Why in the News?

• India has secured country-specific tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) of about 1.64 million tonnes of steel products annually under its proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU).

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Tariff-Rate Quota (Concept, India’s Steel Quota, EU’s New Steel Import Policy, Products, Covered)
• News Summary (Details of the Agreement)

About Tariff-Rate Quota

• A Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) is a trade policy instrument that allows a specified quantity of a product to enter a market at a preferential or lower tariff rate. Imports beyond the specified quota are subject to a higher tariff.
• In the India–EU arrangement, country-specific quotas provide Indian steel exporters with defined access to the EU market.
• Steel exported outside the applicable quota will face the duties prescribed under the EU's new steel regime.
• TRQs therefore combine market access with domestic industry protection.

India's Steel Quota under the FTA

• India has secured a total country-specific quota of 1,641,470 tonnes annually. This comprises:
  • 946,616 tonnes under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) component
  • 694,853 tonnes under the FTA component
• India currently exports approximately 4 million tonnes of steel annually to the EU, making the quota an important consideration for the country's steel industry.
• The negotiated access is particularly significant because steel imports entering the EU outside the applicable quotas will attract a 50% tariff under the new regime.

EU's New Steel Import Regime

• The EU's new Steel Regulation came into force on July 1, 2026.
• It replaced the temporary safeguard measures introduced in 2018, which expired in June 2026, after reaching the maximum eight-year period permitted for temporary safeguards under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
• The new regime seeks to protect the European steel industry from the effects of global overcapacity and potentially low-priced imports. It provides:
  • Duty-free tariff quotas of 18.3 million tonnes
  • A 50% duty on imports outside the applicable quotas
  • A melt-and-pour requirement aimed at improving transparency regarding the origin and production of steel
• Under the new system, MFN quotas are allocated based on each exporting country's average share of EU imports in individual product categories during 2022-24.

Steel Products Covered

• The country-specific quotas cover a broad range of steel products, including:
• Non-alloy and alloy hot-rolled sheets and strips.
  • Cold-rolled sheets
  • Metallic-coated sheets
  • Organic-coated sheets
  • Tin mill products
  • Quarto plates
  • Stainless steel products
  • Merchant bars and light sections
  • Reinforcing bars
  • Wire rods
  • Pipes and tubes
• The largest Indian country-specific quota is for non-alloy and other alloy hot-rolled sheets and strips, at 509,605 tonnes.
• This consists of 299,197 tonnes under the MFN component and 210,408 tonnes under the FTA component.
• Other significant quotas include 218,658 tonnes for cold-rolled sheets, 197,860 tonnes for metallic-coated sheets, and 186,038 tonnes for organic-coated sheets.

News Summary

• The negotiated steel access is significant because the EU is simultaneously strengthening protection for its domestic steel industry.
• The 1.64-million-tonne country-specific quota gives Indian exporters predictable access to the EU market despite the new 50% out-of-quota tariff.
• Of the total quota, nearly 6.95 lakh tonnes will receive access under the FTA component, while around 9.47 lakh tonnes will fall under the MFN component.
• The agreement also contains mechanisms to prevent India from being disadvantaged if the EU subsequently provides more favourable quota access to another FTA partner.
• India will have access to additional quota volumes in product categories where it already has a country-specific quota.
• These additional volumes will be allocated through competition among eligible EU FTA partners having country-specific quotas.
• For categories without an Indian country-specific quota, Indian exporters can access residual quotas, including general residual quotas and preferential quotas reserved for EU FTA partners.
• The EU has committed to administering the TRQs in a transparent, objective and non-discriminatory manner and making relevant information regarding their administration publicly available.

Review Mechanism

• The agreement provides for periodic review of the negotiated quotas.
• The first review will begin one year after the FTA enters into force, followed by subsequent reviews every five years.
• These reviews will consider market developments, quota utilisation and changes in the EU's steel regime.
• The agreement also provides for consultation with India if the EU proposes amendments to Product Specific Rules (PSRs) for products covered under its Steel Regulation.

