UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025

 

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

 

InstaLinks :  Insta Links help you think beyond the  current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents 

GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September (2025)

1. The 130th Amendment Bill: Accountability or Constitutional Overreach?

GS Paper 3:

2. Himalayan Fragility and Unsustainable Development

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Iran–IAEA Nuclear Monitoring Agreement

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Two New Species of Aspergillus section Nigri from the Western Ghats

2. First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre

3. ISRO Signed 100^th Technology Transfer with HAL for SSLV Production

4. Geotagging of Buildings in Census

5. Decentralised Finance (DeFi)

6. Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline

 Mapping:

1. Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025

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GS Paper 2:

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The 130th Amendment Bill: Accountability or Constitutional Overreach?

Syllabus: Polity

Source:  IE

Context: The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025 proposes automatic removal of Ministers (including PM/CM) held in custody for 30 consecutive days in offences punishable with five years or more.

About The 130th Amendment Bill: Accountability or Constitutional Overreach?

Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025:

• Seeks to provide for removal of PM, CMs, or Ministers if detained in custody for serious offences.
• Applies to Centre, States, Delhi, and extended to UTs of Puducherry and J&K through separate Bills.

• Grounds for Removal:

• • Serious Offence: Accused of a crime punishable with ≥ 5 years imprisonment.
  • Custody Clause: Must be under arrest and detention for 30 consecutive days.

• Procedure for Removal:

• • Union Ministers: Removed by the President on PM’s advice (by 31st day).
  • State Ministers: Removed by the Governor on CM’s advice (by 31st day).
  • Delhi Ministers: Removed by the President on CM’s advice.
  • PM/CM themselves: Must resign by 31st day and if not, cease to hold office automatically.

• Reappointment:

• • No permanent disqualification.
  • Removed Ministers can be re-appointed after release from custody.

• Key Implications:

• • Aims to uphold constitutional morality, good governance, and public trust.
  • However, may risk political misuse, as mere custody—not conviction—triggers removal.

Constitutional & Legal Issues:

• Basic Structure Violation:

• • Erodes parliamentary democracy by shifting decisive power from Parliament & Courts → executive discretion.
  • Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): Parliament cannot alter basic features like rule of law, separation of powers.

• Departure from Judicial Precedent:

• • Representation of the People Act, 1951: Disqualification only after conviction, not pre-trial detention.
  • A.R. Antulay Case (1988): Procedural shortcuts affecting Article 21 rights struck down.

• Weakening of Collegial Cabinet Principle:

• • Council of Ministers becomes hostage to PM/CM’s advice.
  • S.R. Bommai Case (1994): Cabinet collective responsibility upheld as part of parliamentary democracy.

• Misuse Risk through Investigative Agencies:

• • ED/CBI have already been accused of targeting Opposition leaders.
  • Bail is stringent under PMLA Section 45, custody often exceeds 30 days even without proven guilt.

• Dilution of Liberty & Due Process:

• • Maneka Gandhi Case (1978): Liberty can only be curtailed through fair, just, and reasonable law.
  • A 30-day custody trigger is arbitrary, equating mere investigation with guilt.

Comparative Perspective

• UK: Ministers are expected to resign if moral lapses are alleged (e.g., Profumo scandal 1963), but there is no legal compulsion until conviction, leaving it to political norms.
• US: The Constitution is silent on ministerial removals; resignations usually follow political pressure (e.g., Watergate 1974), not pre-trial detention.
• South Africa: Ministers can be removed only after conviction or impeachment, keeping due process central to accountability.

Potential Consequences:

• Governance Instability: Frequent removals without trial could disrupt Cabinet continuity and weaken policy execution.
• Political Weaponisation: Investigative agencies may be used to jail opponents strategically, forcing their removal without conviction.
• Erosion of Public Mandate: Voters’ choice gets overridden by executive action, undermining representative democracy.
• Judicial Burden: Courts would face a flood of petitions challenging arbitrary removals, clogging judicial resources.
• Loss of Morality Standards: Genuine accountability risks being diluted by partisan misuse, creating cynicism about integrity in politics.

