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16 topicsGS-1: 4GS-2: 4GS-3: 8
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GS-2Polity

1.Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (Nuclear Liability Act)

New Indian Express

What & Where

Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010: no-fault compensation regime for nuclear incident victims in India.

Atomic Energy Act, 1962: vests exclusive control of nuclear materials & plants with Central Government/NPCIL.

Govt mulls amendments to both Acts to ease supplier liability & open nuclear power to private sector.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Amendment plan: dilute supplier liability, permit private companies to build/operate reactors under regulation.
  • Atomic Energy Act currently bars private entry unless Govt grants explicit licence.
  • CLNDA aligns with international conventions yet retains unique supplier-liability extension.

Economic Angle

  • Private capital vital for 100 GW target; present public capacity ~7 GW.
  • Insurance burden & open-ended supplier risk cited as investment hurdles.
  • Streamlined liability aims to cut project costs, attract foreign technology.

Liability Provisions

  • Operator must maintain insurance pool covering ₹1,500 crore immediate payout.
  • Govt steps in beyond operator cap up to ₹2,300 crore.
  • Supplier liability triggered only by patent/latent equipment defects post-amendment proposal.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CLNDA enactment year2010
Atomic Energy Act enactment year1962
Operator liability cap (CLNDA)₹1,500 crore (insured/secured)
Govt additional compensation₹2,100–₹2,300 crore
Liability natureNo-fault; channelled solely to operator
Right of recourseOperator → supplier if equipment faulty
Supplier liability issueAmbiguous clause, deters foreign/private firms
Current plant ownershipOnly public entities (e.g., NPCIL)
Proposed nuclear capacity target100 GW by 2047
Minerals requiring Govt authorisationUranium, thorium
GS-2Polity

2.Presidential Reference under Article 143 (Article 143 Reference)

The Hindu
Illustration for Presidential Reference under Article 143 (Article 143 Reference)

What & Where

Article 143: President alone may seek Supreme Court’s advisory opinion on any public-importance question of law or fact.

Two modes: 143(1) – discretionary, opinion non-binding; 143(2) – mandatory for pre-Constitution treaty-type disputes.

May 2025 reference questions SC timelines imposed (Arts 200-201) on President/Governors in State of Tamil Nadu v Governor, 2023.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Timeline issue: SC used Article 142 to fix deadlines absent in Constitution, now under Article 143 scrutiny.
  • Question raised: can judiciary expand executive time-bound duties beyond textual mandate of Arts 200-201?
  • Possible outcome: clarifies separation-of-powers limits on “complete justice” jurisdiction.

Federalism Angle

  • Reference tests Centre-State equilibrium by examining Governor’s assent delays over state legislation.
  • Clear guidelines could lower institutional friction, fostering cooperative federalism practices.
  • Boundary-setting aids predictable legislative process across diverse political dispensations.

Landmark References

  • Delegated-legislation scope: Delhi Laws Act, 1951 set boundaries for executive rule-making.
  • Fundamental Rights–DPSP harmony: Kerala Education Bill, 1958 balanced social policy with rights.
  • Territorial cession mandate: Berubari, 1960 held constitutional amendment compulsory for land transfer.

Challenges

  • Non-binding opinion limits enforcement; executive may ignore unfavourable view.
  • Broad “public importance” threshold risks politicised queries to validate contentious actions.
  • Constitution prescribes no SC deadline, delaying urgent governance clarity.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Constitutional basisPart V, Chapter I, Article 143
Advisory natureOpinion non-binding on President
Who initiatesPresident on Cabinet advice
Refusal possibleYes, only under 143(1)
Bench size≥ 5 judges (Art 145 (3))
Total references so far~15 since 1950
First landmark useDelhi Laws Act case, 1951
Famous refusalRam Janmabhoomi, 1993
Collegium genesisThird Judges case, 1998
Foreign contrastUS SC no advisory power; Canada permits

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2003PYQ 1

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the President make a reference to the Supreme Court to seek the Court’s opinion on the constitutional validity of the Election Commission’s decision on deferring the Gujarat Assembly elections (in the year 2002)?

GEO_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India?

GS-2Polity

3.SC Invalidates Ex-Post Clearance Regime (Ex-Post Facto EC)

Indian Express

What & Where

Ex-post facto Environmental Clearance (EC): approval requested after a project has begun operations, bypassing prior EIA scrutiny.

