💥Mains Ready By December. Smash Mains & Smash PYQ Admissions Open
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

GS Paper: GS1

  • Satellite data show India’s major deltas sinking

    Why in the News

    A global study published in Nature on 14 January reports widespread land subsidence across India’s major river deltas, driven largely by human activities and observed using Sentinel 1 satellite data.

    Study at a Glance

    • Data source Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar from ESA Sentinel 1
    • Period 2014 to 2023
    • Coverage 40 major global deltas including 6 Indian deltas
    • Spatial resolution 75 metres
    • Population relevance Deltas support over 340 million people globally

    Indian Deltas Confirmed to be Sinking

    • Ganges Brahmaputra Delta, Brahmani Delta, Mahanadi Delta, Godavari Delta, Cauvery Delta and Kabani Delta.
    • More than 90 percent area affected in Ganges Brahmaputra, Brahmani and Mahanadi deltas.

    Key Quantitative Findings

    • Brahmani delta: 77 percent area sinking at more than 5 mm per year
    • Mahanadi delta: 69 percent area sinking at more than 5 mm per year
    • In Ganges, Brahmani, Mahanadi, Godavari and Kabani,
       Subsidence rate exceeds regional sea level rise
    • Godavari delta: Even 95th percentile subsidence exceeds projected global sea level rise under worst climate scenario
    • Kolkata: Subsidence equals or exceeds delta average due to urban load and resource extraction

    Major Human Drivers Identified

    • Unsustainable groundwater extraction: Ganges Brahmaputra and Cauvery deltas
    • Rapid urbanisation: Brahmani delta
    • Reduced sediment flux: Mahanadi and Kabani deltas
    • Population pressure: Intensifies compaction and land lowering
    [2018] Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in riverbeds? 

    1. Decreased salinity in the river 

    2. Pollution of groundwater 

    3. Lowering of the water-table 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • PM Modi highlights Parbati Giri’s contribution to freedom struggle

    Why in the news

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Parbati Giri on her birth centenary, highlighting her role in India’s freedom movement and post independence social service. She was also remembered earlier in Mann Ki Baat.

    Who was Parbati Giri

    • Freedom fighter from Odisha
    • Known as “Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”
    • Actively participated in the Quit India Movement
    • Joined the freedom struggle at just 16 years of age

    Role in freedom struggle

    • Took part in the Quit India Movement of 1942
    • Represented the contribution of women and tribal regions in the national movement
    • Part of the broader mass based resistance against colonial rule

    Post-independence contributions

    • Dedicated her life to social service
    • Worked extensively for Tribal welfare, Healthcare and Women empowerment
    • Established orphanages and welfare institutions
    • Focused on upliftment of the poor and marginalised

    UPSC Prelims pointers

    • Parbati Giri was associated with Quit India Movement
    • Belonged to Odisha
    • Known for lifelong tribal and social welfare work
    • Frequently cited in context of unsung freedom fighters
    [2011] Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942? 

    (a) It was a non-violent movement 

    (b) It was led by Mahatma Gandhi 

    (c) It was a spontaneous movement 

    (d) It did not attract the labour class in general

  • Thiruvalluvar Day 

    Why in the News?

    On Thiruvalluvar Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Thiruvalluvar, highlighting the timeless relevance of his ideals and urging people to read the Tirukkural.

    About Thiruvalluvar

    • Celebrated Tamil poet philosopher of the Sangam age
    • Believed to have lived around 2000 years ago
    • Associated with Mylapore in present day Chennai
    • Also known as Valluvar
    • Revered as a saint across South India
    • In some traditions regarded as an incarnation of Brahma

    Social and Religious Context

    • Lived during a period when Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism coexisted
    • Scholars associate him with Jainism or Hinduism
    • Demonstrated that householder life can lead to spiritual excellence
    • Rejected the necessity of renunciation for moral and spiritual attainment

    Prelims Pointers

    • Tirukkural has 1330 couplets
    • Official birth year recognised as 31 BCE
    • Associated with Sangam literature
    • Emphasised ethics, governance, and social harmony
    • Revered across religious traditions
    [2020] Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct? 

