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17 topicsGS-1: 7GS-2: 4GS-3: 6
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GS-2Polity

1.Official Secrets Act Provisions (Secrecy Law)

BT

What & Where

Official Secrets Act, 1923: pan-India law safeguarding sovereign, defence and intelligence information.

Covers officials, civilians or foreigners holding/handling “classified” material; breach deemed threat to national security.

Recent case: Haryana YouTuber booked under OSA §§3, 5 + BNS §152 for leaking data to Pakistani mission.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Scope includes codes, passwords, maps, sketches, locations; interpretation intentionally wide.
  • Trials can be held in camera; evidence secrecy overrides open-court norm.
  • Wearing unauthorised uniforms (§6) or forging official documents also prosecutable.

Security Dimension

  • OSA arms agencies to detain, search, seize swiftly during counter-espionage ops like “Sindoor”.
  • Any act aiding an “enemy” suffices; intent not always requisite.
  • Confidential prosecutions prevent further intelligence compromise.

Penalty Matrix

  • Defence-related spying attracts rigorous imprisonment up to fourteen years; non-defence spying three years.
  • Strict-liability design punishes even negligent leaks, ensuring deterrence.
  • BNS §152 criminalises secessionist advocacy; exempts peaceful critique aimed at lawful reform.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Enactment year1923
Colonial modelBritish OSA 1911
Key offence sections§3 Spying; §5 Wrongful communication
Max jail for defence spying14 years
Penalty under §5≤ 3 years or fine or both
Search powerRaids & seizure without prior public disclosure
Attempt/abetment clause§9 – same punishment as principal offence
BNS §152 punishmentLife, or ≤ 7 years + fine

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2023PYQ 1

With reference to India, consider the following pairs:

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2024PYQ 2

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

GS-2Polity

2.PIL Seeks Mandatory NOTA Option (NOTA PIL)

The Hindu

What & Where

NOTA: EVM button enabling anonymous rejection of all candidates; introduced by SC in 2013 (PUCL v UoI).

Applies to Lok Sabha, State Assembly, Panchayat polls; excluded from Rajya Sabha and most indirect elections.

Current PIL by Vidhi Centre seeks compulsory NOTA even in single-candidate contests.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • SC recognised voter secrecy and dissent rights; NOTA preserves both, unlike Rule 49-O.
  • Current PIL argues compulsory NOTA protects choice even in uncontested elections.
  • EC empowered to refine NOTA but mandate change needs legislative or judicial clearance.

Usage Statistics

  • Consistent sub-2 % national share, yet millions of ballots signal disapproval.
  • Only 9 unopposed Lok Sabha winners since 1952, limiting relevance in single-candidate seats.

Arguments For & Against

  • Pro: boosts accountability, pressures parties to field clean candidates, reflects public disenchantment.
  • Con: no impact on outcome, may fuel voter apathy, sometimes mirrors caste bias in reserved seats.

Reform Proposals

  • Threshold mechanism: re-poll if NOTA exceeds 10 %, barring low-scoring candidates.
  • Party liability: bear re-election cost, deterring frivolous nominations.
  • Voter education: targeted campaigns to ensure informed, not casual, use of NOTA.

International Examples

  • Europe’s blank/invalid vote traditions parallel NOTA; US allows write-in “None of the Above” in some states.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
SC case mandating NOTAPUCL v Union of India, 2013
Pre-NOTA abstention ruleRule 49-O, Conduct of Elections Rules 1961
First electoral use2013 Assemblies: Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Delhi, MP
Lok Sabha NOTA share1.1 % (2014); 1.04 % (2019); ~1 % (2024)
Highest state shareBihar 2.48 % in 2015 Assembly polls
States treating NOTA as candidateMaharashtra, Haryana local bodies
Case removing NOTA from RS pollsShailesh M Parmar v ECI, 2018
Nations with NOTA-like optionFinland, Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium, Greece; also Colombia, Brazil, Ukraine, Bangladesh
GS-1History

3.Sikkim Statehood Golden Jubilee (Sikkim Merger)

IT
Illustration for Sikkim Statehood Golden Jubilee (Sikkim Merger)

What & Where

Himalayan border state; became India’s 22nd state in 1975 via 36th Constitutional Amendment

Neighbours: Nepal (W), Bhutan (E), China-Tibet (N), West Bengal (S); landlocked, high-mountain terrain