Jurisdiction: India; approvals regulated by MoEF&CC under Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006.

Supreme Court, May 2025, quashed 2017 MoEF notification & 2021 Office Memorandum that had permitted such retrospective ECs.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Supreme Court termed post-facto ECs “illegal” and contrary to environmental law precedents.
  • Judgment reiterates mandatory prior clearance before any construction or operation commences.
  • Development projects now face immediate stoppage/fines if begun without EC.

Constitutional Basis

  • Article 21 interpreted to include right to pollution-free environment.
  • Article 14 violated by blanket regularisation treating deliberate violators equally.
  • Article 51A(g) imposes citizen duty to protect environment, reinforced by Court.

Implementation & Impact

  • Existing post-facto ECs survive; avoids retroactive economic disruption.
  • Future violations risk project suspension, penalties, criminal prosecution.
  • Ruling strengthens preventive, not remedial, orientation of India’s environmental governance.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Judgment month-yearMay 2025
Quashed instruments2017 MoEF notification; 2021 OM
Core constitutional breachesArticle 14 & Article 21
Mandatory clearance regimeEIA Notification 2006
Key prior SC casesCommon Cause 2017; Alembic Pharma 2020
Constitutional duty citedArticle 51A(g)
Fate of existing ECsAllowed to remain valid
Effect on future projectsPrior EC compulsory; post-facto illegal

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2019PYQ 1

With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?

GS-1History

4.Kandha Tribe and Facial Tattooing (Kandha Tribe)

The Hindu
Illustration for Kandha Tribe and Facial Tattooing (Kandha Tribe)

What & Where

Kandha / Khond: largest Scheduled Tribe of Odisha, forest-dwelling hill community.

Core geography: Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput districts of south-central Odisha.

Facial tattooing: traditional female rite for protection and identity, now nearly extinct among younger women.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Cultural Practice

  • Tattoo motifs include forehead grid, cheek stripes, chin bars
  • Ritual executed by village specialist using thorn and soot mixture
  • Silver earrings worn concurrently to mark marital status

Health Impact

  • Procedure causes prolonged swelling, infection risk, zero anaesthesia
  • Healing aided by herbal paste and days of seclusion

Social Change

  • Education and missionary / NGO campaigns since 1990s curtailed custom
  • Younger cohort views facial marks as employment and mobility hindrance
  • Tradition now visible mainly on elderly women, fading within one generation

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Language familyDravidian
Spoken tonguesKui, Kuvi
Name originTelugu Konda meaning hill
PVTG sub-groupsDongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha
Main districtsKandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput
Typical tattoo ageAround 10 years
Tattoo designDark geometric patterns across full face
Initial purposeDeter sexual exploitation by landlords, colonials
Later significancePre-requisite for marriage, group identity
Present statusRare among women below 40 after 1990s drives
GS-1Mapping

5.South Australia Geographic Profile (Australian Geography)

Down to Earth

What & Where

South Australia: south-central mainland state; borders WA, NT, QLD, NSW, Victoria; southern coast along Great Australian Bight.

Area ~983,482 km² (~⅛ Australia); mostly flat arid plains; highest point Mt Woodroffe 1,435 m in Musgrave Ranges.

Murray River only perennial stream; Mediterranean south, desert interior; current severe drought highlights chronic water stress.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Water Resources

  • Murray River: sole perennial river, supplies drinking water and irrigation via extensive pipelines.
  • Desalination: coastal plants bolster Adelaide’s supply during low river inflows.
  • Artesian Basin: deep groundwater sustains remote pastoral and mining operations.

Climate & Hazards

  • Driest: lowest mean annual rainfall among Australian states, heightening drought frequency.
  • Mediterranean south: hot dry summers escalate bushfire risk, cool wet winters recharge limited reservoirs.
  • Current drought: southern SA, Victoria, Tasmania witnessing worst conditions in decades, straining water security.

