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14 topicsGS-1: 1GS-2: 2GS-3: 11
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GS-3Editorial

1.Natural Farming Adoption in India (Natural Farming)

The Hindu

What & Where

Natural farming: chemical-free, agro-ecological, “do-nothing” cultivation avoiding all synthetic inputs.

Core processes: on-farm Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, Neemastra, Agniastra brewed from cow dung/urine, jaggery, pulse flour.

Geography focus: Himachal Pradesh shift; nationwide rollout via NMNF clusters covering 7.5 lakh ha.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

  • Soil-organic-carbon: rises, boosting fertility and microbial life
  • Emissions: nitrogen-fertiliser avoidance cuts N₂O footprint
  • Biodiversity: surge supports pollinators and beneficial fauna

Economic Angle

  • Inputs: costs fall up to 60 %, net margins rise
  • Income: intercropping, value-addition steady farm earnings
  • Employment: bio-input units, seed banks create rural jobs

Tech & Schemes

  • Heritage: NMNF evolves from PKVY sub-scheme BPKP
  • Extension: Krishi Sakhis, KVKs anchor clusters, PGS certification
  • Infrastructure: Bio-input Resource Centres decentralise Jeevamrit supply

Implementation Challenges

  • Knowledge: site-specific ecology demands sustained training
  • Market: premium pricing, MSP assurance uncertain
  • Heterogeneity: varied soils, climates limit uniform roll-out

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
NMNF target area7.5 lakh ha in 15,000 clusters
NMNF farmer aim1 crore cultivators
NMNF incentive₹4,000/acre/year for 2 years
BPKP coverage (Mar 2025)9.4 lakh ha; 28 lakh farmers
Input-cost saving50–60 % versus chemical farming
Livestock roleNative cows supply dung & urine inputs
Current hotspotThousands of Himachal farmers shifting

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2026PYQ 1

Which one of the following government schemes in India promotes organic farming?

GEO_GS, GS1 2018PYQ 2

With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:

GS-3Scheme

2.LEAPS 2025 Logistics Benchmarking Initiative (Logistics Benchmarking)

PIB
Illustration for LEAPS 2025 Logistics Benchmarking Initiative (Logistics Benchmarking)

What & Where

National benchmarking initiative honouring excellence across India’s logistics ecosystem—air, rail, road, maritime, warehousing.

Conceived by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; unveiled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on PM GatiShakti’s 4th anniversary.

Operates pan-India; aligns sector with National Logistics Policy 2022 and PM GatiShakti’s multimodal infra vision.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Policy Alignment

  • Benchmarking: Sets sector standards consistent with National Logistics Policy 2022 and PM GatiShakti master plan.
  • Vision: Targets integrated, sustainable, resilient multimodal infrastructure by 2047.
  • Government-industry synergy: Formal recognition catalyses policy uptake at operational level.

Sustainability & ESG

  • Green-logistics: Awards prioritise emissions reduction, resource efficiency, circular practices.
  • ESG Metrics: Evaluation embeds environmental, social, governance scoring alongside efficiency.
  • Long-term: Supports India’s net-zero and climate commitments through sectoral best practices.

Stakeholder Landscape

  • Inclusivity: Opens to MSMEs, start-ups, academia—beyond large corporates.
  • Collaboration: Facilitates knowledge-sharing among government, industry, research bodies.
  • Competitiveness: National recognition expected to attract investment and tech adoption in logistics.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Full nameLogistics Excellence, Advancement & Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025
Launch month-yearOctober 2025
Launch occasion4th Anniversary of PM GatiShakti
Nodal agencyDPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Total award categories13
Coverage modesAir, Rail, Road, Maritime, Warehousing (industrial & agri), e-commerce
Eligible entitiesMSMEs, Start-ups, Freight operators, Academia, E-logistics
Core aimsBenchmark performance, recognise innovation, boost global competitiveness
Policy linkageNational Logistics Policy 2022; Make in India; Atmanirbhar Bharat; Viksit Bharat 2047
Sustainability thrustPromotes ESG compliance & Green Logistics
Application portalRashtriya Puraskar Portal – awards.gov.in

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 1

Which of the following statements with regard to National Logistics Policy (NLP) is NOT correct?

