Friday, 9 May 2025

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

The correct answer is (a) 4 1 2 3. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024.

Q: Which one of the following statements about the British Indian Medical Service (IMS) is not correct?

The correct answer is (d) The IMS was at first meant to look after the troops.. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2021.

Q: In order to comply with TRIPS Agreement, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The difference/differences between a “Trade Mark” and a Geographical Indication is/are

The correct answer is (a) 1 only. This question appeared in GS1 2010.

Q: About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

The correct answer is (a) Argentina. This question appeared in GS1 2023.

Q: In which one of the following countries, did an ethnic violence between the communities of Hema and Lendu result in the death of hundreds of people?

The correct answer is (a) Democratic Republic of Congo. This question appeared in GS1 2004.

Q: The ancient city of Taxila is situated in which one among the following provinces of Pakistan?

The correct answer is (a) Baluchistan. This question appeared in GEO_GS 2024.

Q: Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?

The correct answer is (a) Bhutia and Lepcha. This question appeared in GS1 2014.

Q: भारत में माल के भौगोलिक संकेत (रजिस्ट्रीकरण और संरक्षण) अधिनियम, 1999 को निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबंधित दायित्वों के अनुपालन के लिए लागू किया गया ?

The correct answer is (d) WTO. This question appeared in GS1 2018.

Q: CBAM (कार्बन बॉर्डर एडजस्टमेंट मेकेनिज़्म) के संबंध में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा/कौन-से कथन सही है/हैं?

The correct answer is (a) केवल 1. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI 2024.

Q: With reference to Indian defence, which one of the following statements is correct?

The correct answer is (a) With the induction of Prithvi II, the IAF is the only air force in the world with surface-to-surface ballistic missiles under its command. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, GS1 2003.

13 topicsGS-1: 5GS-2: 1GS-3: 7

0/13 done

GS-2Editorial

1.Challenges Facing Indian Civil Services (Civil Services)

The HinduMacaulay Report 1854 · Civil Service Commission · lateral entry

What & Where

Civil services = permanent, merit-based administrative machinery executing Union & State policy in India

Key branches : All-India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS), Central Services, State Services via PSCs

Geography : Nationwide cadre postings; UPSC New Delhi headquarters, SPSC in every state

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Milestones

1887 Aitchison Commission reclassified services into Imperial, Provincial, Subordinate
1926 Public Service Commission set up; Sir Ross Barker first chairman
26 Jan 1950 Federal PSC renamed UPSC under Art. 378(1)

Constitutional Setup

Articles 315-323 detail PSC composition, tenure, removal, powers
JSPSC possible when ≥2 states pass matching resolutions
Art. 319 bars ex-members from further govt office to ensure neutrality

Contemporary Challenges

Neutrality erosion via politicised transfers; resembles US spoils system pre-1883
Generalist dominance limits technical capacity; PCA 1988 weak on collusive corruption
Hierarchical procedures slow service delivery; tech adoption uneven

Reform Toolkit

NITI & 2nd ARC advocate structured lateral entry for domain expertise
360° feedback + SDG-linked KPIs suggested for promotion/postings
iGOT Karmayogi aims personalised, continuous e-training, ethics modules

Global Parallels

UK & Singapore routinely import private-sector specialists into senior bureaucracy
Pendleton Act 1883 in US curtailed political patronage, inspiring neutrality norms

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Macaulay Report year	1854
First Indian in ICS	Satyendranath Tagore, 1864
ICS exam held in India	1922 (Allahabad, later Delhi)
UPSC constitutional article	Art. 315
Provision to create AIS	Art. 312
Mission Karmayogi launch	2020
Lateral Entry recruits (till 2024)	63
Prakash Singh SC ruling year	2006
Forest Service birth	1966 (All India Services Act 1951)
2nd ARC recommendation	Lateral entry & 360° appraisal

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2021PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about the British Indian Medical Service (IMS) is not correct?

