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

1.Union Territory Assembly Nominations (Legislative Nomination)

The Hindu

What & Where

Nomination to UT Assemblies = statutory route to place unelected representatives in legislature.

Currently operative in Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry; no such window in Delhi.

Goals include voice for women, migrants, PoK displaced; rooted in 2019 J&K Act & 1963 UT Act.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Section 14 fixes J&K House at 90 elected, 5 nominated members.
  • Section 3 gives Puducherry 30 elected, 3 nominated seats.
  • GNCTD Act lists only 70 elected MLAs, omits nomination power.

Judicial Interpretation

  • 2018 K Lakshminarayanan: SC upheld Centre’s unilateral Puducherry nominations.
  • 2023 NCT Delhi ruling: LG normally bound by Council advice, except on reserved matters.
  • Precedents affirm Union primacy over UT nomination processes.

Federal Balance

  • Nominated bloc can swing majority in compact UT legislatures.
  • UT Assemblies derive existence from Parliament, lacking State-level constitutional autonomy.
  • State Governors act on Cabinet aid; UT LG/Centre often act independently in nominations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
J&K Act sectionSec 14, J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 (amnd 2023)
J&K nominated seats5 (2 women + 2 Kashmiri migrants + 1 PoK displaced)
Puducherry Act sectionSec 3, Govt of UTs Act 1963
Puducherry nominated seatsUp to 3
Delhi nomination clauseNil; GNCTD Act 1991
Nominating authority J&KLieutenant Governor; no Council of Ministers advice
Nominating authority PuducherryCentral Government; no UT Cabinet advice

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2021PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements about the composition of the Parliament is not correct?

CDS_GK, GS1 2003PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements is correct?

GS-2Polity

2.Indian Ports Bill 2025 Overview (Port Legislation)

FPJ

What & Where

Legislation: Indian Ports Bill, 2025 replacing Indian Ports Act, 1908.

Coverage: All Indian major and non-major ports across 7,500-km coastline.

Aim: Modern, transparent, investor-oriented governance of port planning, tariff, safety, environment.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Framework; embraces cooperative federalism through Centre–State partnership mechanisms.
  • Enables PPP, FDI, easier clearances via Maritime Single Window.
  • Seeks alignment with global maritime conventions.

Institutional Setup

  • MSDC handles national port strategy, inter-state coordination.
  • State Maritime Boards empowered for local licensing, safety, tariff.
  • Committees provide faster, less-litigious dispute settlement.

Operational Reforms

  • Tariff autonomy permits market-linked pricing within notified guidelines.
  • Integrated planning targets cargo growth, multimodal logistics connectivity.
  • Digitalisation introduces vessel tracking, e-Berthing, unified documentation.

Environmental Impact

  • Mandatory waste reception facilities combat marine pollution.
  • Ballast water rules integrate MARPOL Annex-VI standards.
  • Incentivises renewable energy, emergency preparedness at ports.

Economic Angle

  • Ports projected as trade hubs, logistics multipliers, job creators.
  • Investor-friendly norms expected to unlock higher PPP pipeline.
  • Modern law positions India competitively among leading maritime nations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Enacted year2025
Replaces ActIndian Ports Act, 1908
Coordinating apexMaritime State Development Council (MSDC)
State-level bodyState Maritime Board for non-major ports
Dispute forumSector-specific Dispute Resolution Committees
Tariff policyAutonomy under transparent rules
Key green mandateWaste reception & ballast water management per MARPOL

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 1

What is the name of the national digital framework launched at India Maritime Week 2025 to make Indian ports data-driven and AI-enabled?

