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GS Paper: GS3

  • Wings India 2026: Asia’s Largest Civil Aviation Event

    Why in the News?

    India’s rapidly expanding civil aviation sector will be showcased at Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest civil aviation event, scheduled from 28 to 31 January 2026 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.

    About Wings India 2026

    • Asia’s largest civil aviation event
    • Organised as a global platform for Connectivity, Manufacturing, Services, Innovation and Sustainability
    • Inaugurated by Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation

    Theme
     “Indian Aviation: Paving the Future from Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability”

    India’s Aviation Growth Story

    • India among the fastest growing aviation markets globally
    • Passenger traffic has grown multi fold in the last decade
    • Record aircraft orders place India among the largest future aircraft markets
    • Rapid expansion of airport infrastructure Greenfield airports, Modernised terminals and Regional connectivity under UDAN

    Prelims Pointers

    • Wings India is a civil aviation industry event, not a treaty or summit
    • Held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad
    • Focus areas include MRO, SAF, drones and advanced air mobility
    • Reflects India’s transition from aviation growth to aviation leadership
    [2024] Consider the following airports: 

    1. Donyi Polo Airport 

    2. Kushinagar International Airport 

    3. Vijayawada International Airport 

    In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects? 

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

  • Prime Minister at India Energy Week 2026

    Why in the News?

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inauguration of India Energy Week 2026 via video conferencing, highlighting India’s growing role in the global energy sector, major investment opportunities.

    India Energy Week 2026

    • Representatives from nearly 125 countries participated
    • Emerged as a global platform for energy dialogue and action
    • Focus on energy security, sustainability, and global partnerships
    • Venue: Goa

    Key Highlights from the Prime Minister’s Address

    India’s Energy Potential

    • India is the world’s fastest growing major economy
    • Rising domestic energy demand and strong export capacity
    • Among the top five exporters of petroleum products, supplying over 150 countries
    • Large opportunities across the entire energy value chain

    Oil and Gas Exploration Sector

    • India has opened up its exploration sector significantly
    • Linked to Samudra Manthan Mission for deep sea exploration
    • Targets by end of decade
      • 100 billion dollars investment in oil and gas
      • Exploration area expanded to 1 million sq km
    • Over 170 blocks already awarded
    • Andaman and Nicobar Basin emerging as a new hydrocarbon zone
    • Reduction of No Go areas and regulatory reforms undertaken

    Refining and Petrochemicals

    • India ranks second globally in refining capacity
    • Current capacity: around 260 MMT per annum
    • Target: exceed 300 MMT per annum and become number one globally
    • Rising demand for petrochemical products due to population and economic growth

    Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Focus

    • Target to meet 15 percent of total energy demand through LNG
    • Investment opportunities across LNG transportation, LNG terminals and Regasification infrastructure
    • Domestic shipbuilding supported by ₹70,000 crore shipbuilding programme
    • Expansion of National gas pipeline network and City gas distribution systems

    Energy Reforms and Vision

    • India moving from energy security to energy independence
    • Focus on Transparent, Investor friendly and Reform driven ecosystem
    • Estimated 500 billion dollars investment opportunity in India’s energy sector
    [2019] Consider the following statements: 

    1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India

    2. One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas

    3. Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity. Which of the statements given above are correct? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Pygmy Hog

    Why in the News?

    India’s Pygmy hog is rapidly declining due to loss and degradation of tall grassland habitats, even though it plays a critical role in maintaining grassland ecosystem health.

    About Pygmy Hog

    • Smallest and rarest wild pig species in the world
    • One of the few mammals that builds its own nest with a roof
    • Functions as an indicator species, reflecting grassland health

    Habitat

    • Prefers undisturbed tall grasslands with early succession riverine vegetation
    • Habitat includes dense tall grasses mixed with herbs, shrubs and young trees
    • Present distribution restricted to
      • Manas National Park
      • Orang National Park

    Ecological Role

    • Forages by digging soil using its snout
    • Feeds on roots, tubers, fruits, termites, earthworms and eggs
    • Improves soil aeration and fertility
    • Aids seed dispersal, supporting grassland regeneration

    Conservation Status

    • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
    • Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
    • Estimated wild population is very small, confined to Assam
    [2013] Consider the following: 

    1. Star tortoise 

    2. Monitor lizard 

    3. Pygmy hog 

    4. Spider monkey 

    Which of the above are naturally found in India? 

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

  • Army’s animals wing

    Why in the News?

    At the Republic Day Parade 2026, the Remount and Veterinary Corps of the Indian Army will, for the first time, showcase a curated animal contingent including Bactrian camels, Zanskar ponies, Army dogs and raptors, highlighting the operational role of animals in military logistics and combat support.

