About Blue Swimmer Crab:

• It is a brachyuran crab in the Portunidae family.
• It is also known as the blue crab, blue swimmer crab, blue manna crab and flower crab.
• Appearance: It is usually recognized by flat, disc-shaped hind legs, used as paddles for swimming, and by the nine spikes or horns along their carapace, on either side of their eyes.
• Distribution:
  • It is found in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, India, Sweden, Singapore
• In India it is distributed all along the east and west coasts with a dominant fishery at Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar.
• Characteristics:
  • They stay buried under sand or mud most of the time, particularly during the daytime and winter, which may explain their high tolerance to ammonium (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3).
  • Diet: They come out to feed during high tide on various organisms such as bivalves, fish and, to a lesser extent, macroalgae.

Why in news?

Keir Starmer has formally resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as leader of the Labour Party.

With this, the UK will have had seven Prime Ministers in a single decade — a remarkable sign of political instability in one of the world's oldest parliamentary democracies.

The 2024 general election was a landslide for Labour. The party won 412 seats, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Two years later, he is gone.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Why Did Starmer Resign?
• How the UK Constitutional System Works: Understanding the Process?
• Conclusion

Why Did Starmer Resign?

• The 'Freebies Gate' Scandal - Starmer and his Cabinet Ministers were accused of accepting gifts worth thousands of pounds. Dubbed "Freebies Gate," it caused a sharp drop in his approval ratings.
• Unpopular Policy Decisions - Several decisions deepened public resentment. He cut winter fuel subsidies for roughly 10 million pensioners to fund the National Health Service (NHS). He released 1,700 prisoners before their sentences were complete.
• The Brexit Shadow - Starmer's resignation came a day before the tenth anniversary of Brexit — Britain's 2016 decision to leave the European Union (EU). A decade on, the economic consequences are deeply felt.
  • An estimated 2–8% contraction in GDP, high borrowing, tax hikes, rampant inflation, failed immigration control, and trade complications have made 57% of Britons believe Brexit was a mistake.
• The Final Blow: Local Elections and the Makerfield By-Election - In the May 2026 local elections, Labour lost 1,100 council seats and control of over 30 councils — a catastrophic performance.

How the UK Constitutional System Works: Understanding the Process?

• This section is particularly important for UPSC, as it involves comparing parliamentary systems.
• How the UK Chooses Its Prime Minister?
  • The UK Parliament has two Houses — the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
  • The Commons has 650 seats. Citizens vote in general elections to elect their local Member of Parliament (MP).
  • The leader of the party that secures a majority in the House of Commons is invited by the Monarch (currently King Charles III) to form the government.
  • That leader becomes the Prime Minister.
  • A critical point: the five-year term limit applies to Parliament, not to the individual PM.
  • So even if the party retains its majority, the PM can be changed mid-term — without a fresh general election.
• The PM as "First Among Equals" (Primus Inter Pares)
  • The British system treats the PM not as a supreme executive, but as first among equals within the Cabinet and the parliamentary party.
  • The PM's authority rests entirely on the confidence of their own party's MPs.
  • Once that confidence erodes, the PM can be replaced — a much simpler and faster process than in presidential systems.
• How a PM Is Replaced: Labour Party's Internal Process?
  • Step 1 — Triggering a Vacancy: A leadership contest begins when the sitting leader resigns, or when 20% of Labour MPs (currently 81 members) formally back a challenger.
  • Step 2 — NEC Convenes: The National Executive Committee (NEC) immediately meets to set the timetable — defining deadlines for nominations and the voting process.
  • Step 3 — Candidate Nomination: Candidates must be sitting House of Commons MPs and must secure nominations from either 5% of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) or three affiliated organisations such as trade unions.
  • Step 4 — Preferential Ballot: All party members and affiliates vote using a preferential ballot, ranking candidates in order of preference. The winner must cross 50% of votes. If no one achieves this in the first round, the least popular candidates are eliminated and their votes redistributed — until a winner emerges.
• The Constitutional Handover
  • The new Labour leader does not become PM automatically. The outgoing PM (Starmer) must travel to Buckingham Palace to formally tender resignation to King Charles III.
  • The newly elected Labour leader is then summoned for an audience with the King, who invites them to form the government. Upon accepting, they officially become Prime Minister.
  • Andy Burnham — the newly elected MP for Makerfield and former Mayor of Greater Manchester — is currently the frontrunner, with Streeting having withdrawn to back him.