GS-3Economy

2.Nice Trademark Classification System (Trademark Law)

Business StandardNice Classification · WIPO · Nice Agreement 1957

Illustration for Nice Trademark Classification System (Trademark Law)

What & Where

Nice Classification: WIPO-run global list (Nice Agreement 1957) grouping goods & services for trademark filing.

Structure: 45 classes—1-34 Goods, 35-45 Services; compulsory in India via Trade Marks Act 1999.

Context: Reliance’s Class-41 bid for “Operation Sindoor” withdrawn; name linked to Indian military valour.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Section 9(2): bars deceptive, scandalous, sentiment-offending marks.
Section 11: blocks marks implying false govt/defence association.
Defence Ministry itself doesn’t register operation names; relies on objections.

Trademark Classification

Classes 1-34 tag chemical, machinery, pharma, etc. goods.
Classes 35-45 tag services like advertising, telecom, legal, entertainment.
Class 41 popular with film studios, OTTs, event organisers.

Corporate Case

Reliance filing done by junior employee without authorisation.
Withdrawal pre-empted potential objections over patriotic symbolism.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Administering body	World Intellectual Property Organization
Origin treaty	Nice Agreement, 1957
Total classes	45 (Goods 1-34; Services 35-45)
Class 41 covers	Education, training, film/OTT, live events, digital publishing
Indian statute	Trade Marks Act, 1999
Mandatory in India	Yes, for all filings/examinations
Key refusal sections	9(2) & 11, Trade Marks Act
Military operation names	No automatic IP protection; can be objected to

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2010PYQ 1

In order to comply with TRIPS Agreement, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The difference/differences between a “Trade Mark” and a Geographical Indication is/are

GS-1HistoryQuick Bite

3.Ahilyabai Holkar 300th Birth Anniversary (Ahilyabai Holkar)

The HinduMalwa Queen · Chondi · Holkar dynasty

Illustration for Ahilyabai Holkar 300th Birth Anniversary (Ahilyabai Holkar)

What & Where

Monarch: 18th - century Malwa queen Ahilyabai Holkar, sole woman ruler of Holkar dynasty

Geography: Born Chondi (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra); ruled Indore region; shifted capital to Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Occasion: Maharashtra Cabinet convened at Chondi for her 300th birth anniversary on 31 May 2025

Quick Facts for MCQs

Personal Timeline

Milestones 1725 birth, 1733 marriage, 1745 widowhood, 1767 coronation
Mentor Malhar Rao Holkar nurtured administration and military skills
Tercentenary 2025 marked by Maharashtra cabinet meeting at Chondi

Governance & Military

Capital shifted to Maheshwar on Narmada, improving control over Malwa trade routes
Commander Tukoji Rao Holkar led campaigns sustaining Holkar power after Malhar Rao death
Justice dispensed through daily public durbars enhancing administrative transparency

Social Reform

Advocacy for women education, widow remarriage, firm opposition to sati practice
Inclusion measures uplifted Bhil, Gond tribes and marginalised castes
Charity constructed wells, dharamshalas, ghats along pilgrimage circuits

Economic & Cultural

Weaving industry fostered Maheshwari sarees, later secured GI tag
Reconstruction funded Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath and other Jyotirlinga temples
Trade Maheshwar and Indore evolved into prominent cotton and handloom markets

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Birth date	31 May 1725
Birthplace	Chondi, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
Father	Mankoji Rao Shinde
Marriage	1733 to Khanderao Holkar
Widowhood	1745, Siege of Kumher Fort
Mentor	Malhar Rao Holkar
Accession	1767, became ruler of Indore
Dynasty Capital	Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh
Army Commander	Tukoji Rao Holkar
Rebuilt Temples	Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlingas
Textile Legacy	Maheshwari sarees, GI tagged
300th Anniversary	31 May 2025, Maharashtra cabinet meet at Chondi

GS-1MappingQuick Bite

4.Democratic Republic of Congo Mapping (Central Africa Geography)

The HinduDRC · Congo River · Katanga Plateau

Illustration for Democratic Republic of Congo Mapping (Central Africa Geography)

What & Where

Eastern DRC conflict: fighting in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri; involves DRC forces, M23 rebels, alleged Rwandan backing.

