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16 topicsGS-1: 2GS-2: 6GS-3: 8
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GS-2Polity

1.Public Accounts Committee Functions (Parliamentary Committee)

DH

What & Where

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) = Standing financial watchdog of Indian Parliament

Constituted yearly in Lok Sabha to audit government spending vis-à-vis grants

Scrutinises Union projects nationwide; recent focus ― National Highway toll operations

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Originated from Government of India Act 1919 (Montford Reforms) financial control provisions
  • Examines Appropriation & Finance Accounts plus CAG audit reports
  • Reports tabled in both Houses; Government must furnish Action Taken Notes

Membership Pattern

  • Members elected by respective Houses via proportional representation, single transferable vote
  • Re-nomination allowed, enabling subject continuity
  • Vacancy filled by Speaker/Chairman election process

Leadership

  • Speaker appoints Chair; opposition hold ensures non-executive scrutiny
  • Chair schedules evidence of Ministries, CAG, autonomous bodies
  • Recommendations non-binding but carry high moral, political weight

Recent Observation

  • PAC flagged excessive National Highway toll collection breaching concession terms
  • Noted failure of toll operators to provide mandated passenger amenities
  • Sought Ministry of Road Transport explanation, illustrating committee’s sectoral oversight

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
First set-up year1921
Present legal hookRule 308, Lok Sabha Rules
Total strength22 MPs
Lok Sabha quota15 members
Rajya Sabha quota7 members
Tenure1 year
Ministers eligibleNo
Chairman appointing authorityLok Sabha Speaker
Chairman conventionOpposition party

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is not correct?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2020PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements regarding Public Accounts Committee is correct?

GS-2Polity

2.Panchayat Devolution Status Report (Panchayat Devolution)

PIB
Illustration for Panchayat Devolution Status Report (Panchayat Devolution)

What & Where

Devolution Index: PIB report grading financial, functional, capacity transfer to Panchayats post-73rd Amendment.

Core processes: 15th FC grants, State Finance Commissions, activity mapping, training & e-governance.

Coverage: All states/UTs; 2023 leader Karnataka, several low-scorers incl Jharkhand, Punjab.

Quick Facts for MCQs

State Rankings

  • High devolution: Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
  • Medium (50-55): Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha.
  • Below average: 12 entities incl Jharkhand, Punjab, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh.

Performance Drivers

  • Grants: Timely 15th FC funds improved Panchayat fiscal autonomy.
  • Capacity: Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat excelled in training, e-governance, online audits.
  • Inclusion: Many states raised women’s reservation to 50 %, boosting participation.

Key Gaps & Reforms

  • Functional lag: Activity mapping incomplete; line departments overshadow Panchayat authority.
  • Fiscal fault: Dormant State Finance Commissions and weak local taxation curb resources.
  • Reform push: Enable property tax, set up Panchayat Service Commissions, expand PFMS-based real-time audits.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Overall devolution share39.9 % (2013-14) → 43.9 % (2021-22)
Top state scoreKarnataka 72.23
Next two statesKerala 70.59; Tamil Nadu 68.38
High devolution thresholdIndex > 55
Financial index change32.05 → 37.04
Functional index change35.34 → 29.18
Capacity index change44.01 → 54.63
Finances & Accountability leaderKarnataka
Functions leaderTamil Nadu
Framework & Institutions leaderKerala
Training & Capacity leaderTelangana
CSS role leaderUttar Pradesh
National average score43.89

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2023PYQ 1

Consider the following:

GS1 1999PYQ 2

In the new Panchayati Raj Bill enacted in 1993, there are several fresh provisions deviating from the past. Which one of the following is not one such provision?

GS-2Polity

3.Obscenity Laws in India (Obscenity Law)

Indian Express

What & Where

Obscenity regulation; nationwide criminal framework via Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, IT Act 2000, allied special Acts.

Key statutory handles: BNS §294 (sale/display), BNS §296 (public acts/utterances), IT Act §67 (online transmission).

Judicial obscenity tests evolved from British Hicklin benchmark to Indian Community-Standards doctrine.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • BNS replaces IPC, retains obscenity provisions with identical wording, lighter fines than IT Act.
  • IT Act applies whenever transmission occurs electronically, cumulative with BNS charges.
  • Indecent Representation Act and POCSO provide gender- and child-specific safeguards.

