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13 topicsGS-1: 2GS-2: 4GS-3: 7
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GS-1History

1.Denotified Tribes Classification Issues

The Hindu
Illustration for Denotified Tribes Classification Issues

What & Where

Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) = groups branded “criminal” under 1871 Act; legally freed in 1952 yet still stigmatised

Spread pan-India, largely nomadic/semi-nomadic; livelihoods in pastoralism, salt trade, acrobatics, snake-charming, transport, crafts

Demand separate column/code in 2027 caste Census, citing misplacement inside SC, ST, OBC lists

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Background

  • Act 1871 labelled entire communities crime-prone by birth, enabling surveillance and movement restrictions
  • Repeal 1952 removed legal tag but stigma persisted through Habitual Offenders provisions
  • Term “Denotified” derives from official removal of criminal status post-Independence

Legal & Policy

  • Habitual Offenders laws allow continued police targeting despite denotification
  • No exclusive constitutional category; benefits routed via SC/ST/OBC quotas, often ineffective
  • Separate Schedule would legally recognise distinct historical injustice beyond caste hierarchy

Social Concerns

  • Persistent born-criminal stereotype fuels social ostracism and biased policing
  • Whole communities often lack caste certificates, domicile papers, land titles, deepening invisibility
  • Severe educational neglect; some regions report near-zero secondary enrolment

Economic Angle

  • Livelihoods seasonal, informal, migration-dependent, causing chronic income instability
  • Limited access to credit, skill schemes, market linkages due to lack of documentation
  • Competitive disadvantage inside existing reservation groups reduces upward mobility

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Criminal Tribes Act enacted1871
Act repealed / tribes denotified1952
Post-repeal policing lawHabitual Offenders framework
DNT communities still unclassified≈ 260
Current list placementMixed within SC, ST, OBC
Core demandDedicated Schedule & Census code 2027

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS, GS1 1996PYQ 1

In the Indian context the term De-notified tribes refers to

GEO_GS, GS1 2020PYQ 2

Which one of the following was NOT a feature of Criminal Tribes Act, 1871?

GS-1MappingQuick Bite

2.Mount Aconcagua Key Facts

News on Air
Illustration for Mount Aconcagua Key Facts

What & Where

Definition Highest peak in South & Western Hemispheres; tallest outside Asia among Seven Summits

Location Western Mendoza Province, Argentina; just east of Argentina–Chile border in Southern Andes

Geography Two summits (North 6,959 m; South) linked by Cresta del Guanaco ridge; uplifted, non-active volcanic origin

Quick Facts for MCQs

Geological Features

  • Uplift Mechanism Subduction-driven crustal thickening, not classic cone volcanism
  • Composition Andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic rocks mingled with sedimentary strata
  • Morphology Broad massif lacking crater, evidencing extinct volcanic system

Mountaineering Significance

  • Inclusion Counts for Seven Summits challenge; popular acclimatisation for Himalayan 8,000ers
  • Route Normal Route via Plaza de Mulas requires no technical ice climbing yet demands high-altitude endurance
  • Record-keeping GPS surveys refine official height; disputes narrowed to ~6,959 m consensus

Climatic Conditions

  • Atmosphere Low oxygen pressure approximates Himalayan 7,400 m physiological altitude
  • Weather Pacific westerlies create sudden whiteouts, high wind chill; summit windows brief
  • Safety Park authorities mandate medical checks at 4,300 m camp to curb altitude fatalities

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Elevation22,831 ft / 6,959 m
CountryArgentina
Hemisphere recordHighest in Western & Southern Hemispheres
Mountain rangeSouthern Andes
ProvinceMendoza
Border proximity~15 km from Chile
Summit countTwo – North & South
Connecting ridgeCresta del Guanaco
Geological originVolcanic ancestry; uplifted crust, not active
Volcano statusDormant/Extinct (non-active)
Seven Summits rankHighest outside Asia
Typical climb typeNon-technical high-altitude ascent
Key hazardSevere altitude sickness
Wind & tempFrequent >100 km/h winds; sub-zero temperatures
Recent Indian climberKabak Yano (Arunachal Pradesh)
GS-2Polity

