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 4th November 2025
Quote of the Day
“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” – SERENA WILLIAMS
What the Others Say
“No one can claim they did not know what would happen in EI Fasher, An 18-month siege had already seen war crimes in Sudan by the Rapid Support Forces, including the execution of civilians and sexual violence.” – THE GUARDIAN
Table of Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
- IE Opinion: In Trump era, energy trade is changing. New skills will be needed to manage it (Vikram S Mehta)
- TH Text & Context: Heavy metals found in Cauvery fish; study advises reducing consumption (T.V. Padma)
- TH Text & Context: What are the challenges with the High Seas Treaty? (Padmashree Anandhan)
NEWS IN SHORT
- Lucknow designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
The Big Picture
IE Opinion: In Trump era, energy trade is changing. New skills will be needed to manage it
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Economy
Why in News?
→ Trump’s return to White House reshaping global energy trade; 4 key structural shifts emerging under his transactional governance style.
Critical Minerals → Strategic Reorientation
- Weaponisation of trade → Trump tariffs on China → China’s export curbs → minerals gain strategic value.
- Dependence issue → China controls 80–90% of supply; avg. mine lead time = 15 yrs → decoupling impractical.
- Historical irony → US once led rare earths (Magnequench, Mountain Pass mine) → sold to China (Deng’s vision: “rare earths = oil”).
- Policy shift → Trump promises subsidies, domestic mining revival → aim: reduce Chinese dominance, support energy security.
Data Centres & Electricity Demand → New Energy Geography
- IEA forecast → demand ↑ from 400 TWh → 1,200 TWh by 2035 (3× growth).
- Big Tech (Meta, Amazon, Google, MSFT) → carbon neutrality targets ↔ ↑ power needs = tension.
- Likely solutions → hybrid power (renewables + gas), small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), on-site captive plants.
- Strategic shift → data centres = new “energy hubs” → influence trade, pricing, FDI flow.
- Geoeconomic impact → energy-rich green nations attract capital; widen gap with energy-poor.
Regulation & Trade Complexity → Skills Imperative
- Multi-layered regimes → US (blacklists), China (trace-origin laws), EU (CBAM tariffs).
- Result → fragmented, uncertain, high-cost global energy trade environment.
- Need → specialised regulatory, legal, and trade-management skills to navigate cross-border compliance.
- Risk → delays, ↑ transaction cost, investment hesitancy without expert capacity.
Petroleum Power Shift → Gulf Ascendancy
- Decline → Iran, Russia, Venezuela ↓ output due to wars, sanctions, degraded infra.
- Consequence → limited recovery capacity → long-term erosion of influence.
- Rise → Saudi Arabia & Gulf states → spare capacity ≈ 70% of recent OPEC+ cuts.
- Political leverage → pivotal in oil prices & regional diplomacy (e.g., Israel–Hamas mediation).
- Speculation → Trump sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil possibly to sustain Gulf oil prices → reward allies.
Takeaway
TakeawayTrump-era transactional energy politics → reshaping supply chains, digital energy demand, regulatory frameworks, and oil geopolitics → demanding new skillsets in energy trade, diplomacy, and policy navigation.
Test Your Knowledge 01
Q. Which of the following minerals fall under the category of critical minerals essential for clean energy transition?
- Lithium
- Cobalt
- Nickel
- Rare Earth Elements
Select the correct answer:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) All of the above
TH Text & Context: Heavy metals found in Cauvery fish; study advises reducing consumption
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Environment
Why in News?
Study by Bharathidasan University (Tiruchirapalli) finds ↑ levels of heavy metals (esp. Cd, Pb) in Cauvery fish → potential carcinogenic & non-carcinogenic health risks.
Extent & Source of Contamination
- Metals studied → Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn (18 sediment sites, 10 fish sites; Aug 2023–Feb 2024)
- Findings → Metal levels ↑ above safe thresholds in several fish spp.