ESE_GS, GS1 2023PYQ 2

Consider the following pairs:

GS-2Polity

3.CEC Removal Constitutional Process (Election Commission)

Indian Express

What & Where

Chief Election Commissioner; constitutional authority under Article 324, oversees national and state elections

Removal mirrors impeachment of Supreme Court Judge; multi-tier Parliament-President process safeguards autonomy

Motion can originate in either House; requires preset MP support, judicial probe, super-majority vote

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Grounds; misbehaviour covers corruption, office abuse, duty non-performance
  • Vote; bicameral two-thirds super-majority mandated for removal
  • President; constitutionally bound after parliamentary approval, no veto

Institutional Safeguards

  • Judicial inquiry; evidence vetted before House voting, limits frivolous charges
  • Recommendation clause; shields Election Commissioners from executive whim
  • High procedural bars; reinforce Election Commission neutrality

Historical Context

  • No CEC ouster in 74+ years; precedent of institutional continuity
  • Framers modelled process on judicial independence ethos
  • 2024 Opposition move against CEC Gyanesh Kumar would be first utilisation attempt

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Constitutional Article324
Removal analogySame as SC Judge
Permissible groundsProved misbehaviour / incapacity
MP signatures needed≥ 50 for motion admission
Inquiry bodyJudicial inquiry committee
Voting threshold2/3 members present & voting in each House
Presidential discretionNone; must issue removal order
ECs (other) protectionRemoval only on CEC recommendation
CECs removed till dateZero since Independence

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Election Commission is not correct ?

CDS_GK, GS1 2002PYQ 2

Consider the following statements with reference to India:

GS-3Infrastructure

4.Railway Track Solar Panels (Railway Solar)

Economic Times
Illustration for Railway Track Solar Panels (Railway Solar)

What & Where

System: 70 m removable solar array (28 panels, 15 kWp) laid between two operational railway tracks

Location: Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi; commissioned by Ministry of Railways

Purpose: Pilot to harvest clean energy from otherwise idle track space for Indian Railways’ auxiliary loads

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Removable design enables quick lifting for track maintenance or emergency clearance
  • Compact mounting avoids land acquisition, easing scalability across dense rail corridors
  • Demonstration aligns with Indian Railways’ broader Net Zero 2030 solar roadmap

Environmental Impact

  • Renewable generation cuts greenhouse-gas emissions from diesel-based auxiliary power
  • Utilisation of idle track area lowers ecological footprint compared to ground-mounted farms

Economic Angle

  • In-house solar offsets grid purchase, reducing operational expenditure for BLW
  • Pilot success can translate to cost savings over vast 68,000 km rail network

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Commissioning month-yearAugust 2025
Installing agencyMinistry of Railways
Host unitBanaras Locomotive Works (BLW)
Panel count28
Array length70 metres
Capacity15 kWp
DesignRemovable/portable
Land requirementNil extra; mounted between existing tracks
Primary useAuxiliary power for railway units
Project typePilot, replication planned nationwide
GS-1History

5.Sri Aurobindo Ghose Contributions (Freedom Personality)

Indian Express
Illustration for Sri Aurobindo Ghose Contributions (Freedom Personality)

What & Where

Identity: Sri Aurobindo Ghose—nationalist revolutionary, seer-philosopher, poet, yogi

Geography: Born Calcutta 15 Aug 1872; active Bombay & Bengal revolutionary hubs; spiritual life Pondicherry till 5 Dec 1950

Trajectory: From ICS qualifier in England to radical editor, Alipore-trialled activist, founder 1926 Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Quick Facts for MCQs

Revolutionary Politics

  • Advocacy: Radical nationalism, mass mobilisation well before Gandhi leadership
  • Strategy: Press writings and secret societies as primary agitational tools
  • Legal episode: Chittaranjan Das successfully defended him in 1909 Alipore trial

Spiritual & Philosophical

  • Doctrine: Integral Yoga merging personal salvation with collective human evolution
  • Institution: Sri Aurobindo Ashram became centre for sadhana, later gave rise to Auroville 1968
  • Vision: India as Vishwa Guru championing spiritual civilisation over colonial materialism

