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16 topicsGS-1: 2GS-2: 8GS-3: 6
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GS-2Editorial

1.Reforming Governor’s Constitutional Role (Governor Powers)

Economic Times

What & Where

Governor; constitutional head of state, appointed by President, Articles 153-162, normally bound by Council of Ministers’ advice

Discretionary powers; bill assent (Art 200-201), Assembly summoning (Art 174), President’s Rule report (Art 356), major friction points

Chancellor role; Governor ex-officio head of most state universities across India, triggers Centre-State tussles over VC selection

Quick Facts for MCQs

Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 163 ambiguity; no exhaustive list of circumstances for personal discretion
  • Article 200/201 processes; assent, withholding, reservation for President cause legislative gridlock
  • Article 356 safeguard; commissions urge sparing use and Parliament ratification before assembly dissolution

Key Controversies

  • VC appointments; Kerala Governor ignored SC-picked panel, reigniting Chancellor dispute
  • Bill assent delays; withholding, reservation or silence stalls elected legislature’s agenda
  • Hung houses; discretionary CM invitations and floor-test orders often labelled partisan

Reform Recommendations

  • Sarkaria 1988; interstate council creation, Parliament nod for assembly dissolution
  • Punchhi 2010; limit Chancellor role, six-month decision window on reserved bills, stronger Art 356 barriers
  • Collegium idea; PM, CJI, Lok Sabha Speaker, concerned CM to depoliticise Governor appointments

Judicial Landmarks

  • Nabam Rebia 2016; summoning or proroguing Assembly only on cabinet advice
  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan 2020; Speaker or Governor may order floor test when majority doubtful
  • Article 143 opinion 2025; courts reject rigid timelines yet allow review of unexplained gubernatorial delays

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Recent SC committeeAug 2025, Justice Dhulia for Kerala VC shortlist
Article on Governor’s discretionArticle 163
Time-limit for re-passed bills (2023 TN case)Assent mandatory within 1 month
Punchhi cap for reserved billsMax 6 months with Governor
Governor tenure as per Const.5 years, removable at President’s pleasure
Sarkaria report year1988
Presidential Reference ruling2025, no deemed assent under Art 200/201

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2022PYQ 1

The landmark case of D. C. Wadhwa vs. State of Bihar in the Supreme Court is related to which one of the following powers of the Governor?

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2014PYQ 2

Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State?

GS-2Editorial

2.National Judicial Policy and NJAC Revival (Judicial Reforms)

The Hindu

What & Where

National Judicial Policy; proposed uniform standards for Indian courts to curb divergent rulings & improve access.

National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC); 99th Amendment‐created 6-member body to replace Collegium, struck down 2015.

Collegium System; CJI + senior SC judges currently recommend SC/HC appointments across India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Divergence; conflicting bail, reservation rulings spur forum shopping, reduce legal certainty.
  • Article power; HCs control procedures under Arts 214-226, may resist one-size policy.
  • SC open to plea; revival of NJAC likely re-examined judiciary–executive balance.

Structural Gaps

  • Infrastructure; district courts face overcrowding, IT deficits, poor safety standards.
  • Staffing; chronic vacancies, delayed appointments overstretch benches.
  • Data; absence of real-time statistics hampers evidence-based reforms.

Technology & Case Management

  • Adoption; e-filing, virtual hearings uneven across states.
  • Goal; unified digital interface for citizen-friendly access.
  • Need; standard timelines for filing, listing, disposal nationwide.

Access & Social Concerns

  • Barriers; high costs, distance, language exclude marginalised litigants.
  • Remedies; regional courts, local-language services, legal aid, ADR mediation.
  • Trust; consistent jurisprudence and transparency vital for public confidence.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Pending cases (all courts)5 crore +
HC judge vacancy≈33 % posts
Judge-population ratio (HC)1 judge : 18.7 lakh people
99th Constitutional AmendmentEnacted 2014 to form NJAC
NJAC compositionCJI, 2 senior SC judges, Law Minister, 2 eminent persons
NJAC veto ruleAny 2 members could block a name
SC verdict on NJAC2015; declared unconstitutional (Fourth Judges Case)
Key basic-structure concernJudicial independence

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2019PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS1 2021PYQ 2

With reference to Indian judiciary, consider the following statements:

GS-2Polity

3.Polygamy Laws and Reforms in India (Personal Laws)

Indian Express

What & Where

Polygamy = one person simultaneously married to multiple spouses; legality varies by religion, state laws, tribal customs.

