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16 topicsGS-1: 3GS-2: 4GS-3: 9
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GS-2Polity

1.Manipur President's Rule Extension 2025 (Article 356)

Times of India

What & Where

President’s Rule: direct Central administration in a state under Article 356 when constitutional machinery collapses.

Current case: Manipur; initial proclamation Feb 2025, Parliament okayed 6-month extension.

Geography: applies within Manipur’s territorial jurisdiction; Governor acts on President’s behalf.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Provision derives from Part XVIII, emergency powers of Constitution.
  • Bommai verdict mandates bona-fide, justiciable satisfaction; curbs political misuse.
  • Each extension needs fresh parliamentary approval every six months.

Extension Mechanics

  • Condition: continued breakdown of constitutional machinery certified by Governor/President.
  • Beyond one year, National Emergency or EC’s no-election certificate compulsory.
  • Revocation automatic on swearing-in of majority government.

Governance Impact

  • Executive authority vests in Governor; state ministers cease to hold office.
  • State budget, ordinances and policing handled by Union Home Ministry.
  • Political vacuum often aimed at restoring order during unrest or majority collapse.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Constitutional triggerArticle 356, aided by Article 365
Approval by ParliamentSimple majority in both Houses within 2 months
Single spell length6 months
Maximum duration3 years (six-month blocks)
Extra condition beyond 1 yearNational Emergency or EC certifies polls impossible
Present extension length6 months (Aug 2025–Feb 2026)
Revocation powerPresident anytime via fresh proclamation
Assembly statusSuspended animation or dissolution permissible
Judicial safeguardS.R. Bommai judgment, 1994
Administrative agentState Governor on President’s behalf

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2018PYQ 1

If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 2

In which one of the following States has the President’s Rule been imposed most number of times ?

GS-3Economy

2.NITI Aayog EV Market Report 2035 (Electric Vehicle Market)

PIB
Illustration for NITI Aayog EV Market Report 2035 (Electric Vehicle Market)

What & Where

Report; $200 B Opportunity: NITI Aayog–RMI study on accelerated EV adoption pathway in India

Scope; 2024-2035 roadmap detailing sales, batteries, charging, financing, jobs, emissions

Geography; pan-India focus, referencing 29 States/UTs with notified EV policies

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Market; $200 billion cumulative value by 2035 through vehicles, batteries, mobility services
  • Savings; 474 MTOE crude avoided translating to ₹3.7 lakh crore forex saved
  • Jobs; over 10 million employment opportunities across manufacturing, servicing, recycling, charging

Environmental Impact

  • Carbon; 839 Mt CO₂e abatement achievable with rapid EV transition by 2035
  • Batteries; localisation of 250 GWh annual cell demand curbs upstream emissions and supply risks
  • Urban air; large-scale EV uptake improves PM and NOx levels complementing National Clean Air Programme

Tech & Infrastructure

  • Chargers; gap of 2.875 million public units between 2024 inventory and 2035 requirement
  • Ecosystem; domestic value chain for cells, motors, power electronics, recycling identified as critical unlock
  • Financing; affordable green loans and credit insurance proposed to widen access for fleets and MSMEs

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Year range analysed2024 – 2035
EV sales share 20247.7 % of total vehicle sales
EV stock on Indian roads6.5 million units
EVs registered in 20241.2 million units
Public chargers Oct 202425,000 units
Public chargers needed 20352.9 million units
Annual battery demand 2035250 + GWh
Oil import saving potential₹3.7 lakh crore
CO₂ avoided by 2035839 Mt CO₂e (≈1 Gt)
Direct & indirect jobs10 million +

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2022PYQ 1

The e-AMRIT web portal on electric vehicles, launched at COP26 Summit in Glasgow recently, has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Government of

GS-3Economy

3.Skill Impact Bond Outcome Funding Model (Skill Development)

Times of India
Illustration for Skill Impact Bond Outcome Funding Model (Skill Development)

What & Where

Definition: Skill Impact Bond — India’s 1st Development Impact Bond for skilling & placement, launched 2021.

Process: Private investors fund training; repayment only on verified placement & 3-month retention outcomes.