Literary Works

  • Epics: Savitri longest English poem by an Indian on cosmic love and redemption
  • Exegesis: Essays on the Gita reinterprets Karma, Bhakti, Jnana through Integral Yoga lens
  • Cultural defense: The Renaissance in India series upheld Indian aesthetics against Western denigration

Legacy & Influence

  • Inspiration: Guided post-colonial thinkers on decolonisation, civilisational confidence
  • Recognition: Government commemorations; teachings integrated in NEP value-based education

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Birth date15 August 1872
Death date5 December 1950
Alipore Bomb CaseArrest 1908, acquitted 1909
Key journalsBande Mataram, Jugantar, Karmayogi
Youth group linkAnushilan Samiti
Critical articlesNew Lamps for Old (1893–94)
Ashram founded1926, Pondicherry
Collaborator titleMirra Alfassa “The Mother”
Major philosophical opusThe Life Divine
Nobel nominationsLiterature 1943; Peace 1950

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2008PYQ 1

Who among the following gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles entitled New Lamps for Old?

GS1 1999PYQ 2

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

GS-3Environment

6.Ranthambore National Park Profile (National Park)

NDTV
Illustration for Ranthambore National Park Profile (National Park)

What & Where

Protected area: Ranthambore National Park/Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan at Aravalli–Vindhya confluence

Extent: 1,334 sq km reserve with 275 sq km core of dry deciduous forest, lakes, rocky ridges

Landscape cluster: forms Ranthambore Tiger Reserve with Sawai Mansingh & Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuaries

Quick Facts for MCQs

Protected Area Timeline

  • 1955 designation: Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary
  • 1973 inclusion: early batch of Project Tiger reserves
  • 1980 upgrade: National Park; buffer Sanctuaries Sawai Mansingh & Kailadevi added

Physical & Cultural Features

  • Terrain: dry deciduous forest, rocky outcrops, grassy meadows, perennial lakes
  • Fort: 10th-century Ranthambore Fort on UNESCO tentative list, housing Ganesh, Shiva, Jain temples
  • Landmark: Padam Talao with Jogi Mahal hunting lodge on lake edge

Biodiversity

  • Flora: >300 species, several medicinally important
  • Avifauna: >270 bird species including raptors, waterbirds
  • Keystone: Royal Bengal Tiger diurnal sightings; associates leopard, hyena, sloth bear, nilgai, sambar

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DistrictSawai Madhopur
StateRajasthan
Physiographic junctionAravalli–Vindhya ranges
Total reserve area1,334 sq km
Core national park area~275 sq km
First protection year1955 Game Sanctuary
Project Tiger inclusion1973
National Park status1980
Buffer sanctuariesSawai Mansingh, Kailadevi
Largest lakePadam Talao
Heritage fort age10th century
Recorded flora species>300
Recorded bird species>270

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2020PYQ 1

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

GS1 2006PYQ 2

Match List – I with List – II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

GS-3S&T

7.India's 2040 Crewed Moon Mission (Lunar Mission)

Economic Times
Illustration for India's 2040 Crewed Moon Mission (Lunar Mission)

What & Where

Mission: India’s first crewed lunar landing targeted for 2040 under ISRO’s human-spaceflight programme

Type: Deep-space human exploration after low-Earth Gaganyaan; uses Indian launchers, life-support, surface systems

Geography: Launch from Satish Dhawan, touchdown on Moon; future Bharat Antariksh Station planned in low-Earth orbit

Quick Facts for MCQs

Roadmap & Milestones

  • Sequence: Vyommitra 2026 → Gaganyaan 2027 → Station 2035 → Lunar landing 2040
  • Vision: Aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047 national development goal
  • Astronaut: Landing projected as capstone after Chandrayaan successes

Technology & Indigenous

  • Indigenous: Launchers, life-support, navigation, surface mobility emphasised
  • Mission: Builds domestic supply-chain for habitation, exploration, resource-utilisation tech
  • Opens: Scope for selective tech-sharing partnerships without dependency

