Retail Inflation (CPI Inflation)
Context: Retail inflation hit historic low of 0.25% in October 2025, driven by GST rate cuts, favorable base effect, and declining food prices across multiple categories.
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- Lowest inflation rate since January 2012 in current Consumer Price Index series; government attributed decline to full month’s impact of GST cuts and statistical factors.
- Food and beverages category prices contracted 3.7% in October 2025 following 1.4% contraction in September; contracted in four of seven months this financial year.
- Fuel and light category inflation stood at 2% in October 2025 compared to 1.7% contraction in October 2024; housing inflation accelerated to 3% from 2.8% year ago.
- Clothing and footwear inflation eased to 1.7% from 2.7% in October last year, likely due to GST rate cuts implemented by government for consumer goods.
What is Retail Inflation?
- Retail inflation refers to Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in the economy.
- CPI tracks monthly changes in retail prices of goods and services consumed by households.
- It measures the change in prices of a fixed basket of goods and services.
- The government may revise this basket periodically to reflect consumption patterns.
- CPI-based inflation indicates the percentage change in the price index over time.
- What Does CPI Show?
- It reflects changes in the cost of living for consumers.
- It shows the purchasing power of households and how fast it is eroding.
- It measures the expensiveness of essential goods and services.
- CPI helps determine the value of the Indian rupee in real terms.
- The National Statistical Office (NSO) compiles CPI for Rural, Urban, and Combined sectors.
- NSO releases monthly CPI data for India and individual states.
Uses of CPI
- CPI is a macroeconomic indicator of inflation.
- It guides the government and RBI in inflation targeting and policy decisions.
- It serves as a deflator in national accounts to measure real growth.
- CPI helps assess the real value of wages, salaries, and pensions.
- It indicates changes in the purchasing power of India’s currency.
Ad Valorem Tax
Context: Union Cabinet approved rationalised royalty rates for critical minerals including graphite, caesium, rubidium, zirconium, shifting graphite to ad valorem basis from per-tonne fixed rates.
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- Graphite royalty changed from per-tonne basis to ad valorem; less than 80% carbon content subject to 4% royalty, 80% or more attracts 2% on average sale price.
- Caesium and rubidium subject to 2% royalty on average sale price based on specific metal contained in ore produced under new rationalized structure.
- Zirconium will have royalty rate of 1% applied; decision aims to promote auction of mineral blocks of caesium, rubidium, and zirconium critical minerals.
- Cabinet stated approval will help bidders rationally submit financial bids in auction process, making mineral block bidding more transparent and predictable for investors nationwide.
- Decision aimed at reducing import vulnerabilities in critical minerals supply chain, promoting domestic production and self-reliance in strategic mineral resources for national development goals.
Ad Valorem Tax
- Ad valorem tax is imposed on the assessed value of an item.
- It applies to real estate or personal property such as vehicles or boats.
- Key Features
- Most common ad valorem taxes are property taxes on real estate.
- Also applicable to import duty taxes on goods entering a country.
- Levied on both real property and major personal property.
- Usually imposed by local jurisdictions, including counties or school districts.
- Real estate value is periodically assessed by a public tax assessor to determine tax liability.
WHO Global TB Report 2025
Key Findings from WHO Report 2025
- India’s TB incidence declined by 21%, from 237 cases/lakh in 2015 to 187 cases/lakh in 2024.
- This reduction is almost double the global decline of 12%, making it among the highest worldwide.
- India outperformed many high-burden countries in reducing TB incidence.
Drivers of Decline
- India adopted innovative case-finding strategies supported by rapid technology uptake.
- Decentralised service delivery and large-scale community mobilisation strengthened early detection.
- Treatment coverage increased from 53% in 2015 to over 92% in 2024, with 26.18 lakh cases diagnosed out of 27 lakh estimated.
Reduction in Missing Cases
- “Missing cases” declined sharply from 15 lakh in 2015 to less than one lakh in 2024.
- Improved reporting and diagnostics helped reduce this gap significantly.
Drug Resistance and Treatment Outcomes
- No major rise in MDR-TB cases was reported.
- Treatment success rate under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan reached 90%, higher than the global average of 88%.