3.Private Bill Mandates Decennial Census

The Hindu

What & Where

Private Member’s Bill: non-minister MP’s legislative proposal, here to amend Census Act, 1948

Seeks statutory 10-yearly, nationwide Census; current practice only conventional

Tabled in Rajya Sabha; applies across India

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legislative Process

  • Draft-submit-wait: MP drafts, gives 30-day notice, Secretariat lists
  • Introduction: Chair permits, brief statement only
  • Fate: mover may withdraw, or House votes; rare full passage

Census Significance

  • Data base: guides welfare targeting, constituency delimitation, resource allocation
  • Regularity clause aimed at preventing executive delays

Parliamentary Statistics

  • 370+ PMBs introduced each Lok Sabha on average; <1 % reach voting stage
  • Government Bills get 90 % House time; PMBs confined to ~6 Friday hours per week

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Present legal mandate for CensusNone in Act; practice only conventional
Proposed changeDecennial Census made compulsory
Bill categoryPrivate Member’s Bill (PMB)
Eligible moversMPs not holding ministerial office
Statutory notice for PMB≥ 1 month before introduction
Typical debate slotFriday post-lunch sessions
PMBs passed since 195014 total; last success 1970
Applicable legislationCensus Act, 1948

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2017PYQ 1

With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements :

GS1 2003PYQ 2

Which one of the following Bills must be passed by each House of the Indian Parliament separately, by special majority?

GS-2Polity

4.Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Agreement

The Hindu
Illustration for Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Agreement

What & Where

FNTA; new autonomous territorial authority for Eastern Nagaland, created by 2026 GoI–Nagaland–ENPO tripartite pact

Jurisdiction; six eastern districts — Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, Shamator

Purpose; address developmental neglect while keeping Nagaland’s geographical integrity intact

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Safeguard; FNTA explicitly operates within Article 371(A) protecting customary laws, land, religious practices
  • Integrity; authority model chosen over state bifurcation to avoid Article 3 constitutional complications
  • Continuity; no change in Nagaland Assembly seats or parliamentary constituencies

Administrative Design

  • Structure; elected body plus mini-Secretariat enables local policymaking on 46 subjects
  • Leadership; state cadre Additional CS/Principal Secretary ensures senior decision-making onsite
  • Staffing; regionally recruited personnel prioritized for cultural familiarity

Financial Arrangement

  • Allocation; statutory formula prevents Kohima diversion, direct transfer to FNTA accounts
  • Establishment; one-time infrastructure costs borne by MHA, subsequent grants via state budget head
  • Oversight; separate audit mandated for transparency

Security Dimension

  • Peace; part of broader Centre strategy delivering 12 accords to render Northeast dispute-free
  • Inclusivity; accord credited with pacifying ENPO-led agitations, reducing demand for full statehood
  • Monitoring; Home Ministry to review implementation biannually with ENPO and state representatives

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Signing partiesUnion Govt, Nagaland Govt, ENPO
Year of agreement2026
ENPO tribes represented8 recognised Naga tribes
Districts covered6 (Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, Shamator)
Autonomy subjects46 executive & legislative lists
Secretariat locationWithin FNTA area; called mini-Secretariat
Administrative headAdditional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary rank
Initial funding sourceMinistry of Home Affairs
Fund allocation basisProportionate to population and area
Constitutional safeguardArticle 371(A) remains unaffected
Earlier ENPO demandSeparate state since 2010
Similar NE accords since 201912 total
GS-2Infrastructure

5.Chabahar Port Strategic Significance

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Chabahar Port Strategic Significance

What & Where

Oceanic deep-sea, multipurpose commercial-strategic port on Gulf of Oman, Sistan–Baluchestan, southeastern Iran

India-centric transit node for South Asia–Afghanistan–Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan via International North–South Transport Corridor

Around 170 km west of China-backed Gwadar, lending counter-balancing strategic weight

Quick Facts for MCQs

Historical Timeline

  • 1970s conception; progress halted post-1979 Revolution, revived during 1980-88 Iran–Iraq War
  • 2003 India-Iran cooperation initiated; Western sanctions repeatedly slowed funding and equipment supply
  • 2016 trilateral accord signed; operational control transferred to India in 2018, long-term pact inked 2024

