Wednesday, 11 June 2025

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: With reference to Foreign Direct Investment in India, which one of the following is considered its major characteristic?

The correct answer is (b) It is a largely non-debt creating capital flow.. This question appeared in ESE_GS, GS1 2020.

Q: According to the Reserve Bank of India’s report, which two countries together accounted for over one-third of the total FDI in India?

The correct answer is (a) United States and Singapore. This question appeared in ESE_GS, GS1 2026.

Q: In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following ?

The correct answer is (a) Aluminium. This question appeared in GEO_GS, GS1 2009.

Q: Which one of the following is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

The correct answer is (a) Inner Core. This question appeared in GEO_GS, GS1 2024.

Q: India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega science project under the 11th Five-Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements:

The correct answer is (a) 1 and 3 only. This question appeared in GS1 2010.

Q: Which one among the following statements about the United Nations (UN) is not correct?

The correct answer is (a) All the main bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, etc. were established with the founding of the UN in 1945.. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2024.

Q: “युद्ध का जन्म लोगों के मस्तिष्क में होता है, इसलिए शांति की रक्षा भी लोगों के मस्तिष्क में ही की जानी चाहिए।” यह टिप्पणी संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के निम्नलिखित किस अंग के संविधान में मिलती है?

The correct answer is (c) अंतरराष्ट्रीय परमाणु ऊर्जा एजेंसी. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2025.

Q: As per India's National Population Policy, 2000, by which one of the following years is it our long-term objective to achieve population stabilization?

The correct answer is (a) 2025. This question appeared in GS1 2008.

Q: Consider the following statements:

The correct answer is (a) 1 only. This question appeared in GS1 2005.

14 topicsGS-1: 4GS-2: 3GS-3: 7

0/14 done

GS-3Economy

1.India's FDI Net Decline (Foreign Direct Investment)

EPWRBI report · gross inflows · net FDI

Illustration for India's FDI Net Decline (Foreign Direct Investment)

What & Where

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): ≥10 % equity stake by a non-resident, conferring control/management rights.

Routes & Forms: Automatic vs Government approval; equity infusion, reinvested earnings, intra-company loans.

Core Sources FY 24-25: Singapore (~15 %), Mauritius (~10 %), reflecting financial-centre dominance.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Trends & Numbers

Net-FDI collapsed: USD 44 bn (2020-21) ➜ USD 0.4 bn (2024-25).
Disinvestments ballooned: <1 % early-2000s ➜ 63.5 % of gross inflow now.
Outward-FDI surged to USD 29.2 bn, nearly tripling within five years.

Structural Issues

Concentration: Singapore & Mauritius flows suggest round-tripping, low real-sector linkage.
Sectoral slide: Manufacturing share just 12 %; computer services see withdrawals.
Data mismatch: UNCTAD figures 60 % below RBI, hinting possible overstatement.

Policy Toolkit

Stability: Transparent, predictable FDI regime to retain long-term investors.
Quality push: Prioritise manufacturing, green tech, R&D via targeted incentives.
Treaty rationalisation: Curb tax-haven routing; institute sector-wise outcome monitoring.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Gross FDI inflow growth FY 24-25	13.7 %
Net FDI FY 24-25	USD 0.4 bn
Net FDI FY 20-21 (peak)	USD 44 bn
Avg gross inflow growth, last 4 yrs	0.3 % p.a.
Repatriation growth post-pandemic	18.9 % p.a.
Disinvestments share in gross FDI	63.5 %
Manufacturing FDI share FY 24-25	12 %
Outward FDI FY 24-25	USD 29.2 bn
Outward FDI rise in 5 yrs	~3×
UNCTAD vs RBI FDI gap	up to 60 % lower

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2020PYQ 1

With reference to Foreign Direct Investment in India, which one of the following is considered its major characteristic?

ESE_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s report, which two countries together accounted for over one-third of the total FDI in India?

GS-1History

2.Pandya Era Shiva Temple Found (Pandya Era Temple)

The HinduThennavanisvaram · Later Pandyas · Maravarman Sundara Pandya

What & Where

Discovery: 800-year-old Thennavanisvaram Shiva temple, Later Pandya phase, Udampatti (ex-Attur), Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu.