Geography: Top enrolment states — Jharkhand 27%, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Gender Dynamics

  • Women-enrolment 72%, apparel dominates, retail/ITeS/BFSI gaining.
  • Pay-gap persists; women earn ₹11.5–13k vs men ₹12.4–15.7k.
  • Self-employment women doubled to 14% after training.

Outcomes & Metrics

  • Placement-rate 75%; retention 60% ≥3 months, above national averages.
  • Female employment share increased 35% to 48% during programme.
  • Certification female 92%; funding linked to such verified outcomes.

Skill Landscape Challenges

  • Formal-skilling only 4.4%; employable youth 51.25% (ISR 2024).
  • Industry talent gap 60–73% in AI, data, DevOps roles.
  • Underemployment; 50% graduates low-skill jobs; rural formal training just 10%.

Policy Tools

  • Flagship schemes: Skill India, PMKVY, PM-NAPS, SANKALP, STRIVE, DDU-GKY.
  • Proposed rural skilling mission for agri-tech, crafts, mobile centres, digital literacy.
  • Monitoring via AI dashboards, geo-tagging, outcome-based repayments.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch year2021
Financing modelOutcome-based Development Impact Bond
Up-front capitalPrivate investors
Target trainees50,000 youth
Women target share60%
Retention target30,150 in jobs ≥3 months
Enrolment share Jharkhand27%
Women among trainees72%
Overall placement rate75%
Retention achieved60% ≥3 months
Female certification92%
Gender pay rangeMen ₹12.4–15.7k ; Women ₹11.5–13k

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2026PYQ 1

Consider the following statements about the SANKALP Scheme:

GS-1Environment

4.Cloudburst Phenomenon and Disaster Risks (Cloudburst Events)

IT
Illustration for Cloudburst Phenomenon and Disaster Risks (Cloudburst Events)

What & Where

Cloudburst = >100 mm rain/hour across 20–30 sq km (IMD); ultra-localised extreme downpour.

Forms over Himalayan valleys via orographic lift plus strong convection inside cumulonimbus towers.

Highest vulnerability at 1,000–2,000 m altitude belts of Uttarakhand, Himachal, J-K.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Mechanism & Climate

  • Rapid-condensation; updraft collapse dumps suspended moisture violently over micro-catchments.
  • Warming atmosphere holds more vapour; monsoon storms become shorter yet wetter.
  • Black-carbon aerosols act as CCN, thickening clouds under orographic lift.

Disaster Impacts

  • Flash floods sweep homes, roads, bridges within minutes.
  • Saturated slopes trigger landslides, mudflows burying settlements.
  • Electricity, telecom, transport severed; isolation hampers relief.

Forecasting Limits

  • Event footprint 10–30 sq km; standard Doppler grids miss microcells.
  • Onset window minutes; alerts often reach after deluge.
  • Sparse Himalayan radars, AWS and high costs impede coverage.

Policy & Mitigation

  • No dedicated NDMA cloudburst protocol; fragmented response.
  • Need village-level risk zoning, no-construction buffers on steep catchments.
  • Expand radars, AI hydromet models; adopt eco-engineering for slope stabilisation.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
IMD cloudburst threshold>100 mm h⁻¹ over 20–30 sq km
2023 IIT-NIH update100–250 mm h⁻¹ within 1 sq km
Typical duration< 1 hour
Vulnerable altitude band1,000–2,000 m
Extra moisture per +1 °C≈ 7 % rise
Dominant cloud typeCumulonimbus
Deadliest Indian event1908 Musi flood; ~15,000 deaths
Prime hazardsFlash floods & landslides

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

The deluge affected the population.

GS1, NDA_GAT 1999PYQ 2

Which one of the areas marked as A, B, C and D in the given figure of the cyclone, witnesses heavy torrential short-duration rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms?