Assam (2025) joins Uttarakhand (2024) in banning polygamy for non-tribals; offence made cognisable, non-bailable.

Goa civil code mandates monogamy for all, with a dormant 1910 clause for rare Hindu second marriage.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Hindu, Parsi, Christian laws outlaw bigamy; Muslim men exempt under Shariat Act, 1937.
  • Uttarakhand UCC 2024 bans bigamy, exempts Scheduled Tribes.
  • Assam Bill aligns with Uniform Civil Code objective, but spares autonomous tribal areas.

Constitutional Angle

  • Article 371B, Sixth Schedule grant Assam tribal areas legislative autonomy over personal law.
  • Parliament holds concurrent power on marriage; states can legislate when central law silent.
  • Reform tests balance between personal-law freedom and gender-equality mandates.

Penal Consequences

  • Existing IPC/BNS Section 82 punishes bigamy for non-Muslims; Assam adds stricter, explicit clause.
  • Conviction triggers civil disabilities: job loss, ineligibility to contest elections, denial of state benefits.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
States banning polygamy (2025)Uttarakhand, Assam
Assam Bill statusPassed; awaiting Governor assent
Punishment under Assam Bill7–10 years imprisonment + fine
Disqualifications under Assam BillGovt jobs & electoral contests barred for convicts
Offence nature (Assam)Cognisable, non-bailable
Muslim Personal Law limitUp to four wives for men
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955Bigamy void & punishable
Parsis Act, 1936Prohibits bigamy
Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872Prohibits bigamy
Constitutional tribal exemptionFifth & Sixth Schedule areas

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1995PYQ 1

In which one of the following States of India is it legal for a Hindu male and illegal for a Muslim male to have more than one living wife?

GS-3Economy

4.Masala Bonds Rupee Overseas Financing (Masala Bonds)

The Hindu

What & Where

Definition Masala Bonds rupee-denominated debt sold overseas by Indian issuers, investor shoulders forex risk

First issue IFC 2014 ₹1,000 cr London; RBI formally allowed 2015 Rupee Bond framework

Listings global exchanges London Singapore; proceeds repatriated in INR to India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Enforcement Directorate issued FEMA show-cause to Kerala CM ex-FinMin KIIFB officials over 2019 KIIFB Masala Bond
  • Allegations include RBI approval lapses and foreign exchange management breaches in bond raising
  • Outcome may clarify state entities’ compliance obligations for offshore rupee debt

Economic Angle

  • Objective diversify funding away from external commercial borrowings and shift currency risk to global investors
  • Benefit lowers borrowing costs for infrastructure and widens offshore rupee investor base
  • Supports long-term rupee internationalisation and deepens offshore INR derivative markets

Issuance Norms

  • Maturity now minimum three years; coupons redemption both settled in INR
  • Proceeds barred from capital market investment land purchase FDI-prohibited activities
  • Bonds may list on London or Singapore exchanges enhancing visibility and liquidity

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Bond currencyIndian Rupee denominated
Investor bearsExchange-rate risk
First issuer (global)International Finance Corporation 2014
RBI permission year2015
Initial minimum maturity5 years
Current minimum maturity3 years
Eligible issuersCorporates NBFCs REITs InvITs
Interest withholding tax5 %
Capital gains on INR riseExempt
Prohibited usesCapital markets land real estate* FDI-barred sectors

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2016PYQ 1

With reference to 'IFC Masala Bonds', sometimes seen in the news, which of the statements given below is/are correct?

GS1 2019PYQ 2

Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?

