Friday, 18 July 2025

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: Which one of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is not correct?

The correct answer is (d) In case a member of any other Committee constituted by the Government is elected to the PAC, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether he should continue to be a member of the former Committee.. This question appeared in CDS_GK 2022.

Q: Which one of the following pairs of composers in different languages and their works on the Mahabharata theme is correctly matched?

The correct answer is (a) Sarladasa — Bengali. This question appeared in GS1 1997.

Q: Which one of the following countries is land locked?

The correct answer is (a) Bolivia. This question appeared in GS1 2003.

Q: Consider the following countries:

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

Q: Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

The correct answer is (b) 'Gravitational waves' were detected.. This question appeared in GS1 2019.

Q: Which one of the statements is NOT relevant to quantum computing?

The correct answer is (d) Quantum computing is the use of quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform the computation. This question appeared in ESE_GS 2023.

Q: Consider the following statements:

The correct answer is (a) 1 only. This question appeared in GS1 2007.

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

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

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

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

Q: The term ‘Terminal High Altitude Area Defense’, sometimes mentioned in news, refers to

The correct answer is (d) Surface-to-air guided weapon.. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 2022.

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

0/15 done

GS-2Polity

1.Central Adoption Resource Authority Overview (Child Adoption)

DHCARA · Juvenile Justice Act 2015 · Hague Convention 1993

What & Where

CARA – statutory body under Ministry of Women & Child Development, regulating Indian child adoptions.

Processes – in-country & inter-country adoption via JJ Act 2015 and Hague Convention 1993.

Geography – HQ New Delhi; jurisdiction pan-India, acts as Central Authority internationally.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Statutory-status grants enforcement powers over all Registered Adoption Agencies.
Issues guidelines ensuring ethical, transparent, time-bound adoption compliant with JJ Act.
Acts as Central Authority mandated by Hague Convention obligations.

Institutional Functions

Regulation – accredits, monitors state & specialised adoption agencies nationwide.
Capacity-building – trains adoption professionals, empanels qualified counsellors.
Digital-oversight – CARINGS portal tracks every adoption step for transparency.

Social Concerns

Counselling-directive targets emotional wellbeing across adoption lifecycle.
Focus on orphaned, abandoned, surrendered children’s rights protection.
Emphasis on psychosocial support to mitigate adoption adjustment issues.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Year set up (as agency)	1990
Became statutory	Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act, 2015
Parent ministry	Women & Child Development
International treaty handled	Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993
India ratification year	2003
Digital portal	CARINGS (Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System)
Recent directive	Strengthen structured counselling pre-, during, post-adoption
Key stakeholders counselled	Biological parents, adoptive parents, adopted children
Headquarters	New Delhi
Legal power	Issues binding directions under JJ Act & Adoption Regulations

GS-2Polity

2.PAC Seeks Comprehensive UIDAI Review (UIDAI Oversight)

The HinduPublic Accounts Committee · Aadhaar · Biometric Failure

Illustration for PAC Seeks Comprehensive UIDAI Review (UIDAI Oversight)

What & Where

Body: Public Accounts Committee – Parliamentary watchdog auditing Union expenditure via CAG reports across India

Process: Examined UIDAI after 2021 CAG audit, focusing on Aadhaar enrolment, authentication, data security

Geography: Functions within Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha; oversight affects nationwide welfare schemes linked to Aadhaar

Quick Facts for MCQs

Operational Gaps

Biometric failures bar genuine users from PDS, MGNREGA, other subsidies
Slow post-death deactivation leaves duplicate or inactive Aadhaar in circulation
Grievance redressal cumbersome, error correction delayed for citizens

Security Dimension

Aadhaar datasets reportedly surfaced on dark web raising PAC concern
Duplicate IDs plus breach risk enable identity theft and subsidy fraud
UIDAI asserts core database secure, vulnerabilities lie in peripheral centres

Social Impact

Exclusion: Beneficiaries denied welfare, trust in digital governance wanes
Misuse: Non-citizens allegedly leveraging Aadhaar to access Indian schemes
Vulnerability: Elderly and manual labourers hit hardest by biometric mismatch

