeds prevented pollutant dispersion.
• Higher night temperatures (23–25°C) trapped smoke near the surface, creating a temperature inversion — a key reason pollutants couldn’t escape into the upper atmosphere.
• The Indo-Gangetic Plains’ stagnant air further worsened accumulation.

• Indicates both sustained emissions and poor atmospheric dispersion.
• Demonstrates the limited effectiveness of the “green cracker” initiative without strict enforcement.
• Reinforces the need for comprehensive air quality management, not just seasonal interventions.

 Q. With reference to air pollution in India, consider the following statements: 1. PM 2.5 refers to suspended particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres, capable of penetrating deep into human lungs. 2. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 3. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented only in Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

 a) 1 and 2 only

 Answer: a) 1 and 2 only

India’s Kabul mission is upgraded to embassy

• GS-II: International Relations – India’s neighbourhood policy; India–Afghanistan relations; recognition vs engagement; Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

 Days after the visit of the Taliban administration’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, India has upgraded its Technical Mission in Kabul to the Embassy of India in Afghanistan, with immediate effect. Until an Ambassador is appointed, a Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) will head the mission.

  What is this move about?

• Background: India shut its Kabul Embassy in Aug 2021 after the Taliban takeover, citing security concerns. A Technical Mission was later deployed mainly to oversee humanitarian aid and limited development work.
• Now: The Mission’s status has been restored to a full Embassy, signalling an elevation of political engagement and capacity to deliver consular and development functions on the ground.

• Does:
• Enhances consular services (visas, assistance to Indian nationals, Afghan students/patients).
• Improves oversight of humanitarian aid & legacy development projects (health, education, irrigation, power).
• Provides a platform for direct security dialogue (counter-terrorism, safe travel for Indians, monitoring threats from IS-K, Al Qaeda affiliates, anti-India groups).
• Facilitates economic & connectivity outreach (trade, pharmaceuticals, wheat aid; long-term links to Chabahar and regional corridors).
• Does not automatically mean formal recognition of the Taliban government. It reflects de facto engagement, not necessarily de jure recognition (which a few powers debate; the article notes Russia has recognised the Taliban as de jure—India has not).

1. Bilateral reset with caution: India keeps channels open while reiterating red lines—Afghan soil not to be used for terrorism, an inclusive polity, and protection of women’s and minorities’ rights.

 2. Regional calculus: With Iran, China, Russia, Gulf and Central Asian states engaging Kabul, India avoids strategic marginalisation in Afghanistan’s political economy.

 3. Security externality: Tensions on the Durand Line and terror spillovers elevate the need for situational awareness and rapid consular response. 4. People-centric diplomacy: Restored embassy can scale scholarships, medical visas, educational partnerships—traditional strengths of India’s Afghan outreach. 

 5. Diplomatic signalling: A CDA heading the mission provides flexibility—full ambassadorial appointment can be timed with further security and political assurances. 

  Risks & Mitigation

• Security risks to personnel and premises → phased staffing, enhanced protection, close coordination with local authorities and friendly missions.
• Perception of recognition → maintain clarity that this is about functional presence and humanitarian delivery, not unconditional endorsement.
• Human-rights concerns → leverage access to press for women’s education/work rights and inclusive governance, aligning with UN benchmarks.

Q. With reference to Indian diplomatic missions, consider the following statements: 

 1. A Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) heads an embassy in the absence of an Ambassador. 

 2. Upgrading a technical mission to an embassy automatically amounts to de jure recognition of the host government.

 3. Functions of an embassy under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) include protecting the interests of the sending state, negotiating with the host government, and promoting friendly relations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

 a) 1 and 3 only

b) 2 only

 Answer: a) 1 and 3 only.

Modi congratulates new Japan PM, says ties vital to promote Indo-Pacific peace 

• GS Paper 2: India and its neighbourhood relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings; India’s role in Indo-Pacific.

 The upgrading of India–Japan ties underlines the countries’ shared vision for a Free, Open, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific (FOIP). PM Modi expressed optimism that cooperation under PM Sanae Takaichi, a protégé of former PM Shinzo Abe, would deepen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership—a status accorded in 2014. This partnership is grounded in:

• Security and Defence Cooperation
• Economic Resilience and Technology Partnership
• Infrastructure and Connectivity Projects
• Coordination in Multilateral Forums like QUAD, ASEAN, and EAS

• India and Japan share a Special Strategic and Global Partnership (SSGP) aimed at regional stability and maritime security.
• Both nations are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), along with the U.S. and Australia, focusing on freedom of navigation, supply-chain resilience, and countering coercive practices in the Indo-Pacific.
• Japan’s new leadership under Takaichi is expected to maintain continuity in these policies, as she is ideologically aligned with the late Shinzo Abe, who initiated Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

• The two sides signed agreements on:
• Economic Security Partnership, focusing on critical minerals and supply chain diversification.
• Digital partnership and semiconductor manufacturing.
• Upgraded Strategic Partnership promoting cooperation in cyber and emerging technologies.
• Japan is a key partner in India’s infrastructure push, including:
• Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project
• Dedicated Freight Corridors
• Smart City and Clean Energy Projects

• The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a geopolitical theatre of competition, especially amid China’s assertive maritime policies.
• India and Japan coordinate policies to ensure:
• Freedom of navigation and adherence to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
• Economic inclusivity through initiatives like the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) with Australia.
• Cooperation in regional groupings such as ASEAN and EAS to balance Chinese influence.