Capital Gangtok (~1,650 m) sits within Eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspot, blending Buddhist heritage and modernity

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Timeline

  • 1642 Namgyal dynasty established; Chogyal monarchy lasted till 1975
  • 1861 Treaty of Tumlong made kingdom British protectorate; 1950 Indo-Sikkim Treaty retained protectorate under India
  • 1975 referendum saw 97 percent voters back merger; 36th Amendment admitted Sikkim as 22nd state

Environmental Assets

  • Eastern Himalayas hotspot shelters red panda, Himalayan blue poppy, high-altitude rhododendron forests
  • Declared 100 percent organic; prohibits synthetic fertilisers, pesticides; incentivises bio-manure, traditional terraced farming
  • Eco-tourism packages revolve around Kanchenjunga National Park, monasteries, hot springs supporting green income

Security Dimension

  • Forms 220 km frontier with Tibet; shields narrow Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal
  • Doklam tri-junction near Sikkim-Bhutan-China witnessed 2017 standoff elevating Indian military deployment
  • Nathula pass reopened 2006 for trade; supports Border Roads, ITBP, tourism

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
State number22nd
Statehood date16 May 1975
Constitutional Amendment36th
Referendum support97 % for abolition of monarchy
Former dynastyNamgyal (Chogyal), 1642–1975
British protectorate treatyTreaty of Tumlong, 1861
Indian protectorate treatyIndo-Sikkim Treaty, 1950
Organic statusIndia’s first 100 % organic state
International bordersNepal, Bhutan, China (TAR)
Capital altitude~1,650 m, Gangtok

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2021PYQ 1

The Constitution (35th Amendment) Act of 1974 is related to which one of the following States?

GS1, NDA_GAT 2007PYQ 2

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the formation of the following as full States of the Indian Union?

GS-1History

4.Parasnath Hill Faith Conflict (Parasnath Heritage)

Indian Express

What & Where

Parasnath Hill / Marang Buru: sacred peak in Jharkhand jointly revered by Jains and Santal Adivasis.

Jain belief: 20 of 24 tirthankaras, incl. Parshvanatha, attained nirvana here; numerous temples, dhams present.

Santal belief: hill hosts Jug Jaher Than grove; venue of Lo Bir Baisi tribal council and seat of deity Marang Buru.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Jharkhand HC 2025: ordered state to implement earlier notification prohibiting intoxicants on Parasnath Hill.
  • Conflict: Sendra hunt vs. Jain doctrine of ahimsa & vegetarianism prompting litigation.
  • Enforcement aims to balance religious rights with environmental & animal-welfare considerations.

Religious Importance

  • Jain pilgrimage centre; site linked to nirvana of majority tirthankaras, boosting doctrinal sanctity.
  • Marang Buru revered as supreme animist deity; hill considered Santal seat of justice.
  • Jug Jaher Than sacred grove forms nucleus of Santal spiritual landscape.

Tribal Facts

  • Santals among largest indigenous groups; inhabit Jharkhand, WB, Bihar, Odisha, Assam.
  • Language Santali enjoys constitutional recognition; Olchiki script preserves oral heritage.
  • Traditional arts enej & sereng remain essential in festivals, rites of passage.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Communities involvedJains & Santals
Disputed festivalSendra ritual hunt
HC directionEnforce ban on meat, alcohol, intoxicants on hill
Tirthankaras attaining nirvana here20 of 24
1855 uprising originSantal Hul led by Sidhu–Kanhu Murmu
Santal language statusSantali, 8th Schedule language
Santali script creatorPandit Raghunath Murmu (Olchiki)
Core Santal cultural artsDance “enej”, music “sereng”

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2004PYQ 1

With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

GS-1HistoryQuick Bite

5.58th Jnanpith Award Laureates (Jnanpith 2023)

PIB
Illustration for 58th Jnanpith Award Laureates (Jnanpith 2023)

What & Where

Jnanpith Award – India’s oldest highest literary honour; instituted 1961; first presented 1965

Conferred annually by Bharatiya Jnanpith for outstanding literature; only living Indian citizens

58th award (2023) jointly bestowed on Jagadguru Rambhadracharya & Gulzar

Quick Facts for MCQs

Award Structure

  • Components cash ₹11 lakh, Saraswati idol, citation, no tax exemption
  • Recognises works across English and 22 Scheduled languages
  • Selection by multi-tier jury of eminent scholars

Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

  • Sanskrit scholar; Jagadguru Ramanandacharya since 1982; heads Tulsi Peeth, Chitrakoot MP
  • Authored 240+ works including epics Bhargava Raghavam, Śrī Ramayaṇam, Dasāvatāra Tīrtham, Ramanandacharya Tīrtham
  • Padma Vibhushan 2015 recipient

Gulzar

  • Urdu poet-lyricist-filmmaker; notable films Maachis, Aandhi, Koshish
  • Innovated Triveni poetic form; Grammy 2010, Oscar 2009, Dadasaheb Phalke 2013
  • Padma Bhushan 2004, Sahitya Akademi 2002, five National Film Awards

59th Award

  • Vinod Kumar Shukla becomes first Chhattisgarh writer to win Jnanpith
  • Known for Hindi novels Naukar Ki Kameez, Deewar Mein Ek Khirki Rahati Thi

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Administering bodyBharatiya Jnanpith
EligibilityLiving Indian citizens only
Posthumous allowedNo
Year instituted1961
First award year1965
Cash prize₹11 lakh
TrophyVagdevi / Saraswati bronze
58th laureate 1Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
58th laureate 2Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra)
59th laureateVinod Kumar Shukla (2024)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

GS-1Mapping

6.New Caledonia Autonomy Talks (Pacific Territory)

The Hindu
Illustration for New Caledonia Autonomy Talks (Pacific Territory)

What & Where

French overseas collectivity in SW Pacific, ~1,500 km east of Australia, capital Nouméa

Core landmass Grande Terre ringed by UNESCO-listed New Caledonian Barrier Reef lagoon

High internal autonomy; sovereignty dispute pits Kanak independence groups against French loyalists

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Timeline

  • 1853 colonisation sparked long Kanak resistance culminating in 1980s violence
  • 1998 Nouméa Accord granted autonomy and pledged three self-determination votes
  • 2018-21 polls kept French link; 2021 Kanak boycott intensified independence calls

Political Status

  • 2025 talks collapsed after loyalists rejected French offer of sovereignty in partnership
  • Loyalist blocs favour full French integration; FLNKS demands outright independence
  • Stalemate raises Indo-Pacific strategic questions for Paris and Canberra

Physical Geography

  • Grande Terre mountainous spine; Mt Panié highest, rugged east-west rainfall gradient
  • Surrounding lagoon among world’s largest continuous coral reefs, UNESCO 2008 listing
  • Subtropical cyclonic climate, Diahot drains northern slopes into Coral Sea

Biodiversity

  • Amborella trichopoda sole sister lineage to all flowering plants, critical for phylogeny
  • Kagu flightless, ground-dwelling, endemic; flagship for conservation programs
  • Notable absence of native mammals, frogs, enhancing evolutionary distinctiveness

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CapitalNouméa
Distance from Australia~1,500 km east
StatusFrench overseas collectivity
Colonised by France1853 (penal colony)
Indigenous groupKanak
Key accord1998 Nouméa Accord
Referendum years2018 / 2020 / 2021
Highest pointMt Panié – 1,628 m
Main island size310 km × 50 km
Longest riverDiahot – 100 km
Rainfall east coast>3,000 mm / year
Rainfall west coast~1,000 mm / year
Coral reefNew Caledonian Barrier Reef
Rare plantAmborella trichopoda
Endemic birdKagu
Neighbouring statesAustralia, Vanuatu, Fiji
GS-1Mapping

7.Mhadei River Inter-State Dispute (Mhadei Dispute)

The Hindu

What & Where

Mhadei (Mandovi) River; Western Ghats origin (Bhimgad WLS, Karnataka); drains to Arabian Sea after 78 % basin run in Goa.

Diversion proposal: shift Kalasa-Banduri tributary water to Malaprabha River, reigniting Karnataka-Goa dispute.

Malaprabha River; Krishna tributary rising at Kanakumbi village, Belagavi district, Karnataka.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • MWDT 2018 award grants Karnataka 13.42 tmcft; Goa challenges diversion citing ecological harm.
  • Inter-State River Water Disputes Act invoked; central clearance pending for Kalasa-Banduri project.

Environmental Importance

  • Dudhsagar Falls plus Mollem NP & Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary underscore ecological sensitivity of catchment.
  • Western Ghats segment within global biodiversity hotspot; diversion risks dry-season flow reduction.

