Skip to main content
UnlockIAS

UPSC Current Affairs

19 topicsGS-1: 4GS-2: 7GS-3: 8
0/19 done
GS-2Polity

1.Delimitation Process in India (Delimitation Commission)

Indian Express

What & Where

Delimitation = periodic redrawing of Lok Sabha & State Assembly constituencies across India on latest Census numbers

Conducted nationwide by statutory Delimitation Commission; Election Commission provides staff & logistics

Aims at equal voter-to-seat ratio and earmarks SC/ST-reserved constituencies per constitutional mandate

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Freeze intended to reward population control, postponing seat reallocation until post-2026 exercise
  • Commission constituted via Parliament Act; not dissolved until tasks completed for all assigned states
  • Separate law needed each Census before new delimitation can start

Institutional Setup

  • Election Commission supplies required maps, rolls, logistics to Commission
  • State Election Commissioners assist for assembly segment details
  • Draft proposals published; public sittings held before final notification

Historical Timeline

  • First mapping 1950-51 executed by President with EC help before inaugural general election
  • 2002 Commission chaired by Justice Kuldip Singh used 2001 data without altering state seat shares
  • Northern states’ rapid population growth vs southern plateau driving current political debate

Reservation Aspect

  • SC/ST seat count recalculated every delimitation using district-level community population data
  • Commission identifies specific constituencies to rotate reservation, preventing permanent tagging
  • No provision for OBC reservation in legislatures under present framework

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Constitutional base (Parliament)Article 82
Constitutional base (States)Article 170
Establishing lawDelimitation Act passed after each Census
Supervising body typeHigh-powered, quasi-judicial commission
ChairpersonRetired Supreme Court judge
Other membersCEC-nominated EC + State ECs concerned
Orders challengeable?No, final & binding
Seat freeze amendment42nd Amendment 1976 (locks 1971 totals)
Territory tweak, no seat change84th Amendment 2001
Current Census base for boundaries2001 (per 87th Amendment 2003)
Full exercises held1952, 1963, 1973, 2002
Last state-wise seat alteration1976 (based on 1971 Census)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2024PYQ 1

How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?

GS1 2012PYQ 2

With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements:

GS-2Polity

2.Animal Welfare Board Functions (Animal Welfare Board)

PIB

What & Where

Statutory body promoting animal welfare, preventing cruelty, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

Advises Central & State Governments on legislation, enforcement, humane practices

Headquarters Ballabhgarh, Haryana; jurisdiction entire India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Advisory-powers: recommends Act amendments, rules for transport, slaughter, research animals
  • Supervises District SPCAs; coordinates State Animal Welfare Boards for legal compliance
  • Assists prosecution of cruelty offences, combats illegal animal trade

Programmatic Functions

  • Grants financial aid to registered Animal Welfare Organisations, shelters, pinjarapoles
  • Inspects shelters, rescue homes, slaughterhouses for humane standards
  • Promotes humane solutions in man-animal conflict zones

Awards & Outreach

  • Hosts Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya awards at Vigyan Bhawan to honour exemplary welfare work
  • Conducts awareness campaigns, training, publications on ethical animal treatment

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Established1962
Legal basisSection 4, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960
Parent ministryFisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
First chairpersonRukmini Devi Arundale
HQ locationBallabhgarh, Faridabad district, Haryana

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2009PYQ 1

Where is the headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India located ?

GS1 2014PYQ 2

Consider the following statements :

GS-3Economy

4.Simandou Iron Ore Project (Iron Ore Mining)

REU

What & Where

Simandou Iron Ore Mine; Pic de Fon & Ouéléba deposits in Simandou Mountains, Nzérékoré Region, southeast Guinea.

75 % Chinese-led consortium controls project; Guinea government retains minority.

High-grade 65 % Fe ore; positioned to reshape seaborne market dominated by Australia & Brazil.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Geology & Reserves

  • High-grade banded iron formations enable lower slag, higher productivity in steelmaking.
  • Reserve scale places Simandou among world’s top five undeveloped iron ore assets.

Market Impact

  • Diversification; reduces Chinese dependence on Pilbara (Australia) and Carajás (Brazil) supplies.
  • Entry of new high-grade source may pressure benchmark prices and premiums for 62 % Fe ores.