    About the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC)

    • A specialised corps of the Indian Army
    • Responsible for
      • Breeding, rearing and training of Army animals
      • Veterinary care and animal health services
    • Supports operations in high altitude, desert and difficult terrains

    Historical Background

    • Origin traced to the Stud Department established in Bengal in 1779
    • Reorganised as
      • Army Veterinary Corps in 1920
      • Indian Remount and Veterinary Corps in 1950
    • Formally designated as Remount and Veterinary Corps in 1960
    • Motto: Pashu Seva Asmakam Dharma
    • Awarded the President’s Flag in 1989
    • Headquarters at Meerut

    Role and Functions of RVC

    • Ensures operational readiness of animals for
      • Logistics
      • Reconnaissance
      • Counter terrorism
      • Disaster response
    • Mules and ponies used for supply transport where vehicles and aircraft cannot operate
    • Army dogs trained for
      • Explosive and mine detection
      • Tracking and guarding
      • Avalanche and disaster rescue
      • Combat roles
    • Supports UN peacekeeping missions, Military diplomacy and NCC horse riding training
    [2024] Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called: 

    (a) Operation Sankalp 

    (b) Operation Maitri 

    (c) Operation Sadbhavana 

    (d) Operation Madad

  • Kerala declares Bacillus subtilis ‘State microbe’

    Why in the News?

    Kerala has declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, becoming the first State in India to officially notify a state microbe during the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM).

    About Bacillus subtilis

    • A probiotic or beneficial bacterium
    • Widely found in soil, environment, human gut and fermented foods
    • Known for disease control, soil health improvement and boosting agricultural productivity
    • Has potential for development of commercial microbial products

    Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM)

    • Established by the Kerala government to study the role of microorganisms in health, environment and sustainability
    • Focuses on translational research for societal benefit
    • Works under Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment in collaboration with Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council

    Prelims Takeaway

    • Kerala is the first State to declare a State Microbe
    • Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic bacterium with health and agriculture applications
    • CoEM is India’s first integrated microbiome translational research platform
    [2022] Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics: 

    1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast

    2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut

    3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

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

  • Long Range Anti Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR AShM)

    Why in the News?

    India will publicly debut its Long Range Anti Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR AShM) at the 77th Republic Day parade, marking India’s entry into the elite hypersonic anti ship weapons club.

    What is LR AShM?

    • Indigenous hypersonic glide missile (More than Mach 5 Speed)
    • Designed to engage high value naval targets such as aircraft carrier battle groups
    • Capable of very long range strikes with extreme speed and manoeuvrability

    Developed By

    • Defence Research and Development Organisation
    • For the Indian Navy
    • Intended mainly for coastal battery and maritime strike roles

    Aim

    • Enhance maritime deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region
    • Neutralise enemy surface combatants at stand off distances
    • Strengthen A2 AD Anti Access Area Denial capabilities through shore based mobile launchers
    [2023] Consider the following statements: 

    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight

    2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework

    Why in the News?

    The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, released the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework to integrate quantum technologies into the Indian Armed Forces.

    What is the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework?

    • A strategic vision and roadmap document
    • Guides systematic adoption and operationalisation of quantum technologies
    • Applies across Army, Navy and Air Force
    • Focused on achieving future battlefield superiority

    Note: Quantum refers to quantum science and quantum technologies based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which govern the behaviour of matter and energy at atomic and sub atomic scales.

    Aim

    • Tri services integration through jointness and interoperability
    • Alignment of defence requirements with the National Quantum Mission
    • Adoption of a civil military fusion approach

    Key Features

    • Four Pillars of Quantum Integration: Quantum communication, Quantum computing, Quantum sensing and metrology, and Quantum materials and devices.
    • Tri Services Jointness: Unified implementation across Army, Navy and Air Force. Avoids silo based development.
    • Civil Military Fusion Model: Collaboration with academia, startups, industry and government sectors. Dedicated governing and coordinating bodies.
    • Future Battlefield Orientation: Secure communications, Superior sensing and navigation, Faster decision making, Resilience against cyber and electronic warfare threats
    [2022] Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? 

    (a) Cloud Services 

    (b) Quantum Computing 

    (c) Visible Light Communication Technologies 

    (d) Wireless Communication Technologies

  • Water Bankruptcy and Global Agriculture

    Why in the News?

    A recent UN report titled Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post Crisis Era, released by United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health on 20 January 2026, warns that the world has entered a phase of global water bankruptcy, severely impacting agriculture and food security.

    What is Water Bankruptcy?