Natural Resources

  • Minerals: Olympic Dam hosts world-class uranium, copper, gold reserves driving export earnings.
  • Lake Eyre: endorheic salt lake below sea level, episodic filling shapes unique desert ecology.
  • Ranges & Islands: Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island key for tourism, biodiversity conservation.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CapitalAdelaide
Area983,482 km²
Share of Australian land≈12.8 %
Highest pointMount Woodroffe 1,435 m
Main riverMurray River
Southern coastlineGreat Australian Bight
Climate southMediterranean (wet winter, dry summer)
Driest state rank1st in Australia
Key mineral hubOlympic Dam (U, Cu, Au)
Major groundwaterGreat Artesian Basin
GS-3Species

6.Operation Olivia Olive Ridley Protection (Olive Ridley Protection)

New Indian Express
Illustration for Operation Olivia Olive Ridley Protection (Olive Ridley Protection)

What & Where

Operation Olivia: Indian Coast Guard annual Nov–May patrol securing Olive Ridley arribada along Odisha’s Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi coasts.

Core actions: Surface & aerial surveillance, fishing-ban enforcement, Turtle Excluder Device (TED) promotion for mechanised trawlers.

Geography highlight: 2023-24 season saved a record 6.98 lakh turtles at Rushikulya river mouth rookery.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Conservation Measures

  • Seasonal fishing ban enforced; trawlers detained if operating inside turtle breeding zones.
  • TED adoption mandatory in mechanised trawlers to cut by-catch mortality.
  • Community outreach conducts beach clean-ups, school talks, and nesting-site stewardship drives.

Species Profile

  • Morphology: Smallest sea turtle, olive heart-shaped carapace, adults ~60 cm length, 45 kg mass.
  • Diet omnivorous, taking crabs, molluscs, jellyfish, algae, fish eggs.
  • Reproduction via synchronized arribada; female lays ~100 eggs, incubation 45-60 days.

Technology & Surveillance

  • Assets include fast-patrol vessels, interceptor boats, Dornier aircraft, coastal radars for 24×7 monitoring.
  • Real-time intel sharing with Forest, Fisheries, Police ensures rapid interdiction and rescue response.

Stakeholder Network

  • NGOs such as WWF-India and local turtle clubs support tagging, nest guarding, awareness.
  • State Pollution Control Boards track water quality and curb light pollution near rookeries.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Operation windowNovember – May
Lead agencyIndian Coast Guard
Key partnersSPCBs, NGOs, local fishers
Surface sorties since start5,387 +
Aerial missions since start1,768 +
Turtles protected 2023-246.98 lakh
Main nesting beachesGahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi
Turtle Excluder DeviceActively promoted
Olive Ridley IUCN statusVulnerable
Scientific nameLepidochelys olivacea
Adult weightUp to 45 kg
Arribada peak monthsNov – Apr

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

NDA_GAT 2021PYQ 1

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

GS-3EnvironmentQuick Bite

7.Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve Notification (Conservation Reserve)

Down to Earth
Illustration for Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve Notification (Conservation Reserve)

What & Where

Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve: India’s largest conservation reserve (1,585 sq km), notified May 2025 under WLPA 1972 §36A(1).

High-altitude landscape in Spiti Valley, Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh; catchment of Charap/Tsarap Nala.

Serves as wildlife corridor linking Kibber & Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuaries, bolstering snow-leopard habitat.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biodiversity

  • Snow leopard density among India’s highest, reinforcing apex-predator conservation.
  • Herbivores: bharal, ibex, kiang, argali sustain predator–prey dynamics.
  • Avifauna diversity signals robust trans-Himalayan ecosystem health.

Legal & Policy

  • WLPA §36A enables community-co-managed reserve without displacement of local rights.
  • Conservation Reserves act as buffers/corridors adjoining NPs or WLSs.
  • Adds to India’s PA hierarchy: NP, WLS, CR, Community Reserve, Tiger Reserve.

Geography & Connectivity

  • Bounded by Ladakh (N), Kibber-Malang (E), Kabjima (S), Chandratal (W).
  • Cold-desert altitude supports snow-fed tributaries of Chenab basin.
  • Enhances Spiti–Ladakh landscape planning under National Snow Leopard Project.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Area1,585 sq km
StateHimachal Pradesh
DistrictLahaul-Spiti
Notified onMay 2025
Legal basisWLPA 1972 Section 36A
HP’s CR rank5th (after Darlaghat, Naina Devi, Potter Hill, Shilli)
Northern boundaryUT of Ladakh
Eastern boundaryKibber WLS & Malang Nala
Southern boundaryKabjima Nala
Western boundaryChandratal WLS
Key carnivoreSnow leopard
Other mammalsTibetan wolf, bharal, Himalayan ibex, kiang, Tibetan argali
Notable birdsRose Finch, Tibetan Raven, Yellow-billed Chough
Ecological roleCorridor & buffer between existing protected areas
GS-3EnvironmentQuick Bite

8.Yala Glacier Declared Dead Ceremony (Glacier Retreat)

Down to Earth
Illustration for Yala Glacier Declared Dead Ceremony (Glacier Retreat)

What & Where

Glacier: long-lasting land ice mass flowing downslope under its own weight.