Mortality Improvements
- TB mortality declined from 28 per lakh (2015) to 21 per lakh (2024).
- This marks substantial progress in preventing TB-related deaths.
Impact of TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
- Launched in December 2024, the mission expanded nationwide screening.
- Over 19 crore vulnerable individuals were screened for TB.
- Detection of 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases, strengthened elimination efforts.
About Tuberculosis
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious and contagious disease primarily affecting the lungs.
- It is one of the world’s most persistent public health challenges due to its airborne transmission.
- Cause
- TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The bacteria multiply slowly and usually affect lung tissue but can impact other organs.
- Transmission
- TB bacteria spread through the air from an infected person.
- Transmission occurs when a person with pulmonary or throat TB coughs, speaks, or sings.
- The bacteria become airborne and can be inhaled by people nearby, causing infection.
- Treatment
- Treatment follows a multi-drug regimen using four key medicines.
- Drugs include Isoniazid (INH), Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol (HRZE).
- These drugs are administered in daily doses to eliminate bacteria and prevent resistance.
Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
Context: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced GI tag application fee reduced to ₹1,000 from ₹5,000, promising export linkages and warehouses for tribal enterprises.
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- GI tag certificates distributed for crafts including Kannadippaya bamboo mat (Kerala), Apatani textile (Arunachal Pradesh), Marthandam honey (Tamil Nadu), Lepcha Tungbuk (Sikkim), Bodo Aronai (Assam).
- Additional GI tags given to Ambaji white marble (Gujarat), Bedu and Badri cow ghee (Uttarakhand) celebrating tribal crafts and products during conclave event.
- Tribal Affairs Ministry announced Tribal Affairs Grand Challenge, inviting enterprises to design innovative solutions for tribal communities’ development and empowerment across India nationwide.
Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
- Definition
- A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that originate from a specific geographical location.
- The product must possess distinct qualities, characteristics, or reputation attributable to that origin.
- Application
- GI tags apply to agricultural, natural, and manufactured goods.
- They also cover handicraft, industrial goods, and food items.
- GI protection ensures recognition of local heritage and traditional skills.
- Protection
- GI tagging offers legal protection to genuine producers.
- It prevents unauthorized entities from using the product’s name without permission.
- This safeguards producers from misuse, duplication, and unfair competition.
- Global Framework
- GI is covered under the Paris Convention (1883) for industrial property protection.
- It is also protected under the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of IPR) of the WTO.
Indian Framework
- Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, enforced in 2003.
- Duration of registration is 10 years, and it is renewable.
- The GI Registry is located in Chennai.
- The Registrar of GI is the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
- Nodal department: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Current Status in India
- First GI tag: Darjeeling Tea (2004–05).
- Total GI tags as of July 2024: 605.
- Uttar Pradesh has the highest number, followed by Tamil Nadu.
Key Challenges of GI Tags in India
- Low Registration Rate
- India lags behind major countries in GI registrations, with far fewer tags than China (9,785), Germany (7,586), and Hungary (7,290).
- Regional Disparity
- States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh dominate GI registrations, while Jharkhand and Tripura remain underrepresented.
- GI Violations and Imitations
- Many products face imitation issues, such as Banarasi silk being copied in Surat with power looms to produce cheaper replicas.
- Low Awareness Among Producers
- Many rural producers lack knowledge of GI benefits.
- Example: Kagga Rice, a salt-tolerant crop from coastal Karnataka, remains under-recognized.
- Geographical Disputes
- Several GI products face multi-state claims, such as Basmati rice, with multiple regions asserting ownership.
- Post-Registration Challenges
- Producers struggle with understanding the definition of a GI producer and the process of obtaining authorised user status.
- Many farmers with GI products remain unaware of required procedures.
Key Initiatives to Strengthen GI Ecosystem
- GI Logo and Tagline
- Tagline “Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India” promotes GI identity.
- Promoting GI Exports
- APEDA facilitates export of GI products like Naga Mircha, Black Rice, and Assam Lemon.
- One District One Product (ODOP)
- Supports district-level products, including GI-tagged items, under Districts as Export Hubs.
- ONDC Integration
- Connects GI products with nationwide and global buyers through Open Network for Digital Commerce.
