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15 topicsGS-1: 5GS-2: 5GS-3: 5
0/15 done
GS-2Polity

1.CAG Audit Cadres Reform (CAG Audit Cadres)

The Hindu

What & Where

Restructure: CAG to launch Central Revenue Audit (CRA) & Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) cadres inside Indian Audit & Accounts Dept.

Focus: CRA audits Union receipts; CEA audits Union ministries’ expenditure, ensuring domain-specific, centralised scrutiny.

Coverage: All-India operations from 1 Jan 2026 with transferable cadre strength drawn from existing offices.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Administrative Reform

  • Centralisation: Replaces fragmented State Civil Audit offices, aims uniform standards and quicker deployment.
  • Flexibility: Unified cadre control enables specialisation, rotation, surge capacity during high-value audits.
  • Accountability: Single nodal control expected to tighten fiscal oversight across Union entities.

Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 149: Empowers CAG to audit all Union & State receipts/expenditure.
  • Article 151: Mandates submission of audit reports to President/Governor for PAC scrutiny.
  • Protection: CAG removal process identical to SC judge, ensuring independence.

Audit Scope

  • Receipts: CRA to examine tax, non-tax flows, customs, GST settlements.
  • Expenditure: CEA to analyse ministry appropriations, scheme spending, subsidy disbursals.
  • Reports: Findings feed Appropriation, Finance, and PSU audit reports laid before Parliament.

Human Resources

  • Skill-set: Cadre members to gain domain training in revenue laws, public finance, performance audit.
  • Mobility: All-India postings break regional silos, promote merit-based career paths.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date1 January 2026
New cadresCentral Revenue Audit, Central Expenditure Audit
Staff to be pooled≈ 4,000 auditors
Present total IA&AD strength≈ 42,000
Transfer liabilityAll-India
Constitutional locus of CAGArticles 148-151
CAG appointmentBy President under his hand & seal
CAG tenure6 yrs or 65 yrs age, whichever earlier
CAG removalSpecial-majority resolution of Parliament
Primary funds auditedConsolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, Public Account

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2012PYQ 1

In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?

GEO_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 2

As per the Constitution of India, which one among the following statements is correct?

GS-2Polity

2.Contempt of Court Provisions (Contempt of Court)

The Hindu

What & Where

Contempt of Courts Act 1971 classifies Civil (willful disobedience) & Criminal (scandalising, obstructing justice) contempt.

Supreme Court & High Courts act as Courts of Record with contempt powers under Articles 129 & 215.

Proceedings may be suo-motu by courts or on motion with prior consent of Attorney/Advocate General.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Precedent: Ashwini Kumar Ghosh 1952 upholds fair criticism, punishes erosion of authority.
  • Anil Ratan Sarkar 2002 stresses restraint in wielding contempt power.
  • M. V. Jayarajan 2015 & Shanmugam 2025 classify abusive public speech as criminal contempt.

Procedure & Punishment

  • Initiation: Petition, reference or court’s suo-motu; notice issued, hearing follows.
  • Apology: Court may drop action if apology bona-fide, timely and unconditional.
  • Sentence: Simple imprisonment, fine or both; rare use, symbolic deterrence.

Free-Speech Balance

  • Protection: Robust, evidence-based critique of judgments allowed; personal vilification barred.
  • Safeguard: Truth plus public good accepted under Sec 13, burden on critic.
  • Guideline: Contempt power recommended as last-resort to preserve judicial credibility.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Governing statuteContempt of Courts Act 1971
Origin committeeH. N. Sanyal Committee 1963
Constitutional hookArts 129 (SC), 215 (HC)
Max penalty6 months simple jail / ₹2,000 fine
Truth defenceSec 13, requires public-interest proof
Civil contemptWillful breach of judgment/order
Criminal contemptScandalises court or impedes proceedings
Third-party filingNeeds AG (SC) or Adv-Gen (HC) consent

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2022PYQ 1

Consider the following statements:

GS1 1997PYQ 2

Assertion (A): Willful disobedience or non-compliance of Court Orders and use of derogatory language about judicial behaviour amounts to Contempt of Court.