Yala Glacier: Hindu Kush Himalayan, Langtang Valley (Nepal); has lost 66 % area since 1970s; now tagged “dead”.

ICIMOD tribute highlights likely disappearance by 2040 during UN International Year for Glaciers Preservation 2025.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

  • Sea-level rise: glacier melt added 18 mm during 2000-23, accelerating coastal vulnerability
  • Flood risk: each extra millimetre threatens 200 k–300 k additional people with inundation
  • Local effect: Yala disappearance undermines Langtang water supply, ecosystems, adventure tourism

International Cooperation

  • ICIMOD memorial ceremony spotlights HKH cryosphere crisis
  • UN International Year 2025 positions Nepal as global glacier preservation advocate
  • Sagarmatha Sambad 2025 serves as inaugural mountain dialogue on climate action

Geographical Distribution

  • Antarctic continent holds 91 % of world glacier ice, Greenland 8 %
  • Remaining <1 % spread across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia; Australia none
  • HKH dubbed “Third Pole” yet experiencing accelerated mass loss

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Yala Glacier statusFirst in Nepal/Asia declared dead & with climate plaque
Shrinkage since 1970s66 % area loss
Vanish projectionBy 2040
Ice lost 2000-236 ,542 billion tonnes
Sea-level rise from loss18 mm
Flood exposure per mmExtra 2 – 3 lakh people
Global ice shareAntarctica 91 %, Greenland 8 %
Sea-level rankGlacier melt second after ocean warming
GS-3S&T

9.Superfast Sodium-Ion Battery Technology (Battery Technology)

PIB

What & Where

Next-generation sodium-ion battery offering 80 % charge in 6 minutes and >3,000 cycles.

Developed at JNCASR, Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under Department of Science & Technology.

Uses NASICON crystal framework with entirely indigenous, nanotech-engineered materials.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • NASICON-framework enables rapid Na⁺ diffusion, boosting power density.
  • Nanoscale-particles with carbon coat raise conductivity and cycle stability.
  • Validation via electrochemical cycling and quantum simulations confirms readiness.

Economic Angle

  • Abundant-sodium slashes material cost relative to imported lithium.
  • Indigenous-battery supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by curbing storage-battery imports.
  • Long-life design cuts replacement expenses for large EV fleets.

Environmental Impact

  • Sodium-extraction is less ecologically invasive than lithium mining operations.
  • High-safety chemistry mitigates fire accidents, lowering environmental and human risk.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Development instituteJNCASR, Bengaluru (DST)
Battery chemistrySodium-ion, NASICON type
Anode formulaNa₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃
Charging speed80 % charge in 6 minutes
Cycle lifeExceeds 3,000 cycles
Key design tweaksNanoscale particles, carbon coating, aluminium doping
Comparative safetyLower thermal-runaway risk than Li-ion
Prime applicationsEVs, drones, solar-grid storage
Resource advantageSodium abundant and inexpensive in India
GS-3S&T

10.Industrial Atomiser Technology (Atomisation Technology)

The Hindu

What & Where

Definition: device that fragments stored liquid into fine droplets for uniform spray delivery.

Working: employs pressure-drop, turbulence or external force; chief variants—pressure-swirl, air-assisted, ultrasonic, narrow-channel.

Spread: integral to global industrial, agricultural, medical, safety and household spraying operations.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Industrial & Energy

  • Fuel-injection: atomised fuel boosts combustion efficiency in engines, turbines.
  • Lubrication: fine oil mist reduces machinery wear, enables hard-to-reach coverage.
  • Spray-drying: converts liquid food/pharma feeds into stable powders.

Agricultural Use

  • Pesticide/fertiliser mist minimises runoff, maximises leaf contact.
  • Precision-irrigation essential in nutrient-poor soils and greenhouse farming.
  • Droplet size tuning curbs chemical drift, protects pollinators.