    • A condition where long term water use exceeds renewable inflows and safe depletion limits
    • Agriculture is no longer facing a temporary water crisis but operating beyond hydrological sustainability
    • Rivers, lakes, aquifers, wetlands, soils and glaciers damaged beyond realistic recovery

    Key Findings of the Report

    • Agriculture and Water Use: ~70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals used for agriculture.Expansion of agricultural land is no longer viable
    • Scale of Exposure:~3 billion people live in areas with declining or unstable water storage. More than half of global food production located in water stressed regions. 170 million hectares of irrigated cropland under high or very high water stress.
    • Land and Soil Degradation: Over 50 percent of global agricultural land moderately or severely degraded. Global salinisation has degraded. 82 million hectares of rainfed cropland. 24 million hectares of irrigated cropland. Accelerates desertification and reduces soil moisture retention.
    [2021] Among the following, which one is the least water efficient crop? 

    (a) Sugarcane 

    (b) Sunflower 

    (c) Pearl millet 

    (d) Red gram

  • [23rd January 2026] The Hindu OpED: A dangerous march towards a Himalayan ecocide

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2019] Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impact and its threat to people. How and why can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different type of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

    Linkage: This PYQ tests conceptual clarity on disaster vulnerability under GS-III (Disaster Management), especially the classification of physical, environmental, social, and institutional vulnerabilities. The article demonstrates how institutional and environmental vulnerabilities amplify natural hazards into recurring disasters.

    Mentor’s Comment

    This article analyses the growing ecological and governance crisis in the Indian Himalayas, reflected in frequent disasters and infrastructure decisions that ignore scientific and policy safeguards. Using the Char Dham road-widening project as an example, it shows how unsafe land use, poor engineering choices, and weak policy coordination are increasing disaster risks in a highly fragile mountain region.

    Why in the news?

    The Himalayas experienced nearly 331 days of climate impacts in 2025, resulting in over 4,000 deaths, with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand bearing the heaviest toll. Despite repeated disasters from cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches, and flash floods, the government has approved large-scale infrastructure expansion in disaster-prone zones. This includes the felling of nearly 7,000 Deodar trees for the Char Dham road-widening project.

    Why is the Himalayan disaster risk escalating?

    1. Climate intensification: High-altitude regions have warmed 50% faster than the global average since 1950, increasing extreme rainfall, glacial melt, and flash floods.
    2. Near-continuous exposure: 2025 recorded 331 days of climate impacts, indicating a permanent hazard regime rather than seasonal extremes.
    3. Hazard convergence: Cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches, and land subsidence increasingly interact to produce compound disasters.

    Why is infrastructure expansion central to the crisis?

    1. Unsafe land use: Cutting unstable slopes for wide highways, drilling tunnels without adequate geological surveys, and large hydropower construction directly destabilise fragile terrain.
    2. Slope destabilisation: Excessively steep hill-cutting violates the natural angle of repose of Himalayan geology, creating permanent instability.
    3. Muck dumping: Indiscriminate disposal of excavated debris into rivers and slopes accelerates erosion and flood risk.

    What makes the Char Dham road-widening project problematic?

    1. Incorrect road standard: Adoption of the DL-PS (12-metre paved surface) standard in a disaster-prone region contradicts ecological and geological constraints.
    2. Project fragmentation: Bypassing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment through artificial project segmentation.
    3. Scale of impact: Nearly 700 km of widened roads have generated over 800 active landslide zones, frequently closing strategic border routes.
    4. Delayed remedies: Retrofitting slopes with fibreglass bolts and wire mesh comes eight years after large-scale destabilisation, limiting effectiveness.

    Why are Deodar forests ecologically irreplaceable?

    1. Slope stabilisation: Extensive root systems bind fragile soils, reducing landslides and debris flows.
    2. Avalanche buffering: Forest cover acts as a natural barrier against glacial debris and snow avalanches.
    3. River health: Deodar forests regulate water temperature, sustain dissolved oxygen, and maintain water quality in snowmelt-fed streams.
    4. Microbial regulation: Antimicrobial compounds from leaf litter suppress harmful bacteria while promoting beneficial microbial communities.
    5. Legal recognition: Located within the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (≈4,000 sq km), established in 2012 to protect the Ganga’s last pristine stretch.

    Why is ‘tree translocation’ scientifically flawed?

    1. Ecological specificity: Centuries-old Deodars perform site-specific functions that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
    2. Functional loss: Uprooting effectively nullifies root-based slope stabilisation and microbial regulation.
    3. Absence of alternatives: No suitable terrain exists to recreate identical ecological conditions.

    How does governance failure amplify disaster risk?

