Kalam IAS Academy was founded by a team of committed individuals who believe that the traditional way of UPSC preparation needs to be changed.
Current Edge Daily Brief 14th October 2025
Quote of the Day
“Poverty is the deprivation of opportunity.” – AMARTYA SEN
What the Others Say
“The war that has been going on in the Gaza Strip for 20 months already has once again shown how hard it is to end wars or to achieve ‘total victory,’ as Netanyahu has promised. Military pressure alone will produce neither security not victory.” – HAARETZ, ISRAEL
Table of Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
- IE Opinion: The RTI is dead. Long live the RTI (Nikhil Dey, Aruna Roy)
- IE Explained: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2025: How the winners explained economic growth becoming the new normal (Udit Misra)
- IE Explained: The enduring political appeal of swadeshi — and why it is not necessarily good economics (Arjun Sengupta)
- IE Explained: India may witness a colder winter: What is La Niña?
NEWS IN SHORT
- Number of births declines; deaths rise slightly: report
- Retail inflation hits 8-year lowof 1.54% in Sept.
- PM GatiShakti – Offshore Launched to Strengthen Integrated Offshore Planning and Boost India’s Blue Economy
- Arctic seals, birds in new ‘red list’of endangered species: IUCN
The Big Picture
IE Opinion: The RTI is dead. Long live the RTI
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Governance
Why in News?
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023 (yet to be implemented), is seen as undermining the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, by expanding “privacy” exemptions and restricting public access to information.
RTI Milestone & Legacy
- RTI Act → Completed 20 yrs (Oct 12, 2025); Beawar, Rajasthan → 30 yrs of RTI movement ✦ “RTI City”
- Landmark law → Empowered citizens, ↑ transparency, ↓ corruption, redefined citizen–state relation
- Symbolic initiatives → RTI Museum, RTI Mela by MKSS & School for Democracy → preserve public participation ethos
DPDPA’s Threat to RTI
- Section 44(3) → Amends Section 8(1)(j) RTI Act → Blanket ban on “personal information” disclosure
- Deletes key clause → “Info. that cannot be denied to Parliament cannot be denied to a citizen” ✦ ↓ equality principle
- Removes “public interest override” → Decision to disclose → Govt’s discretion only, not citizen’s right
- Outcome → Shielding of officials, ↓ accountability, RTI becomes “empty shell”
Impact on Democracy & Freedom
- Names of public officials → No longer disclosable → Blocks exposure of corruption & maladministration
- Blanket privacy claim → Even for acts in public capacity → ↑ opacity in governance
- DPDPA penalties → ₹250 crore fine for unauthorized disclosure → Chilling effect on journalists, activists
- Broader threat → Curtails free speech, academic inquiry, media investigations
Public & Political Response
- Opposition from → 150+ MPs, 2,500+ journalists, 22 national journalist associations, CSOs, lakhs of citizens
- Govt stance → No meaningful consultation → Democratic deficit
- Civil resistance → Beawar’s movement continues → RTI Museum as “living space” for accountability battles
Core Message
- RTI = “Right to live” (empowerment through knowledge)
- DPDPA = Legal setback, moral challenge to transparency
- Law may be amended, but the movement for truth & accountability persists.
Test Your Knowledge 01
Q. Which of the following best reflects the constitutional foundation of the Right to Information in India?
(a) Article 14 – Equality before Law
(b) Article 19(1)(a) – Freedom of Speech and Expression
(c) Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty
(d) Article 22 – Protection of Rights in Certain Cases
Hint: RTI derives from freedom of speech → citizen’s right to know; reaffirmed in Raj Narain vs State of UP (1975).
Q. Assertion (A): The DPDPA 2023 empowers the state to decide when to disclose “personal information.”
Reason (R): The amended RTI provisions transfer the discretion of public interest disclosure from citizens to the government.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, R is false.
(d) A is false, R is true.
Hint: Under DPDPA, the power to decide disclosure in “public interest” lies with public authorities, not citizens — shifting discretion from people to the state.
IE Explained: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2025: How the winners explained economic growth becoming the new normal
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy
Why in News?
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2025 awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion & Peter Howitt for explaining innovation-driven sustained economic growth.
Essence of Award
- ✦ Mokyr (historical lens) + Aghion & Howitt (mathematical model) → unified explanation of why growth became “normal”.
- ✦ Theme → innovation, knowledge creation, creative destruction → drivers of long-run prosperity.
- ✦ Prize → 11 mn SEK (₹10.25 cr); ½ Mokyr, ½ Aghion & Howitt (shared).
Mokyr’s Contribution → Historical Roots of Growth
- Pre-Industrial stagnation → tech progress ≠ sustained growth.