GS-3EconomyQuick Bite

5.IMF Critique of India’s GDP Statistics (GDP Data Quality)

Indian Express
Illustration for IMF Critique of India’s GDP Statistics (GDP Data Quality)

What & Where

IMF Data Adequacy Assessment grades quality of national accounts & government finance statistics

Scale ranges A (adequate) → D (serious); India gets grade C for 2025

Focus area is India’s GDP and fiscal data compiled by the National Statistical Office

Quick Facts for MCQs

Methodological Gaps

  • Outdated base year 2011-12 skews sectoral weights
  • Single deflation via WPI ignores services; IMF prefers PPI plus double deflation
  • Unexplained production-expenditure GDP divergence and missing seasonally adjusted, sector-wise investment data

IMF Suggestions

  • Prioritise delayed population census and improve state statistical systems
  • Adopt digital high-frequency data, regularly rebase GDP and CPI, publish seasonal adjustments
  • Create independent Statistical Audit Authority and raise NSO manpower and funding

Government Response

  • Statistical overhaul underway with 2022-23 GDP and 2024 CPI series rollout Feb 2026
  • Plan includes shift towards PPI based double deflation and granular quarterly investment tables
  • Objective to lift IMF data grade and strengthen economic surveillance credibility

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Assessment year2025
India’s IMF gradeC
Scale rangeA to D
Current GDP base year2011-12
New GDP base year2022-23 (launch Feb 2026)
New CPI base year2024 (launch Feb 2026)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2000PYQ 1

The new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) series released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in February 1999 is with reference to base price of

ESE_GS, GS1 2023PYQ 2

IMF raises its projection for economic growth in 2021-22 to

GS-1Editorial

6.India’s Disaster Risk Financing Framework (Disaster Financing)

The Hindu

What & Where

Disaster-financing: SDRF & NDRF (response) + SDRMF & NDRMF (mitigation) under Disaster Management Act & 15th FC (2021-26).

Cost-sharing: Centre:State 75:25 (general) & 90:10 (NE/Himalayan); NDRF 100 % Centre.

Case-study: July 2024 Wayanad landslides, Kerala claimed ₹2,200 cr; Centre sanctioned ₹260 cr.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Funds & Cost-sharing

  • Allocation criteria: population, area, past spending—hazard exposure excluded.
  • SDRMF merges relief & mitigation, enabling long-term resilience spending.
  • Centre often labels committed SDRF sums “unspent,” lowering future releases.

Procedural Gaps

  • Multi-layer clearances delay payouts during critical first weeks.
  • Ambiguous ‘severe’ tag enables discretionary NDRF access.
  • Outdated compensation norms fail to cover present rebuilding costs.

International Examples

  • USA uses per-capita damage thresholds for automatic federal aid.
  • Mexico & Caribbean pools employ parametric triggers (rainfall, wind speed).
  • Australia links federal help to state relief spend as % of revenue.

Proposed Reforms

  • Adopt rule-based triggers: rainfall, fatalities, loss-to-GSDP, GIS risk index.
  • Update relief amounts; align Finance-Commission formula with multi-hazard vulnerability.
  • Strengthen DDMAs & urban bodies with GIS tools, Aapda Mitra-style volunteers.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
15th Finance Commission cycle2021-22 to 2025-26
SDRF Centre share (general)75 %
SDRF Centre share (NE/Himalayan)90 %
SDRF use for local disasters≤ 10 % of annual corpus
NDRF funding sourceEntirely Union Budget
SDMF Centre share (general)75 %
SDMF Centre share (NE/Himalayan)90 %
States yet to set up SDMFTelangana only
Death relief norm₹4 lakh per life
Fully damaged house relief₹1.2 lakh
Kerala loss vs relief₹2,200 cr vs ₹260 cr
‘Severe disaster’ definition in ActNot specified

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2024PYQ 1

'Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States' from the allocation of preparedness and Capacity Building Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund for strengthening fire services in the States was introduced by which Union Ministry?

GS-3Environment

7.Bioremediation Methods for Pollution Cleanup (Bioremediation)

The Hindu
Illustration for Bioremediation Methods for Pollution Cleanup (Bioremediation)

What & Where

Definition: Bioremediation employs living microbes, fungi, algae, plants to detoxify oil, metals, pesticides, plastics in soil / water

Types: In-situ—bioventing, air-sparging, biobarriers; Ex-situ—bioreactors treating excavated media, then returned

Geography: Indian hotspots—Ganga-Yamuna-Cauvery stretches, industrial belts of NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra

Quick Facts for MCQs

Drivers in India

  • Pollution load: 39,000 MLD untreated sewage, heavy industrial effluents into major rivers
  • Economic logic: Conventional cleanup capital intensive, bioremediation cheaper, scalable for large landscapes
  • Biodiversity edge: Diverse native microbes enhance site-specific degradation efficiency

