Saturday, 26 April 2025

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: Consider the following statements:

The correct answer is (a) I and II only. This question appeared in GS1 2025.

Q: Who among the following is appointed as the tenth Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently?

The correct answer is (b) K. Sivan. This question appeared in GS1, NDA_GAT 2022.

Q: Who amongst the following was the Chairman of ISRO when INSAT-3B was launched?

The correct answer is (a) Anil Kakodar. This question appeared in GS1, NDA_GAT 2001.

Q: Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?

The correct answer is (a) 1 and 2 only. This question appeared in GS1, NDA_GAT 2016.

Q: 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?

The correct answer is (b) National Cadet Corps (NCC). This question appeared in GS1, NDA_GAT 2022.

Q: ‘पोषण मुक्त भारत अभियान’ के अंतर्गत की जा रही व्यवस्थाओं के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

The correct answer is (c) केवल तीन. This question appeared in GS1 2023.

12 topicsGS-1: 5GS-2: 2GS-3: 5

0/12 done

GS-2Polity

1.POCSO Act Section 19 Review (Mandatory Reporting)

The HinduSection 19 · POCSO Act 2012 · Supreme Court

What & Where

Section 19, POCSO Act 2012, India — compulsory reporting of known or suspected child sexual offences

Coverage pan-India; information to be given to police in child-friendly manner for swift protection

Non-reporting or false reporting punishable, reinforcing immediate care and legal intervention

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Supreme Court admitted plea questioning Section 19’s constitutional validity
Act derives from India’s 1992 ratification of UN Convention on Rights of the Child
Mandatory clause overrides adolescent consent, treats consensual teen sex as offence

Healthcare Impact

Doctors face dilemma between patient confidentiality and legal duty to inform police
Adolescents deterred from lawful medical services, lean toward unsafe or unregulated options
Reporting requirement may hinder access to emergency contraception, abortion, STI treatment

Social Concerns

Criminalization of consensual peer relationships risks stigmatizing normal adolescent behavior
Fear of prosecution discourages youth from seeking psychosocial support
Mandatory reporting intended for protection may paradoxically increase vulnerability

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Enacted	2012
Child age cut-off	Below 18 yrs
Section 19 keyword	Mandatory reporting
Penalty for non-reporting	Criminal liability
Section 23 safeguard	Victim identity confidentiality
Act gender stance	Gender-neutral

GS-1Editorial

2.Taj Mahal Pollution Safeguards (World Heritage Site)

The HinduTaj Mahal · Taj Trapezium Zone · NEERI

Illustration for Taj Mahal Pollution Safeguards (World Heritage Site)

What & Where

Taj Mahal – 17 ha white-marble Mughal mausoleum on Yamuna’s right bank, Agra (Uttar Pradesh)

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) – 10,400 km² pollution-control trapezoid enveloping Taj, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri

Apr 2025 – Supreme Court asks CSIR-NEERI to study glass-industry emissions impacting monument

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

SC-1996 banned coal/coke, ordered industry fuel switch, set pollution-category norms
TTZ Authority (1999) lacks staff, funds, statutory teeth per 262nd Parliamentary report
Constitution Articles 48A & 51A(g) cited for stricter enforcement

Environmental Impact

NEERI-2016 observed PM2.5 & PM10 above limits; Mathura Refinery major distant source
Hota-2016 flagged vehicular, biomass, construction dust as dominant local contributors
Black/brown carbon stains causing marble yellowing documented in ASI studies

Tech & Schemes

Flue Gas Recirculation plus Low-NOx burners advised for glass units to curb particulates
Transition to piped natural gas, renewables aligned with SATAT & Ujjwala initiatives
Integrated traffic plan: Agra Metro, cycle tracks, e-rickshaws under NEMMP to trim vehicular SOx/NOx

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Main construction span	1632-1648 AD
Ancillary works done by	1653 AD
Chief architect	Ustad-Ahmad Lahori
Marble source	Makrana, Rajasthan
Garden style	Timurid-Persian Charbagh
UNESCO inscription	1983, Criterion (i)
TTZ notified area	10,400 sq km
Key SC case	M.C. Mehta vs Union (1996)
Fuel ban inside TTZ	Coal/Coke; shift to natural gas
Managing agency	Archaeological Survey of India

GS-1HistoryQuick Bite

3.Lanjia Saora Tribal Culture (Tribal Communities)