- Shift (16th–17th c.) → Scientific Revolution + Enlightenment → fusion of “how” (practical know-how) & “why” (scientific explanation).
- Knowledge transformation → from prescriptive → propositional knowledge.
- Examples → steam engine ↔ atmospheric science; steel refining ↔ oxygen-carbon chemistry.
- Social openness → key enabler → acceptance of creative destruction (Schumpeter, 1942).
- Institutions enabling change → British Parliament reforms, defeat of Luddite resistance.
- Core insight → sustained growth = tech progress × societal openness to innovation.
Aghion–Howitt Contribution → Model of Creative Destruction
- Approach → formal macro model (1992) → innovation-led growth via firm-level churn.
- Micro turbulence ↔ Macro stability → constant firm births/deaths (~10% US/yr).
- Innovation cycle → new patents → monopoly profits → incentive for next innovation.
- Dynamic equilibrium → R&D ↔ household savings ↔ financial markets ↔ output → mutually linked.
- Model novelty → general equilibrium framework integrating innovation & growth.
- Empirical reflection → high firm dynamism sustains aggregate GDP growth.
Policy Implications → Growth–Welfare Balance
- R&D subsidies? → may spur innovation but risk rent concentration.
- Social safety nets? → preserve societal openness amid job churn.
- Policy dilemma → subsidise innovation ↑ or protect losers of creative destruction?
- Takeaway → balanced state support → innovation ecosystem + inclusive adaptation.
Broader Significance
- ✦ Connects history → theory → policy.
- ✦ Explains why growth sustained post-1800s unlike earlier millennia.
- ✦ Reframes current debates: tech disruption, inequality, industrial policy, innovation funding.
Test Your Knowledge 02
Q. “Creative destruction,” as used in modern growth theory, most closely aligns with which of the following real-world phenomena?
(a) The 19th-century textile mechanisation displacing manual weavers.
(b) Keynesian fiscal multipliers in depression recovery.
(c) Cross-border labour migration after World War II.
(d) State nationalisation of key industries in post-war Europe.
Hint: Technological innovation displacing older production forms → classical case of creative destruction.
IE Explained: The enduring political appeal of swadeshi — and why it is not necessarily good economics
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy
Why in News?
Govt’s renewed Swadeshi push (e.g. Zoho Mail adoption, digital sovereignty circular) revives debate on its political appeal vs weak economic record.
(from left to right) Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. (Wikimedia Commons, PMO)
Historical Roots of Swadeshi
- Colonial Critique → Economic drain (Naoroji), deindustrialisation (Dutt) → India = raw material supplier + British goods market.
- Moral-Ethical Core → Ranade: patriotic duty > profit; Gandhi: “law of laws” → use local goods despite cost; economics tied to moral virtue.
- Political Expression → Boycott of British goods (Tilak 1896, Bengal 1905); strikes, school & court boycotts → mass mobilisation symbol.
Swadeshi in Economic Thought & Policy
- Pre-Independence Consensus → Indian-owned industrialisation = national uplift (except Gandhi’s village economy ideal).
- Post-Independence Model → Nehruvian mixed economy → import substitution → large public sector dominance.
- Protectionism Outcomes → ↓ competition → ↓ quality, ↑ prices, inefficiency; “license raj” capitalism shielded by policy dogma.
Decline & Liberalisation
- 1980s–1991 → Stagnation + BoP crisis → dismantling of rigid swadeshi protectionism.
- 1991 Reforms → Globalisation phase (↑ trade/GDP ratio); swadeshi ideals recede as liberalisation drives growth.
Re-emergence in 21st Century
- Post-2008 Context → Global slowdown + resentment vs offshoring → revival of economic nationalism.
- Political Revival → RSS/BJP reframe swadeshi via Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, digital sovereignty → pandemic & China tensions reinforce.
- Corporate Cases → Govt promotion: Koo (failed), Zoho (adopted); mixed record reflects risk of policy-driven patronage.
Economic Pitfalls & Future Outlook
- Empirical Weakness → Protectionism ≠ capability building; moral nationalism ≠ competitiveness.
- Expert Critique → Nitin Pai: nationalism → “samarthya” (capability), not rigid self-production; Desai: export pessimism = dogma.
- Balanced Path → Strategic self-reliance + global integration → build tech & industrial capacity without isolationism.
✦ Conclusion →
Swadeshi = enduring political symbol of nationalism & moral purity, but poor economic guide unless redefined toward capability-based self-reliance.
Test Your Knowledge 03
Q. The Swadeshi principle of “use local goods even if costlier” violates which core economic principle?
(a) Marginal utility
(b) Opportunity cost
(c) Comparative advantage
(d) Law of diminishing returns
Hint: Comparative advantage favours specialisation & trade efficiency; Swadeshi defies this by moral over economic calculus.
