Wednesday, 14 January 2026

UPSC Current Affairs

Q: ISRO, in its studies, has revealed that there is a 178% increase in the size of the Gepang Ghat Glacial Lake. In which of the following States/UTs is this lake located?

The correct answer is (a) Jammu & Kashmir. This question appeared in CDS_GK 2024.

Q: Which one of the following passes is not located in Indian Himalayan region?

The correct answer is (b) Bolan. This question appeared in CDS_GK 2023.

Q: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)?

The correct answer is (b) Earlier the eligible age to invest in NPS was 18-65 years which has now been revised to 18-70 years. This question appeared in ESE_GS 2022.

Q: The following Table shows the percentage distribution of revenue expenditure of Government of India in 1989-90 and 1994-95:

The correct answer is (a) reduce expenditure of defence. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 1996.

Q: Which one among the following items comprises the major portion of revenue expenditure of the Union Government of India?

The correct answer is (a) Salaries. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 2024.

Q: The Mughal School of Painting formed the spinal column of the various schools of Indian miniature art. Which one of the following painting styles was not affected by Mughal painting?

The correct answer is (a) Pahari. This question appeared in GS1 1995.

Q: The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

The correct answer is (d) Kishangarh school. This question appeared in GS1 2018.

Q: Consider the following statements:

The correct answer is (a) I and III only. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025.

Q: India’s key climate targets include

The correct answer is (a) 1 and 2 only. This question appeared in CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025.

Q: BRICS Summit, 2020 will be hosted by

The correct answer is (b) China. This question appeared in CDS_GK, GS1 2020.

15 topicsGS-1: 3GS-2: 6GS-3: 6

0/15 done

GS-2Editorial

1.Daily Current Affairs 14 Jan 2026 (Daily Compilation)

The HinduCurrent Affairs · Prelims · Insights IAS

Illustration for Daily Current Affairs 14 Jan 2026 (Daily Compilation)

What & Where

Trans-Karakoram high-altitude valley (~5,180 km²) legally in Ladakh; ceded by Pakistan, now run by China’s Xinjiang.

Lies north of Siachen between Karakoram & Kunlun ranges; drained by Shaksgam-Yarkand rivers, glaciated & uninhabited.

Overlooks CPEC corridor, contiguous to Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan—critical for India-China-Pakistan tri-junction security.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

India deems 1963 pact void; Pakistan lacked locus to alienate J&K territory.
Article 6 obliges re-negotiation after Kashmir settlement, keeping dispute alive.
Valley figures in India’s Parliament resolutions affirming undivided J&K sovereignty.

Security Dimension

Controls northern approaches to Siachen & Karakoram Pass, influencing Indian supply lines.
PLA roads enable swift Xinjiang-Gilgit mobilisation, bolstering China-Pakistan military synergy.
Joint patrols, new posts escalate monitoring burden for Indian Northern Command.

Mapping Angle

Pre-1947 Survey of India charts marked tract within Kashmir; Ladakhi/Balti toponyms persist.
Coordinates ~35° N, 76–77° E; watershed feeds Tarim basin, not Indus.
Featured in GS-I map questions; understand adjacent glaciers: Rimo, Gasherbrum, K2 zone.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Year Pakistan ceded area to China	1963
Pact name / clause	Sino-Pakistan Frontier Agreement, Article 6 (provisional boundary)
Indian territorial claim	Union Territory of Ladakh
Chinese admin units	Taxkorgan & Yecheng counties, Xinjiang
Nearest active battlefield	Siachen Glacier (~80 km south)

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

ISRO, in its studies, has revealed that there is a 178% increase in the size of the Gepang Ghat Glacial Lake. In which of the following States/UTs is this lake located?

CDS_GK 2023PYQ 2

Which one of the following passes is not located in Indian Himalayan region?

GS-2Polity

2.Responsible Nations Index Launch (Governance Index)

PIBResponsible Nations Index · World Intellectual Foundation · Internal Responsibility

What & Where

Responsible Nations Index (RNI): India’s first globally anchored ranking of 154 countries on responsible governance.

Launched by World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), a global, non-partisan think tank.

