Daily Current Affairs - 27th September 2025
- TPP
- Sep 27
- 16 min read
Preparing for UPSC 2026 or State PCS? This 27th September 2025 Current Affairs edition brings exam-focused updates with GS linkages, Prelims facts, and Mains insights. Highlights include Ecuador’s $47 billion Amazon oil expansion plan, the Planetary Health Check 2025 report warning that 7 of 9 planetary boundaries are breached, and the US 100% tariff on branded drugs with limited impact on Indian generics. Track global governance with the G4, L.69, and C-10 push for UNSC reforms, and energy diplomacy with the Iran–Russia $25 billion nuclear deal in Sirik.
In India, focus on the UNICEF report on child marriage decline, the AFSPA extension in the Northeast, the 2011 urban area definition retained for Census 2027, and the natural gas discovery near the Andamans. Also note the re-appointment of Attorney General R. Venkataramani, 24 new Allahabad HC judges, revised CAFE fuel efficiency norms, and the Supreme Court’s approval for green firecrackers.
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Ecuador Faces Backlash Over $47 Billion Amazon Oil Expansion Plan |
Indigenous groups in Ecuador have strongly criticized a government-backed plan for a $47 billion oil drilling expansion in the Amazon rainforest.
This large-scale oil initiative has raised environmental concerns and threatens the traditional lands and livelihoods of indigenous communities.
The issue has brought global focus back onto Ecuador, a country situated in northwestern South America.
Ecuador shares its northern border with Colombia, which has similar Andean and Amazonian landscapes.
To the south and east, Ecuador borders Peru, forming part of the Amazon Basin and Andean region.
On the west, Ecuador has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean, giving it access to maritime trade and fishing industries.
The country is divided into four main geographic regions, each with distinct physical features and ecosystems.
The Coastal Lowlands, located along the Pacific, are known for agriculture, fisheries, and growing urban centers.
Moving inland, the second region is the Mountain area, part of the Andean Highlands, running north to south through the country.
This mountainous region contains the Central Andes Mountains, which are divided into two major parallel chains.
The Cordillera Occidental forms the Western Andes range and includes rugged peaks and volcanic activity.
The Cordillera Oriental forms the Eastern Andes range, known for its cloud forests and biodiversity.
The highest peak in Ecuador is Mount Chimborazo, standing at 6,268 meters (20,564 feet) above sea level.
Due to Earth’s equatorial bulge, Mount Chimborazo is also the closest point on Earth to the sun, despite not being the tallest mountain above sea level.
Ecuador lies on the Ring of Fire, and it contains several active volcanoes, including Cotopaxi, located in the Andes.
Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, known for its symmetrical cone and frequent activity.
A unique geographical fact is that the Equator — the 0° latitude line dividing the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres — passes directly through Ecuador.
This gives the country its name: "Ecuador" means "Equator" in Spanish.
Additionally, Ecuador governs the Galápagos Islands, located about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) west in the Pacific Ocean.
The Galápagos Islands are world-famous for their unique wildlife, and they played a crucial role in the development of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Planetary Health Check 2025: Seven of Nine Earth System Boundaries Transgressed |
The Planetary Health Check (PHC) 2025 is a comprehensive scientific assessment of the Earth system’s current state.
The report highlights that human activity has pushed the planet beyond its stable boundaries, putting global ecological stability at risk.
Central to this assessment is the concept of Planetary Boundaries (PBs), developed to define the "safe operating space" for humanity.
Planetary Boundaries refer to ecological thresholds that, if crossed, may lead to irreversible environmental changes.
These boundaries represent nine critical Earth system processes essential for maintaining global stability, resilience, and the life-support systems on which humans depend.
The nine Planetary Boundaries include:
Climate Change
Change in Biosphere Integrity
Land System Change
Freshwater Change
Modification of Biogeochemical Flows
Introduction of Novel Entities
Ocean Acidification
Increase in Atmospheric Aerosol Loading
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
These processes are scientifically selected based on Earth System Models, Holocene-era variability, ecological resilience analyses, and global tipping point risks.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) are key sources for setting these boundaries.
According to PHC 2025, seven out of nine Planetary Boundaries have now been transgressed, marking a deepening planetary crisis.
