Thursday, 12 June 2025

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: Consider the following statements about Lokpal:

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

Q: Who among the following holds his/her office at the pleasure of the President?

The correct answer is (a) The Chairman of a Public Service Commission. This question appeared in GEO_GS, GS1 2026.

Q: Microfinance is the provision of financial services to people of low-income groups. This includes both the consumers and the self-employed. The service/services rendered under microfinance is/are:

The correct answer is (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 2011.

Q: Which one of the following statements about a borrower from a Microfinance Company is NOT correct?

The correct answer is (d) The borrower should not refuse to pay any rate of interest offered.. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 2022.

Q: Who among the following Bhakti saints did not belong to Nirguna School of Bhakti?

The correct answer is (a) Kabir. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2021.

Q: भक्ति कवि नामदेव के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कितना/कितने कथन सही है/हैं?

The correct answer is (b) 2. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024.

Q: If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

The correct answer is (a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.. This question appeared in GS1 2020.

Q: In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

The correct answer is (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.. This question appeared in GS1 2017.

Q: Which one of the following is a bacterium that causes disease in the human body?

The correct answer is (a) Varicella zoster. This question appeared in NDA_GAT 2019.

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 GEO_GS, GS1 2010.

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

0/15 done

GS-2Polity

1.Lokpal of India Overview (Anti-corruption Body)

PIBLokpal Act 2013 · Selection Committee · Chairperson

What & Where

Independent statutory ombudsman to probe corruption allegations against Union public functionaries

Process triggered via written complaint; empowered to investigate, prosecute, attach property, supervise CBI

Headquarters Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Quick Facts for MCQs

Composition

Structure Chairperson plus eight Members ensuring 50 % judicial presence
Reservation Minimum 50 % seats for SC/ST/OBCs, minorities & women collectively
Tenure Five years or until 70 years of age, resignable to President

Jurisdiction & Powers

Coverage Ministers, MPs, PSU officials, NGOs receiving large foreign funds
Authority Summon, search, seize, order suspension or transfer of accused officials
Autonomy Independent Inquiry Wing & Prosecution Wing headed by Director-level officers

Recent Update

Change Adopted new motto to boost citizen engagement & visibility
Adoption Full Bench approval; replaces Sanskrit motto retained since 2019 setup
Outreach Plans include stronger social media presence, quarterly public reports

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Parent law	Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013
Act commencement	16 Jan 2014
New motto (2024)	Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption
Old motto	Ma Gridhah Kasyasvid Dhanam
Chairperson eligibility	Former CJI or Supreme Court Judge
Total members	Up to 8 (4 judicial + 4 non-judicial)
Appointing authority	President of India
Selector body	PM, LoP, CJI-nominee, Speaker, another Union minister
Jurisdiction top post	Prime Minister (with safeguards)
Employee coverage	Group A–D Central staff
NGO/FC threshold	Foreign contribution > ₹1 crore / yr
Key penal law applied	Prevention of Corruption Act 1988
Core power	Sanction prosecution & order property attachment
CBI link	Supervises CBI in referred cases
HQ state	Delhi

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about Lokpal:

GEO_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Who among the following holds his/her office at the pleasure of the President?

GS-2SchemeQuick Bite

2.NeVA Paperless Legislature Platform (NeVA Platform)

PIBOne Nation One Application · Puducherry Assembly · NIC MeghRaj

Illustration for NeVA Paperless Legislature Platform (NeVA Platform)

What & Where

National e-Vidhan Application workflow platform enabling paperless legislative business across India

Part of One Nation One Application; inaugurated for Puducherry Legislative Assembly June 2025

Hosted on NIC Cloud MeghRaj; first adopted by Nagaland in 2022

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

Real time access to rules bills questions reports via unified portal
Secure login permits members online submission of questions and notices
mNeVA mobile app provides 24x7 legislative data to citizens

Governance & Transparency

Live streaming broadens public oversight of House proceedings
Unified repository eliminates redundant state platforms ensuring standardised data
Member centric design accelerates decision workflow within assemblies

Environmental Impact

Paperless operations projected to save 3–5 tonnes paper annually
Digital workflow cuts carbon footprint of assembly secretariats
Supports UN SDGs on responsible consumption and strong institutions