Dating: Inscriptions/Shilpa Śāstras place it in 1217-18 CE under King Maravarman Sundara Pandya.

Significance: Shows royal title “Thennavan”, waterbody-sale inscription, tax earmarked to deity ensuring temple autonomy.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Context

Timeline: Early Pandyas lost to Kalabhras, resurged 6th c., eclipsed by Cholas, revived as Later Pandyas 12th c.
Decline: 14th-century Delhi Sultanate invasion, territories folded into Vijayanagar Empire.

Economic Angle

Inscription details sale of Nagankudi tank for 64 kasu, highlighting monetised land-water transactions.
Land-tax revenue legally routed to deity, granting financial independence and maintenance funds.

Dynasty Connections

Title “Thennavan” in temple name denotes direct Pandya royal patronage.
Pandya trade links: Romans, Greeks, Chinese, Egyptians; lauded by 13th-c. traveller Marco Polo.

Temple Architecture & Epigraphy

Shilpa Śāstra conformity verifies structural style of Later Pandya Dravidian architecture.
Multiple stone inscriptions serve as primary sources for socio-economic practices of the era.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Dynasty phase	Later Pandyas (1216-1345 CE)
Ruling king at construction	Maravarman Sundara Pandya
Temple name	Thennavanisvaram
Deity	Lord Shiva
Old village name	Attur
Present village name	Udampatti, Dindigul
Inscribed year	1217–1218 CE
Waterbody sold	Nagankudi
Sale price	64 kasu (coins)
Revenue beneficiary	“God of Thennavanisvaram” (temple)

GS-1S&TQuick Bite

3.Core-Mantle Metal Leakage (Earth Core Studies)

LSruthenium-100 · mantle plumes · Hawaii volcanoes

Illustration for Core-Mantle Metal Leakage (Earth Core Studies)

What & Where

Discovery: Hawaii plume basalts rich in core-exclusive isotope ¹⁰⁰Ru, proving core-to-surface metal leakage.

Process: Mantle plumes ferry siderophile metals (gold, platinum, ruthenium) from core-mantle boundary (~2 900 km) to volcanoes.

Locale: Hotspot chains (Hawaii, Iceland etc.) tap deep mantle sources rooted near Earth’s outer core.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Geochemical Evidence

Isotope ¹⁰⁰Ru identified as core signature absent in crustal meteorite inventory.
Elevated Ru/Pt ratios in plume lavas signal direct siderophile influx.
Challenges notion of a chemically sealed core established since 1970s.

Earth-Layer Properties

Upper-mantle density 2.9–3.3 g cm⁻³; lower mantle 3.3–5.7 g cm⁻³.
Outer core liquid iron generates geodynamo; inner core solid despite higher heat due to immense pressure.
Inner core rotates eastward, laps surface roughly every 1 000 years.

Mantle Dynamics

Temperature gradient 200 °C (crust) to ~4 000 °C (CMB) drives convection currents.
Asthenosphere ductility enables plate drift and magma supply for ocean-island volcanism.
Subduction-zone quakes penetrate mantle to 670 km, marking phase transitions.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Gold in core	>99.999 % of Earth total
Core-mantle boundary depth	~2 900 km
Outer core thickness	~2 250 km
Inner core radius	~1 220 km
Inner-outer core boundary	Lehmann Discontinuity
Outer core temperature	~4 000–6 000 °C
Inner core temperature	~5 000–7 000 °C
Mantle share of volume	≈83 %
Mantle share of mass	≈67 %
Moho depth range	~7–35 km
Asthenosphere depth	~80–200 km
Deepest mantle quakes	to 670 km

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2009PYQ 1

In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following ?

GEO_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 2

Which one of the following is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

GS-1Mapping

4.Hodeidah Port, Yemen (Ports Mapping)

Hindustan TimesHodeidah Port · Red Sea · Tihāmah Plain

Illustration for Hodeidah Port, Yemen (Ports Mapping)

What & Where

Hodeidah Port — Yemen’s chief seaport on Tihāmah plain, western Red Sea coast.