Only Atmospheric Aerosol Loading and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion currently remain within safe operating limits.
For the first time, the boundary for Ocean Acidification has been crossed, posing severe threats to marine organisms.
Ocean Acidification refers to the lowering of pH levels in ocean water due to increased absorption of atmospheric CO₂.
This process harms marine life such as corals and mollusks, as it affects their ability to form shells and skeletons.
Climate Change continues to show worsening trends, with atmospheric CO₂ levels reaching 423 ppm in 2025.
This CO₂ concentration is now approaching the high-risk threshold of 450 ppm, beyond which catastrophic climate impacts become more likely.
Biosphere Integrity, another critical boundary, remains in steep and persistent decline.
The current extinction rates far exceed the safe threshold, undermining the Earth's biodiversity and ecosystem services.
In response to these alarming findings, scientists are launching the Planetary Boundaries Initiative (PBI).
The PBI is envisioned as a global platform to monitor ecological risks, generate solutions, and enhance public and policy-level communication.
This initiative aims to create a "Planetary Mission Control Center" using advanced tools and technology.
It will integrate AI-powered modeling, multi-source environmental datasets, and real-time assessments.
The goal is to support evidence-based decision-making at both national and international levels to steer the planet back toward safety.
US Imposes 100% Tariff on Branded Drug Imports; Limited Immediate Impact on Indian Generics |
The US President has announced a 100% tariff on imports of pharmaceutical drugs, effective from 1 October.
These tariffs will apply specifically to branded or patented drugs, unless the exporting company is establishing manufacturing facilities within the United States.
This move is part of a broader push to localize pharmaceutical production and reduce dependency on foreign drug manufacturers.
The announcement has significant implications for India, which is widely recognized as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
India is among the largest pharmaceutical exporters globally, holding a 5.71% share in the global pharma market.
The United States is India’s largest pharmaceutical export market, accounting for approximately 35% of total pharma exports.
In FY25, India's exports to the US pharmaceutical market were valued at around $10 billion.
However, the impact of the US tariffs may be limited in the short term, as India’s exports primarily consist of generics and APIs.
Generic medicines are low-cost, off-patent drugs that are chemically equivalent to branded versions and are excluded from the tariff’s scope.
Similarly, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) — the raw materials used to produce medicines — are also not targeted by the current tariff structure.
Despite this exclusion, there is concern over inconsistent interpretation of what qualifies as a "branded pharmaceutical drug".
Many generic medicines also carry a manufacturer’s label, and a broad or unclear definition by US authorities could result in customs delays, increased scrutiny, or additional compliance costs.
India has the highest number of USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration)-compliant manufacturing facilities located outside the US.
This compliance has allowed Indian companies to maintain significant access to the US pharmaceutical market.
However, if multinational pharma firms relocate their manufacturing units to the US to avoid tariffs, India's pharmaceutical production ecosystem could face setbacks.
On the other hand, there may be a short-term advantage for Indian firms due to the rising cost of branded drugs in the US.
Higher prices could shift demand toward generic alternatives, potentially boosting India’s generic drug exports.
India's pharmaceutical industry ranks 3rd in the world by volume, reflecting its high production capacity.
By value, the country stands 11th globally, indicating a focus on cost-effective medicines rather than high-priced patented drugs.
The Indian pharmaceutical sector is expected to grow substantially, reaching USD 130 billion by 2030.
Long-term projections suggest the industry could expand to USD 450 billion by 2047, driven by domestic and international demand.
A major portion of India's exports include drug formulations and biological products, which make up about 75% of total pharma exports.
India also plays a critical role in global health, contributing to 60% of the world's vaccine supply.
G4, L.69, and C-10 Deepen Cooperation to Push for Urgent UNSC Reform |
The G4 Ministers recently reiterated their strong commitment to reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The UNSC reform is aimed at making the Council more representative, accountable, and inclusive in line with global realities.
In a significant diplomatic move, India’s External Affairs Minister convened a joint meeting of the L.69 Group and the C-10 (Committee of Ten).
The G4 (Group of Four) is an alliance of Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan.
The G4 countries mutually support each other's bids for becoming permanent members of the UNSC.