Judicial Tests

  • Hicklin; standard lowest-denominator, fragment-based, labelled outdated by courts.
  • Community-Standards; evaluates work as whole, contemporary societal norms, prurient appeal.
  • Critique; subjectivity, regional variance, ambiguous definitions create inconsistent rulings.

Fundamental Rights

  • Article 19(1)(a) speech curtailed via Article 19(2) for decency, morality, obscenity.
  • Navtej Johar 2018; constitutional morality outweighs fluctuating public morality.
  • Decency concept clarified in B. Manmohan 1965, prohibits obscene gestures/words.

Digital Dimension

  • Social-media influencers, OTT content increasingly booked under IT Act §67, BNS §296 simultaneously.
  • Online “publication” interpreted broadly: upload, forward, cache all liable.
  • First-time IT Act penalty already harsher than repeat BNS offence, prompting prosecutorial preference.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
BNS §294 penalty 1st offence2 yrs jail + ₹5,000
BNS §294 penalty repeat5 yrs jail + ₹10,000
BNS §296 focusObscene act, song, word in public; annoyance element
IT Act §67 penalty 1st offence3 yrs jail + ₹5 lakh
Indecent Representation Act 1986Targets derogatory depiction of women
POCSO 2012 scopeChild sexual content creation, possession, sharing
Hicklin Test originQueen v Hicklin 1868; adopted by SC 1964
Community Standards Test switchAveek Sarkar v State of WB 2014
SC on nudity meritBoris Becker photo case 2014: artistic nudity not obscene
SC on vulgarityCollege Romance 2024: swear words not obscene sans sexual arousal intent

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2024PYQ 1

Which one of the following Acts mandates schools and libraries in India to use some form of technological protection to block computer access to obscene material, pornography, and anything else considered harmful to minors?

GS-2PolityQuick Bite

4.Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 Ranking (Transparency Index)

The Hindu

What & Where

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI): annual ranking of public-sector corruption in 180 countries by Transparency International since 1995

Methodology: aggregates expert surveys; 0 = highly corrupt, 100 = very clean; gauges perceived, not proven, corruption

Geography 2024: Denmark, Finland, Singapore lead; India at 96; weakest scores cluster in conflict-ridden regions

Quick Facts for MCQs

International Examples

  • Denmark tops index; Finland second; Singapore third
  • China 76th; Pakistan 135th; Sri Lanka 121st; Bangladesh 149th

Trend Analysis

  • India slipped from 93rd/39 pts (2023) to 96th/38 pts (2024)
  • Only 32 nations improved since 2012; 148 stagnated or regressed
  • TI links falling scores with democratic erosion and rights violations

Environmental Impact

  • Corruption diverts climate-finance meant for mitigation and adaptation
  • Fossil-fuel lobbies reportedly block policy reforms, prolonging emissions
  • TI urges coordinated global action marrying governance, climate, human-rights agendas

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
India rank 202496
India score 202438
India rank 202393
Countries assessed180
PublisherTransparency International
Launch year1995
Scale0–100
Top rank 2024Denmark
China rank 202476
Pakistan rank 2024135
Sri Lanka rank 2024121
Bangladesh rank 2024149
Countries improved (2012-24)32
Countries stagnated/worse148

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GEO_GS 2021PYQ 1

In the latest Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), which classifies 104 countries in terms of government capabilities and outcomes, India has been ranked

CAPF_GAI, GEO_GS 2023PYQ 2

According to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), 2023, India climbed two spots to rank

GS-3Economy

5.WEF Davos Annual Meeting 2025 (WEF Davos 2025)

Indian Express

What & Where

World Economic Forum (WEF): non-profit international organisation, founded 1971; HQ Geneva; best known for its Davos Annual Meeting.

2025 Annual Meeting: held Davos, Switzerland; theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”; attended by >3 000 global leaders from government, business, civil society.

Core agenda: sustainability, responsible AI & green tech, multi-sector partnerships, fair decarbonisation; India showcased investment, industrial transformation goals.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Sustainability & Climate

  • Focus: urgent decarbonisation paired with “just transition” for affected workers, communities.
  • Message: aligning corporate growth with global sustainability goals enhances long-term profitability and societal licence.
  • Outcome: sustainability framed as core to business resilience, not add-on CSR.

