Global Nuclear Order Under Strain: Iran’s NPT Withdrawal Threat

The delicate architecture of global nuclear non-proliferation faces renewed pressure as Iran’s parliament drafts legislation to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This development emerges amidst escalating tensions with Israel and intensified scrutiny from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The 1968 treaty, extended indefinitely in 1995, rests on three pillars: preventing nuclear weapons spread, pursuing disarmament, and enabling peaceful nuclear energy use. Its Article X permits withdrawal during “extraordinary events” with three months’ notice – a provision Iran may invoke.

The treaty’s inherent dichotomy between nuclear “haves” (US, Russia, China, UK, France) and “have-nots” remains contentious. India’s consistent refusal to join stems from this discriminatory structure, advocating instead for universal, verifiable disarmament. While maintaining a voluntary testing moratorium and No-First-Use policy, India has integrated into global regimes like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Challenges persist as nuclear powers show inadequate progress on disarmament commitments, North Korea’s 2003 withdrawal sets a dangerous precedent, and dual-use technologies blur civilian-military boundaries. The 2026 NPT Review Conference looms as a critical forum to address enforcement mechanisms and engage non-signatory states like India, Pakistan, and Israel through parallel frameworks.

The Assisted Dying Debate: UK Legislation and India’s Evolving Ethos

The United Kingdom’s House of Commons passed landmark legislation permitting terminally ill adults in England and Wales to end their lives under stringent conditions. The bill restricts eligibility to mentally competent patients with less than six months to live, requiring approvals from two doctors, a psychiatrist, senior lawyer, and social worker. This reignites global debates on autonomy versus sanctity of life. Advocates frame it as compassionate relief from unbearable suffering, while opponents fear coercion of vulnerable groups.

Globally, assisted dying remains legally complex. Switzerland pioneered it in 1942, followed by six European nations, Canada, and parts of the U.S. and Oceania. Canada’s 2016 law notably extends beyond terminal illness. India’s journey reflects nuanced evolution – the Supreme Court’s 2018 recognition of “right to die with dignity” under Article 21 legalized passive euthanasia via “living wills.” Subsequent rulings in 2023 streamlined bureaucratic processes, while Goa became the first state to operationalize protocols. The Health Ministry’s 2024 draft guidelines permit withholding life support when treatment causes dignity loss. Moving forward, robust safeguards against coercion, expanded palliative care access, and societal consensus-building will shape ethical implementation.

Pakistan-Iran Relations: The Delicate Geopolitical Balancing Act

Pakistan’s vocal support for Iran during the Iran-Israel conflict reveals a calculated strategy to reclaim diplomatic relevance. Historically, Iran was Pakistan’s earliest post-independence ally, providing military aid during the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars. However, the 1979 Iranian Revolution transformed ties into a “strategic paradox”: Islamic allies on paper, yet geopolitical competitors divided by sectarian schisms and regional ambitions.

Three fault lines define this relationship: First, the 900-km Balochistan border sees mutual accusations of sheltering separatists, triggering at least 15 clashes since 2014. Second, divergent Afghan policies – Iran’s backing of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance versus Pakistan’s Taliban support – reflect competing security interests. Third, Pakistan’s alignment with Saudi Arabia fuels anti-Shia sectarianism through Saudi-funded madrasas. Crucially, Pakistan leverages the Iran-Israel crisis to re-engage the U.S. post-Afghan withdrawal, positioning itself as a mediator while publicly rejecting military aid to Iran. For India, this threatens critical investments like the Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), emphasizing the need for agile diplomacy to protect connectivity projects bypassing Pakistan.

India’s Steel Industry: Ambitions Amidst Implementation Challenges

India’s position as the world’s second-largest crude steel producer (144.3 million tonnes in FY24) faces turbulence as the Ministry of Steel enforces Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms on inputs and imports with less than one day’s compliance window. This abrupt mandate drew industry criticism for escalating costs amid surging Chinese steel dumping. Despite being a net importer (8.32 million tonnes), the sector contributes 2% to GDP and anchors industrial growth.

