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18 topicsGS-1: 2GS-2: 9GS-3: 7
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GS-2Polity

1.Sharia Diya Blood-Money Rule (Islamic Jurisprudence)

The Hindu

What & Where

Blood money (diya) = monetary compensation to homicide victim’s heirs under Islamic Sharia

Applies to unintentional killing, culpable homicide, even intentional murder if family waives retribution (qisas)

Practised across many Islamic nations; rates differ by gender, religion, nationality

Quick Facts for MCQs

Procedural Steps

  • Negotiation occurs between offender and heirs, often mediated by tribal elders or lawyers
  • Judicial approval ensures amount fairness and voluntariness
  • State may register separate criminal case despite diya settlement

Positive Aspects

  • Reconciliation mechanism shortens litigation and prison overcrowding
  • Financial payment offers immediate support to dependents
  • Embeds restorative-justice ethos in Sharia criminal law

Concerns & Critiques

  • Gender-based valuation often halves compensation for female victims
  • Wealthy offenders may escape deterrence, causing justice disparity
  • Family consent risk; economic or social pressure may coerce acceptance

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Arabic termDiya
Core aimAlleviate family loss, enable reconciliation
Offence scopeUnintentional, culpable, some intentional homicides
Negotiation partiesPerpetrator and victim’s heirs
OversightSharia court approves terms
State power even after diyaMay still impose jail/fine
Key variables in amountGender, religion, nationality of victim
GS-2Polity

2.Ladakh Nautor Land Regularisation Plan (Land Rights)

The Hindu

What & Where

Nautor land = government-owned barren/wasteland historically allotable to individuals for cultivation or other productive use.

Union Home Ministry weighing regularisation in Ladakh to convert long-used nautor plots into legal private holdings.

Practice concentrated in hilly belts of Leh & Kargil (Ladakh) and select Himachal Pradesh districts.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Origin: 1932 rule forms legal precedent for present Ladakh proposal.
  • Himachal policy suspended owing to administrative complications, shows flexibility of state discretion.
  • Allotment requires formal approval, ensuring state oversight on land conversion.

Socio-Economic Value

  • Title security boosts farmer credit access and livelihood stability on marginal lands.
  • Recognition of traditional cultivation sustains pastoral, agro-ecological practices.
  • Regularisation may spur local investment without displacing existing users.

Local Interests & Safeguards

  • Ownership rights deter commercial outsiders from acquiring strategic high-altitude tracts.
  • Empowered locals strengthen demographic presence along sensitive border districts.
  • Demand parallels calls for Sixth Schedule protections to preserve tribal land systems in Ladakh.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Literal meaningGovernment wasteland fit for allotment
First legal rule1932, Maharaja Hari Singh (J&K)
Himachal adoption1968 policy; later put on hold
Present deliberating bodyUnion Home Ministry
Core objectiveTransfer ownership to locals already cultivating
Approval needed from“Competent authority” designated by state/UT
Main terrainRemote, high-altitude, hilly areas
Safeguard intentBlock outsider exploitation of local resources
GS-2Polity

3.Lokpal Foundation Day Observed (Anti-Corruption Bodies)

The Hindu

What & Where

Lokpal — independent statutory ombudsman under Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013; probes corruption against Union public servants.

Lokayukta — parallel state-level body; established by each state under same 2013 Act.

Headquarters — New Delhi; first Lokpal Day to be marked at Delhi Cantt, 16 Jan 2025.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Origin — Idea mooted by 1966 ARC; Act enacted after 2011 civil-society movement.
  • State adoption — Maharashtra first Lokayukta Act 1971; several states pre-2013 already had bodies.
  • Removal clause — Chair/Members removable by President on SC inquiry, not by Govt whim.

Institutional Design

  • Inquiry Wing — conducts preliminary probe; can order CBI/CVC investigations.
  • Jurisdiction tiers — Groups A-B back to Lokpal; Groups C-D handled by CVC independently.
  • Tenure — 5 yrs or till 70 yrs (Lokpal); 5 yrs/65 yrs for most Lokayuktas.

Performance & Limitations

  • Independence concerns — political influence in appointment & budget flagged by experts.
  • Time bar — 7-yr limit criticised for excluding delayed-discovery graft cases.
  • Oversight gap — no statutory mechanism for auditing Lokpal’s own functioning.

