25 July 2025: The Hindu Editorial
1.India and U.K. Ink Trade Deal, Extend Framework of Ties
Source – Page 1, 12, 15, The Hindu
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS3 – Economy |
| Context |
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Key Points
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Signing: The deal was signed between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and U.K. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
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Vision 2035: The ‘India-U.K. Vision 2035’ replaces the earlier ‘Roadmap 2030’ and sets out the agenda for long-term cooperation.
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Economic Impact:
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India to gain through improved market access for farmers, MSMEs, jewelry, footwear, seafood, and engineering goods.
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Tariff cuts/reductions for Indian exports like agriculture, processed foods, textiles, and engineering.
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U.K. gains easier access for medical devices, aerospace parts, whisky, automobiles, etc.
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Special mention of a Double Contributions Convention to avoid double taxation on social security for employees.
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Significance:
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U.K.’s biggest trade pact post-Brexit.
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India protects sensitive sectors (like dairy, apples) while pushing exports in high-potential areas.
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The deal is expected to boost India’s farm exports by 20% over three years.
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Other Agreements: Enhanced cooperation on climate, technology, defense, regular high-level meetings, support on UN reforms.
Analysis
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Strategic Leverage: The India-U.K. FTA positions India as a key economic partner for the U.K. in the post-EU era, strengthening its hand in future FTAs with other nations/blocks.
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Public Health Concerns: Some critique the easy access for processed/junk foods with high fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) into India; calls for stronger food labeling and advertising policy.
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Diplomatic Positioning: Both nations reiterate mutual support on counter-terrorism, multilateral reforms, and region-specific issues like Indo-Pacific stability.
Conclusion/Way Forward
The CETA is a milestone in India-UK ties but must be complemented with robust regulatory safeguards (e.g., food safety) and close monitoring to maximize the developmental and strategic dividends for India.
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Practice Question: “Critically examine the significance of the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) for India’s economic and strategic interests. What challenges must be addressed to ensure the agreement’s benefits are equitably distributed? |
2. Supreme Court Stays 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Acquittal as Precedent
Source -Page 1, 12, The Hindu
| Topic: GS2 – Polity & Governance, Judiciary |
| Context |
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Key Points
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Apex Court Order: The interim order ensures the judgment acquitting the accused cannot influence other ongoing MCOCA trials.
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Legal Issue: State sought the stay to prevent certain legal findings from affecting other organized crime/terrorism cases.
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Judicial Nuance: The acquitted accused remain free; only the legal principle is stayed, not the acquittal.
Analysis
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Implications for Rule of Law: Demonstrates Supreme Court balancing between individual liberty (no re-incarceration) and ensuring legal consistency in laws dealing with organized crime/terrorism.
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Judicial Instrument: Staying the precedent (but not acquittal) prevents potential misuse or misinterpretation in ongoing sensitive trials under MCOCA.
Way Forward
Ensures MCOCA-related legal precedents are not established without Supreme Court scrutiny, and reaffirms the top court’s power to regulate precedent-setting judgments.
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Practice Question: How does the Supreme Court’s power to stay the precedential value of High Court judgments balance the interests of justice, especially in cases involving national security? Illustrate with recent examples. |
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