Infrastructure Boost

  • 620 km trans-Guinean railway links mines to planned Atlantic port, opening hinterland to trade.
  • Large-scale project expected to raise Guinea’s GDP, spur logistics and service sectors.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CountryGuinea
Region/Mountain RangeSimandou range, Nzérékoré
Controlling interest75 % Chinese consortium
Ore grade65 % Fe
Proven + Probable reserves≈ 2.4 billion t
Expected recoverable≈ 2.25 billion t
Main depositsPic de Fon, Ouéléba
Deposit size7.5 km long, 1 km wide
Share of China’s imports~10 % annually
Planned railway length620 km
Additional facilityNew deep-water Atlantic port
Decarbonization angleFits Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF)
GS-3Economy

5.National Green Finance Institution (Green Finance Institution)

The Hindu

What & Where

Institution: proposed National Green Financing Institution to aggregate low-cost capital for green projects

Models: NaBFID, NABARD, IREDA, Green InvITs, global Green Banks under NITI Aayog review

Geography: pan-India financing aligned with 2070 net-zero pledge

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Panchamrit strategy lists five climate commitments including net-zero 2070
  • RBI 2015 put renewable energy under Priority Sector Lending with concessional norms
  • NCEEF coal-cess fund legally for clean energy but diverted to GST compensation, Namami Gange

Financial Instruments & Institutions

  • IREDA on-lends NCEEF money to banks at 2 % interest for renewables
  • Green Masala Bonds and other issues total USD 21 billion; Green InvITs, crowdfunding expanding
  • SBI, IREDA act as de-facto green banks offering concessional project loans

Challenges

  • High domestic interest, long gestation make projects marginally viable
  • Absence of RBI-recognised green bank framework lowers credibility, fund mobilisation
  • Low credit ratings and investor scepticism constrain Indian green bond market

Way Forward

  • Sovereign guarantees, tax-free green bonds, interest subsidies to cut capital cost
  • RBI regulation of green banks, public-private co-financing to attract global capital
  • Develop carbon credit markets and women-centred microfinance for adaptation finance

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
India’s net-zero target year2070
Total investment neededUSD 10 trillion
Annual gap to 2070USD 28 billion
Green bond issued till Feb 2023USD 21 billion
Private share in green bonds84 %
Potential GDP loss by 2050up to 18 % globally
RBI PSL allocation ceiling40 % of net credit
Single borrower PSL cap₹15 crore
COP29 finance pledgeUSD 300 billion / yr by 2035

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025PYQ 1

The Union Budget for which of the following years announced the issue of Sovereign Green Bonds to reduce the carbon intensity of the economy?

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025PYQ 2

निम्नलिखित में से किस एक ने 'एशिया और प्रशांत क्षेत्र के लिए प्रकृति समाधान (नेचर सॉल्यूशन्स) फंड' प्रारंभ किया?

GS-1History

6.VD Savarkar Death Anniversary (VD Savarkar Legacy)

PIB
Illustration for VD Savarkar Death Anniversary (VD Savarkar Legacy)

What & Where

Nationalist-revolutionary and writer from Maharashtra; pivotal in early 20th-century anti-colonial underground.

Chief ideologue of Hindutva, envisioning India as a cultural Hindu Rashtra.

Jailed 1911-24 in Cellular Jail, Andaman (Kala Pani) for conspiracy against British rule.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Ideological Contribution

  • Coined/defined Hindutva; framed it as cultural-civilisational nationalism, not merely religious doctrine.
  • Projected 1857 revolt as first unified national war, challenging British “mutiny” narrative.
  • Sought militarisation of Hindu society to deter partition drives.

Organisational Roles

  • Founded secret Abhinav Bharat to plan armed resistance within India.
  • Guided London-based India House, nurturing student revolutionaries.
  • Led Hindu Mahasabha to broaden nationalist, anti-partition discourse.