    (a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture

    (b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets

    (c) Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic

    (d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational

  • Karnataka Land Revenue Amendment and Jamma Bane System in Coorg

    Why in the News?

    The Karnataka government has amended its land revenue law to modernise the Jamma Bane land record system in Coorg. The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Act, 2025 received assent from Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on January 7, 2025.

    About Jamma Bane Lands

    • A distinct land tenure system prevalent only in Kodagu district
    • The word Jamma means hereditary
    • Lands were granted between 1600 and 1800
      • By erstwhile Coorg kings
      • Later by British administration
    • Granted in return for military service
    • Associated closely with the Kodava community

    Nature of Jamma Bane Holdings

    • Consist of two land types
      • Wetlands used for paddy cultivation
      • Forested highlands converted into coffee plantations
    • Ownership recorded in the name of the original pattedar
    • Names of successors added but primary ownership never changed
    • Resulted in
      • No clear title for current owners
      • Difficulty in sale or purchase of land
      • Problems in securing bank loans
      • Frequent inheritance disputes
    [2024] With reference to the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, consider the following statements: 

    1. To implement the scheme, the Central Government provides 100% funding

    2. Under the Scheme, Cadastral Maps are digitised

    3. An initiative has been undertaken to transliterate the Records of Rights from local language to any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India

    Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Are India’s small towns being increasingly urbanised?

    Why in the News?

    India still focuses its urban future on megacities, even though only about 500 towns are large cities, while nearly 9,000 are small towns, most with populations below one lakh. Earlier, urbanisation was led mainly by metros, but this pattern is now changing. Small towns are increasingly absorbing surplus labour, migrant workers, and consumption activities as metros face high land prices, stressed infrastructure, and rising living costs. This shift reflects not inclusive growth, but the spread of urban crisis to smaller towns, with serious economic and social consequences.

    How have India’s small towns proliferated since the 1970s?

    1. Metropolitan Concentration: Organised capital accumulation during the 1970s-1990s prioritised large cities as centres of industry, infrastructure, and state investment.
    2. Labour Absorption: Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and later Bengaluru and Hyderabad absorbed surplus labour and expanded consumption.
    3. Spatial Fix: Metros functioned as spatial fixes for capitalism by enabling accumulation through land, infrastructure, and labour concentration.

    Why are India’s metros facing a crisis of over-accumulation today?

    1. Land Detachment: Land prices have become disconnected from productive economic use.
    2. Infrastructure Stress: Urban systems are stretched beyond functional limits.
    3. Cost Escalation: Rising housing and living costs have become unaffordable for working groups.
    4. Accumulation Limits: Metros have exhausted their capacity to absorb surplus capital and labour efficiently.

    Why have small towns emerged as new sites of urbanisation?

    1. Capital Redirection: Small towns offer cheaper land and lower entry barriers for capital.
    2. Labour Availability: They absorb migrants displaced from metros and rural youth exiting agrarian livelihoods.
    3. Functional Integration: Towns such as Sattenapalle (Andhra Pradesh), Dhamtari (Chhattisgarh), Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh), Hassan (Karnataka), Bongaigaon (Assam), and Una (Himachal Pradesh) now act as logistics nodes, agro-processing hubs, warehouse towns, service centres, and consumption markets.

    How are small towns embedded within the urban process?

    1. Urban Continuum: Small towns operate fully within urban capitalist systems rather than existing as rural-urban intermediaries.
    2. Regulatory Gaps: Weaker regulation and minimal political scrutiny facilitate capital expansion.
    3. Cost Arbitrage: Lower land prices and pliable labour make small towns attractive for accumulation under stress conditions.

    Are small towns a better alternative to metropolitan urbanisation?

    1. No Emancipatory Promise: The article rejects the notion that small towns ensure inclusive or equitable growth.
    2. Urbanisation of Poverty: What unfolds is the relocation of rural deprivation into urban spaces.
    3. Informal Labour Dominance: Construction workers without contracts, women in home-based work, and youth in platform economies face insecurity and lack of social protection.
    4. Emerging Hierarchies: Towns such as Bhadol (Madhya Pradesh) and Raichur (Karnataka) show consolidation of power among real estate brokers, contractors, micro-financiers, and local intermediaries controlling land and labour.

