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  • ‘Your Money, Your Right’ Movement  

    Why in the News?

    The Prime Minister recently urged citizens to actively participate in the ‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement, a national initiative to help people reclaim their unclaimed financial assets.

    About the Movement

    • Launched by the Central Government in October 2025.
    • Objective: Enable citizens to locate and recover unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, mutual fund amounts, and other financial assets.

    Scale of Unclaimed Funds in India

    • Banking sector: Rs 78,000 crore unclaimed.
    • Insurance companies: Rs 14,000 crore unclaimed.
    • Mutual funds: Rs 3,000 crore unclaimed.
    • Dividends: Rs 9,000 crore unclaimed.
    • Deposits lying idle for 10 years or more are classified as unclaimed deposits.

    Dedicated Portals for Easy Access

    • Unclaimed bank deposits
       • Regulatory Body: Reserve Bank of India
       • Portal: UDGAM Portal
    • Unclaimed insurance proceeds
       • Regulatory Body: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
       • Portal: Bima Bharosa Portal
    • Unclaimed mutual fund amounts
       • Regulatory Body: Securities and Exchange Board of India
       • Portal: MITRA Portal
    • Unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares
       • Regulatory Body: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
       • Portal: IEPFA Portal
    Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for (2015)

    (a) providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates 

    (b) promoting women’s Self-Help Groups in backward areas 

    (c) promoting financial inclusion in the country 

    (d) providing financial help to the marginalized communities

  • NSIL and ISRO Technology Transfer 

    Why in the News?

    NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has so far signed 70 Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs) to license technologies developed by ISRO to Indian industries.

    About NSIL

    • Commercial arm of the Department of Space (DoS), incorporated under the Companies Act 2013.
    • Mandated to:
      • Commercialise ISRO technologies.
      • Enable industry participation in space missions.
      • Act as the actual licensor of ISRO technologies.

    Technology Transfer Mechanism

    Types of Agreements

    1. Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs) – Define rights, obligations, and usage of transferred technology.
    2. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – Contain explicit confidentiality clauses protecting commercially sensitive information.

    Role of IN-SPACe

    • Acts as a facilitator for Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs).
    • NSIL remains the licensing authority.

    Oversight for Fairness

    • A dedicated Technology Transfer Committee reviews all proposals.
    • Ensures transfers are transparent, equitable, and accountable.

    Transparency and RTI Compliance

    • NSIL is a public authority under RTI Act, 2005.
    • Suo motu disclosure under Section 4:
      • Lists technologies available for transfer.
      • Guidelines and procedures for NGEs.
      • Periodically updated information on technology transfers.

    What Information is Public?

    • Names and details of industries receiving ISRO technologies
       (furnished under RTI and available via ISRO/DoS websites such as URSC, IN-SPACe, NSIL).
    • Media publications also highlight certain transfers.

    Information Exempt from Disclosure

    Under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, NSIL does not disclose:

    • Commercial terms.
    • Payment details.
    • Copies of agreements.
       These are considered commercially sensitive or strategic.
    With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), Consider the following statements : (2018)

    1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 

    2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. 

    3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? 

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

  • [11th December 2025] The Hindu OpED: ​​AI must pay: On the DPIIT working paper on AI and Copyright Issues

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialised. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.

    Linkage: This topic is relevant because it highlights India’s weak IPR monetisation systems and the need for clear licensing frameworks for AI training. It directly links to the issue of poor commercialization of intellectual property due to inadequate revenue and protection mechanisms.

    Mentor’s Comment

    The rapid expansion of AI models such as LLMs has outpaced global regulatory thinking, especially concerning copyright. India’s new working paper on “AI and Copyright Issues” marks a significant policy moment because it attempts to balance innovation with fair remuneration for content creators.  

    Introduction 

    Large Language Models (LLMs) rely heavily on public text, data, and multimedia scraped from the Internet. This has created tension between AI developers and content producers whose material forms the backbone of AI training datasets. India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released a working paper proposing a mandatory licensing framework to ensure remuneration for content creators while keeping AI innovation unhindered. The proposal aims to prevent prolonged litigation, offer a collaborative revenue system, and address the growing disruption in the media landscape.

    Why in the news?

    India’s working paper is significant because it represents the first structured attempt to create a national solution to the global controversy around AI training data and copyright. For years, AI hyperscalers have argued for unrestricted scraping of Internet content, while publishers insisted on licensing and consent. With lawsuits piling up worldwide and no uniform judicial clarity, India’s move is a major shift from unregulated data scraping to a mandatory revenue-sharing model. It highlights the scale of the problem, hundreds of media houses and small publishers risk losing fair compensation as LLMs synthesize new outputs from their work without attribution. The proposal marks a pivot toward balancing AI development with creators’ rights, avoiding a situation that could disadvantage India’s AI ecosystem through excessive restrictions or unchecked exploitation.