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Recently inaugurated for	Puducherry Legislative Assembly, Jun 2025
Presiding minister	MoS Information & Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs
Funding pattern	100 % Central Assistance, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Hosting infrastructure	NIC Cloud MeghRaj
First implementing state	Nagaland, 2022
Core initiative	One Nation, One Application
Device compatibility	Device-neutral; tablets and handhelds
Citizen interface	Live streaming; mNeVA app Android / iOS
Estimated paper saving	3–5 tonnes each year
SDG linkage	Digital India, Go Green, Good Governance goals

GS-3Economy

3.India Microfinance Sector Stress (Microfinance Sector)

BLGross Loan Portfolio · NBFC-MFI · RBI Regulation

What & Where

Microfinance: small‐ticket loans, savings, insurance for low-income, collateral-free; regulated by RBI as NBFC-MFIs/SFBs.

Core goal: financial inclusion, women entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation across rural and peri-urban India.

Origin: 1974 SEWA Bank (Ahmedabad); inspired by 1976 Grameen model.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Sector Metrics

Portfolio-shrink: lender risk aversion, regulatory tightening cut new loans.
Ticket-size rise: focus shifts to fewer, larger accounts amid credit stress.
Regional divergence: policy backlash in Karnataka vs expansion in eastern & southern belts.

Challenges

Over-indebtedness: multiple concurrent loans, weak credit bureau usage.
High-interest margins: usury concerns amplify borrower distress.
Coercive recoveries: harassment, suicides trigger state-level punitive laws.

Regulatory & Policy

RBI: sole regulator; exploring uniform recovery code, interest caps.
Malegam norms: set NBFC-MFI criteria, margin ceilings, multiple-borrowing checks.
State actions: Karnataka law penalises intimidation, indirectly hits compliant MFIs.

Tech & Way Forward

AI analytics: early-warning on defaults, borrower heat-maps.
Digital KYC & e-mandates: streamline onboarding, ensure repayment discipline.
Empathy focus: shift from profit maximisation to community-centric developmental finance.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
FY25 Gross Loan Portfolio	₹3.75 lakh crore (-13.5% YoY)
FY25 NPAs outstanding	~₹55,000 crore
31–180 day PAR	6.2% (up from 2%)
Q4 FY25 disbursal	₹70,942 crore (-34% YoY)
Avg loan ticket size	₹53,897 (+11.5%)
Leading states by outreach	Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh
State with sharpest fall	Karnataka: 17% GLP decline
Key oversight report	2010 Malegam Committee
Interest issue flagged	High margins despite low-cost funds
Recovery concern	Rising coercive practices, legal backlash

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2011PYQ 1

Microfinance is the provision of financial services to people of low-income groups. This includes both the consumers and the self-employed. The service/services rendered under microfinance is/are:

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about a borrower from a Microfinance Company is NOT correct?

GS-1History

4.Sant Kabir Das Teachings (Bhakti Movement)

Indian ExpressNirguna Bhakti · Kabir Panth · Bijak

Illustration for Sant Kabir Das Teachings (Bhakti Movement)

What & Where

Mystic poet-saint Kabir Das; 15th-century Bhakti reformer

Propounded Nirguna Bhakti stressing formless divine & inner realisation

Lived-worked mainly in Varanasi region, present Uttar Pradesh

Quick Facts for MCQs

Philosophy & Teachings

Inner divinity; God within not in idols or pilgrimages
Seva, humility, minimalism viewed as path to moksha
Critiqued dogma; upheld human dignity across caste creeds

Impact on Movements

Kabir Panth institutionalised dohas via sadhus, lay followers
Sikh Gurus incorporated his bani shaping egalitarian ethics
Inspired Dadu Panthis, Namdhari, other anti-ritual sects

Contemporary Relevance

Harmony message counters communal polarisation
Caste critique aligns with constitutional equality articles 14-17
Simplicity ethos echoes sustainability & minimalist living

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Traditional birth year	1440 CE
Foster family	Muslim Julaha (weaver) couple Niru & Nima
Key works	Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthavali, Anurag Sagar
Verses in Guru Granth Sahib	261 padas, 3 shlokas
Core doctrine	Nirguna Brahman, Nam-smaran, Ahimsa
Social stance	Rejected caste, ritual; stressed equality & seva
Founded sect	Kabir Panth with mathas at Varanasi, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat
Influenced	Guru Nanak, Dadu Dayal, Sikh & Bhakti traditions
Death tradition	Maghar, UP (not Kashi) to refute salvation myths
Jayanti observance 2024	11 June, 648th anniversary

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2021PYQ 1

Who among the following Bhakti saints did not belong to Nirguna School of Bhakti?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

भक्ति कवि नामदेव के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कितना/कितने कथन सही है/हैं?

