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14 topicsGS-1: 2GS-2: 3GS-3: 9
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GS-2Polity

1.Judicial Pendency Manpower Shortage Analysis (Judiciary Backlog)

The Hindu

What & Where

Definition Judicial pendency = total cases awaiting disposal; vacancies = sanctioned judgeships lying unfilled

Key-levels Supreme Court, 25 High Courts, 16,000+ subordinate courts form the three-tier backlog map

Hotspots Uttar Pradesh’s lower courts (1.13 cr cases) and Allahabad HC (11.66 lakh) lead national pile-up

Quick Facts for MCQs

Systemic Issues

  • Inadequacy Low judge strength, slow appointments due Collegium-Executive tussle
  • Infrastructure Shortage of courtrooms, staff, digital tools hampers daily disposal
  • Procedure Frequent adjournments, weak case grouping, limited specialised benches prolong hearings

Impact on Governance

  • Constitutional Violates Article 21 right to speedy justice; risks Rule of Law erosion
  • Social Under-trial prisoners, marginalised litigants suffer extended pre-trial detention
  • Economic Delayed commercial verdicts raise transaction costs; hurt Ease-of-Doing-Business rankings

Reform Measures

  • Recruitment Mission-mode filling to hit 50 judges/million; priority to high-need states
  • Technology e-Courts, video hearings, AI case-triage for scheduling and mediation nudges
  • ADR push Compulsory pre-litigation mediation, stronger Lok Adalats, institutional arbitration enforcement

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Total lower-court pendency4.80 crore cases
SC pending cases (2025)90,694
SC pendency rise 2021-25~30 %
Judge–population ratio21 per million
Law Comm. 1987 target50 per million
Vacancies-subordinate courts4,855
Vacancies-High Courts297
State with max backlogUttar Pradesh 1.13 crore
HC with max backlogAllahabad 11.66 lakh
GS-3Economy

2.Revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (Aviation Regulation)

Business Standard

What & Where

Regulatory ceiling on pilots’ duty hours, flight hours, night landings and mandated rest to curb fatigue.

Notified January 2024 by Directorate General of Civil Aviation; legally binding across Indian civil aviation.

Applies to all scheduled and non-scheduled commercial flights operating to, from or within India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Safety & Fatigue Science

  • Circadian: 00:00–06:00 protection targets peak biological fatigue window, lowering error probability.
  • Limitation: Two night landings curb workload during highest-risk phases of flight.
  • Recovery: Uninterrupted 48-hour rest blocks dissipate cumulative fatigue from dense rosters.

Implementation Timeline

  • Phase-in: Staggered milestones until 1 Nov 2025 for roster redesign and crew augmentation.
  • Monitoring: DGCA auditing of airline rosters and fatigue reports during transition.

Operational Impact

  • Disruption: Indigo leads industry-wide cancellations/delays due to sudden crew insufficiency.
  • Capacity: Airlines compelled to hire additional pilots and adjust early-morning, red-eye schedules.

International Alignment

  • Compliance: Mirrors ICAO SARPs and global best practices on fatigue risk management.
  • Benchmark: Brings Indian FDTL broadly in line with EASA and FAA duty-time limits.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Regulating bodyDGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation
Framework notifiedJanuary 2024
Continuous weekly restMinimum 48 hours
Night period defined00:00 – 06:00 IST
Max night landings2 per duty period
Max consecutive night duties2
Mandatory fatigue reportingYes, airline-submitted & pilot-flagged
Full compliance deadline1 Nov 2025
GS-1History

3.Mahad Satyagraha Dalit Rights Movement (Dalit Civil Rights)

The Hindu
Illustration for Mahad Satyagraha Dalit Rights Movement (Dalit Civil Rights)

What & Where

Non-violent Dalit rights movement asserting use of Chavdar Tank at Mahad, Raigad district, Bombay Presidency

Led by B. R. Ambedkar; conducted in two phases, 19-20 March & 25-26 December 1927

Pioneered constitutional morality against caste exclusion, influencing later national rights discourse

