💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship (Dec Batch) + Access To XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Distribution: weekly

May the Force be strengthened

Context The functioning of the CRPF needs to be revisited. Historical background and present status of CRPF Crown Representative Police: In the wake of Independence, a contentious administrative issue was over the retention of CRP (Crown Representative Police). The question over the relevance of the force: As the Constitution designated ‘law and order’ as a… Continue reading May the Force be strengthened

The $5 trillion arithmetic

Context The Indian government has set itself a big target, namely, that the Indian economy will have an aggregate income or gross domestic product (GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25. Lack of clarity There is little effort to take it beyond a slogan. When it comes to targets and aims pertaining to the economy, it… Continue reading The $5 trillion arithmetic

RBI’s accounting year

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is aligning its July-June accounting year with the government’s April-March fiscal year in order to ensure more effective management of the country’s finances. Accordingly, the next accounting year will be a nine-month period which starts from July 2020 and ends on March 31, 2021. Thereafter, all the financial years… Continue reading RBI’s accounting year

Battle of Çanakkale/Gallipoli

India issued a strong demarche to Turkey over its outspoken President Erdogan’s comments in Pakistan. Erdogan has criticised India’s policy in Jammu and Kashmir and compared it with that of Turkey during World War I. Gallipoli campaign The Battle of Çanakkale, also known as the Gallipoli campaign or the Dardanelles campaign, is considered to be… Continue reading Battle of Çanakkale/Gallipoli

Erstwhile State of Rampur

Erstwhile royals of the state of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh are fighting over the assets and legacy of Nawab Raza Ali Khan, who acceded to the Indian Union at the time of Independence.  The Supreme Court ended India’s longest-running civil dispute last year, and the process of evaluating the inheritance is currently ongoing. The state… Continue reading Erstwhile State of Rampur

National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme

The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a $450 million loan agreement to support the national programme to arrest the country’s depleting groundwater levels and strengthen groundwater institutions. About the Programme The World Bank-supported programme will be implemented in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh… Continue reading National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme

Let’s think afresh about how to govern India’s gig workforce

 Context The gig economy plays to employment patterns in India, where most of the workforce is engaged in “informal” jobs in the “unorganized” sector. Employment pattern in India Non-contractual employment: A recent study of employment patterns over a 13-year period ended 2017 for the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council finds that non-contractual employment grew by… Continue reading Let’s think afresh about how to govern India’s gig workforce

Person in news: Dara Shikoh

  The Ministry of Culture recently set up a panel of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to locate the grave of the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh (1615-59) nearby Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi. Dara Shikoh’s legacy The eldest son of Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh was killed after losing the war of succession against his… Continue reading Person in news: Dara Shikoh

Urban Heat Islands in India

  A recent study from IIT Kharagpur called “Anthropogenic forcing exacerbating the urban heat islands in India” noted that the relatively warmer temperature in urban areas, compared to suburbs, may contain potential health hazards due to heat waves apart from pollution. About the study The research did study the difference between urban and surrounding rural… Continue reading Urban Heat Islands in India

Battling the bug

Context With multiple cities in China under a public health lockdown, global supply chains of various essential products and consumer goods are likely to be affected. This should be particularly worrisome for India, which has a roughly $93 billion total trade and about $57 billion trade imbalance with China. Cause of worry turned into a… Continue reading Battling the bug

Fine-tuning GST

Context Even as the 31-month-old GST evolves, the debate on its success rages on. Many have argued that GST is losing its sheen and needs a complete overhaul while others contend that the new tax system is on course and the trials and tribulations were not unexpected. Analysis of GST collection 39% increase over the… Continue reading Fine-tuning GST

Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)

The Supreme Court came down heavily on the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for issuing a notification that asked for no coercive action against telecom companies even though they had not paid the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues by the stipulated deadline. What is AGR? Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that… Continue reading Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)

Species in news: Indian Pangolin

  The Madhya Pradesh forest department has radio-tagged an Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) for the first time. Pangolins IUCN status: Endangered India is home to two species of pangolin. While the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is found in northeastern India, the Indian Pangolin is distributed in other parts of the country as well as Sri… Continue reading Species in news: Indian Pangolin

[pib] Nagpur Orange

  The first consignment of Nagpur oranges was flagged off to Dubai from Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Nagpur Orange Nagpur orange is rustic and pockmarked exterior which is sweet and has juicy pulp. It gives the city of Nagpur its pseudonym Orange City. It oranges blossom during the Monsoon season and are ready to be harvested… Continue reading [pib] Nagpur Orange

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.