GS-1MappingQuick Bite

5.Uttarkashi District Profile (Himalayan District)

IT

What & Where

Northern Himalayan district of Uttarakhand; carved out 24 Feb 1960; within Garhwal division

Lies in NW Uttarakhand, touching Himachal Pradesh, Tibet (China) & districts Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun

Upper catchments of Bhagirathi & Yamuna earn tag “Water Tower of India”

Quick Facts for MCQs

Physical Geography

  • Terrain: high Himalayan valleys including Nelang; frequent cloudburst-prone slopes
  • Borders: Himachal Pradesh W, Tibet N, Chamoli & Rudraprayag E, Tehri Garhwal & Dehradun S

Hydrological Network

  • Drainage: glacier-fed Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Tons, Jadh Ganga; hill-stream Asi Ganga
  • Confluences: Bhagirathi + Alaknanda → Ganga at Devprayag; Yamuna joins Ganga at Allahabad

Cultural & Historical

  • Char Dham: Gangotri & Yamunotri temples drive annual pilgrimage influx
  • Sacred mimicry: Manikarnika Ghat & Vishwanath Temple mirror Varanasi, underpinning “Kashi of the North”
  • Epics: Mahabharata cites sages Jada Bharatha; ancient tribes Kirata, Khasa, Kuninda inhabited region

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Formation date24 February 1960
State divisionGarhwal
International borderTibet (China)
NicknameKashi of the North
Rivers flanking townVaruna (Syalam Gad) & Asi (Kaligad)
Glacier-fed riversBhagirathi, Yamuna, Tons, Jadh Ganga
Hill-stream riverAsi Ganga (origin Dodi Tal)
Pilgrimage sourcesGangotri (Bhagirathi) & Yamunotri (Yamuna)
GS-3Environment

6.Wind Energy Expansion Biodiversity Concerns (Wind Energy Impact)

The Hindu
Illustration for Wind Energy Expansion Biodiversity Concerns (Wind Energy Impact)

What & Where

Wind power: kinetic energy of onshore/offshore winds converted to electricity via turbines and generators

Hotspots: Thar Desert (Rajasthan–Gujarat) onshore; Gulf of Khambhat & Tamil Nadu coast earmarked for first offshore projects

Sensitivity: Central Asian Flyway intersects Thar; rich marine fauna in proposed offshore zones

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

  • Raptors & GIBs highly vulnerable due to soaring flight, slow reproduction
  • Power-line collisions compound turbine strikes; earlier studies under-reported
  • Offshore piling noise disrupts cetacean echolocation; fuel spills additional risk

Policy & Regulation

  • Onshore wind exempt from mandatory EIA under current norms
  • Offshore projects need EIA yet reports often rapid, limited ecological depth
  • SC-appointed panel urges priority & potential conservation zones demarcation

Mitigation & Tech

  • AVISTEP mapping identifies low to very-high avian sensitivity zones
  • Blade-painting plus seasonal shutdowns reduce collisions significantly
  • Integration with solar + BESS proposed for round-the-clock green power

Capacity Trends

  • Capacity doubled from ~21 GW (2014) to 51.3 GW (2025)
  • Government targets deep-water installations despite lack of domestic technology
  • Spatial planning recommended to prevent fragmented grid corridors in GIB habitat

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Installed wind capacity (Jun 2025)51.3 GW
Global rank in wind power4th (IRENA 2025)
Share in India’s RE generation21.78 %
Assessed potential @150 m hub1,164 GW
Annual bird mortality, Thar4,464/1,000 sq km
Study agency for Thar dataWildlife Institute of India
Key threatened birdGreat Indian Bustard
Offshore EIA exampleGulf of Khambhat rapid EIA
Avian planning toolAVISTEP (BirdLife Int.)
Mitigation trickPainting one rotor blade

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2022PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GEO_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 2

Dholera and Sanand in Gujarat are in news for setting up

GS-3Environment

7.NBWL Clears Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (NBWL Approval)

The Hindu

What & Where

Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project: 2,000 MW underground pumped-storage linking Talakalale (upper) & Gerusoppa (lower) dams.

Site lies inside 431 km² Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, Shivamogga, Karnataka, Western Ghats.

In-principle NBWL clearance secured; Forest Conservation Act nod needed before final approval.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • NBWL advises, Standing Committee clears projects within PAs/10 km eco-zones.
  • Project must re-enter NBWL after Forest Act appraisal.
  • Defence Secretary, Army Chief, Expenditure Secretary sit on full NBWL.