IE Explained: India may witness a colder winter: What is La Niña?
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Geography
Why in News?
La Niña conditions have re-emerged in the Pacific (Sep 2025), likely to persist till Feb 2026 → May cause colder winter & ↑ snowfall in N India.
What is La Niña?
- Definition → Cool phase of ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) → ↓ sea surface temp in central & eastern Pacific.
- Mechanism → Stronger trade winds → push warm waters west (→ Indonesia) → upwelling of cold waters near South America.
- Cycle → ENSO phases recur irregularly every 2–7 yrs (El Niño / Neutral / La Niña).
- Contrast →
- El Niño → ↓ winds → warmer eastern Pacific → ↓ India rainfall, ↑ temp.
- La Niña → ↑ winds → cooler eastern Pacific → ↑ India rainfall, ↓ temp.
Current 2025 La Niña Outlook
- Emergence → Sept 2025 (NOAA confirmation, Oct 9).
- Duration → Likely till Dec 2025–Feb 2026.
- Strength → Weak & short-lived (5th event in 6 yrs).
Impact on India
- Winter 2025–26 →
- N & NW India → Colder than usual, ↑ cold waves.
- Hill states (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand) → ↑ snowfall.
- Rainfall Link → Typically ↑ monsoon rainfall, esp. central & southern India (carryover moisture may affect winter fog).
- Variability → Not uniform → Local factors & jet stream shifts influence pattern.
Interaction with Climate Change
- Offsetting Effect → Global warming may neutralize La Niña cooling → overall temps may stay above normal.
- WMO Note (2025) → Despite La Niña, global avg temp ↑ due to anthropogenic climate change.
- Trend → ↑ frequency of ENSO fluctuations amid warming → erratic seasonal extremes.
Broader Context
- ENSO–IOD Link → Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can modulate ENSO effects; positive IOD may weaken El Niño/strengthen La Niña influence.
- Recent Pattern → Repeated ENSO flips (2020–2025) → climate volatility ↑.
Bottom Line →
2025–26 La Niña likely to cause colder, wetter winter in N India, but global warming may moderate its intensity.
Test Your Knowledge 04
Q. Which of the following best explains the physical mechanism underlying the La Niña phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?
(a) Weakening of Walker circulation leading to warming of eastern Pacific waters.
(b) Strengthening of trade winds enhancing upwelling of cold water near the South American coast.
(c) Reversal of equatorial current flow resulting in warming of western Pacific waters.
(d) Weakening of equatorial westerlies promoting stratification in the eastern Pacific.
Hint: La Niña → stronger trade winds → enhanced upwelling of cold water near Peru → cooling eastern Pacific.
Q. In the context of the 2025 La Niña event, which of the following factors could moderate its expected cooling impact over India?
(a) Strengthening of easterly jet stream over the equatorial Pacific.
(b) Positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
(c) Global warming and anthropogenic radiative forcing.
(d) Weakening of monsoon trough over the Bay of Bengal.
Hint: Global warming offsets La Niña’s cooling → overall above-normal global temps (as per WMO 2025)
News in Short
Number of births declines; deaths rise slightly: report
Why in News?
Vital Statistics of India 2023 (Civil Registration System Report, RGI) – Shows ↓ births & marginal ↑ deaths in India.
Birth & Death Trends
- Total births (2023) → 2.52 crore (↓ 2.32 lakh vs 2022).
- Total deaths (2023) → 86.6 lakh (↑ from 86.5 lakh in 2022).
- Major spike only in 2021 → 102.2 lakh deaths (excess of 21 lakh vs 2020).
- 2020 deaths → 81.2 lakh.
- No abnormal ↑ deaths in 2022–23 despite COVID-19 deaths = 5.33 lakh (MoHFW data).
Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)
- National concern → persistently low SRB in several states.
- Lowest SRB (females/1000 males) → Jharkhand (899), Bihar (900), Telangana (906), Maharashtra (909), Gujarat (910), Haryana (911), Mizoram (911).
- Highest SRB → Arunachal Pradesh (1085), Nagaland (1007), Goa (973), Ladakh & Tripura (972), Kerala (967).
- Since 2020 → Bihar consistently lowest SRB.
- Indicator relevance → Reflects gender bias & female foeticide trends; key to SDG-5 (Gender Equality).
Birth Registration & Institutional Deliveries
- Overall registration of births → 98.4% (↑ coverage).
- Institutional births share → 74.7% (excl. Sikkim).
- Timely registration (within 21 days) → >90% in 11 States/UTs:
- → Gujarat, Puducherry, Chandigarh, DNH & DD, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, A&N Islands, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Punjab.
