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Current Edge Daily Brief 16th October 2025
Quote of the Day
“The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – PELE
What the Others Say
“Israel’s Prime Minister fears peace more than he fears war. Instead of seizing the historic moment that Trump created, he once again chose the inertia of refusal, fearing a confrontation with his messianic coalition partners.” – HAARETZ, ISRAEL
Table of Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
- IE Opinion: Shashi Tharoor writes: The world after the American order
- IE Opinion: India and Taiwan have seen 30 years of strengthening ties. More can be done (Seshadri Chari and Sumit Kumar)
- TH Text & Context: The future of the IMEC (Sanjay Pulipaka)
- TH Science: Biotech surge builds momentum but faces scaling bottlenecks (Deepakshi Kasat)
NEWS IN SHORT
- World Food Day 2025
- SC allows sale of green fireworks in Delhi
- Amdavad, India Recommended as Host for the 2030 Centenary Games
The Big Picture
IE Opinion: Shashi Tharoor writes: The world after the American order
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – International Relations
Why in News?
Shashi Tharoor analyses the erosion of the US-led post-war order and China’s growing bid to reshape global governance amid American retrenchment under Trump’s second term.
Decline of the US-led “Pax Americana”
- Post-1945 order → built on UN, liberal democracy, open markets, US leadership
- Stability ↓ due to → US overreach (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan), 2008 crisis
- Trump era → nationalism ↑, multilateralism ↓, trade wars → system unravelled
- US withdrawal from → UN bodies, USAID, global diplomacy → soft power loss
Rise of China’s Alternative Global Vision
- Xi’s narrative → “safeguard UN”, “inclusive globalisation” ✦ contrasts US belligerence
- China → top trading partner for 100+ nations → economic gravity shift
- Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) → infrastructure + predictability → appeal to Global South
- SCO summit → “true multilateralism”, “anti-hegemonism” → soft power projection
- China’s model → state-driven economy yet appears steadier vs US tariff threats
Global South Recalibration
- Shift from ideology → pragmatic alignments ✦ multipolarity emerging
- India, Brazil, others → balancing US unpredictability ↔ Chinese investment
- Strategic autonomy → priority > bloc loyalty
- Stability + growth > democracy rhetoric
Challenges to China’s Leadership
- Trust deficit → South China Sea aggression, Xinjiang/Tibet record, India border tensions
- Overdependence risks → BRI debt, rare earth monopoly weaponisation
- Yet → Trump’s chaos overshadows Beijing’s flaws → vacuum-filling advantage
Implications for Global Order
- Post-war system → fraying; legitimacy contest ↑
- Global governance → fragmented, transactional, fluid
- US dilemma → re-engage & rebuild trust ✦ or retreat & cede space
- Restoration cost ↑, but abdication cost ↑↑
Conclusion →The American-led order is disintegrating; a multipolar, interest-driven world is emerging where China seeks to define the new rules — not by superiority of ideology, but by filling the vacuum of leadership.
Test Your Knowledge 01
Q. The “Pax Americana” system that emerged after 1945 primarily rested on which of the following pillars?
- Institutional multilateralism under UN & Bretton Woods
- Liberal economic order & open trade
- American military security guarantees
- Global ideological homogeneity
Select the correct code:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Hint: The post-war order combined institutional, economic, and military leadership—without global ideological uniformity.
IE Opinion: India and Taiwan have seen 30 years of strengthening ties. More can be done
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – International Relations
Why in News?
✦ India–Taiwan mark 30 yrs of growing ties → focus on semiconductors, Indo-Pacific security & trade expansion.
Evolution of India–Taiwan Relations
- Pre-1991 phase → limited contact; no formal diplomatic ties.
- 1991 “Look East Policy” → start of structured engagement; visa relaxations.
- 1995 → TECC (Taipei) & ITA (New Delhi) offices → semi-diplomatic channels.
- Post-2014 (Modi era) → ↑ political visibility → Taiwan invited to PM’s oath (2014), BJP MPs attended Tsai’s ceremony (2020).