Prison Years

  • Transported to Andaman Cellular Jail under rigorous life-term conditions.
  • Submitted multiple clemency petitions, facilitating conditional release in 1924.
  • Post-release remained under restrictions yet persisted in ideological writing.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Death date26 Feb 1966
Place of deathMumbai
Observed tribute26 Feb 2025 by Prime Minister
Revolutionary society foundedAbhinav Bharat, 1904
Overseas linkIndia House & Free India Society, London
Seminal book“The First War of Indian Independence – 1857” (1909)
Hindu Mahasabha presidency1937-1943
Stand on partitionOpposed; urged Hindu military preparedness
Arrest year1911
Sentence awarded50 years transportation
Jail nicknameKala Pani, Cellular Jail
Mercy petitions filed1911-1920 (several)
Release year1924

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1999PYQ 1

'Abhinav Bharat' a secret society of revolutionaries was organised by

GS1 1998PYQ 2

Who was the leader of the Ghaddar Party?

GS-1History

7.Chandra Shekhar Azad Martyrdom (Chandra Shekhar Azad)

TPG
Illustration for Chandra Shekhar Azad Martyrdom (Chandra Shekhar Azad)

What & Where

Chandra Shekhar Azad – iconic revolutionary who vowed “Azad” (free) and never to be caught alive by British.

Operated mainly in United Provinces; martyred at Alfred Park, Allahabad (now Prayagraj) on 27 Feb 1931.

Active phase: 1921-31; shifted from Gandhian Non-Cooperation to armed struggle via Hindustan Republican Association.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Freedom Struggle Role

  • Adopted armed path after NCM suspension 1922, rising as HRA’s key strategist.
  • Inspired youth across North India toward revolutionary socialism.
  • Coordination with contemporaries: Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev.

Major Revolutionary Acts

  • Planned and funded HRA via Kakori train robbery, seizing govt money.
  • Led Lahore plot killing Saunders, shocking colonial police.
  • Engineered failed Irwin train bombing, displaying escalation of tactics.

Martyrdom & Legacy

  • Surrounded in Alfred Park, fought alone, used final bullet on self.
  • Park renamed Chandra Shekhar Azad Park; statues, stamps commemorate him.
  • Annual tributes by leaders across parties reinforce cross-ideological reverence.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Martyrdom day observed27 Feb 2025 marked 94th
Actual martyrdom date27 Feb 1931
Place of martyrdomAlfred Park, Allahabad (Prayagraj)
Early triggerJallianwala Bagh massacre 1919
Joined NCM as student1921
Post-NCM organisationHindustan Republican Association (HRA)
Kakori Train Action1925
JP Saunders assassination1928, revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai
Attempt on Viceroy Irwin’s train1929
Signature credoShoot self rather than surrender

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, NDA_GAT 2023PYQ 1

Who among the following revolutionaries founded the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army?

GEO_GS, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 2

Freedom Fighter Kanaklata Barua sacrificed her life while participating in

GS-1Infrastructure

8.Telecom Disaster Resilience Framework (DRRAF Telecom Disaster)

PIB
Illustration for Telecom Disaster Resilience Framework (DRRAF Telecom Disaster)

What & Where

DRRAF: system-scale tool to map & cut disaster risks along India’s telecom value-chain

Coverage: all connectivity layers, terrains; pilot risk study in Assam, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Gujarat

Goal: align telecom resilience with UN ‘Early Warnings for All’ protection by 2027

Quick Facts for MCQs

Risk Profile

  • Lightning: top national hazard 75 % towers; cyclones 57 %, quakes 27 %, floods 17 %
  • Assam: 83 % towers cyclone-hit; 43 % flood-prone; 100 % earthquake-exposed
  • Coastal towers: structurally vulnerable to high-wind loads, salt corrosion, power loss

Framework Design

  • Five dimensions integrate engineering, governance, finance, capacity, maintenance
  • DRRI index: rates tower vulnerability by intensity, frequency, duration, spatial extent across mountain/plain/coast
  • Repository plan: sub-district multi-hazard maps, critical asset tagging for priority restoration

Recommendations

  • Engineering: redundancy loops, seismic-rated masts, common-duct fibre, safeguarded landing stations
  • Finance: parametric insurance triggers for quicker payouts, burden sharing among operators & insurers
  • Governance: enforce resilient codes, upgrade Sanchar Saathi for complaints, enable uninterrupted power at shelters

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Global telecom GDP share15 %
Sector size target 2030USD 2.8 tn (CAGR 6.2 %)
India INFORM Risk rank 2024-2535 / 191
Coastline at cyclone/tsunami risk5,700 km
Land prone to earthquakes58 %
Towers analysed nationally0.77 million
Towers exposed to lightning75 %
High-risk states sampledAS, OD, TN, UK, GJ
Assam–Uttarakhand quake exposure100 % towers
DRRAF dimensionsTechnical, O&M, PIPs, Finance, Expertise

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

The Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project was recently launched by which organization?