Recommended Fixes

Alternatives: Facial recognition, OTP, assisted verification for failed biometrics
Integration: Link civil death registries to auto-deactivate Aadhaar of deceased
Compliance: Stricter centre protocols, full scientific security audit of UIDAI

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Committee strength	22 MPs (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha)
Chair selection	Traditionally from Opposition benches
Tenure	Reconstituted annually
Audit trigger	CAG Performance Audit on UIDAI 2021
Aadhaar issued	Numbers exceed projected Indian population
Major failure cause	Worn fingerprints, iris mismatch among elderly
Data-leak locus	Enrolment/update centres per UIDAI
Key PAC demand	Forensic audit of central Aadhaar repository

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is not correct?

GS-2Polity

3.SC Admits Secret Spousal Recordings (Evidence Act Section 122)

Indian ExpressSpousal Privilege · Supreme Court · Article 21

What & Where

Ruling: SC allows secretly recorded spousal conversations as admissible evidence in matrimonial cases across India

Focus: Overrides absolute spousal privilege under Section 122, Indian Evidence Act 1872

Geography: Applicable pan-India in civil & criminal matrimonial proceedings

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Interpretation: Communication privilege not absolute when justice demands disclosure
Admissibility: Electronic evidence accepted if relevancy and authenticity proven under Evidence Act
Waiver: Privilege may be waived by necessity, not solely by spouse consent

Fundamental Rights

Balance: Right to privacy limited when clashing with fair-trial requirement
Court View: Justice delivery prioritised over absolute informational privacy within marriage
Precedent: Strengthens earlier rulings limiting privacy in family litigation

Matrimonial Disputes

Utility: Secret recordings can corroborate cruelty, desertion, dowry demands
Burden: Party submitting recording must prove genuineness and chain of custody
Impact: Likely rise in electronic evidence use during family court proceedings

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Court	Supreme Court of India
Key Statute	Section 122, Indian Evidence Act 1872
Evidence Allowed	Secretly recorded marital conversations
Constitutional Articles	Art 21 (Privacy) vs Art 14 & 21 (Fair trial)
Nature of Privilege	Qualified, waivable in divorce/criminal matters
Case Domain	Matrimonial disputes, including divorce

GS-2PolityQuick Bite

4.Court Upholds Peace Over Loud Prayers (Noise Pollution Ruling)

The HinduMadras High Court · Article 21 · Article 25

What & Where

Madras High Court, July 2025, bans loud religious gatherings in residential premises without District Collector nod

Builds on 2005 Supreme Court ruling that noise pollution violates Article 21 and loudspeakers lack Fundamental Right status

Conflict space: Article 25 collective worship vs Article 21 peaceful living across Indian neighbourhoods

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Requirement: written Collector approval before holding amplified prayers in residential zones
SC 2005 ratio applied, terming loudspeaker use a regulable activity, not a Fundamental Right
Madras HC frames regulation as neighbourhood order issue, not faith suppression

Fundamental Rights

Priority: Article 21 tranquillity supersedes Article 25 collective practice when disturbance occurs
Principle: no person may convert others into captive audience of religious sound
Neighbour consent alone inadequate, statutory clearance mandatory to safeguard silent third parties

Environmental Impact

Noise classified as air pollutant under 1981 Air Act whenever harmful to humans or ecology
Courts embed quiet environment within Article 21 quality-of-life guarantee
Regulation of religious noise treated as environmental protection, religion-neutral measure

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Court delivering latest order	Madras High Court
Year of HC verdict	2025
SC precedent cited	2005 Noise-pollution judgment
Fundamental Right limited	Article 25 Freedom of religion
Higher Right protected	Article 21 Right to life & peace
Statute tagging noise as pollutant	Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981
Permission authority	District Collector

GS-1HistoryQuick Bite

5.Adikabi Sarala Das Birth Anniversary (Odia Literature Pioneer)

PIBSarala Das · Odia Mahabharata · Vilanka Ramayana

What & Where

Personality – Adikabi Sarala Das, 15th-century Odia poet, born Siddheswara Parida in coastal Odisha.