The group seeks an expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership.
The L.69 Group consists of 40+ developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, including India.
The group advocates for comprehensive reform of the UNSC to ensure greater representation for developing nations.
The L.69 emphasizes the need to correct historical injustices and enhance the voice of the Global South in global governance.
The C-10 (Committee of Ten) represents the African Union's Common Position on UNSC reform.
The C-10 comprises 10 African countries: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia.
The C-10 demands at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa in a reformed Security Council.
This position reflects the African Union's stand that Africa must be fully represented in all decision-making organs of the UN.
The coordination among G4, L.69, and C-10 marks a growing global consensus on the urgency of UNSC reforms.
These groupings share a common goal of making the UNSC more democratic and reflective of 21st-century geopolitical realities.
Iran and Russia Sign $25 Billion Deal to Build Four Nuclear Power Plants in Sirik |
Iran and Russia have signed a major deal for the construction of four nuclear power plants.
The agreement, valued at $25 billion, was signed between Iran Hormoz Company and Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation.
These nuclear plants will be built in Sirik, a coastal city in Hormozgan Province, located along the Persian Gulf in southern Iran.
Each of the planned nuclear reactors will have a power generation capacity of 1,255 megawatts, significantly boosting Iran’s energy output.
This deal marks a major expansion of Iran’s nuclear energy infrastructure, which is currently limited.
At present, Iran has only one operational nuclear power plant, located in Bushehr, also built with Russian assistance.
Iran’s nuclear program also includes several key nuclear facilities involved in uranium enrichment and fuel processing.
The Natanz Enrichment Complex is one of Iran’s most important nuclear sites, primarily used for uranium enrichment.
Another major facility is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is built deep underground for protection and also used for uranium enrichment activities.
Iran also operates the Isfahan Uranium Conversion and Fuel Fabrication Complex, which is responsible for converting uranium into gas and producing nuclear fuel.
These facilities form the backbone of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which Iran claims is for peaceful energy purposes.
The new deal with Russia represents a significant step in Iran’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and expand peaceful nuclear capacity.
UNICEF Report Shows Decline in Child Marriages in India Amid Multi-Sectoral Efforts |
The latest UNICEF report highlights a significant decline in child marriages in India.
In Andhra Pradesh, child marriages dropped from 33% in NFHS-4 to 29.3% in NFHS-5.
Similarly, in Rajasthan, the rate fell from 35.4% in NFHS-4 to 25.4% in NFHS-5.
The report credits collective and multi-sectoral efforts at the national level for advancing progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) on gender equality.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides key data for assessing child marriage trends.
UNICEF’s advocacy based on NFHS-5 data helped the Women Development and Child Welfare (WDCW) Department in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to launch intensive child marriage reduction programs.
These programs specifically target high-burden districts where child marriage rates remain elevated.
In Assam, a pioneering model engaged boys and men to influence attitudes and behaviors toward sustained gender equality.
The involvement of males is essential as it addresses social norms supporting early marriage.
In Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, the volunteer-led campaign called "Jay-HO" demonstrated successful multisectoral convergence—coordinated efforts between government, civil society, and communities.
Odisha scaled up the "Child Marriage Free Village" initiative, with 12,407 villages declaring themselves child marriage-free as of January 2022.
This initiative empowers communities to actively prevent child marriages and protect girls’ rights.
To combat child marriage nationally, India enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) in 2006.
The PCMA legally prohibits marriage for girls under 18 years and boys under 21 years.
The government also launched the National Action Plan to Prevent Child Marriage, which offers a comprehensive framework supporting girls at risk of early marriage.
The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign advocates for stronger legislation to set 18 years as the minimum marriage age without exceptions.
This campaign seeks to ensure full legal protections for children against early marriage.
Globally, the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage (GPECM), launched in March 2016, promotes the rights of adolescent girls.
The GPECM works to prevent child, early, and forced marriages worldwide by supporting governments and communities.
AFSPA Extended for Six Months in Parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland |
The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act), 1958 (AFSPA) in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.
The Central Government declared the entire state of Manipur, except for areas under 13 police stations, as a ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA for an additional six months.