Health & Medicine

  • Aerosolised drugs ensure rapid pulmonary or nasal absorption.
  • Disinfectant sprays create micro-films for hospital surface sterility.
  • Pain-relief/topical formulations gain faster onset through fine spray.

Disaster & Household

  • Fire suppression: water/foam atomisers enlarge surface area, quench flames quicker.
  • Pandemic response: public-area sanitisation via mobile mist units.
  • Everyday products: deodorants, cleaners, air-fresheners rely on propellant-driven atomisers.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Core mechanismPressure drop / turbulence breaks liquid jet
Major atomiser typesPressure-swirl, Air-assisted, Ultrasonic, Narrow-channel
Spray patternsFlat, Circular, Conical
Drop-size uniformity metricRelative Span Factor; value → 1 gives narrow distribution
Ultrasonic outputNano-scale droplets via high-frequency vibration
Key health useNasal, inhalable, topical drug delivery
Firefighting roleFoam or water mist for rapid heat absorption
GS-3S&T

11.High-Altitude Platform Prototype Tests (High-Altitude Platforms)

Times of India
Illustration for High-Altitude Platform Prototype Tests (High-Altitude Platforms)

What & Where

Definition: Solar-powered unmanned aircraft loitering in stratosphere (17–22 km) as High-Altitude Platform (HAP).

Geography: Designed by CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru; flight-tested at Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka.

Role: Persistent link between ground systems and satellites for surveillance, telecom, meteorology.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Design

  • Solar-array along 12 m wing drives electric motors, avionics.
  • Composite airframe, sub-22 kg, yields high lift-to-drag for long loiter.
  • Certified autopilot hosts fail-safe algorithms, redundant inertial and GPS sensors.

Operational Performance

  • Pre-monsoon flights validated autonomous take-off, climb, cruise, landing.
  • Achieved 24,000 ft and 8.5 h endurance despite seasonal turbulence.
  • Full-scale version targets multiday station-keeping at 65,000 ft.

Application Spectrum

  • Defence: Border surveillance, disaster response, intelligence relay.
  • Telecom: Temporary 5G / broadband for remote or disaster-hit zones.
  • Meteorology: Radiosonde launch, monsoon cloud profiling for IITM Pune.

Security Dimension

  • Persistent aerial coverage aids gapless monitoring of sensitive frontiers.
  • High altitude reduces vulnerability to ground-based threats compared to drones.
  • Acts as cost-effective alternative to LEO satellites for tactical comms.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Lead agencyCSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories
Test rangeAeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga
Power sourceSolar photovoltaic
Altitude band17–22 km stratosphere
Max test altitude24,000 ft (FL240)
Target altitude65,000 ft ≈ 20 km
Sub-scale wingspan12 m
Aircraft mass< 22 kg
Test endurance8.5 h+
Sub-scale payload1 kg
Full-scale payload10 kg
Planned payloadsRadiosonde, 5G base station
AutonomyCertified autopilot with fail-safe, redundant sensors
GS-3S&TQuick Bite

12.World Food Prize 2025 Winner (Biological Nitrogen Fixation)

Down to Earth

What & Where

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF): microbes convert atmospheric N₂ into plant-usable NH₃, naturally enriching soils.

Key fixers: Rhizobium, Anabaena, Nostoc, Azotobacter, Clostridium; symbiosis strongest in legumes.

Brazil: large-scale rhizobia adoption cut fertiliser imports, spurred a soybean boom.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Savings: Reduced urea import bill, freeing farm capital for seed and machinery.
  • Yield boost: Higher biological N elevates protein-rich soybean productivity.
  • Export gains: Soybean surge enhances Brazil’s agri-trade surplus.

Tech & Innovation

  • Inoculant formulation: Elite rhizobia strains packaged for seed coating.
  • Low-cost delivery: Farmers apply once per season, avoiding multiple urea top-dressings.
  • Scalability: Method adaptable to other legumes—beans, chickpea, groundnut.

Environmental Impact

  • Emission cut: Lower synthetic N reduces nitrous-oxide and CO₂ footprints.
  • Soil health: Enhanced microbial diversity, improved organic matter retention.
  • Water quality: Decline in fertiliser runoff curbs eutrophication risks.