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Bole Resolution allowed but did not enforce Dalit public facility access
  • 1937 Bombay HC ruling legally secured water rights for Dalits
  • Satyagraha precedent guided future civil rights jurisprudence

Social Concerns

  • Untouchability blocked basic civic utilities, exposing entrenched caste oppression
  • Goregaon and Dasgaon caste violence catalysed organised mobilisation
  • Purification acts illustrated depth of social resistance

Gender Dimension

  • Ambedkar addressed women directly, stressing education and self-respect
  • Significant female presence fused caste and gender justice agendas
  • December 25 marked as Indian Women’s Liberation Day

Constitutional Impact

  • Liberty, Equality, Fraternity first publicly articulated at Mahad, later enshrined in Preamble
  • Experience informed Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste arguments
  • Demonstrated constitutional morality rooted in human dignity and democratic protest

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch phasesMahad 1.0 (19-20 Mar 1927); Mahad 2.0 (25-26 Dec 1927)
DistrictMahad, Raigad, Bombay Presidency
Founder-leaderDr. B. R. Ambedkar
Immediate causeDalit exclusion from Chavdar Tank water
Legal backdrop1923 Bombay Bole Resolution
Symbolic protestBurning of Manusmriti, 25 Dec 1927
Court verdict year1937, Bombay High Court
Verdict essenceNo valid custom barring Dalits; equal civic rights affirmed
Ideological triadLiberty, Equality, Fraternity
Women’s day tag25 Dec observed as Indian Women’s Liberation Day
Upper-caste responsePurification ritual of tank water

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was organized by

GS1, NDA_GAT 1996PYQ 2

His ‘principal forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system …… To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual sessions alongside the Indian National Congress.’ The reference in this passage is to

GS-1Mapping

4.Karahan Tepe Neolithic Site (Neolithic Archaeology)

The Hindu
Illustration for Karahan Tepe Neolithic Site (Neolithic Archaeology)

What & Where

Pre-Pottery Neolithic ritual-residential settlement, part of Taş Tepeler archaeological cluster.

Limestone plateau site in Şanlıurfa Province, SE Türkiye, between Tigris-Euphrates; near Göbekli Tepe.

Occupied ~9400–8000 BCE (≈1,500 yrs); evidences one of earliest symbolic communal societies.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Recent Excavation Finds

  • Human-face pillar: deep-set eyes, angular features; world’s first on T-shape.
  • Stone figurines: stitched-lip heads, expressive faces, serpentinite beads unveiled 2023.
  • Hybrid carvings: animal-human motifs expand mythic repertoire.

Symbolism & Society

  • Anthropomorphic pillars: carved arms, belts, fur garments suggest identity markers.
  • Organised rituals: separate residential and ceremonial enclosures indicate planned layouts.
  • Pre-agricultural community: complex belief systems appeared before crop domestication.

Research Importance

  • Chronology extension: 11,000-year-old portraits predate previously known sculptural faces.
  • Comparative insight: complements Göbekli Tepe data within same cultural horizon.
  • Early sedentism: supports theory that ritual needs spurred settlement formation.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Dating of site~9400–8000 BCE
Occupation span≈1,500 years
ProvinceŞanlıurfa, Türkiye
Nearby landmarkGöbekli Tepe (~35 km)
LandscapeLimestone plateau
River systemBetween Tigris & Euphrates
Project cluster1 of 12 Taş Tepeler settlements
Pillar typeT-shaped monoliths
First-ever findHuman-faced T-pillar
Tallest statue2.3 m male figure
GS-3Environment

5.Early Antarctic Ozone Hole Closure (Ozone Layer Recovery)

Down to Earth

What & Where

Antarctic ozone hole = seasonal stratospheric thinning (<220 DU) above Antarctica during austral spring (Sep–Nov).

Key processes : polar vortex-induced extreme cold, Polar Stratospheric Clouds activating CFC-derived Cl/Br, sunlight-triggered ozone destruction.

