India vs China: Rare Earth Elements (REEs)

China has tightened controls over rare earth mining and processing through new interim measures, further reinforcing its dominance over global production and refining.

What are Rare Earth Elements (REEs)?

They are a group of 17 metals (LREEs + HREEs), which are extremely important for clean energy technologies (such as electric vehicles, wind turbines), defense, and high-tech devices.

Comparison:

UPSC Syllabus

✔ GS Paper II – International Relations
✔ GS Paper III – Economy, Environment & Technology

India’s 15th Vice President: C. P. Radhakrishnan

Source: The Times of India (TOI)

C. P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as the 15th Vice President of India. He defeated Justice B. Sudershan Reddy in the election held on 9 September 2025.

• Date of Birth: 20 October 1957, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu.
• Previous Positions: Served as Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand and held additional charge of Telangana and Puducherry.
• Victory Margin: Won by 452 votes, while his opponent received 300 votes; over 98% of MPs participated in the election.

Career So Far: (This section can be skipped if needed)

• Two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore.
• Former BJP Tamil Nadu President.
• Chairman of Coir Board (2016–20), contributing to record exports.
• In charge of BJP Kerala (2020–22).
• Sports enthusiast and international delegate representing India.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 63: The office of the Vice President is the second-highest constitutional office in India.
• Article 64: Serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and does not hold any office of profit.
• Article 65: Acts as President in case of death, resignation, removal, or incapacity of the President, until a new election is held (within 6 months).

Eligibility to Become Vice President:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of India.
• Age: Must be at least 35 years old.
• Qualification: Must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• Office of Profit: Must not hold any office of profit under the Union, State, or local authority (except Vice President, Governor, or Union/State Minister).

Key Features of the Office:

• Tenure: 5 years and continues until the successor assumes office.
• Vacancy and Removal: Can resign by addressing the President; can be removed by a resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha (14 days' notice required).
• Acting President: Assumes all powers, privileges, and emoluments of the President during absence or vacancy.
• Role as Chairperson: Presides over proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, maintains order, but votes only in the case of a tie.

U.K.–India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB)

Source: The Hindu (TH)

The U.K.–India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB), launched in September 2024, celebrated its first anniversary in London with a report recommending policy changes to de-risk investments in India’s infrastructure sector.

What is U.K.–India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) ?
A bilateral initiative between India and the U.K. aimed at mobilising global private capital for India’s sustainable infrastructure projects.

Launched:
September 2024 during the India–U.K. Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Organisations involved:
• NITI Aayog (lead institution)
• City of London Corporation (lead institution)

Objectives:
✔ Accelerate international private sector investments in India’s infrastructure.
✔ Align Indian procurement with global best practices (such as the U.K.’s Five Case Model).
✔ Ensure adherence to global ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.
✔ Address challenges like revenue risks, repatriation hurdles, and taxation issues.

Functions:
• Provide policy recommendations to improve transparency, predictability, and competitiveness of Indian projects.
• Develop knowledge and best practices for sustainable infrastructure financing.
• Facilitate joint planning and structuring of projects (e.g. highways, rapid transport, renewable energy).
• Focus on climate-resilient and green finance models.

Significance:
✅ For India: Attracts a portion of the $2 trillion infrastructure investment required by 2030, enhances participation of mid-sized firms, and draws long-term capital.
✅ For the U.K.: Expands its financial services and green finance leadership in a high-growth market.

Malaria Vaccine AdFalciVax

Source: The Hindu (TH)
The Union government has granted licenses to five Indian companies to manufacture and commercialise AdFalciVax, India’s first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine developed by ICMR.

India’s first indigenous recombinant chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine, designed to block infection and transmission of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite.

Developed by:
• ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar
• Supported by ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), New Delhi and National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi

Objective:
To prevent individual infections and minimise community transmission of malaria, thereby contributing to malaria elimination goals.

Key Features:
✔ Targets the parasite before it enters the bloodstream.
✔ Affordable, scalable, and stable → effective for over nine months at room temperature.
✔ Multi-stage action ensures protection during both infection and transmission stages.
✔ Successfully validated in pre-clinical trials.

Newly licensed companies (2025):
• Indian Immunologicals Ltd
• Techinvention Lifecare Pvt. Ltd
• Panacea Biotec Ltd
• Biological E Ltd
• Zydus Lifesciences

Significance:
✅ India accounts for 1.4% of global malaria cases and 66% of Southeast Asia’s burden.
✅ Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat in health R&D by indigenising vaccine technology.
✅ Reduces dependence on imported vaccines and aligns with India’s Malaria Elimination Goal 2030.

National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL)

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Context:
National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed an MoU to promote cooperative-led agricultural exports.

About National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL):

What is it?
A national-level multi-state cooperative society that acts as an umbrella organisation for all cooperative exports in India.

Established:
25 January 2023, registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

Headquarters:
New Delhi, India.

Objectives:
To strengthen India’s cooperative sector in international markets, promote exports, improve farmer incomes, and realise the vision of “Prosperity through Cooperation”.

Promoter institutions:
• AMUL (GCMMF)
• IFFCO
• KRIBHCO
• NAFED
• NCDC

Functions:
✔ Provide a shared platform for cooperatives to enter global trade.
✔ Support the export of agriculture, dairy, fisheries, horticulture, handloom, handicrafts, textiles, and allied products.
✔ Offer infrastructure support, branding, compliance assistance, and market access.
✔ Empower cooperatives to compete globally through training and market intelligence.