GS-3EconomyQuick Bite

3.Speciality Fertiliser Import Concerns (Speciality Fertilisers)

The Hindu

What & Where

Speciality fertilisers: advanced formulations beyond NPK, include water-soluble, slow-release, micronutrient blends improving nutrient efficiency

Key variants: chelated micronutrients (Fe-EDTA, Zn-EDTA, Fe-EDDHA), water-soluble MAP, KNO₃, NBPT-stabilised urea

India imports 95 %; now launching first domestic water-soluble line, diversifying supplies via Russia, Jordan, Israel, Morocco

Quick Facts for MCQs

International Supply

  • China pause on urea and speciality fertiliser exports triggers global price spike
  • India secures contracts with Russia, Jordan, Israel, Morocco to offset Chinese gap
  • Timing critical for Rabi 2025–26 sowing window, raising food-security concerns

Economic Angle

  • Global speciality fertiliser market projected USD 63 billion by 2035
  • Indian segment expected USD 5–6 billion by 2030, fastest in Asia
  • Higher nutrient efficiency lowers subsidy burden and environmental losses

Agronomic Application

  • Used mainly in high-value crops—fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation
  • Corrects micro-nutrient deficiencies in zinc, boron, iron prone soils
  • Supports precision agriculture through drip fertigation and controlled-release delivery

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Import dependence (India)95 %
China export status 2025Urea & speciality fertilisers paused
Global market 2035USD 63 billion
Indian market 2030USD 5–6 billion
Main user cropsFruits, vegetables, flowers
Popular WSFsMAP, KNO₃
Nitrogen stabiliserNBPT

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2020PYQ 1

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about fertilizers is not correct?

GS-1History

4.Taj Mahal Heritage Facts (Mughal Architecture)

The Hindu
Illustration for Taj Mahal Heritage Facts (Mughal Architecture)

What & Where

Mausoleum; Makrana-marble tomb for Mumtaz Mahal on Yamuna’s right bank, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Peak Indo-Islamic architecture; UNESCO World Heritage 1983; among Seven Wonders of the World

Ordered 1632 CE by Shah Jahan; core works done 1648 CE, complex finalised 1653 CE

Quick Facts for MCQs

Architecture

  • Symmetry; raised square plinth, central tomb flanked by red-sandstone mosque & mehman khana
  • Slightly outward-tilted minarets for seismic safety; double dome boosts interior acoustics
  • Quranic, Persian inscriptions frame entrances, integrate calligraphy with geometry

Construction & Craft

  • Workforce: masons, inlayers, calligraphers from India, Persia, Central Asia
  • Inlay uses lapis, jade, turquoise, jasper forming intricate floral motifs
  • Marble sourced Rajasthan; red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri region

Cultural & Tourism Significance

  • Iconic love symbol; blends Persian, Ottoman, Indian aesthetics
  • >6 million visitors annually; major foreign-exchange earner for Uttar Pradesh
  • Inspires global art, literature, replica architecture

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Emperor-patronShah Jahan
Chief architectUstad Ahmad Lahori
Main materialMakrana white marble
River bankYamuna (right)
Garden styleCharbagh, Timurid-Persian
MinaretsFour, plinth-corner
Dome typeDouble-shell
Real gravesLower crypt
Art techniquePietra dura inlay
UNESCO listing1983
GS-1Environment

5.Typhoon Kalmaegi Overview (Tropical Cyclone)

FP

What & Where

Typhoon Kalmaegi – western-Pacific tropical cyclone with strong winds, torrential rain, high tidal waves.

Track: formed over Philippine Sea → struck Luzon → crossed South China Sea → landfall central Vietnam.

Name: “Kalmaegi” is Korean for “seagull”.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Geophysical Setting

  • Topography: mountainous, volcanic archipelago; frequent earthquakes and typhoons.
  • Rivers: Cagayan, Pampanga, Agusan, Mindanao flow through main islands.
  • Seas bordering PH: Philippine Sea (E), South China Sea (W), Celebes Sea (S).