Cultural Heritage

  • Malaprabha banks host early Chalukyan temple clusters at Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami, boosting cultural tourism.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Tribunal quota to Karnataka13.42 tmcft
Mhadei basin share in Goa78 %
Mhadei basin share in Karnataka18 %
Mhadei–Zuari linkCumbarjua Canal
Iconic waterfall on MhadeiDudhsagar Falls
Bird sanctuary locationSalim Ali BS, Chorao Island
Malaprabha UNESCO sitesAihole, Pattadakal, Badami
Mhadei discharge pointArabian Sea

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 1

Which peninsular river has a tributary named ‘Kabini’?

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2020PYQ 2

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam/Reservoir is developed on

GS-3Environment

8.Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (Wildlife Institute)

The Hindu

What & Where

Tamil Nadu’s ₹50 crore Endangered Species Conservation Fund now steered by Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), Vandalur, Chennai

Objective: rapid, science-based recovery of species such as Malabar large-spotted civet and Salim Ali’s fruit bat

Core geography spans Western Ghats and associated Tamil Nadu forest landscapes

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • State order shifts fund control to AIWC enabling quicker approvals and monitoring
  • Fund earmarked solely for endangered fauna research, rescue, and habitat restoration
  • AIWC authorised to invite, vet, and finance grant proposals annually

Species Ecology

  • Malabar civet nocturnal carnivore; feeds on reptiles, birds, small mammals, eggs, fruits
  • Historically lowland evergreen forests; now persists in cashew plantations and fragmented patches
  • Solitary behaviour reduces encounter rates, complicating population assessments

Conservation Actions & Research

  • AIWC undertakes field surveys, captive studies, and conservation technology deployment
  • Partnerships with zoological parks and universities for training, genetics, telemetry, disease screening
  • Immediate focus on Salim Ali’s fruit bat distributions and Malabar civet habitat use

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
AIWC parent bodyTamil Nadu Forest Department
AIWC inaugurationOctober 2017
Fund corpus₹50 crore
Defunct earlier managerState Forest Development Agency (SFDA)
Malabar civet IUCN statusCritically Endangered
Approx. body weight18–20 lbs
Body length≈ 4 feet
Tail patternFive white rings
Dorsal markingDistinct black crest
Typical litter size2–3 offspring
GS-3Environment

9.Supreme Court Nixes Retrospective Green Clearances (SC Judgment)

Indian Express

What & Where

Retrospective clearances = ex-post-facto approvals letting projects start without prior EIA nod, seek it later

2017 MoEF&CC notification + 2021 SOP tried to legalise such clearances across India

Supreme Court (Vanashakti v Union of India, 2024) struck them down nationwide

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Judgment reinforces that executive notifications cannot dilute EIA 2006’s prior-approval mandate
  • Court labelled 2021 SOP a disguised bid to revive post-facto clearances
  • Centralised appraisal model deemed insufficient without public hearing and site inspection

Environmental Governance

  • Retrospective system encouraged violators, regularised illegal operations, weakened regulatory deterrence
  • Supreme Court highlighted Delhi pollution as evidence of unchecked industrial damage
  • Decision signals zero-tolerance for ex-post environmental compliance

Constitutional Rights

  • Clean environment affirmed as integral to Right to Life under Article 21
  • Equal treatment under Article 14 violated when law-abiding firms face higher compliance costs
  • Ruling strengthens access to environmental justice for affected communities

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
SC caseVanashakti v Union of India (2024)
Struck-down instruments2017 Notification, 2021 SOP
Parent law for EIAEnvironment (Protection) Act 1986
Mandatory normPrior environmental clearance under EIA 2006
Amnesty window 2017One-time, 6 months
Key Articles violatedArticle 21, Article 14
Environmental principles breachedPrecautionary, Polluter-Pays
Past SC cases citedCommon Cause 2017; Alembic Pharma 2020
Appraisal authority 2017Central Expert Appraisal Committee
Future barCentre cannot re-issue any post-facto mechanism
GS-3S&T

10.Bird-Wing Solar Eruption Impact (Solar Flare)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Bird-Wing Solar Eruption Impact (Solar Flare)

What & Where

Bird-Wing event: wing-shaped solar flare with accompanying CME

Occurrence: Sun’s northern hemisphere, tracked by NASA solar observatories

Scale: plasma stream >1 million km, double Earth-Moon distance

Quick Facts for MCQs

Space Weather Alerts

  • Agencies worldwide issue real-time space-weather alerts
  • Tracking focuses on CME arrival window of 1–3 days
  • Mitigation plans readied for satellite and grid operations