Way Forward:

• Link Removal to Judicial Milestones: Trigger removal only after a court frames charges, ensuring due process and filtering out frivolous arrests.
• Strengthen Judicial Oversight: Mandate High Courts to review removal orders within 7 days, balancing accountability with fairness.
• Safeguard Collegiality: Instead of unilateral PM/CM discretion, make the Cabinet collectively responsible, protecting institutional balance.
• Ensure Political Neutrality: Create an independent body (Lokpal/Ethics Commission) to vet such cases, reducing scope for political vendetta.
• Promote Voluntary Codes: Revive the practice of resigning on moral grounds (e.g., Lal Bahadur Shastri, 1956) rather than forcing legal disqualification.

Conclusion:

The Bill attempts to address a legitimate concern – Ministers under serious charges tarnish governance. However, by equating custody with guilt, it risks executive misuse, constitutional violation, and political vendetta. Reform must be tied to judicial safeguards and due process, ensuring accountability without weakening democracy.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025 GS Paper 3:

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Himalayan Fragility and Unsustainable Development

 Syllabus: Critical Geographical Features

Source:  TH

Context: Recent floods and landslides in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir have exposed the cost of rampant construction and deforestation in the Himalayas.

• Experts and the Supreme Court have warned that unregulated “development” is pushing the fragile mountains to the brink of collapse.

About Himalayan Fragility and Unsustainable Development:

What are the Himalayas?

• The Himalayas are the youngest and highest fold mountains in the world.
• They stretch for about 2,400 km across India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.
• Average width: 150–400 km; Average elevation: 6,000 m+.
• They form the northern boundary of the Indian subcontinent and act as a climatic, cultural, and ecological divide.
• Home to the world’s highest peaks including Mount Everest (8,849 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).

Formation of the Himalayas:

• Ancient Landmasses:
  • Around 200 million years ago, the supercontinent Pangaea broke up.
  • Two major landmasses relevant to the Himalayas:
    1. Laurasia (north) – included Eurasia.
    2. Gondwana (south) – included India, Africa, Australia, etc.
• Tethys Sea:
  • Between Laurasia and Gondwana lay a shallow sea called the Tethys Sea.
  • Over millions of years, sediments from rivers accumulated in this sea bed.
• Indian Plate Movement:
  • About 140 million years ago, the Indian Plate broke away from Gondwana.
  • It drifted northwards at a fast rate (~15 cm/year).
• Collision with Eurasian Plate:
  • Around 50 million years ago, the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate.
  • The sediments of the Tethys Sea were compressed and uplifted due to plate convergence.
• Orogeny (Mountain Building):
  • The collision gave rise to fold mountains – the Himalayas.
  • The process is still active: the Himalayas are rising by ~5 mm per year due to ongoing plate movement.

Himalayan Fragility:

• Young Mountains – Himalayas are geologically young and unstable, making them naturally prone to landslides and seismic activity.
• Climate Sensitivity – Warming rates are higher than global averages, leading to glacier melt and erratic rainfall patterns.
• High-Energy Environment – Steep slopes and fast-flowing rivers amplify disaster risks like floods and soil erosion.
• Glacial Lakes – Over 25,000 glacial lakes increase risks of sudden glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
• Biodiversity Hotspot – Home to unique species and ecosystems, their destruction undermines both ecology and livelihoods.

Drivers of Himalayan Degradation:

• Unregulated Infrastructure – Highways, tunnels, and hydro projects destabilise slopes using heavy blasting and excavation.
• Deforestation – Native trees like deodar, which bind the soil, are cleared for tourism and urban expansion.
• Hydropower Expansion – Excessive damming alters river courses and increases disaster potential.
• Weak Impact Assessments – Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are often bypassed or diluted for quick approvals.
• Tourism Pressure – Surging demand for hotels and roads strains land resources and accelerates ecological erosion.

Consequences of Unsustainable Development:

• Human Loss – Disasters like Kedarnath 2013 and Chamoli 2021 cause large-scale deaths and displacement.
• Ecological Damage – Soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and degradation of forests worsen long-term resilience.
• Disaster Multiplication – Development without safeguards converts heavy rainfall into catastrophic floods and landslides.
• Economic Setbacks – Infrastructure collapses, farms destroyed, and tourism disrupted reduce state revenues.
• Social Stress – Communities lose trust in governance when projects endanger lives without consultation.