Disaster Impact

  • Casualties: >114 deaths in Philippines, widespread flooding & destruction.
  • Vietnam: mass coastal evacuations, flight cancellations ahead of landfall.
  • Displacement: thousands relocated from low-lying, landslide-prone zones.

Regional Geography

  • Proximity: Philippines ~800 km east of Vietnam; near Taiwan (N) and Indonesia (S).
  • Landfall corridor: storms often move W-NW across Luzon into South China Sea.
  • Naming: Typhoon names in western Pacific follow rotating international list (Kalmaegi = Korea).

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Cyclone categoryTyphoon (tropical cyclone)
Formation basinPhilippine Sea, western Pacific
1st landfallNorthern Luzon, Philippines
2nd landfallCentral coast, Vietnam
Reported deaths (PH)114 +
Capital of PhilippinesManila
Main island groupsLuzon / Visayas / Mindanao
Climate patternTropical monsoon; wet May–Oct, dry Nov–Apr
Volcanic zonePart of Pacific Ring of Fire
Sample volcanoMount Pinatubo
GS-1Environment

6.Himalayan Early Warning System Need (Early Warning Systems)

The Hindu

What & Where

Early Warning System: detects, predicts, disseminates hazard risk to trigger timely local action

Multi-hazard scope: landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, earthquakes, GLOFs across Himalayan arc

Geography: 12 Himalayan States/UTs straddling Seismic Zones IV-V, glacier-fed basins, fragile slopes

Quick Facts for MCQs

Risk Drivers

  • Tectonics: Indian-Eurasian collision, faults (Dhaulagiri, Indus-Ganga) keep region quake-prone
  • Climate change: glacier retreat, permafrost melt amplify GLOF frequency, slope failures

Tech & Schemes

  • ISRO-NRSC satellites plus automatic weather stations enable real-time glacier and basin surveillance
  • MoEFCC AI hailstorm pilots in Uttarakhand, Himachal deliver sub-kilometre farm warnings

Implementation Gaps

  • Terrain: rugged, glaciated landscape limits drone, radar, sensor upkeep and coverage
  • Institutional: NDMA-IMD-ISRO silos, funding bias toward relief over preparedness weaken EWS rollout

International Examples

  • Japan Earthquake and Indonesia Tsunami EWS illustrate nationwide alert networks with citizen integration
  • Swiss Alpine Radar Network links community response to glacier-collapse monitoring, saving lives

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Indian disasters 1900-2022687 events
Himalayan share 1900-2022≈240 events
Himalayan events 1902-19625 only
Drought risk at 3 °C warming90 % Himalayas year-round
Sendai Framework timeline2015-2030
South Lhonak GLOF2023
Google Android EQ alerts India2023
GS-3Environment

7.Gogabeel Lake Ramsar Recognition (Ramsar Wetland)

Times of India
Illustration for Gogabeel Lake Ramsar Recognition (Ramsar Wetland)

What & Where

Natural oxbow lake linking Ganga & Mahananda rivers in Katihar district, Bihar.

Seasonal floodplain; shaped by meanders of Mahananda-Kankhar (north) and Ganga (south & east).

Designated India’s 94th Ramsar Wetland, 2025.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Closed Area 1990-2000; status lost after Wildlife Act amendment 2002.
  • Community Reserve notified 2019 under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
  • Ramsar tag unlocks Wetlands Rules funding, mandates stronger monitoring.

Biodiversity Profile

  • Hosts >90 bird species, ~30 migratory each winter.
  • Vulnerable: Common Pochard, Lesser Adjutant; Near Threatened: Black-necked Stork, White Ibis, White-eyed Pochard.
  • Breeding habitat for vulnerable catfish Wallago attu.

Livelihood & Threats

  • Locals depend on fishing, cattle grazing, irrigation from lake.
  • Fertiliser runoff drives eutrophication, stressing ecosystem.
  • Ramsar recognition may catalyse eco-tourism and alternative incomes.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
LocationKatihar, Bihar
Wetland categoryNatural oxbow lake
Ramsar serial (India)94
Ramsar designation2025
Total notified area87 ha
Community Reserve area57 ha
Conservation Reserve area30 ha
First Community Reserve of Bihar2019
Important Bird Area tags2004 & 2017
Migratory routeCentral Asian Flyway
Key vulnerable birdCommon Pochard
Key vulnerable fishWallago attu

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2025PYQ 1

Which one of the following pairs of Ramsar Sites and States is not correctly matched?