Mediation attempts: U.S.-brokered Rwanda–DRC peace pact; Qatar-mediated DRC–M23 cease-fire (both 2025).

DRC: Africa’s 2nd-largest state; equatorial Congo Basin, Atlantic outlet, mineral-rich Katanga Plateau.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

M23 offensive resumed, nullifying 2025 cease-fire.
U.S. accord sought to ease Rwanda–DRC tensions over rebel support claims.
Qatar facilitation highlighted rising Gulf diplomacy in African conflicts.

Physical Geography

Congo Basin houses world’s second-largest rainforest after Amazon.
Mount Nyiragongo’s fluid lava threatens Goma city regularly.
Congo River enables inland navigation from Atlantic deep into rainforest.

Geological Resources

Katanga Plateau key to global cobalt supply powering EV batteries.
Mineral wealth finances armed groups, prolonging instability.
Lakes belt offers hydropower, transport, and biodiversity hotspots.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Continent size rank	2nd largest in Africa
Capital city	Kinshasa on Congo River
Ocean frontage	Atlantic Ocean (west–south-west)
Bordering countries	9; Angola, Congo, CAR, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia
Main conflict provinces	North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri
Rebel group	M23 (March 23 Movement)
Active volcano	Mount Nyiragongo, Virunga Mts
Key plateau minerals	Cobalt, copper, tin, uranium, diamonds
River uniqueness	Congo crosses equator twice
Major lakes	Tanganyika, Albert, Edward, Kivu

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2023PYQ 1

About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

GS1 2004PYQ 2

In which one of the following countries, did an ethnic violence between the communities of Hema and Lendu result in the death of hundreds of people?

GS-1Mapping

5.Balochistan Province Overview (Pakistan Province)

Hindustan TimesBalochistan · Gwadar · CPEC

Illustration for Balochistan Province Overview (Pakistan Province)

What & Where

Province; Pakistan’s southwest; declared independent by separatist Mir Yar Baloch on 9 May 2025

Area ~347,190 sq km; ~44 % of Pakistan; capital Quetta near Afghan border

Borders Iran west, Afghanistan northwest, Sindh-Punjab east, Arabian Sea south with ~770 km coastline

Quick Facts for MCQs

Strategic Importance

Location offers access to Arabian Sea, West Asia via Gwadar
Controls land routes adjoining Iran, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf
Sits on Karachi-Gwadar maritime belt critical for energy shipping

Natural Resources

Holds Pakistan’s largest natural-gas fields; supplies about 40 % national demand
Contains Reko Diq with world-class copper-gold deposits
Resources underexploited due to security instability, poor infrastructure

Security Dimension

Multiple Baloch nationalist factions wage low-intensity insurgency since 2000s
Frequent attacks target CPEC projects, Pakistani army, Chinese personnel
Separatists demand autonomy, revenue share, withdrawal of federal forces

India Angle

India flags human-rights abuses in Balochistan at UN fora
Region factors into Delhi’s Indo-Pacific balancing against China-Pakistan corridor
Recent independence call urged India to recognize state, open embassy

China & CPEC

Gwadar forms southern node of China’s BRI; leases granted for 40 years
Corridor promises China shortest route to Arabian Sea, Middle-East oil
Insurgent violence poses major threat to Chinese workers and investment

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Provincial area	~347,190 sq km
Share of Pakistan land	~44 %
Capital city	Quetta
Coastline length	~770 km
Dominant ethnicity	Baloch (Iranian descent)
Key languages	Balochi, Pashto, Brahui, Urdu
Major minerals	Natural gas, coal, copper, gold
Gas share in Pakistan	≈40 % of supply
Flagship port	Gwadar, Arabian Sea
Climate type	Desert & dry steppe

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2024PYQ 1

The ancient city of Taxila is situated in which one among the following provinces of Pakistan?