CAPF_GAI, NDA_GAT 2024PYQ 2

Consider the following statements:

GS-3Economy

3.2025 Economics Nobel Laureates (Nobel Economics)

Economic Times
Illustration for 2025 Economics Nobel Laureates (Nobel Economics)

What & Where

Economics Nobel = “Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel”; established 1968 by Sweden’s central bank.

Honors research explaining economic growth, markets, human welfare; prize announced by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm.

2025 award spotlighted innovation-driven, sustained growth theory linking historical evidence with mathematical models.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Theory

  • Model: Aghion-Howitt endogenous growth shows innovation displaces old technologies, sustaining long-run productivity rise.
  • Mechanism: R&D investment raises frontier; creative destruction reallocates resources toward higher-value uses.
  • Outcome: Explains post-Industrial Revolution divergence in per-capita incomes.

Historical Evidence

  • Observation: Mokyr links Industrial Revolution surge to feedback loop between scientific experimentation and skilled artisanship.
  • Case: Britain’s dense engineer-artisan networks rapidly converted ideas into machinery, accelerating 18th-century output.
  • Insight: Combination of propositional and prescriptive knowledge crucial for breakthrough clusters.

Policy Prescriptions

  • Priority: Invest in STEM skills, apprenticeships, lifelong learning to widen innovation base.
  • Balance: Design competition policy cushioning displaced incumbents while preserving entry incentives.
  • Support: Calibrate R&D tax credits/subsidies to maximise social returns from knowledge spillovers.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Year honoured2025
LaureatesJoel Mokyr; Philippe Aghion; Peter Howitt
Core conceptsUseful knowledge; Creative destruction
Mokyr workplaceNorthwestern University, USA
Aghion workplacesCollège de France, INSEAD, LSE
Howitt workplaceBrown University, USA
Award ceremony cityStockholm, Sweden
Key policy leverR&D subsidies & technical education

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1998PYQ 1

Nobel Prize in Economics for the year 1997 was awarded for contribution in the area of

GS-3Economy

4.Strategy for Offshore Fisheries Development (Deep-Sea Fisheries)

PIB
Illustration for Strategy for Offshore Fisheries Development (Deep-Sea Fisheries)

What & Where

National roadmap by NITI Aayog to harness India’s deep-sea & offshore fisheries inside EEZ (12–200 nmi).

Targets untapped 7.16 MT resources, including lanternfish, squids, deep-sea shrimp.

Core geography: Indian Ocean EEZ adjoining nine coastal states + islands, presently outside state jurisdiction.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Gap: No EEZ Fisheries Act; regulation limited to 12 nmi by states.
  • Proposal: National EEZ Act, Deep-Sea Fisheries Authority, subsidies linked to sustainability.

Economic Angle

  • Promise: Offshore shift can decongest coasts and raise fisher incomes tenfold.
  • Financing: Deep-Sea Fishing Development Fund via PPP, soft loans, insurance cover.

Environmental Risks

  • Concern: Bottom trawling, bycatch, pollution threaten fragile deep-sea habitats.
  • Remedy: Ecosystem-based catch limits, marine spatial planning, real-time vessel tracking.

International Examples

  • China: Mothership fleets reveal scale potential but overfishing danger.
  • Spain & New Zealand: VMS, traceability, Quota Management System model responsible fishing.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Estimated deep-sea potential7.16 million tonnes
Indian vessels on high seas4
Sri Lankan vessels on high seas1,883
FY 2023-24 marine export value₹60,523 crore
Non-conventional stock share1.847 MT
Profit per modern DSF vessel₹32 lakh / year

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

Which institution released the report titled “India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries”?

CDS_GK, ESE_GS 2023PYQ 2

भारत के "ब्लू ग्रोथ" से क्या अभिप्राय है ?