Handles bulk of humanitarian aid, fuel, commercial imports; lifeline for war-hit population.

Now focal point of Israel-Houthi flashpoint after first Israeli naval strike hit two piers.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

Israel claims port used for Iranian-supplied missile, drone logistics to Houthis.
Naval strike marks expansion of Gaza war theatre into Red Sea shipping lanes.
Houthis have fired projectiles toward Israel, challenging Saudi-led coalition.

Physical Geography

Yemen straddles Red Sea entrance linking Europe-Africa-Asia maritime trade.
Terrain mix: western mountains, central highlands, Tihāmah lowland, eastern Empty Quarter desert.
Absence of permanent rivers heightens reliance on rain-fed wadis & aquifers.

Humanitarian & Economic Angle

70–80 % of Yemen’s imports, incl. food, arrive via Hodeidah; any disruption risks famine spike.
Modern docking facilities enable container, fuel tanker handling despite war damage.
Port closure or blockade raises global shipping insurance and regional oil transit costs.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Country	Yemen
Coastline waterbody	Red Sea
Adjacent plain	Tihāmah coastal plain
Controlling group	Houthi rebels
Strike actor (2024)	Israeli Navy
Historic shelling	Italo-Ottoman War (1911-12)
Yemen highest peak	Mount Al-Nabi Shuʿayb – 12,030 ft
Perennial rivers in Yemen	None
Eastern desert part	Rubʿ al-Khali (Empty Quarter)
Key seasonal river	Wadi Hadhramaut

GS-3Environment

5.Blue NDC Climate Initiative (Ocean NDCs)

Down to EarthBlue NDC Challenge · UNOC3 · COP30

Illustration for Blue NDC Climate Initiative (Ocean NDCs)

What & Where

Initiative; urges embedding ocean-centric actions in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to meet 1.5 °C goal

Launched at UN Ocean Conference-3, Nice, France; pre-COP30 mobilisation for Belem, Brazil 2025

Founding nations Brazil & France; early joiners Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, Seychelles

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Integration; commits nations to quantify blue carbon, resilience metrics within NDC text
Compliance; aligns with Marrakech Partnership Ocean Breakthroughs for tracking progress
Advocacy; promotes national moratoria on new offshore drilling in sensitive zones

Environmental Impact

Restoration; large-scale mangrove, reef, salt-marsh projects enhance sequestration & storm protection
Mitigation; ocean-based renewables reduce coastal fossil dependence
Adaptation; elevates coastal-zone planning against sea-level rise & extreme events

Economic Angle

Blue economy; pushes diversified livelihoods via sustainable fisheries and ecotourism
Investment; channels climate finance toward tidal, wave, floating offshore-wind pilots
Market; encourages carbon credits from verified blue-carbon ecosystems

Global Partnerships

Collaboration; leverages Global Mangrove Alliance technical support for member states
Monitoring; UN High-Level Climate Champions to publish annual blue-NDC scoreboard
Capacity; WRI offers modelling tools for nations lacking marine-data expertise

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Formal name	Blue NDC Challenge
Launch event & year	UNOC-3, June 2025
Lead countries	Brazil, France
Initial participants	6 (Aus, Fji, Ken, Mex, Plu, Sey)
Core aim	Integrate ocean actions into updated NDCs by COP30
Key ecosystems targeted	Mangroves, coral reefs, salt marshes
Economic focus	Climate-resilient fisheries, ocean renewable energy, carbon-smart aquaculture
Fossil fuel stance	Gradual phase-out of offshore oil & gas
Supporting alliances	Global Mangrove Alliance, UN Climate Champions, WRI, Ocean Breakthroughs
Alignment treaty	Paris Agreement 1.5 °C pathway

GS-3Environment

6.Wan Hai 503 Fire Kerala (Oil Spill Risk)

DHcontainer ship · hazardous cargo · oil spill

Illustration for Wan Hai 503 Fire Kerala (Oil Spill Risk)

What & Where

Singapore-flagged container ship M.V. Wan Hai 503 caught fire off Kerala’s 590 km Arabian-Sea coast (8°17′–12°47′ N).