Geomagnetic Impact

  • Storms can disturb GPS, HF radio, power networks
  • Expanded auroral displays possible at mid-latitudes
  • Ground currents may stress long pipelines and cables

Observation & Morphology

  • Instruments SDO, SOHO, STEREO supplied imagery and coronagraph data
  • Symmetric plasma arc resembled spread bird wings
  • Event underscores dynamic magnetic-reconnection processes on Sun

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Eruption typeSolar flare + CME
Ejection length>1 million km
Earth-Moon ratio~2 : 1
Solar locationNorthern hemisphere
Flare speedLight speed
CME speed250–3000 km s⁻¹
CME travel time1–3 days
Initial impactRadio blackouts on four continents
Major risksGeomagnetic storms, auroras, satellite & grid disruption
Data sourceNASA satellites

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2022PYQ 1

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ?

GS-3S&T

11.ISRO PSLV-C61 Launch Failure (Launch Failure)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for ISRO PSLV-C61 Launch Failure (Launch Failure)

What & Where

PSLV-C61: 63rd PSLV flight from India, tasked to insert EOS-09 into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).

Four-stage, alternating solid-liquid launch vehicle with six solid strap-ons; mission lost after Stage-3 chamber-pressure drop.

EOS-09: 1.7-tonne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth-observation satellite for multi-sector high-resolution, all-weather imaging.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • PSLV-XL employs six extended solid strap-ons for higher thrust and payload capacity.
  • Stage-3 pressure loss interrupted velocity build-up, triggering mission abort.
  • Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) intended to lower PS4 stage post-deployment, curbing space junk.

Sectoral Applications

  • SAR imagery aids disaster monitoring, crop assessment, forestry surveys, and urban planning.
  • All-weather, day-night capability allows uninterrupted national resource mapping.
  • EOS-09 designed as operational follow-on to EOS-04 remote-sensing series.

Environmental Impact

  • PS4 passivation plus forced-re-entry aligns with Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination (IADC) guidelines.
  • Dedicated de-orbit propellant on EOS-09 enables end-of-life disposal within 25 years.
  • Measures reflect ISRO push for sustainable, low-debris missions.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch vehiclePSLV-C61 (PSLV-XL configuration)
Flight sequence63rd PSLV flight; 27th PSLV-XL
Height44.5 m
Lift-off mass321 t
Propulsion patternSolid–Liquid–Solid–Liquid (four stages)
Failure pointStage-3 solid motor; chamber-pressure drop
Target orbitSun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (~529 km)
EOS-09 launch mass1,696.24 kg
Satellite mission life5 years
Key payloadC-band SAR for day/night, all-weather imaging
Debris mitigationOCT on PS4; EOS-09 carries de-orbiting fuel

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2025PYQ 1

Which one of the following PSLVs, launched by ISRO, is not correctly matched with their Missions?

CDS_GK, GS1 2018PYQ 2

भारत के उपग्रह प्रक्षेपित करने वाले वाहनों के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

13.Shingles Vaccine Health Benefits (Varicella Reactivation)

Indian Express

What & Where

Shingles = reactivation of Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) lying dormant in sensory nerve ganglia post-chickenpox.

Painful unilateral rash—classically thoracic dermatomes; peri-ocular episodes threaten vision & CNS.

Vaccine advised globally for adults ≥50 yrs & immunocompromised; no geographic restriction noted.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Impact

  • Vaccinated cohort shows 23 % lower cardiovascular disease incidence.
  • Observational data indicates reduced dementia onset post-immunisation.
  • Unmitigated shingles elevates risks of post-herpetic neuralgia & ophthalmic damage.

Symptoms & Complications

  • Sharp neuropathic pain precedes clustered vesicular rash in single dermatome.
  • Ophthalmic involvement can progress to keratitis; CNS spread may cause encephalitis.
  • Post-herpetic neuralgia persists >90 days in some elderly patients.