Works – composed first Odia Mahabharata plus other epics at Munigosain religious seat.

Language – Odia, eastern Indo-Aryan; accorded Classical status in 2014.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Literary Works

Mahabharata (Odia) introduced local idiom, devotional flavour.
Vilanka Ramayana adapts Rama-Ravana war narrative to Odia culture.
Chandi Purana glorifies Goddess Chandi; mix of mythology and social commentary.

Language Status

Classical tag gives Odia funding for research, dedicated university centers.
Criteria include antiquity > 1500 years, rich ancient literature, original tradition.
Post-2024 list: 11 classical languages total in India.

Historical Setting

Period marked by Gajapati empire expansion under Kapilendra Dev.
Sarala Das leveraged court patronage yet wrote in vernacular, boosting mass literacy.
Works preceded printing; transmitted via palm-leaf manuscripts.

Linguistic Influences

Ardhamagadhi core provides Indo-Aryan grammar backbone.
Dravidian phonetics visible in retroflex consonant usage.
Persian-Arabic lexicon entered via medieval coastal trade.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Honorific title	Adikabi (First poet)
Birth name	Siddheswara Parida
Century	15th C CE
Patron king	Gajapati Kapilendra Dev (contemporary)
Writing venue	Munigosain religious establishment
Major epics	Mahabharata (Odia), Vilanka Ramayana, Chandi Purana
Other text	Laxmi Narayana Vachanika
Odia derived from	Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
External influences	Dravidian, Arabic, Persian, English
Classical status year	2014 (6th language)
New classical entrants 2024	Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali
Constitutional listing	Eighth Schedule language

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1997PYQ 1

Which one of the following pairs of composers in different languages and their works on the Mahabharata theme is correctly matched?

GS-1Mapping

6.Bolivia: Location and Key Landforms (South American Geography)

News on AirAndes Mountains · Altiplano Plateau · Lake Titicaca

Illustration for Bolivia: Location and Key Landforms (South American Geography)

What & Where

Bolivia — land-locked west-central South America; dual capitals La Paz (administrative) & Sucre (constitutional)

India rushed 3 lakh Measles-Rubella vaccine doses to Bolivia under Development Partnership Programme

Aid exemplifies South-South health diplomacy leveraging India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing edge

Quick Facts for MCQs

Physical Geography

Andes split into Cordillera Occidental & Oriental surrounding Altiplano
Yungas humid slopes descend to Amazonian lowlands
Chaco & Oriente comprise hot southern lowlands and eastern rainforests

Health Diplomacy

Consignment included ancillary supplies besides vaccines
Rapid dispatch addresses active measles-rubella outbreak, reinforcing India’s vaccine-hub image

Bilateral Cooperation

Engagement warm across G-77, NAM, BRICS outreach platforms
Energy, technology and mineral sectors earmarked for deeper collaboration

Natural Resources

Lithium abundance positions Bolivia for battery-value-chain partnerships
Diverse ecology hosts salt, gas and hydropower potential

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Continent position	West-central South America
Neighbours	Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru
N-S extent	~1,500 km
E-W extent	~1,300 km
Highest peak	Mt Sajama 6,542 m
Major plateau	Altiplano ~12,000 ft
Largest salt flat	Uyuni 10,400 sq km
Major lake	Titicaca on Altiplano
Key rivers	Beni, Mamoré, Iténez → Amazon
Vaccine consignment	3 lakh Measles-Rubella doses
Indian aid framework	Development Partnership / South-South Cooperation
Resource highlight	Large lithium reserves

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2003PYQ 1

Which one of the following countries is land locked?

GS1 2025PYQ 2

Consider the following countries:

GS-3Environment

7.Just Transition in Global Plastics Treaty (Global Plastics Treaty)

Down to EarthJust Transition · UNEA 5/14 · INC Negotiations

What & Where

Global Plastics Treaty – UNEP-led, legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution across entire life-cycle, mandated by UNEA-5/14 (2022).

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) sequence: INC-1 Uruguay, 2 Paris, 3 Nairobi, 4 Ottawa, 5.1 Busan, 5.2 Geneva Aug 2025.

