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11 topicsDefense & Security: 1Editorial: 1Environment: 1History: 1Infrastructure: 1Misc: 1Polity: 1Scheme: 3Science & Technology: 1
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Polity

1.National Financial Reporting Authority Role (NFRA Regulator)

Business Standard
Illustration for National Financial Reporting Authority Role (NFRA Regulator)

What & Where

Independent audit-oversight authority under Ministry of Corporate Affairs, India.

Constituted 1 Oct 2018 via Companies Act 2013, Sec 132(1).

HQ New Delhi; supervises listed entities and large/unlisted companies meeting prescribed thresholds.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Mandate regulate, enforce compliance with accounting/auditing standards, recommend governance policies.
  • Can be assigned additional entities by Central Government citing public interest.
  • Ensures alignment with IFRS, ISA for global comparability.

Powers & Enforcement

  • Authority issue directions, debar auditors, levy monetary penalties.
  • Can investigate professional misconduct in specified company classes.
  • Functions complement, surpass self-regulatory bodies like ICAI.

Coverage Criteria

  • Automatically covers all listed companies domestic or overseas.
  • Includes unlisted public firms breaching capital, turnover or borrowing thresholds.
  • Insurance, banking, power, and special-Act companies fall automatically under ambit.

Significance

  • Acts watchdog upholding investor confidence and corporate financial discipline.
  • Strengthens audit quality, transparency after high-profile corporate frauds.
  • Enhances trust in financial disclosures of large unlisted entities.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Latest ChairpersonShri Nitin Gupta, Retd. IRS
Parent ministryCorporate Affairs
Constitution date1 October 2018
Legal basisCompanies Act 2013, Section 132(1)
Statutory natureAutonomous, investigative powers
HeadquartersNew Delhi
Paid-up capital threshold≥ ₹500 crore
Turnover threshold≥ ₹1,000 crore
Loans/debentures/deposits threshold≥ ₹500 crore
Foreign subsidiary coverage≥ 20 % income or net worth contribution
History

2.Ta Muen Thom Temple Complex (Khmer Temple)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Ta Muen Thom Temple Complex (Khmer Temple)

What & Where

Ancient 12th-century Khmer temple-complex on Dangrek range, Thailand–Cambodia border, along historic Angkor–Phimai highway.

Core shrine Prasat Ta Muen Thom faces south, originally Shaivite, later adapted to Buddhism; flanked by hospital & dharma-sala.

Sits at strategic mountain pass, presently claimed by both Bangkok & Phnom Penh, sparking recurring armed clashes.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Architecture

  • South-facing design mirrors Khmer road-temples aligning with pilgrimage route orientation.
  • Hospital shrine cites Jayavarman VII’s empire-wide public-health network.
  • Cloistered courtyard, library annexes, pool evidence standard Angkorian temple layout.

Historical Timeline

  • Udayadityavarman II initiates Shaivite layout; Jayavarman VII repurposes for Mahayana service & healthcare.
  • Khmer Highway use peaks 11th–13th C, linking Angkor heartland to Phimai outpost.

Security Dimension

  • 2024 flare-up: drone sorties, artillery exchanges, Thai airstrikes around temple vicinity.
  • Colonial-era map mismatches drive overlapping sovereignty claims despite ICJ verdict on Preah Vihear.
  • Temple zone periodically closed to tourists, patrolled by both militaries.

Religious Syncretism

  • Hindu origin visible in lingam, yoni channel; later Buddhist reliefs overlay walls.
  • Dharma Sala served itinerant monks and traders, reflecting combined religious-trade corridors.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
EmpireAngkorian Khmer (9th–15th C)
Main construction phase12th C; expanded 13th C
Key rulersUdayadityavarman II; Jayavarman VII
Building materialSandstone main shrine; laterite libraries
Principal deityShiva (lingam with water outlet)
Auxiliary shrinesPrasat Ta Muen (Dharma Sala); Prasat Ta Muen Tot (Hospital)
Notable inscriptionKhmer-Sanskrit text on appointment of medical staff
Mountain rangeDangrek Range
Nearest Thai villageBan Nong Khanna, Tambon Ta Mueang
Border statusUndemarcated; ICJ ruling only on nearby Preah Vihear
Infrastructure