The National Steel Policy 2017 envisions 300 million tonnes capacity by 2030–31, supported by initiatives like the Purvodaya scheme for eastern India integration and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for specialty steel. Budget 2024–25 waived duties on Ferro-Nickel/Molybdenum ores to reduce input costs. However, the industry contends with contradictory pressures: while the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS 2.0) and Quality Control Order aim to block substandard imports, sudden compliance demands strain manufacturers. Sustainable growth requires calibrated safeguards against dumping, enhanced R&D for value-added products, and policy stability to harness India’s potential as a global steel alternative to China.

Logistics Transformation: India’s Path to Cost Efficiency

India’s pledge to reduce logistics costs from 14–18% to 9% of GDP signals a strategic overhaul of supply chain infrastructure. Currently ranked 38th on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index, the sector’s inefficiencies stem from road transport over-reliance (65% of freight), fragmented warehousing, and technological gaps. The National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2030 targets an ambitious 8% cost-to-GDP ratio through multimodal integration under PM Gati Shakti.

Key projects include the Eastern/Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, Bharatmala’s highway expansion, and Sagarmala’s port-led development. Infrastructure status grants cheaper financing, while AI-driven solutions like QR code-based maintenance under PM Gram Sadak Yojana enhance rural road accountability. Digital transformation through IoT-enabled tracking, automated warehouses, and data analytics will optimize routes and inventory. Success hinges on shifting freight to coastal shipping and railways, reducing congestion, and improving last-mile connectivity – critical steps for India to outpace Vietnam and Indonesia as a global manufacturing hub.

Green Hydrogen Breakthrough: Solar-Powered Energy Revolution

Indian scientists achieved a clean energy milestone with a scalable solar-powered device producing green hydrogen via water splitting. The innovation uses a silicon-based photoanode with n-i-p heterojunction architecture, fabricated through industry-ready magnetron sputtering. This aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission targeting 5 million metric tonnes annual production by 2030, attracting ₹19,744 crore in investments.

Green hydrogen – defined by MNRE as emitting ≤2 kg CO₂/kg H₂ – promises decarbonization for steel, refining, and transport sectors. Pilot projects include hydrogen trucks on Faridabad-Delhi routes and refueling stations by Indian Oil Corporation. Kandla Port hosts India’s first operational plant using indigenous electrolyzers. However, cost disparities persist: green hydrogen production ($5.30–6.70/kg) remains uncompetitive against fossil-based alternatives ($1.90–2.40/kg). Scaling requires addressing electrolyzer expenses, hydrogen transport risks, and technology adoption barriers. With ports like Paradip and Tuticorin designated hydrogen hubs, India positions itself for global energy leadership while confronting the economic realities of transition.

Concise News Updates: Policy, Conservation, and Global Events

India Post Payments Bank received the Digital Payments Award 2024–25 for leveraging 165,000 post offices to advance financial inclusion through doorstep banking. World Sickle Cell Day (June 19) highlighted India’s 2047 elimination mission amid new gene therapies like Casgevy. Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant – the Middle East’s sole operational reactor – faced Israeli strikes, raising proliferation concerns. QR codes on PMGSY roads now enable AI-driven public feedback for maintenance audits. International Yoga Day (June 21) celebrations spanned 81 heritage sites, themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” with PM Yoga Awards. Taiwan Strait tensions flared as 50 Chinese jets patrolled after a British naval passage. Uttar Pradesh launched gharial conservation by releasing hatchlings in the Gerua River for this critically endangered species. New Zealand suspended aid to the Cook Islands over China’s expanding Pacific influence. Madhya Pradesh proposed king cobra reintroduction despite ecological mismatches with central India’s dry forests.

Strategic Synthesis: Interconnecting Themes for UPSC Preparation

Today’s current affairs reveal a tapestry of geopolitical, economic, and ethical challenges shaping India’s trajectory. The NPT crisis underscores the fragility of global arms control, demanding nuanced diplomacy as India champions equitable disarmament. Simultaneously, the assisted dying debate reflects society’s struggle to balance individual autonomy with medical ethics – an evolving discourse mirrored in India’s “living will” jurisprudence. Economically, steel and logistics reforms highlight the tension between aspirational policies and ground-level implementation gaps, particularly in countering Chinese market distortions.