GS-3Species

9.Oarfish Sightings Folklore (Deep-Sea Oarfish)

Times of India
Illustration for Oarfish Sightings Folklore (Deep-Sea Oarfish)

What & Where

Definition: Regalecus glesne, world’s longest bony fish, dubbed “Doomsday Fish”

Habitat: 200–1 000 m depths along continental slopes, oceanic trenches of Pacific, Atlantic, Indian

Current spotlight: Multiple strandings off Baja California Sur, Mexico

Quick Facts for MCQs

Physical Features

  • Longest bony fish; compressed, scaleless body
  • Distinct red pelvic and dorsal rays aiding identification
  • Absence of swim bladder reduces buoyancy at deep depths

Folklore & Myths

  • Japanese lore tags species as Sea-God messenger
  • Sightings noted before 2011 Tōhoku quake, fuelling superstition
  • Similar beliefs now surface after Baja strandings

Scientific Evidence

  • Researchers test sensitivity to deep-sea fault disturbances
  • 2019 Bulletin study dismisses statistical quake linkage
  • Experts attribute surfacing to illness, currents, temperature-pressure shifts

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Scientific nameRegalecus glesne
Common tagOarfish / Doomsday Fish
Maximum recorded length≈11 m
Body lookRibbon-like silver, red dorsal fin full length
DietKrill, plankton, small crustaceans
Estimated lifespan≤20 years
Depth zone200–1 000 m
Japanese nameRyugu no tsukai
Folklore linkHarbinger of quake, tsunami
2019 BSSA findingNo proven seismic correlation
GS-3S&T

10.WASP-121b Exoplanet Atmosphere (Exoplanet Atmosphere)

Earth
Illustration for WASP-121b Exoplanet Atmosphere (Exoplanet Atmosphere)

What & Where

WASP-121b (Tylos) – ultra-hot Jupiter orbiting F-type star WASP-121; discovered in 2016.

Located ≈900 light-years from Earth; completes one orbit in 30 Earth-hours, remaining tidally locked.

First exoplanet to get a 3-D atmospheric map, produced via ESO’s Very Large Telescope.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Physical Characteristics

  • Radius 1.87 RJ; mass 1.18 MJ, indicating puffed-up, low-density profile.
  • Orbits extremely close, generating ultra-high dayside temperatures; permanent nightside remains cooler.
  • Strong stellar irradiation plus tidal lock shapes severe hemispheric contrast.

Atmospheric Dynamics

  • Stratified winds: iron (base), sodium jet (mid), hydrogen flow (upper).
  • Supersonic jet streams produce complex, planet-girdling circulation patterns.
  • Temperature gradient drives chemical segregation and possible metal condensation.

Observation & Method

  • High-resolution Doppler spectroscopy captured velocity shifts across planetary limb.
  • 3-D wind map enables first direct study of vertical atmospheric motion on an exoplanet.
  • Results refine escape, cloud formation, and heat-transport models for hot Jupiters.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Planet nicknameTylos
Distance from Earth~900 light-years
Discovery year2016
Planet typeUltra-hot Jupiter
Radius vs Jupiter1.87 ×
Mass vs Jupiter1.18 ×
Orbital period30 h
Host star classYellow-white F-type
Mapping instrumentESO Very Large Telescope
Distinct wind layers3
GS-3S&T

11.Project Farm Vibes AI Agriculture (Agricultural AI Project)

The Hindu

What & Where

Project Farm Vibes (PFV): open-source AI suite by Microsoft Research & Agricultural Development Trust enabling data-driven agriculture

Core stack: Azure Data Manager, FarmVibes.AI, Agripilot.AI for sensing, analytics, vernacular advisory across crop cycle

Pilot location: Baramati (Maharashtra) reporting 40 % yield rise, 50 % water saving on demo farms