3.Building Climate-Resilient Indian Cities (Urban Climate Risks)

Indian Express

What & Where

Focus: World Bank–MoHUA study on climate-resilient urbanisation in India

Geography: 4,000+ Urban Local Bodies; major metros to tier-2/3 towns

Key processes: flooding, extreme heat, air pollution threatening future urban jobs & infrastructure

Quick Facts for MCQs

Climate Risks

  • Flooding: 10–20 % road inundation cripples >50 % urban transport
  • Heat-island: concrete/asphalt store day heat, raise night temps significantly
  • Air quality: vehicular fumes, construction dust, biomass burning dominate emissions

Fiscal Capacity

  • Devolution: India’s ULB transfers far below South Africa 2.6 %, Brazil 5.1 %
  • Revenue: GST subsumed key levies, shrinking municipal autonomy
  • GIS push: 12th FC urged digitised property mapping to widen tax base

Policy & Schemes

  • Governance: 74th CAA lists urban planning, land-use, water under ULB purview
  • AMRUT 2.0: funds parks, wetlands, water recycling for climate buffering
  • Climate Smart Cities Assessment: benchmarks risk mapping, early-warning systems

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Urban population 2050951 million
Share of new jobs 203070 % in cities
Climate-resilient infra needUSD 2.4 trillion by 2050
Annual flood loss 2030USD 5 billion
Flood loss 2070 (no action)USD 30 billion
Heat deaths 20503 lakh/year
Deaths avoidable via cool roofs1.3 lakh/year
Property tax yield< 0.2 % GDP (OECD 1.1 %)
Polluted cities 202342 of world’s worst 50

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2020PYQ 1

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by environmental think tank Germanwatch, in the year 2018 India’s rank in the list of top most climate affected nations is:

Environment

4.ICJ Advisory on Environmental Rights (ICJ Climate Opinion)

LiveMint
Illustration for ICJ Advisory on Environmental Rights (ICJ Climate Opinion)

What & Where

ICJ Advisory Opinion (2025): clarifies states’ international-law duties to combat climate change.

Heard at International Court of Justice, The Hague; initiated by Vanuatu on behalf of Small Island Developing States.

Addresses global obligation to ensure a clean, healthy, sustainable environment as a human right.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Bindingness: Treaties plus customary law create enforceable mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology-transfer duties.
  • Accountability: Failure equals internationally wrongful act invoking restitution, compensation, guarantees of non-repetition.
  • Evidence: Climate science accepted for causation, enabling litigation against high-emitters.

Human Rights Links

  • Life: ICCPR Article 6 breached by climate-induced threats.
  • Health: ICESCR Article 12 violated by pollution, degradation.
  • Intergenerational equity: Court stresses duty to protect future generations’ environmental rights.

India Angle

  • Constitution: Article 21 & 48A reinforced by ICJ recognition of environmental right.
  • Litigation boost: Supports Supreme Court/NGT actions on air quality, waste, climate adaptation.
  • Negotiation leverage: Strengthens developing-country stance on CBDR and climate finance.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
UNGA request year2023
Opinion delivery year2025
Lead petitionerVanuatu
Supporting states130 +
Core rulingEnvironment right = fundamental human right
Obligations natureErga omnes (owed to all)
Key treaties citedUNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement
Standard imposedDue diligence to prevent transboundary harm
Liability for inactionCessation, non-repetition, compensation
Historical emissions viewLegally attributable to specific states
Science & Technology

5.Dynamic Targeting Satellite AI (Satellite AI)

NASA
Illustration for Dynamic Targeting Satellite AI (Satellite AI)

What & Where

Dynamic Targeting: AI-driven onboard software letting Earth-observation satellites autonomously pick cloud-free, high-value scenes.

Core process: look-ahead imaging, AI cloud classification, auto pivot-shoot within 60-90 s—no ground commands.

Geography: Tested by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Low-Earth-Orbit CubeSat-class platforms.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • AI-Edge: Neural networks run on onboard processors, trimming downlink/command lag.
  • Lightweight: Algorithm suited for small satellites; scalable to multi-sat constellations.
  • Autonomy: Real-time target selection eliminates continuous ground-station intervention.

Environmental Impact

  • Climate-events: Better capture of transient wildfires, storms, volcanic plumes, ice events.
  • Data-efficiency: Reduces storage and bandwidth wasted on cloud-obscured frames.