Economic Angle

  • Government: Aims larger share of projected USD 45 bn global space market
  • Crewed: Missions expected to spur high-tech manufacturing and services
  • Long-duration: Station enables commercial micro-gravity research and tourism prospects

Security & Strategic

  • Human-spaceflight: Capability boosts deterrence, dual-use tech, national prestige
  • Space: Station offers autonomous platform, reducing reliance on ISS partners
  • Programme: Integrates scientific, economic and security ambitions for comprehensive power projection

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Announcement forumLok Sabha, Nov 2023
Announcing ministerJitendra Singh (MoS, Space)
Target lunar landing year2040
Humanoid test flightVyommitra, 2026
First crewed LEO flightGaganyaan, 2027
Planned national stationBharat Antariksh Station, 2035
Space-economy size eyedUSD 45 billion

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 1

India's maiden human space mission will be launched in 2023. What is its name?

CDS_GK, GS1 2025PYQ 2

निम्नलिखित अंतरिक्ष मिशनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-3S&T

8.Satellite Internet via LEO Constellations (LEO Satellite Internet)

Indian Express

What & Where

Satellite Internet = broadband beamed from space-based constellations to user terminals on Earth

Orbits: Low Earth Orbit (LEO 500–2,000 km) vs Geostationary Orbit (GEO 35,786 km over Equator)

Coverage: GEO 3–4 sats blanket Earth; LEO swarms deliver global, low-latency links

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech Specs

  • Latency: LEO path shorter, can rival fibre; GEO suffers ≈600 ms delay
  • Coverage: GEO static beams; LEO needs thousands owing to brief ground visibility
  • Contact: Each LEO sat links with ground only minutes per pass necessitating dense mesh

Ongoing Initiatives

  • OneWeb Five-to-50 promises >50° N service by Jun 2021, global 2022
  • Starlink beta live NA; larger fleet needed as satellites fly lower than OneWeb
  • Amazon Project Kuiper announced 2019; Alphabet ended balloon-based Loon 2021

Regulatory & Logistics

  • Governance: Private dominance blurs jurisdiction, complicating multinational oversight
  • Logistics: Thousands of launches risk orbital congestion, frequency coordination issues
  • Interference: Low-orbit signals may disrupt higher-orbit services

Environmental Impact

  • Space junk: ~1 million objects >1 cm already in orbit threatening collisions
  • Astronomy: Sun-glint satellites streak night-sky images hampering observations
  • Debris load set to rise with yearly 1,250-sat additions

Economic Angle

  • Expense: Satellite internet costliest against fibre and spectrum due to fleet scale
  • Capital: Massive upfront outlays for manufacturing, launch, gateways
  • Market: 70 % of projected satellites serve private broadband demand

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Annual satellites this decade~1,250 launches
Commercial share70 % of launches
LEO altitude500–2,000 km
GEO altitude35,786 km
LEO satellite speed27,000 kph
LEO orbit period90–120 min
GEO latency≈600 ms
Coverage per GEO sat~⅓ of Earth
OneWeb full fleet648 satellites
Starlink deployed (2021)1,385 satellites
GS-3S&T

9.India Patent Ecosystem Reforms (Patent Reforms)

The Hindu
Illustration for India Patent Ecosystem Reforms (Patent Reforms)

What & Where

Patent: legal exclusivity for inventions; administered by Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM).

Geography: India ranked 6th in global patent filings (2023); trademarks rank 4th worldwide (WIPO 2024).

Process: Filing → examination → grant averages 58 months in India versus ~20 months in US/China.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Growth Trends

  • Milestone: IIT-Madras doubled filings 2022-23; universities adding IP cells, legal aid.
  • Trademark surge: 2 lakh (2016-17) → 4.8 lakh (2023-24).
  • Overall: India’s patents, trademarks, designs, GIs collectively up 44 % in five years.