    What Drives the Rapid Progress of LLMs?

    1. Iterative advancements in machine learning: Continuous improvements in applied techniques enhance the performance and reasoning ability of LLMs.
    2. Expanding access to global text and multimedia data: Massive publicly available datasets fuel training, improving output depth and sophistication.
    3. Dependence on Internet-scale content: AI firms rely heavily on materials produced by media houses, publishers, and content creators.

    What Is the Core Conflict Between AI Firms and Content Producers?

    1. Free-use argument by AI developers: They claim public Internet content should be freely usable for training, even when outputs are monetized.
    2. Licensing demand from content producers: Reproduction or syndication by AI, directly or indirectly, should require consent and licence fees.
    3. Fierce industry debate: News, entertainment, and book publishing sectors fear uncompensated use of their intellectual property.

    What Does India’s Working Paper Propose?

    1. Mandatory licensing framework: Allows unlimited scraping of public information, but mandates structured payments to a central body.
    2. Non-profit copyright society: Collects royalties from AI developers based on revenues earned through AI models trained on Indian content.
    3. Collaborative revenue-sharing: Ensures creators benefit from the value AI systems extract from their work.

    Why Is the Licensing Model Considered Practical?

    1. Avoids the burden of opting out: Individual content producers lack the power to prevent scraping or enforce restrictions.
    2. Recognizes data processing as a functional reality: AI models synthesize new outputs rather than reproduce original text verbatim.
    3. Addresses inequity concerns: Small publishers may still feel disadvantaged, but a flawed system is preferable to absence of remuneration.

    What Are the Challenges in Implementing the System?

    1. Royalty determination issues: Difficulties in deciding proportional payments, especially between small and large publishers.
    2. Ongoing global litigations: Lawsuits against AI companies continue, and no uniform judicial framework exists yet.
    3. Needless delay is a threat: Waiting for courts to settle the issue only benefits AI firms and worsens market disruption.
    4. Tech industry dissent: Some developers resist additional regulatory burdens but the committee views collaboration as essential.

    Conclusion

    India’s working paper marks an important shift toward a balanced AI-copyright ecosystem. While the proposed licensing structure is imperfect, it offers a practical, collaborative alternative to years of litigation and unregulated data extraction. If supported by the government and refined through stakeholder dialogue, it can ensure that India’s creators, publishers, and AI innovators coexist in a fair and sustainable digital environment.

  • Is India’s 8.2% growth rate sustainable?

    Introduction

    India’s growth figures highlight strong quarterly momentum driven by manufacturing revival, domestic demand, and fiscal support. However, the sustainability of this growth depends on addressing long-standing structural bottlenecks, improving capital productivity, widening the export base, and navigating global volatility.

    Why in the News? 

    India’s GDP surged 8.2% to ₹84.8 lakh crore, placing the economy on a significantly higher productivity trajectory and projecting post-pandemic momentum. The IMF has assigned India a “Grade C” rating, warning that despite strong quarterly numbers, structural weaknesses, low private investment, weak export engine, uneven manufacturing recovery, and demand imbalances, could undermine long-term growth stability. This contrast between record headline growth and deep structural fragilities makes the issue critical for policymakers and analysts.

    What Is Driving the Current Growth Momentum?

    1. Higher GDP Output: Reflects strong post-pandemic momentum and productivity shift highlighted by the jump to ₹84.8 lakh crore output.
    2. Manufacturing Uptick: Growth driven by industrial demand, base effects, and sectors like construction (growing at 9.9%).
    3. GVA Expansion: ₹83.4 lakh crore GVA, driven by agriculture, industry, and services, with increased value addition.
    4. Investment-Led Trends: Fixed capital formation rising, indicating capacity expansion and infrastructure push.
    5. Private Consumption Boost: Supported by fiscal measures, higher rural incomes, and improved sentiment.

    What Explains the Strength in Sectoral Performance?

    1. Industrial Revival: Manufacturing and construction displayed a significant rebound after years of sluggishness.
    2. Services Resilience: High-growth areas include trade, transportation, communication, and financial services.
    3. Electricity & Utilities: Strong 4% growth driven by improved output and demand.
    4. Export-Linked Sectors: Remain subdued due to uncertain global markets.