Technology & Ethics

  • Highlight: Artificial Intelligence and green tech seen as twin economic levers.
  • Requirement: responsible-AI frameworks stressed for transparency, emission cuts, resilient supply chains.
  • Balance: ethical safeguards must parallel rapid technological deployment.

Investment Highlights

  • India: Rs 20 lakh crore commitments; Telangana Rs 1.79 lakh crore; UP targets USD 1 trillion economy by 2029.
  • Kerala: pitched “industrial transformation” narrative to global investors.
  • Signal: Davos remains prime platform for sub-national investment diplomacy.

Institutional Profile

  • Philosophy: Stakeholder Capitalism—companies serve shareholders, employees, society, planet.
  • Influence: facilitated creation of G20, multiple diplomatic back-channels.
  • Participation: >3 000 delegates annually, mixing heads of state, CEOs, NGOs, academics.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
FounderKlaus Schwab, German engineer-economist
Founded asEuropean Management Forum, 1971
Renamed WEF1987
International-organisation status2015 (Swiss host-state agreement)
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Annual Meeting venueDavos (Graubünden canton)
2025 Meeting theme“Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”
Indian investment secured 2025≈ Rs 20 lakh crore
Maharashtra share~80 % of Indian total
Partnership market opportunityUSD 12 trillion by 2030
Key WEF reportsGlobal Competitiveness, Gender Gap, Future of Jobs, Global Risks, Travel & Tourism
Index producedTravel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI)
Funding sourceMembership fees from corporations > USD 5 billion turnover

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025PYQ 1

वर्ष 2025 में निम्नलिखित में से किसके तत्वावधान में आयोजित की गई बैठक का विषय 'दुश्मान युग के लिए सहयोग (Collaboration for the Intelligent Age)' था?

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2006PYQ 2

Where is Davos—the venue of the annual meeting of World Economic Forum—located?

GS-1HistoryQuick Bite

6.Fort William Renaming to Vijay Durg (Colonial Forts)

The Hindu

What & Where

Vijay Durg: new name for Fort William, Indian Army Eastern Command HQ, Kolkata

Sited east bank Hooghly River within Maidan area, original British fort (1696-1706)

Renaming erases colonial imprint, honours Maratha sea-fort Sindhudurg

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Timeline

  • Construction 1696-1706, earliest major British fortification in Bengal
  • Damage during 1756 Siege; rebuilt post-Plassey 1758-1781 at new site
  • Continual military use from Company era to modern Indian Army

Military Significance

  • Eastern Command HQ controls India’s northeastern borders
  • Houses 1971 War memorabilia, reinforcing martial heritage
  • Manekshaw House commemorates Field Marshal’s 1971 leadership

De-Colonisation Moves

  • Vijay Durg renaming aligns with Rajpath, naval ensign, Sri Vijaya Puram actions
  • Symbolic reclamation of public spaces from imperial nomenclature
  • Emphasis on indigenous icons: Shivaji Gate, Sindhudurg reference

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Original nameFort William
Current name (Feb 2025)Vijay Durg
Location city/stateKolkata, West Bengal
River proximityHooghly
Built byBritish under Sir John Goldsborough
Initial construction period1696-1706
Major damageSiege of Calcutta 1756 by Siraj-ud-Daulah
Rebuilder & yearsRobert Clive 1758-1781
Notorious incident siteBlack Hole of Calcutta 1756
Present roleHQ Eastern Command, Indian Army
Inside renamingsKitchener House→Manekshaw House; St George’s Gate→Shivaji Gate
War memorial contents1971 Indo-Pak & Bangladesh Liberation artefacts
Colonial roadway renamedRajpath→Kartavya Path
Port Blair proposed nameSri Vijaya Puram
Naval ensign change year2022

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2007PYQ 1

Which one of the following was the first fort constructed by the British in India?

GS-1Mapping

7.Kilauea Shield Volcano Geography (Volcano Geography)

Times of India
Illustration for Kilauea Shield Volcano Geography (Volcano Geography)

What & Where

Kīlauea: shield volcano producing mainly fluid, basaltic lava, not violently explosive.

Sits on southeastern Big Island, Hawaiʻi; ~200 mi southeast of Honolulu; hotspot-built Hawaiian–Emperor chain.