Biodiversity Significance

  • Sanctuary shelters lion-tailed macaque, tiger, panther, bison, spotted deer.
  • Species loses >99 % original habitat; fragmentation curbs gene flow.
  • Macaque shows canopy-level behavioural shifts under human pressure studies.

Tech & Schemes

  • Pumped storage shifts water between reservoirs for peak-time generation, renewable grid balancing.
  • Underground layout reduces visual footprint but still inside eco-sensitive Western Ghats.
  • Supports India’s 500 GW non-fossil electricity objective by 2030.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Sanctuary area431.23 km²
Main riverSharavathi
Project capacity2,000 MW
Storage conceptPumped storage, underground turbines
Upper reservoirTalakalale Dam
Lower reservoirGerusoppa Dam
Clearing authorityNational Board for Wildlife
NBWL chairPrime Minister of India
NBWL vice-chairMoEF&CC Minister
Year NBWL formed2003
Key legal basisSec 5A, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
Further clearance lawForest Conservation Act 1980
Standing Committee size≤10 members
Lion-tailed macaque statusEndangered (IUCN); Schedule I WPA; CITES App I
Estimated macaque population~4,200 individuals
GS-3Species

8.Nilgiri Tahr Population Increase Survey 2025 (Endangered Mammal)

DH
Illustration for Nilgiri Tahr Population Increase Survey 2025 (Endangered Mammal)

What & Where

Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) endangered caprid and official State Animal of Tamil Nadu

Endemic to 400 km stretch of Southern Western Ghats (TN & Kerala) on 1,200–2,600 m grassland–shola slopes

Population monitored via synchronized bi-annual TN–Kerala survey; 2025 count 1,303, up 21 % from 2024

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Schedule I status ensures highest WPA penalties and priority funding
  • State-animal designation boosts conservation visibility in Tamil Nadu
  • Recovery Project 2022 targets habitat restoration and corridor linkage

Tech & Schemes

  • Drones map cliff terrain and spot herds accurately
  • GPS radio-collars supply movement and survival data
  • Community watchers supplement 786 staff during synchronized counts

Ecology & Biology

  • Male silver saddle patch signals dominance; stocky build aids cliff agility
  • Breeding peak Jan–Feb; gestation ≈180 days; sexual maturity ~3 years
  • Diurnal grazer active dawn and dusk; wild lifespan ~3–3.5 years (max 9)

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
IUCN Red ListEndangered
Wildlife Protection ActSchedule I
2025 population1,303 animals
Rise over 2024+21 % (from 1,031)
Largest sub-population334 – Akkamalai Grass Hills, Anamalai TR
Second largest282 – Mukurthi NP (~50 % TN share)
Survey manpower786 frontline staff
Foot survey span3,126 km across 177 blocks
Survey frequencySynchronized, bi-annual
Recovery Project start2022
Elevation range1,200–2,600 m

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1999PYQ 1

"India has the largest population of the Asian X. Today, there are just about 20,000 to 25,000 X in their natural habitat spreading across the evergreen forests, dry thorn forests, swamps and grasslands. Their prime habitats are, however, the moist deciduous forests. The X population in India ranges from Northwest India where they are found in the forest divisions of Dehradun, Bijnor and Nainital districts of UP to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala and in Tamil Nadu. In Cen

GS-3Species

9.Sunflower Sea Star Wasting Disease Cause (Marine Invertebrate)

Economic Times
Illustration for Sunflower Sea Star Wasting Disease Cause (Marine Invertebrate)

What & Where

Sea star wasting disease : rapid, tissue-melting syndrome devastating sunflower sea stars since 2013

Agent pinpointed : marine bacterium Vibrio pectenicida strain FHCF-3, now confirmed pathogen

Affected zone : temperate Pacific coast Alaska → Baja California, kelp reefs and rocky seabeds

Quick Facts for MCQs

Species Biology

  • Mobility via thousands tube feet enabling fast predation on urchins, clams, other invertebrates
  • Coloration orange purple red brown aiding camouflage within kelp and reef habitats
  • Respiration through water vascular system plus coelomic fluid circulation

Epidemiology & Pathogen

  • Vibrio pectenicida abundant in coelomic fluid of sick stars, absent in healthy controls
  • Infection sequence lesions → arm twisting → autolysis, death within days
  • Bacterium previously known shellfish pathogen, now cross-host emergence

