Date-8th July 2025

● India- South America relations

● India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country
globally
● Simonyi Survey Telescope
● AI application in Assam
● 3 by 35 Initiative
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Contents
Topics of the day

GS Paper II
● International Relations-India- South America relations
GS Paper III
● Indian Economy-India becomes fourth ‘most equal’
country globally
● S&T-Simonyi Survey Telescope
GS Paper V
● Assam Issues-AI application in Assam
Prelims
● 3 by 35 Initiative
1. India- South America relations
Syllabus-
● GS Paper II-International
Relations
● Prelims

Source - The Indian Express

1. India- South America relations
Current context

● PM Modi recently
visited two important
South American
nations- Brazil and
Argentina.
● This is in line with
India’s goal to promote
South-South
Cooperation and
emerge as leader of
Global South.
1. India- South America relations
Key points in India-Brazil relation
1. Historical Ties
● Brazil was a Portuguese colony for more than 3
centuries, while Portuguese concurrently ruled in
Goa for about 450 years.
Economic exchanges
● India → Brazil: Coconut, Mango
● Brazil → India: Cashew
● Indian cattle breeds like Nellore became dominant
in Brazil (now ~80% of Brazilian cattle).
2. Post Independence
● India and Brazil established diplomatic ties in
1948, post-India’s independence.
● In 1961, Brazil opposed India’s Operation Vijay,
which liberated Goa from Portuguese rule.
● As a result, Indo-Brazil relations remained limited
for many decades.
1. India- South America relations
Key points in India-Brazil relation
3. 1990’s onwards
● Both India-Brazil took economic
reforms(Washington consensus)
following which, the trade relations
expanded.
● Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in
South America.
4. Defence Cooperation
● A 2+2 Political-Military dialogue was G4 groupings
initiated, which had its first meeting in ● India has also made a group of four country is known
2024. as G4 for reforms at UNSC.G4 includes Brazil
5. Green diplomacy India Germany and Japan.
● Brazil and India are founding members of Coffee club
International Solar Alliance and Global ● It is an informal group made up of 40 countries
Biofuel Alliance (GBA), that are opposed to new members entering the
6. Cooperation at multilateral forums UNSC permanent seat. It includes countries like
● Eg BRICS, G-20,G-77(for WTO reforms) Italy, Pakistan,Argentina,Republic of Korea etc
G-4(for UNSC reforms)
1. India- South America relations
Key points in India-Argentina relation
Historic visit
● PM Narendra Modi visited Argentina on July 4,
2025, as part of a five-nation Global South tour.
● This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian
Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years.
In 1968 PM Indira Gandhi visited Argentina
75 Years of Diplomatic Relations
as part of a wider South America tour.
● India and Argentina celebrated 75 years of
diplomatic ties in 2024.
Green energy transition
● Argentina is rich in lithium reserves – crucial for
India’s green energy transition.
Economic
● In 2024, India was Argentina’s 5th-largest
trading partner.
1. India’s relation with Brazil and Argentina

Prelims Practice Question

Q1.Which of the following statements about the
G4 group is correct?
1. The G4 consists of Brazil, Germany, India,
and Japan.
2. Their bid is opposed by a coalition known
as Uniting for Consensus (the “Coffee
Club”).
Options
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
GS Paper II-International Relations
Q1. “India and South America are natural partners in quest of a multipolar world.” Discuss 10
marks/150 words
Hints
● In the evolving global order India and South American countries have convergent aspiration of creating a
multipolar world order. Thus the two sides emerge as natural partners in their quest.
Natural partners in quest of a multipolar world
1. Shared Aspirations for Strategic Autonomy and Multipolarity
a. Non-Aligned Legacy: Both India and South American nations have historically pursue independent foreign
policies, avoiding alignment with any one global power bloc.
b. Voice of the Global South: India, through initiatives like the Voice of Global South Summit, and countries
like Brazil (through BRICS and G20), advocate for reforming global institutions like the UN Security Council,
IMF, and World Bank.
2. Economic synergy
● South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile are rich in rare earth minerals like Lithium which will
be instrumental in challenging China’s hegemony regarding rare earth metals.
3. Democratic reforms of Global institutions
● Eg G77 aims for reforms at WTO, G4 aims at reforms in UNSC has members from South America apart
from India.
4. Strategic Convergence
● IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa)- promote South-South cooperation and build consensus on global issues.
India and South America, driven by shared civilizational values and developmental aspirations, are
well-positioned to forge a robust partnership in a multipolar world.
2. India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country globally