Significance for India

• The arrangement provides Indian steel exporters with greater certainty and predictability in a major export market.
• At the same time, the benefits will depend on effective utilisation of the quotas. Since India currently exports around 4 million tonnes of steel annually to the EU, the negotiated access does not cover the entirety of existing exports.
• For Indian steel producers, therefore, the FTA provides an opportunity to preserve and expand market access while encouraging greater competitiveness, product diversification and compliance with evolving European trade regulations.

Why in News?

• At the concluding session of the BRICS Summit hosted by India, the Indian Prime Minister warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could undermine collective progress.
• Without naming any country, the remarks come amid concerns over China’s dominant position in critical-mineral processing and restrictions affecting the supply of rare earths and advanced technologies.
• India’s BRICS chairship centred on four pillars—Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability—with an emphasis on making BRICS a platform for inclusive global growth, particularly for the Global South.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Critical Minerals and Technology
• BRICS as a Platform for the Global South
• Four Pillars of India’s BRICS Chairship
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Critical Minerals and Technology:

• Critical minerals are increasingly central to clean energy, electronics, defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
• Excessive concentration of their processing and supply chains creates strategic vulnerabilities.
• Modi stressed that weaponising technology and critical minerals can hinder shared development.
• The New Delhi Declaration consequently called for -
  • Reliable, diversified, resilient and just critical-mineral supply chains.
  • Greater value addition and benefit sharing.
  • Economic diversification in resource-rich countries.
  • Respect for countries’ sovereign rights over their mineral resources.
• India’s position reflects a broader push for supply-chain diversification, strategic autonomy and technology inclusivity.

BRICS as a Platform for the Global South:

• The Indian PM highlighted the growing confidence of developing countries in BRICS because their voices are heard, experiences respected and solutions developed jointly rather than imposed upon them.
• This reflects India’s effort to position BRICS as a mechanism for reformed and more representative global governance.
• The grouping’s diversity is presented as a strength that can facilitate cooperation among countries with different developmental realities.
• The emphasis is therefore shifting from merely articulating grievances of the Global South towards creating practical, scalable and accessible

Four Pillars of India’s BRICS Chairship:

• Resilience:
  • The increasing frequency of conflicts, pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions demonstrates the vulnerability of an interconnected world.
  • Crises originating in one region can rapidly produce global consequences.
  • India highlighted -
    • BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for prevention and response to infectious diseases.
    • Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines for disaster management.
    • BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework to strengthen reliability and resilience of supply chains.
  • The broader objective is to move from crisis response to anticipatory governance, through early identification, preparedness and prompt action.
• Innovation:
  • India sought to use innovation for inclusive development through -
    • BRICS Incubator Network to connect start-ups and incubators.
    • BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote innovative and scalable solutions.
    • BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, linking AI, geospatial technology and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with farmers’ needs.
  • This approach seeks to ensure that emerging technologies are not confined to technologically advanced economies but contribute directly to agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
• Cooperation and wider participation:
  • India stressed that BRICS cooperation should extend beyond governments to entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens.
  • Key initiatives include -
    • BRICS CONNECT for skills, employability, women’s workforce participation, social security and capacity building.
    • BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal to connect small enterprises with knowledge, finance and markets.
    • BRICS Urban Mobility Hub for sharing urban best practices.
  • This represents a shift towards people-centric and multi-stakeholder cooperation.
• Sustainability:
  • India emphasised the need to balance human development with environmental protection, keeping intergenerational equity at the centre of sustainable development.
  • Initiatives include -
    • BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for smart grids and energy storage.
    • Centres of Excellence for Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture, connecting traditional knowledge with modern science.
  • These initiatives seek to make clean-energy systems more reliable, efficient and accessible.