Security Dimension

  • Disaster-readiness: Potential for autonomous early warning of hurricanes, eruptions, large wildfires.
  • Situational-awareness: Rapid, clear imagery supports emergency agencies without waiting for tasking commands.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DeveloperNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Open Cosmos & Ubotica
Overseer officeNASA Earth Science Technology Office
Look-ahead distanceUp to 500 km ahead of ground track
Decision window< 90 seconds from preview to capture
Viewing shiftForward tilt → nadir pivot (“pivot & shoot”)
Tested platform sizeCubeSat-scale payload
Key sensorsOptical & near-infrared imagers
Main benefitHigher usable imagery by cloud avoidance
Applicable missionsEarth-observation constellations, future planetary probes
Editorial

6.India-UK Vision 2035 and CETA (India-UK CETA)

PIB

What & Where

India–UK Vision 2035 roadmap; launched July 2025 in London; umbrella for multisectoral ties till 2035

Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA); proposed FTA targeting near-zero tariffs, services access, investment facilitation

Geography: bilateral pact between Republic of India and United Kingdom, spanning Indo-Pacific to North Atlantic logistics

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Duty-free textiles, leather, seafood expected to double Indian exports, spur MSME participation
  • UK exports to India forecast +60 % by 2040, aided by simplified services visas
  • Bilateral investment flows buoyed by GCC push and forthcoming BIT

Tech & Innovation

  • Technology Security Initiative prioritises AI, quantum, semiconductors, telecom resilience
  • Net-Zero Innovation Virtual Centre targets green hydrogen, hard-to-abate sector decarbonisation
  • International Science Partnership Fund lists India as core collaborator

Security Dimension

  • Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence planned under IPOI for non-traditional threats
  • UK to use Indian logistics in Indian Ocean, reinforcing Indo-Pacific naval presence
  • AUKUS synergy potential in cyber, under-sea domain awareness

Climate & Sustainability

  • Joint mobilisation of green finance via ISA, CDRI, offshore wind corridors
  • Planned supply-chain collaboration on green goods, critical minerals, nuclear components
  • Green Skills Partnership to align vocational training with climate jobs

Irritants

  • Extradition delays over economic offenders like Vijay Mallya erode legal trust
  • UK Carbon Border Adjustment risk to Indian steel, aluminium exports viewed as protectionist
  • Pro-Khalistan protests and IPP rigidity remain diplomatic flashpoints

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CETA duty-free access for India99 % of UK tariff lines
Indian tariff cut on UK goods90 % lines (92 % import value)
EV tariff elimination year6th year; EVs < £40,000 zero duty
Bilateral trade targetUSD 100 bn+ by 2030
Projected trade by CETAUSD 112 bn goods + services
Overseer bodyJoint Economic & Trade Committee (JETCO)
BIT statusTo be negotiated post-CETA
Defence roadmap span10 years; jet engines to directed energy
Diaspora size in UK1.86 million people of Indian origin
UK research partner rank for India2nd after United States
Social-security exemption3 yrs under Double Contribution Convention
Key joint exercisesKonkan, Cobra Warrior, Ajeya Warrior
Green finance focusOffshore wind, nuclear, critical minerals supply-chain

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

What is the name of the initiative launched by India and Denmark in November 2025 to enhance bilateral ties?

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2024PYQ 2

If India enters into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other nations, then the growth of exports of India would depend upon which of the following?

Misc

7.Henley Passport Index 2025 Update (Passport Ranking)

Indian Express
Illustration for Henley Passport Index 2025 Update (Passport Ranking)

What & Where

Henley Passport Index (HPI) = annual ranking of passports by visa-free/visa-on-arrival/eTA access.

Compiled by Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association (IATA) travel-data plus in-house verification.

Universe: 227 destinations; higher score = greater travel freedom and perceived diplomatic strength.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Global Rankings

  • Europe dominates top 5: Germany, France, Italy join Asian leaders.
  • USA now 10th; UK 6th, marking steady decline since late-2000s peak.
  • Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq remain last, reflecting protracted conflict isolation.

India Profile

  • Visa-free: Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand; Visa-on-Arrival: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Macau.
  • Rise credited to bilateral agreements, digital visa facilitation, wider economic footprint.
  • Still trails BRICS peers: China 60th, Russia 51st, Brazil 18th, South Africa 51st.