“Just Transition” aims fair, inclusive shift for 20 mn-strong informal waste workforce, mainly in developing cities.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Draft-treaty gaps: Arts 8-9 merely “encourage”; Art 11 misses finance; no compulsory worker safeguards.
Binding-need: Delegations seek ILO, human-rights references plus enforceable obligations for social protection.
Scope-clarity: India warns against overlap with Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions and WTO rules.

International Stances

EU supports legal recognition, safe conditions for informal workers through plastics chain.
PSIDS press for indigenous & local community inclusion in transition design.
African Group backs youth, waste-picker mention but hesitant on formal recognition wording.

Indian Schemes

2024 Plastic Waste Management Rules: annual audits, central registration portal, mandatory online reporting by ULBs.
India Plastics Pact: time-bound targets for reduction, reuse, recycled content via multi-stakeholder platform.
Project REPLAN & Un-Plastic Collective: integrate waste plastic into handmade paper; drive corporate circularity pledges.

Social Concerns

Informal workers lack contracts, health cover despite critical recycling role; high displacement risk from plastic bans.
Health-hazards: open burning, dumpsite toxins elevate urban morbidity.
Proposal: Global Just Transition Fund for retraining, formalisation, green infrastructure in affected regions.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Global plastic output/yr	460 million t
Leakage to environment	20 million t/yr
Macro-plastic share (2019)	88 % of leakage
India plastic waste/yr	9.46 million t
Uncollected in India	40 % of total
Informal recovery share	> 50 % urban plastic recycling in Global South
Material value loss, India	USD 133 bn by 2030
Next INC session	Geneva, Aug 2025

GS-3S&T

8.GW231123 Record Black Hole Merger (Gravitational Waves)

NDTVGW231123 · LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA · Mass Gap

Illustration for GW231123 Record Black Hole Merger (Gravitational Waves)

What & Where

Black-hole merger: two orbiting black holes lose energy via gravitational waves, collapse into one larger black hole.

GW231123: record-size stellar-mass merger spotted in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA fourth observation run (O4).

Origin estimated ~12 billion light-years away, beyond reach of electromagnetic telescopes.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Astrophysical Significance

Record-breaking scale redefines upper bound for stellar-origin black holes.
High-spin waveform offers rare probe into extreme relativistic conditions.
Deep-space source provides data unattainable through light-based astronomy.

Physics Implications

Mass-gap breach questions pair-instability supernova models and stellar collapse limits.
Supports hierarchical mergers scenario within dense stellar clusters or primordial remnants.
Demands refined population synthesis and gravitational-wave templates.

Detection Network

LVK synergy enabled prompt triangulation and parameter estimation.
O4 sensitivity upgrades crucial for capturing high-mass, high-spin events.
Multi-detector confirmation boosts signal-to-noise, reducing false-alarm probability.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Event code	GW231123
Primary black hole mass	≈ 140 M☉
Secondary black hole mass	≈ 100 M☉
Remnant mass	≈ 225 M☉
Mass gap range	60–130 M☉ (theory)
Gap violated	Yes, both components exceed limit
Spin of larger BH	Near maximum set by General Relativity
Detection network	LIGO (US) + Virgo (Italy) + KAGRA (Japan)
Observation run	O4 (2023)
Estimated look-back time	up to 12 billion yr
Energy release form	Gravitational waves
Possible formation	Second-generation merger

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2019PYQ 1

Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

9.Noise Impact on Quantum Entanglement (Quantum Entanglement)

PIBQuantum Noise · Amplitude Damping · Intraparticle Resilience

What & Where

Quantum entanglement phenomenon; measurement of one particle instantly defines partner, distance-independent correlation

Types: Intraparticle (spin–path same particle) vs Interparticle (distinct particles)

Location: Study by Raman Research Institute, IISc Bengaluru, IISER Kolkata, India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Indian Institutions

Collaborators: RRI Bengaluru, IISc Bengaluru, IISER Kolkata
Recognition: Findings released via Press Information Bureau July 2025