GS-3Editorial

6.Indigenous Communities in Biodiversity Conservation (Indigenous Conservation)

The HinduForest Rights Act 2006 · IPLC · traditional knowledge

What & Where

Concept IPLC: Indigenous & local communities steward biodiversity through customary knowledge, tenure and participatory rights

Key Indian tools: FRA 2006, BDA 2002, PESA 1996 embed community decision-making in forest and resource governance

Core geography: Community-managed forests span Western Ghats, Central tribal belt, North-East shifting-cultivation landscapes

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

FRA grants Community Forest Resource titles; Gram Sabha authoritative on access, protection, benefit sharing
BDA mandates Biodiversity Management Committees to record traditional knowledge and regulate bio-resource use
JFM & Eco-development share NTFP revenue, fuelwood duties between Forest Department and villages

Community Examples

Bishnoi Rajasthan protect Khejri trees and blackbuck through religious edicts
Soliga Karnataka coexist with tigers and elephants inside Biligiri Rangana Hills reserve
Kani Kerala conserve medicinal plants within Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, source of Jeevani drug

Global Frameworks

CBD Kunming-Montreal GBF 2022 installs permanent IPLC Subsidiary Body and participatory conservation targets
Nagoya Protocol demands fair benefit sharing for genetic resources linked to traditional knowledge
UNDRIP 2007 codifies collective land, culture, free informed consent standards for indigenous peoples

Way Forward

Expedite CFR claim settlement; embed Gram Sabhas in 30 by 30 area identification and governance
Create dedicated funds, eco-certification and carbon-credit channels for community conservation projects
Digitally archive traditional ecological knowledge with prior consent and equitable royalty mechanisms

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
FRA enactment	2006
BDA enactment	2002
PESA enactment	1996
GBF Target 3	30 % land & oceans conserved by 2030 with IPLC rights
GBF Target 22	Access to justice, secure tenure, decision participation
Nagoya Protocol year	2010

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2014PYQ 1

Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?

GS1 2018PYQ 2

भारत में माल के भौगोलिक संकेत (रजिस्ट्रीकरण और संरक्षण) अधिनियम, 1999 को निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबंधित दायित्वों के अनुपालन के लिए लागू किया गया ?

GS-3Environment

7.UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Carbon Border Tax)

Indian ExpressCBAM · carbon leakage · CBDR principle

Illustration for UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Carbon Border Tax)

What & Where

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) = border levy equalising carbon price on imports entering a regulated market.

Applied/planned by EU, UK; UK rollout slated 1 Jan 2027.

Targets high-emission goods — steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity, more to follow.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

CBDR principle asserts differentiated mitigation duties between developed and developing states
India labels UK CBAM unilateral, non-WTO-compliant, threatens reciprocal tariffs
Fear of CBAM template extending to labour, IPR, broader sustainability clauses

Economic Angle

Double levy risk erodes Indian cost advantage, especially in energy-intensive exports
Compliance may force domestic carbon tracking, ESG reporting infrastructure
MSMEs face cost squeeze without exemption, threatening jobs and margins

Trade Impact

Even post-FTA tariff cuts, CBAM creates effective new protectionist barrier
Sectors with thin margins like ceramics and apparel could lose UK market share
Possible chain reaction of similar measures by other partners challenging export strategy

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Mechanism type	Border carbon tax
Implementing blocs	EU (2023 pilot), UK (2027 launch)
UK legal status	Draft policy announced, final design due 2024
UK start date	1 January 2027
India’s objection basis	CBDR under UNFCCC & Paris Agreement
Stated CBAM aim	Prevent carbon leakage, level playing field
Initial UK sectors	Steel, aluminium, cement, ceramics, fertilisers, electricity
Potential Indian hits	Steel, engineering goods, textiles, ceramics
Key risk flagged	Double taxation on carbon costs
Requested Indian carve-out	MSME labour-intensive sectors (textiles, leather)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2024PYQ 1

CBAM (कार्बन बॉर्डर एडजस्टमेंट मेकेनिज़्म) के संबंध में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा/कौन-से कथन सही है/हैं?

