On July 17th, 2025, India & the world witnessed important developments across various sectors. India is actively shaping its future across multiple fronts, demonstrating resilience in its economy, pushing for green solutions in global shipping, strengthening its defence partnerships, and making strides in agricultural biotechnology. 

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

Global Shipping Decarbonisation & India's Green Fuel Strategy

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Environment)

IN NEWS

• Global shipping is speeding up its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, with goals set for 2040–2050 to align with global net-zero targets.

• India views this as a smart economic and environmental opportunity to become a major hub for producing and supplying green fuels, while also boosting its own shipbuilding and shipping industries.

• Recent government actions include promoting the making of green ammonia and green methanol, and setting up "green fuel ports" like Tuticorin and Kandla.

• Sea transport is vital for world trade, moving over 80% of goods by volume.

What is the Goal?

The main aim is to make global shipping free from carbon by changing from fossil fuels to low-carbon and zero-carbon "green fuels" by 2040–2050. This aligns with:

• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by 2050.
• Global climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
• The 13th UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – Climate Action.

Currently, the shipping sector releases about one billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, which is about 2.8% of all global emissions. If nothing changes, these emissions could go up by 50% to 250% by 2050.

Read the article on the National Policy on Biofuels!

Why is it Difficult to Implement?

Making this green shift is challenging due to several reasons:

• High Cost of Green Fuels: Green fuels like e-methanol are much more expensive (around $1,950 per tonne) compared to traditional fuels (like VLSFO at about $560 per tonne).
• Limited Supply: There isn't enough renewable electricity and carbon capture infrastructure to produce green fuels on a large scale.
• New Technology: Engines that run on green fuels (especially ammonia) are still being tested and are not widely available.
• Slow Adoption: The shipping industry is generally slow to adopt new technologies.
• High Investment for Upgrades: Changing existing ships and port facilities to use green fuels requires a lot of money.

Why is the Government Encouraging Green Ammonia Production in India?

India is promoting green ammonia production for several strategic reasons:

• Dual Use: Green ammonia can be used to make fertilizers (reducing reliance on imported LNG) and also as fuel for ships.
• Solar Potential: India has a huge amount of solar energy, which can power the production of green hydrogen and ammonia.
• Global Supplier Ambition: India aims to become a leading global supplier of green ammonia, taking advantage of lower production costs.
• Self-Reliance and Energy Security: This supports India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) goal and helps secure its energy future.

India’s Green Fuel Strategy

India's strategy to become a green fuel hub includes:

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes: To encourage the manufacturing of electrolysers (used to make green hydrogen) and green methanol.
• Carbon Capture Incentives: To promote methanol production using captured CO2.
• Sovereign Guarantees: To reduce risks for investors and lower the cost of setting up new projects.
• Local Manufacturing: Encouraging the production of electrolysers within India to reduce dependence on imports.
• Shipbuilding Incentives: Providing benefits for building ships, especially those flying the Indian flag and made in India.

Conventions & Treaties Related to the Shipping Industry

Services Exports Reducing India’s Trade Deficit

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Economy)

IN NEWS

• India’s overall trade deficit (when imports are more than exports) went down by 9.4% to $20.3 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year 2025–26.

• This improvement was mostly due to an impressive 11% increase in services exports.

• The Commerce Secretary stated that India is likely to export more than the record $825 billion achieved in the financial year 2024–25.

• Maritime transport is the backbone of global trade, moving over 80% of goods traded worldwide by volume.

What is a Trade Deficit?

A trade deficit happens when a country buys more goods and services from other countries (imports) than it sells to them (exports) over a certain period.

A negative trade balance can affect a country's foreign currency reserves, the value of its currency, and its overall current account balance.

Key Data Points (Q1 FY 2025–26)

• Overall Trade:
  • Total Exports (Goods + Services): $210.3 billion (up 6% from $198.5 billion in Q1 FY 2024–25).
  • Total Imports: $230.6 billion (up 4.4%).
• Trade Deficit:
  • $20.3 billion in Q1 FY 2025–26.
  • This is a 9.4% reduction from the same period last year.
• Services Exports:
  • $98.1 billion, an 11% increase from $88.5 billion in Q1 last year.
  • This was the main reason for the reduction in the trade deficit.
• Merchandise Exports (Goods):
  • $112.2 billion, up 2%.
  • Non-petroleum exports grew by 6%.
  • Petroleum exports decreased due to falling global oil prices.

Top Export Sectors

• Electronics: $12.4 billion (up 47.1%)
• Marine products: $1.9 billion (up 19%)
• Tobacco: up 19%
• Tea: up 16%

Top Export Destinations

• USA: $25.5 billion (up 22.1%)
• UAE: $9.04 billion
• Netherlands: $5.65 billion
• China: $4.4 billion
• UK: $3.3 billion

Top Import Sources

• China: $29.7 billion (up 16%)
• UAE: $16.8 billion
• Russia: $16.77 billion
• USA: $12.86 billion
• Iraq: $7.26 billion

Key Inferences

• India shows a positive trade trend in both goods and services, even with global economic uncertainties.
• The services sector, especially IT, business, and financial services, is the main driver of growth.
• Exports are becoming more diverse, with good growth in electronics and marine products.
• China remains India’s largest source of imports, which raises concerns about dependence.
• The trade data shows India’s strength in global trade and supports the government’s goal of reaching $2 trillion in exports by 2030.

Patriot Air Defence System

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Security)

IN NEWS

• Germany is considering paying for US-made Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, as announced before the German Defence Minister's visit to Washington in July 2025.

• US President Donald Trump confirmed that more Patriot systems would be sent to Ukraine, with the European Union likely to cover the cost.

Key Features

• System Components:
  • Radar Set (AN/MPQ-65)
  • Engagement Control Station (where operators manage the system)
  • Power Generation Unit
  • Launcher Stations (where missiles are fired from)
  • Interceptor Missiles
• Radar Range: Can detect targets over 150 km away.
• Mobility: Very mobile; can be quickly moved using trailers.
• Missile Speed: Supersonic (faster than the speed of sound).
• Successful Interception of Hypersonic Weapons: It was confirmed to have successfully shot down a Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missile in May 2023.

List of Similar Missile Defence Systems

Field Trial for GM Maize

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Science & Technology)

IN NEWS

• The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is preparing to start limited field trials for two types of Genetically Modified (GM) maize:

• Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) maize.

• Insect-Resistant (IR) maize.

• These trials have been approved by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

• The trials will check:

• How well the HT maize controls weeds when using glyphosate-K salt.

• How well the IR maize resists certain insect pests (lepidopteran pests).

Benefits of GM Crops

GM crops offer several potential advantages:

• Higher Crop Yield: They can produce more crops from the same area of land.
• Pest Resistance: They can naturally fight off pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides (e.g., Bt Cotton).
• Herbicide Tolerance: They can survive certain weed-killing chemicals, allowing farmers to remove weeds without harming the crop.
• Drought and Stress Tolerance: They can better cope with difficult weather conditions like drought.
• Reduced Cost of Cultivation: They can lower the costs for farmers by needing fewer inputs like fertilizers or pesticides.
• Improved Food Security: They can help meet the increasing demand for food with limited farming land.

GM Crops Approved in India for Commercial Use

• Bt Cotton: This is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India since 2002. It contains a gene from a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that helps it resist the bollworm pest.
• Note: GM Mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11) has received approval from GEAC and the Central government. However, its use has faced legal challenges, leading to a split decision from the Supreme Court in July 2024, so its full commercial release is still pending.

Different GM Crops and Genes Involved