The HinduLanjia Saora · Saora Tribe · Odisha

Illustration for Lanjia Saora Tribal Culture (Tribal Communities)

What & Where

Lanjia Saora = isolated hill-dwelling subgroup of Odisha’s ancient Saora tribe

Two economic groups: Sudha Saora (plains, wet farming) & Lanjia Saora (hills, shifting/terraced)

Core geography: forested hills of Gajapati & Rayagada districts; Saora also in AP, JH, MP, Assam

Quick Facts for MCQs

Culture & Art

Dance vibrant, spontaneous songs with brass pipes, cymbals, gongs
Costume uses crane feathers, umbrellas, swords, peacock plumes
Tattoo Tantangbo signifies identity and rituals

Livelihood

Lanjia Saora practice shifting plus terraced farming on hill slopes
Sudha Saora engage in wet cultivation and wage labour in plains

Linguistics & Demography

Language Saora part of Mundari branch, Austroasiatic family
Tribe spread across Odisha and pockets of AP, Jharkhand, MP, Assam

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Language family	Austroasiatic → Mundari → Saora
Main districts (Odisha)	Gajapati, Rayagada
Epic references	Mentioned in Ramayana, Mahabharata
Dance instruments	Brass pipes, cymbals, gongs
Turban adornment	Crane feathers
Tattoo tradition	Tantangbo
Dance hand-helds	Umbrellas, swords, peacock plumes
Plains subgroup	Sudha Saora
Hill subgroup	Lanjia Saora
Farming style, hills	Shifting & terraced cultivation

GS-3Environment

4.South Sandwich Islands Biodiversity (Deep-Sea Species)

Times of IndiaSouth Sandwich Islands · Copepods · Lophoura szidati

Illustration for South Sandwich Islands Biodiversity (Deep-Sea Species)

What & Where

Copepods – tiny, abundant aquatic crustaceans linking phytoplankton to higher predators.

Pig-tailed parasitic copepod Lophoura szidati filmed on deep-sea rattail near South Sandwich Islands.

South Sandwich Islands – glacier-covered, volcanic arc in South Atlantic, 760 km SE of South Georgia.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biological Traits

Size-range extreme enables free-living millimetres & parasitic centimetres.
Missing heart compensated by diffusion respiration.
Bioluminescence used as predator evasion flash.

Habitat Range

Distribution spans freshwater, saltwater, moist soil, underground caves.
Recorded from polar ice caps to deepest trenches and vents.
South Sandwich Islands sit north of Weddell Sea in remote South Atlantic.

Geopolitical Status

Islands split from Falklands administration only in 1985.
Brief Argentine hold became Falklands War flashpoint in 1982.
Currently managed by UK as conservation-focused protected area.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Taxonomic class	Crustacea (subclass Copepoda)
Usual body length	1–2 mm; parasites reach 20 cm
Body shape	Transparent, teardrop, long antennae
Eye count	Single median red eye
Circulatory system	No heart/vessels; Calanoida exception
Respiration	Oxygen absorbed through body surface
Locomotion	Oar-like antennae; rapid jumps
Daily water filtered	Up to 1 million× body volume
Bioluminescence	Present in several species
Mate location	Chemical pheromone trails
Habitat spread	Polar ice to hydrothermal vents, caves, soil
South Sandwich length	≈ 305 km island chain
Volcano status	Actively volcanic throughout chain
Political status	UK Overseas Territory (with South Georgia)
Past occupation	Argentine military 1976; retaken 1982
Inhabitability	Harsh, uninhabited, glacier-covered

GS-3SpeciesQuick Bite

5.Colossal Squid Deep-Sea Discovery (Deep-Sea Species)

Indian ExpressColossal Squid · Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni · Southern Ocean

Illustration for Colossal Squid Deep-Sea Discovery (Deep-Sea Species)

What & Where

Definition Colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) largest known invertebrate; class Cephalopoda, family Cranchiidae

Geography Circumpolar Southern Ocean; lives 200–4,000 m deep (meso- to bathypelagic) around Antarctica

Milestone First live image captured April 2025 at ~2,000 ft (≈ 610 m)

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biological Traits

Size giant soft-bodied; females larger; boneless muscular mantle
Vision massive eyes enhance low-light detection in deep sea
Weaponry tentacles armed with powerful swivelling hooks for prey capture and defense