Measures internal, environmental, and external responsibility dimensions.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Index Structure

Dimensions: Internal (dignity, justice, well-being); Environmental (resource stewardship, climate action); External (peace, multilateralism).
Scoring emphasizes responsible governance over military or GDP strength.

Significance

Paradigm shift to value-based, human-centric assessment of nations.
Supports India’s push for ethical leadership and reformed global governance.

Institutional Collaboration

WIF partners with premier Indian academia and policy centres.
Multi-institution input aims to enhance credibility and comparability.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launch year	2026
Lead agency	World Intellectual Foundation
Indian collaborators	JNU, IIM Mumbai, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre
Coverage	154 countries
Core dimensions	Internal, Environmental, External Responsibility
Data nature	Transparent, globally sourced

GS-3Economy

3.M.S. Sahoo Pension Committee (Pension Reform)

PIBM.S. Sahoo Committee · NPS · Assured Pension

What & Where

Committee: 15-member M.S. Sahoo group to craft assured-pension framework under National Pension Scheme

Jurisdiction: Constituted by Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority, pan-India applicability

Focus: Shift NPS from market-linked savings to predictable lifelong income

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Framework: Draft legal rules defining guarantee amount, duration, conditions
Safeguards: Mis-selling, misleading claims, unfair practices to be barred
Compliance: Clear lock-in, withdrawal, fee norms for pension providers

Operational Design

Mechanisms: Pricing structures, fee caps, lock-in periods under review
Governance: Transparent processes to ensure actuarial soundness of guarantees
Monitoring: Ongoing oversight by PFRDA for scheme integrity

Economic Angle

Security: Stable post-retirement income expected to boost elderly financial resilience
Participation: Predictability likely to raise NPS enrolment among unorganized workforce
Risk-transfer: Moves scheme closer to defined-benefit attributes without burdening exchequer

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Constituting body	PFRDA
Committee size	15 members
Chairperson	M.S. Sahoo, ex-IBBI chief
Core mandate	Design assured, predictable pension payouts
Scheme covered	National Pension Scheme (NPS)
Key risk addressed	Market-linked income volatility
Target beneficiaries	Private-sector, self-employed NPS subscribers

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2022PYQ 1

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)?

GS-3Economy

4.Department of Expenditure 2025 Review (Public Finance)

PIBPFMS · DBT · SASCE

What & Where

Department of Expenditure (DoE) under Finance Ministry oversees Union public spending.

PFMS digital backbone executes nation-wide Direct Benefit Transfer and fund tracking.

Scheme for Special Assistance to States supports capital projects across India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Digitisation

PFMS: Rs 2.87 lakh crore via 210 crore transactions FY25-26.
CRM: automated system resolves > 1.5 lakh expenditure grievances annually.

Capital Investment Support

SASCE: cumulative release Rs 4.49 lakh crore since Covid-hit 2020-21.
Multiplier: each rupee capital spend adds about three rupees GDP.

Borrowing & Debt

NBC: States capped at 3 % GSDP; extra 0.5 % on power reforms.
Constitution: Article 293(3) mandates Centre consent for indebted states’ loans.

Procurement & Pay

Manuals: goods, works, services revised; allow reverse auctions, lower security.
Pay: 8th Central Commission set up for wage, pension review.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
PFMS DBT schemes	966
DBT payout 2025-26	Rs 2.87 lakh cr
Transactions till 31-12-25	210.56 crore
SASCE outlay 2025-26	Rs 1.5 lakh cr
SASCE release total	Rs 4.49 lakh cr
Loan tenor	50 years, 0 interest
State NBC 2025-26	3 % GSDP
Reform bonus borrowing	0.5 % GSDP
Central debt-GDP 2024-25	57.1 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 1996PYQ 1

The following Table shows the percentage distribution of revenue expenditure of Government of India in 1989-90 and 1994-95:

CDS_GK, GS1 2024PYQ 2

Which one among the following items comprises the major portion of revenue expenditure of the Union Government of India?