Ecological Impact

  • Urchin boom after predator loss caused 95 % kelp cover crash in Northern California
  • Kelp decline reduced fisheries yield, coastal carbon sequestration, diving tourism
  • Cultural food sources of First Nations negatively affected

Climate Link

  • Warmer marine heatwaves correlate with faster bacterial growth and higher SSWD outbreaks
  • Rising sea temperatures may hinder future recovery of sunflower sea star populations

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Scientific namePycnopodia helianthoides
IUCN listingCritically Endangered (2020)
Arms count16–24
Maximum diameter≈ 1 m
Locomotion speed≈ 1 m per minute
Recorded mortality> 5.8 billion individuals
Pathogen typeGram-negative Vibrio bacterium
Early symptomSmall external lesions
Preferred waterWarmer, low-oxygen coastal zones
Keystone roleControls purple sea urchin numbers
GS-3S&T

10.BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Features (Cruise Missile)

The Print
Illustration for BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Features (Cruise Missile)

What & Where

BrahMos: Indo-Russian two-stage supersonic cruise missile, world’s fastest operational at Mach 2.8-3.0

Launchable from land, sea, sub-sea, air; name merges Brahmaputra & Moskva rivers

Operated by all three Indian services; fresh bulk buys after Operation Sindoor strikes

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technical Specs

  • Speed Mach 2.8–3.0, supersonic entire flight, trims enemy reaction window
  • Range baseline 290 km; ER and 1,500 km versions under trial
  • Warhead 200–300 kg conventional, high-energy terminal impact

Operational Status

  • Navy mounts on Rajput & Visakhapatnam destroyers, Veer corvettes with vertical canisters
  • Army fields multiple mobile-launcher regiments for precision surface strikes
  • Air Force fits air-launched variant on Su-30 MKI, extending sea-land reach

Security Dimension

  • Operation Sindoor used BrahMos to hit Pakistani terror infrastructure with pinpoint accuracy
  • Navy & IAF planning large-scale procurement, bolstering regional deterrence posture
  • Indigenous production supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by curbing critical defence imports

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DevelopersDRDO (India) + NPOM (Russia)
Missile typeTwo-stage, solid-fuel booster + liquid-ramjet
Baseline range≈ 290 km
SpeedMach 2.8–3.0
Warhead weight200–300 kg conventional
Launch platformsLand, Air, Sea, Sub-sea
GuidanceFire-and-Forget, inertial + GPS
Kinetic edge9× energy of subsonic peers
Name originRivers Brahmaputra & Moskva

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

With reference to BrahMos missile, consider the following statements:

CDS_GK 2025PYQ 2

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

GS-3S&T

11.AI-Enabled Anganwadi Pilot in Maharashtra (AI Governance)

Indian Express

What & Where

India’s first AI-powered Anganwadi pilot integrates nutrition tracking and immersive learning.

Key processes: real-time dietary analytics, predictive malnutrition alerts, VR-based pedagogy.

Location: Waddhamna village, Nagpur district, Maharashtra.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • BharatGen delivers language, speech, vision solutions for customised governance.
  • IndiaAI Dataset Platform offers anonymised data for poverty, health, education analytics.
  • BHASHINI portal enables multilingual interfaces enhancing service accessibility.

Agriculture Impact

  • Project Farm Vibes (Microsoft + ADT Baramati) boosts crop yields by 40 %.
  • AI optimises irrigation and inputs, trimming water and fertiliser usage.
  • AI-in-agri market forecast USD 1.7 bn (2023) to USD 4.7 bn (2028).

Climate & Disaster

  • Mission Mausam leverages IMD satellite data for advanced flood forecasting.
  • DeepMind GenCast crowdsources local weather feeds for sharper real-time models.
  • Mausam App pushes citizen-friendly alerts and warnings nationwide.