GS-1Mapping

5.Taiwan Physical Geography (East Asia Island)

New Indian ExpressPacific Ring of Fire · Chung-yang Range · Taiwan Strait

What & Where

Earthquake 5.9 M jolted Taipei and coastal Taiwan on a high-risk tectonic boundary

Taiwan sits at Eurasian–Philippine Sea plate junction within the Pacific Ring of Fire

Island nation in western Pacific, ~160 km off China’s southeast; capital Taipei

Quick Facts for MCQs

Physical Geography

Mountains dominate >66 % area; Central Range forms north-south backbone
Soils volcanic, fertile yet erosion-prone under heavy rainfall

Hydrography

Rivers short, steep, heavy sediment; limit navigation and cause flash floods
Zhuoshui longest 186 km; Gaoping widest basin; Danshui only major navigable course

Seismic Risk

Constant plate collision drives frequent shallow quakes and associated landslides
Ring of Fire accounts for 90 % world earthquakes, Taiwan among most active zones

Neighbourhood & Straits

Borders Pacific Ocean east, East China Sea north, Bashi Channel south, Taiwan Strait west
Ryukyu Islands lie northeast; Philippines across Bashi Channel southward

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Latest quake magnitude	5.9
Plate convergence	Eurasian & Philippine Sea
Global seismic belt	Pacific Ring of Fire
Terrain mountainous	> two-thirds of island
Highest peak	Yu Mountain 3,997 m
Main range	Chung-yang (Central) Range
Longest river	Zhuoshui 186 km
Largest river basin	Gaoping
Navigable river	Danshui to Taiwan Strait
Distance to China	~160 km

GS-3Environment

6.Kerala Seeks Wildlife Act Amendment (Wildlife Act Amendment)

Indian ExpressWildlife Protection Act · Schedule I Species · Human-Wildlife Conflict

What & Where

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: pan-India statute governing conservation, habitat management and wildlife trade control.

Kerala: seeking Union-level amendment to permit controlled culling of life- or crop-threatening wild animals.

Post-2022 regime: four schedules—Schedule I absolute protection; Schedule IV lists CITES specimens for trade regulation.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Section 9 bans hunting Schedules I-IV species; exemptions only via Sections 11, 12 permits.
Section 11 allows killing if human life threatened, animal incurably diseased, relocation impossible.
Section 62 empowers Centre to list non-Schedule I/Part II animals as vermin for limited area, period.

Implementation Challenges

Approval lag: district collectors need court endorsement; Section 50 grants no crisis powers.
Schedule I listing of bonnet macaque blocks timely action despite crop depredation reports.
Dual verification required: authorities must prove capture/relocation infeasible before lethal sanction.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Kerala recorded multiple human fatalities 2016-25, heightening rural resentment and policy pressure.
Conflict drivers: habitat shrinkage, crop-raiding elephants, macaques in peri-urban zones.
State amendment plea targets faster mitigation to safeguard farmers’ lives and livelihoods.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Enactment year	1972
Latest amendment	2022
Current schedules	Four (I-IV)
Highest protection	Schedule I
Kill approval authority	Chief Wildlife Warden (Sec 11)
Vermin declaration power	Union Govt (Sec 62)
Hunting ban clause	Section 9
Kerala request year	2025

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2020PYQ 1

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

GS1 2017PYQ 2

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

GS-3EnvironmentQuick Bite

7.Etalin Hydropower Forest Clearance (Etalin Dam Clearance)

Indian ExpressDibang Valley · Forest Advisory Committee · Tree Felling

What & Where

Etalin run-of-the-river hydropower (3,097 MW) planned in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot.