- 2022–23 → India’s MEA stance vs. China’s “status quo” change in Taiwan Strait; visit by 3 retired service chiefs to Ketagalan Forum.
- Taipei Centre in Mumbai (2023) → expansion beyond Delhi.
Economic & Technological Cooperation
- Trade → $10.6 bn (2024); 200+ Taiwanese firms in India.
- Sectors → electronics, auto, construction, hardware manufacturing.
- Semiconductors → Taiwan = 90% of world’s advanced chips → key to India’s ESDM hub ambition.
- Major Deal → Tata Electronics + PSMC → $11 bn fab in Gujarat → India’s 1st semiconductor plant.
- Foxconn’s CEO Young Liu → Padma Bhushan (symbolic recognition).
- Mobility pact → enables labour flow, addresses Taiwan’s workforce shortage.
Strategic & Security Convergence
- Indo-Pacific vision → Free & Open Indo-Pacific = shared goal.
- Maritime security → Stability in Taiwan Strait vital (major Indian trade route).
- China factor → Diversify supply chains, ↓ dependence, align with like-minded partners (US, Japan).
Opportunities for Deepening Ties
- Political outreach → Encourage MPs/state reps’ visits → attract investments.
- FTA exploration → Boost trade & market access.
- Academic cooperation → MoUs, exchange programmes, joint research.
- New domains → Cybersecurity, climate change, space, governance.
- Language collaboration → Invite Taiwanese Mandarin teachers → fill scholar gap.
- Connectivity → Direct Delhi–Taipei flights → tourism + business ↑.
Way Forward
- Institutionalise engagement → from informal to structured.
- Expand strategic, tech & academic partnerships.
- Use Taiwan’s semiconductor strength → advance India’s tech sovereignty.
- Balance engagement while managing China sensitivities.
Test Your Knowledge 02
Q. In global semiconductor geopolitics, which of the following countries form the critical “chip triangle”?
(a) Taiwan, South Korea, United States
(b) Japan, Germany, India
(c) Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam
(d) China, Israel, Singapore
Hint: Taiwan (TSMC), S. Korea (Samsung), USA (design & R&D) dominate advanced semiconductor chain.
TH Text & Context: The future of the IMEC
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – International Relations
Why in News?
Future of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) uncertain amid West Asia tensions & shifting trade routes.
Concept & Vision
- IMEC → Maritime + rail corridor linking India → Arabian Peninsula → Europe
- Core plan → India–UAE ports ↔ Saudi Arabia–Jordan ↔ Haifa (Israel) → Europe
- Add-ons → Clean hydrogen pipeline, electricity cable, digital undersea cable
- Goal → Diversified, resilient supply chains; boost Indo–Europe trade
Geopolitical Genesis
- 2023 → Abraham Accords optimism ✦ Israel–Arab rapprochement
- India–UAE–Saudi ties ↑; India–U.S. ties strong → birth of I2U2 (India–Israel–UAE–U.S.)
- G20 Delhi Summit → IMEC launched with EU, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia etc.
- Post-launch shock → Oct 7 Hamas attacks → Israel–Arab tensions ↑ → IMEC feasibility ↓
Emerging Global Trade Shifts
- Arctic route opening (climate change impact) → Shorter Asia–Europe shipping time
- Beneficiaries → U.S., Russia, China, N. Europe
- Mediterranean concern → Trade share ↓ if Arctic route dominates
- Italy (only Mediterranean coast) → IMEC crucial to retain maritime relevance
- India → Mediterranean route still vital (Arctic gains uncertain)
Indo–European Economic Imperatives
- EU = India’s largest trade partner → $136 bn+ trade
- Europe → High income, tech, education → Long-term strategic partner
- Need → Scaled-up connectivity, resilient logistics → Supply chain stability
Strategic & Security Dimensions
- Red Sea disruptions (Houthi attacks) → Trade rerouting via Cape of Good Hope → ↑ cost/time
- Gaza conflict uncertainty → Regional risk persists
- IMEC → Multimember flexibility → Can adapt to evolving geopolitics
- Expansion idea → Include ports in Saudi Arabia & Egypt for redundancy
- Strong Indo–Arab economic ties → Counters Pakistan’s regional manoeuvres
Way Forward
- IMEC as “economic bridge” → India–Europe as twin anchors (“bookends”)
- Focus → Economic gains > political volatility
- Leverage → Innovation, new routes, multi-nodal cooperation
- Aim → Prosperity, connectivity, and strategic balance in IMEC region.