Major Movers

  • UAE gain of 34 ranks in 10 years showcases proactive diplomacy, trade corridors.
  • Saudi Arabia adds 4 destinations in 2025 alone, total access 91.
  • Pandemic recovery phase saw Asian passports rebound fastest in mobility scores.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
HPI Year2025 edition
India’s rank 202577th (up from 85th)
Indian passport score59 destinations
India best/lowest rank71st (2006) / 90th (2021)
Global No. 1 passportSingapore – 193 destinations
Joint No. 2 passportsJapan, South Korea – 190
Fastest decade climbUAE: 42nd→8th
China’s 10-yr change94th→60th
Bottom rank stateAfghanistan – 25 destinations
Total destinations counted227 by IATA list

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GEO_GS 2024PYQ 1

Consider the following statements regarding Henley Passport Index 2023:

ESE_GS, GEO_GS 2023PYQ 2

According to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), 2023, India climbed two spots to rank

Defense & Security

8.ULPGM-V3 Drone-Launched Missile (Drone Missile)

Times of India
Illustration for ULPGM-V3 Drone-Launched Missile (Drone Missile)

What & Where

Indigenous UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM) family: air-to-surface, fire-and-forget munitions for drones.

Variants: V1 prototype, V2 production, V3 (ULM-ER) extended-range; V3 just flight-tested.

Latest trials at NOAR Test Range, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technological Features

  • Capability Fire-and-forget design delivers autonomous terminal homing.
  • Datalink Real-time communication permits mid-course updates and higher accuracy.
  • Payload Multiple selectable warheads suit diverse mission profiles.

Indigenisation & Make in India

  • Collaboration DRDO, BDL, Adani, MSMEs, startups drive local design-to-production ecosystem.
  • Validation Successful V3 trials confirm indigenous mastery of drone-borne precision weapons.
  • Supply-chain Domestic sourcing cuts imports and nurtures skilled defence workforce.

Export Potential

  • Policy Defence Export Policy 2020 enables sales to friendly nations.
  • Market Compact precision missile meets rising global demand for low-collateral drone munitions.
  • Revenue Foreign orders expected to fund further R&D and scale production.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Variant testedULPGM-V3 (ULM-ER)
Effective range (day)4 km
Effective range (night)2.5 km
Weight12.5 kg
GuidanceImaging IR seeker + two-way datalink
PropulsionDual-thrust solid motor
Warhead optionsAnti-tank / bunker-buster / soft-target
Primary developersDRDO + Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
Compatible UAVsRustom, TAPAS-BH class

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2025PYQ 1

भारत के सैन्य आयुध (military arsenal) के बारे में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा/कौन-से कथन सही है/हैं?

CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

भारत का ‘मिशन शक्ति’ (DRDO) निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबंधित है?

Scheme

9.National Cooperative Policy 2025 (Cooperative Policy)

The Hindu
Illustration for National Cooperative Policy 2025 (Cooperative Policy)

What & Where

Definition: National Cooperative Policy 2025 to modernise, institutionalise Indian cooperatives for inclusive growth

Scope: Measurable economic, digital and social targets; model villages; diversified cooperative sectors

Geography: Nationwide rollout; unveiled New Delhi; mandates ≥1 cooperative in every village

Quick Facts for MCQs

Targets & Numbers

  • GDP: Share aimed to triple by 2034
  • Membership: 50 crore cooperators envisaged
  • Coverage: One cooperative per village plus 5 model villages per tehsil

Digital & Transparency

  • Computerisation: All PACS slated for tech-enabled governance and real-time dashboards
  • Monitoring: Cluster-based data systems ensure accountability across tiers
  • Statutes: Cooperative laws pledged review and upgrade every 10 years

Inclusivity

  • Focus: Rural women, tribals, Dalits, youth integrated via dedicated cooperative programmes
  • Skilling: Tribhuvan Sahkari University to drive cooperative entrepreneurship and jobs
  • Dairy: White Revolution 2.0 to expand women-led dairy societies

Sectoral Diversification

  • New areas: Taxi, tourism, logistics, insurance, green energy cooperatives promoted
  • Schemes: Sahkar Taxi model to shift profits toward drivers
  • Multi-state bodies: Exports, Seed, Organic Marketing societies formalised for scale

