India’s Trade Strategy in a Multipolar World

Why in News?

India’s recent global trade strategy aims to boost exports and strengthen its position as a leading global trade partner; this has resulted in ambitious free trade agreements and a stronger presence in key international economic forums.

What is the India’s current status in global trade?

• Trade Growth – India is emerging as a key player in global trade, with total exports (merchandise and services) reaching a record USD 825.3 billion in FY25 which recorded a 6.05% annual increase in total exports.
• Its global share of merchandise exports nearly doubled to 1.8% and services to 4.3% between 2005 and 2024.
• India is diversifying partnerships and, as of early 2026, has secured preferential access to two-thirds of global trade through FTAs.

• Updated FTP goal – In 2023, India updated its Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) with the goal of increasing exports to $2 trillion by 2030, reinforcing a framework of strategic autonomy that supports sovereign decision-making while engaging major global powers.

• Diversification – India ranked third in the Global South for trade partner diversification (UNCTAD 2025).
• Export Composition – While petroleum, electronics, and pharmaceuticals are key drivers, India is now a top-three global exporter in certain agrochemical sectors.
• Major Partners –
  • Top export destinations includes U.S., UAE, Netherlands, United Kingdom, etc.,
  • Importing countries includes China (largest source of imports), Russia, UAE, USA, etc.

What transformations have occurred in India’s trade approach?

• Cautious approach – For many years, India adopted a cautious approach to free trade agreements (FTA), engaging primarily with economies that were similar in structure and stages of development.
• Proactive trade strategy – In recent years, however, New Delhi has shifted to a more proactive trade strategy, pursuing intensive negotiations and concluding comprehensive FTAs with major developed economies that were previously beyond reach.
• Expanding FTA Coverage – According to recent estimates, India’s network of FTAs is projected to cover nearly 71% of its total export basket by 2026 — an extraordinary increase from approximately 22% in 2019.
• Integration to advanced markets – This rapid expansion reflects a decisive shift away from primarily regional trade arrangements toward deeper integration with advanced economies such as Australia, the EU, UAE, UK, and the US.
• This reflects India’s broader strategic ambition to integrate into global value chains and high-value markets.
• India–EU Free Trade Agreement – A major development in India’s trade diplomacy is the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, signed on January 27, 2026 after nearly two decades of negotiations.
• It creates a vast free trade zone covering nearly two billion people.
• Benefits of the EU Deal
  • Reduces or eliminates tariffs on over 90% of traded goods.
  • Helps Indian exporters in textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and marine products.
  • Enhances India’s competitiveness against rivals like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
  • Removes tariffs on many pharmaceutical exports, strengthens regulatory cooperation, and
  • Lowers production costs by easing access to advanced European machinery and inputs.
  • Foster digital trade, boost investor confidence, and strengthen long-term economic resilience.
• Significance – Widely regarded as the “mother of all deals”, the agreement represents a transformative boost to India’s export ecosystem and marks a decisive shift in India’s broader global trade strategy.

What about India’s deal with the U.S.?

• India–U.S. Interim Trade agreement – Early in February 2026, India and the U.S. signed a framework for an interim agreement on reciprocal trade, restating their commitment to advancing negotiations on a broader U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
• Strategic Collaboration – This agreement prioritises strategic collaboration in critical sectors such as rare earths and semiconductors.
• This partnership supports India’s ambitions in high-technology manufacturing, strengthens its electronics export capacity, and positions India as a reliable global hub for semiconductor-related production.
• Diversification & Flexibility – By diversifying export destinations and reducing overdependence on specific markets, the pact enhances India’s strategic and economic flexibility.

What are the key dimensions of India’s trade shift?