Way Forward
- Increasing Awareness
- Government must explicitly promote GI-certified goods to help artisans understand their value.
- Strengthening Post-Registration Mechanisms
- Clear criteria are needed for defining producers and validating authorised user status.
- Supporting Poor Producers
- Provide export subsidies to small producers and artisans to improve global competitiveness.
- Resolving State Disputes
- States should pursue collaborative claims, as seen in the joint GI tag for Kolhapuri Chappals.
- Conservation-Centric Approach
- Climate-sensitive products like Kanniyakumari Matti banana and Kashmir saffron need adaptive strategies for long-term protection.
Lab-Grown Milk
What is Lab-Grown Milk?
- Lab-grown milk, also called animal-free dairy, is real dairy milk produced without cows.
- It contains casein and whey proteins identical to cow’s milk, unlike plant-based milks.
- Suitable for making cheese, yogurt, paneer, and curd, similar to traditional dairy.
Who Developed It?
- Developed by Israeli food-tech companies such as Remilk, Imagindairy, and Wilk.
- Remilk announced the commercial launch from January 2026, marking a major global milestone.
How is It Produced?
- Precision Fermentation is used by inserting milk-producing genes into microbes such as yeast.
- These microbes grow in bioreactors, secreting real dairy proteins when fed sugar.
- Extracted proteins are blended with fats, minerals, and carbohydrates to recreate cow’s milk.
- Final product is lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and hormone-free.
Key Features
- Nutritionally identical to cow’s milk with nine essential amino acids and comparable fat/protein levels.
- Customisable composition, including lactose-free versions.
- Requires allergen labels since proteins match cow’s milk.
- Ethically produced with no animals, no antibiotics, and zero methane emissions.
Significance
- Provides a climate-friendly dairy alternative, reducing land, water, and greenhouse gas use.
- Addresses animal welfare concerns and supports sustainable food systems.
- For India, it offers opportunities in biotech and food innovation, but faces cultural acceptance challenges, higher production costs, and FSSAI regulatory scrutiny.
Himalayan Black Bear
About the Himalayan Black Bear
- The Himalayan black bear is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear, distinguished by a crescent-shaped white chest patch.
- It is an omnivorous mammal found across the Himalayan ranges and plays a significant ecological role through seed dispersal and soil turnover.
Habitat
- Inhabits broadleaf and coniferous forests between 1,200–3,300 metres.
- Distributed from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, and often descends into agricultural areas in search of food.
- The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) serves as an important refuge.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I — highest legal protection.
- CITES: Appendix I listing.
Distinctive Features
- Features include a glossy black coat, tan-brown muzzle, and rounded “powder-puff” ears.
- Males weigh 180–250 kg, while females range from 35–170 kg.
- Known for being arboreal, nocturnal, and capable swimmers.
- Undergoes winter torpor/hibernation, which is now disrupted due to climate change and delayed winters.
Ecological Significance
- Functions as a keystone species, aiding forest regeneration through seed dispersal.
- Helps control pest populations and supports nutrient cycling.
- Serves as an indicator of ecosystem and climate health in the Himalayas.
Conservation Concerns
- Erratic weather, delayed winters, and altered hibernation cycles are increasing aggression and human-wildlife conflict.
- Habitat loss, reduced fruiting vegetation, and human encroachment add to its vulnerability.
Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
What is the Great Indian Bustard?
- The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is among the heaviest flying birds, endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- Historically widespread across India and Pakistan, it now survives only in small fragmented populations.
- Major habitats include the Thar Desert (Rajasthan) and regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Habitat
- Prefers arid and semi-arid grasslands with sparse vegetation.
- Often coexists with blackbucks and chinkaras in open plains.
- Nests directly on the ground in undisturbed areas, making it highly vulnerable to human disturbance.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- CITES: Appendix I.
- CMS Convention: Appendix I.
- Included under the IDWH species recovery programme.
Physical Characteristics
- Stands about 1 metre tall and weighs 15–18 kg.
- Features a black crown, white neck and underparts, and patterned brown wings.
- Males possess a black breast band and a gular pouch enabling a booming mating call audible up to 500 metres.
- Omnivorous diet consisting of grass seeds, insects, reptiles, and rodents.