GS-3InfrastructureQuick Bite

5.Bharat Taxi Cooperative Platform (National Ride-Hailing)

PIB

What & Where

Bharat Taxi – first cooperative-based, national ride-hailing platform envisaged under Digital India vision

Developed by NeGD & Digital India Corporation with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative; pan-India rollout planned

Provides secure, interoperable, citizen-centric mobility via DigiLocker–UMANG–API Setu integration

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Integration trio enables single-sign-on, digital KYC, unified service access
  • Aligns with Digital India pillars: e-Gov services, open APIs, language localisation

Governance Model

  • Cooperative structure envisages driver ownership, profit-sharing, democratic control
  • MeitY agencies ensure open architecture, nationwide interoperability

Security Dimension

  • DigiLocker-based ID verification minimises data silos, spoofing risks
  • Platform to adopt robust cybersecurity standards mandated by CERT-In

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Parent ministryMeitY
Implementing bodiesNeGD, Digital India Corp, Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd
Core modelCooperative-based, citizen-first
Key integrationsDigiLocker, UMANG, API Setu
Compliance normsGovernment of India data-protection rules
Interface supportMultilingual, inclusive-access features

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

The Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project was recently launched by which organization?

GS-3EconomyQuick Bite

6.National Household Income Survey 2026 (Income Survey)

PIB

What & Where

NHIS 2026: first pan-India household income survey planned by MoSPI for Feb 2026.

Method: large-sample door-to-door survey estimating household income, sources, expenditure, living conditions.

Coverage: all States & UTs under National Sample Survey (NSS) operational framework.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Policy Objectives

  • Data-gap filling: enables interpersonal income comparison absent in earlier NSS rounds.
  • Evidence support: feeds poverty targeting, welfare calibrations, macroeconomic modelling.
  • CPI base revision: supplies fresh weighting pattern for inflation indices.

Statistical Framework

  • Agency synergy: NHIS complements continuing NSS rounds on consumption, health, employment.
  • Sampling design: multi-stage stratified framework identical to NSS ensuring comparability.
  • Data outputs: micro-level income distribution usable for National Accounts rebasing.

International Context

  • Benchmarking: aligns India with OECD & South-Asian peers already surveying household incomes.
  • Global best practice: income plus expenditure collection improves accuracy of poverty measures.
  • Comparative analysis: facilitates cross-country inequality and welfare studies.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Full nameNational Household Income Survey
AbbreviationNHIS 2026
Launch month/yearFebruary 2026
Nodal MinistryMoSPI
Executing officeNational Statistics Office (NSO)
Historic statusFirst ever nationwide income survey
Key datasetsIncome, source-wise breakup, expenditure, living conditions
Planned usesCPI rebasing, National Accounts, poverty & hardship analysis
Legacy surveysNational Sample Survey since 1950
Comparable countriesUS, Canada, UK, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia
GS-1Mapping

7.Sharm el-Sheikh Strategic Location (Sharm el-Sheikh)

Indian Express

What & Where

Sharm el-Sheikh; resort city on southern Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, along Red Sea

Strait of Tiran; chokepoint linking Red Sea with Gulf of Aqaba beside the city

Summit hotspot; venue for 2025 Gaza peace talks and earlier global gatherings

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Background

  • Six-Day War 1967; Israel captured Sharm el-Sheikh
  • Camp David Accords 1982; city reverted to Egyptian control
  • Mubarak label 1982; branded City of Peace to spur tourism

Geopolitical Significance

  • Strait of Tiran; only Israeli route to Indian Ocean
  • Shipping control; gateway for Israeli, Jordanian, Saudi ports
  • Egyptian navy; former strategic base securing Red Sea

Diplomatic Hub

  • Israel-Palestine Talks 1999; early peace negotiations hosted
  • EU-Arab League Summit 2019; advanced interregional cooperation
  • COP27 2022; delivered global Loss and Damage funding mechanism

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CountryEgypt
PeninsulaSouthern Sinai
Adjacent waterbodiesRed Sea, Gulf of Aqaba
Maritime chokepointStrait of Tiran
Israel occupation1967–1982 (Six-Day War era)
Return to EgyptCamp David Accords 1982
Nickname“City of Peace” (Mubarak)
Major summit 2022UN COP27 – Loss & Damage Fund
Current summit 2025Summit for Peace on Gaza conflict
GS-3Scheme

8.National Red List Assessment Initiative (National Red List)

Indian Express

What & Where

National Red List Assessment Initiative: 2025-30 drive to gauge extinction risk of ~11,000 Indian species per IUCN criteria

Announced at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi; executed nationwide by MoEFCC

Outcome: first-ever India-specific Red List guiding conservation funding, legal protection, habitat action