Way Forward:

• As BRICS enters its third decade, its credibility will increasingly depend on translating declarations into concrete, measurable outcomes.
• Priorities should include diversified critical-mineral supply chains, responsible technology governance, resilient logistics, inclusive digitalisation and stronger participation of developing countries.

Conclusion:

• India’s BRICS chairship seeks to transform the grouping from a forum for political coordination into an “ecosystem of solutions”.
• Its central challenge is to ensure that technology, critical minerals and economic integration become instruments of shared prosperity rather than geopolitical leverage.
• For the Global South, BRICS can contribute most effectively when cooperation remains inclusive, sovereign, sustainable and development-oriented.

Context

• The September 11, 2001 attacks transformed global counter-terrorism.
• Over the past 25 years, terrorism has evolved from large, centrally controlled organisations into decentralised networks and lone-wolf attacks.
• Drones, cyber capabilities, and artificial intelligence have created new security challenges.
• India’s response has similarly shifted from diplomatic restraint to active deterrence against cross-border terrorism.

The Changing Nature of Global Terrorism

• The rise of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State demonstrated the destructive potential of international terrorist organisations.
• However, their decline as centralised structures has given rise to smaller, autonomous groups and individual attackers.
• Modern terrorists exploit encrypted communications, digital propaganda, cyber operations, and emerging technologies.
• These developments make it difficult to identify threats before attacks occur.
• Counter-terrorism therefore requires not only military action but also intelligence-sharing, technological preparedness, and efforts to prevent radicalisation.

India’s Early Struggle with Cross-Border Terrorism

• India’s experience with terrorism predates 9/11. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, the Mumbai serial blasts of 1993, and the Coimbatore blasts of 1998 exposed weaknesses in national security.
• The IC-814 hijacking in 1999 forced India to release Pakistan-based terrorists, including Masood Azhar, demonstrating the limitations of its response mechanisms.
• The Parliament attack in December 2001 led to Operation Parakram, but nuclear deterrence and international pressure prevented direct military action against Pakistan.

The Passive Response and Its Consequences

• India suffered several attacks, including those at Akshardham, Varanasi, Pune, and Delhi.
• The 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 became a defining moment in India’s fight against terrorism.
• Despite evidence of Pakistan-based involvement, India avoided military retaliation.
• This approach reduced the immediate risk of escalation but also created the perception that terrorist attacks could occur without proportionate consequences.
• The need for a stronger deterrent became increasingly evident.

The Shift Towards Active Deterrence

• After the change of government in 2014, India adopted a more assertive counter-terrorism policy.
• The Uri attack in September 2016 led to surgical strikes across the Line of Control, marking a significant departure from earlier restraint.
• Following the Pulwama attack in February 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot.
• This demonstrated India’s willingness to cross Pakistani airspace to target terrorist infrastructure.
• The Pahalgam attack in April 2025 led to Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6–7.
• The operation targeted Pakistan-based terror infrastructure and reinforced India’s policy of imposing direct costs on those responsible for cross-border terrorism.

India’s Contemporary Counter-Terrorism Framework

• The launch of PRAHAAR, India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, in February 2026 reflects the development of a comprehensive national framework.
• Its emphasis on whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches recognises that terrorism cannot be defeated through military force alone.
• Four priorities are essential:
  • Eliminating Terrorist Networks: Security agencies must continue dismantling terrorist networks, particularly in Kashmir.
  • Preventive Military Action: India must maintain the capability to respond to emerging threats across the Line of Control.
  • De-radicalisation and Social Integration: Education, employment, community engagement, and rehabilitation can reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies.
  • Disrupting Terror Financing: International cooperation is necessary to trace and block financial networks supporting terrorist organisations.

The Importance of International Cooperation

• Terrorism is a transnational threat requiring coordinated international action.
• India has used platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS to oppose countries that support or shelter terrorists.
• The inclusion of a paragraph on the Pahalgam attack in the BRICS Delhi Declaration reflects growing international recognition of India’s security concerns.
• India’s consistent opposition to double standards on terrorism is essential for building an effective global response.