Way Ahead:

• Mountain-Specific Policies – Draft distinct development models considering carrying capacity of fragile zones.
• Strengthen EIAs – Ensure strict, independent ecological and disaster impact assessments before approvals.
• Promote Nature-Based Solutions – Afforestation, slope stabilisation, and watershed management can reduce risks.
• Community-Led Development – Build climate literacy, eco-tourism, and empower local governance for resilience.
• Sustainable Energy Mix – Shift focus from hydropower dominance to solar, wind, and decentralised energy.

Conclusion:

The Himalayas are at a tipping point where reckless development is colliding with climate change. Sustainable models that respect ecology, empower communities, and balance growth are essential. Only then can these “living mountains” remain resilient for future generations.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

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Iran–IAEA Nuclear Monitoring Agreement

Context: The IAEA (UN nuclear watchdog) and Iran have struck a breakthrough deal allowing inspectors to resume monitoring nuclear sites, including those damaged in recent Israeli and US strikes.

About Iran–IAEA Nuclear Monitoring Agreement:

Key Features of the Deal:

• Resumption of Inspections – IAEA inspectors allowed access to all nuclear facilities and installations in Iran.
• Verification of Damaged Sites – Includes inspection of facilities attacked in June, covering nuclear materials.
• Legal Framework – Agreement is consistent with Iran’s obligations under the NPT Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
• Mediation – Egypt played a key role in brokering the deal.
• Conditionality – Iran insists implementation depends on no further hostile actions or sanctions.

Significance:

• Prevents immediate UN sanctions on Iran.
• Revives global nuclear diplomacy amid tensions.
• Reassures that Iran is not quitting the NPT regime.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS-Paper II:

• • International Relations – Global nuclear governance, implications of Iran’s nuclear program on West Asia.
  • International Institutions – Role of IAEA in ensuring compliance and preventing proliferation.

• Essay / Ethics:

• • Themes of nuclear disarmament, technology vs peace, and global governance of weapons of mass destruction.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP):

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Two New Species of Aspergillus section Nigri from the Western Ghats

Source:  PIB

Context: Indian scientists from MACS–Agharkar Research Institute (Pune), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), have discovered two new species of Aspergillus section Nigri from the Western Ghats.

About Two New Species of Aspergillus section Nigri from the Western Ghats:

• Aspergillus Section Nigri:

• • A group of black-coloured fungi, commonly called black aspergilli.
  • Found widely in soil and plants, with important uses in citric acid production, food industry, fermentation, and agriculture.
  • Known as “workhorses of biotechnology” due to their industrial applications.

• Newly Identified Species:

• • Aspergillus dhakephalkarii:
    • Found in the Western Ghats.
    • Grows rapidly, produces brown spores and orange sclerotia (resting structures).
    • Has smooth, oval-shaped spores, unlike many others which have rough, spiny ones.
  • Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae:
    • Also from the Western Ghats.
    • Fast-growing with abundant sclerotia and modest spore production.
    • Has spiny spores and branching structures that split into many columns.
  • Additionally, two species were reported for the first time in India: A. aculeatinus and A. brunneoviolaceus.

• Significance:

• • Shows that the Western Ghats are rich in hidden fungal diversity.
  • Useful for industry (citric acid, food fermentation), agriculture (soil nutrient support), and biotech applications.
  • Strengthens India’s contribution to taxonomy, ecology, and biotechnology research.

 

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First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre

Source:  DD News

Context: Union Education Minister of India inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus during his UAE visit.

About First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre:

• What it is?

• • A premier innovation hub established outside India under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

• Launched in: September 2025, at IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus.
• Objective:

• • To promote innovation, research, and entrepreneurship among students and young professionals.
  • To strengthen India–UAE collaboration in education, sustainability, and technology-driven solutions.

• Functions:

• • Incubate start-ups and mentor innovators.
  • Provide infrastructure and labs for cutting-edge research.
  • Encourage joint student exchange, teacher training, and skill-building programs.
  • Act as a bridge for global knowledge-sharing and innovation networks.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):

• What it is?