CLOG Challenges

  • Concentration: domestic innovators comprise only 26 % of grants.
  • Lagging R&D: sub-1 % GDP spend curtails foundational research.
  • Overload: examiner shortage, legacy systems stretch processing to 58 months.

REFORM Agenda

  • Regulatory: dedicated IP courts, review Patents Act 1970 §3(k) for AI-related claims.
  • Process: AI-enabled prior-art search, end-to-end digital portal, expanded examiner cadre.
  • Finance & Links: robust tax breaks, venture funding, WIPO-led cross-border collaborations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Patents granted, FY 241 lakh + (17× rise since 2015)
IP filings growth, last 5 yrs44 %
Share of foreign assignees74 % of Indian patents
R&D spend (India)0.67 % of GDP
Avg. patent approval time58 months
China approval time20 months
US approval time21 months
Trademark applications 2023-24~4.8 lakh

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2025PYQ 1

भारत में नवाचार तथा अनुसंधान और विकास के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

CDS_GK, GS1 2017PYQ 2

‘राष्ट्रीय बौद्धिक सम्पदा अधिकार नीति (National Intellectual Property Rights Policy)’ के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

10.Engineered E. coli Biosensor (Bio-sensor Tech)

The Hindu

What & Where

Engineered Escherichia coli turned into a self-powered, whole-cell chemical biosensor.

Process integrates chemical detection, internal signal processing, and electricity generation for read-out.

Native habitat: human/animal intestines; also standard indicator of fecal contamination in water bodies.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biotechnology Angle

  • Genetic modules added for sensing, signal logic, electron export.
  • Platform programmable by swapping promoters for different target analytes.
  • No external power; relies on microbial respiration electrons.

Environmental Impact

  • Enables real-time alerts for river or groundwater toxins.
  • Functions directly in turbid, polluted matrices absent pre-treatment.
  • Supports continuous in-situ pollution monitoring networks.

Public Health

  • Early detection helps avert toxin-driven disease outbreaks.
  • Low production cost suits rural drinking-water surveillance.
  • Complements existing microbial quality assays for holistic safety checks.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Organism usedEscherichia coli (Gram-negative rod)
Taxonomic familyEnterobacteriaceae
InnovationSelf-powered whole-cell chemical sensor
Power sourceBacterial metabolic electron flow
Core advantageSelf-repair, functions in contaminated samples
Key rivalsTraditional enzyme-based biosensors
Major applicationsWater toxin detection, pollution monitoring, portable bioelectronics
Indicator roleFlags fecal contamination in water
GS-2MiscQuick Bite

11.US-Russia Alaska Summit Implications (US-Russia Summit)

Indian Express

What & Where

Alaska Summit 2025: first high-level US-Russia meet since 2022, held at Anchorage, Alaska, USA.

Proposed US tariff: cumulative 50 % on Indian exports (existing 25 % + fresh 25 %).

Draft US Bill: punitive duties up to 500 % on countries sustaining Russia’s war economy.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Tariff-shock: 50 % duty risks eroding Indian price competitiveness in $118 bn goods trade with US.
  • Cost-push: Higher landed costs may reroute supply chains toward Mexico, Vietnam.
  • Negotiation-lever: Tariffs used as pressure to dilute India-Russia energy ties.

Legal & Policy

  • Congressional-Bill: Invokes trade powers under Section 301 to penalise “war-aiding” states.
  • WTO-risk: India likely to challenge tariff hike as discriminatory and non-MFN compliant.
  • Counter-measures: India may review equalisation levy, retaliatory duties under Customs Tariff Act 1975.