Cargo: 157 containers of flammable/hazardous goods; fuel stores ~2,000 t oil + 240 t diesel heighten explosion-spill risk.

Incident threatens Kerala’s flat, water-rich littoral of estuaries, backwaters and Western-Ghats linked ecosystems.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

Oil-spill risk to estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, tourism beaches.
Hazardous-cargo combustion may emit toxic halogens harming marine biota.
Explosions threaten busy Colombo-Mumbai sea-lane, demanding rapid Coast Guard containment.

Physical Geography

Coast: flat strip <15 km wide, rises to Western Ghats ~1,500 m inland.
Rivers: 41 west-flowing, short, torrential; Periyar longest at 244 km.
Backwaters: Vembanad, Ashtamudi support 190 km National Waterway-3.

Mineral & Radiation

Beach placers yield ilmenite, monazite, rutile, zircon; strategic for titanium, thorium.
Karunagappally shows natural radiation >10 mSv/yr from thorium-rich sands.
Atomic Minerals Directorate surveys; Indian Rare Earths Ltd undertakes extraction.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Ship flag	Singapore
Voyage segment	Colombo → Mumbai
Hazardous containers	157
Fuel oil onboard	≈2,000 t
Diesel onboard	≈240 t
Kerala coast length	590 km
Latitude span	8°17′N–12°47′N
West-flowing rivers	41 of 44
Longest Kerala river	Periyar (244 km)
Major backwater lake	Vembanad
Heavy-mineral sands	Ilmenite, monazite, thorium, titanium
Radiation hotspot	Karunagappally

GS-3Species

7.Siamese Fireback in Uttarakhand (Bird Species)

New Indian ExpressLophura diardi · IUCN Least Concern · Thailand national bird

Illustration for Siamese Fireback in Uttarakhand (Bird Species)

What & Where

Siamese Fireback (Lophura diardi) – pheasant species, national bird of Thailand, IUCN Least Concern.

Native to lowland evergreen/deciduous forests of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam; first Indian sighting in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand.

Prefers dense, humid woodland; recent high-altitude Himalayan record signals notable range flexibility.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Conservation & Threats

IUCN Least Concern yet experiencing moderate decline from habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching.
Avoids human disturbance; expanding agriculture and logging intensify vulnerability.

Ecology & Behaviour

Omnivorous forager; scratches forest floor for seeds, fruits, invertebrates.
Breeding March–June; males perform elaborate dance, females incubate 4–6 eggs.
Shy, elusive nature; more often detected by calls than visual sightings.

Range Significance

First Uttarakhand record pushes known distribution ~1700 km northwest of Southeast Asian core zone.
High-altitude Himalayan presence indicates climatic adaptability and potential dispersal corridors along Indo-Myanmar ranges.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Scientific name	Lophura diardi
National bird of	Thailand
IUCN category	Least Concern
Native countries	Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
First Indian sighting	Ranikhet forests, Uttarakhand
Preferred habitat	Dense evergreen & deciduous woodlands
Breeding season	March – June
Clutch size	4 – 6 ground-nest eggs
Adult male plumage	Metallic blue-black body, red-orange rump, white tail
Diet	Omnivorous—seeds, fruits, insects, small fauna

GS-3Species

8.Indian Grey Wolf Pups Birth (Indian Grey Wolf)

The HinduCanis lupus pallipes · Bankapur Sanctuary · IUCN Endangered

Illustration for Indian Grey Wolf Pups Birth (Indian Grey Wolf)

What & Where

Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) — grey-wolf subspecies ranging across Southwest Asia & Indian subcontinent.

Apex predator of scrub, grassland, semi-arid agro-ecosystems; hunts nocturnally in small, less-vocal packs.

Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary, 332 ha in Karnataka, is India’s second wolf-exclusive protected area after Mahuadanr (Jharkhand).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Schedule I and CITES Appendix I grant highest trade & hunting prohibitions.
Sanctuary notification triggers WPA §35 stringent protection within Karnataka.

Ecology & Behaviour

Nocturnal hunting from dusk to dawn reduces human overlap.
Smaller pack size, subdued vocalisation distinguish subspecies from other grey wolves.

Protected Area Specifics

Habitat mix: scrub forest, low hills, natural caves suitable for denning.
Sympatric fauna: leopards, blackbucks, peacocks, foxes, hares.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
IUCN Red List	Endangered
Estimated Indian population	2,000 – 3,000 individuals
CITES listing	Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972	Schedule I
Bankapur sanctuary area	332 hectares
Karnataka wolf-only status	First in State
India wolf-only ranking	Second after Mahuadanr, 1976
Recent event	8 pups born Jan 2025

GS-3S&T

9.KATRIN Neutrino Mass (Particle Physics)

The HinduKATRIN · Tritium beta decay · Neutrino mass

Illustration for KATRIN Neutrino Mass (Particle Physics)

What & Where

KATRIN: Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany

Process: gauges endpoint energy of electrons from tritium (³H) beta decay via giant electrostatic spectrometer

Purpose: direct, model-independent upper limit on absolute masses of three neutrino flavours

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

Spectrometer: magnetic adiabatic collimation plus electrostatic filter achieves sub-eV energy resolution
Tritium source: windowless gaseous setup ensures high purity, stable activity
Background control: ultra-high vacuum, cryogenic pumping, magnetic shielding suppress stray events

Scientific Significance

Constraint: halves earlier lab limit, narrows cosmological parameter space
Standard-Model gap: existence of mass mandates physics beyond SM, e.g., seesaw mechanisms
Benchmark: provides design yardstick for future beta-decay and neutrinoless double-beta searches

International Collaboration

Partners: Max Planck institutes, U.S. DOE labs, Czech, Russian, UK universities
Funding: multi-agency European and American contributions exceeding €60 million
Data sharing: open analysis framework permits independent cross-checks and meta-studies

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Latest ∑ neutrino-mass cap	8.8 × 10⁻⁷ mₑ (≈0.45 eV)
Precision vs previous	2 × tighter
Detector mass	200 tonnes
Detector type	Electrostatic MAC-E filter spectrometer
Isotope monitored	Tritium (³H)
Electrons analysed	36 million
Effective run time	259 days
Lead institute	Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Collaboration span	Germany, USA, multiple EU nations
Measurement nature	Laboratory, model-independent

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2010PYQ 1

India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega science project under the 11th Five-Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements:

GS-3S&T

10.GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs (GLP-1 Drugs)

The Hindusemaglutide · tirzepatide · GLP-1 agonist

Illustration for GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs (GLP-1 Drugs)

What & Where

Definition: Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists repurposed from Type-2 diabetes to chronic weight management

Key types: Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) by Novo Nordisk; Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) by Eli Lilly

Geography: US-led effectiveness study; drugs FDA-approved and recently launched in India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Pharmacology & Mechanism

GLP-1 analogue stimulates insulin, inhibits glucagon, delays gastric emptying, increases satiety
Tirzepatide also targets GIP receptor, offering dual-incretin action
Administered weekly via subcutaneous injection

Efficacy Gap

Clinical–real world divide: lesser weight loss linked to poor adherence, dose reduction
Side-effects nausea, vomiting drive drop-outs
Study underscores need for behavioural and medical follow-up

Economic Angle

Monthly cost several hundred dollars in US; higher relative burden in out-of-pocket Indian market
Limited insurance coverage curtails sustained therapy
Potential market size huge but affordability constraints persist

Public Health Concerns

Obesity prevalence rising; drugs offer option where lifestyle changes fail
Dependence risk: continuous use required to maintain weight loss
Equity issue: high cost may widen health disparity

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Drug class	Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist
Core mechanism	Mimics GLP-1 to suppress appetite & slow digestion
Trial weight-loss	10–15 % mean body-weight reduction
Real-world study journal	Obesity (US)
Adherence finding	Significant early discontinuation, dose cuts
Cost issue	High price limits long-term use, esp. India
Post-withdrawal effect	Rapid weight regain
FDA status	Approved for chronic weight management

GS-2Editorial

11.Reforming United Nations Role (UN Reforms)

Indian Expresspeacekeeping · Security Council · global conflicts

What & Where

United Nations: 1945-born multilateral body; HQ New York; 193 members; key organs—GA, UNSC, ECOSOC, ICJ, Secretariat.