Law & Security

  • Delhi Police FRS enables predictive policing and missing-person tracking.
  • SUPACE portal aids judges with speedy, AI-driven legal research.
  • RBI’s MuleHunter.ai detects mule bank accounts to curb digital fraud.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch year2025
Pilot locationWaddhamna, Nagpur (MH)
Core platformPoshan Tracker
Linked schemeIntegrated Child Development Scheme
Learning aidsVR, smart boards, interactive stories
Nutrition toolPhoto-based AI dietary analysis
National AI modelBharatGen multimodal
Language stackDigital India BHASHINI, Sarvam-1

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2025PYQ 1

Which one of the following platforms marks a transformative step in India's immunization efforts by digitizing vaccination records for pregnant women and children up to 16 years?

CDS_GK 2023PYQ 2

Which of the following strategies is/are adopted for implementing the POSHAN Abhiyaan?

GS-2Misc

12.India-Philippines Strategic Partnership Agreement 2025 (Strategic Partnership)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for India-Philippines Strategic Partnership Agreement 2025 (Strategic Partnership)

What & Where

Strategic Partnership: bilateral upgrade signed Aug 2025 during President Marcos Jr’s state visit to India

Scope: defence, maritime security, space tech, digital infra, PTA-led trade, people-to-people moves

Geography: Indo-Pacific arc covering Indian Ocean, South China Sea, ASEAN maritime corridor

Quick Facts for MCQs

Defence & Maritime

  • ToR finalised for tri-services, Coast Guard; enables structured drills, intel sharing
  • Indian warship and hydrography vessel joined first bilateral naval exercise off Manila
  • Philippines invited to IFC–IOR maritime fusion hub

Trade & Connectivity

  • PTA talks target tariff cuts, basket diversification
  • Direct flights plus one-year free e-visa to lift tourism, students
  • FDI imbalance; India USD 5 bn, Philippines negligible

Digital & Space

  • India piloting Philippine Sovereign Data Cloud via DPI stack
  • ISRO-PhilSA tie-up for launches, weather and farm monitoring
  • Fintech MoU envisages UPI-style payments

Legal Framework

  • MLAT signed 2025 expedites criminal evidence exchange
  • Sentenced Persons treaty enables prisoner repatriation
  • JDCC and STS dialogues institutionalise defence planning

Challenges

  • Multiple MoUs pending operationalisation, slowing momentum
  • Beijing pressure complicates Manila’s maritime balancing
  • Connectivity gaps limit academic, medical tourism

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Strategic Partnership inkedAug 2025, New Delhi
Diplomatic ties established1949
First BrahMos export2024 to Philippines
Bilateral trade 2023-24USD 3.5 billion
Indian FDI stock~USD 5 billion
PTA negotiationsLaunched 2025
Direct flightsBy end-2025
Free e-tourist visaAug 2025 – Aug 2026

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, ESE_GS 2025PYQ 1

India and Poland have agreed to implement the 'India-Poland Strategic Partnership' in terms of a Five-Year Action Plan. Identify the current Five-Year Action Plan.

CAPF_GAI, ESE_GS 2026PYQ 2

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

GS-3SecurityQuick Bite

13.Agnishodh Research Cell and SAMBHAV Network (Army Tech Initiatives)

PIB

What & Where

Agnishodh: Indian Army Research Cell inaugurated 06 Aug 2025 at IIT Madras, Chennai, by COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

Mission: convert lab-scale innovations to field-ready defence tech across AI, quantum, cyber, wireless & unmanned domains.

Complements 5G-based Project SAMBHAV for secure mobile communication; both fit Army’s Five Pillars of Transformation.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Priority tech basket: AI, quantum, cyber, wireless, unmanned; aligned with INDIAai & Chip-to-Startup missions.
  • SAMBHAV delivers instant, encrypted voice/data in remote/high-risk zones via 5G backbone.
  • IIT-Madras partnership offers rapid prototyping and dual-use innovation pathways.

Human Resource

  • Structured upskilling to create tech-savvy soldiers, engineers, data-scientists.
  • Five-Pillar agenda includes HR development plus tri-service cohesion.
  • Uniformed researchers gain academic mentorship, labs, startup ecosystem access.