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Azure Data Manager aggregates satellite weather sensor datasets offering holistic field picture
  • FarmVibes.AI analyses soil moisture temperature pH generating precise seeding fertiliser spraying schedules
  • Agripilot.AI issues vernacular real-time advice integrating with Per Drop More Crop irrigation systems

Environmental Impact

  • Precision inputs curb chemical runoff, soil erosion, greenhouse emissions, deforestation enhancing ecosystem health
  • AI-guided spot fertilisation yields 25 % nutrient saving lowering nitrogen leaching into water bodies
  • Smart irrigation under PFV halves water draw supporting aquifer sustainability amid scarcity

Economic Angle

  • PFV farms show 40 % yield surge and reduced post-harvest losses boosting income
  • Global AI-agri market seen reaching USD 4.7 bn by 2028 at 23.1 % CAGR
  • Automated pest-weed surveillance slashes pesticide spend and labour demand strengthening profitability

Challenges

  • Digital literacy deficit means many farmers cannot navigate AI dashboards or mobile apps
  • High upfront costs for drones and IoT sensors deter 85 % smallholders
  • Connectivity gap: 25,067 villages lack mobile internet, crippling cloud-based analytics delivery

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Yield increase under PFV40 %
Fertiliser cost saving25 %
Water consumption reduction50 %
AI agriculture market 2023USD 1.7 bn
AI agriculture market 2028 (proj.)USD 4.7 bn
CAGR 2023-2823.1 %
Small & marginal farmer share85 % of holdings
Villages without mobile internet25,067

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2024PYQ 1

Which of the following correctly describes "100 Million Farmers"?

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

12.Spinal Muscular Atrophy Therapy (Genetic Neuromuscular Disorder)

Indian Express

What & Where

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): autosomal-recessive motor-neuron disorder from SMN1 mutation causing progressive muscle wasting.

World’s first in-utero SMA therapy: performed on fetus, child now 2.5 yrs, announced Feb 2025.

Global incidence ≈ 1 / 10,000 live births; major genetic killer of infants and young children.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Medical Milestone

  • In-utero drug delivery prevented postnatal SMA progression; first such case globally.
  • Opens avenue for prenatal interventions in other monogenic neuromuscular disorders.

Genetic Mechanism

  • SMN1 mutation lowers SMN protein, triggering motor-neuron degeneration.
  • Carriers possess one healthy allele; two mutant alleles manifest disease.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Progressive limb-girdle weakness hampers sitting, standing, walking.
  • Respiratory muscle involvement predisposes to pneumonia, ventilatory failure.
  • Bulbar weakness leads to poor suckling, choking, aspiration risk.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Inheritance patternAutosomal recessive; both parents must pass mutated allele
Causative geneSMN1 (Survival Motor Neuron 1)
Deficient proteinSMN protein
Incidence rate~1 in 10,000 births
Mortality rankLeading genetic cause of infant & child death
Muscles first hitProximal: shoulders, hips, thighs
Key symptomsLimb weakness, respiratory & swallowing difficulty
Carrier parentsUsually asymptomatic
First prenatal therapyFetal treatment, girl aged 2.5 yrs post-birth
GS-2Polity

13.Gold Card Investment Visa (Investment Visa Program)

Financial Express

What & Where

Concept: Golden/Investment Visa grants long-term residency or citizenship against qualifying capital inflow.

Process: Applicant invests, passes due-diligence, gains residency, later eligible for passport.

Geography: Offered by >25 nations; article cites US, UAE, Portugal, New Zealand.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Eligibility & Criteria

  • Threshold: Capital requirement set per country, asset class specific.
  • Vehicle: Real estate, business equity, sovereign bonds, development funds allowed.
  • Presence: Certain regimes insist physical stay to retain permit.

Country Examples

  • UAE: Straightforward AED 2 million property or fund stake.
  • Portugal: Fund route retained; property route abolished 2023.
  • New Zealand: Lowered bar post-2008 to attract high-net-worth migrants.

Procedure Flow

  • Submission: Financial documents, source-of-funds proof uploaded.
  • Due-diligence: Government anti-money-laundering and security vetting.
  • Investment: Funds wired to approved channel before residency issued.