Core processes: peacekeeping, veto-based Security Council decisions, SDGs coordination, humanitarian & development programmes (WFP, UNDP).

Geography of crisis: 56 active wars across 92 states; conflict zones house 40 % of world’s poor.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Achievements

Climate leadership: shepherded 2015 Paris Agreement; continues global convening on green transitions.
Humanitarian relief: WFP largest food-aid network; UNDP microfinance revived Liberia post-war.
Peacekeeping: missions in South Sudan improved security perception, local household welfare.

Structural Gaps

Enforcement weakness: Rwanda-style delays, sanctions hurting civilians (1990s Iraq).
Governance imbalance: P5 veto blocks Gaza, Ukraine action; India, Brazil still excluded from UNSC permanent seats.
Financing shortfall: recurrent arrears, e.g., US cuts to UNRWA, hamper climate, humanitarian mandates.

Reform Proposals

Veto reform: non-partisan review plus GA 2/3 override; France-Mexico push to ban veto amid mass atrocities.
Membership expansion: add India, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Japan; rotating seats for SIDS & climate-vulnerable.
Funding innovation: automatic dues, penalties; explore billionaire, carbon, digital levies for SDGs & climate rebuild.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Global conflict deaths 2024	≈ 2.33 lakh
People displaced 2024	120 million
Active wars	56 across 92 nations
Violence economic cost 2023	USD 19.3 trn (13.5 % world GDP)
Military share in global CO₂	5.5 %
War-zone share of global poor	40 % ≈ 455 million
UN peacekeepers deployment model	Voluntary troop contributions
Proposed GA override of veto	Two-thirds majority

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2024PYQ 1

Which one among the following statements about the United Nations (UN) is not correct?

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 2

“युद्ध का जन्म लोगों के मस्तिष्क में होता है, इसलिए शांति की रक्षा भी लोगों के मस्तिष्क में ही की जानी चाहिए।” यह टिप्पणी संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के निम्नलिखित किस अंग के संविधान में मिलती है?

GS-2Security

12.Madleen Aid Ship Interception (Gaza Flotilla)

Indian ExpressFreedom Flotilla · Gaza blockade · Greta Thunberg

What & Where

Humanitarian-flotilla: civil society vessels attempting to breach Israeli naval blockade of Gaza to deliver aid

Madleen: British-flagged ship, intercepted in Mediterranean international waters en route from Catania to Gaza

Gaza Strip: coastal Palestinian enclave under Israeli air-sea blockade since 2007

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

Interception: Israeli navy enforced blockade, boarding Madleen via patrol craft
Deportation: Activists expelled under Israeli immigration regulations, ship redirected to Israeli port
Blockade: Naval cordon applied since Hamas’ 2007 control, justified by Israel as security measure

Humanitarian Aid

Supplies: Focus on life-saving medical goods, infant nutrition, clean-water filters, prosthetic limbs
Beneficiaries: War-affected Gazans facing compounded shortages post-2023 conflict
Delivery mode: NGO-led flotillas circumventing land crossings perceived as restrictive

Historical Parallel

Precedent: 2010 Mavi Marmara assault drew global censure, ICC preliminary probes
Continuity: FFC created post-raid, coordinating repeated flotillas to sustain pressure
Symbolism: Madleen voyage framed as legal test mirroring 2010 challenge