    What does this reveal about India’s urban policy framework?

    1. Metro-Centric Bias: Flagship urban missions remain focused on large cities.
    2. Policy Failure: Small towns remain under-governed despite being central to contemporary urbanisation.
    3. Political Neglect: Absence of adequate scrutiny deepens informalisation and inequality.

    Conclusion

    India’s small towns are not emerging as alternatives to the metropolitan crisis but as its extension. They represent a new spatial frontier for capitalist accumulation under stress, marked by informal labour, weak regulation, and entrenched local hierarchies. Without policy recalibration, small-town urbanisation risks reproducing the very inequalities it was expected to resolve.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.

    Linkage: The question examines structural drivers of rural-urban migration in developing countries. It connects with debates on metro-centric growth, over-accumulation, and the emerging role of small towns as secondary but constrained urban destinations.

  • Kathputli Art of Rajasthan 

    Why in the News?

    The traditional Kathputli art of Rajasthan, centred in Kathputli Nagar of Jaipur, highlights India’s rich intangible cultural heritage, where nearly 250 artisan families continue a centuries old puppet tradition amid challenges from modern entertainment.

    What is Kathputli?

    • Kathputli is one of India’s oldest folk puppet traditions
    • The word derives from
      • Kath meaning wood
      • Putli meaning doll
    • Puppets are string operated wooden figures with painted faces and colourful costumes

    Region and Community

    • Practised mainly in Rajasthan
    • Kathputli Nagar (Puppets Colony) in Jaipur is a major living hub
    • Craft is hereditary, passed down across generations within families

    Historical Significance

    • Traditionally performed by travelling storytellers
    • Used to narrate
      • Tales of Rajput kings and warriors
      • Folk legends and moral stories
    • Served as a mass communication medium before print and digital media

    Current Challenges

    • Competition from digital entertainment
    • Economic insecurity for artisans
    • Dependence on tourism and cultural events

    Prelims Pointers

    • Kathputli is a string puppet tradition
    • Originated in Rajasthan
    • Major hub is Kathputli Nagar, Jaipur
    • Puppets are made of wood and cloth
    • Historically used to narrate royal and folk tales
    [2024] Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO? 

    (a) Chhau dance 

    (b) Durga Puja 

    (c) Garba dance 

    (d) Kumbh Mela

  • Show Cause Notice on Bargi Dam 

    Why in the News?

    The National Dam Safety Authority issued a show cause notice to the Narmada Valley Development Authority over serious safety lapses at Bargi Dam.

    About Bargi Dam

    • A major multipurpose dam
    • Used for irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydroelectric power generation
    • Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh
    • Constructed on the Narmada River

    Historical Background

    • Built under the Narmada Valley Development Project
    • First completed major dam among the planned series on the Narmada in Madhya Pradesh
    • Became the foundation project for the state’s Narmada basin development strategy

    Key Features

    • 21 spillway gates: Regulate flood discharge and reservoir levels during heavy rainfall
    • Bargi Diversion Project: Canal network supplying irrigation to drought prone regions
    • Rani Avantibai Lodhi Sagar Project: Large scale storage and distribution system for irrigation and water supply
    • Large reservoir supporting: Drinking water, Hydropower, Fisheries and Tourism and recreation

    Significance

    • Provides drinking water to Jabalpur and nearby districts
    • Supports agriculture through assured irrigation
    • Contributes to electricity generation
    • Boosts regional development and eco tourism

    Institutional Context

    National Dam Safety Authority

    • Apex body under the Dam Safety Act 2021
    • Responsible for surveillance, inspection, and safety compliance of specified dams

    Narmada Valley Development Authority

    • Implements and manages projects under the Narmada basin
    • Responsible for operation and maintenance of dams like Bargi

    Prelims Pointers

    • Bargi Dam is on the Narmada River
    • Located in Madhya Pradesh
    • Part of the Narmada Valley Development Project
    • NDSA acts under the Dam Safety Act 2021
    • Spillway gates are crucial for flood control
    [2016] The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? 