    What Are the Structural Weaknesses Behind the Headline Growth?

    1. Private Investment Weakness: Corporate balance sheets show improved profits, but capacity expansion remains limited.
    2. Low Export Competitiveness: India’s export growth remains inadequate, weakening long-term sustainability.
    3. Agricultural Stress: Rural sector faces weather volatility, erratic monsoons, and stagnant productivity.
    4. Employment Concerns: Growth not accompanied by proportionate labour productivity improvements.
    5. Demand Imbalances: High-income consumption rising faster than mass consumption.

    What Do IMF’s “Grade C” Red Flags Indicate?

    1. Growth Quality Concerns: Strong numbers, but capital formation, labour productivity, and structural depth remain weak.
    2. Sustainability Risks: Fiscal burden, external shocks, and global volatility challenge long-term growth.
    3. Macro Vulnerabilities: Uneven export engine and high dependence on domestic demand.
    4. Policy Gaps: Need for reforms in taxation, industrial competitiveness, and labour markets.

    How Do Global Headwinds Affect India’s Growth Outlook?

    1. Trade Protectionism: Affects export-driven sectors such as textiles, electronics, and engineering goods.
    2. Geopolitical Tensions: Disrupt supply chains and energy markets, raising import bills.
    3. Oil Price Uncertainty: High import dependence makes India vulnerable to price shocks.
    4. Financial Volatility: Impacts FPI flows, exchange rates, and corporate borrowing.

    Conclusion

    India’s 8.2% growth demonstrates powerful economic momentum, yet it conceals vulnerabilities in investment, exports, productivity, and sectoral balance. For growth to remain sustainable, India must transition from cyclical recovery to structural transformation, anchored in manufacturing competitiveness, export diversification, resilient agriculture, and robust private investment.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2021] Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experienced V-shaped recovery? Give reasons in support of your answer. 

    Linkage: This PYQ aligns with the article’s theme of strong headline growth masking deeper structural weaknesses and questioning the quality of recovery. It allows analysis of base effects, uneven sectoral revival, and sustainability concerns highlighted by the IMF’s Grade-C assessment.

  • Sultanpur National Park Sees Surge in Migratory Birds

    Why in the News?

    Sultanpur National Park in Haryana has recorded a sharp rise in migratory bird arrivals, with numbers increasing from 10,000–15,000 in mid-November to an estimated 25,000–35,000 in early December. The rise is linked to falling temperatures, improved wetland conditions and enhanced conservation efforts.

    About Sultanpur National Park

    • Located in Gurugram district, Haryana.
    • Recognized as one of Asia’s major bird habitats.
    • Declared a Ramsar Site in 2021.
    • Ecosystem: freshwater wetland, surrounded by grassland and acacia woodland.
    • Major attraction during winter due to large flocks of migratory birds.

    Migration Patterns

    • Attracts species from: Siberia, Europe, Central Asia and Other northern regions.
    • Migration triggered by:
      • Decreasing temperatures in breeding grounds
      • Availability of food and safe wetland habitats in India.

    Species Currently Sighted

    • Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Shoveler (Northern Shoveler), Common Coot and Black-tailed Godwit (near-threatened).
    Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity? (2015)

    (a) Bhitarkanika National Park 

    (b) Keibul Lamjao National Park 

    (c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park 

    (d) Sultanpur National Park

  • Meghalaya’s New Spider Discoveries

    Why in the News?

    Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India have identified two new species of jumping spiders in Meghalaya, further highlighting the region’s status as a major biodiversity hotspot.

    The new species are:

    • Asemonea dentis
    • Colyttus nongwar

    Their formal descriptions have been published in Zootaxa, an international peer-reviewed journal.

    Location & Significance

    • Found in the forested landscapes of Meghalaya, part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
    • The Northeast is considered one of India’s least-explored yet ecologically rich regions.

    About the Species

    Asemonea dentis

    • Belongs to the genus Asemonea; this is only the third Indian species in this genus.
    • Named for a distinct tooth-like projection on the male palpal femur.
    • Male: greenish-brown body with pale-yellow V-shaped abdominal marking.
    • Female: creamy white body with fine black markings.
    • Genus characteristics: associated with shrubs and foliage; less studied in India.