GS-1History

5.Jharkhand Megalithic Landscapes (Megalithic Sites)

Times of IndiaJharkhand Megaliths · Menhirs · Dolmens

Illustration for Jharkhand Megalithic Landscapes (Megalithic Sites)

What & Where

Megaliths: large stone menhirs, dolmens, cairns, stone circles—serve burial, memorial, ritual, boundary, calendric roles

Core belts: Ranchi-Khunti, Hazaribagh, Chatra-Ramgarh-Lohardaga-Gumla-Simdega, Singhbhum (Ho areas)

Feature: rare “living megalithism” where Adivasi groups still erect new stones alongside prehistoric ones

Quick Facts for MCQs

Cultural Continuity

Inter-generational stone additions create layered landscapes
Practices embed clan history without written records
Living tradition considered globally uncommon

Astronomy & Science

Select alignments act as prehistoric solar calendars
Demonstrates indigenous knowledge of seasonal cycles
Stones double as time-keeping and ritual markers

Conservation Push

State seeking UNESCO World Heritage tag for entire landscape
CM showcased sites on international platforms for backing
“Living + extensive + unique” positioning strengthens nomination

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Key tribes linked	Munda, Ho, Oraon, Asur
Local burial term	Sasandiri (family dolmen)
Local memorial term	Birdiri/Biridiri (menhir)
Village burial ground name	hargarhi / hargarha
Astronomical use	Equinox/solstice sunrise-sunset alignments
UNESCO move by	Jharkhand Govt, highlighted at Davos & UK
Distinct trait	Continuity of stone-placing tradition
Main significance	Indigenous archive of memory, lineage, ritual

GS-1History

6.Indian Miniature Painting Traditions (Miniature Painting)

Indian ExpressPahari School · Kangra · Guru Gobind Singh

Illustration for Indian Miniature Painting Traditions (Miniature Painting)

What & Where

Miniature paintings: ultra-detailed tempera works ≤ 25 sq in, figures rendered at roughly one-sixth real size.

Core centres: Pala (East), Western Apabhramsa, Mughal courts, Rajput states, Himalayan Pahari belt (Kangra, Basholi, Guler).

Current spotlight: 19th-century Guru Gobind Singh panel in Golden Temple, restored by Kangra artists with natural pigments.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Evolution

Pala palm-leaf start; Western Apabhramsa Jain texts; Delhi Sultanate Indo-Persian fusion preceded Mughal zenith.
Mughal era secularised subjects; Akbar’s Tasvir Khana, Jahangir’s naturalism, Shah Jahan’s European gold-silver accents.

Regional Schools

Rajput cluster: Mewar Ragamala by Sahibdin; Kishangarh romantic finesse; Bundi, Jaipur, Marwar nurture epic narratives.
Pahari offshoots: Basholi bold primaries, Guler-Kangra soft lines, Kullu-Mandi folk dark palette.

Techniques & Materials

Pigments from minerals—lapis lazuli, orpiment; binders egg yolk or gum; supports shifted palm-leaf → handmade paper.
Detailing via single-bristle brush; gold & silver highlights popularised during Shah Jahan reign.

Colonial & Modern

Company painters documented flora, monuments for British patrons, merging shading, linear perspective realism.
Bengal School (early 20th c.) rejected Western academism, revived simplified indigenous aesthetic.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Standard size limit	≤ 25 sq in
Medium	Tempera: water + pigment + egg emulsion
Signature anatomy	Bulging fish-eye, pointed nose, slim waist
Finest detail tool	Single-bristle squirrel-hair brush
Earliest school	Pala, 750–1150 AD
Mughal innovation	Foreshortening for depth
Kangra hallmark	Delicate naturalism, romantic Krishna themes
Kishangarh icons	Raja Savant Singh & Bani Thani (artist Nihal Chand)
Company style	Indian motifs blended with European realism
Guru Gobind Singh lifespan	1666 – 1708

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 1995PYQ 1

The Mughal School of Painting formed the spinal column of the various schools of Indian miniature art. Which one of the following painting styles was not affected by Mughal painting?