Award & Recognition

  • Prestige: Dubbed “Nobel Prize of Food & Agriculture”.
  • Focus areas: Food quantity, quality, accessibility, sustainability.
  • Indian connect: Swaminathan’s 1987 win highlighted Green Revolution success.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
2025 World Food Prize laureateMariangela Hungria (Brazil)
Core contributionRhizobia-based BNF technology
Fertiliser savings, Brazil≈ USD 40 billion / year
Soybean output rise15 Mt (1979) → 173 Mt (2025 est.)
Phrase coinedBrazil’s “Micro Green Revolution”
World Food Prize founded1986 by Norman Borlaug
Annual cash awardUSD 500,000
First recipientM.S. Swaminathan, 1987
BNF converts N₂ toAmmonia (NH₃)
Select nitrogen-fixing generaRhizobium, Anabaena, Nostoc

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2010PYQ 1

Which feature of some species of blue-green algae helps promote them as bio-fertilizers ?

GS-3Security

13.India's Satellite Navigation Security Infrastructure (Satellite Navigation Security)

DH

What & Where

Spatial infrastructure: satellite-based Positioning Navigation Timing systems such as GPS, India’s NavIC, China’s Beidou

Key processes: real-time geolocation, encrypted short messaging, telecom-AI integration for surveillance and timing

Core geography: Indian mainland, Himalayan frontiers, wider South Asia where Beidou outreach is rising

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Militancy: Pahalgam attackers probably used Beidou SMS to avoid cellular interception
  • Border ops: GNSS guides drones, artillery, patrol routes under heavy surveillance conditions
  • Cyber layer: PNT signals underpin encryption and quantum-safe data routing for armed forces

Indian Tech & Schemes

  • NavIC: seven-satellite indigenous constellation offering civilian and restricted military signals
  • GAGAN: ISRO-AAI system delivers sub-meter accuracy for aircraft navigation and missile guidance
  • RISAT / EOS: provides 24×7, cloud-penetrating imaging for disaster relief and tactical targeting

Key Challenges

  • Dependence: Foreign GNSS threatens sovereignty and data integrity in conflict scenarios
  • Adoption gap: Few smartphones and vehicles carry NavIC-ready chips, limiting ecosystem scale
  • Countermeasures: Spoofing, jamming and terrorist GNSS use demand firewalls, detection gear, regional NavIC outreach

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Satellite PNT trioGPS (US) / NavIC (India) / Beidou (China)
Governing treatiesITU Radio-Regulations; UN COPUOS principles
NavIC coverageIndia plus ~1 500 km adjoining region
GAGAN purposeSBAS augmenting GPS for aviation & defence
Beidou specialTwo-way encrypted Short Messaging Service
Defence Space AgencyTri-service body for space warfare synergy
RISAT & EOS useAll-weather radar imaging for border watch
Samvad projectSecures military satellite communications
Netra projectTracks space debris and hostile satellites

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2025PYQ 1

GPS-युक्त स्वदेशी ऑग्मेन्टेड नेविगेशन (GAGAN) के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS1 2018PYQ 2

With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements:

GS-2Scheme

14.LibTech Report on MGNREGA Gaps (MGNREGA Performance)

The Hindu

What & Where

Guarantees 100 days unskilled wage work to rural households under 2005 Act.

Implemented in all rural districts nationwide; Ministry of Rural Development nodal agency.

Two-stage wage flow: State files FTO in 8 days; Centre credits within 7.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Registrations rose 8.6 % but person-days fell 4.3 %; employment delivery −7.1 %.
  • Utilisation breached allocation, signalling ₹1.5–2 lakh-crore requirement per analysts.

Tech & Schemes

  • Aadhaar-based payments via NPCI mapper prone to rejections; account-based route offers easier fixes.
  • Chhattisgarh topped rejections 11.4 %, leaving 21,537 job cards unpaid.

Social Concerns

  • Centre’s caste-wise payment split prioritises SC/ST wages; Others endure longer waits.
  • Timely-payment share: SC 80 %, ST 63 %, Others 51 %, contravening equal-treatment principle.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch year2005
Legal basisMahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005
FY25 registrations14.98 crore (↑8.6 %)
Avg person-days/HH FY2550.18 (↓4.3 %)
Households completing 100 days7 %
FY25 allocation₹86,000 crore
FY25 expenditure₹82,963 crore (106 % utilisation)
Employment delivery change−7.1 % YoY
Stage-2 payment delay71 % transactions (LibTech 2021)
Delay compensation rate0.05 % wage / day after 15 days
Highest payment rejectionChhattisgarh 11.4 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements with regard to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 is correct?