Global Parallels

  • ICAC Hong Kong & CPIB Singapore — integrated powers to investigate & prosecute.
  • Ombudsman Scandinavia — model for citizen-initiated grievance redress.
  • Public Protector South Africa — addresses maladministration with binding recommendations.

Reform Pathways

  • Extend limitation or allow exceptions for concealed corruption.
  • Calibrate penalties to protect whistle-blowers while deterring vexatious complaints.
  • Codify cooperation protocols with ED, CVC, CBI to avoid turf clashes.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Act commencement16 Jan 2014
Chairperson rankChief Justice of India equivalent
Member rankSupreme Court judge equivalent
Selection panelPM, Speaker, LoP LS, CJI-nominee judge, eminent jurist
Max composition1 Chairperson + up to 8 Members
Current limitation period7 years from offence awareness
False complaint penaltyUp to ₹2 lakh fine & 1 yr jail
Agencies under referralCBI, CVC
Prime Minister coverageYes; except security, IR, atomic, space, public order
Lokpal disposal record5,981 of 8,703 complaints (2019-23), zero prosecutions

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about Lokpal:

GS-1Environment

5.Deccan Volcanism Flora Resilience Study (Geophysical Events)

PIB
Illustration for Deccan Volcanism Flora Resilience Study (Geophysical Events)

What & Where

Deccan Volcanism = fissure eruptions forming vast basaltic Deccan Traps on Indian Plate ~66 million years ago.

Trigger = Indian Plate drifting over Réunion mantle plume; episodic lava outpourings, climate-altering aerosols.

Spread = Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, MP, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu; birthplace of fertile black cotton soils.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biodiversity Impact

  • Fauna: dinosaurs, ammonoids, many gymnosperms perished during volcanic-acidified K-Pg interval
  • Flora: warm humid pauses plus fertile ash let tropical angiosperms flourish, showing high resilience
  • Resilience aided by equatorial crossing, stable rainfall, undisturbed habitats within lava-sheltered basins

Plate Tectonics

  • Drift: India split from Antarctica-Australia ~120 Ma, from Africa ~165 Ma, raced northward
  • Hotspot: Réunion plume formed Deccan lava and later Seychelles detachment
  • Collision: India-Asia convergence ~50–35 Ma sealed Tethys, built Himalaya, altered monsoon

Economic Angle

  • Minerals: basaltic terrain hosts iron, manganese, bauxite, diamondiferous kimberlites nearby
  • Agriculture: nutrient-rich regur supports cotton, sorghum, tobacco across Deccan Plateau

Rock & Soil

  • Basalt: multiple flow units with columnar joints, vesicular tops, high Fe-Mg content
  • Black soil: high clay, CaCO₃ nodules, great moisture storage, cracks in dry season

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Geological ageLate Cretaceous–early Paleogene (~66 Ma)
Eruption styleFissure flood-basalt, not central-vent
Mantle plumeRéunion hotspot under moving Indian Plate
Dominant rockTholeiitic basalt layers ≥2 km thick
Linked extinctionCretaceous-Paleogene loss of dinosaurs, ammonoids
Flora outcomeAngiosperm-rich tropical rainforests survived, diversified
Key soilRegur/black cotton from basalt weathering
Main mineralsIron ore Karnataka, bauxite Eastern Ghats
Plate speed peak~20 cm yr⁻¹ northward drift
Post-drift collisionIndia–Asia impact raised Himalaya (Eocene)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1997PYQ 1

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

GS-3Environment

6.IMD Mission Mausam Launch (Weather Forecasting)

Times of India

What & Where

Mission Mausam: pan-India initiative (2025-30) to upgrade IMD forecasting, air-quality and weather-management capabilities.

Two phases; Phase-1 adds ~70 Doppler radars & HPC, Phase-2 brings satellites/aircraft, extending coverage to panchayat level.

IMD Vision-2047 sets nationwide goals: 100 % severe-weather detection, zero deaths, high-accuracy 3-10-day forecasts.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Tools: AI, machine-learning, HPC, extra satellites, Doppler radars, wind profilers, radiometers.
  • Weather-management research: cloud chamber at IITM Pune; explores cloud seeding for flood/drought mitigation.
  • Parallel assets: Mausam App, National Monsoon Mission, existing Doppler network.