GEO_GS 2026PYQ 2

According to the Ramsar Convention, which one of the following lakes is protected as waterfowl habitat?

GS-3Environment

8.FAO 2025 Land Degradation Report (Land Degradation)

FAO
Illustration for FAO 2025 Land Degradation Report (Land Degradation)

What & Where

State of Food & Agriculture 2025: FAO’s annual flagship report analysing human-induced land degradation impacts on agri-food systems.

Key processes: soil erosion, soil-organic-carbon loss, cropland abandonment reducing productivity & resilience.

Hotspots: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America; abandonment surge in Eastern Europe & Central Asia.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

  • Soil_Erosion: Fourfold increase over natural baseline per FAO degradation-debt model.
  • Tree_Cover_Loss: 30 % global reduction attributed to human activities.
  • SOC_Loss: Diminished water retention heightens drought-flood sensitivity in semi-arid belts.

Economic Angle

  • Annual_Cost: Degradation drains ~USD 300 bn; 75 % losses from land-use/cover change.
  • Yield_Gap_Link: Each 10 % extra degradation widens yield gap by 2 % in SE Asia & W Europe.
  • Investment_Deficit: Only 15 % of agricultural finance targets sustainable land practices.

Policy & Governance

  • Scale_Policies: GAEZ v5 data allows incentives for smallholders, input regulation for large farms.
  • Inequality: Land control skew—1 % farms hold >70 % area—limits equitable restoration funding.
  • Monitoring_Gap: Low-income nations lack satellite tools, unlike Inner Mongolia’s grazing-regulation model.

Tech & Schemes

  • ML_Model: FAO’s machine-learning degradation-debt assessment benchmarks soil against natural state.
  • Global_Hub: Report proposes a real-time Global Land Degradation Data Hub integrating remote sensing.
  • Carbon_Farming: Advocates PPPs for regenerative agriculture piloted in Latin America & sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Report year2025
Cropland with declining productivity≈20 % of global area
Yield gap for 10 major cropsUp to 70 % below potential in SSA & S Asia
Annual cost of degradation~USD 300 billion
Land abandoned 1992-2015>60 million ha
Small farms (<2 ha) share84 % of farms; 12 % land
Top 1 % farms’ land share>70 % of agricultural land
Agri investment to SLM<15 % of total
GS-3Environment

9.Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Cheetah Site (Nauradehi Sanctuary)

Indian Express

What & Where

Largest wildlife sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh; declared 1975 on upper Vindhyan plateau, Deccan Peninsula zone.

Proposed as India’s 3rd cheetah-release site; unlike Kuno/Gandhi Sagar, already holds ~25 tigers plus other apex carnivores.

Functions as corridor linking Panna & Satpura Tiger Reserves, indirectly Bandhavgarh via Rani Durgawati WLS.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Conservation Project

  • Cheetah Reintroduction Phase-II selects Nauradehi; first multi-predator release landscape.
  • Management plans focus on predator coexistence, prey augmentation, conflict mitigation.

Landscape Connectivity

  • Critical east-west corridor between Panna & Satpura Tiger Reserves.
  • Extends linkage to Bandhavgarh through Rani Durgawati WLS, easing gene flow in central India.

Species Composition

  • Carnivores: tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, Indian wolf, panther, crocodile.
  • Herbivores: nilgai, chinkara, spotted deer, sambar, blackbuck sustain predator base.
  • Avifauna > 170 species recorded.