• • A flagship initiative of the Government of India to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Organisation: Implemented by NITI Aayog.
• Launched in:
• Aim: To develop an innovation-driven ecosystem in schools, universities, and industries.
• Key Features:

• • Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs):
    • Labs set up in schools for students (Class 6–12) to learn robotics, IoT, 3D printing, and electronics.
    • Over 10,000 labs established across India.
  • Atal Incubation Centres (AICs):
    • Business incubators at universities and corporates.
    • Support start-ups with mentoring, funding, networking, and infrastructure.
    • 72 AICs functional, supporting 3500+ start-ups and generating 32,000+ jobs.
  • Entrepreneurial Ecosystem:
    • Focus on diverse sectors like HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, EdTech, Food Processing, Drone & Space Tech, AR/VR.
    • Over 1000 women-led start-ups supported.

 

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ISRO Signed 100^th Technology Transfer with HAL for SSLV Production

Source:  DD News

Context: ISRO signed its 100th technology transfer agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to enable independent production of Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).

About ISRO Signed 100th Technology Transfer with HAL for SSLV Production:

About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV):

• What it is?

• • A 3-stage, cost-effective launch vehicle designed for deploying small satellites.
  • Configured with three solid propulsion stages and a liquid-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as the terminal stage.

• Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Objective:

• • To meet the growing demand in the global small satellite market.
  • To provide low-cost, quick turnaround, and launch-on-demand capability with minimal infrastructure.

• Specifications of SSLV:

• • Size: About 2 meters wide and 34 meters tall – roughly the height of an 11-storey building.
  • Weight: Around 120 tonnes at liftoff.
  • Payload Capacity: Can carry up to 500 kg of satellites into a 500 km orbit – suitable for small satellites.

• Engines & Propulsion:

• • First Stage: Solid fuel engine.
  • Second Stage: Solid fuel.
  • Third Stage: Solid fuel.
  • Final Adjustment (VTM): Small liquid-fuel engines (MMH + MON-3), 16 tiny thrusters (50 N each) for precise orbit placement.

• What it Can Do?

• • Launch single or multiple satellites at once.
  • Specially designed for nanosatellites, microsatellites, and minisatellites (weighing 10–500 kg).
  • Provides flexible, quick, and low-cost launch options for both domestic and international customers.

• Significance of Agreement with HAL:

• • Boosts Atmanirbharta – HAL gains capability to manufacture SSLVs independently.
  • Industrial Ecosystem – Expands India’s private sector role in space tech.
  • Commercial Competitiveness – Positions India in the global small-satellite launch market.
  • Technology Transfer Milestone – Marks ISRO’s 100th technology transfer achievement.

 

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Geotagging of Buildings in Census

Source:  IE

Context: The 2027 Census of India will introduce geotagging of all buildings for the first time during Houselisting Operations.

About Geotagging of Buildings in Census:

• What it is?

• • Geotagging is the process of assigning latitude–longitude coordinates to each building and mapping it on a Geographic Information System (GIS).
  • It provides a precise digital identity to every structure in India.

• Launched in: To be carried out as part of Houselisting Operations (HLO), 2026, the first phase of Census 2027.
• Objective:

• • To ensure accurate counting of buildings and households.
  • To improve workload management for enumerators and remove discrepancies of manual sketch maps.

• How it works?

• • Enumerators will visit assigned Houselisting Blocks (HLBs).
  • They will use smartphones and Census mobile app with location enabled.
  • Each building will be digitally marked and classified (residential, non-residential, mixed use, landmark).
  • Data on Census Houses and Households will be recorded simultaneously.

• Key Features:

• • Digital Layout Mapping (DLM) replaces hand-drawn sketches used in earlier Censuses.
  • Enumerators will use their own smartphones (unlike SECC 2011 where tablets were provided).
  • Geotagging to be integrated with other Census datasets (population, socio-economic, cultural).

• Significance:

• • Accuracy – Reduces duplication and omission of houses.
  • Efficiency – Helps in fair distribution of workload across 34 lakh+ enumerators.
  • Policy Use – Enables better targeting of welfare schemes (housing, urban planning, rural development).
  • Transparency – Provides verifiable geospatial data for governance.