Policy Update: US EB-5

  • Rebranding: EB-5 relaunching as “Gold Card” for marketing clarity.
  • Quantum: USD 5 million investment threshold retained for direct green card.
  • Outcome: Immediate permanent residency, citizenship eligibility after statutory period.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Global investment bandUSD 200,000 – 5 million
Revamped US “Gold Card”USD 5 million → green card + citizenship path
UAE Golden VisaAED 2 million → 10-year residency
Portugal threshold€500,000 in funds or job creation
NZ stancePost-recession rules eased to lure investors
Typical stay clauseSome states demand minimum days each year
Citizenship waitUsually 5–10 years continuous residence
GS-2Economy

14.India–UK Free Trade Deal (India-UK FTA)

The Hindu

What & Where

FTA: pact lowering or eliminating import duties and non-tariff barriers between partner nations

Focus now: India-UK Free Trade Agreement, 14 negotiation rounds since Jan 2022 after 8-month pause

Would link India’s $3.5 trn economy with UK’s $3 trn across goods, services, investment

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Export gains: textiles, apparel, footwear, marine products, cars, grapes, mangoes eyed for zero duty UK entry
  • Investment push: proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty to channel larger UK FDI and technology transfer
  • Services access: Indian IT, education, healthcare anticipate liberalised UK market entry

Negotiation Sticking Points

  • Tariffs: India reluctant on deep cuts for whisky, automobiles, meat while UK demands wider concessions
  • Mobility: India seeks liberal visas for students and professionals; UK tightening post-Brexit immigration norms
  • Dispute resolution: India insists on local remedy exhaustion before arbitration; UK prefers direct investor-state recourse

India’s FTA Footprint

  • Asia-centric pacts: ASEAN, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand among others
  • West pivot: recent deals with Australia, UAE, Mauritius; ongoing talks with UK, EU, US, EFTA
  • Strategic aim: diversify export markets, curb China dependence, propel merchandise export doubling

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
India’s concluded FTAs13 plus 6 Preferential Trade Agreements
India-UK negotiation rounds14 till March 2024
India’s exports to UK FY24$12.9 bn
UK exports to India FY24$8.4 bn
Indian goods gaining duty cuts$6.1 bn worth
UK export basket facing Indian tariff91 %
Tariff on Scotch whisky in India150 %
Tariff on imported cars in India100 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2024PYQ 1

If India enters into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other nations, then the growth of exports of India would depend upon which of the following?

CDS_GK, GS1 2017PYQ 2

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-2Misc

15.Japan-India-Africa Trilateral Forum (Trilateral Africa Forum)

ANI

What & Where

Definition: Trilateral India-Japan-Africa platform driving investment, trade, development projects across African continent

Genesis: Evolved from India-Africa Forum Summit & Japan’s TICAD; gained traction via 2021 Growth Corridor talks

Geography: Focus on East Africa & Indian Ocean Region while covering entire African Union

Quick Facts for MCQs

Key Functions

  • Infrastructure: Railways, ports, power projects enhancing regional connectivity
  • Skills: Training, technology transfer boosting human capital through ITEC and similar programmes
  • Trade: Supply-chain resilience, financial inclusion amplifying Africa’s global market integration

Opportunities

  • Industrialisation: Promotes SEZs, manufacturing hubs, digital startups across Africa
  • Synergy: Marries Japanese technology with Indian digital & industrial strengths
  • South-South cooperation: Positions Africa as future growth pole within Global South

Issues & Challenges

  • Competition: Chinese dominance in African infrastructure complicates market entry
  • Financing: High African debt deters large-scale private and sovereign investment
  • Governance: Corruption, conflicts, weak regulations impede long-term project security

Way Forward

  • Institutions: Joint economic councils to streamline policy and approvals
  • Incentives: Risk-mitigation tools and fiscal sweeteners to lure private sector capital
  • Green & Digital: Joint ventures in renewables and e-commerce for inclusive, sustainable growth

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Forum natureEconomic-strategic trilateral
Core partnersIndia, Japan, African nations
Momentum year2021 Growth Corridor discussions
Parent summitsIAFS & TICAD
Key pillarsInfrastructure, digital, skill-building
Sample schemesITEC, e-VidyaBharti, e-ArogyaBharti
Green focusSolar electrification, climate finance
Strategic aimNon-debt alternative to China’s BRI

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

Which one among the following statements with regard to India’s maritime initiative, SAGAR, is correct?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2022PYQ 2

समृद्धि के लिए हिंद-प्रशांत आर्थिक ढाँचा (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) का गठन करते समय, सदस्य देशों ने चार स्तंभों पर भावी समझौता-वार्ता के लिए सामूहिक परिचर्चा शुरू की है। उन स्तंभों में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा नहीं है ?