Hosts summit caldera Halemaʻumaʻu; ninth eruption episode since Dec 2024 now shooting lava >300 ft.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Regional Volcanoes

  • Mauna Loa largest active by volume, erupted Nov 2022 after 38-year lull.
  • Mauna Kea tallest mountain base-to-peak 33,500 ft, last erupted ~4,500 yr ago.
  • Lo‘ihi submarine volcano growing; Hualālai third-most active, last erupted 1801.

Geological Features

  • Shield morphology yields broad slopes, low-viscosity basalt, steady lava flows.
  • Caldera Halemaʻumaʻu central vent for current surface activity.
  • Above-sea emergence occurred roughly 100,000 years ago despite older subaqueous roots.

Recent Eruption Record

  • Current phase marks ninth eruptive event within 2024-25 cycle.
  • Lava fountains exceeded 300 ft, typical of high lava-lake activity.
  • Episodes confined to summit, limiting widespread ash or explosive hazards.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Volcano typeShield, effusive eruptions
LocationSE Big Island, ~200 mi SE of Honolulu
Tectonic settingHawaiian–Emperor seamount chain, hotspot origin
Summit calderaHalemaʻumaʻu Crater
Geological age210 k–280 k yr; above sea level ~100 k yr
Latest activity9th episode since Dec 2024; lava fountains >300 ft
Shared magma systemWith Mauna Loa, largest active volcano by volume
Nearby tallest peakMauna Kea, 33,500 ft base-to-peak, dormant
Future islandLo‘ihi Seamount, submarine, southeast of Big Island
GS-3Environment

8.Climate Risk Index 2025 Findings (Climate Vulnerability)

Times of India
Illustration for Climate Risk Index 2025 Findings (Climate Vulnerability)

What & Where

Climate Risk Index (CRI) – comparative metric of extreme-weather vulnerability and losses

Produced annually by Germanwatch, Bonn; covers 180-plus nations

CRI 2025 examines 30-year span (1993-2022) plus single-year snapshot (2022)

Quick Facts for MCQs

Methodology

  • Weighting combines deaths per 100k, losses as %GDP, event frequency
  • Uses Munich Re NatCatSERVICE database for disaster data
  • Excludes slow-onset phenomena like sea-level rise

Global Rankings

  • Dominica, China, Honduras lead long-term vulnerability table
  • Pakistan, Belize, Italy dominate 2022 list due to floods, heatwaves, storms
  • Vanuatu, Myanmar, India also within top-10 long-term cohort

India Angle

  • 400-plus extreme events in three decades; cyclones, floods, heatwaves prevalent
  • Improvement from 7th (2019) to 49th (2022) reflects fewer high-impact events that year
  • Climate resilience priority under missions like NAPCC, NDMA guidelines

Economic Impact

  • Storms largest monetary threat; infrastructure and agriculture hardest hit
  • Heatwaves drive mortality spikes, especially in urban tropics
  • Loss figures underscore demand for climate-finance and early-warning systems

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Releasing agencyGermanwatch (Germany)
First edition2006
Publication cycleAnnual
Assessment years (long-term)1993-2022
Core indicatorsFatalities, affected population, economic loss, event count
India rank 1993-20226th
India rank 202249th
Worst-hit 1993-2022Dominica
Worst-hit 2022Pakistan
Other long-term toppersChina, Honduras
Other 2022 toppersBelize, Italy
Storm loss share35 % (~US $2.33 tn)
Heatwave fatality share30 %
Flood share in people affected27 %
Indian deaths 30 yrs80,000 +
Indian economic loss~US $180 bn

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2020PYQ 1

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by environmental think tank Germanwatch, in the year 2018 India’s rank in the list of top most climate affected nations is:

GEO_GS 2023PYQ 2

According to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), 2023, India climbed two spots to rank

GS-3SpeciesQuick Bite

9.Cheetah Cubs at Kuno Park (Cheetah Reintroduction)

Indian Express

What & Where

Kuno National Park, Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh); wildlife sanctuary 1981, upgraded to national park 2018.

Lies in Vindhyan Hills; dry-deciduous forest traversed by Kuno River, a major Chambal tributary.

Official site for cheetah reintroduction under National Action Plan.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Faunal Diversity

  • Large carnivores: Leopard, Striped hyena, Indian wolf; apex cheetah reintroduced 2022 onward.
  • Herbivores Blackbuck, Sambar; Gharial inhabits the Kuno river stretch.

