Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for November 16, 2025. If you missed the November 15, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests, Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What’s the ongoing story: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said India is willing to play a leadership role in driving WTO reforms, but emphasised that the nature of those reforms must be shaped in consultation with developing and least-developed countries to ensure they serve global welfare rather than the agenda of a few advanced nations.Key Points to Ponder:— Read about the WTO. — What is the structure of the WTO?— What is the Special and Differential Treatment (SDT)?— What is WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)?— What are the shortcomings of the WTO?— Why are countries pushing for WTO reforms?— Why is the revival of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism important?Key Takeaways:— He said the world recognises India’s strength and leadership and the country is a responsible global citizen and it will continue to be the voice of the Global South. The Minister was in Visakhapatnam to participate in the CII Partnership Summit 2025.— Mr. Goyal was replying to a question on remarks made by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that India should take a leadership role in the WTO reform process. She was also in Visakhapatnam for the summit.Story continues below this ad— Developed nations, including the U.S. are pushing for reforms in WTO. These talks have gained momentum in recent years. They are demanding reforms in areas such as dispute settlement mechanism, special and differential treatment to developing countries, and the way agreements are negotiated in the WTO.— India has consistently stated that the reform agenda must be decided by consensus among all member nations.— According to the Geneva-based 166-member WTO, the issue of reforms is a broad one, encompassing many facets of the WTO’s work.— On his meeting with the WTO chief on Friday (November 14, 2025), Mr. Goyal said they held talks about the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC), to be held in Cameroon in March next year, and various other aspects including reforms.Story continues below this ad— MC is the highest decision-making body of this multilateral organisation that deals with global trade related matters. It also adjudicates disputes between the member countries. India has been its member since 1995.— “We have the demand for a permanent solution to the public stockholding issue. We want the dispute resolution mechanism to be revived. There are many agendas which we discussed,” he said.— Meanwhile, talking to reporters on her meeting with the Minister, Ms. Ngozi said: “We discussed about WTO, we also have to strengthen the multi-lateral system and we would like India to take a lead in doing that”.— On India’s role in the next MC, she said India can play an “extremely” important role in that as the country is dynamic, innovative and it has many good practices to share with other developing nations.Do You Know:Story continues below this ad— The World Trade Organization is the only international organization that deals with the rules of trade between countries.— It was founded in 1995, the WTO is run by its members, and according to its rules, all decisions are taken through consensus and any member can exercise a veto.— It aims to promote free trade, which is done through trade agreements that are discussed and signed by the member states.— The WTO also provides a forum for countries to negotiate trade rules and settle economic disputes. The Ministerial Conference is the WTO’s top decision-making body and usually meets every two years.Story continues below this ad— All members of the WTO are involved in the Ministerial Conference and they can make decisions on all matters covered under any multilateral trade agreements.Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:The WTO is having an existential crisisHow India can lead multilateralism at WTOPrevious year UPSC Prelims Questions Covering similar theme:(1) The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the (UPSC CSE 2015)(a) Food and Agriculture Organization(b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change(c) World Trade Organization(d) United Nations Environment Programme(2) In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms ‘amber box, blue box and green box’ in the news? (UPSC CSE 2016)(a) WTO affairs(b) SAARC affairs(c) UNFCCC affairs(d) India-EU negotiations on FTAPrevious year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of ‘Trade War’, especially keeping in mind the interest of India? (UPSC CSE 2018)‘Examining relief measures for SEZs to boost production’Syllabus:Story continues below this adPreliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Social and economic development. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Effects of liberalisation on the economy. What’s the ongoing story: The government is examining proposals to roll out certain relief measures to boost production in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday.Key Points to Ponder:— What are the Special Economic Zones?— What are the challenges faced by SEZs in India?— What measures should be taken to boost production in Special Economic Zones (SEZs)?Story continues below this ad— What is the concept of “reverse job work”, and why are SEZ exporters demanding it?— What is the significance of improving SEZ production work for India’s export competitiveness?Key Takeaways:— He added the ministry is looking at ways and means to promote excess capacities in these zones for use in the domestic market in India. This will be in a way also an import substitution because many goods that come into India from other countries get better benefits than the SEZ supplies to DTAs (domestic tariffs areas), he said at the Brandix textiles units in Andhra Pradesh SEZ.ALSO READ | Knowledge Nugget | National Press Day and India’s 2025 Press Freedom Standing: A must-know for UPSC Exam— “We are trying to bridge that gap and we are very hopeful that soon the output from all the SEZs will increase in a big way. We are also examining what further relief we can give to the SEZs so that we can increase production in these zones,”the Commerce Minister said. Story continues below this adDo You Know: — A government panel, comprising officials from the Commerce and Industry Ministry, NITI Aayog, as well as exporters, is working on new Special Economic Zones norms aimed at boosting manufacturing and helping exporters leverage the domestic market amid steep US tariffs that have hurt production, a person aware of the development told The Indian Express.