• Preferential Access to Advanced Economies – Deeper engagement with advanced economies like the EU and U.S. provides India with access to high-demand markets, expected to significantly boost exports in labour-intensive sectors and integrating MSMEs into global value chains.
• Integration into Global Supply Chains – FTAs reduce barriers for both exports and imports of intermediate goods, enabling Indian firms to participate more effectively in global supply chains.
• This is especially beneficial for technology, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and services, all of which depend heavily on seamless cross-border movement of inputs and components.
• Diplomatic Leverage – Trade agreements serve as strategic instruments for enhancing India’s diplomatic influence.
• By establishing deeper economic interdependence with major powers, India strengthens its role in global economic governance and positions itself as a more influential voice in shaping trade norms and standards.
• From Regionalism to Calibrated Global Integration – After opting out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), India adopted a calibrated approach:
• Boosting domestic manufacturing through production-linked incentives (PLIs). and
• Infrastructure expansion while deepening global integration.

What lies ahead?

• India’s evolving global trade strategy is central to its ambition of becoming an economic superpower and achieving Viksit Bharat.
• Trade agreements with Australia, the EU, the UAE, and the U.K. aim to expand market access, attract investment, and diversify exports.
• The agreements are across continents that reinforces India’s strategic attempt to diversify and not become overly dependent on any single geography.
• By strengthening supply chains, promoting digital and services trade, and integrating into global value chains, India seeks to scale high-value exports and position itself as a leading force in global commerce.

Reference

The Hindu | India’s trade strategy in a multipolar world

The Evolving Nature of Trade Agreements

Why in News?

In recent years, the nature of international trade agreements has undergone significant transformations, particularly with the advent of new categories such as U.S. "Agreements on Reciprocal Trade" (ARTs).

What are the recent issues?

• Trade deals of U.S – Under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, the United States signed a series of trade deals with countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Argentina, and Bangladesh.
• Aggressive policies – These deals, signed under the shadow of aggressive tariff policies, have raised questions regarding their legality, effectiveness, and implications for the global trade order.
• Concerns raised – The signing of these agreements has led to a broader debate about the evolving nature of trade deals in the context of multilateralism, preferential trade arrangements, and the unilateral practices of powerful economies like the U.S.

What was the role of Multilateralism?

• Multilateralism – The foundation of international trade agreements is built on multilateralism, most notably through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Multilateralism is the practice of three or more nations working together to solve common problems, set global standards, and achieve shared goals, rather than acting alone (unilateralism) or in pairs (bilateralism).

• Significance – These institutions have promoted a system of non-discriminatory trade, with the WTO’s most-favoured-nation (MFN) principle acting as a cornerstone of the global trading system.
• The MFN principle mandates that if a country offers preferential trade terms to one nation, it must extend the same treatment to all WTO members.
• Role of U.S – The U.S. played a pivotal role in establishing multilateral trade norms, especially after the protectionist policies of the interwar years.
• Role of WTO – The formation of the WTO in 1995 further institutionalized this multilateral approach, expanding the scope of international trade beyond goods to services and intellectual property.
• Moreover, the WTO introduced a robust dispute settlement mechanism, giving developing countries a platform to challenge unfair trade practices.
• Despite critiques of the WTO as an instrument of global imperialism, its one-country-one-vote system offers developing nations a chance to negotiate and advocate for their interests.

What are the Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)?

• PTAs – While the WTO provides a multilateral framework for trade, it also permits members to establish preferential trade agreements (PTAs), which are exceptions to the MFN rule.
• Components – These agreements, include Free Trade Areas (FTAs) and Customs Unions (CUs), which allow countries to enter into trade arrangements that may grant certain advantages, such as lower tariffs, without extending these benefits to all WTO members.
• FTAs and CUs must adhere to stringent conditions, such as covering "substantially all trade" between member countries and, in the case of CUs, having a common external trade policy for non-members.
• Growth of PTAs – Although PTAs were relatively rare before the 1980s, their number has proliferated in recent decades, with large regional agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) emerging as major global trade pacts.
• Many FTAs go beyond the WTO’s agenda, addressing issues such as labor rights, environmental standards, and foreign investment protections.
• Criticism – However, these deals are often criticized for imposing additional burdens on developing countries, particularly in areas like regulatory compliance and intellectual property.

What are Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs)?