Vegetation

  • Dominant trees: Kardhai (Anogeissus pendula), Khair (Acacia catechu), Salai (Boswellia serrata).
  • Mosaic of grassland and riverine patches sustains diverse prey base.

Conservation & Schemes

  • Selected under 2022 Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah; translocations from Namibia & South Africa.
  • Feb 2025 birth of two cubs raises park tally to 26 cheetahs.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Year declared WLS1981
Year became NP2018
StateMadhya Pradesh
DistrictSheopur
Physiographic regionVindhyan Hills
Main riverKuno (Chambal tributary)
Forest typeDry deciduous
Current cheetah count26 (14 cubs)
Key tree speciesKardhai, Khair, Salai

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following was recently considered to be a suitable site for introducing African cheetah in India?

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2023PYQ 2

Cheetahs, brought from Namibia, were introduced in India to which one of the following National Parks?

GS-3S&T

10.Avian Influenza H5N1 Outbreak Risks (Zoonotic Disease)

New Indian Express
Illustration for Avian Influenza H5N1 Outbreak Risks (Zoonotic Disease)

What & Where

Avian-influenza: zoonotic Influenza A infection primarily in birds; human spill-over threatens pandemics if mutations allow easy transmission

Key-types: Highly-pathogenic (HPAI) H5N1/H7N9; Low-pathogenic (LPAI) H9N2 that can mutate to virulent form

Geography-alert: H5N1 confirmed at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi; Jharkhand health department issues state-wide alert

Quick Facts for MCQs

Transmission Routes

  • Infected-birds: saliva, mucus, droppings contaminate surfaces, water and equipment
  • Airborne-dust: inhalation of virus-laden particles in poultry farms
  • Animal-products: unsafe handling of raw meat, eggs spreads virus; thorough cooking safe

Key Strains

  • H5N1: detected Jharkhand, high human fatality historically
  • H7N9: caused severe China outbreaks with significant mortality
  • H9N2: usually mild yet holds pandemic potential after mutation

Treatment & Prevention

  • Antivirals: early Oseltamivir or Zanamivir lowers severity and mortality
  • Quarantine-surveillance: culling infected flocks, monitoring exposed persons essential to break chain
  • Supportive-care: oxygen, IV fluids, possible ventilation for severe human cases

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Virus familyInfluenza A
Current outbreak siteBirsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
State on alertJharkhand
Common human-infecting strainsH5N1, H7N9, H9N2
Pathogenic categoriesHPAI & LPAI
Main human transmissionDirect contact with infected birds/environment
First-line antiviralsOseltamivir, Zanamivir
Human vaccine statusNone widely available
Key preventive gearMasks, gloves, PPE
Cooking effectProper heat neutralises virus

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2015PYQ 1

H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?

GS1 2010PYQ 2

Consider the following statements:

GS-3S&T

11.Matsya 6000 Deep-Sea Submersible (Deep-Sea Submersible)

DD News
Illustration for Matsya 6000 Deep-Sea Submersible (Deep-Sea Submersible)

What & Where

Definition : Matsya 6000 — India’s first manned deep-sea submersible under Samudrayaan, Deep Ocean Mission.

Capability : Operates in Indian Ocean down to 6,000 m for in-situ exploration and resource surveys.

Developers : National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai; overseen by Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Samudrayaan forms manned component of Deep Ocean Mission targeting frontier tech in oceanography.
  • Submersible key to indigenous capability parallel to ISRO’s Gaganyaan in space sector.
  • Uses advanced communication links for continuous voice-data with support vessel.

Resource Prospecting

  • Surveys polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, manganese, copper, REEs on abyssal plains.
  • Generates baseline data for possible future deep-sea mining and sustainable extraction.