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Obligation: CBD signatory status mandates periodic national extinction-risk monitoring and genetic diversity safeguarding
  • Alignment: delivers KM-GBF Target 4 on halting extinctions, managing human-wildlife conflict, conserving genetic stock
  • Protection: Red List expected to steer future Wildlife Protection Act schedules, Eco-Sensitive Zone expansion

Implementation Bodies

  • Leadership: MoEFCC provides funds, timelines, inter-state coordination directives
  • Technical: BSI handles flora taxonomy; ZSI fauna surveys; WII manages protocol training, population modelling
  • Verification: IUCN Species Survival Commission to vet categories before final national notification

Biodiversity Stats

  • Baseline: India hosts 8 % global biodiversity yet faces rapid habitat loss, invasive species pressure
  • Gaps: Current IUCN listings cover only ≈6 % Indian taxa, leaving major knowledge vacuum
  • Priority: High endemism in Western Ghats, Northeast and Andaman-Nicobar flagged for first-phase assessments

International Bodies

  • IUCN: 1,400+ member governments & NGOs, authority on global Red List methodology
  • Congress role: sets quadrennial conservation agenda, mobilises finance, adopts member-driven motions
  • Collaboration: India’s dataset to feed directly into global IUCN Red List, influencing CITES and IPBES analyses

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Initiative duration2025 – 2030
Total species assessed≈ 11,000
Flora share~7,000 species
Fauna share~4,000 species
Nodal ministryMoEFCC
Key agenciesBSI, ZSI, WII
Global linkKM-GBF Target 4
IUCN HQGland, Switzerland
IUCN founding1948
Congress frequencyEvery 4 years
2025 Congress venueAbu Dhabi, UAE
Threatened Indian fauna13.4 % of assessed
Near-threatened species289
Data-deficient fauna13.8 %
Amphibian endemism79 %
Reptile endemism54.9 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently categorized the Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) into

GS1, NDA_GAT 2011PYQ 2

The "Red Data Books" published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of

GS-3Species

9.Indian Wolf Listed Vulnerable (Indian Wolf)

Hindustan Times

What & Where

Identity; Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), ancient lineage, potential distinct species from grey wolf.

Geography; Endemic to Indian subcontinent, surviving in semi-arid plains of India and Pakistan.

Status; First standalone IUCN 2025 assessment lists species as Vulnerable.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Morphology & Adaptations

  • Size; Smaller, leaner than Himalayan or Eurasian wolves, optimized for speed in open terrain.
  • Coat; Short, light brown-grey fur provides camouflage and rapid heat dissipation.
  • Thermoregulation; Absence of dense under-coat allows survival in high temperatures, low rainfall zones.

Distribution & Decline

  • Historic range; Once common across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra semi-arid landscapes.
  • Local extinction; Lost from parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal due to habitat loss, persecution, agriculture.
  • Evolutionary origin; Diverged thousands of years ago within Indian grassland ecosystems.

Other Species Status

  • Hooded Seal; category raised to Endangered.
  • Bearded Seal, Harp Seal; both now Near Threatened.
  • Green Turtle; status downgraded to Vulnerable.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Scientific nameCanis lupus pallipes
Common namesIndian grey / Peninsular wolf
IUCN category (2025)Vulnerable
Mature population2,877 – 3,310 individuals
Range countriesIndia, Pakistan
Core habitatOpen plains, scrub, grasslands
Historic spreadPunjab to Maharashtra belt
Coat colourLight brown-grey, short fur
Key heat adaptationLacks thick under-coat
Lineage ageAmong oldest wolf lineages
Other species noteHooded Seal now Endangered
GS-3S&T

10.Maldives Triple Elimination Milestone (Disease Elimination)

WHO
Illustration for Maldives Triple Elimination Milestone (Disease Elimination)

What & Where

Triple elimination: WHO validation of EMTCT for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B

Location: Maldives, north-central Indian Ocean, ~600 km SW of India

Validation process: zero infant cases two consecutive years plus robust maternal health surveillance

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Metrics

  • Antenatal-care: nationwide access, integrated testing for three infections
  • Immunisation: pentavalent schedule plus timely Hep-B birth dose ensures seroprotection
  • Transmission outcome: no new paediatric HIV, syphilis, Hep-B verified by serosurveys