Targets & Metrics

  • Detection: 100 % severe events down to household by 2047.
  • Forecast: 90 % accuracy for 5-day, 80 % for 7-day windows.
  • Air-quality: metro predictions improved by 10 %.

Phased Roll-out

  • Phase-1 (2025–Mar 2026): observational network expansion, new petascale HPC.
  • Phase-2 (2026–30): satellite insertion, dedicated aircraft for data gathering.
  • Milestone checks: 2027, 2035, 2047.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date15 Jan 2025
Foundation milestone150th IMD Day
First-two-year outlay₹2,000 crore
Implementing ministryEarth Sciences
Existing heat-wave accuracy≈98 %
Existing heavy-rainfall accuracy≈80 %
Air-quality improvement aim+10 % accuracy in metros
Panchayat forecast lead10–15 days
Vision-2047 3-day goal100 % accuracy
Vision-2047 10-day goal70 % accuracy
Fatality targetZero deaths

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

Nisarga, Gati, Nivar, Tauktae and Yaas are names of

GS-3S&T

7.Lunar Rideshare Missions Launch (Space Exploration)

CNN
Illustration for Lunar Rideshare Missions Launch (Space Exploration)

What & Where

Rideshare launch: SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted two private lunar landers toward the Moon.

Blue Ghost (USA) + Resilience (Japan/EU) will soft-land, deploy instruments/rover on lunar surface.

Orbits traverse Earth-Moon corridor; landing zones include Mare Frigoris (high-northern near side).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • CLPS: fixed-price contracts; NASA buys “payload delivery,” not hardware ownership.
  • ispace Mission 3: Resilience precedes company’s planned two-stage lunar transportation network.
  • Artemis synergy: data supports crewed landing zones, resource mapping.

International Collaboration

  • Cross-continent build: Japanese HQ, Luxembourg subsidiary, U.S. launch provider.
  • Mixed financing: NASA funds payloads; ispace backed by Japanese & European investors.
  • Model mirrors Low-Earth-Orbit commercial cargo evolution.

Mission Payloads

  • Blue Ghost: magnetosphere probe, lunar dust analyzer, heat-flow & seismic sensors.
  • Tenacious: HD imaging, regolith sampling arm for future ISRU validation.
  • Both landers carry retro-reflectors for precise laser ranging.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch vehicleSpaceX Falcon 9 (rideshare)
U.S. landerBlue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace
Japanese/EU landerResilience by ispace-Europe
Key roverTenacious micro-rover aboard Resilience
U.S. program tagNASA CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services)
NASA instruments10 scientific payloads on Blue Ghost
Japanese target siteMare Frigoris, far-north lunar region
Tech demosAdvanced navigation, radiation-hardened computing, regolith scoop
Strategic linkSupports Artemis long-term lunar economy
Launch naturePrivate–private rideshare, government payload contracts

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following aerospace companies designed and manufactured 'Falcon 9', a reusable rocket?

GS-3S&T

8.ISRO Germinates Lobia in Space (Space Agriculture)

Indian Express

What & Where

CROPS module: ISRO’s Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies operating in low-Earth-orbit microgravity

First Indian germination of cowpea / lobia seeds; sprouts on Day-4, leaves on Day-5

Aims to validate space-based agriculture for future long-duration crewed missions

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Demonstrates autonomous nutrient, lighting, thermal, imaging subsystems in microgravity
  • Generates data for closed-loop Bioregenerative Life-Support Systems (BLSS) design
  • Complements Gaganyaan habitability and space-habitat R&D roadmap

Space-Mission Utility

  • Enables on-site fresh food, cutting mass of pre-packed rations for long voyages
  • Photosynthesis supplies O₂ and assists CO₂ scrubbing within spacecraft cabins
  • Validates crop criteria: fast growth, high protein, minimal resource demand

Psychological Angle

  • Gardening activity lowers crew stress, boosts morale and cognitive performance
  • Visual greenery offers Earth-like cues, mitigating isolation effects
  • Success strengthens case for horticulture modules in future stations

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch agencyISRO
Module nameCROPS
Orbit conditionMicrogravity, controlled atmosphere
Seed speciesLobia / black-eyed pea (Vigna unguiculata)
Sprouting timelineRadicle Day-4, leaves Day-5
Core goalsFood production, O₂ generation, CO₂ recycling
Tech outcomeProof-of-concept for Bioregenerative Life-Support Systems
GS-2S&T

10.US AI Export Control Framework (Tech Export Controls)

Indian Express

What & Where

US “Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion” regulates export of advanced AI hardware, chiefly GPUs.