Conclusion

Since 2016, the UK has cycled through leaders with striking speed: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss (45 days — the shortest tenure in UK history), Rishi Sunak, and now Starmer. None has completed a full term.

This pattern reflects a deeper structural crisis — the unresolved consequences of Brexit, economic stagnation, fractured party politics, and a rising far-right that is challenging the two-party order Britain has known for over a century.

Why in the News?

• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has begun high-level talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to finalise the first tranche of an India-US trade deal, even as India’s trade surplus with the US has fallen by over 40%.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India-US Trade Relations (Background, Key Issues, etc.)
• News Summary (Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s Trade Talks, Current Situation, Agriculture Factor, Significance, etc.)

India-US Trade Relations

• India and the United States share one of the world’s most important bilateral economic relationships.
• India’s goods trade with the U.S. totalled an estimated $149.4 billion in 2025.
• Trade between the two countries includes:

• Indian exports include pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, petroleum products, gems and jewellery, textiles, electronics, and chemicals.
• US exports include crude oil and LNG, defence equipment, agricultural products, aircraft parts, machinery, electronics, and medical instruments.

• The relationship has expanded beyond merchandise trade to include:

• Services trade, especially IT and business services.
• Investment flows, though, net FDI trends have weakened in recent years.
• Technology cooperation in semiconductors, digital trade, and advanced manufacturing.
• Strategic supply chains, especially in energy and defence.

• At the same time, India-US trade ties have often seen friction over tariffs, market access, agricultural subsidies, digital regulation, and localisation rules.

Key Issues in India-US Trade Ties

• A central issue has been the trade imbalance, with India traditionally enjoying a surplus in merchandise trade with the US. Washington has often pushed for:

• Greater access for US farm products,
• Lower tariffs on industrial goods,
• Better terms for energy exports,
• Easier market access for American companies.

• India, on the other hand, has sought:

• Better access for its manufactured goods and services,
• Predictable tariff treatment,
• Recognition of its concerns on farm livelihoods,
• Protection from heavily subsidised agricultural imports.

• The wider trade environment has become more uncertain because the US is expected to complete its Section 301 investigation and unveil a new tariff architecture, which may become an alternative to reciprocal tariffs.

News Summary

• India and the US have entered a critical phase of trade negotiations, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal holding two-day talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to finalise the first tranche of a trade agreement by next month.

Trade Surplus Has Fallen Sharply

• Data from the Commerce and Industry Ministry show that India’s trade surplus with the US has declined by over 40% since negotiations began last year after PM Modi’s meeting with then US President Donald Trump in February 2025.

• India’s export surplus fell to $2.94 billion in May 2026
• It had stood at $5.02 billion in May 2025

• This sharp decline shows that India’s trade position with the US has weakened even before the deal is concluded.

Concessions Already Affecting Trade Balance

• The decline in surplus is linked to a number of concessions and changing import patterns.
• Before the Prime Minister’s US visit last year, India:

• Reduced duty on American bourbon whiskey
• Slashed tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles

• In addition:

• Indian public sector refiners signed a one-year deal last November to import 2.2 million tonnes per annum of US LPG.
• Amid disruption in LNG supplies from West Asia, the US became India’s top source of LNG in May 2026.

• This suggests that the US has already gained greater export access in energy and premium consumer segments.

Declining Exports, Rising Imports Across Sectors

• The data indicate that India’s trade surplus is shrinking in several sectors beyond energy. In petroleum products:

• India’s exports to the US in March 2026 fell 24.02% to $235.47 million.
• Imports from the US in the same category rose 130.95% to $321.73 million.

• In electronic components:

• India’s exports fell 33.41% to $135.54 million.
• Imports from the US jumped 136.30% to $431.89 million.

• A similar pattern was visible in:

• Organic chemicals
• Copper products
• Motor vehicles
• Fresh fruits
• Scientific instruments

• In many of these categories, exports slipped while imports rose sharply, pointing to stronger US competition in the Indian market.

