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6 topicsGS-1: 2GS-3: 4
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GS-3Economy

1.Ladakh Apricot Cultivation and Exports (Horticulture Crop)

News on Air

What & Where

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca): temperate Rosaceae tree yielding yellow-orange drupes with single kernel.

Indian belt: Ladakh (premium), Himachal, J-&-K, Uttarakhand; thrives dry-temperate & mid-hill zones.

New milestone: Fresh Kargil apricots exported to Saudi Arabia under ODOP during India’s 79th I-Day in Riyadh.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Income boost; apricot contributes ~50 % horticulture earnings in several Ladakh villages.
  • Value-addition via drying, kernel oil, sweets widens rural non-farm employment.

Trade & Schemes

  • ODOP flagship promotes district-specific produce; Kargil apricot showcased for Gulf market entry.
  • Gulf demand offers reduced freight time versus Europe, improving fruit shelf life viability.

Agronomic Traits

  • Cold-arid adaptability; fruit matures July-August avoiding monsoon damage.
  • Minimal water need; suitable for Ladakh’s meltwater-based irrigation.

Nutritional Profile

  • Beta-carotene abundance supports vision health; iron-rich dried slices combat anaemia in high-altitude diets.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Botanical familyRosaceae
Common Indian namesKhubani (cultivated), Zardalu (wild)
Lifespan of treesUp to ~100 years
Pollination typeMostly self-pollinated white flowers
Key nutrientsVitamin A, natural sugars, iron, antioxidants
Notable traitHigh drought resistance
Primary Ladakh statusImportant cash crop & ODOP item
Major processed formDried apricots for export
First fresh export destination 2025*Saudi Arabia
Occasion leveraged79th Independence Day celebration, Riyadh
GS-3Economy

2.India Credit Rating Upgrade (Credit Rating)

IT

What & Where

S&P Global Ratings: US-based agency issuing credit-risk opinions on governments, corporates, infrastructure.

India’s sovereign long-term rating raised to investment-grade BBB after an 18-year gap.

Agency headquarters: New York City, influencing global capital flows into India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Agency Profile

  • Established credit assessor; issues public and private ratings across sovereigns, corporates, infrastructure.
  • Enhances transparency and investor confidence by publishing analytical credit reports.

Upgrade Metrics

  • Long-term sovereign rating lifted one notch to BBB, remaining within investment-grade band.
  • Short-term sovereign paper now A-2, signalling stronger near-term repayment capacity.
  • Transfer & convertibility assessment upgraded to A-, easing cross-border payment perception.

Economic Impact

  • Upgrade likely attracts greater foreign portfolio inflows into Indian debt markets.
  • Improved rating can trim sovereign and corporate borrowing spreads.
  • Strengthens India’s comparative standing among emerging-market peers.

Upgrade Rationale

  • Robust GDP growth momentum exceeding many peers.
  • Ongoing fiscal consolidation with better-quality public expenditure.
  • Stable monetary policy anchoring inflation expectations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Credit rating agencyS&P Global Ratings
HeadquartersNew York City, USA
Long-term rating changeBBB- → BBB
Short-term rating changeA-3 → A-2
Transfer & convertibilityBBB+ → A-
Years since last S&P upgrade18 (since Jan 2007)
Key criteria citedGDP growth; fiscal consolidation; stable monetary policy
Expected market effectLower borrowing cost; higher FPI inflows

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS1, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 2

S1. Liberalisation and globalisation freed India's economy from the low GDP trap that had impeded India's progress

GS-1Mapping

3.Kishtwar District Geography (Place in News)

Times of India
Illustration for Kishtwar District Geography (Place in News)

What & Where

Cloudburst: Sudden torrential downpour hit Chosoti village, Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir Himalayas

Kishtwar: Mountainous district HQ ~209 km from Srinagar, nicknamed Land of Saffron, Sapphire & Shrines

Machail Mata Shrine: Goddess Durga temple in Machail, Paddar subdivision, on Chenab tributaries, focus of annual Chhadi Yatra

Quick Facts for MCQs

Disaster Impact

  • Casualties: At least 12 villagers killed, rescue operations ongoing, Machail Mata Yatra suspended
  • Infrastructure: Remote mountainous terrain hampers quick relief and evacuation
  • Seasonality: Cloudburst risk peaks during monsoon over steep Himalayan slopes

Geography & Terrain

  • Topography: Rugged Himalayan region comparable to Himachal and Ladakh with heavy winter snowfall
  • Elevation: Settlements exist up to 9,500 ft enhancing vulnerability to weather extremes
  • Forests: District rich in conifers, adding eco-tourism potential and landslide susceptibility

Religious Tourism

  • Pilgrimage: Chhadi Yatra covers Bhaderwah–Machail route drawing thousands annually
  • Cultural mix: Area inhabited by Hindus, Buddhists, Thakur serpent-worshippers around shrine
  • Economy: Yatra and sapphire–saffron branding drive seasonal local livelihoods

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Main disasterCloudburst in Chosoti, Kishtwar
Reported deathsAt least 12
District locationJammu division, J&K
Distance to Srinagar≈209 km
Distance to Jammu city≈211 km
Highest habitation altitudeUp to 9,500 ft
Adjacent entitiesHimachal Pradesh (SE), Doda district (SW)
District nicknameLand of Saffron, Sapphire & Shrines
First Machail Mata visit1981 by Thakur Kulveer Singh
Annual processionChhadi Yatra, since 1987
Shrine river systemNear tributaries of Chenab
GS-3S&T

4.Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Foods (Personalised Nutrition)

PIB
Illustration for Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Foods (Personalised Nutrition)

What & Where

Definition – Bioactive peptides: 2–20-amino-acid fragments released during fermentation of yogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, fermented fish.