Operates via 3 country tiers controlling quantity, environment and end-use of US-origin chips.

Applies worldwide; lenient for 18 close allies, capped flow to India & most states, near-total ban on Russia-China-NK.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Framework classed as export-control regulation under US national security statutes.
  • Bilateral agreements can extend or relax Tier 2 chip cap beyond 2027.
  • Distinct carve-outs clarify nuclear applications remain barred for all recipients.

Security Dimension

  • Seeks to prevent hostile states accessing compute needed for autonomous weapons, cyber-ops, surveillance AI.
  • Allies’ free access aims to build interoperable defence AI ecosystems under US leadership.

Economic Angle

  • Cap may slow India’s planned public GPU cloud for Digital India & IndiaAI Mission.
  • Restriction nudges India toward indigenous chip fabs and alternate non-US suppliers.

Tech & Schemes

  • “Trusted environment” hosting lets Tier 2 importers exceed cap if hardware remains under US-approved cloud custody.
  • Large-scale domestic data centres in India likely require fresh US-India tech-security agreements.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Issuing countryUnited States
Announced byBiden administration (final days)
RegulatesExport of GPUs/advanced AI hardware
Total tiers3
Tier 1 allies18 (Australia, Japan, South Korea, UK etc.)
Tier 2 cap50,000 advanced AI chips per country till 2027
India’s tierTier 2
India end-use allowedCivilian + military (excluding nuclear)
China end-useCivilian only
Tier 3 statusNear-total prohibition
Main rationaleNational security & allied tech primacy

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2025PYQ 1

ग्रैण्ड पैलै (Grand Palais) पेरिस में नवम्बर 2025 में आयोजित होने वाले AI शिखर सम्मेलन के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-2S&T

11.US Removes Indian Units From Entity List (Export Restrictions)

Times of India
Illustration for US Removes Indian Units From Entity List (Export Restrictions)

What & Where

Entity List; US BIS roster mandating strict licences for export/re-export of controlled US items to named foreign entities

Purpose; shield US national security & foreign-policy interests by restricting tech, software, dual-use items access

Geography; applies extraterritorially to any transaction involving US-origin goods or technology worldwide

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Delisting signals India–US initiative on civil-nuclear cooperation, aligns with Initiative on Critical & Emerging Tech
  • EAR violations carry civil fines up to USD 300k per breach, criminal penalties may include imprisonment

Economic Angle

  • Listing blocks participation in high-tech global supply chains, inflates procurement timelines and costs
  • Delisted Indian labs can now access advanced reactors, semiconductors, analytical instruments without lengthy waivers

Security Dimension

  • BIS uses End-Use Checks, multi-agency intel to monitor entities; additions/removals cleared via inter-agency review
  • Entity List distinct from OFAC sanctions; targets export control not financial transactions

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Publishing agencyBureau of Industry & Security, US Commerce Dept
Latest Indian entities delisted (2024)BARC, IGCAR, Indian Rare Earths
Licence requirement when listedCase-by-case BIS approval for every shipment
Grounds for listingActivities contrary to US security or foreign-policy
Effect of delistingEasier import of US high-tech items; smoother R&D tie-ups
First year Entity List issued1997
Legal basisExport Administration Regulations (EAR)
GS-2Security

12.India-Bangladesh Border Disputes (Border Management)

Indian Express
Illustration for India-Bangladesh Border Disputes (Border Management)

What & Where

Indo-Bangladesh border; 4,156 km land-river boundary across WB, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram

1975 bilateral guideline; bans defence structures within 150 yd of the international border

Major flashpoints; Sukdebpur (Malda), Dahagram-Angarpota enclave, 6.5 km undemarcated Comilla-Tripura stretch