• ARTs – The U.S. administration under Donald Trump introduced a new category of trade deals known as Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs), which depart from traditional FTAs and the WTO framework.
• These ARTs are not based on Article XXIV of the GATT, which governs FTAs and CUs, and are therefore legally questionable.
• Putting America First – ARTs are framed within the "America First" trade policy, reflecting a more unilateral approach to global trade that prioritizes U.S. economic interests.
• A key characteristic of ARTs is that they allow the U.S. to impose tariffs that are inconsistent with its WTO obligations.
• In return, the U.S. requires its trade partners to eliminate or reduce tariffs on U.S. goods.
• Favoring US – Furthermore, these agreements contain provisions that often favor U.S. interests at the expense of the partner nation.
  • For example, the U.S.-Bangladesh ART mandates that Bangladesh adopt restrictive actions in support of the U.S. in the event of a trade measure for national security purposes.
• Data challenges – Another significant aspect of ARTs is the erosion of data sovereignty for U.S. treaty partners.
  • For instance, the U.S.-El Salvador ART prohibits El Salvador from imposing customs duties on electronic transactions, which directly impacts the country's domestic regulatory autonomy.

What are the legal and geopolitical implications of arts?

• Legal implications – The legality of ARTs is a major point of concern for international trade experts.
• Unlike FTAs, which are notified to the WTO for scrutiny, ARTs bypass this mechanism entirely.
• This lack of transparency makes it difficult for other countries and trade bodies to assess and challenge the provisions within these agreements.
• Furthermore, ARTs reflect a broader trend of trade protectionism and economic nationalism, with the U.S. leveraging its position as a global economic power to impose one-sided terms.
• Geopolitical Challenges – ARTs can be seen as a tool of economic coercion, where the U.S. attempts to reshape the global trade order to its advantage.
• These agreements could set a dangerous precedent for other powerful nations to adopt similar unilateral measures, undermining the multilateral framework that has been the bedrock of international trade since World War II.

What is analysis of India-U.S. Trade Agreement?

• Raising questions – As India prepares to finalize its own trade agreement with the United States, questions arise regarding how this deal will compare to India’s existing agreements with other countries, including the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (U.K.).
• Complications – While the India-U.S. deal is likely to include elements of mutual interest, such as market access and intellectual property protections, the presence of ART-like provisions could complicate negotiations.
• The contrasting agreements – In Contrast to The India-U.S. agreement, India's trade agreements with the EU and the U.K. are more likely to adhere to traditional frameworks of multilateralism and non-discrimination, in line with the WTO’s principles.
• These agreements typically aim for mutual benefits without heavily skewed terms that favor one party.
• Moreover, these agreements may not incorporate controversial provisions like those found in ARTs, such as restrictions on data sovereignty and extraterritorial trade measures.

What lies ahead?

• The evolving landscape of international trade agreements, particularly with the rise of ARTs, signals a shift away from the multilateral norms that have governed global trade for decades.
• The unilateral and imperialistic nature of these agreements threatens to undermine the principles of fairness, transparency, and mutual benefit that are central to multilateral trade frameworks like the WTO.
• Countries, especially developing economies, must remain vigilant and assertive in their negotiations to ensure that trade agreements do not disproportionately favor powerful nations.
• The future of global trade hinges on a return to multilateralism, where cooperation and dialogue supersede unilateral impositions.
• The India-U.S. trade agreement, once finalized, will be a crucial test of how trade relations between major powers can evolve while maintaining the integrity of global trade norms.

Reference

The Hindu| The Evolving Nature of Trade Agreements

The Evolving Nature of Trade Agreements

Why in News?

In recent years, the nature of international trade agreements has undergone significant transformations, particularly with the advent of new categories such as U.S. "Agreements on Reciprocal Trade" (ARTs).

What are the recent issues?

• Trade deals of U.S – Under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, the United States signed a series of trade deals with countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Argentina, and Bangladesh.
• Aggressive policies – These deals, signed under the shadow of aggressive tariff policies, have raised questions regarding their legality, effectiveness, and implications for the global trade order.
• Concerns raised – The signing of these agreements has led to a broader debate about the evolving nature of trade deals in the context of multilateralism, preferential trade arrangements, and the unilateral practices of powerful economies like the U.S.