- Key contaminants → Cd, Pb = primary concern (exceeding limits)
- Pollution sources → Urbanisation, industrial effluents (textile, electroplating–Erode stretch), agri runoff, untreated sewage
- Natural input → Mineralised zones upstream (Fe contribution) but anthropogenic load dominates
Ecological & Analytical Insights
- Indices used → Igeo, Contamination Factor, Degree, Pollution Load Index, Ecological Risk
- Integration → Igeo + risk indices + multivariate stats → distinguish anthropogenic vs natural origin
- Result → Cd, Pb, Cr strongly linked to human activity; Cu, Zn partly natural background
- Spatial variation → Site-wise fluctuation due to differing industrial/agri intensity
Health Risk Assessment
- Risk nature → Cd & Pb → carcinogenic + non-carcinogenic via bioaccumulation
- Safe limit → ≤250 g/serving, ≤2 times/week (for adults)
- Hazard quotient (HQ) → >1 for Cd, Pb, Cr, Co in liver, gills, muscles → real health risk
- Sensitive groups → Children, frequent consumers, elderly → higher vulnerability
- Mechanism → Bioaccumulation → biomagnification → chronic toxicity (kidney, neuro, cancer risk)
Broader Context & Comparative Studies
- VIT study (Nov 2024) → Tilapia fish (Cd, Cr, Co, Pb ↑) → confirmed multi-metal, multi-organ toxicity
- SRM study (Noyyal River) → Industrial activity = key contaminant driver → similar regional trend
- Regional implication → Cauvery crucial for water, agriculture, fisheries → human livelihood risk
Policy & Management Implications
- Gaps exposed → Weak monitoring + poor effluent regulation
- Needed actions →
→ Continuous sediment & biota monitoring
→ Strict effluent control, sustainable land use
→ Health-risk–based fish consumption advisories
→ Public awareness & local authority intervention - Outcome goal → Science-backed policy for Cauvery basin pollution mitigation
Core Message
Heavy metal pollution (esp. Cd, Pb) in Cauvery fish = verified ecological & health hazard → urgent need for strict regulation, regular monitoring, and moderated fish consumption.
Test Your Knowledge 02
Q. The “Igeo” (Geoaccumulation) index is commonly used in environmental studies for:
(a) Determining water salinity levels
(b) Measuring bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms
(c) Assessing the extent of heavy metal pollution in sediments
(d) Evaluating organic matter decomposition in soils
Hint: The Igeo index compares the concentration of metals in sediments to their natural background levels to evaluate pollution intensity.
TH Text & Context: What are the challenges with the High Seas Treaty?
Syllabus: Pre/Mains – Environment
Why in News?
→ High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) ratified by 60+ nations; to enter into force Jan 2026.
Essence of the Treaty
- Scope → Regulates Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) → ~⅔ of world’s oceans.
- Core pillars (4) → MGRs, ABMTs (incl. MPAs), EIAs, Capacity building + Tech transfer.
- Goal → Preserve marine biodiversity ✦ Ensure equitable resource use ✦ Promote climate & food security.
- Origin → Gap in UNCLOS (1982) → UNGA 2004 Ad-hoc group → Negotiations 2018-23 → Adopted June 2023.
Challenges & Ambiguities
a) Principle Conflict: “Common Heritage” vs “Freedom of High Seas”
- CHH → Shared ownership + benefit equity for all humanity.
- Freedom → Unrestricted navigation + research + exploitation rights for states.
- Partial application → MGRs only → Creates legal / operational ambiguity.
- Result → Unclear benefit-sharing, exploration rights → Tension b/w developed & developing nations.
b) Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs)
- Earlier unregulated → ↑ “Biopiracy” risk by rich states / corporations.
- Treaty: introduces monetary & non-monetary benefit-sharing → But lacks formula / enforcement clarity.
- Developing countries fear exclusion from profits of discoveries.
c) Limited Participation
- Major powers (US, China, Russia) ✗ ratified → ↓ Global legitimacy & implementation capacity.
- Without them → Weak compliance + monitoring mechanisms.
d) Institutional Overlaps
- Must align with existing bodies → ISA, RFMOs, CBD, IMO etc.
- Risk → Jurisdictional conflicts + fragmented ocean governance.
Implementation & Way Forward
- Clarify → MGR benefit-sharing mechanisms + legal scope of CHH.
- Dynamic management of MPAs → Real-time data & science-based EIAs.
- Integrate climate + biodiversity policies for resilient ocean management.
- Encourage tech transfer & capacity building → Developing nations’ participation.
The “Common Heritage of Humankind” Principle
- Origin → UNCLOS Art. 136 (for seabed).
- Core → No sovereign ownership → Resources belong collectively to all humanity.
- Obligations → Equitable sharing of benefits + peaceful use + environmental protection.
- In BBNJ → Extended to MGRs → But application partial → Hence treaty ambiguous.
Summary
Treaty marks milestone in global ocean governance ✦ Yet ambiguity in CHH & MGR benefit-sharing + non-participation of major powers = key challenges before 2026 enforcement.
Test Your Knowledge 03
Q. With reference to the High Seas Treaty, consider the following statements:
- It is legally linked to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
- It introduces the principle of “Common Heritage of Humankind” for Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs).
- It provides a binding mechanism for dispute settlement through the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Hint: ISA not directly involved in dispute settlement under BBNJ → statement 3 incorrect.
News in Short
Lucknow designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
Why in News?
Lucknow has been officially designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, acknowledging its rich culinary heritage.
Key Highlights
- Marks the second Indian city (after Hyderabad) to receive this title.
- Recognition announced on 31 Oct 2025 during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand.
- Criteria met: deep-rooted food culture (Awadhi cuisine), vibrant markets, indigenous ingredients + sustainability.
- Expected impacts: ↑ global visibility, ↑ culinary tourism, ↑ support for local food businesses in Lucknow.