Two gravity dams on Dri & Talo (Tangon) tributaries feed Dibang → Brahmaputra basin.

Secured in-principle forest clearance from statutory Forest Advisory Committee (MoEFCC).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biodiversity

Habitat shelters tiger, leopard, snow leopard, black bear, musk deer, Mishmi takin.
Eastern Himalaya hotspot: 1 of 36 global biodiversity hotspots recognised internationally.
Avifauna concentration makes valley critical for endemic and migratory bird conservation.

Legal & Policy

FAC advisory; MoEFCC grants final Stage-II clearance after mitigation, compensatory afforestation compliance.
Unclassified forest diversion avoids Reserved/Protected forest restrictions, easing procedural hurdles.
FAC evaluates mining, industry, township, power proposals under Forest (Conservation) Act.

Social Concerns

Indigenous Idu Mishmi have lodged sustained protests against deforestation and cultural landscape alteration.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Project capacity	3,097 MW
Project type	Run-of-the-river hydropower
Dam count/type	2 gravity dams
Rivers	Dri & Talo (Tangon)
River basin	Dibang → Brahmaputra
Forest land diversion	>1,100 ha unclassified
Trees to be felled	≈2.7 lakh
Biodiversity hotspot	Eastern Himalaya
Threatened mammals	6 (3 EN, 3 VU)
Bird richness	56 % of India’s species
Endemic birds	3 restricted-range species
Local opposition	Idu Mishmi community
Clearing authority	Forest Advisory Committee
FAC legal base	Forest (Conservation) Act 1980

GS-3S&T

8.Salmonella Foodborne Infection (Foodborne Pathogen)

Hindustan TimesSalmonellosis · Contaminated Food · Symptoms

Illustration for Salmonella Foodborne Infection (Foodborne Pathogen)

What & Where

Salmonella; gram-negative bacterium behind intestinal food-borne illness salmonellosis

Current outbreak; 79 confirmed cases across several US states linked to eggs

Recall zone; 1.7 million cartons from California-based August Egg Company pulled nationwide

Quick Facts for MCQs

Transmission Vectors

Raw/undercooked eggs, chicken dominant carriers
Contaminated meat, fruits, vegetables, processed nut products noted in past outbreaks
Pets, especially reptiles, can shed Salmonella into household environments

Clinical Features

Onset 12–96 hours; diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), stomach cramps, fever prevalent
Headache, vomiting, appetite loss frequent; dehydration risk in severe cases
Illness usually self-limiting within a week; antibiotics for high-risk groups only

Prevention Measures

Cook eggs & poultry to ≥74 °C internal temperature
Wash hands before meals, after bathroom, and post-handling pets or raw food
Keep raw and cooked foods separate; sanitise utensils, cutting boards, countertops

Regulatory Action

CDC & FDA coordinating traceback, public advisories, and ongoing surveillance
Retailers instructed to remove implicated cartons; consumers urged to discard or refund
Monitoring continues for new cases; further recalls possible if contamination persists

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Pathogen	Salmonella spp.
Disease	Salmonellosis
Cases (CDC update)	79 people
Product recall size	1.7 million egg cartons
Firm involved	August Egg Company, California
Incubation period	12 – 96 hours
Main vectors	Raw/undercooked eggs & poultry
Other sources	Contaminated meat, dairy, produce, nut butters
Person-to-person	Fecal-oral via hands, surfaces, utensils
Core symptoms	Diarrhoea, cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting
Key prevention	Thorough cooking; strict hand hygiene

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

NDA_GAT 2019PYQ 1

Which one of the following is a bacterium that causes disease in the human body?

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

9.Hydrogen Plasma Green Nickel Extraction (Green Metallurgy)

The HinduHydrogen Plasma · Nickel Extraction · CO₂ Emission Cut

What & Where

Nickel = silvery-white, 5th-most common metal (80 ppm in crust), pivotal for EV batteries & stainless steel.

Hydrogen-plasma extraction replaces carbon smelting; trims CO₂ by 84 %, lifts energy efficiency 18 %.