Occurs 15–30 km altitude; 2025 hole closed unusually early, signalling long-term layer recovery.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Causes & Mechanisms

  • Polar vortex isolates air, keeping stratosphere < –78 °C, fostering PSC formation.
  • PSC chemistry converts inert halogens to radical ClO, BrO; spring sunlight accelerates ozone loss.
  • Chlorine & bromine atoms can destroy 100,000 + ozone molecules each before deactivation.

Recovery Timeline

  • Halogen decline ≈ 1 % per year post-Protocol; 2025 early closure matches modelled trend.
  • Projections: ozone baseline return—Global 2040, Arctic 2045, Antarctic 2066.
  • Recovery plus ODS phase-out avoids 0.5–1 °C warming by 2050.

Legal & Policy

  • Montreal Protocol controls CFCs, HCFCs, halons; enforcement via trade bans, production quotas.
  • Kigali Amendment targets HFCs, aligning ozone and climate agendas.
  • Treaty credited with averting millions of UV-linked skin cancers and cataracts globally.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Ozone-hole threshold220 Dobson Units
Global mean column≈ 300 DU
First detectionEarly 1980s
Montreal Protocol year1987
Universal ratification2009
Kigali Amendment2016
Human share of Cl + Br (Antarctica)≈ 80 %
Early 2025 closure monthNovember
Expected global recovery~ 2040
Expected Antarctic recovery~ 2066

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 2021PYQ 1

Which one among the following is true about Ozone Hole?

GEO_GS, GS1 2011PYQ 2

The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?

GS-3Species

6.Critically Endangered Vulture Release Plan (Vulture Conservation)

The Hindu
Illustration for Critically Endangered Vulture Release Plan (Vulture Conservation)

What & Where

Release: BNHS to free 6 captive-bred slender-billed & white-rumped vultures in Rani, Assam, Jan 2026

Programme: Part of India’s Long-term Vulture Recovery plan targeting Gyps population rebound

Geography: Species historically span Gangetic plains, Northeast India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia

Quick Facts for MCQs

Habitat & Range

  • Slender-billed: Prefers Gangetic floodplains, Assam riverine tracts, Cambodia lowlands
  • White-rumped: Occupies cities, villages, cultivated plains, occasionally cliffs
  • Both species roost near human settlements for carcass access

Morphology

  • Slender-billed: Long bare neck, narrow bill, grey plumage, pale rump
  • White-rumped: Dark body, white neck ruff, conspicuous white rump & underwing coverts
  • Sexual dimorphism absent in both species

Breeding Ecology

  • Season: White-rumped Oct–Mar; Slender-billed varies, often winter-spring
  • Nests: Solitary or loose colonies on tall trees; slow breeders
  • Egg: Single, thick-shelled, extended parental care

Threats & Decline

  • Veterinary drug diclofenac causes renal failure; major collapse since 1990s
  • Habitat loss, food scarcity, electrocution add secondary pressures
  • Population crash > 95 % makes in-situ reinforcement urgent

Conservation Actions

  • BNHS captive-breeding centres at Rani & Pinjore support release stock
  • Drug ban: India outlawed veterinary diclofenac 2006; enforcement gaps persist
  • Monitoring: GPS-tagging planned to track post-release survival

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Species releasedSlender-billed (Gyps tenuirostris), White-rumped (Gyps bengalensis)
IUCN listing (both)Critically Endangered
Captive birds to be released6
TimetableJanuary 2026
Implementing bodyBombay Natural History Society
Global mature Slender-billed< 870 individuals
Slender-billed wingspan196–258 cm
White-rumped wingspan180–210 cm
Key threat driverDiclofenac-contaminated livestock carcasses
Typical clutch size1 egg
Main nesting substrateTall trees in open/riverine areas
Foraging traitObligate scavenger, mixed-species carcass feeding

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2012PYQ 1

Vultures, which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago, are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

GS-3EnvironmentQuick Bite

7.World Soil Day Significance (Global Awareness Day)

FAO

What & Where

World Soil Day (WSD): annual UN-backed observance on 5 Dec promoting healthy soil & sustainable management.

Platform: FAO-led Global Soil Partnership; origin proposal by International Union of Soil Sciences, championed by Thailand.