Security Dimension

  • Encrypted on-the-move comms improve command resilience against electronic & psychological warfare.
  • Indigenous R&D reduces import dependency for C4ISR capabilities.
  • Focus on modern, information-centric warfare to maintain strategic edge.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Inauguration date06 Aug 2025
Campus hostIIT Madras, Tamil Nadu
Inaugurated byGen Upendra Dwivedi, COAS
Agnishodh roleBridge academia–Army R&D
Core tech areasAI, Quantum, Cybersecurity, Wireless, Unmanned
Linked Army agenda2024 Year of Technology Absorption
Project SAMBHAV full formSecure Army Mobile Bharat Vision
SAMBHAV tech base5G, network-agnostic, end-to-end encryption

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2024PYQ 1

Which one of the following is an ‘end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem’ developed recently by the Indian Army?

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2024PYQ 2

Which one of the following is associated with 'SPRINT Challenges' aimed at giving a boost to the usage of 75 new indigenous technologies/products in collaboration with Innovations for Defence Excellence, NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell?

GS-2SchemeQuick Bite

14.Haat on Wheels Mobile Handloom Market (Handloom Promotion)

PIB
Illustration for Haat on Wheels Mobile Handloom Market (Handloom Promotion)

What & Where

Mobile retail platform “Haat on Wheels” delivers authentic handloom goods to urban buyers via travelling vans.

Launched 5 Aug 2025 on 11th National Handloom Day, New Delhi; vans operate across Delhi-NCR.

Connects 116 regional weave clusters directly with consumers, bypassing intermediaries.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Mobility: Customized vans stocked with vetted handloom inventory, realtime location scheduling across city clusters.
  • Integration: Uses NHDC supply chain and QR-coded labels for authenticity verification.
  • Promotion: Central campaign under Handloom Mark initiative, amplifying “vocal for local”.

Economic Angle

  • Income: Direct sales expected to raise weavers’ margins by eliminating 3–4 layers of middlemen.
  • Employment: Expands urban market reach, stabilising demand for 116 weave clusters nationwide.
  • Sustainability: Encourages slow-fashion purchases, potentially reducing fast-fashion imports.

Social Concerns

  • Heritage: On-wheel exhibits educate city buyers on regional loom traditions.
  • Gender: Benefits women-majority weaving workforce through higher earnings.
  • Awareness: Continuous city presence keeps handloom conversations alive beyond annual fairs.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch occasion11th National Handloom Day, 5 Aug 2025
Nodal ministryMinistry of Textiles
Implementing agencyNational Handloom Development Corporation
Platform typeMobile van marketplace
Coverage areaDelhi NCR markets, residential & cultural zones
Weaves showcased116 regional varieties
Campaign tagline“My Handloom, My Pride; My Product, My Pride”
Sales modelDirect-to-consumer, no middlemen
Core objectiveMarket access & sustainable fashion

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2021PYQ 1

With a view to encourage and promote Indian artisans and their handicraft, Hunar Haat offers an effective platform. Where was the 22nd Hunar Haat held ?

GS-2SchemeQuick Bite

15.Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Cultural Mapping (Cultural Mapping)

PIB

What & Where

Initiative: Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD), launched 2023 to digitally map village-level cultural identity.

Coverage: All ~6.5 lakh Indian villages; data hosted on MGMD portal.

Custodians: Ministry of Culture + Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Mandate derives from 2015-approved NMCM cultural mapping framework.
  • 100 % Union funding ensures uniform nationwide execution.

Tech & Schemes

  • Digital mapping uploads textual, visual, spatial data for each listed village.
  • Single-window portal enables remote researchers and on-field tourists alike.

Socio-Economic Impact

  • Visibility of local heritage expected to spur handicraft sales and rural tourism.
  • Artist registries streamline welfare and insurance coverage for tradition bearers.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch year2023
Parent missionNational Mission on Cultural Mapping
Scheme typeCentral Sector
Implementing bodiesMoC + IGNCA
Target villages≈ 6.5 lakh
Data uploaded (Aug 2025)≈ 4.7 lakh
Village themes7
Sample themesArts & Crafts; Ecological; Scholastic/Epic
Portal roleNational Cultural Workplace
NMCM deliverablesArtist directory; digital art-form inventory

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 1

Which Ministry has initiated the “Dhara”, a special initiative dedicated to Indian Knowledge System (IKS)?

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