WHO Validation

  • Surveillance: mandatory notification, quality-assured labs, external verification committees
  • Service coverage thresholds: ≥95 % antenatal tests, ≥95 % Hep-B dose, ≥90 % infant vaccination course
  • Sustainability: maintain indicators three additional years post validation

Geographic Profile

  • Islands: about 1 200 coral islets grouped into 26 atolls, ~200 inhabited
  • Climate: southwest monsoon May–Aug wet; northeast monsoon Dec–Mar dry
  • Vulnerability: one of lowest-lying nations, sea-level rise major threat

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Triple elimination pioneerMaldives 2024
Covered diseasesHIV, syphilis, hepatitis B
WHO validation rule≥2 yrs zero infant cases + monitoring
Antenatal testing coverage>95 % pregnant women
Hep-B birth dose (≤24 h)>95 % newborns
Zero HIV/syphilis births since2022
Child Hep-B prevalence 20230 %
Population estimate 20255.62 lakh
Capital cityMalé
Max natural elevation1.8 m

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2021PYQ 1

Which one of the following countries has recently been awarded a malaria-free certification by the WHO?

GS-3S&T

11.Mission Drishti Multi-Sensor Satellite (Multi-Sensor Satellite)

ITV
Illustration for Mission Drishti Multi-Sensor Satellite (Multi-Sensor Satellite)

What & Where

Mission Drishti – world’s first EO satellite fusing Synthetic Aperture Radar + optical sensors on one bus

Developed by GalaxEye Space, Bengaluru; launch targeted Q1 2026 to Low-Earth Orbit

Provides 24×7, all-weather, 1.5 m imagery for defence, disaster, infra, agri, finance users

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Integration: single platform avoids separate SAR & optical satellites, reduces revisit gap
  • AI-processing: on-board fusion enables near-real-time geospatial intelligence delivery
  • Constellation: phased launches create continuous global coverage network

Security Dimension

  • Border surveillance: persistent monitoring irrespective of cloud or darkness
  • Disaster response: rapid flood, cyclone, landslide assessment aids NDMA, SDRF actions
  • Strategic autonomy: indigenous data lowers dependence on foreign EO constellations

Economic Angle

  • Atmanirbhar push: private-built 160 kg class showcases Make-in-India space hardware
  • Commercial revenue: high-resolution data marketed to global insurers, agri-tech, utilities
  • Startup ecosystem: success may spur VC funding, allied component manufacturing

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DeveloperGalaxEye Space, IIT-Madras alumni
Orbit classLow-Earth Orbit
Sensor mixSAR + Optical (multi-sensor)
Image resolution1.5 metre
Satellite mass160 kg (largest Indian private)
Planned launch windowQ1 2026
Constellation plan8–10 satellites over 4 years
Data analyticsAI-driven fusion & insights
Key user sectorsDefence, disaster mgmt, infra, utilities, agriculture, finance

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2010PYQ 1

In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news?

CDS_GK, GS1 2024PYQ 2

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

GS-2Misc

12.International Committee of the Red Cross (Humanitarian Organization)

DH
Illustration for International Committee of the Red Cross (Humanitarian Organization)

What & Where

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geneva-based neutral humanitarian organisation founded 1863

Operates globally in armed conflicts and disasters, delivering protection, aid, mediation

Core pillar of Red Cross–Red Crescent Movement alongside IFRC and 191 National Societies

Quick Facts for MCQs

Origin & Symbols

  • Battle of Solferino 1859 spurred Dunant to design organised wartime relief
  • Emblem progression from Cross to Crescent to culturally neutral Crystal in 2005
  • Symbols enjoy Geneva Convention protection against misuse

Structure

  • ICRC conducts field operations, detention visits, IHL promotion
  • IFRC manages worldwide disaster response and resilience programming
  • National Societies act as government auxiliaries, mobilising community-level volunteers

Humanitarian Roles

  • Protection activities cover prisoners, civilians, internally displaced persons
  • Relief operations supply medical care, shelter, water, essentials in crises
  • Restoring Family Links reunites separated relatives through tracing services

Security Dimension

  • Serves as neutral intermediary for ceasefires, hostage transfers e.g., Gaza corridor 2023-25
  • Engages in confidential dialogue to enhance Geneva Convention compliance
  • Negotiates humanitarian corridors and safe passages during active hostilities