2019 focus process: Soil erosion prevention – theme “Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future”.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Institutional Framework

  • FAO coordinates events, guidance, reporting through Global Soil Partnership platform.
  • Thailand’s stewardship secured UN backing; date mirrors King Bhumibol birthday.
  • IUSS remains technical anchor, supplying soil-science expertise.

Awards

  • King Bhumibol WSD Award applauds impactful WSD campaigns from previous year.
  • Glinka World Soil Prize honours global change-makers combating soil degradation.
  • Both annual, FAO-conferred, underscore sustainable soil management achievements.

Timeline

  • 2002 IUSS calls for global soil day; FAO later supports.
  • 2013 UNGA 68/232 proclaims 5 Dec World Soil Day.
  • 2014 first official celebration; 2019 marks erosion-centric sixth edition.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Observance date5 December every year
First official WSD2014 (UNGA decision 2013)
Initiating bodyInternational Union of Soil Sciences, 2002
Lead UN agencyFAO
Host frameworkGlobal Soil Partnership
Key sponsoring nationKingdom of Thailand
Date choice reasonBirthday of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej
2019 theme“Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future”
Core awardsKing Bhumibol WSD Award; Glinka World Soil Prize
Awarding authorityFAO
GS-3SpeciesQuick Bite

8.International Cheetah Day Observance (Cheetah Conservation)

Down to Earth
Illustration for International Cheetah Day Observance (Cheetah Conservation)

What & Where

Cheetah – fastest land mammal; big-cat lineage dating to Miocene (>5 mya); survives only in Africa & a remnant Asian pocket.

Key subspecies: African cheetah (A. j. jubatus) and Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus).

Density hubs: South Africa–Namibia–Botswana (~6.5–7 k); Iran (40–50); 8 translocated to Kuno NP, India 2022.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Biological Traits

  • African cheetah bigger; Asiatic smaller, paler, longer neck, more fur.
  • Asiatic variant often shows red eyes and cat-like face.

Conservation Status

  • Only large carnivore eradicated from India; now under revival project.
  • Both subspecies enjoy highest global trade protection via CITES Appendix I.

Global Distribution

  • Majority cluster in southern African tri-nation belt; isolated Persian plateau pocket persists.

India Reintroduction

  • Project Cheetah aims ecosystem restoration and ecotourism boost.
  • Kuno NP chosen for adequate prey base and minimal human settlements.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
International Cheetah Day4 Dec; observed since 2010
Originator of the DayDr Laurie Marker, for cub Khayam
African cheetah – IUCNVulnerable
Asiatic cheetah – IUCNCritically Endangered
CITES listing (both)Appendix I
World’s largest national populationNamibia
Wild African cheetah count≈ 6,500 – 7,000
Wild Asiatic cheetah count≈ 40 – 50 (Iran)
India local extinction reasonOver-hunting & habitat loss
India reintroduction 20228 cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno NP

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2023PYQ 1

Cheetahs were recently re-introduced to India from Africa. From which language is the name ‘Cheetah’ derived?

CDS_GK 2023PYQ 2

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

GS-3S&T

9.AstroSat Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Satellite (Space Observatory)

DD News
Illustration for AstroSat Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Satellite (Space Observatory)

What & Where

AstroSat: India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength astronomy satellite in 650 km Low-Earth Orbit.

UVIT: twin-telescope payload on AstroSat imaging in far-UV, near-UV and visible bands.

Geography: Designed by national consortium led by Indian Institute of Astrophysics; operated via ISTRAC-Bengaluru, data at ISSDC-Bylalu.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Payload mix enables simultaneous UV, optical, soft & hard X-ray imaging—rare among world observatories.
  • Dual UVIT telescopes allow parallel FUV and NUV observations, boosting cadence and coverage.
  • Extended mission life showcases ISRO capability in in-orbit servicing and health management.

Research Output

  • Discoveries refine stellar evolution: hot Be companions, blue stragglers in open clusters.
  • Galactic studies: detection of UV disks in nearby dwarf galaxies, multi-band AGN variability links.
  • Extragalactic novae: first UV light-curves of M31 novae captured.