GS1 2018PYQ 2

The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

GS-1Mapping

7.Shaksgam Valley Dispute (Border Dispute)

NDTVShaksgam Valley · Trans-Karakoram Tract · Sino-Pakistan Agreement

Illustration for Shaksgam Valley Dispute (Border Dispute)

What & Where

High-altitude Trans-Karakoram tract north of Siachen, sandwiched between Karakoram & Kunlun ranges

Claimed by India (UT Ladakh) yet administered by China since Pakistan’s 1963 cession

Geographically part of PoK’s Hunza-Gilgit belt, now in Xinjiang’s Taxkorgan & Yecheng counties

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Timeline

1947 Accession; India claimed entire J&K including Shaksgam
1947-48 war; Pakistan occupied northern areas, including valley
1963 agreement; Pakistan transferred tract to China pending Kashmir settlement

Legal & Treaty Points

India labels 1963 transfer illegal, Pakistan lacked locus standi over Indian territory
Article 6 obliges China, Pakistan to renegotiate boundary post-Kashmir resolution
Valley remains part of Indian official maps of Ladakh

Security Dimension

Location bolsters China-Pakistan military logistics near Siachen & Aksai Chin
Ongoing Chinese road, infrastructure projects integrate tract with Xinjiang, CPEC
Proximity poses two-front strategic challenge to Indian forces in Karakoram sector

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Alternate name	Trans-Karakoram Tract
Area ceded	5,180 sq km
Cession treaty	Sino-Pakistan Frontier Agreement, 2 Mar 1963
Temporary-boundary clause	Article 6 of 1963 pact
Pre-1947 affiliation	Baltistan/Ladakh region
Present administrator	China (Xinjiang)
Claimant	India (Union Territory of Ladakh)
Lost control during	1947-48 Indo-Pak war
Adjacent glacier	Siachen (world’s highest battlefield)
Nearby corridor	China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

GS-3Environment

8.International Renewable Energy Agency (Renewable Agency)

News on AirIRENA · Abu Dhabi · Global Energy Transition

Illustration for International Renewable Energy Agency (Renewable Agency)

What & Where

Intergovernmental agency dedicated solely to renewable energy worldwide.

Provides policy, technology, data & investment support to accelerate clean-energy transition.

HQ: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi (UAE); founded in Bonn, Germany.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

Statute drafted 2008 in Berlin & Madrid; agency operational since 2011.
Membership open to UN states; serves as multilateral platform for renewable diplomacy.
Supports implementation of SDG-7 and national Net-Zero pledges.

Functions & Services

Policy‐guidance: national road-maps, regulatory advice.
Data-hub: global costs, investments, transition scenarios across solar, wind, bio, hydro, geo, ocean.
Capacity & finance: training institutions, mobilising green funding for developing nations.

Environmental & Development Goals

Climate-mitigation: promotes fossil-fuel displacement and resilience.
Energy-access: aids universal, affordable, modern energy in Global South.
Green-growth: aligns renewable deployment with job creation and energy security.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Full name	International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Founded on / at	26 Jan 2009, Bonn (Germany)
Statute effective	8 Jul 2010
Headquarters	Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
India’s status	Founding member
First proposal year/place	1981, Nairobi UN Conference
States at formal launch	75
Latest Assembly	16th, Abu Dhabi

GS-3Environment

9.AI Carbon Footprint in India (AI Carbon Footprint)

The HinduAI Impact Summit · Planet Sutra · Data Centre Energy

Illustration for AI Carbon Footprint in India (AI Carbon Footprint)

What & Where

AI Impact Summit 2026, New Delhi: to launch “Planet Sutra” global mandate for resource-efficient, climate-resilient AI.

Key process: high-density data-centre training/inference of Large Language Models; reliant on 24×7 power & water cooling.

Core geography: India’s AI clusters—Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad—half sited in extremely water-stressed zones.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Environmental Impact

Electricity: Mumbai AI centres add 1,100 + MW load, largely coal-sourced, spiking Scope 2 emissions.
Water: GPU cooling drives billions-litre demand, aggravating 2024 Bengaluru crisis.
E-waste: AI GPUs obsolete in 2–3 yrs, funneling toxic metals to informal scrapyards.