— This comes after multiple units in the SEZs, particularly those which entirely cater to the US market, have written to the Commerce Ministry seeking that they be de-notified due to sudden tariff pressure that has left exports uncompetitive in the US market. However, exporters, till now, have tried to hold on to the US market even by bearing losses. — SEZs enjoy various tax benefits, including duty-free imports and domestic procurement. Official data showed that India’s exports from SEZs in FY25 stood at $172 billion from nearly 276 units in the country, and the domestic sales comprised 2 per cent of the total production. However, Indian SEZs have lagged over the years, especially compared with Chinese special economic zones that transformed manufacturing in the neighbouring country.— Against the backdrop of the US tariffs, exporters have been seeking a ‘reverse job work’ policy that would allow units in the SEZs to perform work for the domestic market. The long-standing demand by exporters to allow reverse job work is also aimed at improving the efficiency of the SEZ units, as exporters have argued that due to the seasonality in export demand, labour and equipment capacity in SEZs are often not optimally utilised.Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:Govt panel working on new SEZ norms for exporters to access domestic marketPrevious year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:(3) The SEZ Act, 2005 which came into effect in February 2006 has certain objectives. In this context, consider the following: (UPSC CSE 2010)1. Development of infrastructure facilities.2. Promotion of investment from foreign sources.3. Promotion of exports of services only.Which of the above are the objectives of this Act? (a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Indian EV makers are racing to go rare earth-free amid China’s export curbsSyllabus:Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, Economic Development. Main Examination: General Studies-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.What’s the ongoing story: Amid Chinese restrictions on export of rare earth minerals, some smaller Indian companies are working on indigenous solutions to reduce dependence on imports. Two Bengaluru-based companies — Simple Energy and Chara Technologies — claim to have developed electric motors that eliminate the need for heavy rare earth elements — critical components in modern EVs.Key Points to Ponder:— What are rare earths? Why is it called rare earth minerals?— Which country has the most rare earth deposits?— What is the impact of China’s restrictions on rare earth minerals on India?— How is India ramping up its exposure to rare earths?— What effects does China’s dominance over the processing of rare earth magnets have on global supply chains?— What are the rare earth minerals found in India?— What should India do to prepare for future shortages of strategic minerals such as rare earth elements?Key Takeaways:— These indigenous efforts come at a time when China — which controls over 90 per cent of global rare earth processing — has been tightening export regulations on these materials as a weapon in its trade war with the US. — In April, China restricted seven rare earth elements — samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. This was followed by another five in October — holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, and ytterbium — along with related magnets and materials.— While the immediate impact of these restrictions is limited in India, it has intensified supply chain challenges for the auto industry, especially for the EV and electronics sector. Several Indian EV manufacturers, including Ola Electric and TVS Motor, are also said to be working on rare earth-free technologies. — Last week, China partly eased some restrictions on its export of critical minerals and rare earth minerals to the United States. However, it is not yet clear whether it means a complete roll back of China’s rare earth export control introduced in April. Earlier this month, the US claimed that China has agreed to issue general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of U.S. end users and their suppliers.— According to the Ministry of Mines, India imported 2,270 tonnes of rare earth elements in 2023-24, up 23 per cent from 1,848 tonnes in 2019-20. Imports from China accounted for 65 per cent.Do You Know:— Rare earths are a subset of the critical minerals grouping that includes 17 metallic elements nestled lower down in the periodic table, from lanthanum (atomic number 57) to lutetium (71), as well as plus scandium (21) and yttrium (39).— These elements are characterised by their high density, high melting point, high conductivity and high thermal conductance. They are classified as heavy or light, based on atomic weight.— Rare earths form crucial inputs, although often in trace volumes, across a range of products, from weapons platforms and electronics, including flat screen TVs and smartphones, to wind turbines, robotics, electric vehicles, MRI scanners and cancer treatment devices.Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:Knowledge Nugget: Geopolitics and Minerals – What is the UPSC relevance of Rare Earth Elements?What is India’s share in rare earth elements, the backbone of modern technologies?UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:(4) With reference to the Rare Earth Elements, consider the following statements:1. These are crucial for manufacturing high-value goods in defence and clean energy.2. The United States dominated rare earth elements, supplying 85 to 95 per cent of the world’s demand.3. Gadolinium (Gd) and holmium (Ho) are considered Rare Earth Elements.Which of the statements given above are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3 OPINION Remembering the promise of Jharkhand at 25Syllabus:Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country, Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.What’s the ongoing story: Kunal Shahdeo writes- “On November 15, 2025, Jharkhand stepped into its silver jubilee year. The Morabadi ground in Ranchi held a grand celebration, made even more symbolic because this year marked the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the most iconic figure of Adivasi resistance in the subcontinent. Yet, anniversaries, particularly those staged with spectacle, often risk obscuring the deeper histories that made them possible. As the state celebrates, it must also pause. Jharkhand’s foundation day is not merely an occasion of pride. It is a moment of remembrance and reflection, a reminder of promises made and promises still deferred.”Key Points to Ponder:— Read about the Birsa Munda and the Adivasi Mahasabha. — What was the structure of Indian territories under British rule?