Transmission & Prevention

  • Virus shed from vesicle fluid; susceptible contacts develop chickenpox, not shingles.
  • Two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine induces robust cellular immunity, curbing reactivation.
  • Isolation of rash area and hand hygiene limit secondary cases.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Causative agentVaricella-zoster virus (a herpesvirus)
Vaccine target group≥50 yrs & adults with weakened immunity (e.g., HIV)
CVD risk reduction post-vaccine≈ 23 %
Dementia risk effectSignificantly lowered (exact % not stated)
TransmissionContact with blister fluid or inhalation of aerosolised virus
Cure statusNo cure; only symptomatic treatment
Key complication near eyePossible vision loss, facial paralysis, encephalitis
Disease classificationViral, non-zoonotic, reactivation illness
GS-2MiscQuick Bite

14.Nicaragua Exits UNESCO Over Prize (UNESCO Exit)

Times of India

What & Where

UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize – UN’s sole journalism award, given 3 May, honours press-freedom defenders.

UNESCO – UN agency for education-science-culture communication; founded 1945, HQ Paris, 194 member states.

Nicaragua – largest Central-American nation; borders Honduras, Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Diplomatic Row

  • Withdrawal: Nicaragua notified UNESCO of exit after La Prensa chosen for 2025 prize.
  • Objection: Government had lobbied against recognising the newspaper’s press-freedom role.

Press Freedom Prize

  • Uniqueness: Only journalism honour administered by any UN body.
  • Mandate: Celebrates “outstanding contribution to defence or promotion of press freedom”.
  • Frequency: One laureate or organisation selected annually by independent jury.

UNESCO Profile

  • Mission: Promote peace, equality via global cooperation in education, science, culture, communication.
  • Membership: 194 states, plus associate members and observers.
  • Instruments: Conventions, world-heritage lists, normative guidelines.

Nicaragua Facts

  • Colonial past: Ruled by Spain and Britain; independence from Spain in 1821.
  • Demography: Predominantly mestizo (mixed Indigenous–European ancestry).
  • Geography: Pacific volcanic arc west; Caribbean lowlands east; Lake Nicaragua world’s 19th-largest.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Prize establishment year1997
Awarding date each year3 May (World Press Freedom Day)
Prize namesakeColombian journalist Guillermo Cano
2019 recipientsKyaw Soe Oo & Wa Lone, Myanmar
2022 recipientsBelarus Association of Journalists
UNESCO founding year1945
UNESCO headquartersParis, France
Nicaragua full independence1838
GS-2Scheme

15.Gyan Bharatam Manuscript Mission (Manuscript Digitisation)

The Hindu
Illustration for Gyan Bharatam Manuscript Mission (Manuscript Digitisation)

What & Where

Initiative: Gyan Bharatam Mission, all-India drive to survey, conserve, digitise one-crore+ manuscripts

Process: Identification → cataloguing → preservation → open digital access via IGNCA hub

Geography: Applies nationwide; holdings in institutions, museums, libraries, private collections

Quick Facts for MCQs

Budget & Finance

  • Allocation: 17-fold hike to ₹60 crore signals priority
  • Resources: Funds earmarked for scanning, metadata, conservation infrastructure

Tech & Schemes

  • Digitisation: High-resolution imaging, metadata creation, cloud storage, global platforms integration
  • Access: Open digital library envisioned; encourages API links with Google Arts & Culture

Institutional Setup

  • Anchoring: IGNCA leads; Ministry of Culture oversight
  • Network: Collaboration with academic, state archives, private collectors via incentive guidelines

Social & Cultural Impact

  • Knowledge revival: Promotes Sanskrit, indigenous sciences, arts
  • Community outreach: Incentives aim to unlock privately-held rare texts for scholars and public

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Original nameNational Manuscripts Mission
Revamp launch9 June 2025
Union Budget head2025-26, Ministry of Culture
Annual outlay₹60 crore (up from ₹3.5 crore)
Nodal bodyIndira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
Manuscript estimate1 crore + items
Scripts covered80 +
Languages covered60 +
Digitised metadata till 202552 lakh records
Online uploads till 2025~1.3 lakh manuscripts
Folios conserved so far9 crore
Private holding share~80 % of total
Key partner bodiesCIIL, IIT Bombay, Samskriti Foundation
Knowledge focusSanskrit & classical Indian systems

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 1

किस संगठन/संस्थान द्वारा हाल ही में भारत विद्या परियोजना, बहुरत्न भारत और गांधी संवाद प्रवर्तन जैसे नए प्रकल्प प्रारंभ किए गए हैं?

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 2

Which Ministry has initiated the “Dhara”, a special initiative dedicated to Indian Knowledge System (IKS)?

GS-1Editorial

16.Recurring Hooch Tragedies Analysis (Illicit Liquor)

Indian Express

What & Where

Hooch: illicit, untaxed liquor, often fortified with toxic methanol to raise potency.