GS-3Security

16.Pig Butchering Cyber Scam (Cyber Fraud)

New Indian Express

What & Where

Pig Butchering Scam = online confidence-building fraud siphoning money via fake crypto/forex investment platforms

Process flow: unsolicited contact → prolonged grooming → bogus high-return portal → fund transfer → exit or forced cyber labour

Originated China 2016; now cross-border, India alert by I4C with Google support

Quick Facts for MCQs

Modus Operandi

  • Contact: random greeting or mis-sent message initiating friendly daily chats
  • Grooming: scammer poses wealthy advisor, shows fake dashboards, gradual small withdrawals to build trust
  • Exit: sudden platform freeze or request more margin; funds irretrievable, victims sometimes blackmailed into fraud work

Stakeholders & Response

  • Government: Home Ministry-run I4C issues nationwide advisory and blocklists suspect URLs/ads
  • Private sector: Google pledges ad-screening, takedown of rogue investment apps
  • Enforcement: Focus on money-laundering trails and crypto wallet surveillance across jurisdictions

Victim Profile

  • Targets: unemployed youth, students, financially stressed individuals seeking quick returns
  • Vulnerabilities: low cyber awareness, high social media exposure, aspiration for lucrative remote investments
  • Geography: Indian metros and Tier-2 cities increasingly reported in FIR data

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Origin year2016
First reported countryChina
Indian nodal agencyIndian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
Tech collaboratorGoogle
Main lureCryptocurrency & forex trading
Contact channelsSocial media, dating apps, investment sites
Noted coercion formCyber slavery
GS-3Security

17.Coast Guard Gallantry Awards (ICG Gallantry Awards)

PIB

What & Where

Indian Coast Guard (ICG): maritime security arm under MoD; policing territorial sea (12 nm), contiguous zone (24 nm), EEZ (200 nm)

Gallantry awards: national bravery honours for armed forces, other forces, civilians; announced on Republic Day & Independence Day

ICG timeline: raised 1 Feb 1977, became independent armed force 18 Aug 1978 via Coast Guard Act 1978

Quick Facts for MCQs

Awards System

  • Precedence: Param Vir Chakra highest wartime; Ashoka Chakra highest peacetime; four others follow
  • Eligibility spans armed forces, other uniformed services, civilians
  • Conferment twice yearly via Presidential lists on national days

Legal & Policy

  • Creation driven by UNCLOS-granted EEZ; India legislated Maritime Zones Act 1976, then Coast Guard Act 1978
  • Statutes extend sovereign rights over 2.01 m sq km ocean; mandate dedicated policing force
  • ICG operates under peace-time law enforcement; can switch to Navy command during war

Security Dimension

  • Functions: maritime law enforcement, coastal security, search & rescue, environmental protection
  • Asset strength places ICG 4th globally, enabling rapid response across vast EEZ
  • Personnel recognised with gallantry, distinguished and meritorious medals for exemplary operational service

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Parent ministryMinistry of Defence
ICG establishment1 Feb 1977
Became armed force18 Aug 1978
Foundational lawCoast Guard Act 1978
Territorial waters limit12 nautical miles
Contiguous zone limit24 nautical miles
EEZ limit200 nautical miles
Ocean area policed2.01 million sq km
Global size rank4th-largest coast guard
EEZ concept originUNCLOS 1972
Indian EEZ lawMaritime Zones of India Act 1976
Gallantry award occasionsRepublic Day & Independence Day
Award precedence (top-bottom)Param Vir, Ashoka, Mahavir, Kirti, Vir, Shaurya Chakra

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

Which among the following has initiated a nationwide flagship campaign ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’ to clean seashores/beaches and other water bodies of plastic and other waste materials?