GS-3Species

8.Saola Conservation Genome Breakthrough (Critically Endangered)

Down to EarthSaola · Pseudoryx nghetinhensis · Asian unicorn

Illustration for Saola Conservation Genome Breakthrough (Critically Endangered)

What & Where

Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)―critically endangered, elusive bovine dubbed “Asian unicorn”.

Restricted to humid evergreen forests of Annamite Mountains along Laos–Vietnam border.

2024 study sequenced genomes of 26 individuals to guide conservation.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Genetic Insights

Sequencing exposed complementary alleles; mixing stocks can raise genetic diversity.
Divergence timeframe tied to climatic shifts and early human habitat change.
Reference genome offers markers for parentage tests, disease screening, field detection.

Conservation Action

Genome forms basis for first ex-situ breeding and eventual wild reintroduction plan.
Enables “genetic rescue” strategies used in black-footed ferret, California condor.
Success hinges on parallel snare removal and forest protection on ground.

Physical Identifiers

Distinct white facial stripes plus specialized muzzle scent glands.
Both sexes sport straight, parallel 50 cm horns assisting quick ID.
Stocky, antelope-like build; 33-inch shoulder height despite bovine lineage.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Taxon	Family Bovidae; antelope-like look
IUCN Red List	Critically Endangered
First described	1993 (skull found 1992)
Range	Annamite Mountains, Laos–Vietnam
Preferred habitat	Moist evergreen forest, minimal dry season
Population estimate (2015)	50 – 300 animals
Shoulder height	≈ 33 in (≈ 0.85 m)
Horn length	≈ 20 in; straight, parallel; both sexes
Main threats	Snaring, poaching, habitat loss
Genome finding	Populations diverged 5 k – 20 k years ago

GS-3S&T

9.HAROP Kamikaze Drone Capabilities (Loitering Munition)

Indian ExpressHAROP · Israel Aerospace Industries · loitering munition

What & Where

HAROP = Israeli loitering munition (kamikaze drone) combining UAV surveillance with missile-style terminal strike

Reportedly used by India on 8 May 2025 under Operation Sindoor against Pakistani air-defence system in Lahore

Launchable from truck canisters, naval vessels or fixed pads, endurance 9 h, functions even in GNSS-denied zones

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

India’s cross-border HAROP strike signals growing SEAD preference over crewed aircraft
High-value asset focus: radars, SAMs, command posts, tanks, mobile targets
Loiter capability enables threat neutralisation inside heavily defended airspace with reduced escalation risk

Technical Features

EO seeker streams live video, permitting in-flight target confirmation without preset coordinates
9-hour endurance allows wide-area surveillance, deep-target prosecution in single sortie
GNSS-denied operation counters jamming, autonomous guidance culminates in explosive dive on target

Operational Context

Multi-platform launch gives dispersed, rapid deployment flexibility across land and sea fronts
Combines missile lethality with UAV persistence, acting as roaming sensor cum warhead
Optimised for Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD) missions, augmenting conventional precision weapons

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Developer	Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
Category	Loitering munition / suicide drone
Indian operation	Operation Sindoor
Strike date	8 May 2025
Target type	Air-defence radar system, Lahore
Endurance	Up to 9 hours loiter
Sensor	Electro-optical real-time seeker
Navigation	Works without GNSS, immune to GPS jamming
Attack modes	Autonomous or manual, fire-and-forget
Launch platforms	Truck canister, ship deck, fixed ground

GS-3S&T

10.India’s Integrated Air Defence Systems (Air Defence)

Times of IndiaS-400 · Akash · Barak-8

Illustration for India’s Integrated Air Defence Systems (Air Defence)

What & Where

Air-Defence System – networked radars, command nodes, interceptors, EW assets to detect-track-neutralise hostile aerial objects.