Institutional Roles

  • IIA led UVIT design; ISRO centres provided optics, detectors, integration.
  • ISTRAC controls spacecraft, schedules observations; ISSDC handles public data release.
  • National consortium model fostered university participation, expanding Indian astrophysics manpower.

Global Context

  • AstroSat positions India among select nations with dedicated astronomy satellites.
  • UVIT’s sub-arcsecond FUV imaging complements Hubble, fills southern-sky observational gaps.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch vehiclePSLV-C30 (2015)
Orbit altitude~650 km, 6° inclination
Minimum design life5 years; still operational
Energy coverage0.3–100 keV + UV
Scientific payloads5 (incl. UVIT)
Pointing stabilityHigh; permits long exposures
UVIT channelsNUV+Visible & FUV
UVIT spatial resolution<1.5 arcsec
UVIT global rank2nd FUV imager after Hubble
Lead institution UVITIndian Institute of Astrophysics
Mission operationISTRAC, Bengaluru
Data archiveISSDC, Bylalu
Key discoveriesBe-star companions, blue stragglers, UV disks, Andromeda novae, AGN UV-X correlations

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS, GS1 2016PYQ 1

With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

ESE_GS, GS1 2024PYQ 2

AstroSat space telescope has crossed a major milestone by detecting 600th Gamma-Ray Burst launched by which one of the following countries?

GS-3S&T

10.Thalassemia Genetic Anemia Disorder (Genetic Blood Disorder)

Indian Express

What & Where

Inherited hemoglobin-production disorder causing chronic anaemia; mandates frequent transfusions in severe (major) form.

Key molecular types: Alpha-thalassemia (α-chain deficit) and Beta-thalassemia (β-chain deficit); clinical grades—Trait, Intermedia, Major.

Highest prevalence: India, Mediterranean belt, West & South Asia, Africa; India termed “thalassemia capital”.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Genetic & Risk Factors

  • Autosomal-recessive inheritance; positive family history prime risk.
  • Higher gene frequency among Mediterranean, Asian, African, Middle-Eastern ancestries.
  • Carriers usually asymptomatic yet propagate mutant alleles.

Clinical Complications

  • Chronic anaemia leads to fatigue, breathlessness, pallor.
  • Untreated major form: marrow expansion, bone deformity, splenomegaly, immune compromise.
  • Recurrent transfusions risk iron overload and transfusion-borne infections (e.g., HIV episode in Jharkhand).

National Burden

  • India births one thalassemic child every ~45 minutes.
  • Label “thalassemia capital” underscores largest global caseload.
  • High socio-economic drag: lifelong transfusions, chelation costs.

Policy & Schemes

  • 2016 guidelines standardise screening, transfusion, chelation, counselling.
  • NHM grants empower states to upgrade labs, procure filters, train staff.
  • CSR-driven TBSY finances curative bone-marrow transplants for eligible paediatric cases.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Indian patient load≈1.5 lakh living cases
Annual Indian incidence≈12,000 new births
β-thalassemia carrier rate3–4 % (35–45 million people)
Tribal contribution~8 % of carriers
Disability statusListed under RPwD Act, 2016
Centre’s guideline year2016 “Comprehensive Hemoglobinopathies”
NHM supportFunds blood banks, day-care, drugs, HR
Thalassemia Bal Sewa YojanaCIL-CSR; up to ₹10 lakh for BMT; 17 hospitals
Scheme Phase-II add-onCovers aplastic anaemia (since 2021)
e-RaktKosh utilityReal-time blood inventory portal
GS-2Editorial

11.India–Russia Strategic Partnership Overview (Bilateral Relations)

Times of India
Illustration for India–Russia Strategic Partnership Overview (Bilateral Relations)

What & Where

Definition: India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership since 2010, built on defence, energy, multipolarity.

Processes: Annual Summit, IRIGC segments, 2 + 2 dialogue, NSA talks, sectoral working groups institutionalise engagement.