Infrastructure Details

  • Capability berthing large ocean-going vessels unlike Bandar Abbas; avoids Strait of Hormuz chokepoint
  • Connected to road–rail projects toward Zahedan, Zaranj, onward to Afghanistan and Central Asian republics
  • Two-phase development; Beheshti terminal focal for container expansion under Indian funding

Strategic Significance

  • Bypass Pakistan route, enabling Indian humanitarian wheat & aid shipments to Afghanistan amid border closures
  • Counterweight to China-operated Gwadar within CPEC, enhancing Indian presence in Western Indian Ocean
  • Offers Iran diversification of trade lanes, reducing over-dependence on congested Persian Gulf ports

Sanctions Context

  • U.S. reimposed sanctions 2018; Chabahar granted periodic waiver recognizing Afghan reconstruction utility
  • 2024 waiver uncertainty; Tehran publicly reiterates commitment to Indian partnership regardless of U.S. stance
  • Indian LoC and equipment procurement structured to minimize exposure to secondary sanctions risk

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
CountryIran
ProvinceSistan–Baluchestan
WaterbodyGulf of Oman / Indian Ocean
TerminalsShahid Kalantari, Shahid Beheshti
First concept1970s, Shah era
India–Iran–Afghan pact2016 Trilateral Transit Agreement
Indian ops startDec 2018 (interim)
10-yr ops pact2024; India Ports Global Ltd
Indian Line of CreditUSD 250 million
Distance from Gwadar~170 km west
Linked corridorINSTC
Cargo typesContainer, bulk, multipurpose

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GEO_GS 2022PYQ 1

Chabahar Port is located in which one of the following countries?

GS-2PolityQuick Bite

6.Supreme Court Flags DGP Appointment Delay

The Hindu

What & Where

Acting DGPs: stop-gap State police chiefs despite 2006 SC ban under Prakash Singh case

Regular DGPs: chosen from UPSC-empanelled top three officers; minimum fixed tenure two years

Police governance: State subject in 7th Schedule; superintendence with State govt via Police Act 1861

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Supreme Court reiterated 2006, 2018, 2019 directives against acting DGP appointments
  • Judgments aim to insulate police leadership from political influence
  • Fixed tenure intended to ensure operational autonomy and continuity

Administrative Process

  • UPSC prepares panel of three senior-most meritorious IPS officers from that State cadre
  • State Cabinet selects one name, issues appointment order before predecessor retires
  • DGP rank usually Director General/Head of State Police Force

Federal Structure

  • Police powers rest with States yet subject to SC constitutional oversight
  • District level sees dual accountability: executive magistracy and police command
  • Section 3, 1861 Act reinforces State government authority over police forces

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Landmark judgmentPrakash Singh v. Union of India, 2006
Empanelling bodyUnion Public Service Commission
Names to UPSC3 months before incumbent DGP retires
Minimum DGP tenure2 years irrespective of superannuation
Concept barredActing/Interim DGP
Constitutional entryPolice in State List, 7th Schedule
Legal clauseSection 3, Police Act 1861: State superintendence
District controlDual: District Magistrate + Superintendent of Police

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 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 2022PYQ 2

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the appointment of District Judges?

GS-3Editorial

7.Global Climate Governance Debates

The Hindu

What & Where

Global climate governance = treaties, laws, UNFCCC mechanisms coordinating mitigation & adaptation worldwide

Dual-track architecture: CMP (Kyoto Protocol) + CMA (Paris Agreement) operate parallel, consensus-based decision making

COP30 venue Belém (Brazil) proposed “Global Mutirão” people-led, voluntary cooperation

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Consensus rule grants every nation veto, often diluting outcomes
  • Global Mutirão stresses voluntary multi-stakeholder action, lacks binding obligations
  • ETF tightens Measurement-Reporting-Verification of Nationally Determined Contributions

Finance & Economics

  • Adaptation finance pledges far below trillions needed by developing nations
  • Implementation gap: projects stalled by absent power-sale pacts, transmission limits
  • Proposal: reform global finance to give low-interest, long-term climate loans