    Colyttus nongwar

    • Only the second Indian species of the genus Colyttus.
    • Named after Nongwar village in the Khasi Hills.
    • Both sexes display:
      • Oval reddish-brown carapace
      • Light-brown abdomen
      • Creamy anterior band with five chevron-shaped patches
    • Genus: little-known Oriental group with limited representation in India.
    Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’? (2016)

    (a) Arunachal Pradesh 

    (b) Himachal Pradesh 

    (c) Karnataka 

    (d) Maharashtra

  • Gallbladder Cancer in the Gangetic Belt 

    Why in the News

    • New analysis calls gallbladder cancer (GBC) an “invisible epidemic” in India’s Gangetic belt, especially among women.
    • Despite high prevalence, GBC is not a national health priority, poorly monitored, and driven by environmental pollution.

    Key Highlights

    1. High-Burden Geography

    • India accounts for ~10% of global GBC cases.
    • Highest incidence in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam.

    2. Environmental Drivers

    • Arsenic, cadmium, lead contamination in groundwater.
    • Industrial effluent discharge into rivers.
    • Pesticide residues, adulterated oils, contaminated fish.
    • Chronic exposure through water, food, soil.

    3. Gendered Impact

    • ~70% of GBC patients are women.
    • Factors contributing:
      • Reuse of cooking oil
      • Consumption of unrefrigerated food
      • High exposure to contaminated water during domestic chores
    • 80%+ diagnosed at Stage III/IV, when surgery is not viable.

    4. Socio-Economic Burden

    • Treatment costs ₹8–12 lakh → debt, treatment abandonment.
    • Hotspots overlap with districts having high poverty and poor sanitation.

    5. Governance Failures

    • Cancer registries cover only 10% of the population → clusters remain invisible.
    • Weak enforcement of pollution laws.
    • No mandatory cancer reporting.
    Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? (2013)

    (1). Arsenic 

    (2). Sorbitol 

    (3). Fluoride 

    (4). Formaldehyde 

    (5). Uranium 

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below. 

    (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 3 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

  • Aditya-L1 Reveals Why the 2024 Solar Storm Behaved Unusually

    Why in the news?

    • In May 2024, Earth experienced the strongest solar storm in over two decades, popularly known as Gannon’s Storm.
    • A collaborative study using Aditya-L1 and six NASA satellites has explained the unusual behaviour and enhanced intensity of this storm.

    What Are CMEs?

    • Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive bubbles of charged gas and magnetic energy expelled from the Sun.
    • When directed towards Earth, CMEs can:
      • Disturb the magnetosphere
      • Disrupt satellites, communication networks, GPS
      • Trigger geomagnetic storms affecting power grids

    Key Findings of the Study

    1. Collision of Two CMEs

    • Instead of a single CME rope, two CMEs collided in space.
    • This collision compressed and distorted their magnetic structures.

    2. Magnetic Reconnection Inside the CME

    • Magnetic fields inside one CME snapped and rejoined, creating new magnetic pathways. This internal breakup is called magnetic reconnection.
    • Consequences:
      • Sudden reversal and strengthening of magnetic fields
      • Enhanced geomagnetic impact on Earth
      • Acceleration of charged particles detected by satellites

    3. First Multi-Vantage Observation

    • Observations came from Aditya-L1 and six US satellites:
      • NASA Wind
      • ACE
      • THEMIS-C
      • STEREO-A
      • MMS
      • DSCOVR (NASA-NOAA)
    • Enabled simultaneous study of the storm from Earth, Moon, and L1 point.

    4. Discovery of a Giant Reconnection Region

    • Aditya-L1’s precise magnetic field measurements showed:
      • Reconnection region ≈ 1.3 million km across
      • Nearly 100 times Earth’s diameter
    • First recorded instance of such a giant internal magnetic breakup within a CME.
    If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ? (2022)

    1. GPS and navigation systems could fail. 

    2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions. 

    3. Power grids could be damaged. 

    4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth. 

    5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet. 

    6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed. 

    7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted. 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (b) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only (c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7

  • UNEA-7: Rift Over UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and Funding Crunch

    Why in the news?

    The seventh UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) begins in Nairobi amid deep divisions over the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2026–2030 and a significant decline in core funding. The MTS acts as UNEP’s operational mandate guiding global work on climate, biodiversity, pollution and land restoration.

    UPSC Prelims Pointers

    About UNEP

    • Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
    • Established: 1972 (Stockholm Conference outcome)
    • Governing body: UN Environment Assembly (UNEA)
    • Works on: climate, biodiversity, pollution, land, chemicals, resource efficiency, environmental governance.

    About UNEA

    • Meets biennially.
    • World’s highest-level decision-making body on environment.
    • Each member state of the UN has one vote.

    UNEP’s Environment Fund (EF)

    • Voluntary, but based on an indicative scale of contributions.
    • Provides core, unearmarked funding.
    • Decline in EF impacts UNEP’s operational independence.