Threat spectrum – ballistic/cruise missiles, UAVs, manned aircraft; tackled via long-, medium-, short-range engagement layers.

Geography – Western India; Operation Sindoor repelled Pakistan’s drone-missile swarm on 9 May 2025.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

Swarm attack combined cruise missiles and UAVs, demanding simultaneous engagements across all defensive tiers.
Successful intercepts underscored Indian preparedness and joint-service coordination under a single command structure.

Tech & Schemes

S-400 provides outer shield, intercepting aircraft or missiles before 400 km; links seamlessly with inner tiers.
Barak-8 co-developed with Israel defeats high-speed, sea-skimming or manoeuvring targets at 70–100 km range.
Counter-UAS grid employs electronic jamming, GPS spoofing and close-in guns against low-slow-small drones.

International Components

System mix: Russian S-400 & Pechora, Indo-Israeli Barak-8, indigenous Akash, creating diversified supply chain and capability depth.
Blend of import and Make-in-India assets lowers strategic dependence and eases maintenance logistics.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Attack date	9 May 2025
Operation name	Sindoor
Aggressor state	Pakistan
Defence concept	Multi-layered integrated air shield
Long-range layer	S-400 Triumf (up to 400 km)
Medium layer	Barak-8 MRSAM (≈70–100 km)
Short layer	Akash SAM (25–30 km)
Legacy asset	S-125 Pechora (35 km)
Counter-UAS tools	Jamming, spoofing, guns
Barak-8 partners	India–Israel

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2003PYQ 1

With reference to Indian defence, which one of the following statements is correct?

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2023PYQ 2

What are Airawat, Param Siddhi, Pratyus and Mihir?

GS-3Security

11.Mission Sankalp Anti-Naxal Operation (Anti-Naxal Operation)

Indian ExpressMission Sankalp · Karregutta hills · Battalion 1

What & Where

Mission Sankalp: joint anti-Naxal offensive targeting Battalion-1, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (CPI-Maoist)

Karregutta hill forests along Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) – Mulugu (Telangana) inter-state border

Goal: flush leaders, destroy bunkers, open corridor for state governance

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

Decapitation focus aims crippling of Maoist command-and-control in core jungle zone
State dominance reclaimed in erstwhile no-go red-corridor pockets, uplifting civilian morale
National-security priority signals proactive rather than reactive counter-LWE stance

Operational Tactics

Precision strikes guided by UAV imagery and human intelligence in dense canopy terrain
Multi-state cordon blocks guerrilla exfiltration across administrative borders
Bunkers, ration depots, IED labs neutralised to choke rebel logistics chain

Governance Impact

Cleared corridor expected to enable road, telecom and welfare project rollout
Security push paired with development to integrate remote tribal belts into mainstream economy
Long-term aim: shrink Maoist recruitment base through visible state presence and services

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launching forces	Chhattisgarh & Telangana Police, CRPF, CoBRA (joint command)
Total personnel	24,000 + including DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters
Core terrain	40 km + Karregutta hill range, Dandakaranya forest
Air assets	Indian Air Force helicopters, continuous UAV surveillance
Primary target	Battalion-1, PLGA (armed wing of CPI-Maoist)
Explosives seized	>1,000 kg plus detonators, medical & electronic kits
Operation status	Third week; largest coordinated inter-state LWE push
Policy link	Supports Centre’s zero-tolerance approach on Left Wing Extremism

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2022PYQ 1

‘Operation Sankalp’ was initiated and implemented by the

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2024PYQ 2

मूलभूत आवश्यकताओं को पूरा करने सहित दूरस्थ क्षेत्रों में स्थानीय जन-समुदाय के उद्धार के लिए सेना द्वारा संचालित अभियान (ऑपरेशन) को क्या कहा जाता है ?