Agriculture Remains the Most Sensitive Issue

• The most contentious element in the negotiations continues to be agriculture.
• Several farm groups have warned the government not to compromise on farm imports, especially because the US has one of the largest agricultural subsidy programmes in the world.
• Concerns have been raised for producers of Apples, Almonds, Walnuts, Soybean, Cotton and Rubber.
• Farm groups argue that allowing heavily subsidised US farm goods into India would:

• Hurt domestic farmers,
• Undermine India’s long-standing WTO stance against US farm subsidies,
• Damage rural livelihoods, especially in hill and rainfed regions.

• Apple growers from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand have said that even a minimum import price may not protect them adequately because US apples are already entering at higher price points.
• Farmer organisations have also pointed out that the US Farm Bill has allocated extremely large financial support packages over the years, while Indian farmers effectively face a negative producer support environment.

Strategic Context of the Talks

• These talks are taking place at a time when the US is preparing a new tariff regime under the Section 301 process.
• This means the agreement is not just about improving trade ties but also about shielding India from potentially harsher tariff action later.
• Government officials have indicated that the current talks are expected to give the “final touch” to the first tranche of the agreement.

Significance

• The current round of India-US trade talks is important for several reasons.
  • First, it will shape the future of India’s access to one of its biggest export markets.
  • Second, it comes at a time when India’s trade surplus with the US is already narrowing, meaning the room for further unilateral concessions may be limited.
  • Third, agriculture remains politically and economically sensitive, and any compromise could have direct implications for farm incomes and India’s WTO position.
  • Finally, the talks reflect a broader strategic balancing act: India wants deeper economic ties with the US, but without weakening domestic manufacturing, agriculture, or trade policy autonomy.

Context:

• The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), coming into force on 15 July, marks a significant milestone in India’s trade diplomacy.
• The agreement aims to expand bilateral trade, enhance market access, boost exports from labour- intensive sectors, facilitate mobility of professionals, and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• It represents one of India’s most ambitious free trade agreements (FTAs) with a developed economy.

Key Features of CETA:

• Near-complete tariff elimination:
  • The agreement grants Indian exports duty-free access on around 99% of tariff lines, covering almost the entire trade value between the two countries.
  • This provides Indian products with a substantial competitive advantage in the UK market and opens opportunities across manufacturing, agriculture and services sectors.
• People-centric and inclusive framework: CETA seeks to distribute benefits across various sections of society. For example,
  • Farmers gain access to premium export markets.
  • Fisherfolk benefit from expanded seafood exports.
  • MSMEs, start-ups and artisans receive greater integration into global value chains.
  • Women entrepreneurs and youth obtain new market opportunities.
  • Skilled professionals enjoy enhanced mobility and employment prospects abroad.

Benefits for Agriculture and Rural Economy:

• Expanded market access:
  • Several agricultural and processed products such as turmeric, pepper, cardamom, mango pulp, pickles, and pulses, will enjoy duty-free access to the UK market.
  • This is expected to increase farm incomes, promote value addition and food processing, encourage quality certification and packaging standards, and generate employment throughout agricultural supply chains.
• Protection of sensitive sectors:
  • India has excluded vulnerable agricultural sectors from liberalisation, including dairy products, cereals and millets, apples, oats, and cooking oils.
  • These safeguards aim to preserve food security, domestic price stability and farmer welfare.

Boost to Manufacturing and MSMEs:

• Strengthening labour-intensive industries:
  • The removal of tariff barriers is expected to enhance competitiveness in sectors such as sports goods, toys, textiles and garments, and gems and jewellery.
  • Traditional artisans, regional manufacturing clusters and export-oriented industries stand to gain significantly.
• Regional economic impact: Industrial centres such as Tiruppur (textiles), Surat (diamonds), Bengaluru (technology), and Hyderabad (IT services), are expected to benefit from greater export opportunities and business expansion.

Major Gains in Services Trade:

• Comprehensive services commitments: The UK has offered one of its broadest services market access packages, covering -
  • IT and IT-enabled services,
  • Financial and professional services,
  • Healthcare and education,
  • Telecommunications, and engineering and consultancy services.
• Enhanced mobility of professionals:
  • The agreement facilitates movement of business visitors, contractual service suppliers, independent professionals, investors, and intra-corporate transferees.
  • Additionally, 1,800 Indian chefs, yoga instructors and classical musicians will receive dedicated annual mobility opportunities.