Quick Facts for MCQs

Disputed Spots

  • Sukdebpur; Malda; Bangladesh objects to fencing within restricted 150-yd corridor
  • Dahagram-Angarpota enclave; Bangladeshi pocket inside Cooch Behar; transit rights remain sensitive
  • Comilla-Tripura 6.5 km stretch; lack of demarcation creates overlapping patrol claims

Legal & Policy

  • 1975 Guidelines; core document for peace, fencing, joint dispute resolution
  • Definition clash; India says barbed wire non-defence, Bangladesh labels defence, causing clearance delays
  • Smart-fence proposal; Dhaka cites privacy, livelihood concerns against CCTV-sensor deployments near zero line

Security Dimension

  • Border crimes; cattle smuggling, trafficking, illegal migration drive Indian push for continuous fencing
  • Petrapole meeting; both forces vowed minimal force use, enhanced joint patrolling, information sharing
  • Riverine 900 km; BSF exploring floating barriers, tech surveillance to plug porous stretches

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Total border length4,156 km
Fencing completed (MHA 2023)3,141 km
Riverine segment≈ 900 km
Undemarcated patch6.5 km Comilla-Tripura
Guideline buffer150 yd no-defence zone
Latest BSF-BGB meetPetrapole-Benapole, Sept 2023

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2006PYQ 1

Consider the following statements:

GS-2S&TQuick Bite

13.UAE Data Embassy In India (Digital Diplomacy)

LiveMint

What & Where

Data embassy: host-nation data centre storing another state’s sovereign data under quasi-consular jurisdiction.

First expected: UAE data embassy in Andhra Pradesh; India crafting special strategic zones for multiple such centres.

Purpose: guarantee data continuity during cyberattacks, natural calamities or geopolitical instability.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Jurisdiction retained by origin state; Indian laws largely non-applicable inside enclave.
  • Embassies bypass need to align with disparate foreign data-protection regimes.
  • Managed privacy, access and audit handled by embassy officials, not host authorities.

International Examples

  • Estonia → Luxembourg partnership pioneered concept after massive 2007 cyberattack.
  • UAE negotiating with India for its inaugural offshore data mission.
  • Model gaining traction among small, cyber-vulnerable or conflict-prone nations.

Security Dimension

  • Off-site sovereign copy shields against physical server loss or hostile takeover.
  • India offers seismic-safe zones, political stability and redundant power grids.
  • Data embassies complement national cyber-resilience strategies and continuity planning.

Economic Angle

  • High-end data centres attract FDI, skilled jobs and ancillary cloud services.
  • Enhances India’s credibility as neutral digital custodian amid global fragmentation.
  • Potential fee-based hosting revenue plus tech ecosystem spill-overs for host states.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
First global data embassyEstonia stored copy in Luxembourg, post-2007 cyberattack
First proposed in IndiaUAE embassy, likely Andhra Pradesh
Operating modelConsular-like enclave; foreign law governs stored data
Indian initiativeSpecial Strategic Zones for sovereign data centres
Key benefitDisaster-resilient, regulation-light data localisation
Geopolitical gainPositions India as stable, trusted storage hub

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2024PYQ 1

Which of the following statements with regard to the outcomes of the talks between the Prime Minister of India and the President of UAE held in February, 2024 is/are correct?

GS-3Security

14.New Indian Navy Platforms Commissioned (Naval Modernisation)

Economic Times
Illustration for New Indian Navy Platforms Commissioned (Naval Modernisation)

What & Where

Event: Same-day commissioning of frigate INS Nilgiri, destroyer INS Surat, submarine INS Vaghsheer into Indian Navy.

Location: Built mainly at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai; Nilgiri also by GRSE Kolkata; to patrol Indian Ocean Region.

Programmes: Part of Projects 17A, 15B, 75—key pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat naval modernisation.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Stealth: Reduced-RCS hulls, flush decks, composite masts across all three platforms.
  • Network-centric: INS Surat sports AI decision support, universal VLS, integrated platform management.
  • Submarine upgrade: Vaghsheer designed to accept indigenous AIP and heavy-weight torpedoes.

Make in India Drive

  • Indigenous content ranges 75–90 %; weapons, CMS, hull steel sourced domestically.
  • Block-modular construction at MDL cut build time by about 18 %.
  • Over 200 MSMEs participated, reinforcing SAGAR and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.