GS-1Editorial

12.Persistent Child Labour in India (Child Labour)

Indian ExpressArticle 24 · Child Labour Act 1986 · hazardous work

What & Where

Definition Child labour = work denying childhood, schooling, safety; banned below 14, hazardous ban till 18

Geography India’s informal sector; hotspots in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Telangana

Key sites Agriculture, construction, fireworks, glass, leather, brick-kilns absorb bulk of child workforce

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Provision JJ Act 2015 mandates rescue, rehab through CWCs, empowers police to file FIRs
Loophole Family-enterprise exception allows post-school work, often disguising commercial labour
Proposal Mandatory employer reporting, repeal or narrow family clause

Magnitude & Sectors

UNICEF half of working children invisible inside homes, complicating inspections
High-risk fireworks, glass, tannery expose minors to toxins, burns, respiratory injuries
Agriculture largest absorber, seasonal demand pulling drop-outs during harvest

Enforcement Gaps

Inspection Labour department understaffed, poor rural outreach, weak inter-agency coordination
Data No post-2011 census child-labour figures; disaggregation by gender/urban absent
Example 2024 MP distillery: 58 minors on 11-hour chemical shifts, inspection failure exposed

Poverty & Social Factors

Causality Low adult wages, 6 million unemployed adults push families to depend on children
Malnutrition India hosts half of global wasted children, reducing classroom retention, fuelling labour cycle
Awareness Campaigns like Lay Off 7.8 Million Children stress societal responsibility

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Article prohibiting child labour	Art 24, Constitution
Directive Principles linked	Art 39 (e) & (f)
Core law & last amendment	Child & Adolescent Labour Act 1986, amended 2016
Age bands in Act	<14 totally banned; 14-18 hazardous ban
Cases registered 2021	613 under CL Act
Estimated child workers (PLFS 2018-19)	18–33 lakh
Share in family enterprises	≈50 %
Major SC judgment	M C Mehta v Tamil Nadu 1996
JJ Act stance	Victims = Children in Need of Care & Protection
RTE Act coverage	Free schooling 6-14 yrs

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2004PYQ 1

Which Article of the Constitution of India says, “No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment”?

GS1 2018PYQ 2

International Labour Organization’s Conventions 138 and 182 are related to

GS-1Editorial

13.Social Media Impact on Self-Worth (Social Media Impact)

The HinduIT Act 2000 · Intermediary Guidelines 2021 · Mental Healthcare Act 2017

What & Where

Social media: web & mobile platforms for user-generated creation, sharing, interaction.

Types: photo/video sharing, microblogging, short-video apps, long-form communities.

India: rapidly shaping adolescent identity; regulated chiefly by IT Act 2000.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

IT Act 2000 frames intermediary liability; 2021 rules add traceability, grievance officer.
POCSO bans child sexual content; Consumer Act 2019 targets misleading influencer ads.
Proposed norms: transparency for sponsored child content, ad disclosures.

Mental Health Impact

Continuous social comparison fuels anxiety, depression among teens.
Filtered images trigger distorted body image and social withdrawal.
Follower loss or negative feedback can precipitate suicidal ideation.

Parental & School Role

Digital-literacy curricula should cover algorithms, emotional hygiene, help-lines.
Trust-based dialogue outperforms surveillance; secrecy rises with over-monitoring.
Parent tech-skill gap hampers decoding of slang, trends, hidden accounts.

Platform Accountability

Algorithms urged to deprioritise harmful content for minors.
Hiding likes/follower counts and issuing mental-health prompts recommended.
Budgeted school counsellors & peer-support networks to complement tech design.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Definition	Web-based & app platforms for user-generated content
Primary Indian law	Information Technology Act, 2000
Latest content rules	Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code, 2021
Child-protection statute	POCSO Act, 2012
Mental health right	Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
Consumer ads law	Consumer Protection Act, 2019
Hidden teen accounts	“Finsta” (fake Instagram) practice
Key vulnerable group	Adolescents in identity-formation stage
Major mental risks	Body dysmorphia, eating disorders, suicidal ideation

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?

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