Regulatory Gap & Proposals

Absence: Current EIA rules exclude > 5 MW data-centres; no mandatory energy/water disclosure.
Proposal: Amend EIA 2006, enforce Carbon Usage Effectiveness reporting via MCA & SEBI.
Incentive: Tie fiscal perks to 100 % renewable supply and national Power Usage Effectiveness standards.

Resource Metrics & Examples

Cooling paradox: In India’s climate, cooling can consume power nearly equal to computation load.
Mumbai example: Coal-heavy grid undermines “green” claims whenever renewable input dips.
Semiconductor push: India Semiconductor Mission raises groundwater depletion worries in fab zones.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Global ICT GHG share	Up to 3.9 % of world emissions
India data-centre capacity 2027	2,073 MW (↑ 85 % over 2025)
CO₂ from training one large model	≈ 626,000 lb (≈ 5 cars’ lifetime)
Electricity: ChatGPT vs Google search	10 × higher per query
India’s AI adoption rate	59 % of surveyed firms
Data-centres in water-stressed areas	50 % (e.g., Bengaluru, Mumbai)
Bengaluru DC water use 2024	26 million L annually
India e-waste generation 2024	1.6 million metric tonnes

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025PYQ 1

Consider the following statements:

CAPF_GAI, GS1 2025PYQ 2

India’s key climate targets include

GS-2Editorial

10.Iranian Economic Unrest 2025 (Iran Unrest)

The HinduRial Collapse · Bazaar Protests · Sanctions

Illustration for Iranian Economic Unrest 2025 (Iran Unrest)

What & Where

Iranian conundrum : repeating loop of sanctions-driven economic pain, legitimacy crises, hard-power crackdowns

December 2025 unrest : Tehran bazaar shutdown over rial plunge (~1.45 mn rials/USD) rapidly spread nationwide

Core geography : Iran astride Strait of Hormuz; protests span Tehran, provincial hubs impacting Gulf energy routes

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Milestones

1905–11 Constitutional Awakening; first Majlis; foreign meddling undermined democracy
1953 CIA–MI6 coup ousted Mossadegh after oil nationalisation, deepening anti-West sentiment
1979 Islamic Revolution toppled Pahlavi monarchy, establishing cleric-led republic

Governance Structure

Supreme Leader controls armed forces, judiciary, state media; overrides elected bodies
Guardian Council 12-member cleric-legal panel vets laws, candidates ensuring ideological conformity
IRGC + Bonyads dominate economy, internal security, limiting presidential reform space

Implications for India

Energy : Hormuz instability threatens crude supply, price and domestic inflation
Connectivity : Sanctions fickleness delays Chabahar, Central Asia corridor ambitions
Diaspora : West Asian turbulence endangers Indian workers, remittance flows; Shia sentiment sensitive

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Bazaar shutdown date	28 Dec 2025
Market rial rate	≈ 1.45 million rials / USD
Current President	Masoud Pezeshkian (elected 2024)
Supreme Leader role	Final say on defence, foreign policy, nuclear file
Guardian Council members	12 (6 clerics + 6 jurists)
Constitutional Awakening	1905 – 1911
Pahlavi monarchy span	1925 – 1979
1953 coup actors	CIA & MI6
Islamic Revolution year	1979
Protest precedents	2009, 2019, 2022 mass unrest

GS-2Misc

11.BRICS India 2026 Chairship Logo (BRICS Chairship)

New Indian ExpressBRICS 2026 · Lotus Logo · Namaste

What & Where

Definition: BRICS India 2026 logo is the official visual identity for India’s Chairship of BRICS during calendar year 2026

Geography: Host and Chair—India; website acts as central hub for all 2026 BRICS meetings

Occasion: Marks 20th anniversary of BRICS formation (2006-2026)

Quick Facts for MCQs

Symbolism

Lotus depicts resilience, renewal, civilisational identity
Five-colour petal set denotes unity of founding BRICS members
Namaste hands signify respect, dialogue, cooperative spirit