Institutional Landscape

  • Government push: DBT, CSIR-NEERI, IITs running pilots, field demonstrations
  • Mission links: Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat, Smart Cities earmark sites for microbial cleanup
  • Absence of national certification delaying widespread commercial adoption

Technological Advances

  • GM microbes engineered to digest plastics, hydrocarbons under lab-to-field transition
  • Plant-microbe consortia tested for urban landfill leachate removal
  • Water recirculation systems enable simultaneous groundwater oxygenation and contaminant stripping

Implementation Challenges

  • Site heterogeneity demands customised microbial consortia, complicating standardisation
  • Slow kinetics: Temperature, pH, nutrient swings prolong remediation timelines, hamper predictability
  • Regulatory vacuum: GM organism release, performance monitoring, liability rules still unclear

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Energy demandSignificantly lower than mechanical / chemical remediation
Core by-productsWater, CO₂, organic acids, non-leachable metal forms
Indigenous advantageThermo-, halo-, pollutant-tolerant microbes native to India
Key in-situ toolBioventing injects air + nutrients into unsaturated soils
Lead R&D agencyCSIR-NEERI nodal for national pilots
Funding schemeDBT Clean Technology Programme
Biosafety gapNo unified protocol for GM microbes release
Cost factorGenerally 3–10 × cheaper than conventional cleanup

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2011PYQ 1

Recently, ‘oilzapper’ was in the news. What is it?

GS1 2011PYQ 2

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?

GS-3S&T

8.Paraná Valles Martian Drainage System (Planetary Geology)

Phy
Illustration for Paraná Valles Martian Drainage System (Planetary Geology)

What & Where

Paraná Valles = ancient rainfall-fed fluvial basin; valleys carved by liquid water ~3–4 Ga

Located in Margaritifer Terra, southern Mars; drainage area > 100,000 km²; among 16 newly mapped large basins

Offers strongest evidence of sustained surface runoff and planet-wide hydrological cycle

Quick Facts for MCQs

Formation Process

  • Rainfall precipitation generated surface runoff eroding bedrock and carving interconnected valleys
  • Prolonged activity transported sediments, nutrients downstream, mirroring terrestrial river evolution
  • Likely discharged into larger canyon systems or a hypothesised northern ocean

Geomorphology

  • Displays tree-like dendritic valleys, streams, lakes, sedimentary channels, canyon termini
  • Preserved erosional and depositional features enable detailed remote-sensing reconstruction
  • Basin mapping crosses 100 km threshold defining Earth-scale river systems

Astrobiology Value

  • Large drainage concentrates organics and minerals, enhancing potential habitats for microbes
  • Fine-grained sediments ideal for rover core sampling and biosignature preservation
  • Considered priority target for future Mars missions seeking past life

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
PlanetMars
HemisphereSouthern
Geologic RegionMargaritifer Terra
System TypeLarge fluvial drainage
Watershed Size> 100,000 km²
Valley PatternDendritic branching
Water SourceRainfall-fed runoff
Formation EraEarly warm, wet Mars
Exploration ValueHigh biosignature potential
GS-3S&T

9.Nuclear Power Systems for Space Missions (Space Nuclear Power)

The Hindu

What & Where

Space nuclear power: compact fission reactors delivering continuous, high-density energy beyond Earth orbit

Core sites: lunar surface (poles, shadowed craters), future Mars bases, deep-space propulsion stages

Milestone: U.S. target to land first lunar reactor by early-2030s, pioneering permanent off-Earth power

Quick Facts for MCQs

Power Drivers

  • Solar-gaps: weak polar light, dust storms, 14-day nights cut photovoltaic reliability
  • ISRU-demand: ice mining, oxygen & fuel production need uninterrupted megawatt energy
  • Habitat-need: life-support, thermal control, comms require baseline power independent of weather

Applications

  • Surface-ops: reactors energise labs, drills, long-range rovers
  • Propulsion: NTP halves Mars transit; NEP offers sustained low-thrust cargo pushes
  • Science: enables probes in permanently shadowed craters and deep-space where sunlight scarce

Legal & Policy

  • Treaty-gap: current laws silent on propulsion reactors and end-of-life disposal
  • Oversight-call: proposals for IAEA-like body to certify space reactor safety
  • Transparency-tool: joint missions & open data urged to pre-empt militarisation fears