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Policy horizon2025
GDP share goalTriple by 2034
Membership goal50 crore active members
Village coverage≥1 cooperative per village
Model villages5 per tehsil
New PACS45,000 units planned
Coop number rise30 % increase targeted
Legal review cycleEvery 10 years
Employment visionSelf-reliant, job-rich sector by 2047
Multi-state societiesExports, Seed, Organic (3)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2025PYQ 1

नवीनी सहकार योजना के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

CAPF_GAI 2025PYQ 2

Which among the following statements with regard to Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, 2025 is/are correct?

Scheme

10.One Stop Centres Scheme (Women Support)

Hindustan Times

What & Where

One Stop Centres (OSCs) / Sakhi Centres: MWCD scheme offering integrated support to violence-affected women.

Single-window services: emergency rescue, medical, legal, psycho-social counselling, short-stay shelter, video-linkage.

Coverage target: minimum one centre per district across all States/UTs; Delhi sites under judicial scrutiny.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Court-direction: High Court ordered awareness drives, SOP circulation on child pregnancy & marriage.
  • Governance: Delhi to appoint Nodal Officer for OSC monitoring and compliance.
  • Signage mandate: helpline numbers on schools, hospitals, bus stops ordered for visibility.

Operational Gaps

  • Staffing shortage: many centres rely on ad-hoc hospital staff, counsellors called only on need basis.
  • Record lapse: child death reviews and ANC registers often missing, weakening monitoring.
  • SoP non-compliance: audit flagged repeated breach of prescribed manpower norms.

Financial & Audit

  • Fund flow: PFMS ensures direct transfer to Single Nodal Agency for each State/UT.
  • Audit tier: CAG statutory audit supplemented by civil society social audits for transparency.
  • 100 % Central fund: States bear no cost, still lag in timely utilisation and staff hiring.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch MinistryWomen & Child Development (MWCD)
Funding pattern100 % Central via Nirbhaya Fund
Mission Shakti verticalSambal
Implementing agencyState/UT governments
Core beneficiariesAll women & girls, incl. <18 yrs
Linked lawsJJ Act 2015; POCSO 2012
Mandatory district presenceYes, at least one OSC per district
Delhi SoP staffing norm5 counsellors + 5 SR doctors + 5 staff nurses + 5 orderlies
Audit mechanismCAG guidelines + social audit
PFMS routeSingle Nodal Agency / SNA-SPARSH

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2023PYQ 1

Which one of the following is not an objective of One Stop Centre scheme?

GEO_GS, GS1 2010PYQ 2

Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for Women’s development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements:

SchemeQuick Bite

11.DHRUVA Digital Address Policy (Digital Address)

PIB

What & Where

DHRUVA: geo-coded Digital Public Infrastructure by Department of Posts assigning every Indian address a unique virtual identity.

Two-step process: 10-character DIGIPIN (exact lat-long in 4 × 4 m grid) + user-defined Digital Address Layer.

Nation-wide coverage; built entirely with indigenous tech for secure, consent-based address sharing.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Scheme Design

  • Digital Public Infrastructure leveraging geospatial data, APIs, mobile apps.
  • Consent-driven sharing enables authentication without revealing full address.
  • Custom labels let users map house numbers, landmarks to DIGIPIN.

Economic Angle

  • Lower last-mile delivery cost for e-commerce, courier, postal sectors.
  • Precise geocoding trims fuel use, route distances, failed deliveries.
  • Potential boosts for startup logistics and hyperlocal services.

Governance & Service Delivery

  • Accurate addresses aid telecom tower rollout, fibre, utility mapping.
  • Urban planning, emergency response, census enumeration become faster and data-rich.
  • Supports targeted welfare delivery by linking schemes to verified locations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Implementing bodyDepartment of Posts
Launch year2025
Tech modelAddress-as-a-Service (AaaS)
Code name & lengthDIGIPIN, 10-digit alphanumeric
Grid resolution4 m × 4 m
Layers in system2 (DIGIPIN + Digital Address Layer)
Core objectiveCut logistics cost, aid governance
Data sharing modeSecure, consent based
Development originFully indigenous
Coverage scopeAll Indian households/locations

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