NDA_GAT 2021PYQ 2

Operation Olivia, an initiative to protect Olive Ridley turtles, is undertaken by

GS-2SchemeQuick Bite

18.SWAYATT e-Procurement Initiative (GeM SWAYATT)

PIB

What & Where

SWAYATT: 2019 Commerce Ministry drive linking Start-ups, Women, Youth with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) procurement system.

GeM: 2016 national, paperless, cashless online portal under DGS&D for all Union ministries, departments, PSUs.

Reach: Platform now hosts 8.5 lakh+ MSEs and 105 FPOs supplying across India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Digital-platform: GeM offers automated, end-to-end e-bidding, order, payment modules with minimal human interface.
  • Integration: SWAYATT conducts onboarding camps to funnel new sellers—start-ups, women, youth—onto GeM.
  • Support: Technical backbone provided by National e-Governance Division.

Economic Angle

  • Procurement-scale: 68 lakh+ orders processed through GeM, signalling mainstream adoption in public buying.
  • Revenue-impact: MSEs alone realised ₹1.87 lakh crore, boosting grassroots enterprise liquidity.

Social Inclusion

  • Women-entrepreneurs: 1.45 lakh participants executed 7.32 lakh orders worth ₹15,922 crore.
  • Marginalised-groups: ~43,000 SC/ST MSEs handled 1.35 lakh orders generating ₹2,592 crore.
  • Start-ups: SWAYATT branding positions youth-led ventures for assured government demand access.

Agricultural Marketing

  • FPO-linkage: 105 FPOs list 200+ agri products, giving farmers direct government market entry.
  • Benefit-chain: Eliminates intermediaries, aligns with doubling-farmers-income objective.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
SWAYATT expansionStart-ups, Women & Youth Advantage Through e-Transactions
SWAYATT launch year2019
Implementing ministryCommerce & Industry
GeM establishment2016
GeM operatorDGS&D, Commerce Ministry
MSE sellers on GeM> 8.5 lakh
MSE business value₹1.87 lakh crore
Women-MSE order value₹15,922 crore
SC/ST-MSE order value₹2,592 crore
FPOs onboarded105 (200+ agri products)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2016PYQ 1

'SWAYAM', an initiative of the Government of India, aims at

GS-1Misc

19.NSO Time Use Survey 2024 (Time Use Survey)

PIB
Illustration for NSO Time Use Survey 2024 (Time Use Survey)

What & Where

Time Use Survey (TUS): nationally representative MoSPI-NSO study mapping minutes spent on paid, unpaid, leisure activities

Edition-2; fieldwork 2024; benchmark comparison with maiden 2019 round

Geography: whole India; comparative TUS also run in Australia, Japan, Korea, USA, China

Quick Facts for MCQs

Gender Dynamics

  • Rising-women-employment; fall in unpaid chores signals monetisation of female labour
  • Male-caregiving up; paternal role aided by urban norms and changing attitudes
  • Female caregiving still double male minutes, underscoring persistent gender gap

Leisure & Learning

  • Leisure/media/sports time rose to 11 % of daily allocation across 6 yrs+ cohort
  • Near-universal 6-14 learning participation; over 6.8 hrs average study time

Urban–Rural Contrast

  • Urban-women show sharper employment gain, linked to education, job availability, support services

Institutional Setup

  • NSO nodal for statistical standards; compiles IIP, conducts ASI, disseminates TUS for policy inputs

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Conducting agencyNational Statistics Office, MoSPI
Survey roundSecond nationwide TUS 2024
Employment rate 2024 (15-59 yrs)75 % male; 25 % female
Employment rate 201970.9 % male; 21.8 % female
Women’s unpaid domestic work315 min/day 2019 → 305 min/day 2024
Caregiving participation 202441 % women; 21.4 % men
Caregiving time140 min/day women; 74 min/day men
Leisure & mass media share11 % of day (2024); 9.9 % (2019)
Children 6-14 in learning89.3 %; 413 min/day
Household production share16.8 % of population
NSO divisionsCSO, DIID, NSSO
NSO key outputsIIP index; Annual Survey of Industries

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements regarding Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report 2023–24 by the National Statistical Organization (NSO):

Ready to practice?

Test your knowledge with our UPSC test series.

Start Free Trial