    1. It occupies a linear rift valley

    2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras

    3. The land slopes to the west from Central India

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) None

  • Zehanpora Buddhist Site and Kashmir’s Ancient Buddhist Past  

    Why in the News?

    Archaeologists have unearthed ancient Buddhist stupas and settlement remains at Zehanpora in Baramulla, reviving Kashmir’s 2,000 year old Buddhist past. The breakthrough was aided by century old photographs preserved in a French museum, which guided modern excavations.

    About the Zehanpora Discovery

    • Location: Zehanpora village, Baramulla district, along the Jhelum River
    • Site lies on an ancient Silk Route corridor linking Kashmir to Central Asia and Kandahar
    • Excavations began in July 2025 after drone surveys, aerial mapping, and ground verification

    Key Archaeological Findings

    • Three Buddhist stupas
    • Urban type settlement complex likely including chaityas and viharas
    • Apsidal stupa architecture with pradakshina path
    • Kushan era artefacts
      • Pottery shards
      • Copper objects
      • Stone walls
    • Evidence of long term monastic and urban activity

    Historical Significance

    Gandhara Buddhist Network

    • Discovery firmly links Kashmir to the Gandhara Buddhist cultural network
    • Establishes Kashmir as a central hub of Buddhist learning, not a peripheral region
    • Demonstrates cultural and intellectual exchange between South Asia and Central Asia

    Chronological Context

    • Buddhist presence in Kashmir began during Ashoka’s reign (3rd century BCE)
    • Flourished under the Kushan Empire (1st to 3rd century CE)
    • Kushans promoted urbanisation, trade, and Buddhism

    Literary Corroboration

    • Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang mentioned entering Kashmir via the Silk Route
    • Zehanpora excavation provides material archaeological evidence supporting textual references

    Role of French Museum Photographs

    • In 2023, century old photographs showing three stupas in Baramulla were discovered
    • Images validated local archaeological hypotheses
    • Triggered systematic excavation and site identification

    Prelims Pointers

    • Zehanpora is located in Baramulla district
    • Site linked to Gandhara Buddhism
    • Artefacts belong mainly to Kushan period
    • Apsidal stupas allow circumambulatory worship
    • Discovery aided by foreign archival material
    [2023] With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements: 

    1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 

    2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics

    3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition

    How many of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

  • How Haryana turned around sex ratio at birth, now close to national average

    Introduction

    Sex ratio at birth reflects deep-rooted social preferences, access to technology, and effectiveness of governance. Haryana’s demographic profile was historically distorted due to entrenched son preference and misuse of prenatal diagnostic technologies. The recent improvement indicates a shift driven by administrative vigilance, legal enforcement, and behavioural correction mechanisms, rather than mere awareness campaigns.

    Why in the News

    Haryana’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) rose to 923 females per 1,000 males in 2023, bringing the state close to the national average of 933. This marks a sharp reversal from its historical position among India’s worst-performing states. The improvement follows two decades of sustained interventions, including enforcement against illegal sex selection, medical monitoring, inter-departmental coordination, and district-level surveillance. The state also recorded its best SRB performance in five years, signalling structural rather than episodic change.

    How severe was Haryana’s demographic imbalance earlier?

    1. Historically low SRB: Haryana ranked among the worst Indian states during the 2000s due to female foeticide.
    2. Technology misuse: Easy access to ultrasound and weak regulation facilitated sex-selective abortions.
    3. Structural bias: Son preference reinforced by inheritance practices and patriarchal norms.
    4. National comparison: Haryana consistently performed below the national SRB average for years.

    What institutional measures drove the turnaround?

    1. Legal enforcement: Strict implementation of the (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, including registration checks and surprise inspections.
    2. Criminal accountability: Filing of over 1,375 FIRs against illegal practitioners since 2014.
    3. Administrative coordination: Weekly reviews involving health, police, and district administrations.
    4. Tracking mechanisms: Continuous monitoring of ultrasound centres and pregnancy outcomes.

    How did district-level governance contribute?