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Year founded1863
FounderHenry Dunant
HQ cityGeneva, Switzerland
Global volunteers80 million +
Movement emblemsRed Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal
Red Crystal adoption2005
IFRC membership191 National Societies
Recent high-profile roleIsrael–Hamas hostage exchanges 2023-25
Legal mandateGeneva Conventions & IHL
Core principlesNeutrality, Impartiality, Independence
GS-3Editorial

13.Blind Spot in Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Operational Technology)

WEF
Illustration for Blind Spot in Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Operational Technology)

What & Where

Operational Technology (OT) = control hardware/software for real-world machinery in critical infrastructure.

Core systems: power grids, oil & gas pipelines, water plants, transport SCADA networks.

Global concern; recent Spain-Portugal blackout, US Colonial Pipeline, Ukraine power grid hacks highlight exposure.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Vulnerability Drivers

  • Digital-integration expands attack surface; formerly air-gapped OT now internet-linked.
  • Sophisticated state actors: e.g., Russia’s NotPetya 2017 targeting Ukrainian grid.
  • Outdated SCADA lacks encryption, monitoring; easy target for malware.

Challenges

  • Visibility gap: most OT data unlogged, hampering real-time detection & forensics.
  • Regulatory patchwork: NIST (US) vs NIS2 (EU) yields uneven compliance.
  • High retrofit costs deter developing nations from upgrading legacy plants.

Impacts

  • Operational halt cripples production, fuels inflation, disrupts supply chains (Maersk 2017 loss US $300 M).
  • Strategic sabotage risk enables covert attacks on water, health, energy; civilian safety threatened.
  • Reputational damage inflates insurance, erodes public trust in utilities.

WEF Recommendations

  • Internal-Network Security Monitoring mandated (e.g., FERC CIP-015-1) for real-time OT traffic.
  • AI-driven anomaly detectors & forensic recorders for rapid attribution.
  • Sectoral cyber-fusion centres and global upskilling partnerships (WEF–NATO–ITU).

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
OT-IT convergence rise40 % (2020-24, Dragos)
OT networks minus IDS60 % lack intrusion detection
OT-focused cyber workforce15 % of professionals (WEF 2024)
Security spend ratioIT : OT = 10 : 1
Legacy system prevalenceDecades-old SCADA widely active
One-hour plant outage cost≥ US $1 million
Global infra cyber-lossUS $10.5 trillion/yr (2024)
Insurance premium hike+20–30 % post-incident
GS-2Scheme

14.Fare Se Fursat Airfare Scheme (Fixed Airfare)

LiveMint

What & Where

Fare Se Fursat: first-ever fixed-tariff plan on Alliance Air regional flights

Implemented across select UDAN routes linking Tier-2/3 cities with metros in India

Launched by Union Civil Aviation Ministry to provide affordable, predictable air travel nationwide

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • UDAN treats aviation as public service, subsidising regional links
  • Government retains Alliance Air post Air India privatisation 2021
  • Ministry to monitor pilot outcomes before wider rollout

Tech & Schemes

  • Pricing: one unchanging fare per route, valid even for walk-in bookings
  • Duration: pilot covers Oct 2023 to Dec 2025 on chosen UDAN sectors
  • Booking: algorithm-free ticketing eliminates dynamic fare swings

Economic Angle

  • Affordability: caps fare spikes, easing household travel budgets
  • Market: steadier loads on thin routes enhance airline revenue stability
  • Predictability: may shift time-sensitive travellers from rail or bus to air

Social Impact

  • Inclusion: opens flying to Tier-2/3 residents and first-time flyers
  • Stress-free: removes price anxiety, fostering trust in civil aviation
  • Equality: identical fare for early or late buyers, curbing emergency overpricing

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Scheme natureSingle fixed airfare, date-agnostic
Implementing airlineAlliance Air (government owned)
Pilot window13 Oct 2023 – 31 Dec 2025
Core policyRegional Connectivity Scheme — UDAN
Target segmentMiddle class & first-time flyers
Ministerial armUnion Civil Aviation Ministry
Airline ownerAir India Asset Holdings Ltd
Alliance Air foundedApril 1996
1997 mergerVayudoot Airlines

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