Security Dimension

  • Strategic-autonomy: India balances Quad ties with legacy Russian defence dependence.
  • NATO-factor: Summit deadlock prolongs debate on Ukrainian security guarantees.
  • Energy-security: Discounted Russian Urals crude remains critical amid West Asian supply volatility.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Summit venueAnchorage, Alaska, USA
Summit outcomeNo Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal
India’s crude share from Russia35–40 % of total imports
Existing US tariff on India25 %
Additional tariff announced25 %
Total prospective duty50 %
Congressional Bill ceiling500 % tariff
Affected Indian sectorAll goods heading to US market
Policy objective (US)Curtail Russian oil revenue
Indian stanceMaintain strategic autonomy
GS-2Misc

12.UNHCR Mandate and Structure (UN Agency)

The Hindu

What & Where

UNHCR: UN agency safeguarding refugees, stateless persons, internally displaced worldwide

Key solutions: voluntary repatriation, local integration, third-country resettlement

Global remit: operates through regional & field offices across continents

Quick Facts for MCQs

Organisational Structure

  • Executive Committee provides policy guidance, meets annually
  • Secretariat led by High Commissioner, implements programmes via regional/field offices
  • Budget reliant on governments, private donors, multilateral organisations

Functions & Powers

  • Protection ensures non-refoulement, legal aid, asylum access
  • Humanitarian assistance supplies shelter, food, health, education
  • Statelessness reduction drives global campaigns to end nationality gaps by 2024

Recent Context

  • Repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India paused after arrests under Sri Lankan immigration laws

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Creation year1950 (UN General Assembly)
Operations started1951
Initial mandate3 years; later made permanent
Current High CommissionerFilippo Grandi, Italy (since 2016)
Funding sourceEntirely voluntary contributions
Executive Committee size100 + member states
Core principlesProtection, assistance, durable solutions
Non-refoulementCentral legal obligation
GS-3SecurityQuick Bite

13.Golden Dome Missile Defence System (Missile Defence)

DD News

What & Where

US Golden Dome: multilayer missile-defence architecture using satellite sensors with land-, sea- and space-based interceptors.

Counters hypersonic, ballistic, cruise missiles and drones during boost or very early mid-course phases worldwide.

Protects continental USA via global LEO constellation; builds on Patriot, THAAD, Aegis BMD and GMD expertise.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Multilayer boost-phase satellite cueing enables early neutralisation before re-entry.
  • Integrates Patriot, THAAD, Aegis BMD, GMD interceptors for redundancy.
  • Uses hundreds of LEO satellites for 360° real-time tracking.

Security Dimension

  • Provides homeland shield against emerging hypersonic threats bypassing current mid-course defences.
  • Enhances credibility of US extended deterrence for allies.
  • Offers rapid shoot-look-shoot capability minimising collateral damage.

International Examples

  • Iron Dome Israel range 70 km emphasis rockets, drones.
  • Russia S-400 Triumph range 400 km engages stealth aircraft, cruise missiles.
  • China HQ-9 range 125 km analogous to S-300; India-Israel Barak-8 70–100 km naval and land.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Developer countryUnited States
System nameGolden Dome
Core sensorsHundreds of LEO satellites
Intercept phaseBoost & immediate post-launch
Threat spectrumHypersonic, ballistic, cruise missiles, UAVs
Integrated interceptorsPatriot, THAAD, Aegis BMD, GMD
Key inspirationsIsrael Iron Dome, 1983 SDI (Star Wars)
Intended coverageGlobal, 360° around USA

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2018PYQ 1

What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news?

CDS_GK, GS1 2022PYQ 2

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

GS-1Editorial

14.India's Role in Ending Global Hunger (Food Security)

The Hindu

What & Where

Hunger = chronic under-nourishment; body lacks calories/micronutrients to sustain health and productivity.

Key types: Undernourishment (calorie), Malnutrition (poor-quality diet), Hidden hunger (micronutrient deficits).

Geography: Global undernourishment 8.2% (673 mn); India down to 12% (2022-24)—30 mn fewer hungry.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Drivers

  • Poverty: 11.28% Indians still multidimensionally poor (NITI Aayog 2023).
  • Agriculture: 13% output lost post-harvest; fragmented land, erratic monsoon.
  • Prices: Inflation in pulses, fruits, proteins limits diet affordability.