Safety Features

  • Syntactic foam ensures positive buoyancy; vessel surfaces automatically on system failure.
  • Triple-redundant power and life-support minimise crew risk under extreme hydrostatic pressure.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Planned launchBy 2026
Depth rating6,000 m
Normal endurance12–16 hours
Emergency life support96 hours
Crew capacity3 persons
Pressure hull2.1 m titanium sphere
Hull thickness80 mm Ti-alloy
Navigation aidUSBL acoustic positioning
FlotationSyntactic foam; auto-resurface
RedundanciesTriple: buoyancy, power, life-support
Implementing ministryEarth Sciences
Mission outlay₹4,077 crore (Deep Ocean Mission)
BuilderNIOT, Chennai
Countries with similar craftUSA, France, China, Russia, Japan
GS-3S&T

12.In-Vitro Gametogenesis Breakthrough (Reproductive Technology)

Indian Express

What & Where

In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG): lab method converting skin/hair/blood stem cells into eggs & sperm, later fertilised and implanted via surrogate.

Breakthrough sites: Japan — first mice born; UK — human trials projected within three years.

Scope: can bypass natural gametes, aiding same-sex couples, aged or infertile persons.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Scientific Edge

  • IVG enables unlimited, age-independent gamete production; IVF confined by declining natural gametes.
  • Allows pre-gamete gene editing; IVF limited to embryo screening.
  • Eliminates donor need, ensuring full genetic parentage.

Demographic Context

  • Early ovarian ageing, falling sperm counts heighten future Indian infertility burden.
  • Sub-replacement fertility may accelerate ageing crisis; IVG pitched as mitigation tool.
  • Could expand parenthood options for LGBTQIA+ and single elderly citizens.

Ethics & Regulation

  • Designer-baby selection of traits sparks equity, eugenics debates.
  • Surplus embryos, gene edits raise consent & long-term safety questions.
  • Absence of specific Indian or global statutes demands proactive bioethics framework.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Core inputInduced pluripotent or embryonic stem cells
Gamete yieldBoth eggs & sperm from same individual possible
Japan resultViable mice produced using IVG
UK timelineHuman trials anticipated ≤ 3 years
Indian female fertilityOvarian decline begins ~6 yrs earlier than West
Sperm trendGlobal count fallen 50 yrs; may hit critical in 40 yrs
TFR IndiaBelow 2.1 replacement; ageing risk
Legal statusMostly unregulated; unlike well-regulated IVF
Key ethical worryDesigner babies via pre-fertilisation gene editing

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2020PYQ 1

मानव जनन तकनीकी में अभिनव प्रविधि के संदर्भ में, "प्रोणक्लियर स्थानान्तरण" (Pronuclear Transfer) का प्रयोग किस लिए होता है?

GS1 2020PYQ 2

Consider the following statements :

GS-3S&T

13.Paris AI Action Summit 2025 (AI Governance)

The Hindu

What & Where

Paris AI Action Summit 2025 – 3rd annual meet on AI governance, ethics, public interest

Sequence of hosts – Bletchley Park UK 2023 → Seoul 2024 → Paris 2025

2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable simultaneously in Paris, led by India PSA Office & Sciences Po

Quick Facts for MCQs

Global Declarations

  • Bletchley 2023 urged safe human-centric AI; Seoul 2024 proposed network of AI Safety Institutes
  • Paris 2025 stresses accessibility, transparency, green AI, digital-divide bridging
  • Alignment sought with UNGA, G20, OECD, UNESCO, AU strategies

India’s Position

  • Advocacy for open-source, sustainable, clean-energy AI and workforce upskilling
  • Seeks GPAI as principal multilateral hub for responsible AI development
  • Roundtable pushed techno-legal frameworks, DPI for AI, sovereign data models

Environmental Impact

  • Rising AI workloads could hit 21 % global electricity if unchecked
  • Call for renewable-powered data centres, energy-efficient algorithms, AI-managed smart grids
  • Sustainable AI highlighted as core summit theme and India-France takeaway

Security & Ethics

  • Risks flagged – deepfakes, misinformation, biased or insecure low-cost models like DeepSeek
  • Need for robust oversight, arbitration mechanisms for cross-border data flows
  • Emphasis on equitable benefit sharing, algorithmic fairness, human rights protection

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Joint Declaration titleInclusive & Sustainable AI for People and Planet
Signatories count58 countries (US, UK absent)
New platformPublic Interest AI Platform & Incubator
Energy share forecastData centres 3-4 % global power by 2030
Social cost of AI CO₂USD 125-140 billion (estimate)
India’s global roleGPAI Chair for 2024
ChatGPT energy use~10× a Google search (IEA)
Historic Marseille eventSavarkar escape attempt 1910
Arbitration body 1911Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled for Britain

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, 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 :

GEO_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 2

Which of the following statements about GPAI (Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence) is/are correct?