India Angle

  • Strategic Great Nicobar clearance shows growth–biodiversity conflict
  • Government reliance on coal for baseload complicates decarbonisation trajectory
  • Recent Wayanad landslides treated as relief issue, not climate-governance signal

Urban & Social Concerns

  • Rapid urbanisation without green buffers intensifies heatwaves, flooding risks
  • Climate justice principle challenged by short-term political priorities of livelihoods
  • Call for universal climate-risk insurance for farmers & coastal communities

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
2024 global GHG emissions57.4 GtCO₂e (record high)
Warming on current policies≈ 2.8 °C by 2100
India non-fossil target500 GW capacity by 2030
Coal addition cleared (India)80 GW fresh capacity by 2032
Rooftop solar scheme coverage10 million households (PM Surya Ghar)
Urban heat island rise3–5 °C above rural (Delhi, Mumbai)
New MRV regimeEnhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)
COP30 innovationTropical Forests Forever Facility & Loss-and-Damage Fund launch

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

Which one among the following statements with regard to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is NOT correct?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

Which one of the following resolutions in the final agreement reached at COP28 is associated with the target of achieving 'Net Zero by 2050'?

GS-3Scheme

8.10,000 FPO Formation Scheme

PIB

What & Where

Definition: Central Sector Scheme (2020) to create 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations for collective production-marketing

Process: Cluster & commodity-based formation, three-year handholding, equity grant and credit guarantee package

Geography: Pan-India coverage, aligned with One District One Product and aspirational districts

Quick Facts for MCQs

Finance & Incentives

  • Handholding: ₹18 lakh support released in instalments over 36 months
  • Equity: ₹15 lakh matching grant boosts member capital, capped at ₹2,000 each
  • Guarantee: Credit cover up to ₹2 crore enables collateral-free bank lending

Institutional Setup

  • Agencies: SFAC, NABARD, NCDC manage mobilisation; NAFED leads market linkages
  • Linkages: ODOP clusters integrate value chains, strengthen bargaining power
  • Training: BIRD & LINAC run phased governance, finance, market modules

Inclusion & Impact

  • Women: 21.96 lakh members ensure gender mainstreaming in agri-business
  • Smallholders: Scheme targets 86 % small-marginal farmers for scale economies
  • Outcomes: Evidence shows 22 % price gain and 31 % marketing cost saving

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch date29 Feb 2020
Total FPO target10,000 units
Women farmers onboarded21.96 lakh
Implementing agenciesSFAC, NABARD, NCDC, NAFED
Handholding grantUp to ₹18 lakh per FPO (3 yrs)
Matching equity grantUp to ₹15 lakh or ₹2,000/member
Credit guarantee coverUp to ₹2 crore loan per FPO
ApproachCluster & ODOP alignment
Training institutesBIRD (Lucknow), LINAC (Gurugram)
Documented benefits22 % higher prices, 31 % lower marketing cost

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI 2025PYQ 1

नवीनी सहकार योजना के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

GS-3Economy

9.RBI MPC Maintains Repo Rate

Indian Express

What & Where

Institution: six-member RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) under RBI Act 1934 §45ZB; meets bi-monthly in Mumbai

Decision: Feb 2026 review kept repo rate at 5.25 %, steering all India lending and deposit pricing

Process: releases stance plus GDP & CPI forecasts, guiding banks, NBFCs and repo-linked loan EMIs

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Growth: upgrade to 7.4 % backed by ~7 % consumption and cumulative 125 bps earlier easing
  • Inflation: forecast nudged up to 2.1 %; December print 1.33 % well within target band
  • Transmission: repo-linked EMIs likely steady; past cuts still filtering through credit system

Policy Terminology

  • Neutral: no preset bias; allows either hikes or cuts on incoming data
  • Accommodative: tilt toward lower rates to spur growth when inflation benign
  • Calibrated Tightening: signals gradual hikes possible; cuts ruled out until conditions shift

External Risks

  • Geopolitics: West Asia conflicts and wider trade tensions require vigilant MPC monitoring
  • Trade pacts: fresh accords with US, EU, Oman, New Zealand need impact assessment before moves
  • Outlook: global headwinds could offset domestic demand; pause preserves policy flexibility