What was the role of Multilateralism?

• Multilateralism – The foundation of international trade agreements is built on multilateralism, most notably through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Multilateralism is the practice of three or more nations working together to solve common problems, set global standards, and achieve shared goals, rather than acting alone (unilateralism) or in pairs (bilateralism).

• Significance – These institutions have promoted a system of non-discriminatory trade, with the WTO’s most-favoured-nation (MFN) principle acting as a cornerstone of the global trading system.
• The MFN principle mandates that if a country offers preferential trade terms to one nation, it must extend the same treatment to all WTO members.
• Role of U.S – The U.S. played a pivotal role in establishing multilateral trade norms, especially after the protectionist policies of the interwar years.
• Role of WTO – The formation of the WTO in 1995 further institutionalized this multilateral approach, expanding the scope of international trade beyond goods to services and intellectual property.
• Moreover, the WTO introduced a robust dispute settlement mechanism, giving developing countries a platform to challenge unfair trade practices.
• Despite critiques of the WTO as an instrument of global imperialism, its one-country-one-vote system offers developing nations a chance to negotiate and advocate for their interests.

What are the Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)?

• PTAs – While the WTO provides a multilateral framework for trade, it also permits members to establish preferential trade agreements (PTAs), which are exceptions to the MFN rule.
• Components – These agreements, include Free Trade Areas (FTAs) and Customs Unions (CUs), which allow countries to enter into trade arrangements that may grant certain advantages, such as lower tariffs, without extending these benefits to all WTO members.
• FTAs and CUs must adhere to stringent conditions, such as covering "substantially all trade" between member countries and, in the case of CUs, having a common external trade policy for non-members.
• Growth of PTAs – Although PTAs were relatively rare before the 1980s, their number has proliferated in recent decades, with large regional agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) emerging as major global trade pacts.
• Many FTAs go beyond the WTO’s agenda, addressing issues such as labor rights, environmental standards, and foreign investment protections.
• Criticism – However, these deals are often criticized for imposing additional burdens on developing countries, particularly in areas like regulatory compliance and intellectual property.

What are Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs)?

• ARTs – The U.S. administration under Donald Trump introduced a new category of trade deals known as Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs), which depart from traditional FTAs and the WTO framework.
• These ARTs are not based on Article XXIV of the GATT, which governs FTAs and CUs, and are therefore legally questionable.
• Putting America First – ARTs are framed within the "America First" trade policy, reflecting a more unilateral approach to global trade that prioritizes U.S. economic interests.
• A key characteristic of ARTs is that they allow the U.S. to impose tariffs that are inconsistent with its WTO obligations.
• In return, the U.S. requires its trade partners to eliminate or reduce tariffs on U.S. goods.
• Favoring US – Furthermore, these agreements contain provisions that often favor U.S. interests at the expense of the partner nation.
  • For example, the U.S.-Bangladesh ART mandates that Bangladesh adopt restrictive actions in support of the U.S. in the event of a trade measure for national security purposes.
• Data challenges – Another significant aspect of ARTs is the erosion of data sovereignty for U.S. treaty partners.
  • For instance, the U.S.-El Salvador ART prohibits El Salvador from imposing customs duties on electronic transactions, which directly impacts the country's domestic regulatory autonomy.

What are the legal and geopolitical implications of arts?

• Legal implications – The legality of ARTs is a major point of concern for international trade experts.
• Unlike FTAs, which are notified to the WTO for scrutiny, ARTs bypass this mechanism entirely.
• This lack of transparency makes it difficult for other countries and trade bodies to assess and challenge the provisions within these agreements.
• Furthermore, ARTs reflect a broader trend of trade protectionism and economic nationalism, with the U.S. leveraging its position as a global economic power to impose one-sided terms.
• Geopolitical Challenges – ARTs can be seen as a tool of economic coercion, where the U.S. attempts to reshape the global trade order to its advantage.
• These agreements could set a dangerous precedent for other powerful nations to adopt similar unilateral measures, undermining the multilateral framework that has been the bedrock of international trade since World War II.