Habitat & Range

Distribution circumpolar waters south of 45° S, highest abundance near Antarctic continental slope
Depth present from mid-water 200 m down to 4,000 m; image at 610 m confirms mesopelagic presence
Fishery not targeted commercially; occasional by-catch only

Trophic Links

Predator role active ambush hunter of large fish and squids in deep sea food web
Prey status principal food for sperm whales; juveniles eaten by seals and other marine predators
Ecological niche both apex predator and critical prey, sustaining Antarctic deep-sea energy flow

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Scientific name	Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
Max adult length	~14 m
Max recorded weight	~500 kg
Eye size	Largest in animal kingdom
Depth zone	200–4,000 m
Adult colour	Reddish or purplish
Tentacle armature	Swivelling hooks
Reproduction	Internal fertilisation
IUCN status	Least Concern
Commercial fishing	None
Chief prey	Patagonian toothfish, large squids
Top predator	Sperm whale
Compared species	Giant squid longer but slender

GS-3S&T

6.CSIR-IMMT Critical Minerals Pact (Critical Minerals)

DD NewsCSIR-IMMT · Joint Declaration · Rosatom

What & Where

CSIR-IMMT: CSIR institute specialising in mineral & material resource engineering and sustainable resource development.

Signed Joint Declarations with Russia’s Giredmet, Rosatom, NUST MISIS for critical mineral processing R&D.

HQ: Bhubaneswar, Odisha; set up 13 Apr 1964 as RRL, rechristened CSIR-IMMT in 2007.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

Focus: critical mineral technologies, process metallurgy, advanced material processing.
Provides industry consultancy and tech transfer via PPP models.
Aims for zero-waste mining through innovative separation and recycling techniques.

International Collaboration

India–Russia declarations boost joint R&D in critical mineral beneficiation and recycling.
Partnership strengthens supply-chain security for EV, solar, defence sectors.
Positions India as global knowledge hub in sustainable resource tech.

Environmental Impact

Zero-waste mining reduces tailings, land degradation, and water contamination.
Sustainable extraction supports low-carbon technologies essential for green transition.
Emphasis on resource efficiency aligns with circular-economy goals.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Parent body	Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
Original name	Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar
Establishment date	13 April 1964
Renamed as IMMT	2007
Headquarters city	Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Russian collaborators	Giredmet, Rosatom, NUST MISIS
Core mandate	Mineral processing, zero-waste mining, advanced materials
Vision linkage	Atmanirbhar Bharat & Viksit Bharat

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements:

GS-3S&T

7.Dr K Kasturirangan Legacy (ISRO Leadership)

The HinduKasturirangan · ISRO Chairman · PSLV

Illustration for Dr K Kasturirangan Legacy (ISRO Leadership)

What & Where

Who: Dr. K. Kasturirangan — Indian astrophysicist; ISRO Chairman (1994-2003)

Where/Field: Led India’s operational space era; specialised in high-energy X-ray & γ-ray astronomy

What: Also chaired NEP 2020 panel; pushed “Space for Society” via NNRMS

Quick Facts for MCQs

Space Programme Leadership

Transitioned ISRO from experimental to fully operational satellite services
Advocated indigenous capability; boosted launch frequency & commercial contracts
Positioned ISRO as national agency serving telecom, remote sensing, meteorology

Satellite Missions

Pioneered sector-specific satellites: education, telemedicine, earth-resources, oceanography
Enabled CARTOSAT series for high-resolution cartography; built climate mission Meghatropiques
Laid groundwork for ASTROSAT, India’s first dedicated space-science observatory

Education & Policy

NEP 2020 vision: equitable, multidisciplinary, technology-enabled learning ecosystem
Promoted “Space for Society” using National Natural Resource Management System
Steered knowledge commissions, linking research, higher education, and governance

Honours & Positions

Decorated with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan
Served as Secretary, Dept. of Space; member, Planning Commission committees
Fellow: all three National Science Academies; global advisory roles in space science

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Age at passing	84 years
ISRO Chairmanship	1994 – 2003
Launchers operationalised	PSLV, GSLV
First lunar mission ideated	Chandrayaan-1
Commercial leap	INSAT-2E transponders leased to INTELSAT (1999)
Thematic satellites kicked off	EDUSAT, RESOURCESAT, OCEANSAT, CARTOSAT, Meghatropiques, ASTROSAT
Major policy role	Chair, National Education Policy 2020 panel
Parliamentary tenure	Rajya Sabha MP 2003-09
Top civilian honour	Padma Vibhushan
Key institutional heads	NIAS, Karnataka Knowledge Commission

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

Who among the following is appointed as the tenth Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently?