Hydrology & Geology

  • Kopra, Bamner, Bearma rivers drain sanctuary, join Ken, eventually Yamuna; southern flank drains to Narmada.
  • Vindhyan sandstone topography with red, black, alluvial soils shapes mosaic of dry forest-grassland habitats.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
StateMadhya Pradesh
Year notified1975
Area statusLargest WLS in MP
Biogeographic regionDeccan Peninsula, upper Vindhyan plateau
Dominant forestTropical Dry Deciduous
Keystone speciesIndian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)
Resident tigers≈ 25
Main tree speciesTeak
Major riversKopra, Bamner, Bearma (Ken tribs)
Basin split75 % Yamuna, 25 % Narmada
Geological baseVindhyan sandstone; Lameta & Deccan Trap patches
Future roleIndia’s 3rd cheetah reintroduction site

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following was recently considered to be a suitable site for introducing African cheetah in India?

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2023PYQ 2

Cheetahs, brought from Namibia, were introduced in India to which one of the following National Parks?

GS-3S&T

10.Project Suncatcher Space Data Centres (Space Data Centres)

Indian Express

What & Where

Definition: Project Suncatcher—Google plan to host AI-driven data centres on solar-powered satellites in Earth orbit

Process: Trillium v6e TPUs + free-space optical links form clustered, high-speed computing hubs

Geography: Low-Earth orbit constellation operated from Google’s AI & Advanced Infrastructure Division, USA

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Solar-panel efficiency: vacuum + no atmospheric loss yields ~8× gain over ground arrays
  • Scalability: modular satellites allow incremental expansion without mega ground campuses
  • Radiation-tested TPUs: ensures sustained AI computation in harsh space environment

Environmental Impact

  • Zero-water cooling removes stress on freshwater resources around existing data-centre clusters
  • 24×7 solar access avoids intermittency, enabling carbon-free, baseload AI processing
  • Potential template for other hyperscalers to offload intensive workloads off-planet

Economic Angle

  • Launch-cost decline (reusable rockets) critical for parity with terrestrial server farms
  • High optical throughput reduces latency penalties, keeping commercial cloud viability
  • Distributed constellation lowers single-point failure risk, protecting capital investment

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch proponentGoogle (AI & Advanced Infrastructure Division)
Primary aimCut energy, water, carbon costs of terrestrial data centres
Power sourceContinuous solar radiation; panels ≈ 8 × terrestrial efficiency
Core hardwareRadiation-hardened Trillium v6e Tensor Processing Units
CommunicationFree-space optical links, tens of Tbps capacity
Prototype launchTwo test satellites slated early 2027
Constellation spacing“Hundreds of metres” between satellite nodes
Economic breakevenPredicted with launch costs ≈ $200 per kg by mid-2030s
Water usage on orbitZero—no cooling towers required
Carbon footprintEliminates grid electricity, lowers AI infrastructure emissions
GS-2Security

11.Sudan Civil War Overview (Sudan Conflict)

Indian Express
Illustration for Sudan Civil War Overview (Sudan Conflict)

What & Where

Conflict; 2023 Sudan civil war between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces

Geography; Sahel-to-Red Sea nation, Blue & White Nile meet at Khartoum, borders seven states

Transition; 2019 Bashir fall and 2021 coup aborted civilian rule, sparking military power struggle

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Coup; 2021 putsch dissolved civilian council, deepening SAF–RSF rivalry
  • Legacy; RSF descended from 2000s Janjaweed, targeted Massalit, Fur, Zaghawa
  • Resources; land, water, gold, Red Sea trade routes fuel combat

Humanitarian Impact

  • Casualties; ~1.5 lakh dead, 13 million uprooted across Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, Gezira
  • Famine; Zamzam IDP camp reports acute malnutrition, rising disease spread
  • Ranking; UN lists Sudan among planet’s worst ongoing humanitarian crises

India Angle

  • Evacuation; Operation Kaveri air-sea bridge rescued ~3,800 Indians via Port Sudan–Jeddah
  • Diplomacy; India backs African Union and IGAD mediation, maintains limited embassy in Port Sudan
  • History; Sudan joined 1955 Bandung Conference, early Afro-Asian solidarity with India

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Main belligerentsSAF vs RSF
SAF chiefGen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
RSF chiefGen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
Bashir ousted2019
Military coup2021
Estimated deaths~1.5 lakh
Displaced persons~13 million
India evacuation 2023Operation Kaveri
Independence year1956
Coastline water bodyRed Sea
RSF originJanjaweed militias

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2023PYQ 1

‘Operation Kaveri’ is a rescue operation launched by the Government of India to evacuate Indian citizens who were stranded in:

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2023PYQ 2

In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?