What is analysis of India-U.S. Trade Agreement?

• Raising questions – As India prepares to finalize its own trade agreement with the United States, questions arise regarding how this deal will compare to India’s existing agreements with other countries, including the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (U.K.).
• Complications – While the India-U.S. deal is likely to include elements of mutual interest, such as market access and intellectual property protections, the presence of ART-like provisions could complicate negotiations.
• The contrasting agreements – In Contrast to The India-U.S. agreement, India's trade agreements with the EU and the U.K. are more likely to adhere to traditional frameworks of multilateralism and non-discrimination, in line with the WTO’s principles.
• These agreements typically aim for mutual benefits without heavily skewed terms that favor one party.
• Moreover, these agreements may not incorporate controversial provisions like those found in ARTs, such as restrictions on data sovereignty and extraterritorial trade measures.

What lies ahead?

• The evolving landscape of international trade agreements, particularly with the rise of ARTs, signals a shift away from the multilateral norms that have governed global trade for decades.
• The unilateral and imperialistic nature of these agreements threatens to undermine the principles of fairness, transparency, and mutual benefit that are central to multilateral trade frameworks like the WTO.
• Countries, especially developing economies, must remain vigilant and assertive in their negotiations to ensure that trade agreements do not disproportionately favor powerful nations.
• The future of global trade hinges on a return to multilateralism, where cooperation and dialogue supersede unilateral impositions.
• The India-U.S. trade agreement, once finalized, will be a crucial test of how trade relations between major powers can evolve while maintaining the integrity of global trade norms.

Reference

The Hindu| The Evolving Nature of Trade Agreements

Nationwide HPV Vaccination

Why in News?

The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program targeting adolescent girls.

• Gardasil Vaccine – A non-live quadrivalent HPV vaccine introduced in 2006.
• Global safety proven – Over 500 million doses given and 93–100% effective in preventing cervical cancer.
  • Substantial reductions in HPV infection, pre-cancerous lesions, and cervical cancer were noted.
• Protection – Against HPV types 6 and 11, 16 and 18
• Dosage – A single dose for robust and durable protection in the recommended age group.

Globally, over 90 countries are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination.

• Target – Adolescent girls aged 14 years, where the vaccine offers maximum preventive benefit, well before potential exposure to the virus.
• Access – Made available with India’s partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 
  • In India – It is given Voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups.
• Availability – Designated government health facilities, including the
  • Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres),
  • Community Health Centres,
  • Sub-District and District Hospitals, and
  • Government Medical Colleges.
• Support – Expert medical teams and 24/7 hospital backup ensure every vaccination is safe, and post vaccination support is also given.

Cervical Cancer in India

• It is a cancer that develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.
• Caused by – Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18.
• Disease Burden – India currently faces a high burden, accounting for 20% of global cases and 25% of global deaths, largely due to late diagnosis.
• Cervical cancer is the 2^nd most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually.
• In which HPV types 16 and 18 together account for more than 80%.
• Screening & Testing – WHO Goal – Screen 70% of women by 2030 and transition to just two HPV tests per lifetime (at ages 35 and 45) to reduce screening burden.
• WHO Target – Vaccinate 90% of girls by age 15 to reduce cervical cancer to less than 4 cases per 1,00,000 women by 2030.
• India’s Initiative – India has developed indigenous HPV test kits developed by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology's (DBT) partnership programme, Grand Challenges India (GCI).

Reference

TH | Nationwide HPV Vaccination

C. Rajagopalachari

Why in News?

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the bust of Edwin Lutyens.