Noise Dynamics

Amplitude damping: energy-loss channel can create, preserve, revive intraparticle entanglement
Phase damping & Depolarizing: mainly degrade coherence; no revival observed, steady decay in interparticle pairs
Resilience ranking: Intraparticle > Interparticle under all tested noise models

Practical Implications

Global Noise Model enables pre-design screening of qubit architectures for field-level noise conditions
Insights aid quantum computing, cryptography, communication where controlled noise might boost entanglement

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Study goal	Probe quantum-noise impact on entanglement
Most entanglement-enhancing noise	Amplitude damping
Weaker for enhancement	Phase damping, Depolarizing noise
More noise-resilient system	Intraparticle entanglement
Analytical tool	Global Noise Model with closed-form equation
Year of PIB release	2025

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2023PYQ 1

Which one of the statements is NOT relevant to quantum computing?

GS-2Misc

10.UN GoF for Peacekeeper Accountability (UN Peacekeeping)

Business StandardGroup of Friends · UNSC Resolution 2589 · India Co-chair

Illustration for UN GoF for Peacekeeper Accountability (UN Peacekeeping)

What & Where

Platform informal Group of Friends for Accountability of Crimes against Peacekeepers situated at UN Headquarters

Launch December 2022 during India-led Presidency of UN Security Council

Composition about 40 member states across Asia Africa Latin America co-chaired by India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Framework pushes national laws to prosecute assaults on peacekeepers and close jurisdictional gaps
Resolution 2589 tracking mandates host states investigate and report on attacks
GoF advocates Secretary-General annual reports on accountability progress

Security Dimension

Accountability labelled strategic necessity for mission success and troop morale
Deterrence stressed; impunity seen to encourage repeated violence
Focus on high-risk deployments where Global South personnel dominate

India’s Leadership

India co-chairs GoF and convened July 2025 high-level meet
Legacy includes 300,000 deployed peacekeepers and 182 fatalities
New pledge of legal diplomatic and moral backing to accountability agenda

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launch month-year	December 2022
Forum of launch	UN Security Council Presidency of India
Current co-chairs	India + like-minded states from Asia, Africa, Latin America
Membership size	~40 UN member states
Core mandate	Accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers
Monitored UNSC resolution	2589 (2021)
Indian peacekeepers deployed	>3 lakh since 1948
Indian fatalities in missions	182 personnel
July 2025 meet focus	Accountability as strategic necessity

GS-3Security

11.Agni-I and Prithvi-II Ballistic Missiles (Ballistic Missiles)

TNNAgni-I · Prithvi-II · DRDO

Illustration for Agni-I and Prithvi-II Ballistic Missiles (Ballistic Missiles)

What & Where

SRBMs Agni-I (700–900 km) and Prithvi-II (≈350 km) underpin India’s nuclear deterrence doctrine

Dual tests conducted from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, one day after Akash Prime trial in Ladakh

Missiles designed by DRDO under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme; trials overseen by Strategic Forces Command

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technical Specifications

Agni-I larger payload, longer reach, high-accuracy guidance for counter-value and counter-force roles
Prithvi-II quick-reaction, liquid-propellant SRBM; flexible trajectory for evading missile defences
Both missiles road-mobile, enhancing survivability and dispersed deployment

Security Dimension

Tests validate second-strike credibility and reinforce minimum credible deterrence posture
Regular user trials ensure reliability amid evolving regional threat perceptions
Dual successful launches signal operational readiness to adversaries post-conflict scenarios

Institutional Setup

Strategic Forces Command conducts user trials separate from R&D flights by DRDO
IGMDP umbrella earlier produced Prithvi, Agni series, Akash, Trishul, Nag
ITR Chandipur provides coastal over-water corridor enabling full-range ballistic evaluations

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Missile class	Short-range ballistic (SRBM)
Range Agni-I	700–900 km
Range Prithvi-II	~350 km
Payload Agni-I	≤1,000 kg
Payload Prithvi-II	≤500 kg
Warhead options	Conventional or nuclear
Guidance Agni-I	Sophisticated inertial + terminal
Guidance Prithvi-II	Advanced inertial navigation
Launch platform	Road-mobile transporter-erector-launcher
Developer	DRDO
Supervising command	Strategic Forces Command
Programme	IGMDP
Test location	ITR Chandipur, Odisha
Speed Prithvi-II	Above Mach 1
Induction Agni-I	Early 2000s

