Akash Missile System

Why in the News? India has pitched for the supply of the Akash missile system to Brazil. About Akash Missile System: Overview: Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL). Type: A short-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed to defend against aircraft, UAVs, and helicopters. Operational Users: Inducted… Continue reading

[16th October 2025 ] The Hindu Op-ed: Navigating the global economic transformation

PYQ Relevance [UPSC 2019] The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order. Linkage: The question reflects India’s shift from moral leadership to strategic pragmatism in global affairs. The article builds on this, urging India to… Continue reading

The future of the IMEC

Introduction In an era where connectivity defines power, the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) emerged as a visionary project connecting India’s western ports with Europe via the Arabian Peninsula. Envisaged as a multi-modal corridor encompassing maritime, rail, energy, and digital infrastructure, IMEC sought to integrate economies across continents while promoting peace and prosperity in a… Continue reading

The critical factor in India’s clean energy ambition

Introduction India’s ambition to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2070 depends not just on sunlight and wind but on minerals buried beneath the earth’s surface. Lithium, cobalt, and REEs form the backbone of technologies driving the clean energy revolution. However, India imports almost all of these minerals,… Continue reading

Mission Drishti: World’s First Multi-sensor EO Satellite

Why in the News? Indian space-tech start-up GalaxEye, based in Bengaluru, has announced the upcoming launch of Mission Drishti, the world’s first multi-sensor Earth Observation (EO) satellite, in the first quarter of 2026. About Mission Drishti: Objective: To provide high-resolution, real-time geospatial intelligence for governments, defence, and industries across critical domains such as disaster management,… Continue reading

IUCN Redlist Update of Indian Species

Why in the News? In the latest State of India’s Birds (SoIB) 2025 report and IUCN assessment, four bird species dependent on these ecosystems have been uplisted, reflecting alarming habitat loss and population decline. Bird Species Uplisted by IUCN: Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus): Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Uplisted from Least Concern → Near Threatened… Continue reading

DRDO to extend Astra Mark 2’s range to 200 km

Why in the News? The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing an extended-range variant of the Astra Mark 2 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile. Astra Mark 2 Missile: Overview: An indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile by the DRDO, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s long-range interception capability. Lineage: Successor to Astra Mark… Continue reading

Naying Hydroelectric Project

Why in the News? The Naying Hydroelectric Project (1000 MW), proposed on the Siyom (Yomgo) River in Shi-Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh, represents a major addition to India’s clean energy expansion under the Decade of Hydro Power (2025–35). About Siyom (Yomgo) River: Geography: A right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, flowing entirely within Arunachal Pradesh. Origin &… Continue reading

[15th October 2025 ] The Hindu Op-ed: Powering up the Australia-India clean energy partnership

PYQ Relevance [UPSC 2022] Clean energy is the order of the day. Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. Linkage: The India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) exemplifies India’s evolving climate diplomacy — shifting from being a climate “follower” to a global clean energy collaborator. It… Continue reading

How innovation drives economic growth

Introduction The 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for “explaining innovation-driven economic growth.” Their research collectively answers one of the most fundamental economic puzzles — how nations sustain growth over centuries, not decades. Why in the News The Nobel Committee’s decision is significant because… Continue reading

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Why in the News? The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi–NCR as air quality slipped into the ‘poor’ category (AQI 211) after more than three months. What is Air Quality Index (AQI)? Purpose: Quantifies pollution levels and health impact using major… Continue reading

Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS)

Why in the News? The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, inaugurated the “Live Cases” Dashboard under the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. About LIMBS Portal: Overview: A centralised, web-based litigation management platform developed by the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice,… Continue reading

Crew Escape System (CES) in the Gaganyaan Mission

Why in the News? The Crew Escape System is ISRO’s most critical safety innovation for Gaganyaan. This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu. Back2Basics: Gaganyaan Mission: Overview: India’s first human spaceflight mission, initiated in 2007, to send 3 astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for 3 days, followed… Continue reading

What are Climate Tipping Points?

Why in the News? The Global Tipping Points Report (2025), authored by 160 scientists from 23 countries, warns that warm-water coral reefs have already crossed their thermal tipping point, triggering irreversible dieback. About Tipping Points: Overview: Tipping Points are critical thresholds in Earth’s natural and climate systems beyond which self-reinforcing and often irreversible changes occur.… Continue reading

[14th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A green transition accelerating at express speed

PYQ Relevance: [UPSC 2020] Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain. Linkage: The transition is inherently linked to climate change mitigation, conservation, and… Continue reading

Delhi Morphological Ridge

Why in the News? The Delhi government has decided to declare 41 sq. km of the Southern Ridge as a reserved forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, following long-pending directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). About Delhi Morphological Ridge: The Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the ancient Aravalli Range, stretching approximately… Continue reading

Snow Leopards are the world’s least genetically diverse Big Cat

Why in the News? A new Stanford University-led study has revealed that the Snow Leopard has the lowest genetic diversity among all big cats, even lower than the Cheetah. About Snow Leopard: Overview: Also called the “ghost of the mountains”; Belongs to the genus Panthera but genetically distinct from tigers and leopards, with unique adaptations… Continue reading

Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, 2025

Why in the News? The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Memory of Alfred Nobel) was awarded to Joel Mokyr (Northwestern University, US), Philippe Aghion (Collège de France, INSEAD, LSE), and Peter Howitt (Brown University, US) for their pioneering explanations of innovation-driven economic growth. What is the Nobel Economics Prize? Officially… Continue reading

RBI introduces Unified Markets Interface (UMI)

Why in the News? RBI Governor has unveiled the Unified Markets Interface (UMI) a next-generation financial market infrastructure developed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). What is Unified Markets Interface (UMI)? Overview: The UMI is a next-generation financial market infrastructure conceptualized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to tokenize financial assets and settlements… Continue reading

Anna Mani and her contributions in India’s Atmospheric Research

Why in the News? The National Book Trust has released a book on highlighting physicist Anna Mani’s pioneering ozone and pollution studies in Pune decades before “climate change” entered discourse. Who was Anna Mani (1918–2001)? Overview: Indian physicist and meteorologist from Peermade, Kerala; pioneered India’s meteorological instrumentation and atmospheric science. Alma mater: Studied physics at… Continue reading

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