• PM Takaichi’s election symbolizes political continuity for India–Japan relations.
• Her foreign policy outlook is expected to emphasize strategic autonomy while reinforcing cooperation with India, particularly under frameworks like QUAD and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

• Strengthens maritime security cooperation and ensures India’s active role in Indo-Pacific governance.
• Deepens economic and technological partnerships, especially in clean energy, digital innovation, and critical minerals.
• Enhances diplomatic leverage within QUAD and regional forums.
• Reinforces trust-based collaboration rooted in shared democratic values and mutual strategic concerns.

 Answer: c) 1 and 3 only

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is activated when air quality in Delhi-NCR reaches hazardous levels. As the air quality index (AQI) crossed 300, Delhi enforced Stage II of GRAP, prompting the Chief Minister to encourage the use of green crackers during Deepavali to mitigate pollution. 

  Key Points:

• GRAP is a set of emergency measures to prevent further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR once AQI crosses a certain threshold.
  
  
• Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 under the case M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, and notified in 2017.
  
  
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is responsible for implementing GRAP in the NCR and surrounding regions.
  
  
• IITM and IMD provide air quality and meteorological forecasts to guide GRAP implementation.
  
  
• EPCA (Environment Pollution Control Authority) used to oversee GRAP till 2020, after which the CAQM took over.
  
  
• Stage-wise actions under GRAP based on AQI levels:
  
  
• Stage I (Poor AQI: 201-300): Enforce orders on over-aged vehicles.
  
  
• Stage II (Very Poor AQI: 301-400): Targeted actions at pollution hotspots; regulated operations of diesel generators.
  
  
  
• Stage III (Severe AQI: 401-450): Restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles, and possible school class suspensions for young children.
  
  
• Stage IV (Severe Plus AQI >450): Vehicles, except for electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel and essential goods vehicles, will be barred from entering Delhi.
  
  
  

Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

• Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, signaling a shift toward greater gender inclusivity in leadership roles.
  
  
• Her election marks a significant milestone in Japan’s political history, a country traditionally dominated by male leaders.
  
  
• Takaichi's tenure is expected to focus on addressing Japan’s economic challenges, particularly in the context of an aging population and low growth rates.
  
  
• Japan’s political system is a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy with the emperor serving as the ceremonial head of state.
  
  
• The country is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
  
  
• Japan’s geographical structure consists of a chain of islands, stretching approximately 1,500 miles from northeast to southwest.
  
  
• Major islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
  
  
• Japan is bordered by several seas, including the Pacific Ocean (east), Sea of Okhotsk (north), Sea of Japan (west), and East China Sea (southwest).
  
  
• As an island nation, Japan has no land borders, which influences its foreign relations and defense strategies.
• Source: The Hindu

FSSAI Bans Use of ‘ORS’ on Food Labels and Advertisements 

  Syllabus: GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

  Key Points:

• FSSAI has banned the term ‘ORS’ on food labels and advertisements, deeming it misleading to consumers.
  
  
• The ban follows a review that concluded the term violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  
  
• Food business operators are instructed to comply immediately, removing ‘ORS’ from all relevant products and advertisements.
  
  
• Previous permissions from July 2022 and February 2024 that allowed the term with a disclaimer have been withdrawn.
  
  
• The use of ‘ORS’ without proper context is now classified as misbranding, punishable under the FSSAI Act, 2006.
  
  
• FSSAI, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, regulates food safety, ensuring safe and healthy food for the public.
  Source: Indian Express

India’s Passport Rank Drops to 85th in 2025 Henley Passport Index 

  Syllabus: GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

• India's passport dropped to 85th rank, granting visa-free access to 57 countries, down from 59 in 2024.
  
  
• The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports worldwide based on visa-free travel access.
  
  
• Singapore continues to top the index, with visa-free access to 193 countries, reflecting Asia’s increasing influence in global mobility.
  
  
• India’s visa-free countries include Bhutan, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  
• In addition to visa-free travel, Indian passport holders can access visas on arrival in 27 countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Jordan, and Qatar.
  
  
• India’s passport ranking has fluctuated over time, reaching its peak at 71st in 2006 and dipping to 90th in 2021.
  
  
• In comparison to South Asian neighbours, India’s passport rank is moderate:
  
  
• Pakistan: 103rd with access to 31 countries.
  
  
• Bangladesh: 100th with access to 38 countries.
  
  
• Nepal: 101st with access to 36 countries.
  
  
• Bhutan: 92nd with access to 50 countries.