The article discusses the shift from a unipolar world dominated by the U.S. to a complex global landscape. While the world is structurally multipolar with powers like India, Japan, and Germany, it exhibits bipolar characteristics due to the intense rivalry between the U.S. and China. Russia, though weakened, remains a significant player through its nuclear arsenal and energy resources. The U.S. is recalibrating its global role, moving away from being Europe's security guarantor to focusing on the Indo-Pacific. China is rapidly closing the economic and military gap with the U.S., leading to a prolonged contest for global dominance.
The unipolar moment of the U.S. has passed, replaced by a system where no single power can dictate global outcomes.
China's economy has reached about 66% of the U.S. economy, and it has built the world's largest navy by number of ships.
Russia acts as a 'swing great power' between the U.S. and China, seeking to carve out its own sphere of influence in Eurasia.
Exam Points
The Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, marking the start of the unipolar era.
China's economy is projected to grow faster than the U.S., narrowing the gap between the world's two largest economies.
Russia's annexation of Crimea occurred in 2014, signaling a shift in its foreign policy stance.
India and New Zealand have concluded a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The agreement emphasizes services and labor mobility, areas where India holds a comparative advantage. New Zealand has agreed to eliminate duties on 100% of its tariff lines for Indian exports, while India offers market access on 70% of its tariff lines. This deal is significant as it reflects India's growing confidence as a reliable economic partner and its ability to negotiate high-quality agreements with developed economies while protecting domestic interests like agriculture.
The FTA provides duty-free access for Indian exports in labor-intensive sectors like textiles, apparel, and engineering goods.
New Zealand has committed to investing $20 billion in India over the next 15 years, focusing on infrastructure and technology.
The agreement includes an annex on health and traditional medicine, opening doors for India's pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Exam Points
New Zealand will eliminate duties on 100% of its tariff lines for Indian goods.
India aims to reach a $7 trillion economy goal by 2030.
The FTA includes a commitment from New Zealand to invest $20 billion in India over 15 years.
Cleft lip and palate are significant birth defects in India, with one in 700 children born with these conditions annually. Despite the high volume of surgeries performed by NGOs like Smile Train, a massive backlog remains. The article highlights that cleft care is often misidentified as a cosmetic issue, whereas it severely impacts a child's ability to speak, eat, and breathe. The World Health Organization has recognized craniofacial anomalies in the Global Burden of Disease initiative. Early identification and timely surgical intervention, ideally starting at three months of age, are crucial for effective treatment and social integration.
India sees approximately 36,000 babies born with cleft abnormalities every year, with a current backlog of 17.5 lakh children with unrepaired clefts.
The National Birth Defect Awareness Month was launched in August 2024 to discuss prevention and early identification.
Cleft conditions lead to psychological trauma, bullying, and difficulties in employment and marriage due to social stigma.
Exam Points
One in every 700 children in India is born with a cleft lip or palate deformity.
UNICEF estimates that about 2.5 crore children are born in India annually.
The Lancet Commission estimated a burden of 18.7% untreated Orofacial Clefts (OFC) in India in 2012.
The Indian government announced that India has officially overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, with a GDP valued at $4.18 trillion. Driven by robust private consumption and consistent growth, India is now poised to displace Germany and become the third-largest economy by 2030, with a projected GDP of $7.3 trillion. International agencies like the IMF, World Bank, and S&P have echoed this optimism, projecting growth rates between 6.2% and 6.7% for the coming years. The government attributes this success to strong economic foundations, structural reforms, and controlled inflation.
India's real GDP grew by 8.2% in the second quarter of 2025-26, maintaining its status as the world's fastest-growing major economy.
The U.S. remains the world's largest economy, followed by China in the second spot.
The Asian Development Bank has lifted its 2025 forecast for India to 7.2% due to stronger consumer demand.
Exam Points
India's current GDP is valued at $4.18 trillion.
The projected GDP for India by 2030 is $7.3 trillion.
India's real GDP growth in Q2 of 2025-26 was 8.2%.
Unions representing gig and platform workers in India have announced a nationwide strike to protest against "systemic exclusion" from core labor entitlements and constitutional guarantees. The Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) has submitted a demand charter to the Union Labour Minister, calling for the legal recognition of platform workers as 'workers' under labor laws rather than 'partners'. Key demands include the discontinuation of 10-20 minute delivery mandates to ensure worker safety and immediate government intervention to stop pervasive harassment and discrimination in the food delivery and taxi service sectors.
Gig workers are currently classified as 'partners', which excludes them from benefits like minimum wage, insurance, and social security.
The strike highlights the severe implications for India's growth if the issues of the gig workforce remain unaddressed.
Unions are demanding the removal of strict delivery timelines that compromise the safety of delivery personnel on the road.
Exam Points
The strike was organized by the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU).
The demand charter was submitted to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The Ministry of Defence has signed two major contracts totaling ₹4,666 crore to enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Army and Navy. The first contract, worth ₹2,770 crore, involves the procurement of over 4.25 lakh Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines from Bharat Forge Ltd. and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. The second contract, valued at ₹1,896 crore, is for 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Navy's Kalvari Class submarines, to be integrated by Italy's WASS Submarine Systems. These acquisitions align with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision and aim to modernize the armed forces with high-lethality weapons.
The CQB Carbines are designed for close-combat operations, offering high rates of fire and enhanced lethality in confined spaces.
The procurement of heavyweight torpedoes will significantly strengthen the Indian Navy's underwater warfare capabilities.
These contracts promote the 'Make in India' initiative by involving domestic private sector players like Bharat Forge.
Exam Points
Total value of the signed defence contracts is ₹4,666 crore.
The Navy's Kalvari Class submarines are part of Project-75.
The contract for CQB Carbines involves the procurement of 4.25 lakh units.
This analysis argues that Tamil Nadu's high absolute debt figures are misleading when viewed without the context of its large economy and high human development. While TN's debt is higher than states like Uttar Pradesh in absolute terms, its debt-to-GSDP ratio is lower and on a downward trend. TN's fiscal deficit remains within the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) framework. The state's borrowing is channeled into productive investments like education, health, and infrastructure, leading to higher per capita income and better service delivery, which justifies its fiscal strategy within a cooperative federalist structure.
Tamil Nadu's debt-to-GSDP ratio is estimated at 26.1% for 2025-26, which is lower than Uttar Pradesh's projected 29.4%.
The state generates 75% of its revenue from its own sources, reducing its dependence on central transfers compared to other states.
TN's per capita GSDP is significantly higher than the national average, reflecting successful industrialization and human capital formation.
Exam Points
Tamil Nadu's fiscal deficit is projected at 3% of GSDP in 2025-26.
TN's per capita GSDP in 2023-24 stood at ₹3.53 lakh.
The state's debt-to-GSDP ratio has declined from 26.6% in 2023-24 to an estimated 26.1% in 2025-26.
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