A ‘disturbed area’ is defined under Section 3 of AFSPA as a whole or part of a state where a disturbed or dangerous condition has arisen.
Such conditions justify the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power to restore peace and security.
The power to declare an area as ‘disturbed’ lies with the Central Government, the Governor of the State, or the Administrator of the Union Territory.
The declaration can apply to the whole state or any part of it.
Under AFSPA, the armed forces are granted specific powers in these disturbed areas.
They have the authority to prohibit gatherings of five or more persons to prevent potential unrest.
The armed forces can arrest individuals without a warrant if there is reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity.
They may also enter and search premises without a warrant to maintain law and order.
Additionally, the forces can destroy arms dumps, fortified positions used for attacks, or training camps for armed volunteers.
AFSPA is currently applicable in several northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
The Act aims to empower armed forces to tackle insurgency, militancy, and disturbances in these regions.
India to Retain 2011 Urban Area Definition for Census 2027 Despite Calls for Gender-Neutral Criteria |
The Registrar General of India (RGI) and Census Commissioner have proposed to retain the same urban area definition used in the 2011 Census for the upcoming Census 2027.
This decision aims to maintain comparability with previous censuses and provide a consistent basis for analyzing urbanization trends in India.
Officially, the Census of India classifies a settlement as ‘urban’ through two pathways: Statutory Towns and Census Towns.
Statutory Towns are administrative units declared urban by law, such as Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Cantonment Boards, Notified Town Area Committees, Town Panchayats, and Nagar Palikas.
Among statutory towns, those with a population of 100,000 or more are categorized as cities.
Census Towns are settlements not legally urban but meet three criteria: a minimum population of 5,000, a population density of at least 400 persons per sq. km, and at least 75% of the male main working population engaged in non-agricultural work.
The focus on the male workforce in classifying census towns excludes women’s contributions, creating a gender bias.
This male-centric criterion has remained largely unchanged for nearly 50 years, making it an anachronistic standard.
As a result, many settlements functioning as urban are officially classified as rural due to exclusion of female workforce data.
This misclassification causes a governance mismatch, as census towns are governed by rural panchayats instead of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Rural panchayats lack the specialized planning capabilities, financial resources, and administrative structures needed for urban governance.
Consequently, essential urban infrastructure like waste management, sanitation, roads, and housing is inadequately planned or implemented.
To address these issues, experts suggest making the workforce criterion gender-neutral.
Additionally, adopting the Degree of Urbanization (DEGURBA) method, supported by the UN Statistical Commission, could improve urban classification.
The DEGURBA method classifies settlements based on population size, density, and contiguity, offering a more nuanced and contemporary approach.
Natural Gas Discovered in Sri Vijayapuram 2 Well Near Andaman Islands; Boost to India’s Gas-Based Economy Vision |
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced the discovery of natural gas in the Sri Vijayapuram 2 well, located 17 km from the east coast shoreline of the Andaman Islands.
According to India’s Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS), the Andaman-Nicobar (AN) Basin holds an estimated 371 million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) of hydrocarbon resources.
Geologically, the AN Basin lies at the intersection of the Andaman and Nicobar Basins, which are part of the larger Bengal-Arakan sedimentary system.
The basin’s tectonic setting, at the boundary of the Indian and Burmese plates, has created numerous stratigraphic traps conducive to hydrocarbon accumulation.
Previously, natural gas discoveries were made in adjacent basins such as North Sumatra (Indonesia) and Irrawaddy-Margui (Myanmar).
This recent discovery aligns with India’s vision of establishing a Gas-Based Economy by 2030.
The goal includes increasing the share of natural gas in India’s primary energy mix to 15 percent by 2030.
Currently, India’s natural gas production meets only about 50% of its demand, with the rest met through imports.
Major sources of India’s Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) imports include Qatar, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
To boost exploration, India introduced the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in 2016, which created a uniform licensing framework for hydrocarbon exploration and production.
HELP also introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), allowing companies to explore areas of their choice.
Under the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, a large number of deepwater exploration wells are planned in offshore basins to discover new reserves and fully exploit hydrocarbon resources.
Other initiatives supporting exploration include the establishment of a National Data Repository and the National Seismic Program.
