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Current Edge Daily Brief 15th October 2025

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Quote of the Day

“Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.” – DWIGHT D EISENHOWER

What the Others Say

“Without mechanisms guaranteeing Palestinian participation and control over their own institutions, any deal risks freezing subjugation under the language of peace.” – THE GUARDIAN

Table of Contents

THE BIG PICTURE

  • IE Explained: How grain, not sugar, is fuelling India’s ethanol production (Harish Damodaran)
  • TH Science: Microplastics pollution threatens Goa’s estuarine fisheries, human consumers (Sandhya Ramesh)

NEWS IN SHORT

  • Woman candidate for UN chief post declines preferential treatment
  • EPFO eases money withdrawal terms: What has changed, why some are unhappy

The Big Picture

IE Explained: How grain, not sugar, is fuelling India’s ethanol production

Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy

Why in News?

India’s ethanol blending programme, initially meant for sugarcane support, now majorly driven by grain (esp. maize) with ₹40,000 cr investment & capacity overshoot.

Evolution of Ethanol Programme

  • Launch Objective → Support sugar mills → timely farmer payments via alternate cane-based revenue.
  • Phase 1 (≤2017-18) → Ethanol only from C-heavy molasses.
  • Phase 2 (2018-19 on) → B-heavy molasses & direct cane juice/syrup → ↑ ethanol supply (38 → 189 cr L; blend 1.6 → 4.9%).
  • Govt Incentives → Higher price for B-heavy/juice routes; multi-feedstock distilleries promoted.

Rise of Grain-Based Ethanol

  • Policy Shift (2018-19 on) → Fixed prices for ethanol from rice, maize, damaged grain.
  • Multi-feed distilleries → Operate on cane (Nov-Apr) & grain (May-Oct).
  • Rapid Expansion → Punjab, Bihar, MP, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh etc.
  • Feedstock mix (2023-24) → Total 672.49 cr L → Cane 270.27 (40.2%) vs Grain 402.22 (59.8%).
      ✦ Maize 286.47 cr L > all cane combined.
  • 2024-25 projection → ≈ 920 cr L → 620 cr grain (↑ share to ~⅔); maize ~420 cr L.

Why Grain Dominates?

  • 1️⃣ Supply Shock → Drought → ↓ sugarcane output (359 lt → 261 lt in ’24-25); govt restricted B-heavy & juice routes.
  • 2️⃣ Price Advantage → Maize Rs 71.86/L > C-molasses 57.97, B-molasses 60.73, juice 65.61, broken grain 64.
     → Higher profitability → ↑ grain-only distilleries.

Current Status (2025-26 Tender)

  • OMC Requirement → 1,050 cr L (target 20% blend; actual 19.12%).
  • Industry Offer → 1,776 cr L (> need) → Grain 1,305 cr L vs Cane 472 cr L.
     ✦ Maize 831.9 cr L, FCI rice 396.6 cr L.
  • Expected Procurement → Grain ~650 cr L + Cane ~400 cr L.

Policy & Economic Implications

  • Excess Capacity → 499 distilleries; 1,822 cr L capacity; ₹40,000 cr invested > technical blend limit (~20%).
  • Fuel vs Food Conflict →
     • Maize ethanol (380 L/t) → 420 cr L needs > 11 Mt maize (~¼ of India’s 42 Mt output).
     • ↑ feed demand (milk + meat sector) → possible feed shortage & price rise.
     • Rice-based ethanol dependent on FCI surplus (unstable).
  • Sugar Sector Impact → Ethanol shift ↓ sugar diversion (45 lt → 24–35 lt); less benefit to mills/farmers.

Takeaway

→ Ethanol policy pivoted from sugar support → grain dominance (esp. maize).
→ Creates new market for farmers but raises sustainability & “food vs fuel” concerns amid capacity surplus.

Test Your Knowledge 01

Q. Consider the following statements about India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP):

  1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas through OMCs.
  2. Ethanol price differentiation is based on feedstock origin.
  3. The blending target of 20% was originally planned for 2030 but advanced.
  4. Only sugar-based ethanol is eligible for price support.

Which of the above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Hint: Feedstock-based pricing exists; target 20% advanced to 2025; grain-based ethanol also incentivized, so 4 is wrong.

Q. Compared to sugarcane-based ethanol, grain-based ethanol in India may have which of the following environmental implications?

  1. Lower water intensity per litre of ethanol produced
  2. Higher greenhouse gas emissions due to energy-intensive starch breakdown
  3. Lower risk of groundwater depletion in semi-arid regions
  4. Greater land-use competition with food crops

Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Hint: Grain ethanol often energy-intensive & competes with food; water savings possible vs cane, but land competition ↑.

TH Science: Microplastics pollution threatens Goa’s estuarine fisheries, human consumers

Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy

Why in News?

Study by CSIR–NIO & AcSIR reveals microplastic bioaccumulation in Goa’s estuarine fish → potential threat to fisheries & human health.