Risks

  • Launch-accident: potential radioactive dispersion across nations
  • Environmental-harm: fallout could contaminate pristine lunar/Martian sites before study
  • Safety-zone debate: reactor exclusion areas may morph into de facto territorial claims

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Key driver on Moon14-day night, dust blocking solar
Minimum power envisagedMegawatt-class continuous output
Top applicationsHabitats, ISRU, rover recharge, propulsion
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP)Reactor heats hydrogen for faster Mars trips
Nuclear electric propulsion (NEP)Reactor electricity powers ion engines
Governing treaty banOuter Space Treaty 1967 bans nuclear weapons, not reactors
Procedural safety codeUN Principles 1992 for space nuclear power
Damage liability lawLiability Convention 1972
Non-proliferation linkNPT controls weaponisation of nuclear material
Announced deployment windowEarly 2030s (U.S. plan)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2024PYQ 1

With reference to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), consider the following statements:

GS-3S&TQuick Bite

10.WHO Guidelines on GLP-1 Obesity Drugs (Anti-Obesity Drugs)

Indian Express

What & Where

GLP-1 weight-loss medicines mimic gut hormone to suppress appetite; enable 15–20 % body-weight reduction

WHO 2025 guideline okays conditional lifelong GLP-1 use for adults with obesity except pregnancy

Obesity classified as WHO chronic disease; BMI cut-offs: ≥30 global, ≥25 India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Guidelines

  • WHO allows GLP-1 only with intensive behavioural support diet exercise structured lifestyle interventions
  • Pregnancy excluded owing to insufficient long-term safety evidence
  • Medication framed within comprehensive lifelong obesity care plan

Equity & Access

  • WHO flags current manufacturing meets <10 % candidate pool by 2030
  • Calls for equitable access across income settings
  • Notes chronic disease label demands insurance and public-health coverage expansion

Indian Data

  • NFHS-5 records roughly one-quarter adults overweight/obese
  • Indian BMI threshold lower reflecting higher metabolic risk
  • Rising prevalence aligns with projected global doubling by 2030

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
WHO guideline year2025
Drug classGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 agonists
Expected weight loss15–20 % (comparable to bariatric surgery)
Additional clinical benefitsCardiovascular, kidney, liver, sleep-apnoea
Adult global BMI obesity cut-off≥30 kg / m²
Adult Indian BMI obesity cut-off≥25 kg / m²
Morbid obesity definitionBMI ≥35
Global obese population>1 billion
Global obesity deaths 20243.7 million
Production gap warning<10 % demand met by 2030
Indian prevalence NFHS-524 % women, 23 % men overweight/obese
GS-2Polity

11.India to Chair International IDEA 2025 (Election Assistance)

PIB

What & Where

International IDEA – intergovernmental body dedicated to strengthening democratic institutions, processes and norms worldwide.

Founded 1995; headquarters Stockholm, Sweden; enjoys UN GA Observer status since 2003.

Membership 35 states; India among 14 founders and will chair from 3 Dec 2025.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Core Functions

  • Knowledge-production: comparative research on elections, parties, constitutions, innovations.
  • Capacity-building: trains EMBs, political parties, democratic institutions for integrity.
  • Advisory: technical assistance on electoral reforms and institutional design.

India Angle

  • Founding-member: active since 1995, shares large-scale electoral best practices.
  • Upcoming-chair: CEC Gyanesh Kumar to lead Governing Council in 2025.
  • Voter-scale: manages elections for 900 + million voters, enhancing IDEA’s credibility.

Global Significance

  • Unique-status: sole intergovernmental organisation with exclusive democracy mandate.
  • Virtuous-cycle: research → training → advocacy → policy reform enhances sustainability.
  • Dialogue-platform: convenes policymakers, civil society, regional bodies for electoral integrity.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Founding year1995
HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
Current membership35 countries
Founding members14 (incl. India)
UNGA statusObserver since 2003
Observer countriesUSA, Japan
Exclusive mandateGlobal democracy support
Next Indian chairship3 Dec 2025 – Gyanesh Kumar

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2026PYQ 1

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

GS-2Security

12.Biological Weapons Convention 50th Anniversary (Biological Weapons)

MEA
Illustration for Biological Weapons Convention 50th Anniversary (Biological Weapons)

What & Where

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC): first global treaty banning development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, transfer, use of biological & toxin weapons.