    Medium-Term Strategy (MTS)

    • 5-year framework guiding programmatic priorities.
    • Needed for budget approval.
    • Current debate concerns the 2026–2030 MTS text.

    Triple Planetary Crisis

    • Climate change
    • Biodiversity loss
    • Pollution and waste

    Plastics Treaty Process

    • Negotiated under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC).
    • UNEP serves as secretariat, but mandate expansion is contested.
    Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances? (2015)

    (a) Bretton Woods Conference 

    (b) Montreal Protocol 

    (c) Kyoto Protocol 

    (d) Nagoya Protocol

  • To fulfil STEM potential, India must cast a net wider, go to the roots

    Introduction

    India’s STEM ecosystem faces deep-rooted structural constraints even as the government seeks to reform doctoral guidelines and redirect research toward emerging national needs. The debate highlights persistent gaps in funding, fellowships, university governance, research priorities, and industry linkages. 

    Why in the news?

    The issue is significant because the government has asked ministries and departments to re-examine PhD guidelines and shift focus to topics of national relevance. This action comes at a time when existing systemic problems, like delayed fellowship payments, inadequate stipends, poor institutional support, and the absence of industry linkages, have reached a critical point. Several premier institutions have not paid PhD stipends for months, and research fellowships remain stagnant at ₹8,000 per month since 2012 for many categories, sharply contrasting with inflation and rising living costs. 

    Understanding the Roots of India’s STEM Challenges

    What structural issues limit India’s STEM potential?

    1. Weak Research Relevance: Research funded by government departments often lacks direct relevance to national technological needs, reducing innovation output and long-term applicability.
    2. Low Public Visibility: Communication gaps hinder public understanding of how government-funded research benefits society or advances national capability.
    3. Fragmented Institutional Support: Government departments and agencies lack coordinated mechanisms for selecting and nurturing PhD candidates working in critical areas like energy storage, sustainable agriculture, health tech, and battery technologies.

    Why is applied research struggling in India?

    1. Limited Industry Linkages: Applied science breakthroughs, though central to modern technological advances, receive inadequate industry support, reducing opportunities for scale-up.
    2. Insufficient Local Innovation Ecosystems: Historical examples like the laser or optical fibre show how long-lag research becomes transformative. India still lacks comparable mechanisms to nurture such deep-tech research.
    3. Weak Commercialisation Pathways: The absence of industry-academia collaboration limits the transition from early-stage research to viable technologies.

    How do fellowship and salary problems deepen the crisis?

    1. Delayed Payments: University-funded PhDs and major fellowships like non-NET scholarships frequently experience months-long delays, affecting basic sustenance and productivity.
    2. Inadequate Fellowship Amounts: The ₹8,000 monthly scholarship, unchanged since 2012, remains insufficient even for minimal living costs.
    3. Forced Supplementary Work: Students must take up temporary teaching assignments, reducing time available for research.
    4. Failed Direct Transfer Models: Attempts to transfer fellowship payments directly from banks collapsed due to payment delays and administrative complexities.

    Why is India’s research ecosystem unable to retain talent?

    1. Limited Faculty Positions: Funded PhDs are scarce; many bright students cannot find positions due to narrow intake. 
    2. Opaque Recruitment Processes: Ad-hoc contractual appointments reduce academic stability and deter long-term research commitment.
    3. Weak University Ecosystem: Few Indian universities maintain predictability and transparency in administrative and financial processes.

    What non-STEM burdens weaken STEM research?

    1. Non-scientific Teaching Loads: PhD programmes require students to teach subjects like psychology, sociology, history, diverting time and focus from scientific inquiry.
    2. Administrative Distractions: Non-STEM tasks increase the administrative burden on researchers, affecting scientific productivity.
    3. Cultural undervaluation of STEM: Specific social sciences are privileged in university structures, leading to skewed resource allocation.

    Conclusion

    India’s STEM potential depends on addressing foundational issues, predictable funding, research relevance, ecosystem stability, transparent administration, and meaningful industry linkages. Without systemic reform, higher fellowships alone cannot solve deeper governance failures. Strengthening these roots will determine whether India can build a globally competitive research ecosystem capable of supporting national development.

    UPSC Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialised. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.

    Linkage: This theme links directly to GS-3: Science & Technology, IPR, innovation ecosystem, highlighting gaps between patent filings and commercialization. It is relevant for analysing India’s weak research-to-market pipeline, low industry linkages, funding delays, and systemic failure.