GS1, NDA_GAT 2001PYQ 2

Who amongst the following was the Chairman of ISRO when INSAT-3B was launched?

GS-3Security

8.India-Pakistan Cross-Border Infiltration (Border Security)

Indian ExpressLoC · CIBMS · Smart Fencing

What & Where

Cross-border infiltration: armed militants illegally traverse India-Pakistan LoC to stage terror strikes inside J&K.

Core belt: Pir Panjal mountains—Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda—expanding to tourist axis Pahalgam.

Entry aided by rugged forests, winter-breached fencing and Pakistani terror group backing.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Key Drivers

Porous terrain; dense Pir Panjal forests mask militant movement.
Winter snowfall snaps fence strands, creating exploitable gaps.
External backing; Pakistan groups supply guides, encrypted comms, logistics.

Government Measures

Border fencing plus heavy LoC troop deployment with night-vision and QRTs.
CIBMS integrates thermal imagers, radars, ground sensors, aerostats into single grid.
Smart-fence pilots: sensor-triggered breach alerts reduce manual patrolling load.

Operational Challenges

Night-vision gear suffers limited battery life, harsh-terrain maintenance issues.
Extreme cold and steep climbs sap troop endurance, hinder 24×7 vigilance.
Border-sealing project lags; modernization funds and logistics delayed.

Way Ahead

Intelligent, all-weather fencing resilient to snow, auto-detects intrusion.
Continuous drone & aerostat surveillance over gullies and forested corridors.
Dedicated rapid-repair squads to restore damaged fence within hours.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Border fencing kick-off	Post-2003 ceasefire
Infiltration success rate (2010)	≈20 % of attempts
Fence damaged by snowfall	~33 % each winter
Full border-sealing deadline	Shifted to 2025 (from 2018)
Flagship tech suite	CIBMS – thermal imagers, radars, sensors, aerostats
High-risk districts	Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda, Pahalgam

GS-2Scheme

9.Clean Ganga Mission (River Rejuvenation)

News on AirNMCG · River Cities Alliance · Jal Shakti Ministry

Illustration for Clean Ganga Mission (River Rejuvenation)

What & Where

NMCG – implementation arm of National Ganga Council; rejuvenates, manages and monitors entire Ganga river basin.

RCA – 2021 inter-city platform enabling sustainable urban river management across India.

2024 master plan cleared to embed river-sensitive urban planning in all RCA member cities.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Registration – NMCG set up under Societies Act; aligns with National Ganga Council decisions.
Alliance – RCA notified jointly by two Union ministries to institutionalise urban river governance.
Master-plan – Annual integrated plan aims statutory mainstreaming of river-sensitive zoning.

Governance Structure

Dual-tier – Governing Council sets vision; Executive Committee sanctions projects, both chaired by Director General.
Devolution – SPMGs execute schemes; district committees ensure on-ground coordination.
Financial-power – Up to ₹1,000 crore approvals without Cabinet referral speeds execution.

Capacity Building

Networking – RCA facilitates peer learning, best-practice exchange, joint pilots among river cities.
Training – NIUA conducts workshops, toolkits, e-courses on river-centric urban planning.
Innovation – Platform encourages tech adoption for pollution control, flow augmentation, riverfront development.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
NMCG registration date	12 Aug 2011
Statutory basis	Societies Registration Act 1860
Parent ministry	Jal Shakti (DoWR, RD & GR)
Governing bodies	Governing Council; Executive Committee
Director General role	Heads both bodies
Project clearance cap	₹1,000 crore by Executive Committee
State arms	State Programme Management Groups
System levels	Five-tier: National→District
RCA launch year	2021
Launch ministries	Jal Shakti & Housing-Urban Affairs
RCA secretariat	National Institute for Urban Affairs
Initial member cities	30 (Varanasi, Dehradun, Chennai, Pune)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2016PYQ 1

Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 2

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?

GS-1Editorial

10.UN World Social Report 2025 (Economic Inequality)

UNEconomic Insecurity · Income Inequality · Social Protection

What & Where

UN DESA’s flagship World Social Report tracks global socio-economic trends and policy gaps.

2025 edition focuses on equity, economic security, solidarity using 1995-2024 cross-country data.