Consequences

  • Human capital: Stunting reduces learning, adult earnings; inter-generational poverty persists.
  • Economy: Malnutrition drains 2–3% of India’s GDP (Global Nutrition Report 2021).
  • Health: Micronutrient gaps cause anaemia, blindness, poor immunity.

India Schemes

  • PDS reform: Aadhaar, ONORC ensure portable, targeted grain supply.
  • Nutrition missions: PM POSHAN, ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anaemia Mukt Bharat widen diet diversity.
  • Tech leverage: e-NAM, AgriStack, geospatial tools cut losses, boost market access.

Way Forward

  • Fortification: Rice, wheat, salt, oils plus subsidised pulses/eggs.
  • Infrastructure: Cold chains, warehouses, FPOs to curb ₹92k cr wastage.
  • Double-duty: Tackle under-nutrition and rising urban obesity via nutrition literacy, DBT for healthy foods.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
FAO report yearState of Food Security & Nutrition in the World 2025
Global undernourished share8.2% of population
India prevalence drop15% (2020-22) → 12% (2022-24)
Hungry Indians averted~30 million persons
Children stunted (NFHS-5)35.5% under-5
Post-harvest loss cost₹92,000 cr/yr (ICAR 2022)
PDS coverage800 mn beneficiaries (NFSA + PMGKAY)
Cost of healthy dietUnaffordable for 60% Indians (FAO)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2023PYQ 1

SDG India Index, developed by NITI Aayog, includes 17 SDGs for each State. Which one of the following is not included in that index?

CDS_GK, GS1 2023PYQ 2

‘पोषण मुक्त भारत अभियान’ के अंतर्गत की जा रही व्यवस्थाओं के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS-1Editorial

15.Dimensions of True Women Empowerment (Women Empowerment)

The Hindu

What & Where

Women empowerment = enabling women to exercise agency and equal participation in social-economic-political spheres

Case setting: domestic worker in Karnataka vs local politician, illustrating grassroots struggle

Focus geography: India; analysis spans constitutional to scheme level interventions

Quick Facts for MCQs

Social Concerns

  • Patriarchy: silencing, character assassination, community boycott deter reporting
  • Stigma: survivors face isolation, mental health breakdowns, re-victimisation
  • Tokenism: urban elite success stories mask realities of domestic workers, rural women

Legal & Policy

  • Framework: constitutional rights plus Vishaka guidelines, Nirbhaya case precedents
  • Gap: schemes stress prevention, rarely fund rehabilitation or reintegration
  • Delay: procedural hurdles and weak legal-aid outreach sap survivor morale

Economic Angle

  • Insecurity: litigation costs, lost wages render many unemployable labelled “troublemakers”
  • Proposal: direct job quotas in govt, PSUs, CSR similar to kin-of-martyrs policy
  • Compensation: packages to cover legal, rehab, livelihood akin to disaster victims

Support Mechanisms

  • Dedicated cells: survivor litigation centres with advocates, forensic experts, counsellors
  • Mental health: institutionalised long-term counselling and peer support as basic right
  • Survivor agency: train victims as mentors, POSH ICC members, police counsellors

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Core constitutional guaranteesArts 14, 15, 21, 39A
Key workplace lawPOSH Act 2013
Domestic sphere lawProtection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
Fast-tracked criminal revisionsCriminal Law Amendments 2013 & 2018
Flagship awareness schemeBeti Bachao Beti Padhao 2015
Safety funding poolNirbhaya Fund 2013
Umbrella missionMission Shakti 2022 (Sambal + Samarthya)
Free legal-aid mandateLegal Services Authorities Act under Art 39A
Survivor economic challengeJob loss, legal debt, stigma
Proposed support ideaState-funded survivor compensation packages

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 1

आधुनिक भारत में सफल महिलाओं के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 2

Which of the following statements about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is/are correct?

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