Syllabus-
● GS Paper III-Indian Economy
● Prelims

Source - The Hindu

2. India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country globally
Gini Coefficient

● The Gini coefficient measures

inequality on a scale from 0 to
1.
● Higher values indicate higher
inequality.
● Reduced Gini Coefficient
means reducing inequality.
2. India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country globally
Current context
● According to the World Bank, India’s consumption-based Gini Index
stands at 25.5, making it the fourth most equal country in the world.
● India was placed after the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Belarus.
● India’s score is much lower than China’s 35.7 and far lower than the
United States, which stands at 41.8.
Some important initiatives to reduce poverty-
1. PM Jan Dhan Yojana
● By 2025 over 55.69 crore people will hold Jan Dhan accounts, giving
them direct access to government benefits and formal banking
services.
2. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
● The DBT system has streamlined welfare payments, reducing
leakages and delays.
3. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
● 5 kg food grains free of cost to 80 crore poor families per month.
4. PM Vishwakarma Yojana
● Traditional artisans and craftspeople are vital to India’s economic and
cultural fabric, the scheme supports them with collateral-free loans,
toolkits, digital training, and marketing support.
2. India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country globally
But then why does inequality feel so high?

1. Use of Consumption Data (instead of income or wealth)

● Rich people save/invest more and may underreport
consumption.
2. Top 1% is often excluded from household surveys
● Official surveys (like NSS or PLFS) often miss the
ultra-rich.
3. Regional and Caste/Class inequalities are not always
reflected
● Gini measures national-level inequality.
● It doesn’t fully reflect inter-state (e.g., Bihar vs Maharashtra)
or caste-based disparities.
Income and Wealth inequality in India(as per Wealth Inequality
Report ) Thomas Piketty(known as Modern
● In 2022-23, 22.6% of India’s national income went to just the Day Marx)
top 1%(highest inequality since 1922). ● In his book ‘Capital’ suggested
● Top 1% wealth share was 39.5%. very moderate wealth tax should
Multidimensional Poverty Index be imposed to deal with
● With 234 million, India is the country with the largest inequality.
number of people in extreme poverty.
2. India becomes fourth ‘most equal’ country globally

Prelims Practice Question

Q2. Which of the following is a graphical
representation of income distribution
used to calculate the Gini coefficient?
a. Pareto chart
b. Lorenz curve
c. Income-consumption curve
d. Kuznets curve
Q.Despite India's low Gini coefficient based on consumption data, perceptions of
inequality remain high. Critically examine the limitations of the Gini Index in capturing
true inequality in India. 15 marks/250 words

Hints
● Start with India’s Gini Index as per World Bank (25.5), making it the fourth most equal nation in terms of
consumption. But poverty feels very high in India and as per Multidimensional Poverty Index 234 million,
India is the country with the largest number of people in extreme poverty.
● This highlights limitations in consumption based Gini index.
Limitations of the Consumption based Gini Index in India’s Context-
1. Consumption vs Income/Wealth Data:
● Consumption tends to be smoother and underreported by the rich; savings/investments of the wealthy
aren't captured.
2. Survey Limitations:
● Household surveys often miss the top 1%, skewing results.
3. Inequality of Opportunity and Structure:
● Gini doesn’t capture regional, caste, class, or gender disparities.
In 2022-23, top 1% earned 22.6% of national income and held 39.5% of total wealth—revealing stark
concentration.
Way ahead
● Data Improvements: Revise surveys to capture wealth and income, especially from top 1%.
● Tax Reforms: Consider wealth or inheritance taxes, as suggested by Thomas Piketty, to redistribute wealth.
3. Simonyi Survey Telescope

Syllabus-
● GS Paper III-S&T
● Prelims

Source -The Indian Express(Pg 9)

3. Simonyi Survey Telescope
What is Vera C. Rubin Observatory?
● The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located in Chile’s Cerro
Pachón mountain, is about to change how we explore the
night sky.
● It houses the Simonyi Survey Telescope, the world’s largest
digital camera-equipped telescope, capable of scanning the
cosmos.
Key Features and Capabilities of Simonyi Survey Telescope-
1. Wide Field of View
● Offers a much larger view than telescopes like Hubble or
James Webb.
● One image can capture a section of the sky 40 times larger
than the full Moon
2. Rapid Movement and Repositioning: The Rubin Observatory will
● Can reposition in about 10 minutes, unlike conventional large explore:
telescopes which take longer. ● Milky Way Structure
3. World’s largest CCD camera ● Dark Matter & Energy
● Employ the world’s largest CCD camera (about ● Solar System
3.2 gigapixels), the telescope surveys the entire visible sky Census-Discover millions of
every few nights new asteroids and comets.
3. Simonyi Survey Telescope

Prelims Practice Question

Q3. Consider the following statements about the Simonyi
Survey Telescope at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.Which of
the above statements is/are correct?
1. The telescope can capture an image of a sky area roughly
40 times larger than the full Moon.
2. It requires at least an hour to reposition for a new sky
segment.
Options
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
4. AI application in Assam
Syllabus-
● GS Paper V-Assam Issues
● Prelims