Additionally, India allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the natural gas sector to attract global investors.
R. Venkataramani Re-Appointed as Attorney General of India for Two Years |
The President of India has re-appointed R. Venkataramani as the Attorney General of India for a term of two years.
According to Article 76 of the Constitution, the Attorney General must be qualified for appointment as a Supreme Court Judge.
The primary function of the Attorney General is to advise the Government of India on legal matters.
Additionally, the Attorney General performs duties of a legal character assigned by the President.
The Attorney General also discharges functions conferred by the Constitution or any law.
The Attorney General has the right of audience, meaning they can appear and be heard in all courts across India.
The term of office is held during the pleasure of the President, implying the President can remove the Attorney General at any time.
The remuneration of the Attorney General is determined by the President.
Under Article 88, the Attorney General has the right to speak and participate in the proceedings of either House of Parliament.
However, the Attorney General does not have the right to vote in parliamentary proceedings.
President Appoints 24 Judges to Allahabad High Court Following Constitutional Procedure |
The President of India recently appointed 24 judges to the Allahabad High Court.
As per Article 217 of the Constitution, the appointment of High Court judges is made by the President.
The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President after consulting the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of the respective state.
For appointing other judges of the High Court, the President also consults the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
The recommendations for High Court judges are made by a Collegium, which consists of the CJI and the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
The Collegium system is a judicial mechanism for appointments and transfers of judges aimed at ensuring independence of the judiciary.
Government of India Finalizes H2 Fiscal Borrowing Programme Including Sovereign Green Bonds |
The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has finalized its borrowing programme for the second half of the fiscal year.
This programme involves the issuance of dated securities and Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs).
Dated securities, also known as Government Bonds, carry a fixed or floating coupon (interest rate) which is paid on the face value on a half-yearly basis.
The tenure of these dated securities ranges from 5 years to 40 years.
Other short-term government securities include Cash Management Bills (CMBs) and Treasury Bills.
Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) are debt securities created specifically to fund projects that provide positive environmental and/or climate benefits.
The introduction of Sovereign Green Bonds was announced in the Union Budget of 2022-2023.
BEE Revises CAFE Norms, Introducing Relief for Small Cars and Incentives for Flex-Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles |
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has revised the draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms known as CAFE-3 and CAFE-4.
The new norms introduce, for the first time, special relief for small cars.
They also offer incentives for flex-fuel vehicles (which can run on multiple fuel types) and strong hybrid vehicles (that combine an internal combustion engine with electric propulsion).
The CAFE norms were first notified by the Government in 2017 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
The primary aim of these norms is to reduce fuel consumption by lowering CO₂ emissions, thereby decreasing oil dependency and air pollution.
These norms apply to passenger cars with a seating capacity not exceeding 9 persons including the driver, and a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.
The revised CAFE norms are set to come into force from 1st April 2027 and will remain effective until 31st March 2032.
Supreme Court Allows Manufacture of Pollution-Reducing Green Firecrackers in Delhi-NCR |
The Supreme Court has permitted the manufacturing of green firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region.
Green firecrackers are designed to reduce air pollution by not containing harmful chemicals commonly found in traditional firecrackers.
Their composition includes types like flower pots, pencils, sparklers, maroons, bombs, and chakkar with a low amount of thermite and minimal use of aluminium.
Unlike regular firecrackers, green firecrackers do not contain barium, which is typically used to produce a green color but is harmful to the environment.
One significant benefit is that they reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 30%, using potassium nitrate as an oxidant, which is a chemical that helps combustion with less pollution.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) certifies and marks green firecrackers with its official logo to ensure compliance.
Karnataka’s Bidar Wins Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award; Telangana Tops in Rainwater Conservation Campaign |
Karnataka’s Bidar district won the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award under the campaign Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain.
In the same campaign, Telangana secured the top position for rainwater conservation.
The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative was launched in 2024 to promote water conservation with a strong focus on community partnership and ownership.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti is the nodal ministry responsible for implementing this initiative.
The initiative’s goal is to improve water recharge using techniques such as rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, borewell recharge, and recharge shafts.
These efforts are supported by both government and non-government resources, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, industrial houses, civic bodies, and water sector enthusiasts.
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