Opened for signature 10 Apr 1972 (London, Moscow, Washington); entered into force 26 Mar 1975; 189 States Parties including India.

50-year anniversary flagged at New Delhi conference “50 Years of BWC: Strengthening Biosecurity for the Global South”.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Obligation: States must destroy existing bioweapon stocks, refrain from any offensive biological research.
  • Normative success: No state openly claims bioweapon possession today.
  • Enforcement: Only political mechanisms, no legally binding inspections.

Compliance Challenges

  • Past violations: Soviet Union clandestine program, Iraq 1980s-90s.
  • Verification gap: Lack of on-site inspections hinders confidence-building.
  • Article VI rarely invoked, reflecting diplomatic sensitivity.

Global South Focus

  • Vulnerability: Limited labs, high disease burden, weak biosafety infrastructure heighten risk.
  • Capacity need: Article X cooperation critical for surveillance, diagnostics, response.
  • New Delhi meet spotlighted equitable tech access and pandemic preparedness.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Treaty categoryMultilateral WMD disarmament treaty
Depositary governmentsUnited Kingdom, USSR / Russia, United States
Opened for signature10 Apr 1972
Entered into force26 Mar 1975
Current membership189 States Parties
India statusFounding State Party, committed to full compliance
Core prohibitionsArticles I–III ban bioweapon development, stockpile, use; mandate destruction
Verification regimeNone; relies on political complaints under Article VI
Cooperation clauseArticle X promotes peaceful biotech, capacity building
Review conference cycleApproximately every 5 years

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1995PYQ 1

84. The signatories to the treaty banning chemical weapons include

GS1 2005PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements is correct?

GS-2MiscQuick Bite

13.Antarctica Treaty Day and NCPOR Milestone (Antarctica Treaty)

PIB

What & Where

Antarctica Day; annual 1 December celebration of 1959 Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Treaty; designates area south of 60° S for peaceful scientific use

NCPOR; Goa-based nodal body guiding Indian polar and Southern Ocean research

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Treaty; freezes territorial claims, institutes joint governance
  • Clause; mandates exclusive peaceful scientific use, bans militarisation & nukes
  • Consultative status; grants India voting voice in Antarctic governance

Infrastructure & Stations

  • NCPOR; builds, maintains Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, Bharati, Himadri, Himansh
  • Finance Ministry; sanctioned Maitri-II station expansion
  • Facilities; Goa campus hosts recognised doctoral research labs

Science & Strategy

  • Research; multidisciplinary polar, Southern Ocean, Himalayan projects under NCPOR
  • Mission; polar data integrated into national Deep Ocean Mission priorities
  • Aim; strengthen India’s role in global cryosphere and climate science

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Antarctic Treaty year1959
Latitude coverageSouth of 60° S
Earth area protected≈10 %
Prohibited activityNuclear arms & waste
India treaty statusConsultative Party
India since1983
Antarctica Day1 December
NCPOR set-up1998
Parent ministryEarth Sciences
Active Antarctic stationsMaitri (1989), Bharati (2011)
First Indian stationDakshin Gangotri (1983)
Approved new stationMaitri-II, East Antarctica
Arctic stationHimadri
Himalayan stationHimansh
Strategic linkDeep Ocean Mission
GS-2Misc

14.India Re-Elected to UNESCO Executive Board (UNESCO Governance)

News on Air
Illustration for India Re-Elected to UNESCO Executive Board (UNESCO Governance)

What & Where

UNESCO Executive Board: 1 of 3 constitutional organs supervising programmes and strategic direction.

Geography: Meets at UNESCO HQ, Paris, France.

Origin: Created 1946, soon after UNESCO’s 1945 Constitution entered force.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Composition & Tenure

  • Membership: 58 States chosen every 2 years for staggered 4-year terms.
  • Representation: Seats allocated across five regional groups for balance.
  • India: Continuously active voice; earlier terms include 2019–23.

Mandate & Powers

  • Oversight: Examines work programme, approves budget before General Conference.
  • Advisory: Recommends Director-General appointment, agenda, new memberships.
  • Convening: Can call international meets on education, science, culture.