— What major changes took place in the structure of Indian states after Independence?— Know about the Jharkhand movement. — Why did the State Reorganisation Commission reject the Jharkhand demand in 1956?— Read about the State Reorganisation Commission and its recommendations.— How is a new state formed in India?— What are the challenges faced by Adivasi communities in Jharkhand?Key Takeaways:— “The Jharkhand movement’s arc stretches far beyond the territorial reorganisation of the year 2000. Scholars often locate its origins in centuries of Adivasi mobilisations against the diku, a term used locally for exploitative outsiders. But it was the formation of the Adivasi Mahasabha in 1938, and its transformation under the charismatic leadership of Jaipal Singh Munda, that gave the movement a recognisable political centre. He articulated a demand for autonomy that sought not separatism, but protection from predatory external forces and dignity for people long pushed to the margins.”— “After Independence, the Adivasi Mahasabha became the Jharkhand Party in 1950. This transition broadened the constituency by bringing together Adivasis and non-tribal natives who shared cultural affinities and a history of common exploitation.”— “The party’s strong performance in the 1951 and 1957 general elections testified to the legitimacy of the demand. Yet, in 1956, the State Reorganisation Commission rejected the proposal for a separate Jharkhand because it did not fulfil the linguistic criterion. This fractured the movement, culminating in Singh’s merger with the Congress in 1963.”— “A new chapter began in 1973 with the formation of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led by Shibu Soren along with communist leader A K Roy and Kudmi leader Binod Bihari Mahto. JMM shifted the movement’s geography and imagination.”— “The political epicentre moved from the Adivasi heartlands of Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana to the industrial belts of Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad. Here, Adivasi identity intertwined with the struggles of mine workers and industrial labourers. JMM infused the movement with a class dimension, widening its social base and grounding the Jharkhand question, not only in cultural rights but also in economic exploitation.”— “This momentum intensified with the formation of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) in 1986 under Nirmal Mahto, partly modelled on the All Assam Students Union. AJSU’s assertive politics revitalised the movement and brought a new generation into its fold, giving it organisational strength and youthful energy.”— “Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party also began extending conditional support, although it reframed the demand as Vananchal rather than Jharkhand. This reflected its ideological position that Adivasis are essentially vanvasis, forest dwelling Hindus. The relabelling was widely resisted and underscored the distinctiveness of the Jharkhand movement. It was rooted in regional identity with an Adivasi core but capacious enough to include other marginalised groups. It resembled a Bahujan imagination rather than exclusionary sons of the soil politics. The movement combined recognition, redistribution and representation, seeking not just a state but a social transformation.”— “After nearly 75 years of struggle and sacrifice, Jharkhand was finally carved out on November 15, 2000. That this occurred on Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary gave the achievement a moral and historical resonance. Yet, 25 years later, the emancipatory vision that animated the movement remains only partially realised.”— “Jharkhand has made undeniable progress in infrastructure, poverty reduction, education and healthcare, yet the deeper structural challenges remain stark. Development-induced displacement continues to unsettle Adivasi communities, outmigration has reached troubling levels, and social tensions have intensified. The most visible flashpoint is the conflict between Adivasis and Kudmis over the demand for Scheduled Tribe status, a dispute that has unsettled long-standing alliances.”— “Jharkhand’s 25 years of statehood should be more than a ceremonial moment and call for reflection. The state must recall its leaders not as distant icons but as voices of an unfinished struggle, and return to the movement’s core promise of a Jharkhand where its people can live with dignity, justice, and equality.”Do You Know:— Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to form new states and alter existing states by a simple majority and without the need for the concurrence of the state concerned. — Once the government has decided to form a new state and a cabinet decision has been taken, the President is requested to make a reference to the legislature or legislatures of the state(s) involved for their views. — A bill needs to be drafted with details on geography, financial status, capital, high court, and division of various elements: assets, infrastructure, human resources, river waters between the old and new states. Once the views are sent,the bill is introduced. Once it is passed by both houses of Parliament and gets the President’s assent,the new state comes into being.Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:UPSC Issue at a Glance | As Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand turn 25: The story of how India formed its statesPrevious year UPS Mains Question Covering similar theme:Has the formation of linguistic states strengthened the cause of Indian unity? (UPSC CSE 2016) FRONTAnother glass ceiling breaks: Women soldiers soon in Territorial ArmySyllabus:Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.What’s the ongoing story: In a first-of-its-kind move, the Army is planning to induct women soldiers in its Territorial Army (TA) battalions, aimed at gradually opening up greater opportunities for women in the force.Key Points to Ponder:— What is the Territorial Army?— Know the timeline of induction of women in the Indian Defence forces— What are the challenges and opportunities associated with inducting women soldiers into Territorial Army battalions?— What is the status of women’s entry into combat, combat-support, and services arms in the Indian Army?— Gender equality of women in the armed forces is a step towards fulfilling constitutional aspirations. Substantiate with the constitutional provisions.Key Takeaways:— The Indian Express has learnt that the Directorate General of Territorial Army released additional vacancies for 2025-2026 for the Infantry Battalions TA Home & Hearth (H&H) last month.— According to the TA website, there are 11 TA H&H battalions, eight of which were raised for Jammu and Kashmir and three for the North-East, in 2004-05. In some of these TA H&H battalions, a section strength of vacancies has been earmarked for the induction of women candidates, among the total vacancies, it is learnt. A section usually comprises 10 soldiers.— This means a TA H&H battalion, which has around 750 to 1,000 soldiers, will now have a section of women soldiers.— While this initiative initially entails inducting a section strength of women soldiers into some of the TA H&H battalions, plans are to expand it to all TA H&H battalions and subsequently increase their numbers.ALSO READ | UPSC Issue at a Glance | As Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand turn 25: The story of how India formed its states— The TA H&H battalions, comprising the local population, have been raised in the northern and eastern theatres for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. They assist the regular Army and civil administration in multiple tasks, such as intelligence gathering, road opening, and assistance in case of natural calamities, among others.— As of today, women are not allowed to join core combat arms of the Army such as Infantry, Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry. Some of the combat support arms, such as Corps of Engineers, the Regiment of Artillery and Corps of Signals and all services, have women officers. Only the Corps of Military Police inducts women as soldiers.— The latest decision to induct women soldiers into infantry battalions TA (H&H) will allow them to break yet another glass ceiling.Do You Know:— The TA is a citizen’s army of volunteers who willingly enrol in this arm to contribute to the nation’s defence. The TA provides the volunteers an ideal opportunity to receive military training in their spare time and to serve the nation in times of national emergency and internal disturbances.— In May this year, during Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Defence had announced activating 14 of 32 infantry battalions of the Territorial Army for deployment across the country until February 2028.— Presently, the TA has a strength of approximately 50,000 personnel comprising 65 Departmental TA units, such as Railway, IOC, ONGC and Non-Departmental TA units of Infantry Battalion (TA), including Home & Hearth Battalions, Ecological Battalion (TA) affiliated to various Infantry Regiments and Engineer Regiment (TA) for maintenance of Line of Control Fencing.— A Composite Eco Task Force for the National Mission for Clean Ganga has also been raised. The Eco Task Force is dedicated to the development, preservation and maintenance of ecological balance and afforestation in difficult areas.— Many celebrities, too, have either served or have been granted honorary ranks in the TA, among them Nana Patekar, Mohanlal, Kapil Dev, M S Dhoni, and Abhinav Bindra.Previous year UPSC Mains Questions Covering similar theme:What are the continued challenges for Women in India against time and space? (UPSC CSE 2019)“Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (2021)ALSO IN NEWSCongo, M23 sign truce frameworkThe Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed a framework agreement on Saturday for a peace deal aimed at ending fighting in the country’s east that has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year. The agreement was signed by representatives from both sides at a ceremony in the Qatari capital, Doha.It was the latest in a series of documents signed in recent months as part of efforts, backed by the United States and Qatar, to end decades of fighting in Congo that has been an enduring threat to regional stability.Washington seeks UN backing on Gaza as Moscow tables alternativeThe United States stepped up calls Friday for U.N. consensus on its plan for Gaza as Russia circulated a rival proposal that would strip out reference to a transitional authority meant to be headed by President Donald Trump and asks the United Nations to lay out options for an international stabilization force. The United States and eight countries that have played a role in reaching the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after more than two years of war in Gaza urged “swift adoption” of the latest U.S. draft resolution by the 15-member U.N. Security Council. Just one of the eight is on the council — Pakistan.Trump rolls back tariffs on beef, coffee to make grocery cheaperPresident Donald Trump announced Friday that he was scrapping U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities—a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices. Trump has built his second term around imposing steep levies on goods imported into the US in hopes of encouraging domestic production and lifting the US economy. His abrupt retreat from his signature tariff policy on so many staples key to the American diet is significant, and it comes after voters in off-year elections this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, resulting in big wins for Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and other key races around the country. PRELIMS ANSWER KEY1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (c)Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for October 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com