    1. District surveillance: Identification of high-risk districts and targeted enforcement.
    2. Best-performing districts: Panchkula, Jhajjar, and Rewari crossed 940 SRB.
    3. Worst-performing districts: Palwal, Faridabad, and Panipat remained below the state average, indicating uneven progress.
    4. Outcome-based reviews: Regular district rankings created competitive accountability.

    What role did monitoring of medical practices play?

    1. Ultrasound regulation: Tight scrutiny of ultrasound centres and equipment movement.
    2. Pregnancy audits: Tracking of repeat abortions and abnormal sex ratios at facility levels.
    3. Professional deterrence: Suspension and prosecution of erring doctors.
    4. Sustained vigilance: Monitoring continued even during COVID-19 disruptions.

    Why is this shift considered structurally significant?

    1. Consistency over time: Improvement sustained across multiple years rather than isolated spikes.
    2. Behavioural correction: Reduced acceptance of sex-selective practices at the community level.
    3. Policy credibility: Demonstrates effectiveness of law when combined with administrative resolve.
    4. Replication potential: Offers a governance model for other demographically stressed states.

    Value Addition: Sex Ratio at Birth in India 

    1. National SRB: Approximately 933 females per 1,000 males.
    2. Regional variation: Northern and north-western states historically record lower SRB.
    3. Underlying causes: Son preference, declining fertility, and access to diagnostic technology
    4. Policy instruments: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PCPNDT Act, and conditional cash transfer schemes.
    5. Trend: Gradual national improvement, but inter-state disparities persist.

    Conclusion

    Haryana’s improvement in sex ratio at birth underscores that deep-rooted gender bias is not irreversible when governance moves beyond symbolic welfare to sustained enforcement and accountability. The experience demonstrates that demographic correction requires a long-term, law-driven, and institutionally coordinated approach, reinforcing that gender justice must be ensured at the earliest stage of life for social transformation to be durable.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?

    Linkage: Persistent patriarchal attitudes, reflected in practices like female foeticide and skewed sex ratios at birth, show that women’s progress has not translated into social acceptance. Haryana’s SRB turnaround demonstrates that strict legal enforcement, behavioural regulation, and institutional accountability are critical interventions.

  • 1000 Years of Survival of Somnath Temple 

    Why in the News?

    The Prime Minister of India highlighted the thousand year survival of the Somnath Temple, marking 1,000 years since the 1026 CE attack by Mahmud of Ghazni.

    Somnath Temple

    • One of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
    • Revered across Hindu tradition
    • Known as the Eternal Shrine due to repeated destruction and reconstruction

    Location

    • Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, Saurashtra region of Gujarat
    • Located on the Arabian Sea coast
    • At the Triveni Sangam of Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers

    Historical Significance

    Ancient Origins

    • Mentioned in Shiva Purana
    • Evidence of worship since antiquity
    • Multiple reconstructions in pre medieval times

    1026 CE Event

    • Temple attacked and plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni
    • Considered a major historical rupture in Indian history

    Medieval Period

    • Rebuilt by rulers such as Kumarapala of the Chaulukya dynasty
    • Reconstructed under Chudasama kings
    • Destroyed again during Sultanate invasions

    Symbol of Resilience

    • Historical records indicate the temple was destroyed six times
    • Rebuilt after every destruction
    • Became a symbol of civilisational continuity and faith

    Architectural Features

    • Built in Chaulukya or Solanki style
    • Prominent shikhara and richly carved stone walls
    • Garbhagriha houses the Jyotirlinga
    • Famous inscription stating no landmass lies between Somnath and the South Pole, symbolising cosmic alignment

    Modern Reconstruction

    Post Independence Revival

    • Reconstruction initiated in 1947
    • Led by Vallabhbhai Patel as a civilisational responsibility
    • Designed by architect Prabhashankar Sompura using traditional methods

    Inauguration

    • Inaugurated on 11 May 1951
    • By Rajendra Prasad
    • Despite the political debates of the period

    Present Management

    • Managed by the Somnath Trust
    • Trust is chaired by the Prime Minister of India
    [2022] The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple? 

    1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines. 

    2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni

    3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan. 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3