Security Dimension

  • Capability mix strengthens blue-water deterrence, ASW escort, land-attack reach.
  • Enhances maritime dominance across Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, chokepoints.
  • Assets will support HADR, anti-piracy and strategic outreach in IOR.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
INS Nilgiri class/projectProject 17A, 1st of 7 stealth frigates
INS Surat class/projectProject 15B Visakhapatnam-class, 4th & final destroyer
INS Vaghsheer seriesProject 75, 6th & final Kalvari-class submarine
Historic milestoneDestroyer, frigate, submarine commissioned same day for first time
Builder yardMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai (all); GRSE co-built Nilgiri
Propulsion INS SuratCOGAG system, speed >30 knots
Tech edge INS SuratIndia’s first AI-enabled warship
Future-proof INS VaghsheerModular build, ready for DRDO AIP upgrade

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements about 'INS Tarmugli' is not correct?

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 2

With reference to India's defence, the terms ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’ refer to

GS-3SecurityQuick Bite

15.Nag Mk-2 Anti-Tank Missile Trials (Missile Technology)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Nag Mk-2 Anti-Tank Missile Trials (Missile Technology)

What & Where

Nag Mk-2: indigenously developed 3rd-gen fire-and-forget ATGM by DRDO

Field trials held at Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan

Fired from tracked NAMICA-V2 carrier against armoured targets

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Specs

  • Tandem HEAT warhead pierces Explosive Reactive Armour
  • Seeker enables all-weather autonomous tracking and engagement
  • Extended range nearly doubles Nag Mk-1 capability

Security Dimension

  • Indigenous ATGM cuts import dependence in anti-armour segment
  • Boosts Indian Army lethality against modern tanks in western deserts
  • Successful trials advance induction under Make-in-India drive

Platforms & Mobility

  • NAMICA-V2 on BMP-II chassis offers shoot-and-scoot mobility
  • Carrier integrates launcher, thermal sights, fire-control system
  • Day-night operability supports armoured formations across varied terrain

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DeveloperDRDO
Missile generationThird
GuidanceFire-and-forget, lock-on-after-launch
WarheadTandem HEAT defeating ERA
Maximum range7–10 km
Predecessor & rangeNag Mk-1, 4 km
Attack profileTop-attack
Launch platformNAMICA Version-2
Trial sitePokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2021PYQ 1

भारत द्वारा विकसित ‘पिनाका’ क्या है?

GS-2Scheme

16.Startup India Initiative Nine-Year Review (Entrepreneurship Promotion)

PIB
Illustration for Startup India Initiative Nine-Year Review (Entrepreneurship Promotion)

What & Where

Flagship Government programme, launched 16 Jan 2016, to nurture startups via funding, tax relief and simplified regulation.

Implemented pan-India by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce; 16 Jan celebrated annually as National Startup Day.

Promotes innovation across sectors—biotech, renewable energy, agriculture—while boosting employment and regional inclusion.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Self-certification allowed under selected labour and environmental laws; inspections largely exemption-based.
  • Single-window portal plus integrated BHASKAR platform streamline registration, IP filing, grievance redress.
  • Capital-gains and section 80-IAC benefits extend to startups incorporated up to 31 Mar 2025.

Economic Impact

  • Employment: average 10+ jobs per recognised startup, aiding demographic dividend absorption.
  • Sectoral spread: IT services, healthcare, education dominate; deep-tech share steadily rising.
  • Contribution to exports and FDI inflows strengthens Balance of Payments resilience.

Schemes & Initiatives

  • Fund of Funds invests via SEBI-registered AIFs; mobilises ~₹66,000 crore downstream capital.
  • SISFS, CGSS, NIDHI provide prototype grants, collateral-free loans, campus incubation respectively.
  • iGOT Karmayogi, mentorship series enhance founder and official capacity, especially in Tier II & III cities.