Geography: Key corridors INSTC, Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Route, prospective Northern Sea Route across Arctic waters.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Defence & Security

  • Legacy: Su-30MKI, T-90, S-400, INS Vikramaditya, Kilo submarines dominate Indian arsenal.
  • Co-production: BrahMos, AK-203, licensed Su-30 and T-90 under 2021-31 roadmap.
  • Exercises: INDRA series, ZAPAD participation, regular Navy drills deepen interoperability.

Energy & Resources

  • Hydrocarbons: Russia now top crude supplier, also ships gas, coking coal at discounts.
  • Nuclear: Kudankulam units 1-6 only foreign-built reactors on Indian soil.
  • Futures: Talks on LNG, Arctic fields, green hydrogen, critical minerals, SMRs expanding scope.

Trade & Connectivity

  • Volume: 90 % trade skewed to Indian imports of oil, fertilisers, defence equipment.
  • Corridors: INSTC and Chennai–Vladivostok aim 40 % transit time cut versus Suez route.
  • Payments: Rupee-rouble mechanism, frozen surplus, limited banking links hinder balance.

Challenges

  • Sanctions: US-EU measures complicate finance, insurance, spare parts, risk secondary penalties.
  • Dependence: 60-70 % Indian platforms Russian origin, wartime prioritisation may delay spares.
  • China factor: Growing Moscow-Beijing closeness narrows India’s manoeuvring space in Eurasia.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Annual summit number23rd
Strategic Partnership year2000
Upgrade to Special & Privileged2010
FY 24-25 trade valueUSD 68.7 billion
Trade target 2030USD 100 billion
Mutual investment target 2030USD 50 billion
Military-technical cooperation plan2021-31
Flagship joint missileBrahMos
Civil nuclear siteKudankulam, Tamil Nadu
Main tri-service exerciseINDRA

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2019PYQ 1

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?

CDS_GK, GS1 2023PYQ 2

भारत ने निम्नलिखित में से किस देश से S-400 ट्रायम्फ एयर डिफेंस मिसाइल सिस्टम प्राप्त किया है ?

GS-3Security

12.Garuda, Garuda Shakti Joint Exercises (Military Exercises)

PIB
Illustration for Garuda, Garuda Shakti Joint Exercises (Military Exercises)

What & Where

Bilateral drills: Exercise Garuda 25 (IAF–FASF) & Exercise Garuda Shakti 2025 (PARA SF–Indonesian SF).

Venues: Air Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan, France; SF Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

Domains: High-end air combat; counter-terror, drone, heliborne warfare in semi-mountain terrain.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Security Dimension

  • Interoperability: joint planning/execution enhances rapid coalition response options.
  • Counter-terror: Shakti module refines urban, close-quarter and mountainous kill-chain.
  • Strategic reach: C-17 & IL-78 demonstrate IAF expeditionary logistics.

Tech & Platforms

  • Platforms: Su-30MKI engaged FASF Rafale under NATO air-combat environment.
  • Force-multipliers: IL-78 tankers extended sortie endurance; loiter-munition drills introduced for SF.
  • Counter-UAS: troops trained on detection, kinetic & non-kinetic neutralisation.

International Collaboration

  • Continuity: Garuda series since 2003; Garuda Shakti annual since 2012.
  • Trust-building: exposure to foreign SOPs streamlines future UN or coalition deployments.
  • Strategic partnerships: complements India’s Indo-Pacific outreach with France & ASEAN.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Exercise editionsGaruda 25; Garuda Shakti 2025
Host nationsFrance; India
Indian participantsSu-30MKI, IL-78, C-17 units; PARA Special Forces
Foreign participantsFrench Air & Space Force; Indonesian Special Forces
Key mission setsStrike, escort, air-refuelling; Counter-terror, UAC, sniping
New tech focusCoordinated air-refuelling SOPs; Drone warfare & counter-UAS
Terrain/EnvironmentNATO airbase, Western Europe; Semi-mountain, North-West Himalaya
Final phaseLarge-force employment sorties; Validation exercise simulating live op
Strategic aimIndo-French air interoperability; India-Indonesia SF synergy

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2023PYQ 1

The eighth edition of the Exercise Garuda Shakti, a bilateral military-to-military exercise, was conducted recently between the special forces of India and

CDS_GK, NDA_GAT 2021PYQ 2

'Exercise Desert Knight – 21' is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Air Force of which one of the following countries?