GS-2Infrastructure

14.India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (Connectivity Corridor)

IT

What & Where

Multimodal sea-rail economic corridor linking India, Gulf and Europe; unveiled at G20 New Delhi, Sept 2023.

Geography: Eastern maritime leg India–UAE/Saudi, Northern rail-sea leg Gulf–France/Germany/Italy.

Purpose: Cut Asia-Europe transit, bypass Suez Canal, offer Belt-and-Road alternative.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Participants & Agreements

  • Nine partners formalised under U.S.–EU PGII umbrella; more observers possible.
  • India-UAE IGFA sets legal template; similar pacts expected with Saudi, EU.
  • EU Commission coordinating European rail-port upgrades for Northern leg.

Infrastructure & Funding

  • Eastern leg sea route envisages Mumbai/Mundra to Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Dammam.
  • Northern leg upgrades Gulf rail to Haifa, then Mediterranean shipping to Marseille/Trieste.
  • PGII pledges, sovereign funds, private capital pool towards USD 600 bn target.

Strategic Significance

  • Route skirts Red Sea choke points, reducing piracy and conflict disruptions.
  • Positions democracies’ supply chain alternative versus BRI’s Eurasian dominance.
  • Enhances India-EU energy, data and critical goods security footprint.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Formal nameIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
Announcement venueG20 Summit, New Delhi 2023
Latest IGFAIndia-UAE, Feb 2024
Total signatoriesIndia, UAE, Saudi, Jordan, Israel, EU, France, Germany, Italy
CorridorsEastern (India→Gulf, sea); Northern (Gulf→Europe, rail+sea)
Funding goalUSD 600 billion mobilisation by 2027
Key aimsTrade speed, supply-chain resilience, clean energy, digital connectivity
Alternate toSuez Canal route; China’s BRI
Logistics toolUnified digital platform for cargo & payments
Clean-energy cargoGreen hydrogen, renewable power components

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15.India-US Strategic Partnership 2025 (Strategic Partnership)

PIB

What & Where

India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership; reaffirmed at Washington D.C. summit, Feb 2025.

Working-level summit produced new 10-year frameworks across defence, trade, tech, energy.

Core processes: Mission 500 trade goal, TRUST tech initiative, Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Defense & Security

  • Framework: 10-yr Major Defense Partnership; boosts interoperability, co-production, logistics and intel sharing.
  • Exercises: Expansion of “Tiger Triumph” plus joint maritime patrols, CMF leadership.
  • Regulation: ITAR streamlining and pursuit of Reciprocal Defense Procurement agreement.

Trade & Economy

  • Target: $500 bn trade; focus on tariff cuts, market access for U.S. agri & Indian labour-intensive goods.
  • Investment: Joint push into semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, supply-chain diversification & greenfield manufacturing.

Energy & Nuclear

  • Supply: Long-term U.S. crude, LNG, hydrocarbon exports to bolster India’s strategic reserves.
  • Reactors: Joint deployment of U.S.-designed units after CLNDA amendment; civil-nuclear cooperation revived.

Technology & Space

  • TRUST: Collaboration in AI, semiconductors, quantum, advanced materials, critical minerals.
  • Space: NISAR satellite launch and planned Indian astronaut visit to ISS; deepened NASA-ISRO ties.

Challenges & Fixes

  • Barriers: High tariffs, visa limits, ITAR controls, nuclear liability ambiguities.
  • Remedies: Fast-track BTA, CLNDA tweak, mobility framework, expanded cybersecurity & counterterrorism cooperation.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Summit venue & monthWashington D.C., February 2025
Trade goal “Mission 500”Double bilateral trade to $500 bn by 2030
Bilateral Trade Agreement timelineNegotiations to finish by late 2025
New defence framework span10 years (Major Defense Partnership)
Key U.S. platforms soldJavelin ATGM, Stryker ICV, 6 × P-8I
New co-dev. bodyASIA for AI-based counter-UAS & maritime systems
Space milestoneIndian astronaut flight to ISS under NASA-ISRO pact
Nuclear hurdle addressedAmendment of Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act
Terror extradition clearedTahawwur Rana to India
Indo-Pacific naval roleIndia to join Combined Maritime Forces (Arabian Sea)

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