Test Your Knowledge 03
Q. Which of the following correctly pairs connectivity projects with sponsoring powers?
- IMEC → India, U.S., EU, Gulf partners
- BRI → China
- INSTC → India, Iran, Russia
- Global Gateway → Japan
Select the correct option:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Hint: Global Gateway = EU-led, not Japan.
TH Science: Biotech surge builds momentum but faces scaling bottlenecks
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Science & Tech
Why in News?
India’s biotech boom (≈500 → >10,000 startups, 2018→2025) is creating global-scale opportunity but faces financing, infrastructure & regulatory bottlenecks that threaten scale-up.
Current snapshot
- Scale: startups ↑ from ~500 (2018) to >10,000 (2025).
- Infrastructure: 94 incubators across 25 states, but many lack end-to-end facilities.
- Policy push: BioE3 + target → $300B bioeconomy by 2030.
- Investment: headline VC ≈ $3B last 2 years; deep financing for late-stage remains scarce.
- Market strength: India supplies >60% global doses (DPT/BCG/measles); vaccine & generics track record (Serum, Bharat Biotech, Biocon).
Core bottlenecks (what’s stopping scale)
- Funding gap: early proof-of-concept OK; tens of $M needed for Phase II/GMP — investors scarce. (example: hypothetical Mumbai AI-cancer startup stalled at $15M).
- Fragmentation: 70+ incubators but few with pilot purification / fill-finish / regulatory affairs → founders shuttle cities, duplicate costs.
- Regulatory lag: trial, patent, approval frameworks misaligned with AI/novel biologics → delays, lower FDI/collab.
- Talent mismatch: brain drain; need CRISPR/GMP/AI-biostat skills at scale.
Strategic priorities (concise actions)
- Consolidate clusters → create GMP Commons (Genome Valley / Mumbai-Pune corridor) to pool downstream kit + expertise.
- Dedicated biotech scaling fund → blended-finance (venture equity + venture debt + DFIs + pension/insurance capital + partial guarantees).
- Late-phase trial hubs → dedicate AI/clinical trial wards + EHR/integrated labs (eg: AI-trial nodes in AIIMS network).
- Reverse brain-drain incentives → tax holidays, relocation grants, soft loans + micro-credentials (GMP data integrity, CRISPR engineering, AI biostat).
- Risk-based regulation → adopt tiered, context-specific rules (mirror EU AI Act tiering + FDA Predetermined Change Control Plans) to speed validation without blanket rules.
High-impact opportunity areas
- AI-driven drug design & diagnostics → cost + time ↓, examples: MedGenome, Strand Life Sciences.
- Precision genomics & affordable gene therapies → chronic-disease export potential (CRISPR-enabled).
- Vaccines/biosimilars/generics → leverage existing scale for higher-value biologics.
- Sustainable agri-biotech → precision farming for smallholders (85% farms <2 ha); examples: Cropin, Fasal.
Expected payoff (why act)
- Concentration + blended capital + trial hubs → faster Phase II→market, ↑FDI, reduced acquisition-driven value leakage.
- Talent + regs aligned → export of higher-value biologics, leadership beyond generics/vaccines.
Bottom line →India has quantity + nascent quality; strategic consolidation (GMP commons, blended finance, trial hubs, talent incentives, risk-based regs) is the multiplier needed to convert scale into sustained global leadership.