Conclusion

• Twenty-five years after 9/11, terrorism remains a serious global threat despite changes in its organisational structure and methods.
• India has moved from a reactive policy to active deterrence and comprehensive counter-terrorism.
• Military action must be combined with intelligence coordination, technological preparedness, de-radicalisation, financial disruption, and diplomacy.
• India’s long-term success will depend on preventing terrorism before attacks occur while ensuring that terrorism never becomes a strategic asset for any state.

About Mayun Island:

• Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island, is a small volcanic island belonging to Yemen, located in the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
• Perim Island actually splits the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into two smaller channels.
• The importance of the small island grew with the advent of the Suez Canal, which connected the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea through the Red Sea and allowed global shipping routes to bypass the lengthy route around Africa.
• Perim Island became part of independent Yemen (Aden) in 1967.

About Hasdeo River:

• It is a major tributary of the Mahanadi River.
• It flows through Chhattisgarh.
• Course:
  • It originates from a small lake near the Ambikapur town of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh.
  • The river flows through Surguja, Korea, and Bilaspur districts and empties into the Mahanadi River near Akaltara in Janjgir–Champa district.
• The Hasdeo Bango Reservoir is constructed across the river that plays a vital role in irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
• Important Tributaries: Gej and Ahiran

About Fermat’s Last Theorem:

• It is a famous mathematical statement proposed by Pierre de Fermat in 1637 claiming that the equation x^n + y^n = z^n has no integer solutions for n > 2.
• This conjecture was noted in the margin of Fermat's copy of "Arithmetica," an ancient Greek text on number theory, where he famously stated that he had a proof too large to fit in the margin.
• While solutions exist for n = 1 and n = 2 (known as linear and Pythagorean equations, respectively), the case for (n > 2) remained unsolved for over 350 years, making it one of the most significant unsolved problems in mathematics.
• The eventual proof was provided by mathematician Andrew Wiles in 1995, utilizing concepts from the modularity theorem for elliptic curves.
• Wiles's work built on earlier contributions from mathematicians like Gerhard Frey and Ken Ribet, who connected concepts related to elliptic curves and Fermat's conjecture.
• The theorem has not only resolved a long-standing mystery in mathematics but has also spurred advancements in areas such as algebraic number theory and the study of Diophantine equations.

About Ramanathaswamy Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on Rameswaram Island in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• History:
  • The first stone temple was built here by the Chola kings in the 12th century, and additions were made by kings of the Pandya dynasty and the rulers of Vijayanagar.
  • Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara came here in 1513 after conquering Lanka and made magnificent gifts to the temple.
  • The Sethupati kings of Ramnad became the guardians of the temple during the rule of the Nayakas, and they finally completed the temple.
• The Temple is one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam, meaning "pillar of light".
  • Of the 12 Jyotirlingas, 11 are in the north, and only Ramanathaswamy is in the south.
• It is one of the four Char Dham shrines. The other three are Dwaraka, Puri, and Badrinath, all located in the north.
  • It is the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva among the four Char Dham shrines.
• Architecture:
  • The temple is renowned for its stunning Dravidian architecture, characterized by towering gopurams and intricate carvings.
  • Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of the temple premises.
  • The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
  • The temple’s interior features extensive halls between enormous colonnades on platforms.
  • The colossal granite walls are marked by intricate carvings and depictions of Hindu deities.

About Deltachion ravenshaw:

• It is a new clam species.
• It belongs to Donacidae, a family of bivalve molluscs of the order Veneroida.
• It was discovered from the sandy intertidal stretches of the Devi estuary in Puri, Odisha.
• Deltachion species are generally associated with marine environments, while ravenshaw was found in the brackish waters of the Devi estuary, where salinity can fluctuate.