GS-2Misc

12.Doha Political Declaration Commitments (Doha Declaration)

UN

What & Where

Doha Political Declaration 2025 – outcome of Second World Summit for Social Development; anchors poverty eradication, decent work, social inclusion within SDGs.

Summit hosted by State of Qatar, Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, 4–6 Nov 2025; organised with United Nations, 8 000+ participants.

Builds on Copenhagen Declaration 1995, first UN heads-of-state pact putting people-centred social development at policy core.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Declaration embeds actionable commitments, shifting from diagnosis to implementation.
  • Framework treats social, economic, environmental pillars as inseparable.
  • Politically authoritative, non-binding document extends legacy of Copenhagen Declaration.

Social Concerns

  • Poverty elimination labelled moral and developmental imperative.
  • Decent-work agenda urges inclusive labour markets, safe fair employment.
  • Inclusion mandate spans gender, age, marginalised groups; “leave no one behind”.

Global Cooperation

  • Call for multilateral financing and partnerships to accelerate 2030 Agenda.
  • Governments, private sector, civil society, youth tasked with shared responsibility.
  • Peace stressed; conflicts seen as reversing decades of social progress.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Event year2025
Venue cityDoha, Qatar
Summit titleSecond World Summit for Social Development
Outcome documentDoha Political Declaration
Dates4–6 November 2025
Participants> 8 000 delegates
Core pillarsPoverty, Decent Work, Social Inclusion
Predecessor textCopenhagen Declaration 1995
Host collaborationState of Qatar + United Nations
SDG linkageExplicit alignment with 2030 Agenda

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2015PYQ 1

‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’, often seen in the news, is

GS-2Scheme

13.Ethiopia's DAY-NRLM Adoption (DAY-NRLM)

NDTV
Illustration for Ethiopia's DAY-NRLM Adoption (DAY-NRLM)

What & Where

Programme: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, pivot from subsidies to self-reliant SHGs

Adoption: Ethiopia set to replicate DAY-NRLM model for rural poverty reduction and women’s empowerment

Geography: Active across 28 Indian States, 6 UTs; aligns with SDG-1 & SDG-5 globally

Quick Facts for MCQs

Poverty Alleviation Approach

  • Shift: Subsidy programmes replaced by community institution-building and livelihood diversification
  • Coverage: One of world’s largest community-mobilisation efforts, supporting farm and non-farm enterprises
  • Clusters: 6,000 integrated farming clusters promote agro-ecological resilience

Women Empowerment Tools

  • Resource-persons: Bank Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis ensure last-mile financial, farm, livestock services
  • Mahila Kisan outreach: 4.62 crore women engaged in sustainable agriculture practices
  • Social mobilisation: SHGs act as platform for credit, training, collective bargaining

Financial Inclusion Stats

  • Collateral-free loans: ₹11 lakh crore extended with exemplary 98 % repayment discipline
  • Digital linkages: Direct Benefit Transfer and Digital Public Infrastructure improve transparency and speed
  • Enterprise support: 3.74 lakh rural ventures nurtured under Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

International Dimension

  • Ethiopia interest: First African nation formally planning to adopt full DAY-NRLM framework
  • SDG export: Model showcases scalable pathway for No-Poverty and Gender-Equality targets
  • Global recognition: Cited as credit-discipline benchmark in multilateral rural-finance studies

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch year2011 (as NRLM)
Renamed year2016 to DAY-NRLM
Nodal ministryRural Development
Women mobilised10.05 crore
SHGs formed90.9 lakh
Credit disbursed₹11 lakh crore, collateral-free
Repayment rate98 %
Funding patternCentre–State jointly
Youth trained74 lakh (DDU-GKY + RSETIs, by mid-2025)
Producer groups1.95 lakh

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2026PYQ 1

Consider the following statements regarding the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM):

GEO_GS 2020PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana is NOT correct?