GS-3Security

13.Biological Weapons Convention Overview (Bioterrorism Treaty)

The Hindu

What & Where

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC): 1972 UN treaty banning development, production, stockpiling, transfer, use of biological & toxin weapons.

General Purpose Criterion prohibits any agent/toxin without peaceful, protective, prophylactic justification, avoiding fixed agent lists.

Administered by 3-person Implementation Support Unit, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, Geneva; India ratified in 1974.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Gaps & Limitations

  • Absence verification leaves compliance self-declared, unlike OPCW chemical regime
  • No formal horizon-scanning for emerging biotech, reducing anticipatory governance
  • ISU limited to admin; cannot inspect, investigate, enforce

Bioterrorism Concerns

  • Low-cost, high-impact agents attractive to non-state actors, difficult attribution
  • Covid-19 illustrated systemic unpreparedness, overwhelmed health and supply chains
  • Synthetic biology enables designer pathogens, magnifying dual-use dilemma

India’s Initiatives

  • Domestic regime: 1989 biosafety rules, 2005 WMD Act, SCOMET export controls
  • Proposed national framework covering high-risk agent licensing, incident reporting, bio-forensics
  • Advocates Global South-centric capacity building, equitable access to vaccines, countermeasures

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Opened for signature10 Apr 1972
Entered into force26 Mar 1975
States Parties185+
Review Conference cycleEvery 5 years
First WMD ban treatyYes
Verification protocolAbsent
Supplemented instrument1925 Geneva Protocol
ISU locationGeneva, Switzerland
Core ban basisArticle I General Purpose
India ratified15 Jul 1974
Indian biosafety rules1989 (Hazardous Micro-organisms Rules)
Indian WMD Act2005
Export control listSCOMET
Proposed Art VII databaseIndia & France
Dual-use oversight needHighlighted by India

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2005PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements is correct?

GS1 1995PYQ 2

84. The signatories to the treaty banning chemical weapons include

GS-2Scheme

14.DHRUVA Digital Address Infrastructure (Digital Public Infra)

The Hindu
Illustration for DHRUVA Digital Address Infrastructure (Digital Public Infra)

What & Where

DHRUVA: national Digital Address DPI converting physical addresses into UPI-style virtual labels (name@entity).

Anchored in India Post draft amendment, 2025; voluntary nationwide use.

Built on DIGIPIN 10-character geocode pinpointing every 14 sq m in India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Draft amendment under Indian Post Office framework seeks stakeholder comments before notification.
  • Treats address data as public infrastructure, enabling statutory backing like Aadhaar Act template.
  • Section 8 entity ensures neutrality, prevents profiteering.

Tech & Schemes

  • DIGIPIN open-sourced, map-agnostic; improves rural addressability.
  • Secure APIs allow plug-and-play integration across fintech, logistics, e-commerce.
  • Labels work cross-platform, mirroring UPI handle interoperability.

Security Dimension

  • Consent ledger records every address request, enabling auditable trails.
  • Only minimal data (geocode/text) shared; revocation possible anytime.
  • Draft mandates encryption, zero-knowledge standards for storage.

Economic Angle

  • Reduces failed deliveries, KYC friction; boosts last-mile efficiency.
  • Opens market for ASPs, AIAs, start-ups in geospatial services.
  • Expected to aid gig economy and NBFC onboarding costs.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Draft year2025
Nodal departmentDepartment of Posts
Core codeDIGIPIN (10-char alphanumeric)
Spatial precision14 sq m patch
Potential unique pins≈ 228 billion
Virtual label formatusername@entity
Service modelAddress-as-a-Service (AaaS)
Governance bodySection 8 not-for-profit (NPCI-like)
Key actorsASPs issue labels; AIAs manage consent
Access ruleTime-bound, user-consented sharing
Adoption natureVoluntary, interoperable
Comparable DPIsAadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker

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