India Significance

  • Influence: Shapes global norms on digital inclusion, heritage conservation, media literacy.
  • Soft power: Re-election reinforces image as champion of human-centric multilateralism.
  • Diplomacy: Platform for advancing Global South priorities on climate-science cooperation.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Total Board seats58 Member States
Election bodyUNESCO General Conference
Individual tenure4 years
Current Indian win2025–29 cycle
HeadquartersParis, France
Establishment year1946 (Board)
Regional principleElectoral groups ensure equitable distribution
Core functionsProgramme review, budget, DG advice, new members
GS-2Scheme

15.Sanchar Saathi Telecom Security Platform (Telecom Security)

NDTV
Illustration for Sanchar Saathi Telecom Security Platform (Telecom Security)

What & Where

What: Sanchar Saathi – DoT-built telecom security platform for fraud reporting, SIM/IMEI checks, stolen-phone blocking

Process: User self-service via Chakshu, Know-your-SIM, CEIR IMEI blacklist modules, works online & through pre-installed app

Where: Mandatory on every smartphone sold in India from March 2026 onward

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Mandate: Gazette notification directs OEMs to ship phones with app from 1 Mar 2026
  • Compliance: Applies to all handset brands, new models and existing lines in Indian market
  • Oversight: Enforcement and updates handled by DoT’s Telecom Security wing

Security Dimension

  • Threat: Tackles phishing links, fake KYC, impersonation scams, spam SMS/WhatsApp
  • Control: Central Equipment Identity Register blocks cloned or tampered IMEIs nationwide
  • Benefit: Curbing digital fraud losses affecting millions of Indian mobile users yearly

Tech & Schemes

  • Integration: Works with Aadhaar/e-KYC databases for SIM linkage verification
  • Utility: Built-in ISP locator, helpline directory, unsafe APK/phishing URL reporting
  • Market impact: Protects grey/second-hand handset buyers via real-time IMEI status check

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Nodal ministryDepartment of Telecommunications
First launchMay 2023 (web); app pre-install mandate starts Mar 2026
Core toolsChakshu, Know Your Mobile Connections, CEIR IMEI blocker
Lost/stolen phones recovered7 lakh + till date
SIM misuse checkLists all numbers linked to one ID
International call spoof reportingFlags foreign calls masked as +91
Second-hand phone aidVerifies IMEI authenticity/blacklist status
Awareness materialIn-app telecom & cyber-risk advisories

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2024PYQ 1

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

CDS_GK, GEO_GS 2025PYQ 2

Which one of the following statements about Tele MANAS App is correct?

GS-1Polity

16.Assam Three-Tier Scheduled Tribes Proposal (ST Classification)

Economic Times

What & Where

Assam GoM proposes three-tier ST list: Plains, Hills, new Valley.

Goal: confer ST status on six sizeable communities without trimming present beneficiaries’ reservation share.

Requires special Parliamentary Act; scheme confined to Assam’s plains-valley-hill geography.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Art 342: President notifies STs for each state after Governor consultation.
  • Parliamentary statute compulsory for addition, deletion, or Assam’s three-tier sub-classification.
  • Davinder Singh 2024 upheld intra-SC/ST sub-groups, bolstering Assam proposal.

Communities Affected

  • Claimant groups: Ahom, Chutia, Tea Tribes, Moran, Matak, Koch Rajbongshi.
  • Existing Plains/Hills STs protest perceived quota dilution, triggering state-wide unrest.
  • Koch Rajbongshi split: Goalpara district enters Plains tier; rest slated for Valley tier.

Reservation Structure

  • Separate state quotas for each tier; one consolidated ST list for central services.
  • GoM assures unchanged reservation percentage for current Plains/Hills STs.
  • Re-organisation seeks equitable benefit distribution leveraging Supreme Court nod for sub-classification.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Proposing bodyAssam Group of Ministers (2025)
New categoryST (Valley)
Existing tiersST (Plains), ST (Hills)
Communities targetedAhom, Chutia, Tea Tribes, Moran, Matak, Koch Rajbongshi
Constitutional definitionArt 366(25)
Presidential notification articleArt 342
SC validation caseState of Punjab v Davinder Singh (2024)
Tribe-criteria panelLokur Committee 1956

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements is not true with regard to tribal welfare?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2023PYQ 2

निम्नलिखित में से असम का नृजातीय समुदाय (ethnic community) कौन-सा है?

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