• Born in – 10 December 1878, Thorapalli village, Salem district (present-day Krishnagiri), Madras Province.
• Parents – Chakravarti Iyengar (also known as Venkata Arya), Munsif of Hosur Taluka.
• Early Activism – Influence of Tilak – Inspired by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s call for complete freedom, and later joined the Indian National Congress and began active political engagement.
• Salem Municipality (1917) – Nominated Chairman; used office to serve the poor and downtrodden.
• Public Service – Transitioned from a successful legal career to full-time public life.
• Ideology – Ardent Gandhian who combined nationalism with social and economic reform.
• Advocated abolition of Zamindari, promotion of Khadi and village industries, and prohibition.
• Later opposed excessive state control and founded the Swatantra Party in 1959, supporting a market economy and limited government intervention.
• Freedom Struggle – Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) – Gave up lucrative legal practice and adopted Gandhi’s call to promote Khadi and asked his sons to leave college for national work.
• Khilafat Support – Mobilised people in Madras Presidency by aligning with the Khilafat cause to strengthen mass participation.
• Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) – Led a march from Tiruchi to Vedaranyam and broke the Salt Law.
• Independent Stand on Quit India (1942) – Maintained an independent political position based on personal convictions.
• Social Reform – Inducted a Dalit into the Cabinet in 1937 and worked towards the removal of caste-based disabilities.
• Established an Ashram in 1925 promoting rural reconstruction, adult education, sanitation, cottage industries, and anti-liquor campaigns.
• Key Titles & Posts – Governor of West Bengal (1947).
• Only Indian Governor-General of India (1948–1950).
• Union Home Minister (1950–51).
• Chief Minister of Madras (1952).
• First recipient of Bharat Ratna (1954).

References

1. IE | C. Rajagopalachari
2. INDIAN CULTURE | C. Rajagopalachari
3. SANSAD | C. Rajagopalachari

Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) Technologies

Why in News?

Recently, CCU Technologies has been in focus amid India’s efforts to scale up low-carbon technologies to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors.

• CCU Technologies – Technologies that capture CO₂ emissions from industrial sources or directly from the air and convert them into useful products, unlike in CCS.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is where CO₂ is Captured permanently stored underground rather than reused.

• Aim – To utilise the captured CO₂ in the economy as inputs for fuels, chemicals, building materials, or polymers.
• Framework – CCU follows the 3 Rs of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE)
• Remove – First step aims to remove the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere through innovative ‘point-of-source’ carbon capture technologies.
• Reuse – Using captured CO₂ directly without chemically altering the carbon molecules.
• Example – CO₂ for industrial processes like the carbonation of drinks.
• Recycle – Captured CO₂ is converted into value-added products or alternative energy sources through chemical processes.
• Example – Production of synthetic fuels, chemicals and materials from CO2.
  • For instance, CO2 combined with hydrogen creates synthetic hydrocarbons for use in transportation or feedstock for the chemical industry.
• Needs – India has consistently ranked as the world’s third-largest emitter of CO₂.
• Source of CO₂ – Mainly from Iron, steel, cement, fertilisers, and refineries. They are highly carbon-intensive and hard to decarbonize or hard-to-abate Sectors.
  • CCU offers a sustainable solution to this issue while simultaneously creating new industrial value chains.  
• Net-Zero Target– Aligns with India’s net-zero targets for 2070 and pushes to build a circular, low-carbon economy.

• India's CCU Status – Research Funding – Supporting CCU through research funding from the Department of Science and Technology.
• Union Budget 2026 – Provides a total outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore (over 5 years) for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).
  • Initial Allocation – Rs. 500 crores to the Ministry of Power for R&D.
• Policy Roadmap – The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has presented the draft 2030 roadmap for CCUS.
• Private Initiatives – The Adani Group is developing an Indo-Swedish CCU pilot project in collaboration with IIT Bombay to transform captured CO₂ into fuels and materials.
  • Industrial Testbed – JK Cement is working on a CCU for uses like lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
  • Bio-CCU Platform – Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) is leading India’s first pilot Bio-CCU platform, converting CO₂ from biogas into bio-alcohols and chemicals.
• Global Practices – EU – EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan support CCU to transform CO₂ into feedstocks, promoting circularity and sustainability.
• U.S.A – The U.S. employs a mix of tax credits and funding to expand CCUs, especially for fuels and chemicals derived from CO₂.
• UAE – The UAE’s Al Reyadah project and planned CO₂-to-chemicals hubs use CCU with green hydrogen.