Geography – Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology (IASST), Guwahati; focus on India’s genetically diverse population.

Source spectrum – Fermented dairy, cereal-legume batters, soy products, vegetable ferments, fermented marine products.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Impact

  • Antihypertensive effect via ACE inhibition; antioxidant action mitigates oxidative stress; antimicrobial activity controls gut pathogens.
  • Cardiac, metabolic and immune parameters demonstrably modulated in preclinical assessments.

Personalised Nutrition

  • Response varies with host genetics, gut microbiota composition and habitual regional diets.
  • Enables precision dietary guidelines for Indian cohorts tackling hypertension, diabetes, low immunity.

Research Tools

  • Genomics, proteomics, metabolomics recommended for peptide identification, bioavailability, target mapping.
  • Population-specific peptide libraries underpin design of next-gen functional foods.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Optimal length2–20 amino acids
Key bioactivitiesAntimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory
Primary mechanismElectrostatic, hydrogen-bond, hydrophobic interactions with host biomolecules
Health targetsBlood pressure, blood sugar, immunity, inflammation
Influencing genesACE, IL-6 polymorphisms
Core foods citedYogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, fermented fish
Lead institutionIASST, Guwahati
Suggested analyticsOmics-based peptide & host-response profiling
GS-3Security

5.Mission Sudarshan Chakra Defence Shield (National Security)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Mission Sudarshan Chakra Defence Shield (National Security)

What & Where

Mission Sudarshan Chakra: indigenous, multi-layer shield for India’s strategic, civilian, religious installations against air, land, sea, cyber threats

Announced on 79th Independence Day; nodal Ministry of Defence; nationwide deployment envisioned

Completion roadmap till 2035, covering major cities, defence bases, pilgrimage hubs

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Multi-layer architecture integrates sensors, shooters, command networks for seamless threat kill-chain
  • AI-enabled tracking enables predictive engagement, trims reaction time
  • Embedded cyber shield secures command networks from hacking and spoofing attacks

Security Dimension

  • Provides strategic deterrence against conventional, hybrid, cyber aggressors on multiple fronts
  • Enables proactive defence for nuclear plants, metros, dams, heritage shrines
  • Import reduction enhances sovereign response and strategic autonomy

Indigenisation Drive

  • Aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat, boosting domestic R&D, MSME and startup participation
  • Guided by Defence Acquisition Procedure for faster prototype-to-production cycle
  • Export potential considered for friendly nations post domestic stabilisation

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch occasion79th Independence Day
Nodal ministryMinistry of Defence
Mythological inspirationSudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna
Defence layersSurveillance, interception, counter-attack
Threat domainsAir, land, sea, cyber
Key techRadar, AI tracking, cyber shield, physical security
Coverage scopeStrategic, civilian, religious sites
Completion horizonExpansion & modernisation by 2035
Strategic parallelIsrael’s Iron Dome (concept)
Development model100 % indigenous, research-based

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

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

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

"Mission Shakti" (DRDO) is the name given by India to

GS-1Editorial

6.Smartphone Overuse and Cognitive Decline (Digital Addiction)

LiveMint

What & Where

Concept: “Algorithms of the Mind” – structured cognitive processes (memory, attention, creativity) analogous to computer algorithms

Nature: Mental algorithms shaped by learning and environment; disrupted by heavy smartphone and generative-AI use

Geography: Issue most acute among Indian youth, backed by 90 % rural adolescent smartphone access

Quick Facts for MCQs

Cognitive Impact

  • Smartphone-presence: McCombs 2017 showed reduced attention, working memory, retention even when device is silent
  • Addiction-grades: Zhang & Zeng 2024 linked compulsive use to lower academic scores and higher anxiety
  • Cognitive-offloading: Reliance on GenAI weakens deep reading and independent problem-solving

Behavioural & Health

  • Reward-loops: App design leverages dopamine circuits, driving impulsiveness and compulsive scrolling
  • Emotional-issues: Overuse tied to low self-esteem, shyness, poor emotion regulation (Wacks & Weinstein 2021)
  • Physical-effects: Sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbance, aggression and lethargy reported by many urban parents

Policy & Governance

  • Policy-gap: India lacks a comprehensive youth digital-well-being framework
  • Mission-proposal: Experts urge National Digital Well-being Mission with age-gated, non-addictive app norms
  • Awareness-drive: School, college and workplace campaigns suggested to detect and curb early addiction

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Rural adolescents (14-16) with smartphone access90 % (ASER 2024)
Rural adolescents able to operate device82 % (ASER 2024)
Average daily phone time5 h (EY 2024)
Share of phone use on entertainment/social media69 % (EY 2024)
Under-5 average screen time2.2 h/day (AIIMS 2025)
WHO screen-time cap for under-5≤1 h/day
Urban parents citing addiction (9-17 yrs)50 % (LocalCircles 2024)
Smartphone presence effectAttention & working-memory drop (McCombs 2017)

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