Major reserves: Australia, USA, Brazil, Canada, China; Indian laterite (Sukinda, Odisha) & sulphide (East Singhbhum, Jharkhand); India imports nearly 100 %.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Green Metallurgy

Hydrogen-plasma uses renewable H₂, eliminates coke, curbs process greenhouse footprint dramatically.
Aligns with global push to decarbonise steel/alloy supply chains.

Indian Context

Entire domestic demand met via imports, heightening supply risk for battery programme.
Exploration focus on lateritic belts under National Mineral Exploration Policy.
Inclusion in critical minerals list drives incentives for recycling & alternative sourcing.

Applications

70 % demand from stainless steel; rising share from Li-ion batteries for EVs & grid storage.
Also used in aerospace super-alloys, electroplating, coinage, chemical catalysts.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Conventional CO₂ intensity	> 20 t CO₂ / t nickel
New method CO₂ cut	84 % lower
Energy saving	18 % higher efficiency
2040 demand projection	> 6 million t/year
Ore groups	Sulphide & Laterite
Key sulphide ores	Pentlandite, Millerite, Gersdorffite
Key laterite ores	Garnierite, Nickeliferous limonite, Saprolite
Indian primary output	Nil; small by-product at HCL Ghatsila
Main Indian deposits	Sukinda Valley (laterite), East Singhbhum (sulphide)
Critical mineral status	Listed among India’s 30 critical minerals

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

10.KATRIN Neutrino Mass Experiment (Neutrino Mass Measurement)

The HinduKATRIN · Tritium Decay · Neutrino Mass

Illustration for KATRIN Neutrino Mass Experiment (Neutrino Mass Measurement)

What & Where

KATRIN experiment Germany measures absolute neutrino mass via precise β-decay spectra of molecular tritium

Neutrino subatomic ghost particle with near-zero mass, neutral charge, interacts only through weak nuclear force

Photons rank first, neutrinos second most abundant cosmic particles, travel straight lines unaffected by magnetic fields

Quick Facts for MCQs

Experiment Details

Uses precise monitoring of molecular tritium β-decay spectrum
Objective establish absolute neutrino mass scale, not just differences
Located at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Germany

Particle Properties

No size or electric charge, virtually zero mass
Interact rarely due to weak nuclear force only
Travel cosmic distances unperturbed by strongest magnetic fields

Detection Challenges

Minimal interaction necessitates massive, sensitive detectors for observation
Ghostlike passage through Earth causes high background suppression needs
Direct neutrino mass measurement remains frontier task in experimental physics

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Full form	Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment
Host country	Germany
Primary aim	Determine absolute mass of neutrino
Source isotope	Molecular tritium (³H₂)
Interaction force	Weak nuclear only
Electric charge	Zero
Cosmic abundance rank	2nd after photons; 1st among matter particles
Magnetic field response	Unaffected, maintain straight trajectory

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, 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:

GEO_GS, GS1 2023PYQ 2

In a beta decay process, a nucleus spontaneously emits an electron (or positron) accompanied by the emission of antineutrino (or neutrino). Which one of the following statements is not true about neutrinos/antineutrinos?

GS-2Security

11.International Marine Navigation Aids Body (Maritime Navigation)

PIBIALA Council · Aids to Navigation · Intergovernmental

Illustration for International Marine Navigation Aids Body (Maritime Navigation)

What & Where

IALA — intergovernmental technical body setting global norms for Marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN) to boost maritime safety

Core work: standardising buoys, beacons, lighthouses, Vessel Traffic Services; promoting digital & environment-friendly navigation

HQ: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France; 2nd Council Session held in Nice, India to host 2025 GA & 2027 Conference in Mumbai

Quick Facts for MCQs

India’s Role

Leadership: elected Council VP, signalling rising maritime influence
Hosting: voluntarily offers Mumbai for GA-3 (2025) & Conference-21 (2027)
Training: Kolkata institute to conduct global AtoN capacity programmes

Functions & Standards

Standardisation: issues colours, shapes, light rhythms for buoys, beacons, lighthouses
Digitalisation: develops IoT-enabled AtoN, Maritime Service Registry, e-navigation tools
Harmonisation: aligns regional practices to one global Maritime Buoyage System

Environmental & Heritage Angle

Safety: aims to cut accidents, protect marine environment via precise navigation aids
Conservation: promotes preservation of historic lighthouses, dovetailing with India’s lighthouse tourism drive

