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Distribution: yearly

Centre amends MGNREGA for Water Conservation in Scarcity Zones

Why in the News? The Central Government has amended the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) to mandate a minimum share of funds for water conservation and harvesting works. Earlier this month, MGNREGA completed 20 years of its implementation. What is entailed in this MGNREGA (2005) Amendment? Objective: Prioritise long-term water management, shift… Continue reading Centre amends MGNREGA for Water Conservation in Scarcity Zones

What is Uranium Enrichment?

Why in the News? Iran’s supreme leader recently said Tehran has limited uranium enrichment to 60% U-235 and will not pursue further enrichment to ~90% (weapons grade). About Uranium Enrichment: What is it: The process of increasing the proportion of U-235 isotope in uranium samples. Natural uranium has only 0.7% U-235, while the rest is… Continue reading What is Uranium Enrichment?

Coffee Board to hold awareness program on EUDR compliance

Why in the News? The Coffee Board of India has launched extensive awareness and capacity-building programmes to help coffee growers register on its mobile application for EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance. What are EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)? About: Effective from June 2023; Prevent imported products like coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy, rubber, cattle, wood (and… Continue reading Coffee Board to hold awareness program on EUDR compliance

New species of finless Snake Eel named after Kanniyakumari

Why in the News? ICAR- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) researchers in Kochi have discovered a new finless snake eel species, Apterichtus kanniyakumari, named after Kanniyakumari district. About Finless Snake Eel (Apterichtus kanniyakumari): Location: Discovered off the Colachel coast, Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu), at ~100 m depth during deep-sea trawling. Etymology: Named kanniyakumari in… Continue reading New species of finless Snake Eel named after Kanniyakumari

[25th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Follow the rains, not the calendar to fight floods

PYQ Relevance [UPSC 2016] The frequency of urban floods due to high-intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods, highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. Linkage: This PYQ is directly linked to the article as both focus on increasing urban floods due to high-intensity,… Continue reading [25th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Follow the rains, not the calendar to fight floods

Swipe, Tap, Spend: How UPI is a decisive step towards formalization of Indian Economy

Introduction India’s journey towards a cash-lite economy has been marked by a staggering rise in UPI transactions, reflecting a decisive shift in household and business payment patterns. From groceries to loans, from investments to utility bills, UPI has emerged as the backbone of everyday economic life. This transformation is not merely technological but a structural… Continue reading Swipe, Tap, Spend: How UPI is a decisive step towards formalization of Indian Economy

How are courts protecting personality rights?

Introduction Personality rights, the right to control one’s name, image, likeness, and voice, have become a critical issue in India’s courts. With AI enabling deepfakes, voice cloning, and digital impersonation, Bollywood celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff have approached courts to restrain unauthorised commercial exploitation of their persona. While… Continue reading How are courts protecting personality rights?

Konkan Geoglyphs may be 24,000 years old

Why in the News? The prehistoric geoglyphs of the Konkan coast may date back as far as 24,000 years, based on new stratigraphic evidence from Koloshi caves in Maharashtra. About Konkan Geoglyphs: Overview: Prehistoric rock engravings (geoglyphs/petroglyphs) carved on laterite plateaus of the Konkan coast (Maharashtra, Goa, southern Karnataka). Depictions: Humans, animals (elephants, tigers, rhinos,… Continue reading Konkan Geoglyphs may be 24,000 years old

Sixth Schedule demand for Ladakh

Why in the News? The recent protests in Ladakh led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, which turned violent, have been driven by demands for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and a call for statehood. Background: Ladakh’s Governance Post Article 370 Repeal Union Territory Recognition: After the 2019 repeal of Article 370, Ladakh… Continue reading Sixth Schedule demand for Ladakh

[24th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Criminal Defamation is incompatible with democratic debate

PYQ Relevance [UPSC 2014] What do you understand by the concept ‘freedom of speech and expression’? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. Linkage: The 2014 PYQ on freedom of speech, hate speech, and films directly links with… Continue reading [24th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Criminal Defamation is incompatible with democratic debate

The Left we need: The Legacy of Indian Socialism

Introduction Once a vibrant stream of India’s political life, socialism today survives only on the margins, overshadowed by dominant political narratives. The Samajwadi Ekjutata Sammelan attempted to revive this forgotten legacy by recalling socialist icons, showcasing their contributions, and highlighting the ideological resources they left behind. Unlike European social democracy or Marxism, Indian socialism, particularly… Continue reading The Left we need: The Legacy of Indian Socialism

Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive

Introduction Vaccination is among the most effective and cost-efficient public health measures, credited with saving millions of lives globally. India, with its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), runs the world’s largest vaccination campaign annually, covering over 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women. From eliminating polio and maternal/neonatal tetanus to spearheading COVID-19 vaccine development, India… Continue reading Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive

Roadmap for India’s Fusion Power Plan

Why in the News? Researchers at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar have released a roadmap for India’s fusion programme, envisioning the Steady-State Superconducting Tokamak-Bharat (SST-Bharat) as the country’s first fusion electricity generator. Back2Basics: ITER and India’s Contribution in ITER ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor): It is the world’s largest nuclear fusion project, based… Continue reading Roadmap for India’s Fusion Power Plan

Commissioning of Oju Hydel Project

Why in the News? The Union Environment Ministry has cleared the 2,220 MW Oju Hydroelectric Project on the Subansiri River in Taksing, Upper Subansiri district, near the China border. About the Oju Hydroelectric Project: Capacity & Location: A 2,220 MW run-of-river hydro project on the Subansiri River at Taksing, Upper Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, near… Continue reading Commissioning of Oju Hydel Project

[pib] Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), 2025

Why in the News? The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry has released Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), 2025 Report. What is Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)?  Overview: It is a national index benchmarking logistics performance across States and Union Territories of India. Origin: Conceived in 2018, modelled on the World Bank’s Logistics… Continue reading [pib] Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), 2025

[pib] Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

Why in the News? The government has announced the establishment of 9 Clean Plant Centres across the country as part of the recently approved Rs 1,765.67 crore Clean Plant Programme (CPP). What is Clean Plant Programme (CPP)? Launch: Cleared by the Union Cabinet in August 2024 with an outlay of ₹1,765.67 crore, supported by a… Continue reading [pib] Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

[23rd September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The growing relevance of traditional medicine

PYQ Relevance [UPSC 2019] How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? Linkage: The question on protecting traditional knowledge from patenting directly links with India’s global Ayurveda outreach and the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, which focus on safeguarding and validating traditional systems. The article highlights India’s… Continue reading [23rd September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The growing relevance of traditional medicine

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