Double Contribution Convention (DCC):

• A landmark component of the agreement is the DCC, under which Indian workers on temporary assignments in the UK are exempted from making dual social-security contributions.
• Expected benefits:
  • Relief for over 75,000 Indian professionals.
  • Benefits for more than 900 Indian companies.
  • Reduced cost of overseas assignments.
  • Greater ease of global talent mobility.

CETA in India’s Broader FTA Strategy:

• India’s recent FTAs have moved beyond tariff reduction to include investment, mobility and regulatory cooperation.
• Notable examples include:
  • EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA): Commitment of $100 billion investment and potential creation of 1 million direct jobs.
  • India–New Zealand FTA: Investment commitment of $20 billion over 15 years.
  • India–Australia ECTA: Resolution of double-taxation concerns affecting Indian IT firms.
• This reflects a shift towards comprehensive economic partnerships that combine trade expansion with investment and employment generation.

Strategic Significance and Challenges:

• Enhancing investor confidence:
  • FTAs reduce policy uncertainty and improve the investment climate.
  • India’s trade agreements with developed economies signal policy stability and deeper integration with global markets.
• Strengthening India’s global economic position: India has transitioned from being viewed as one of the “Fragile Five” economies to becoming -
  • The world’s fastest-growing major economy.
  • A trusted global economic partner.
  • An attractive destination for investment and supply-chain diversification.
• Supporting domestic competitiveness:
  • Gradual market opening encourages Indian firms to improve productivity, enhance quality standards, and innovate and become globally competitive.
  • This aligns with the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
• Challenges and considerations:
  • Indian industries must upgrade quality standards to fully exploit UK market access.
  • Export competitiveness requires stronger logistics, certification systems and supply-chain integration.
  • Continuous support is needed for MSMEs to adapt to international standards and competition.

Conclusion:

• The India–UK CETA represents a new generation trade agreement that combines market access, investment facilitation, professional mobility and social-security cooperation.
• By balancing export expansion with protection of sensitive domestic sectors, it strengthens India’s integration with global markets while advancing employment generation, competitiveness and the long-term vision of a developed India by 2047.

Context

• The twenty-first century has made technology, digital infrastructure, and data central to national power.
• Economic activity, governance, communication, and defence increasingly depend on digital systems.
• Recent incidents involving compromised surveillance networks and restrictions on corporate digital services have exposed India's dependence on foreign-controlled technology platforms.
• These developments have intensified concerns regarding digital sovereignty and the need for greater technological self-reliance.

The Risks of Foreign Dependence

• Dependence on foreign digital infrastructure creates significant risks for national security, economic stability, and governance.
• Critical systems such as cloud platforms, authentication systems, communication tools, and software services are often controlled by overseas corporations operating under foreign legal frameworks.
• Consequently, access to essential services may be influenced by decisions taken outside India.
• Such dependence can affect government functioning, business operations, manufacturing, and financial systems.
• Even when data is stored domestically, effective control may remain with foreign entities.
• As digital technologies become indispensable to everyday operations, the ability of external actors to restrict access poses a serious strategic challenge.

Defence and Strategic Vulnerabilities

• Modern warfare is increasingly software-defined, making control over software as important as control over hardware.
• Advanced fighter aircraft, missile systems, radar networks, and surveillance platforms rely on sophisticated code that may remain under the influence of foreign manufacturers.
• In times of conflict, this dependence could limit operational flexibility and weaken strategic capabilities.
• The experience of restricted GPS access during the Kargil conflict demonstrated how reliance on external technology can create vulnerabilities at critical moments.
• As military systems become more technologically advanced, reducing such dependence becomes essential for maintaining strategic autonomy.

Global Shift Towards Technological Sovereignty

• The pursuit of technological sovereignty is not unique to India. Several countries are seeking alternatives to foreign software and cloud services.
• France plans to adopt sovereign communication platforms, while parts of Europe are exploring domestic substitutes for widely used digital tools.
• The European Union is investing in independent cloud and IT infrastructure, and countries such as Türkiye are also reducing reliance on foreign technologies.
• These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that technological control is closely linked to economic resilience, security, and political independence.