Source - The Assam Tribune(Pg 6)

4. AI application in Assam
About the article

1. Agriculture & Tea Industry

a. Rice Farming (Dhemaji)
● AI analyzes soil reports (from APART project), monsoon data,
and satellite images, then advises farmers, e.g., suggesting the
right time to plant flood-resistant boka saul before Brahmaputra
floods.
b. Tea Gardens:
● In Jorhat AI detects early-stage fungus infection in a specific
section before human detection.
● Dibrugarh based Xihuroi Tech through AI-powered drones detect
blight and identify nutrient deficiencies in vast tea plantations
faster than humans.
2. Health Sector
● Rural Health Clinics (Majuli): AI tools assist community nurses by:
Detecting signs of tuberculosis (TB) in chest scans.
● Sending localized language reminders (e.g., in Mising or Bodo) for
infant vaccination schedules.
● AI assist ASHA workers in bridging language barrier.
4. AI application in Assam
About the article

3. Language, Culture & Heritage Preservation

a. Folktale Preservation (Diphu – Karbi region)
● Karbi youth train AI to listen to and preserve Deori
elders’ folktales, preserving oral heritage and
language cadence.
b. Weaving and Textile Heritage (Sualkuchi)
● Designers and weavers digitize traditional gamosa,
eri, and muga designs for AI catalogues.
● AI helps virtually try mekhela chadors in global
markets and supports co-creation of designs blending
old and new.
4. Assam Skill University Labs
● Training students under IndiaAI plan with local
application in Nalbari, Kokrajhar, Diphu.
5. 3 by 35 Initiative

Syllabus-
● Prelims

Source - The Indian Express

5. 3 by 35 Initiative
What is the news?
● Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has
launched a ”3 by 35” initiative.
What is 3 by 35 Initiative?
● It aims to revitalize health taxes as a powerful tool to
reduce harmful consumption, save lives, and
generate vital public revenue.
● It is an initiative urging countries to raise real prices
on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by at least 50
per cent by 2035.
● The initiative has an ambitious goal of raising US $1
trillion over the next 10 years.
5. 3 by 35 Initiative

Prelims Practice Question

Q4. Which of the following statements about the
WHO’s “3 by 35” initiative is correct?
1. It urges countries to raise real prices on
tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at
least 50% by 2035.
2. It aims to generate US $1 trillion in revenue
over the next 10 years.
3. It specifically targets only tobacco and
alcohol, not sugary drinks.
4. It plans to phase out sugar-sweetened
beverages entirely by 2035 through bans.
Options
a. Only 1 and 2
b. Only 1 and 3
c. Only 3 and 4
d. Only 2 and 4
Answers of previous day questions

Prelims Practice Question

Q1. Evaluate the following statements about Prelims Practice Question
BRICS Pay: Q2.Consider the following statements
1. The BRICS Business Council launched regarding Cooperatives in India:
BRICS Pay in 2018 as a joint venture 1. The 97th Constitutional Amendment
among member countries. Act granted constitutional status to
2. BRICS Pay is built around a common cooperatives and inserted Article 43B
cryptocurrency, used by all into the Directive Principles of State
participating nations for cross-border Policy.
transactions. 2. The Ministry of Rural Development is
3. A key objective of BRICS Pay is to the nodal ministry for cooperatives at
reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar by the national level in India.
facilitating settlements in local Which of the above statements is/are
currencies. correct?
Which of the above statements is/are a. 1 only
correct? b. 2 only
a. 1,2 only c. Both
b. 2,3 only d. None
c. 1,3 only
d. 1,2,3 all
Answers of previous day questions

Prelims Practice Question Prelims Practice Question

Q3. Consider the following statements about Q4.Evaluate the following statements about
the relationship between earthquakes and Shri Bhogeswar Baruah, the legendary
tsunamis: Assamese athlete:
1. Most tsunamis are caused by undersea 1. He won a gold medal in the 800m race at
earthquakes that result in vertical the 1966 Asian Games, setting a new
displacement of the sea floor. Asian record.
2. All undersea earthquakes automatically 2. His birthday, 3 September, is celebrated
generate tsunamis regardless of their in Assam as Abhiruchi Sports Day,
magnitude. making it the state’s official sports day.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 only a. 1 only
b. 2 only b. 2 only
c. Both c. Both
d. None d. None
Answers of previous day questions

Prelims Practice Question

Q5. Consider the following statements about World
Zoonoses Day:
1. World Zoonoses Day is observed on July 6 every
year to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases.
2. The day commemorates the development of the
first successful rabies vaccine by Louis Pasteur.
3. Zoonotic diseases are those that are transmitted
from humans to animals.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
a. 1,2 only
b. 2,3 only
c. 1,3 only
d. 1,2,3 all