Methanol: colourless, volatile CH₃OH; converts to formic acid causing acidosis, blindness, death.

Geography: May 2025 cluster in Amritsar, Punjab; recurrent in prohibition states – Bihar, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Impact

  • Metabolism: liver forms formic acid, induces metabolic acidosis and organ hypoxia.
  • Vision: optic-nerve toxicity causes irreversible blindness within 24–48 h.
  • Mortality: ≈30 ml neat methanol can be fatal due to cerebral oedema.

Causative Factors

  • Poverty: untaxed hooch far cheaper than licensed liquor.
  • Diversion: industrial methanol stolen, mixed to boost “kick”.
  • Enforcement: weak policing in prohibition regimes nurtures underground supply chains.

Legal & Policy

  • Regulation: FSSAI Alcoholic Beverages Regulations 2018 cap methanol in spirits.
  • Classification: methanol hazardous under MSIHC; absent from 1919 Poison Act, limiting culpability.
  • Punishment: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 enables Sections 103, 105 for hooch fatalities.

Tech & Schemes

  • Tracking: proposed blockchain-based national methanol portal for real-time consignment logs.
  • Mapping: GIS hotspot analysis + CCTV surveillance replicated from Operation Moonshine success.
  • Awareness: NHM-funded IEC drives via panchayats, SHGs, religious bodies in high-risk blocks.

Major Incidents

  • Malwani, Mumbai 2015: ≈100 deaths; methanol poisoning confirmed.
  • Punjab 2020: >100 fatalities across three districts.
  • Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu 2024: >50 deaths despite prohibition enforcement.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Chemical formulaCH₃OH
OdourFaintly sweet-pungent
Water miscibilityCompletely miscible
Key industrial useFeedstock for formaldehyde, acetic acid
Listed under MSIHC RulesSchedule I (1989)
Quality standardIS 517
FSSAI 2018 limit*50–500 g/hl pure alcohol (type-wise)
Poison Act statusNot classified as “poison”
SDG linkageSDG 3.5 (substance-abuse reduction)
BNS sections for deaths103, 105
Sample crackdownOperation Moonshine, Kochi

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 1996PYQ 1

The offending substance in the liquor tragedies leading to blindness, etc. is

ESE_GS, GS1 2021PYQ 2

Hooch & Bootlegging refer to

GS-1Scheme

17.Inclusive India Disability Accessibility Summit (Accessibility Index)

PIB

What & Where

Inclusive India Summit 2025, New Delhi; hosted by DEPwD, Social Justice Ministry to commemorate Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

GAAD: worldwide event every 3rd Thursday of May urging inclusive design in digital content.

Summit MoUs: launch of Accessibility Index, push for inclusive infrastructure, national hackathons on disability tech.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Constitution Article 41 urges state support for disabled via work, education, assistance.
  • RPwD Act 2016 enlarges list to 21 disabilities, mandates reservation including promotions.
  • National Policy 2006, National Trust 1999, RCI 1992 structure disability governance.

Schemes & Campaigns

  • Accessible India Campaign targets barrier-free buildings, transport, ICT.
  • SIPDA finances state accessibility projects and PwD skill training.
  • PM-DAKSH, Divyangjan Kaushal Vikas, Rozgar Setu enable training and job matching.

Challenges

  • Infrastructure; only 3% public buildings meet universal design norms.
  • Digital gap; 98% websites non-accessible, assistive technology expensive.
  • Employment; just 34 lakh of 1.3 crore employable PwDs working.

Judicial Pronouncements

  • Rajive Raturi 2024 links accessibility with Article 21 right to life and dignity.
  • RBI v A.K. Nair 2023 upholds promotion reservation under RPwD Act.
  • Courts emphasise digital inclusion as essential for substantive equality.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
GAAD inception year2012
GAAD observance3rd Thursday of May
GAAD foundersJennison Asuncion & Joe Devon
PwDs in Census 20112.68 crore (2.21%)
Disability prevalence: males2.4%
Disability prevalence: females1.9%
Disability types in RPwD Act21
Buildings fully accessible (2018)3%
Literacy rate PwDs (NSS 76th)52.2%
Employable PwDs employed34 lakh / 1.3 crore

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2024PYQ 1

Consider the following statements regarding the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan:

CDS_GK, GS1 2011PYQ 2

India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law?

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