On May 15 2025, India and the world witnessed significant developments across various sectors. The government is moving ahead with the PM SHRI Scheme to improve schools. It has introduced a new "Right to Repair" policy to help consumers fix their products more easily. On the economic side, retail inflation has dropped to its lowest point in nearly six years, giving relief to both families and the government. India has also told the WTO it will end extra tariffs on U.S. goods, showing better trade ties with America. In foreign affairs, India and the U.S. have also discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the growing importance of their relationship.

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

PM SHRI Scheme

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

In News:

• The Kerala government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to withhold ₹1,500 crore in funds under centrally sponsored education schemes, notably the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA).

• Kerala alleges the funds are being withheld due to its refusal to adopt the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme, which is linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What is the Issue Raised by Kerala?

Non-Signatory State: Kerala, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, has not signed the MoU required to implement PM SHRI.

Key Objections:

• PM SHRI is based on NEP 2020, which Kerala’s CPI(M)-led government criticizes as promoting saffronisation and centralisation of education.
• Kerala argues it already fulfills many of PM SHRI's objectives independently:
  • 40,000+ smart classrooms.
  • Widespread broadband connectivity in government and aided schools.
• Centre’s Response: Alleged withholding of ₹1,500 crore (primarily under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) since 2023–24.

• Impact on Kerala:
  • Delay in funding affects ongoing school-level schemes.
  • Students' education and infrastructure development may suffer.

Kerala’s Legal Action and Constitutional Context

• Planned Action: Kerala plans to move the Supreme Court invoking its Original Jurisdiction under Article 131 of the Constitution.
• Article 131: Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
  • The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in disputes:
    • Between the Government of India and one or more States.
    • Between two or more States.
  • Applicable when disputes involve:
    • Legal rights and constitutional interpretation.
    • Not applicable to political or administrative disagreements unless legal rights are affected.
• Kerala is asserting that withholding of funds violates the federal structure and legal obligations under centrally sponsored schemes like SSA.

Know more about the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan!

Right to Repair

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Polity)

In News:

• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) recently received a report on a proposed “Framework on Repairability Index (RI)” for the mobile and electronic sector in India.

• The move is part of a broader initiative under the Right to Repair movement to improve product longevity, consumer choice, and sustainability.

What is the Right to Repair?

The Right to Repair is a global consumer movement advocating for access to repair information, spare parts, tools, and services to fix consumer products independently or via third parties.

The goal is to ensure consumers are not forced to rely solely on manufacturers for repairs, which may be costly, limited, or inaccessible.

Key Aspects

• Access to spare parts at fair prices.
• Repair manuals and diagnostic tools to be made publicly available.
• Freedom to use third-party repair services without warranty voiding.
• Prevention of monopolistic practices by manufacturers.

India’s Approach

India’s DoCA launched a Right to Repair portal that:

• Lists authorised service centres.
• Provides repair literature from manufacturers.

India’s version is more manufacturer-friendly compared to the more confrontational U.S. model.

Retail inflation at 69 month low

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Economy)

In News:

• Retail inflation in India dropped to 3.16% in April 2025, marking the lowest level in 69 months (since July 2019).

• This decline has been largely attributed to falling food prices, particularly vegetables and pulses.

• This is the sixth consecutive month of declining retail inflation, offering relief to consumers and policy flexibility to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Key Data Points from April 2025

• Headline Retail Inflation (CPI):
  • 3.16% in April 2025, down from 3.34% in March 2025.
  • Lowest since July 2019.
  • Down from a peak of 6.21% in October 2024.
• Food and Beverages Inflation: Slowed to 2.14%, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.

• Key drivers of contraction:
  • Vegetables: 10.98%
  • Pulses: 5.23%
  • Meat and fish: 0.35%
• Vegetables:
  • Third consecutive month of deflation (negative inflation).
  • However, drop is partly due to the high base effect, as inflation was around 27–30% during February–April 2024.

India's WTO notification on retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Economy)

In News:

• India notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on $7.6 billion worth of U.S. imports.

• This move is in response to the United States’ imposition of 25% import duties on steel and aluminium without country-specific exemptions, effective from March 2025.

• India’s proposed measures will involve suspension of WTO concessions or obligations on select U.S. products.

Background of the Dispute

• The U.S. first imposed higher tariffs on steel and aluminium under President Donald Trump in 2018, citing national security concerns under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act.
• In February 2025, during Trump’s second term, these duties were extended and existing exemptions were withdrawn.
• The U.S. refused to engage in consultations with India, asserting that the tariffs were not safeguard measures under WTO rules.
• India disagrees, arguing the tariffs qualify as de facto safeguard measures and violate:
  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994
  • WTO Agreement on Safeguards (AoS)

India’s Legal Justification and Response

India claims:

• The U.S. failed to notify WTO or hold consultations under Article 12.3 of the AoS.
• The tariffs are essentially safeguard measures.
• Therefore, India is entitled to retaliatory action by suspending WTO obligations.

India’s proposed action includes:

• Suspending tariff concessions on selected U.S. products.
• Imposing equivalent tariffs to offset the estimated $1.91 billion duty burden imposed on Indian exports to the U.S.
• Retaliation to begin 30 days after May 9, 2025, unless resolved.

Know more about the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM)!

India-USA on Jammu and Kashmir

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (International Relations)

In News:

• India reiterated its long-standing position that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire between the two countries after Operation Sindoor.

• The External Affairs Ministry (MEA) clarified that trade did not feature in recent high-level India-U.S. discussions and dismissed third-party mediation or nuclear escalation scenarios.

Key Highlights of the Issue

Background: Operation Sindoor

• Launched on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was an Indian military operation targeting nine terror infrastructure locations inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• India described it as operating strictly within the conventional military domain, targeting only terrorist infrastructure, not Pakistani military installations.

U.S. Claims

• Donald Trump claimed his administration mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
• In a post on Truth Social (May 10) and during subsequent speeches in Riyadh and Washington, he stated:
  • The U.S. played a key role in avoiding a nuclear war.
  • He used the threat or offer of trade deals to persuade both countries to de-escalate tensions.
  • "Let us not trade nuclear missiles, let us do some trade," he said at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum.

India’s Response

MEA spokesperson firmly rebutted the claims:

• J&K is an internal and bilateral issue, not subject to international mediation.
• The only issue India seeks to resolve is the vacation of Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• Trade issues were not discussed in India-U.S. communications post-Operation Sindoor.
• India dismissed the notion of a nuclear threat, calling it nuclear blackmail, and affirmed it does not engage in discussions under such premises.

Ceasefire Clarification

• India stated that the pause in hostilities declared on May 10 was a bilateral military decision, finalized during a phone call between the Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.
• No external party, including the U.S., was involved in brokering the ceasefire.

Know more about the India Pakistan Relations!