Worldwide scope; flags fragile livelihoods in Africa, South Asia and climate-conflict hotspots.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

Inequality widening; richest 1 % hold disproportionate assets.
Informal, precarious employment dominant in Africa, South Asia, fueling unstable incomes.
Policy recommendation: progressive taxation plus universal social protection to reduce concentration.

Social Concerns

Trust deficit; >50 % report low or no trust in government institutions.
Digital misinformation and echo chambers intensify societal polarization.
Youth trust shows steep decline since late 1990s, undermining civic engagement.

Climate & Conflict

Climate shocks affected 20 % of people in 2024, eroding poverty gains.
Conflicts exposed 14 % of global population, worsening insecurity and displacement.
Recommendation: climate-resilient safety nets to safeguard poor and marginalized.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Population facing economic insecurity	60 %
People in extreme poverty	690 million
Countries with rising inequality	Two-thirds
Richest 1% wealth share	Exceeds combined 95 % population
People lifted from poverty since 1995	>1 billion
Workforce fearing job loss	60 %
Population hit by climate shocks (2024)	1 in 5
Population living amid conflicts (2024)	1 in 7

GS-1Editorial

11.Climate Change Gender Violence Link (Gender-Based Violence)

UNUN Spotlight Initiative · Intimate Partner Violence · Temperature Rise

What & Where

UN Spotlight Initiative: EU-UN multi-year partnership eliminating violence against women and girls worldwide

Report links climate change to rising gender-based violence, calling it a “shadow pandemic”

Focus on poorest, climate-vulnerable regions; projections extend to 2100

Quick Facts for MCQs

Gender Impact

Temperature escalation directly boosts IPV; 3.5 °C could more than double additional cases
Disaster aftermath spurs spikes in child marriage, trafficking, sexual exploitation
Environmental women defenders endure harassment, abduction, murder

Funding & Aid

Gender equality gets only 0.04 % of climate-related development assistance
Present financing omits GBV integration in adaptation and mitigation portfolios
Report urges scaled, targeted funds for gender-responsive resilience projects

Policy Actions

Mainstream GBV prevention across all climate policies, local to global
Prioritise women leadership; back networks like Pacific Feminist Community of Practice
Replicate models: Vanuatu FGM retraining, Liberia mobile GBV clinics, Mozambique disaster-embedded GBV services

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
1 °C warming effect	4.7 % rise in intimate partner violence
IPV share attributable by 2100	1 in 10 cases
Extra women facing IPV at 2 °C (2090)	40 million annually
Femicide jump during heatwaves	28 %
Survivor reporting rate	7 % worldwide
Climate aid with gender focus	0.04 % of total

GS-1Social Issues

12.Nutrition For Growth Summit Outcomes (Child Nutrition)

The HinduN4G Summit · UN Decade on Nutrition · Food Literacy

What & Where

Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit — biennial global pledging meet on malnutrition; 2024 edition in Paris, France

UN Decade of Action on Nutrition — 2016-25 initiative now prolonged to 2030 via N4G consensus

Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) — SDG-2 indicator; child must eat ≥5 of 10 specified food groups daily

Quick Facts for MCQs

Child Health Impact

Growth-spurts demand high nutrient density; failure leads to irreversible stunting, anaemia
Behaviour; adequate micronutrients boost cognition, emotional resilience, social adjustment
Life-course; poor teenage diet escalates diabetes, CVD, obesity incidence in adulthood

Food Environment Challenges

Marketing; algorithm-driven ads and quick-commerce push ultraprocessed, sugary foods
Diversity gap; majority Indian children miss five-food-group MDD benchmark
Infrastructure; few schools possess kitchen gardens, trained teachers, practical cook-labs

Policy & Education Actions

Curriculum; integrate age-wise food literacy from preschool to middle school under NCERT revision
Training; build teacher capacity via nutrition modules, digital toolkits, local recipe compendiums
Experiential; mandate school gardens, tasting sessions, community food fairs to cement learning

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
2024 N4G host city	Paris
Key summit ask	Embed nutrition education in school curricula
Decade of Action extension	2025-2030
SDG linkage	SDG-2 “Zero Hunger” target 2.2
Adolescent recovery window	“Second chance” for correcting early deficits
Adult disease tie-in	70 % preventable NCDs trace to childhood diets

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2023PYQ 1

‘पोषण मुक्त भारत अभियान’ के अंतर्गत की जा रही व्यवस्थाओं के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

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