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Meeting monthFebruary 2026
Post-meeting repo rate5.25 %
Previous move (Dec 2025)25 bps cut
Current policy stanceNeutral
FY26 GDP growth estimate7.4 %
FY26 retail inflation estimate2.1 %
Dec 2025 headline CPI1.33 %
Statutory CPI target band2 – 6 %

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK, GS1 2017PYQ 1

मौद्रिक नीति समिति (Monetary Policy Committee/MPC) के सम्बन्ध में निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं ?

CDS_GK, GS1 2020PYQ 2

Which one of the following is not correct about Repo rate?

GS-3Economy

10.Revised Startup Recognition Framework

PIB
Illustration for Revised Startup Recognition Framework

What & Where

Startup recognition framework, part of Startup India (2016), overseen by DPIIT, Government of India.

Adds “Deep Tech Startup” category: long R&D cycles, high tech uncertainty, IP-centred solutions.

Framework applies pan-India; now covers cooperative & multi-state cooperative societies.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • Deep tech startups barred from investing outside core business during recognition period.
  • Entities formed by splitting/reconstruction of older firms expressly excluded.
  • Cooperative Act entities gain eligibility to spur agri-rural innovation.

Financial Instruments

  • Fund of Funds, Seed Fund, Credit Guarantee build capital pipeline from idea to scaling.
  • RDI Fund to channel secondary investments specifically into emerging-tech, deep tech ventures.
  • MAARG & Investor Connect portals aggregate mentors, VCs, lenders.

Ecosystem Metrics

  • India now world’s 3rd-largest startup base, after US & China.
  • Unicorn tally crossed 100 within eight years of Startup India launch.
  • Policy drives geographical dispersion beyond metro clusters.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Regular startup turnover capRaised to ₹200 crore
Deep tech turnover cap₹300 crore
Regular age eligibility≤10 years from incorporation
Deep tech age eligibility≤20 years
Deep tech share (2024)≈10 % of DPIIT-recognised startups
Prohibited assetsSpeculative / non-productive investments
Final recognising authorityDPIIT (advised by Inter-Ministerial Board)
Total recognised startups>2 lakh
Unicorns 2014 vs 20244 → 120+
Women-director presence≥45 % startups
Tier-II/III location share≈50 % startups
Fund of Funds corpus₹10,000 crore via AIFs
Credit Guarantee SchemeCollateral-free loans to startups
RDI Fund custodianAnusandhan National Research Foundation
RDI Fund size & tenure₹1 lakh crore over 7 years

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

ESE_GS 2024PYQ 1

To increase transparency and consumer awareness and handle customer complaints, a 'Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre' and an 'Integrated Ombudsman Scheme' have been set up. These two schemes are related to which one of the following institutions?

GS-3Environment

11.Industrial Chemical Gas Leak Concerns

Times of India

What & Where

Definition Unintentional release of toxic, flammable or asphyxiant gas/vapour from industrial equipment or processes

Types Common gases Chlorine, Ammonia, LPG, Methane, MIC, Styrene, Hydrogen-sulfide

Geography High-risk belt spans Gujarat–Maharashtra chemicals corridor with 1,861 MAH units in 300 districts

Quick Facts for MCQs

Incident Trends

  • Hotspots Gujarat GIDC estates, Maharashtra MIDC zones report most recent leaks
  • Recent cases Vizag 2020 Styrene, Surat 2022 waste gas, Ludhiana 2023 H₂S, Vapi 2024 multiphase blast
  • Casualty pattern Fourteen percent of accidents cause ≥5 deaths according to NDMA compilations

Key Challenges

  • Enforcement Skipped safety audits, outdated pressure-vessel testing in SMEs
  • Proximity Worker colonies often <500 m from reactors lacking green buffers
  • Response Legacy plants missing real-time sensors, causing diagnostic delays

NDMA Guidelines

  • Risk-mapping Zone-of-impact charts around every MAH unit mandatory
  • Infrastructure 24×7 Emergency Response Centres with hazmat suits, neutralisers
  • Preparedness Quarterly multi-agency mock drills and antidote banks in local hospitals