CDS_GK, GS1 2006PYQ 2

Consider the following statements in respect of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 :

GS-1Editorial

15.Global Report on Food Crises 2025 (Global Food Insecurity)

Down to Earth
Illustration for Global Report on Food Crises 2025 (Global Food Insecurity)

What & Where

GRFC 2025: yearly FSIN-GNAFC report on worldwide acute food-insecurity and malnutrition.

Acute food insecurity: life-threatening disruption in food availability, access, utilisation or stability.

Coverage: 295 million people across 53 states; hotspots Sudan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Gaza.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Drivers

  • Conflict: Major driver causing most IPC-5 cases in 20 countries.
  • Climate: El Niño, floods, heat push 96 million into food stress.
  • Economy: Job and income losses hit 59 million; USAID cuts worsen.

Socio-Economic Impact

  • Poverty: Food inflation erodes purchasing power, deepens rural poverty.
  • Health: 30.4 million acute malnutrition; 45 % under-5 deaths nutrition-linked.
  • Gender: Women and girls constitute 60 % chronically hungry.

Remedies

  • Early-warning: Somalia 2022-23 famine averted via timely alerts and action.
  • Climate-smart: Resilient agriculture and conflict-proof supply chains reduce risk.
  • Funding: Boost emergency agricultural aid beyond current 3 %.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Edition year2025
People in acute hunger295 million
Rise over 2023 level13.7 million
Countries assessed53
Conflict-hit population139.8 million in 20 states
Climate-hit population96.1 million in 18 states
Economic-shock population59.4 million in 15 states
Displaced in crisis states (2024)95.8 million; 75 % IDPs
IPC-5 worst casesNigeria, Sudan, Myanmar
Emergency agri-aid share3 % of humanitarian food funds
GS-1Editorial

16.Gendered Malnutrition Challenges in India (Gender Nutrition Gap)

The Hindu
Illustration for Gendered Malnutrition Challenges in India (Gender Nutrition Gap)

What & Where

POSHAN Abhiyaan: nationwide 2018 mission to improve nutrition for 0-6 yr children, adolescent girls, pregnant & lactating women.

Scaled as Mission Saksham Anganwadi / POSHAN 2.0 (2021); merges ICDS, Supplementary Nutrition, SAG & Crèche schemes.

Centrally sponsored 60:40 Centre-State; present reach ≈ 8.9 cr children + 1.12 cr PW/LM across India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Indicators

  • Anaemia, underweight persist despite free grain; threaten maternal & child outcomes.
  • Physiological phases raise female nutrient need; deficits ripple across generations.
  • One girl malnourished → lower adult height, LBW infants, future productivity loss.

Policy & Funding

  • ₹24,000 cr allocated 2022-23; only 69 % spent till Dec 2022.
  • POSHAN 2.0 employs Poshan Tracker for real-time monitoring, convergence across ministries.
  • Anganwadis envisioned as one-stop hubs for nutrition, ANC, skilling.

Socio-Economic Factors

  • 49 % women lack control over earnings; diet decisions male-dominated.
  • Cultural norm: women/girls eat last, least; reinforces calorie & micronutrient gaps.
  • 16 pp literacy gap curbs nutrition knowledge, healthcare utilisation.

Suggested Interventions

  • Integrate POSHAN with skill, microfinance, employment schemes; district-level joint audits.
  • Targeted credit under PM-Mudra, DAY-NRLM for women in high-malnutrition blocks.
  • Track new KPIs: women’s income share, decision autonomy alongside anaemia, stunting.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Annual stunting cut target2 percentage-points
Annual anaemia cut target3 percentage-points
Women (15-49) anaemic57 %
Men (15-49) anaemic26 %
Women underweight share~20 %
POSHAN funds used by Dec 202269 %
Female literacy 201164.63 %
Male literacy 201180.9 %
Female LFPR 2023-2447.6 %
Average female wage gap‑53 % vs men

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 :

GS1 2017PYQ 2

Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?

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