Strategic Significance

Projects Indian leadership in Global South and multilateral reform debates
Reinforces BRICS as people-centric, development-oriented platform aligned with Global South priorities
Aligns Chairship agenda with four stated pillars for 2026

Digital Platform

Website serves single-window information interface for delegates, media, public
Hosts schedules, documents, live updates of BRICS-2026 events
Enhances transparency and outreach for India’s Chairship

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Chairship Year	2026
Host Country	India
Milestone	20 years of BRICS
Core Motif	Lotus with Namaste hands
Petal Colours Represent	Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
Central Message	Togetherness for global welfare
Guiding Philosophy	Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Priority Pillars	Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability
Website Role	Meeting, initiative, outcome repository
Logo Launch Status	Officially unveiled 2024

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2020PYQ 1

BRICS Summit, 2020 will be hosted by

CDS_GK, GS1 2025PYQ 2

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:

GS-3Security

12.Havana Syndrome Directed Energy Concern (Directed Energy)

Business StandardHavana Syndrome · Pulsed RF · Anomalous Health Incidents

What & Where

Definition: Anomalous Health Incidents called Havana Syndrome; unexplained neurological ailments in US diplomats, spies since 2016

Mechanism-suspect: Pulsed radio-frequency or microwave energy delivered via portable directed-energy devices

Geography-core: First in Havana, later clusters in China, Europe, Russia, and within United States

Quick Facts for MCQs

Medical Manifestations

Symptoms-set includes severe headaches, nausea, balance loss mirroring mild traumatic brain injury
No visible external injuries; brain imaging shows trauma-like patterns
Cases lack uniform triggers complicating diagnosis

Technological Hypotheses

Pentagon testing backpack-sized pulsed RF generator matching recorded exposure profiles
Scientific panels favour radio-frequency/microwave energy over chemical or acoustic causes
Device enables covert, deniable stand-off attacks without physical entry

Geo-Political Angle

Incidents strained US relations with Russia and China amid mutual accusations
Diplomats, spies, military officers abroad identified as primary targets heightening vulnerability concerns
Emergence indicates new-age non-kinetic warfare challenging international norms

Institutional Response

US adopted Havana Act granting compensation to victims
Congressional inquiries press intelligence agencies for attribution clarity
Medical monitoring and interagency task forces continue cross-discipline investigations

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Year first reported	2016
Official US term	Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs)
Typical symptom triad	Headaches, vertigo, tinnitus
Investigated device size	Backpack-sized RF emitter
Intelligence assessment	Foreign attack unlikely in most cases
Latest tester	US Pentagon

GS-3Security

13.India's Evolving Maritime Strategy (Maritime Strategy)

The HinduSAGAR · Indo-Pacific · MAHASAGAR

What & Where

Maritime strategy: India’s pivot from land focus to rules-based Indo-Pacific engagement, positioning as net IOR security provider.

Frameworks: SAGAR, MAHASAGAR, Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative fuse security, development and sustainability agendas.

Geography: Hormuz-Bab-el-Mandeb-Malacca arc; Andaman-Nicobar & South-Asian littorals anchor India’s maritime reach.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Evolution

Ancient linkages: trade with SE Asia, Arab world, East Africa; Chola & Maratha naval expeditions.
Colonial legacy: British dismantled indigenous fleets, post-1947 security remained continental.
Reorientation: 1980s oil dependence and 1990s liberalisation spurred blue-water outlook.

Legal & Policy

Reform: 2025 Acts align Indian maritime law with IMO and UNCLOS standards.
Vision: SAGAR expanded globally via MAHASAGAR, stressing Global South cooperation.
Initiative: Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative enables multi-pillar regional collaboration.

Capability Gaps

Shortages: submarines, indigenous propulsion, sensors hinder network-centric dominance.
Asymmetry: China’s superior shipbuilding and dual-use IOR ports widen strategic gap.
Finance: Fiscal limits slow switch from platform-centric to tech-driven navy.