GS-1Editorial

14.Universal Basic Income Welfare Pivot (Universal Basic Income)

The Hindu
Illustration for Universal Basic Income Welfare Pivot (Universal Basic Income)

What & Where

Definition: periodic, unconditional cash transfer for every citizen, guaranteeing basic economic security

Process: Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfer delivers money directly, minimising leakage

Geography: India debating nationwide roll-out after Madhya Pradesh 2011-13 pilot

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Cost: 5 % GDP demands subsidy pruning, wealth/inheritance/carbon taxes
  • Inequality: Top decile owns 77 % wealth; UBI aims income redistribution
  • Jobless-growth: 8.4 % GDP rise yet high unemployment; automation intensifies insecurity

Tech & Schemes

  • JAM: Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trio underpins real-time transfers
  • Integration: Proposal to retain PDS, MGNREGA while layering cash support
  • Oversight: Call for Independent Social Security Commission for monitoring

International Examples

  • Finland: 2017-19 trial improved well-being without reducing work effort
  • Iran: 2011 subsidy swap to cash cut poverty, avoided inflation spike
  • Kenya: GiveDirectly long-term transfers spurred local enterprise, food security

Implementation Challenges

  • Fiscal-space: Borrowing or higher taxes needed to avoid deficit slippage
  • Inflation: Sudden demand spur risks food/essentials price rise if supply stagnant
  • Digital-divide: Patchy banking, connectivity could exclude rural, tribal recipients

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Wealth Gini (India)75
Top 10 % wealth share77 % of national wealth
Automation risk69 % Indian jobs (McKinsey)
Welfare schemes counted400 + (NITI Aayog 2022)
Full UBI cost5 % of GDP at ₹7,620 per head/yr
World Happiness rank126 / 137 (2023)
MP pilot nutrition gain↑ 25 % household nutrition
Kenya UBI food security↑ 40 % post-transfer
Finland UBI effectBetter mental health, job stability

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2017PYQ 1

Which of the following is a most likely consequence of implementing the ‘Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’?

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 2

भारत सरकार की प्रमुख टेलीमेडिसिन सेवा ‘ई-संजीवनी’ को हाल ही में किसके साथ एकीकृत किया गया?

GS-1Misc

15.Indian Hockey Centennial (Indian Hockey History)

PIB

What & Where

Hockey: stick-and-ball sport; key variants – field hockey (synthetic turf) and ice hockey (ice rink).

India: game arrived 1850s via British; first club – Calcutta 1855; governing HQ – Hockey India, New Delhi.

Centenary: 7 Nov 1925–2025 since Indian Hockey Federation’s founding; flagship event at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Evolution

  • 1850s British officers spread game; Beighton Cup (Calcutta) oldest domestic trophy.
  • 1876 UK rules adapted locally, fuelling tournaments like Aga Khan (Bombay).
  • 1926 New Zealand tour unveiled Dhyan Chand, igniting mass appeal.

Governance & Policy

  • 2009 merger unified men’s & women’s bodies; single selection ladder.
  • Recognised NSF 2014; affiliates: FIH, IOA, AHF.
  • Runs long-term academies, grassroots leagues, high-performance centres.

Achievements & Records

  • Golden Era 1928-56: unrivalled six Olympic golds.
  • 1975 World Cup triumph remains lone title.
  • 2025 Asia Cup win sealed historic continental treble.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Centenary span1925 – 2025
First governing bodyIndian Hockey Federation, 7 Nov 1925
Current apex bodyHockey India, formed 2009; NSF status 2014
Olympic medals13 (8 G, 1 S, 4 B)
Consecutive Olympic golds6 (1928-56)
World Cup win1975, Kuala Lumpur
Men’s FIH rank (Jul 2025)5th
Women’s FIH rank (Jul 2025)9th
Triple continental titlesAsian Games, ACT, Asia Cup (2025 sweep)
National Sports Day29 Aug (Dhyan Chand birth)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

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Consider the following statements: Towards the close of 1995, the fortunes of Indian hockey were believed to be on the upswing because —

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The host country of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, 2025 is

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