References

1. TH | Carbon Capture and Utilisation Technologies
2. WEF | CCU

Smew

Why in News?

Recently, the 7th waterbird census at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded the first-ever sighting of the smew, raising concerns about climate-driven range shifts.

• Scientific Name – Mergellus albellus
• It is commonly known as the Eurasian Diving Duck.
• Family – Anatidae (duck, goose and swan family).
• Habitat – Freshwater wetlands, lakes, slow-moving rivers, floodplain beels.
• It prefers fish-rich, sheltered waters during winter.
• Distribution – Eurasian taiga (northern Europe & Siberia) and a winter migrant to parts of Europe and Asia.
  • In India – A rare winter visitor with sporadic sightings in northern and central wetlands such as Haiderpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Corbett.
• Key Identification – Small, striking diving duck.
  • Male – Distinct black mask on a white body (“white nun” appearance).
  • Female – Mottled grey-brown body with chestnut head and white throat.
• Behaviour & Diet – Usually seen in small flocks.
• Feeds mainly on small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
• Breeding -Breeds in taiga forest regions with tree cavities.
• Conservation Status –
  • IUCN – Least Concern
• Threats – Habitat loss and wetland degradation, climate-driven range shifts, hunting pressure, and oil pollution.

7^th Kaziranga Waterbird Census

• Survey – Spanned 166 wetlands across 10 ranges of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
• Abundant species – The bar-headed goose, northern pintail, and lesser whistling duck.
• Ecological Significance – Reaffirms Kaziranga as a critical wintering ground on the Central Asian Flyway

Ramsar Criterion 5 stipulates that a wetland is considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

• Top Wetlands By Population (Count) –
  • Rowmari Beel (Laokhowa) – 15,661
  • Donduwa Beel – 14,469
  • Katakhal – 4,979
  • Sohola – 3,612
  • Khalihamari – 3,463
• Top Wetlands By Diversity (Species) –
  • Rowmari Beel – 77 species
  • Donduwa Beel – 71 species
  • Sohola – 69 species
  • Kawoimari-Bhoisamari-Diffulo – 57 species
  • Ververy – 53 species

References

1. TH | Smew Sighting in Kaziranga Raises Climate Concern
2. ToI | Smew

Simvastatin & Celiac Disease

Why in News?

A recent study from the University of the Basque Country (EHU) suggests that simvastatin, a drug already approved for use in humans, can reduce inflammation associated with celiac disease.

Key Aspects of the Study

• Researchers found that simvastatin reverses specific RNA modifications triggered by viral infections, which otherwise cause, promote, or exacerbate the inflammatory response in celiac patients.
• Mechanism - The study focused on how viral infections leave a "footprint" on RNA, leading to methylation that drives inflammation.
• Drug Action - Simvastatin was found to modulate these RNA modifications, lowering inflammatory levels in laboratory settings.
• Study Stage - While promising, this research is in the early, pre-clinical phase, with findings based on cell cultures and biopsies.
• Alternative Approaches - Other experimental therapies, such as the transglutaminase 2 inhibitor ZED1227, are also in trials to block gluten-induced intestinal damage.

Celiac disease

• It is an inherited autoimmune disease.
• It causes a reaction in human body to a protein called gluten.
• When humans eat gluten, it triggers an abnormal response from the immune system.
• The immune system attacks the gluten in the digestive system, causing inflammation.
• Inflammation damages the inside of the small intestine.
• This makes it harder for your intestine to absorb nutrients from your food.
• Cause - Autoimmune reaction triggered by gluten
• Leads to inflammation and damage of intestinal villi
• Results in poor nutrient absorption (malabsorption)
• Symptoms - In children - Chronic diarrhea, Abdominal pain, bloating, Weight loss, stunted growth.
• In adults – Fatigue, Anemia (iron deficiency), Bone pain (due to calcium/vitamin D deficiency)
• Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
• Some individuals may be asymptomatic.
• Treatment - Strict lifelong gluten-free diet
• By Avoiding wheat, barley, rye.
• Safe foods are rice, maize, millets, fruits, vegetables.

Reference

News Medical | simvastatin