Study Overview

  • Location → Mandovi estuarine system (≈97% of Goa’s fish output)
  • Sample → 251 fishes, 9 spp. (mackerel, sardine, anchovy, catfish, clam, oyster, etc.)
  • Findings → 4,871 particles; 3,369 plastic polymers (19 types)
  • Contamination zones → ↑ benthic (sediment) vs pelagic (open water)
  • Major sources → degraded fishing gear, wastewater discharge

Bioaccumulation & Trophic Transfer

  • Microplastics → ingested by plankton → move ↑ food chain (trophic transfer)
  • Anchovy, sardine, mackerel → filter feeders → ↑ ingestion
  • Bamboo shark (apex predator) → evidence of accumulation via prey
  • Bioaccumulation effects → amplified toxicity across trophic levels

Microplastic Characteristics

  • Shape types → fibres 53%, fragments 29.9%, films 13.1%, beads 4%
  • Colours → blue 37.6%, black 24.3%, red 12%, etc. → sources: fishing gear, tires, packaging, textiles
  • Polymer toxicity → 11/19 types = highly toxic

Fish-wise Findings

  • Anchovy (pelagic) → 8.8 MP/in → highest
  • Catfish (benthic) → >10 MP/in → highest overall
  • Bamboo shark → 3.5 MP/in → lowest
  • Water column → 120 MP/L
  • Trend → longer fish → ↓ particles; benthic habitats → ↑ ingestion
  • Organs → digestive tract > gills → ingestion via prey/water

Ecological & Health Impacts

  • Fish effects → disrupted genes, oxidative stress, ↓ growth, reproductive damage
  • Human effects → immune dysfunction, ↑ cancer risk, neurotoxicity
  • Nutritional impact → 66/71 shellfish = poor nutritional status
  • Market impact → ↓ demand → livelihood loss for coastal fishers

Risk & Way Forward

  • Risk level → overall “low” but ↑ for benthic ecosystems
  • Key concern → persistence & bioaccumulation of toxic polymers
  • Call to action → better plastic waste mgmt., biodegradable material R&D, estuarine monitoring

Core Message:

Goa’s estuarine ecosystem faces silent microplastic-driven toxicity threatening aquatic life, fisheries sustainability, & human food safety.

Test Your Knowledge 02

Q. The bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of microplastics in marine systems primarily depend on:

  1. Feeding guild (filter feeder, planktivory, carnivore)
  2. Position in the trophic pyramid
  3. Water column stratification
  4. Photosynthetic efficiency of phytoplankton

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Hint: Depends on feeding behaviour, trophic level, and habitat depth — not on photosynthesis.

News in Short

Woman candidate for UN chief post declines preferential treatment

Why in News?

Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rican candidate for next UN Secretary-General, stated that selection should be merit-based, not gender-based.

UN Leadership Context

  • UN founded 1945 → 0 women SGs so far
  • Only 1 Latin American SG → Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1982–91)
  • Antonio Guterres’ 2nd term ends 2026 → succession debate intensifies

Grynspan’s Stand

  • Advocates equality → “No discrimination, no preferential treatment”
  • Argues meritocracy → Equal opportunity > gender quotas
  • Emphasizes representation → Capable women exist; system bias persists
  • Highlights fairness → “Let process be non-discriminatory”

UN Secretary-General Election Process

Nomination Stage

  • Initiated by → Member States (only governments can propose candidates)
  • Eligibility → No formal criteria; usually senior diplomats or former heads of state
  • Gender/geography balance → Informally considered, not mandated

Security Council Role

  • Primary gatekeeper → Recommends 1 candidate to General Assembly (GA)
  • Informal “straw polls” → Conducted to gauge support among 15 members
  • P5 (Permanent Members) → Have veto power → any one can block a nominee
  • Consensus goal → Candidate usually acceptable to all P5 (US, UK, France, Russia, China)

General Assembly Appointment

  • Final approval → GA formally appoints the SG based on Security Council recommendation
  • Vote → By acclamation or simple majority (usually acclamation)
  • Term → 5 years, renewable once (traditionally two terms)

Summary

UN SG chosen through a two-step process — Security Council recommendation + GA appointment — balancing politics, diplomacy, and consensus rather than a formal election.

 

EPFO eases money withdrawal terms: What has changed, why some are unhappy

Why in News?

EPFO (13 Oct 2025) eased withdrawal norms for EPF, simplified categories, & allowed greater flexibility in withdrawals — raising both support & criticism.

🟩 New Withdrawal Framework

  • Categories ↓ → 13 → 3 (✦ Essential needs: illness/education/marriage; ✦ Housing; ✦ Special circumstances)
  • Withdrawal frequency ↑ → Education: 10× during service; Marriage: 5× (earlier 3 combined)
  • Illness/Special Circumstances → 3× & 2×/FY respectively
  • No reason needed → “Special circumstances” category → earlier needed justification (lockout, calamity, etc.)

🟩 100% Eligible Balance Rule

  • Now allowed → Withdraw up to 100% of eligible balance (employee + employer share)
  • Mandatory retention → 25% of cumulative annual contributions to stay as min balance
  • Corpus size → EPFO manages ₹26 lakh cr for 30 cr+ accounts
  • Interest benefit → 8.25% p.a. + compounding → ensures long-term corpus growth
  • Objective → Simplify scheme + 100% auto claim settlement (no documentation)

🟩 Service Period Relaxation

  • Housing → 12 months (↓ from 5 yrs)
  • Education/Marriage → 7 yrs (↓ from 7 yrs earlier combined rule)
  • Others → Any time during service

🟥 Criticism & Concerns

  • Ex-CBT Member KE Raghunathan → Called move “regressive” & “social security dilution”
  • Risk → Frequent withdrawals → ↓ retirement savings; ↑ short-term consumption
  • Trade unions’ stance → Backed move → seen as compromising long-term worker welfare
  • Core concern → Provident Fund meant for retirement dignity, not recurring liquidity

🟨 “Vishwas Scheme” for Dispute Resolution

  • Aim → Cut litigation on delayed PF remittances (Sec 14B cases)
  • New penal rate ↓ → Flat 1%/month (vs earlier 5–25% p.a.)
    • Defaults ≤2 months → 0.25%
    • ≤4 months → 0.5%
  • Covers → Pending/finalised/unpaid/pre-adjudication cases → will abate on compliance
  • Earlier rates → 17–37% p.a. (pre-2008) → led to heavy litigation
Download PDF - Current Edge Daily Brief 15th October 2025