 

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Decentralised Finance (DeFi)

Source:  DH

Context: The DeFi boom has raised national security concerns, with experts warning of its misuse for terror financing and money laundering.

About Decentralised Finance (DeFi):

• What it is?
  • A blockchain-based financial system that allows people to save, borrow, invest, and transact without traditional banks.
  • Works through smart contracts, decentralised apps (DApps), and peer-to-peer networks.
• Origin:
  • Rooted in the Bitcoin philosophy (2009) of decentralisation and transparency.
  • Expanded with Ethereum blockchain (2015) and the creation of DAOs (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations).
• Aim:
  • To democratise financial access by removing intermediaries.
  • Provide inclusive, low-cost, borderless financial services accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
• How it Works?
  • Users create a crypto wallet (no KYC required).
  • Transactions happen through smart contracts stored on blockchain.
  • Services include decentralised exchanges (DEXs), lending, payments, derivatives, insurance, and creation of stablecoins.
  • Governance managed by token holders in DAOs, not central authorities.
• Features:
  • Disintermediation: Direct peer-to-peer transactions without banks.
  • Transparency: All transactions recorded on a public ledger.
  • Anonymity: No need for identity verification.
  • Interoperability: Works across multiple blockchain applications.
  • Low-cost & fast: Avoids interbank or international fees.
• Significance:
  • Financial Inclusion – Provides banking access to unbanked populations globally.
  • Innovation Driver – Creates new fintech products like stablecoins, decentralised insurance, and tokenised assets.
  • Economic Risks – Vulnerable to hacking, fraud, terror financing, and money laundering due to anonymity.

 

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Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline

Source:  TH

Context: Russia’s Gazprom signed a deal with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to build the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

About Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline:

• What it is?

• • A proposed natural gas pipeline project connecting western Siberia (Russia) to China via Mongolia.
  • Expansion of the earlier Power of Siberia 1 pipeline (operational since 2019).

• Nations Involved:

• • Runs through Russia → Mongolia → China, covering ~6,700 km.

• Aim:

• • To replace lost European gas revenue after EU sanctions and Russia’s cutoff following the Ukraine war.
  • To strengthen Russia–China energy cooperation and reduce dependence on Western markets.

• Features:

• • Length: The pipeline will be about 6,700 km long, starting from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula, passing near Lake Baikal, through Mongolia, and finally reaching China.
  • Capacity: It will be able to carry around 50 billion cubic metres of gas every year.
  • Comparison:
    • Earlier, Russia used to send up to 180 billion cubic metres of gas every year to Europe. The first pipeline to China (Power of Siberia 1) carries 38 billion cubic metres per year.
    • Power of Siberia 2 is big, but still much smaller than Europe’s old demand.

 

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 September 2025 Mapping:

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Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal)

Source:   LM

Context: China announced the creation of a national nature reserve on Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) in the South China Sea.

About Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal):

• What it is?

• • A disputed coral atoll in the South China Sea, also called Scarborough Shoal (English), Huangyan Island (China), and Panatag Shoal (Philippines).

• Location: About 220 km west of Luzon (Philippines) and near the Manila Trench.
• History:

• • First appeared on the 1734 Velarde Map of the Philippines, claimed under Spanish rule and later the Treaty of Washington (1900).
  • Named “Scarborough” after the British ship that grounded there in 1748.
  • Subject of the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff between China and the Philippines.
  • In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under UNCLOS invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claims but did not rule on sovereignty.

• Dispute:

• • Claimed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
  • Strategic for fisheries, hydrocarbon resources, and military presence.

About South China Sea:

• Location:

• • A marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bounded by:
    • Northeast: Taiwan Strait, linking to East China Sea.
    • East: Philippines.
    • South: Borneo, Gulf of Thailand, Malay Peninsula.
    • West/North: Asian mainland (China, Vietnam).

• Features:

• • Contains Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and Macclesfield Bank.
  • Vital trade route – ~1/3rd of global shipping passes through.
  • Rich in oil, gas, and fisheries resources.
  • Strategic chokepoints: Luzon Strait, Malacca Strait, Taiwan Strait.

 

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