Prelims Focus 15th September 2025
Pink Tax
In News: India has no specific laws prohibiting the Pink Tax, but the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ruled that companies must follow fair pricing policies and avoid gender-based price discrimination when selling products and services.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
- There is no targeted legislation (statute or government regulation) that directly addresses the Pink Tax or gender-based price discrimination in India.
- The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 protects consumers from unfair trade practices and can be invoked if there is evidence of discriminatory pricing.
- Constitutional safeguards: Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 15(1) (prohibition against discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) form the basis for challenging any arbitrary gender-based pricing in court.
- The NCDRC, India’s apex consumer dispute redressal authority, has clarified that companies must ensure fair pricing and refrain from discrimination based on gender.
Zircon hypersonic cruise missile
In News: Russia recently fired a Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea, showcasing its latest military capabilities during joint exercises with Belarus known as “Zapad 2025” that began on September 12, 2025.
Event Details
- The missile was launched from the Admiral Golovko frigate, part of Russia’s Northern Fleet.
- The strike targeted a simulated maritime object in the Barents Sea and reportedly achieved a direct hit, as confirmed by Russian defense ministry footage.
- These drills are intended to demonstrate defensive readiness and military coordination between Russia and Belarus amidst rising NATO tensions over the Ukraine conflict and recent drone incidents over Poland.
Zircon Missile Capabilities
- The Zircon (3M22) is described as a hypersonic missile traveling at up to Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound).
- It has an estimated range of 400–1,000 km and can be used against both sea and land targets.
- Its warhead is reported to weigh between 300–400 kg.
- The missile’s primary strategic value stems from its speed and maneuverability, making it difficult for existing anti-missile defenses to intercept.
Gyan Bharatam Portal
In News: At the International Conference on Gyan Bharatam, Prime Minister Modi introduced the Gyan Bharatam website.
- The theme of the International Conference on Gyan Bharatam is “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage.”
- The gathering will be addressed by the specialized digital platform known as the Bharatam Portal, which is devoted to speeding up the digitization, preservation, and public availability of manuscripts.
- India’s manuscripts are written in about eighty languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, and Marathi.
Draft National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025
In News: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has published the draft National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 for public comment.
- The classification, which takes into account the digital and green changes in the economy, adds new sectors for renewable energy, fintech, digital commerce, AYUSH healthcare, and platform-based services.
- The significant changes in India’s economy and technology environment are reflected in this, the first revision in seventeen years.
- It will be beneficial for government, academics, and business to have a consistent method of classifying industries and operations.
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