Capacity & Technology Sharing

Workshops: member states receive training, tech transfer, advisory missions
Funding: encourages joint R&D on sustainable, energy-efficient navigation aids

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Founded as NGO	1957
Became inter-governmental	2021
Headquarters	Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Current Council Session	2nd, Nice (France), 2024
India on Council since	1980
India’s Vice-Presidency	2023 – 2027
First General Assembly	2023, Singapore
Next General Assembly	2025, Mumbai
Next IALA Conference	2027, Mumbai
Core mandate	Develop international AtoN standards & guidance
Key technical areas	Buoys, Beacons, Lighthouses, VTS, Digital AtoN
Capacity hub in India	Marine Navigation Training Institute, Kolkata

GS-2Security

12.UNSC Taliban and Counter-Terrorism Committees (UNSC Committees)

Indian Express1988 Committee · Resolution 1988 · Travel Ban

Illustration for UNSC Taliban and Counter-Terrorism Committees (UNSC Committees)

What & Where

1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee: UNSC subsidiary enforcing travel ban, arms embargo, asset freeze on Taliban-linked actors in Afghanistan

1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee: UNSC technical body supervising states’ compliance with post-9/11 Resolution 1373 obligations

Both seated at UN HQ; measures legally binding on all UN members, Taliban list currently ≈130 names

Quick Facts for MCQs

Mandate & Objectives

1988 TSC: ensure sanctions hit Taliban elements threatening Afghan peace
1373 CTC: push states to criminalise terrorism, choke financing, deny safe havens

Structure & Procedure

Chair controls agenda, consultations, recommendations; no unilateral listings
Both committees operate without investigative arms; depend on national reporting

Pakistan’s Role

Pakistan to steer 1988 TSC deliberations and vet listing/delisting requests
Vice-Chair in 1373 CTC offers procedural influence on global capacity-building reviews

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Establishment year (1988 TSC)	2011
Establishment year (1373 CTC)	2001
Foundational Resolution (1988 TSC)	UNSCR 1988
Foundational Resolution (1373 CTC)	UNSCR 1373, Chapter VII
Current Chair (2025-26)	Pakistan for 1988 TSC
Current Vice-Chair (2025-26)	Pakistan for 1373 CTC
Listing regime	Yes for 1988 TSC; none for 1373 CTC
Listed individuals/entities	≈130 (Taliban-linked)
Decision style	Consensus in both committees
Enforcement power	Relies on state cooperation; no own investigations

GS-3Security

13.India–UK PASSEX Naval Exercise (India-UK Naval Drill)

New Indian ExpressINS Tabar · HMS Prince of Wales · North Arabian Sea

Illustration for India–UK PASSEX Naval Exercise (India-UK Naval Drill)

What & Where

Definition: ad-hoc bilateral naval drill held when friendly warships cross paths during deployments

Geography: 2024 iteration executed in North Arabian Sea between Oman and India shipping lanes

Purpose: enhance interoperability, communication, anti-submarine coordination, maritime domain awareness

Quick Facts for MCQs

Participants & Assets

IndiaAssets: stealth frigate INS Tabar, conventional submarine, P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft engaged
UKAssets: HMS Prince of Wales carrier and HMS Richmond frigate deployed within UK Carrier Strike Group
OfficerExchange: temporary cross-deck postings fostered crew familiarity and procedural interoperability

Operational Highlights

HelicopterControl: coordinated take-offs, landings, vectored flights for rapid multi-platform response against undersea targets
RealTimeData: encrypted links transmitted sensor feeds enhancing shared situational awareness across air, surface, subsurface units
CommunicationProtocols: voice and data link drills validated system compatibility for seamless coalition missions

Strategic Significance

Diplomacy: bolsters India’s defence engagement footprint in Indo-Pacific alongside traditional partner United Kingdom
SAGAR: exercise supports Security And Growth for All in Region vision through cooperative maritime security
Deterrence: joint presence signals commitment to free, rules-based trade routes and counters hostile submarine activity

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Exercise type	Passage Exercise (PASSEX)
Host waterbody	North Arabian Sea
Indian assets	INS Tabar, conventional submarine, P-8I aircraft
UK assets	HMS Prince of Wales carrier, HMS Richmond frigate
Core focus	Anti-Submarine Warfare interoperability

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GEO_GS 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following countries did the Indian Navy participate in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres?