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Flag of Madleen	United Kingdom
Voyage organiser	Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Departure port	Catania, Italy
Departure date	1 Jun 2025
Volunteers on board	12
Notable passengers	Greta Thunberg, MEP Rima Hassan
Key cargo	medical kits, baby food, water filters, prosthetics
Interception site	International waters off Gaza
Israeli action	Detention of ship; deportation of crew
FFC formation year	2010
FFC core method	Peaceful maritime missions
Mavi Marmara raid date	31 May 2010
Activists killed 2010	10
Aid load 2010	≈10,000 tonnes

GS-2Scheme

13.Indigenous Heeng Cultivation Breakthrough (Heeng Cultivation Mission)

The Hinduasafoetida · CSIR-IHBT · Palampur

What & Where

Definition: Heeng (asafoetida) is a perennial herb; edible oleo-gum resin tapped from root after 5 years.

Core geography: Native to cold, arid Iran-Afghanistan-Central Asia; acclimatisation now proven at CSIR-IHBT Palampur (HP), India.

Indian potential zones: High-altitude semi-arid belts of Lahaul-Spiti (HP) and Uttarkashi (UK).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Agro-Climatic Needs

Temperature: 10-20 °C optimum; withstands 40 °C heat and ‑4 °C frost.
Rainfall: Under 300 mm; soils must be sandy, well-drained, moisture-sparse.
Location: Best suited to cold-desert districts Lahaul-Spiti and Uttarkashi.

Tech & Schemes

Mission: CSIR-IHBT 2020 National Mission introduced Iranian-Afghan seeds to Indian highlands.
Breakthrough: First flowering + seed set reported 2025, proving acclimatisation feasibility.
Field roll-out: Initial cultivation plots established at Kwaring, Lahaul Valley.

Economic Angle

Consumption: India world’s largest user; previously fully import-dependent.
Benefit: Domestic production may slash import bill and diversify Himalayan farmer incomes.
Market: Valued Ayurvedic spice for digestion, taste enhancement; steady high demand.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Botanical family	Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)
Resin harvest age	5 years after planting
Ideal temp range	10 – 20 °C
Tolerance extremes	Heat 40 °C; Cold -4 °C
Annual rainfall need	< 300 mm
Preferred soil	Sandy, well-drained, low moisture
National Mission launch	2020 by CSIR-IHBT
First Indian plantation	Kwaring village, Lahaul Valley (HP)
1st flowering in India	2025 at IHBT Palampur
Pre-mission import share	100 % from Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan

GS-1Misc

14.UNFPA World Population 2025 (UNFPA Report)

UNFPATFR 1.9 · 146.39 crore · demographic dividend

Illustration for UNFPA World Population 2025 (UNFPA Report)

What & Where

Fertility: actual children born per woman aged 15-49; gauged by Total Fertility Rate (TFR).

Replacement level: TFR 2.1 maintains population size without migration.

India, April 2025: world’s largest population hub at 146.39 crore amid global slowdown.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Demographic Dividend

Window: large 15-64 cohort boosts productivity if jobs, skills, health align.
Contrast: ageing nations (Japan, Italy, Korea) face <1.5 TFR and labour shortages.
Sub-Saharan Africa: high >4 TFR strains resources, delays dividend realization.

Reproductive Choice & Gaps

Emphasis: UNFPA flags unmet fertility goals, not numeric “crisis”.
Access: contraception, maternal care, education lag; gender gaps skew outcomes.
Outcome: unrealized fertility persists even with India’s below-replacement TFR.

Policy Imperatives

Census 2027: essential for evidence-based socio-economic, fertility recalibration.
Actions: expand family planning, women’s education, adolescent health services.
Balance: simultaneous elderly care reform and youth skilling to sustain growth.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
India population (Apr 2025)	146.39 crore
Global population 2025	8.2 billion
India TFR 2025	1.9
Replacement TFR	2.1
Peak India population	~170 crore in 2060s
India working-age share	68 %
India youth 0-14	24 %
India elderly 65+	7 %
Life expectancy India	M 71 yrs; F 74 yrs
World 15-64 share	>60 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2008PYQ 1

As per India's National Population Policy, 2000, by which one of the following years is it our long-term objective to achieve population stabilization?

GS1 2005PYQ 2

Consider the following statements:

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