Note4Students: India-Myanmar relations have faced increasing challenges following recent decisions by the India to fence the India-Myanmar border. While approaching IR, we usually study neighborhood policies and bilateral relations between the countries. But what we conveniently miss out on is knowing the domestic crisis in the neighbourhood and its impact on India’ bilateral relations. If… Continue reading India-Myanmar Relations Amid Myanmar Civil War

N4S: This article dives deep into the care economy, exploring how unpaid care work -mostly done by women – shapes the economy but remains invisible in GDP calculations. It also evaluates Budget 2025 to see if it addresses these concerns. UPSC has explored questions on budget provisions, economic structures and social issues, often in an… Continue reading The Invisible Care Economy: Does Budget 2025 Recognize the its Contribution?

PYQs Anchoring: Microthemes: Judiciary Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, was allegedly found with a pile of unaccounted cash at his residence on March 14, 2025. Key Ethical Principles for Judges: Code of Conduct Principle Description Example Implication Impartiality Judges must ensure fairness and remain neutral, avoiding any bias based… Continue reading Need for Judicial Code of Conduct

NOTE4STUDENTS: The article explains the key updates in the UGC Draft Regulations, 2025. It covers changes in Vice-Chancellor (VC) appointments, teacher recruitment, and the larger debate on federalism in higher education. UPSC often explores education policies under governance, federalism, and social issues. Many struggle to connect current affairs to syllabus topics like governance and federalism,… Continue reading Autonomy or Overregulation: Are the New UGC Guidelines a Step Forward?

NOTE4STUDENTS This article explores the environmental costs of coal mining, India’s SO₂ emission norms, and the repeated delays in compliance. UPSC focuses on the development vs. environment debate. Questions often ask aspirants to discuss the inevitability of coal mining despite its environmental impact. They test understanding of policies, challenges, and solutions. The key is to… Continue reading Powering the Nation: How Can Thermal Plants Become More Sustainable

Note4Students: With the rise in demand for STEM research, higher education needs a refresh—better infrastructure, funding, and more. In GS-2, UPSC often zooms in on specific trends, like academic independence, rather than broad challenges. So, understanding how STEM research links up with higher education is key. This article breaks down these connections with data and… Continue reading How Can India Close the Gaps in STEM and Higher Education?

NOTE4STUDENTS: The article explains AI’s impact, ethics, sustainability, and global governance efforts. UPSC often frames AI-related questions in a multidisciplinary way. In GS-3, it links AI with healthcare, economy, or sustainability. In GS-4, it focuses on ethical concerns like fairness, privacy, and decision-making. Recent trends show a shift towards AI governance and its role in… Continue reading AI ACTION SUMMIT: How Can Governments Keep Up with AI Advancements

NOTE4STUDENTS: Stampedes are chaotic, dangerous, and often preventable. This article explores their causes, impacts, and preventive strategies, helping aspirants analyze UPSC questions on disaster management. UPSC often asks questions that test analytical thinking. Instead of asking for definitions, it frames scenarios. The 2013 question on vulnerability and risk assessment in disaster management is a perfect… Continue reading Crowd Control in India Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Stampedes

Note4Students: The MoHFW has released the India TB Report 2024. You should know the basics of TB. From the Mains perspective, 3 key points in this article are the issue of drug resistance (we have had PYQs in 2014), the challenges in eliminating TB (PYQs on Covid challenges in 2020), and our target to eradicate… Continue reading India’s Fight Against Tuberculosis (TB) 

WHY THIS ? The Fairwork India Ratings 2024 highlights that platform companies in India are failing to meet basic fair labor standards for gig workers, particularly regarding living wages and collective bargaining rights. For UPSC, the gig economy intersects with topics in Indian society, governance, economic growth, and labor rights. Moving beyond the challenges and… Continue reading No Benefits, No Security: The Various Sides of the Gig Hustle

NOTE4STUDENTS: China weaponizes supply chains to exert geopolitical pressure and economic dominance. UPSC may explore questions on trade policies, WTO reforms, and global supply chain vulnerabilities in this respect. It may test conceptual clarity and real-world application. You may struggle linking static knowledge of International Relations since there is no single source for it. This… Continue reading Weaponized Trade: A Strategic Tool or an Economic Time Bomb?

NOTE4STUDENTS: UPSC often frames questions on women empowerment by linking it to budgeting, government policies, and economic participation. This article breaks down gender budgeting and explains how the 2025-26 Union Budget aims to make India’s growth more inclusive for women. Many  struggle with connecting static knowledge (concepts like gender budgeting) with current affairs (recent budget… Continue reading Gender-Responsive Budgeting: How Well Does This Year’s Budget Address Women’s Needs

PYQ ANCHORING GS 2 : “The Constitution of India is a living instrument with capabilities of enormous dynamism. It is a constitution made for a progressive society”. Illustrate with special reference to the expanding horizons of the right to life and personal liberty. [2023] GS 2 : Right to privacy is intrinsic to life and… Continue reading Death Penalty in India: A Necessary Deterrent or a Human Rights Concern?

PYQs Anchoring: GS 2: ‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be, cannot resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs’. Discuss. 2013 Microthemes: Statutory Bodies Supreme Court Stays Lokpal’s Order On February 20, 2025, a Special Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and A.S. Oka addressed a crucial constitutional… Continue reading Lokpal vs. Judicial Independence: Oversight Mechanism or Constitutional Overreach?

PYQs Anchoring: GS 2: The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyse India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian countries. (2017) Microthemes: Effect of policies and politics of Countries on India’s interests Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, visited India to enhance bilateral… Continue reading India-Qatar Relations: A Strategic Partnership or an Economic Necessity?

The Union Budget 2025-26 focuses on inclusive development, prioritizing the needs of the poor, youth, farmers, and women. Big Boost for Women’s Welfare Why Gender Budgeting is Crucial to Tackle Today’s Challenges Gender budgeting is essential to ensure that government spending actively supports women’s economic participation and empowerment. Here’s why: 1. More Women Are Joining… Continue reading Gender-Responsive Budgeting: How Well Does This Year’s Budget Address Women’s Needs

PYQs Anchoring: Microthemes: Jurisdiction of Lokpal Supreme Court Stays Lokpal’s Order On February 20, 2025, a Special Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and A.S. Oka addressed a crucial constitutional question: Can the Lokpal of India investigate sitting High Court judges? The issue emerged after the Lokpal, led by former… Continue reading Lokpal vs. Judicial Independence: Oversight Mechanism or Constitutional Overreach?

Note4Students: For UPSC aspirants, Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and Natural Farming are not just buzzwords but critical tools for sustainable agricultural development. Many candidates focus narrowly on the definition and benefits of IFS or Natural Farming but miss the systemic challenges—like scalability, scientific validation, and policy gaps.  This article delves into the ground realities of… Continue reading Natural Farming in India: Revolution or Just a Trend?

Note4Students: Due to global conflicts, India faces critical challenges in securing its fertilizer supply, bringing the fertilizer sector back into focus. PYQs have highlighted various agricultural supply chain issues, including irrigation and crop diversification. But this war hits global supply chains in more ways than one. As an aspirant, you can include fertilizer and agri… Continue reading India’s Fertilizer Challenges