Challenges

  • Capital: heavy reliance on foreign VC; limited pension, insurance participation domestically.
  • Skills: shortages in AI, data science, hardware design constrain deep-tech scaling.
  • Governance: reported mismanagement underscores need for stronger audit and board standards.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date16 Jan 2016
National Startup Day16 Jan (since 2022)
Implementing bodyDPIIT, Commerce Ministry
Recognised startups (Jan 2025)1.59 lakh
Jobs generated16.6 lakh
Women-director startups73,151
Fund of Funds corpus₹10,000 crore
Income-tax holidayAny 3 consecutive FYs
Seed Fund Scheme ceiling₹945 crore (sanctioned)
Credit Guarantee cap₹2,000 crore (initial)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2022PYQ 1

The ‘Stand-Up India Scheme’ is related to which one of the following issues?

GS-2Scheme

17.National Turmeric Board Launched (Commodity Promotion)

PIB

What & Where

Board: National Turmeric Board promotes cultivation-to-exports; HQ Nizamabad, Telangana

Spice: Turmeric is rhizome of Curcuma longa, ginger family, rich in curcumin

Geography: 20+ Indian states grow turmeric; Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu dominate

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Establishment: NTB is sixth commodity board under Commerce & Industry
  • Composition: Chairperson + reps of AYUSH, Pharma, Agri, Commerce + three rotating states
  • Mandate: farmer welfare, R&D, value addition, global marketing

Economic Angle

  • Dominance: India controls 75 % output, 62 % export market
  • Exports: 1.53 lakh t worth USD 207 mn in 2022-23
  • Markets: Bangladesh, UAE, USA, Malaysia key buyers

Agronomy & Varieties

  • Diversity: >30 turmeric varieties cultivated nationwide
  • GI tags: Lakadong, Kandhamal, Erode, Armoor registered
  • Lead states: Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu largest acreage

Health & Pharma

  • Curcumin: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties
  • Digestive: promotes bile production, aids gut health
  • R&D: Board to push nutraceutical, pharmaceutical product development

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date16 Jan 2025
HeadquartersNizamabad, Telangana
Nodal ministryCommerce & Industry
Product-specific boards now6 (tea, coffee, rubber, spices, tobacco, turmeric)
Chairperson appointed byCentral Government
Govt ministries on boardAYUSH, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Commerce
Major producing statesMH, TG, KA, TN
India’s production share>75 % of world (2022-23)
India’s export share62 % of world
2022-23 export volume1,53,400 t
2022-23 export valueUSD 207.45 million
Bioactive compoundCurcumin

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:

ESE_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Which organization is responsible for implementing the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)?

GS-1Social Issues

18.India’s Demographic Dividend Window (Demographic Transition)

Business Standard
Illustration for India’s Demographic Dividend Window (Demographic Transition)

What & Where

Demographic dividend, a growth window when 15-64 cohort outnumbers dependents, opened for India in 2005-06.

Demographic transition stages shift from high fertility–mortality to low fertility–mortality, ending in ageing society.

Core geography: India now stage-III; silver-economy status expected by 2050s.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Growth-drag: shrinking workforce, lower labour participation, USD 9/hr productivity risks slower GDP expansion.
  • Consumption shift: elderly share doubles to 15%, overall Indian share of world consumption rises to 16%.
  • Fiscal pressure: pensions, health outlays surge as support ratio nears advanced-economy levels.

Social Concerns

  • Healthcare strain: chronic disease burden escalates amid already stretched public facilities.
  • Care burden: nuclear families face rising elder-dependency, risking emotional and economic stress.
  • Innovation dip: ageing workforce may lower dynamism, mirroring Japan’s stagnation experience.

Policy & Reform

  • Participation push: raise female and overall labour force engagement through childcare, flexible work, safety.
  • Productivity boost: invest in tech adoption, R&D, infrastructure, skilling for Industry 4.0.
  • Fiscal armour: expand contributory pensions, affordable elder-care insurance, strengthen primary healthcare network.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Support ratio 199714 workers : 1 senior
Support ratio 202310 : 1
Projected support ratio 20504.6 : 1
Projected support ratio 21001.9 : 1
Demographic-dividend window2005-06 to 2055-56
TFR (NFHS-5)2.0
Replacement fertility2.1
Population peak1.7 bn, early 2060s
Worker productivityUSD 9/hour (vs USD 60 in high-income)
Seniors’ share in consumption 205015%
India share global consumption 205016%

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2011PYQ 1

India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend”. This is due to

GS1 2013PYQ 2

To obtain full benefits of demographic dividend, what should India do?

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