- 80–90% timely registration → Odisha, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh.
- 50–80% timely registration → Assam, Delhi, MP, Tripura, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, Rajasthan, J&K, Jharkhand, WB, Meghalaya, UP.
Civil Registration System (CRS): Static Linkage
- Mandated under → Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
- Implemented by → Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- Purpose → Continuous, permanent, compulsory recording of vital events (births & deaths).
- Data use → Demographic statistics, health planning, SDG monitoring.
Retail inflation hits 8-year low of 1.54% in Sept
Why in News?
CPI-based retail inflation fell to 1.54% in Sept 2025 — lowest since June 2017.
📊 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Overview
- Released by → NSO, MoSPI
- Measures → Price change of a fixed basket of goods/services consumed by households
- CPI Components → Food & beverages, Housing, Fuel & light, Clothing & footwear, Misc.
- Base Year → 2012
- RBI’s inflation target → 4% ± 2% band (set under Monetary Policy Framework Agreement, 2016)
📉 Current Data Highlights (Sept 2025)
- Headline CPI → 1.54% (↓ from 2.1% in Aug 2025)
- Lowest since → June 2017 (1.46%)
- Below RBI’s lower comfort limit (2%)
- Food & beverages inflation → –1.4% (vs 0.05% in Aug; 8.4% in Sept 2024)
- Fuel & light inflation → 1.98% (↓ from 2.3% in Aug)
- Clothing & footwear inflation → 2.28% (↓ from 2.33% in Aug; ↓ trend for 5 months)
- Pan, tobacco & intoxicants → ↑ 2.7% (from 2.5%)
- Housing inflation → ↑ 4% (from 3.1%)
🏦 Policy Implications
- MPC has cut inflation forecast for 2025–26 4th time in a row
- Low inflation → ↑ probability of repo rate cut in Dec 2025 meeting
- Supports household purchasing power → ↑ consumption demand
PM GatiShakti – Offshore Launched to Strengthen Integrated Offshore Planning and Boost India’s Blue Economy
Why in News?
DPIIT has launched a new geospatial digital platform “PM GatiShakti – Offshore” for coordinated planning of offshore projects, aiming to strengthen India’s Blue Economy.
PM GatiShakti – Programme Context
- Launched in 2021 as a National Master Plan (NMP) for multimodal connectivity & integrated infrastructure planning.
- Seeks inter-ministerial coordination, data integration, last-mile connectivity, logistics efficiency.
- In its 4th anniversary event, the Government unveiled further expansions including Offshore module.
What is PM GatiShakti – Offshore?
- Digital geospatial platform for integrated planning & management of offshore projects (wind farms, marine resource exploration, coastal infrastructure)
- Consolidates datasets (geospatial layers) from multiple ministries:
- Energy & resources (offshore wind, tidal, ocean thermal)
- Oil & gas fields, pipelines
- Marine ecology: coral reefs, mangroves, marine mammal zones
- Coastal regulation zones, port/airport infrastructure, fish landing centers
- Oceanographic & hazard data: currents, wave heights, seismic risk zones
- Provides a unified interface for planners, regulators & investors to visualise multi-layer interactions & make data-driven (eco + technical) decisions
- Example use: planning subsea HVDC link to Andaman & Nicobar
- Integrating seabed depth, ecosystem sensitivity, existing undersea cables to find optimal routing
Arctic seals, birds in new ‘red list’of endangered species: IUCN
Why in News?
IUCN updated its Red List — Arctic seals & several bird species newly classified as endangered/near-threatened.
✦ IUCN RED LIST — OVERVIEW
- Released by → International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Total species assessed → 1,72,620
- Total threatened with extinction → 48,646 species (≈28%)
- Categories → EX, EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD (Extinct → Least Concern)
- Function → Global inventory of conservation status of biological species
❄️ ARCTIC SEALS — STATUS UPDATE
- Hooded Seal → Status changed from Vulnerable → Endangered
- Bearded & Harp Seals → Near Threatened
- Causes →
- Global warming (Arctic warming 4× faster than global avg)
- Loss of sea ice habitat (↓ duration & extent of ice cover)
- Maritime traffic, oil extraction, mining, industrial fishing, hunting
- Ecological role → Keystone species → regulate prey populations & recycle nutrients
- Region most affected → Svalbard Archipelago (Norway–North Pole) → once had 5 months ice cover, now winter ice-free
🐢 POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT — GREEN TURTLE
- Status → No longer endangered
- Recovery → ↑ 28% population growth since 1970s
- Reason → Sustained conservation efforts (nest protection, anti-poaching, marine sanctuaries)
- Significance → Example of effective long-term conservation