India's Unique Challenge

• India's position is particularly significant because of its emergence as a rising global power.
• According to Power Transition Theory, established powers often seek to constrain emerging competitors.
• As India's economic and strategic influence expands, technological dependence may become a source of external pressure.
• Maintaining strategic autonomy therefore requires control over critical technologies.
• Building a strong domestic technological ecosystem is essential not only for economic growth but also for preserving independent decision-making in an increasingly competitive international environment.

Pathways to Technological Sovereignty

• Continued investment in semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, digital platforms, and indigenous software solutions is crucial.
• Successful initiatives such as UPI and RuPay demonstrate that foreign dependence can be reduced through innovation and institutional commitment.
• Greater participation of the private sector in defence production and technological development can accelerate innovation.
• A collaborative model involving government support, research funding, and assured procurement can strengthen domestic capabilities.
• Recent efforts in projects such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) indicate movement in this direction.
• International cooperation also remains important. Strategic partnerships can create mutual dependence, reducing the risk of unilateral actions.
• The BrahMos missile programme, collaboration with Micron Technology, and participation in initiatives such as Pax Silica illustrate how technological advancement can be achieved through trusted partnerships while preserving national interests.

The Need to Close the R&D Gap

• The most critical requirement is a substantial increase in research and development (R&D) expenditure.
• India's average R&D spending remains significantly below the global average, limiting its ability to innovate and compete in advanced technologies.
• Sustained investment in scientific research, artificial intelligence, electronics, and defence technologies is essential for long-term competitiveness.
• Without a strong innovation ecosystem, efforts to achieve technological sovereignty will remain incomplete.
• Enhanced R&D capacity is therefore fundamental to economic progress, security, and technological leadership.

Conclusion

• Digital and technological sovereignty has become a defining requirement of modern statecraft.
• Dependence on foreign-controlled technologies exposes India to economic, political, and security risks that can undermine national interests.
• Strengthening domestic capabilities through innovation, strategic partnerships, private-sector participation, and increased R&D investment offers a sustainable path forward.
• India's success in securing technological sovereignty will play a decisive role in shaping its future economic competitiveness, national security, and position in the global order.

About Nabha Fort:

• It is located in Nabha city within the Patiala district of Punjab.
• It served as the royal residence and administrative center of the Nabha princely state under the Phulkian dynasty.
• Constructed and expanded over more than 150 years, notable rulers like Maharaja Hira Singh (1843-1911) contributed to its grandeur with decorative frescoes, intricate carvings, and spacious courtyards.
• The fort played a significant role during the Anglo-Sikh Wars, with Nabha aligned with the British, which secured its sovereignty under colonial rule.
• Architecture:
  • The fort features traditional Indian military architecture with thick walls, bastions, and large gates designed for defense, alongside palatial residences, gardens, and audience halls showcasing a blend of Mughal, Rajput, and Sikh architectural styles.
  • The fort also consists of painted chambers, gilding and mirror work, colored glass and decorative fanlights, wood carvings, decorative plasterwork, stone door frames, and stone jaalis.
  • Rediscovered artifacts include rare wall paintings depicting Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army and a unique cooling system in the basement known as the Sard Khana.

About Dongfeng-17 (DF-17):

• It is a Chinese solid-fueled medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile.
• It was officially unveiled in 2019.
• Its NATO code name is CSS-22.
• Features:
  • It is said to have a range of 1800 km to 2500 km.
  • It is mounted on a mobile launcher.
  • It carries a hypersonic glide vehicle DF-ZF (HGV — Hypersonic Glide Vehicle).
  • Its operation is as follows:
    • The missile is launched outside the atmosphere like a classic ballistic missile.
    • At a certain altitude, the DF-ZF warhead separates.
    • The warhead reenters the atmosphere, but instead of descending in a straight line like ballistic missiles, it “glides” in the atmosphere with its fins.
    • While gliding, it changes direction and maneuvers. Its speed is approximately Mach 5-10.
    • This flight profile allows the vehicle to remain below radar detection for longer durations than a ballistic missile covering the same distance.