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2007PYQ 1

Consider the following statements:

GS1 2003PYQ 2

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

GS-3Security

12.Akash Prime High-Altitude Air-Defence Missile (Surface-to-Air Missile)

PIBAkash Prime · DRDO · Mach 2.5

Illustration for Akash Prime High-Altitude Air-Defence Missile (Surface-to-Air Missile)

What & Where

Akash Prime = indigenous, upgraded Akash surface-to-air missile for high-altitude, low-oxygen engagements

Successful flight trial at Ladakh high-altitude range (~15,000 ft)

Protects mountainous borders Ladakh, Sikkim from drones, aircraft, cruise missiles

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technology & Performance

Hybrid guidance unites command updates with active seeker for terminal accuracy
Propulsion sustains supersonic Mach 2.5 flight in rarefied Himalayan air
All-weather electronics validated during Ladakh winter conditions

Security Dimension

High-altitude capability plugs air-defence gaps along Line of Actual Control
Adds layer to Akash, Barak-8, S-400 networked batteries
Boosts deterrence against swarm drones and low-RCS cruise missiles

Industrial Impact

100 % indigenous content strengthens defence self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Orders channel work to MSME supply chains via BDL, BEL integrators
Indigenous system avoids expensive imports, trimming lifecycle costs

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Developer	DRDO + BDL + BEL
Missile type	Medium-range SAM
Max range	30 km
Peak speed	Mach 2.5
Tested altitude	15,000 ft
Guidance	Command + terminal active radar homing
Seeker	Indigenous active radar
Kill probability (single)	88 %
Kill probability (dual)	98.5 %
Mobility	Truck-mounted launcher
All-weather	Operates in extreme cold, low air density
Mission targets	Drones, fighter aircraft, cruise missiles
Self-reliance link	Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2003PYQ 1

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

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 2

The term ‘Terminal High Altitude Area Defense’, sometimes mentioned in news, refers to

GS-2Scheme

13.Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Award Highlights (Urban Sanitation Rankings)

Indian ExpressSwachh Survekshan · Super Swachh League · MoHUA

What & Where

Swachh Survekshan – annual MoHUA survey ranking urban sanitation performance across India since 2016

Processes include citizen feedback, waste-segregation audits, field verification; 2024-25 covered 4,589 ULBs

Core geography: all States/UTs; awards hosted in New Delhi, special category Super Swachh League cities nationwide

Quick Facts for MCQs

Scheme Design

Classification reform; cities ranked within five population bands for equitable comparison
Indicators simplified into 10 sections; new metrics on Project Grounding, City Transport Unit transformation
School-level assessments launched to embed ‘Swachhta’ among youth

Award Highlights

Indore, other serial winners shifted to SSL to allow newer cities recognition
35 cities tagged “Promising Swachh Shehar” for rapid improvement; examples Patna, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar
Special Swachh Mahakumbh 2025 award granted to Prayagraj for festival waste management

Labour Safety

Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar Award honors cities ensuring mechanised, safe sanitation practices; promotes worker dignity

Circular Economy

2025 theme aligns with Jaipur Declaration on 3R & circularity; prioritises segregation, recycling, resource recovery

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Current edition	9th, 2024-25
Survey window	Apr 2024 – Mar 2025
ULBs covered	4,589
Organising ministry	MoHUA
New fairness measure	Super Swachh League (SSL)
Population categories	5 (Very Small <20k … Million Plus >10 lakh)
Cleanest Cantonment	Secunderabad
Cleanest Ganga Town	Prayagraj
Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar winners	Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, Gorakhpur
2025 survey theme	“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)”
Mission umbrella	Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
Launch year SBM	2014
SBM-Urban 2.0 launch	2021
Funding window	Swachh Bharat Kosh (CSR/Philanthropy)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित में से किन शहरों को स्वच्छ सर्वेक्षण पुरस्कार, 2023 के अंतर्गत, सबसे स्वच्छ शहर पुरस्कार प्रदान किए गए?