Way Forward

  • Technology IoT pressure sensors linked to GPCB control rooms
  • Deterrence Criminal liability plus higher fines for protocol violations
  • Public alert SMS early-warning within 5 km radius once leak detected

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
MAH units (NDMA)1,861 across India
Share of Gujarat production~35 % of national chemical output
Annual major accidents 2021-2415–20 events
Decadal deaths from leaks250 + fatalities
SME share in mishaps~60 % incidents
Famous MIC disaster1984 Bhopal tragedy

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CDS_GK 2020PYQ 1

The recent explosion near OIL well in Baghjan is due to

GS-3Environment

12.Rat-Hole Mining Disaster in Meghalaya

Indian Express

What & Where

Primitive, unscientific coal extraction via 3–4 ft tunnels; miners crawl; termed rat-hole mining

Two modes: side-cutting along exposed seams; box-cutting vertical pit with radiating horizontal tunnels

Core geography: East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya; also Khasi, Garo regions and sporadically other NE states

Quick Facts for MCQs

Legal & Policy

  • NGT ban 2014 deems rat-hole mining unscientific, illegal nationwide
  • Sixth Schedule autonomy dilutes MMDR enforcement though Supreme Court maintains prohibition

Environmental Impact

  • Acid Mine Drainage acidifies Kopili, Myntdu, Lukha; heavy metals contaminate aquatic life
  • Large-scale deforestation triggers soil erosion, habitat loss in Jaintia hills

Economic Angle

  • Thin < 2 m seams render open-cast uneconomic; rat-hole offers cheap direct access
  • Black-market coal finances local economies lacking alternative industries

Social Concerns

  • Recurrent collapses, flooding, toxic gases kill miners; 18 deaths Feb 2026
  • Child labour common; prolonged dust exposure causes silicosis, black-lung disease

Tech & Schemes

  • Drone, satellite, GIS monitoring proposed for remote illegal pit detection
  • MEPRF funds to employ ex-miners restoring degraded sites via Green Corps

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Tunnel height3–4 ft
Coal seam thicknessOften < 2 m
NGT ban year2014
Governing Act breachedMMDR Act 1957
Supreme Court stanceBan upheld
Recent fatalities (Feb 2026)≥18 miners
Major polluted riverLukha
GS-3SecurityQuick Bite

13.Agni-3 Missile Operational Test

PIB
Illustration for Agni-3 Missile Operational Test

What & Where

Agni-3 IRBM: two-stage, solid-fuel missile delivering nuclear/conventional warheads up to 3,000 km.

Successfully flight-tested from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, confirming field readiness.

Forms land-leg of India’s nuclear triad under Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

Quick Facts for MCQs

Technology Specs

  • Solid-propellant stages ensure quicker launch, easier storage than liquid systems.
  • Canisterisation enables shoot-and-scoot mobility, better survivability.
  • Inertial nav system gives high CEP accuracy for strategic targets.

Security Dimension

  • Extends deterrence envelope to entire East Asia and parts of Africa, Middle East.
  • Complements Agni-1/2 (short–medium) and Agni-4/5 (long-intercontinental) for layered reach.
  • Regular user trials reassure credibility amid evolving regional missile landscapes.

Operational Context

  • SFC conducts periodic tests to validate warhead–missile mating and crew readiness.
  • Road-mobile launchers complicate adversary first-strike calculations, enhancing survivability.
  • Part of nuclear triad with SLBM K-series (sea) and fighter-borne gravity bombs (air).

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
DeveloperDRDO
Command authorityStrategic Forces Command
Declared range~3,000 km
PropulsionTwo-stage solid fuel
Launch platformRoad-mobile, canisterised capable
Payload typeNuclear or conventional
GuidanceAdvanced inertial navigation
Deterrence doctrineCredible Minimum, second-strike focus
Latest validation testChandipur, Odisha (2026)
Series coverageAgni-1 to Agni-5 span 700–5,000 km

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1 2014PYQ 1

With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?

GS1 2001PYQ 2

The range of Agni-II missile is around

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