Climate Risks

Exposure: Sea-level rise threatens Andaman-Nicobar bases and coastal infrastructure.
Tasking: IOR disasters likely to divert naval assets to humanitarian relief.
Adaptation: Ports and bases tagged climate-critical under NAPCC, CRZ norms.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Merchant Shipping Act	2025
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act	2025
Indian Ports Act	2025
Vision document	Maritime India Vision 2030
Long-term road-map	Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
Core slogan	SAGAR – Security And Growth for All in the Region
Global extension	MAHASAGAR Vision
Fusion centre	IFC–IOR, Gurugram
Ancient naval epithet	Cholas called “Nautical Tigers”
Key choke-points	Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Malacca

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

Which one among the following statements with regard to India’s maritime initiative, SAGAR, is correct?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

Which of the following statements is not correct?

GS-2Scheme

14.Tex-RAMPS Textile Data Scheme (Textile Statistics)

The HinduTex-RAMPS · MoUs · Central Sector Scheme

What & Where

Tex-RAMPS: Central Sector scheme boosting textile statistics, research and planning across India.

MoUs signed with 15 States at National Textile Ministers’ Conference, Guwahati, Assam.

Covers handlooms, handicrafts, apparel, technical textiles during FY 2025-26 → 2030-31.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

Components: Research & Innovation, Data Analytics, ITSS, Capacity Building, Start-up aid.
Integrated ITSS provides real-time statistical backbone for sector decisions.
Capacity initiatives train state officials in data protocols and diagnostics.

Legal & Policy

Central funding avoids state matching share, easing adoption.
MoUs formalise cooperative federalism and define reporting obligations.
District action plans legally prerequisite for fund disbursal.

Economic Angle

Accurate datasets aimed at reducing planning inefficiencies, boosting productivity.
Enhanced evidence base expected to spur exports, jobs, value-addition.
Scheme dovetails with national target of USD 350 billion textile economy by 2030.

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Full name	Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning And Start-Up
Implementing ministry	Ministry of Textiles
Scheme nature	100 % Centrally funded Central Sector
Operational span	FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31
Finance Commission link	Aligned with 16th FC cycle
Annual State/UT grant	₹12 lakh each
Annual District grant	₹1 lakh, post district action plan
Sub-sectors covered	Handloom, Handicraft, Apparel, Technical Textiles
Expected industry goal	Support path to USD 350 billion size

GS-2Scheme

15.PANKHUDI Women CSR Portal (CSR Portal)

DD NewsPANKHUDI · Women Empowerment · CSR Contributions

What & Where

PANKHUDI = integrated, single-window digital portal by Ministry of Women & Child Development, India

Purpose : channel CSR & partnership funds for women-child nutrition, health, ECCE, welfare, safety

Geography : nationwide coverage across Anganwadis, CCIs, One-Stop Centres, Shakhi Niwas & Shakti Sadan

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

Digital workflow enables single sign-on, live dashboards, automated approvals
Scheme convergence reduces duplication across Poshan 2.0, Vatsalya, Shakti
Financial traceability ensured through electronic receipt generation

Governance & Transparency

Jan Bhagidari model fosters citizen-government co-creation and oversight
Structured workflow improves coordination, monitoring, accountability for CSR projects
Portal simplifies CSR compliance, cutting paperwork and lead time

Implementation Footprint

Reach spans 14 lakh+ Anganwadis and ~5,000 Child Care Institutions nationwide
Additional linkage with 800 OSCs, 500+ Shakhi Niwas, 400+ Shakti Sadan shelters
Potential impact on crores of women and children beneficiaries

Key Data Points

Feature	Data-Point
Launch ministry	Women & Child Development
Launch year	2026
Stakeholders	Individuals, NRIs, NGOs, CSR firms, Govt bodies
Contribution mode	Only non-cash, traceable electronic payments
Flagship schemes linked	Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0; Mission Vatsalya; Mission Shakti
Thematic areas	Nutrition, Health, ECCE, Child welfare & rehab, Women safety & empowerment
Key facilities mapped	14 lakh+ Anganwadi; ~5,000 CCIs; ~800 OSCs; 500+ Shakhi Niwas; 400+ Shakti Sadan
Portal utilities	Registration, initiative search, proposal upload, approval & progress tracking

Ready to practice?

Test your knowledge with our UPSC test series.

Start Free Trial