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 2

Recently the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Which one among the following cities is not one among them?

GS-2Scheme

14.Decade of Skill India Mission (Skill Development)

PIBSkill India Mission · PMKVY 4.0 · PM-NAPS

What & Where

Definition – Skill India Mission: nationwide programme to skill-reskill-upskill youth, launched 15 Jul 2015, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship

Key processes – short-term training, apprenticeship promotion, community‐based skilling, all courses mapped to National Skills Qualification Framework

Geography – pan-India network of Training Centres, RSETIs, Jan Shikshan Sansthans, NSTIs, Digital Hub platform

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Restructured Skill India Mission 2022-26 approved Feb 2025; single umbrella Central Sector Scheme
Standardisation – all certifications NSQF-aligned; credit transfer through National Credit Framework, records in DigiLocker
Compliance – SIDH enables Aadhaar-based verification, real-time outcome tracking, integration with education-startup ecosystems

Performance Metrics

Coverage – overall 6 crore trained; annual average 60 lakh since launch
Apprenticeship – engaged across 36 States/UTs, boosting industry exposure and wage prospects
Community reach – JSS targets non-literates & dropouts; RSETI entrepreneurial training jumped from 2.29 mn (2017) to 5.67 mn (2025)

Sectoral Focus

Emerging areas – AI, robotics, green hydrogen, Industry 4.0 skills embedded in PMKVY 4.0 courses
Infrastructure – Centres of Excellence at NSTIs Hyderabad & Chennai for advanced instructor and green-tech skilling
Traditional trades – PM Vishwakarma supports 18 artisan crafts via toolkits, digital incentives, collateral-free credit, market linkage

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launch date	15 July 2015 (World Youth Skills Day)
2025 UN day theme	Empowering youth through AI & digital skills
Total persons trained	6 crore + (2015-25)
PMKVY trainees till Jul 2025	1.63 crore
Apprentices engaged (PM-NAPS)	43.47 lakh by May 2025
JSS beneficiaries	26 lakh during FY 2018-24
RSETI trainees	5.67 million by Jun 2025
Scheme type (2022-26)	Central Sector; merges PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, JSS
Stipend support under PM-NAPS	25 % via DBT for age 14-35
Digital backbone	Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2018PYQ 1

प्रधान मंत्री कौशल विकास योजना के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

GEO_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Consider the following statements about the SANKALP Scheme:

GS-1Scheme

15.Kerala KITE Ethical AI Education (EdTech Initiative)

The HinduKITE · Samagra Plus · FOSS

What & Where

Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE): state-run tech arm integrating AI in Kerala’s public school system

Scope: 15,000+ Kerala schools, Classes 8–12; emphasis on transparency, inclusion, teacher autonomy

Tools: Samagra Plus RAG-based AI engine and Little KITEs clubs for robotics-AI learning

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

FOSS adoption ensures cost saving, code transparency, vendor neutrality
Samagra Plus aligns AI responses strictly with state curriculum avoiding bias and test-prep pitfalls
Infrastructure fully state-owned safeguarding algorithmic control

Training & Capacity

80k teachers upskilled in bias spotting, privacy, curricular mapping
Modules emphasise critical AI use over mere tool operation
Continuous peer-learning loop via teacher-curated content repositories

Data & Ethics

Data sovereignty upheld through state data centres eliminating third-party profiling
Bias resistance achieved via locally vetted datasets and rule-based response filters
Ethical guidelines prioritise inclusion, accessibility, teacher oversight

International Recognition

UNICEF lists KITE among global best practices for responsible EdTech 2024
Initiative cited at national EdTech forums for equitable AI integration
Model promoted for replication in other Indian states by NCERT

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launch agency	Government of Kerala
Parent department	General Education Department, Kerala
Schools on FOSS stack	15,000+
Teachers AI-trained	80,000+ (Classes 8–12)
Core AI platform	Samagra Plus; in-house RAG engine
Student innovation wing	Little KITEs IT Clubs
Data stance	In-house servers; open datasets; no commercial surveillance
Global recognition	UNICEF tagged KITE as responsible EdTech best practice

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