ESE_GS, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 2

Naseem-Al-Bahr, held in October 2024, was a joint maritime exercise between the navies of India and

GS-2Scheme

14.CROPIC AI Crop Monitoring Scheme (AI Crop Monitoring)

Indian ExpressCROPIC App · PMFBY · FIAT

What & Where

CROPIC = Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops, mobile-app system for AI-based crop imaging.

Process: farmer photo uploads → cloud vision analytics → dashboard diagnostics → evidence for PMFBY loss assessment.

Pilot: 50 districts across agro-climatic zones during Kharif 2025 & Rabi 2025-26.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technology & Data

AI-cloud: computer vision detects crop type, growth stage, pest or weather stress, loss severity.
Dashboard: live geo-mapped analytics enable proactive state or district intervention.
Database: image signature library trains machine learning for future diagnostics.

Farmer Participation

Upload: growers contribute geo-tagged, time-stamped images via Android/iOS app.
Crowdsourcing: farmer inputs widen spatial coverage and minimise enumerator visits.
Evidence: photos act as verifiable proof during insurance claim scrutiny.

Insurance & Policy

PMFBY: CROPIC integration expedites transparent settlement of crop-loss claims.
FIAT funding: initiative showcases innovation mandate within national farm-insurance framework.
Resilience: digital monitoring bolsters climate-risk adaptation and agri-policy responsiveness.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Full form	Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops
Nodal ministry	Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Funding window	FIAT under PMFBY
Linked scheme	Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Pilot seasons	Kharif 2025, Rabi 2025-26
Pilot coverage	50 districts; 3 insured crops each
Farmer uploads	4–5 photos per crop cycle
Core tech	AI cloud vision & image recognition
Dashboard users	District & state agriculture officials
Key aims	Real-time monitoring, early stress flag, automated claim validation

GS-1Misc

15.UNFPA 2025 Population Report Highlights (UNFPA Population Report)

TH1State of World Population · Total Fertility Rate · Peak Population

Illustration for UNFPA 2025 Population Report Highlights (UNFPA Population Report)

What & Where

UNFPA’s State of World Population 2025 reviews global fertility, ageing, reproductive autonomy

India emerges as largest population base; report maps interstate fertility divide, demographic window, unmet needs

Focus area spans all 36 States/UTs contrasting high-fertility BIMARU belt with low-fertility southern & metro zones

Quick Facts for MCQs

Demographic Metrics

Fertility_Gap Bihar 3.0 vs Kerala ≈1.6 highlights development and gender disparities
Youth_Bulk 26 % aged 10-24 offers short demographic dividend needing rapid skilling
Dependency_Rise expected as ageing accelerates after 2030s

Social Barriers

Financial_Cost 40 % couples delay births over money constraints
Housing_Issue 22 % cite inadequate space; Job_Insecurity deters 21 %
Anxiety_Triggers climate, politics, economy increasingly influence family-size decisions

Policy Prescriptions

Access_First universal contraception, infertility care, safe abortion stressed over coercive targets
Inclusion_Need services for unmarried, LGBTQIA+, marginalised, rural youth
Support_System childcare, housing, secure jobs, gender-equal norms essential to meet desired fertility

UNFPA Basics

Mandate ensure wanted pregnancies, safe childbirth, fulfilled youth potential aligning with SDG 3-4-5
Funding fully voluntary contributions; no UN regular budget allocation
2030_Goals zero unmet family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths, zero gender violence

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
India population Apr 2025	146.39 crore
Peak size & timing	170 crore, early 2060s
National TFR 2025	1.9
Replacement TFR	2.1
States above 2.1 TFR	5
Life expectancy M/F	71 yrs / 74 yrs
Working-age share 15-64	68 %
Children 0-14 share	24 %
Elderly 65+ share	7 %
Median age	28.2 yrs
Dependency ratio	47 dependents per 100 workers
Male / Female LFPR	78.8 % / 41.7 %

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:

Ready to practice?

Test your knowledge with our UPSC test series.

Start Free Trial