Test Your Knowledge 04
Q. With reference to India’s biotechnology ecosystem, consider the following statements:
- India permits up to 100% FDI under the automatic route in most biotech segments.
- The BioE3 Policy aims to create a $500 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
- India accounts for over half of global vaccine doses supplied for immunisation programmes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Hint: BioE3 target = $300B by 2030; India supplies ~60% global vaccine doses.
News in Short
World Food Day 2025
Why in News?
Observed annually on 16 October, marks the founding of FAO in 1945.
- Theme 2025: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”—emphasizes global cooperation for transforming food systems.
India’s Achievements:
- Foodgrain output up by 90 million tonnes over the last decade.
- 1st in global milk & millets, 2nd in fish, fruits & vegetables.
- Major rise in honey, egg production, and agricultural exports.
Major Schemes:
- National Food Security Act, 2013: Food security coverage for up to 81 crore people → 75% rural, 50% urban population covered, entitlement: 5 kg grains/person/month (priority households), 35 kg/family/month (AAY), subsidised prices.
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: Free foodgrains (wheat/rice) to NFSA beneficiaries → extended till December 2028, entire cost borne by Centre, launched during COVID-19.
- Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (earlier Mid-Day Meal): School feeding scheme, primary/upper primary children in government & aided schools, now includes fortified rice for better nutrition, covers about 11 crore children.
- Rice Fortification Initiative: Fortified rice (added iron, folic acid, B12) supplied under TPDS, ICDS, PM POSHAN, OW Schemes → nationwide coverage from March 2024, extended to December 2028, ₹17,082 crore outlay, targets malnutrition & anemia reduction.
- Aatmanirbhar Pulses Mission: Self-reliance initiative for pulses, 2025–2031, ₹11,440 crore allocation, aims to increase area by 35 lakh hectares, targets 2 crore pulse farmers, boost domestic pulse production.
- Recognition: Indian Thali listed by WWF as a sustainable, nutritious food template.
SC allows sale of green fireworks in Delhi
Why in News?
SC permits limited sale & use of NEERI–PESO certified green fireworks in Delhi-NCR during Deepavali as a temporary relaxation of blanket ban.
What are Green Crackers?
- Developed by → NEERI–CSIR (2018)
- Purpose → ↓ harmful emissions while retaining festive use
- Certified by → NEERI & licensed via PESO
Composition & Technology
- No use of → Barium nitrate, arsenic, lithium, lead, mercury
- Substituted with → Potassium nitrate, zeolite, modified aluminum compounds
- Designs → Safe Water Releaser (SWAS), Safe Minimal Aluminium (SAFAL), Safe Thermite Cracker (STAR)
- QR code → Verification & traceability for authenticity
Emission & Noise Profile
- Emission reduction → 30–40% ↓ PM, SO₂, NO₂ vs. conventional crackers
- Noise level → ≤ 125 dB (as per CPCB norms)
- No ash/metal particulate release → ↓ respiratory impact
Amdavad, India Recommended as Host for the 2030 Centenary Games
Why in News?
Commonwealth Sport Executive Board recommends Amdavad (India) as host city for 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games.
Significance of Recommendation
- Marks 100 years since 1st Games (Hamilton, Canada, 1930)
- Aligns with ‘Games Reset’ → focus on innovation, collaboration, sustainability
- Builds on momentum from Glasgow 2026 Games
- Aims to provide stability & long-term direction for Commonwealth Sport Movement
How Commonwealth Games Host City is Selected?
Process
- Led by Commonwealth Sport (CGF) → via Evaluation Committee
- Cities submit bids → vision, infra, funding, govt. support
Evaluation Criteria
- Tech delivery & infra readiness
- Athlete welfare & experience
- Governance, finance, sustainability
- Alignment with Commonwealth values
Decision
- Evaluation Report → Executive Board → makes recommendation
- General Assembly vote → majority decides host
- Post-selection: Host City Contract + Organising Committee formed