    1. Policy contradiction: Current development initiatives violate the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
    2. Mandate dilution: NMSHE prioritises glacier monitoring, biodiversity protection, hazard mitigation, and sustainable livelihoods, but lacks implementation authority.
    3. Short-termism: Persistent prioritisation of immediate economic gains over long-term disaster resilience.
    4. Regulatory erosion: Repeated warnings by the National Green Tribunal remain weakly enforced.

    Why is climate change a ‘risk multiplier’ in the Himalayas?

    1. Erratic rainfall: Intensifies cloudbursts and flash floods.
    2. Glacial melt acceleration: Creates a dangerous ‘water-peak phase’ of high runoff and catastrophic floods.
    3. Future scarcity: Post-glacier retreat phase leads to prolonged water scarcity and drought.

    What human behaviours worsen ecological stress?

    1. Unregulated tourism: Exceeds carrying capacity in fragile zones.
    2. Vehicular pressure: Heavy traffic on unstable mountain roads increases slope stress.
    3. Waste mismanagement: Absence of functional solid-waste systems contaminates water sources.

    Conclusion

    Disaster resilience in the Himalayas is no longer optional but foundational to national security, ecological stability, and economic sustainability. Infrastructure decisions that ignore geological reality and ecological limits convert development into systemic risk. Scientific planning, policy coherence, and accountability must precede expansion in one of India’s most climate-sensitive landscapes.

  • The limits of household stability in India

    Why in the news?

    India’s macroeconomic stability is being questioned as RBI data show rising household debt, weaker financial buffers, and greater dependence on credit to support consumption. For the first time, household debt has crossed 41.3% of GDP (March 2025), while net financial savings have become volatile and reduced. This is a clear break from the post-pandemic period, when growth was backed by higher savings and fiscal support. The concern is serious because private consumption accounts for nearly 60% of GDP, and the current model shifts economic risk from the State to households without sufficient income growth or social protection.

    Is household debt still low or structurally rising?

    1. Household debt ratio: Increased steadily to 41.3% of GDP (March 2025), up from ~36% in mid-2021, reflecting sustained reliance on borrowing.
    2. Nature of increase: Gradual but persistent rise rather than abrupt spikes, indicating structural rather than cyclical borrowing.
    3. Comparative position: Remains lower than advanced economies but comparable to several emerging market peers.
    4. Risk implication: Rising leverage reduces shock-absorption capacity despite headline financial stability.

    Is borrowing compensating for weakening income growth?

    1. Uneven income recovery: Real income growth remains uneven, especially outside formal employment and high-productivity sectors.
    2. Consumption smoothing: Borrowing increasingly used to maintain consumption levels rather than asset creation.
    3. Adjustment mechanism: Credit has become the primary adjustment tool for households instead of savings or income growth.
    4. Structural concern: Sustained debt-financed consumption weakens long-term financial resilience.

    What is happening to household savings behaviour?

    1. Financial savings volatility: Net financial savings turned volatile over recent quarters instead of stabilising.
    2. Liability-driven compression: Rising financial liabilities increasingly offset asset accumulation.
    3. Recent data: Net financial savings declined sharply during 2023-24, with marginal recovery in late 2024-25.
    4. Balance sheet stress: Asset growth no longer outpaces liabilities, reducing net financial buffers.

    Are household balance sheets still stable in aggregate?

    1. Asset-liability position: Financial assets stood at ~106.6% of GDP, while liabilities reached 41.3% of GDP (March 2025).
    2. Headline stability: Aggregate balance sheets appear stable due to asset size.
    3. Underlying fragility: Stability masks declining insurance against income shocks, job losses, and interest rate volatility.
    4. Distributional gap: Vulnerability concentrated among low- and middle-income households.

    Why is consumption becoming a macro risk?

    1. Consumption share: Nearly 60% of GDP, making household demand the primary growth stabiliser.
    2. Risk concentration: Sustained consumption increasingly depends on unsecured retail credit.
    3. Buffer erosion: Thin financial cushions reduce capacity to absorb unemployment or growth shocks.
    4. Systemic implication: A slowdown in income growth directly transmits into macro instability.

    How is fiscal policy shifting risk onto households?

    1. Public expenditure composition: Capital expenditure prioritised, while revenue expenditure growth constrained.
    2. Committed liabilities: Interest payments, pensions, and salaries absorb ~32% of net revenue receipts.
    3. Reduced countercyclicality: Limited fiscal space weakens the State’s ability to stabilise household income shocks.
    4. Risk transfer: Households increasingly act as de facto shock absorbers.

    Why does Budget 2026 matter for household stability?

    1. Policy framing: Budget 2026 expected to continue macro stability through fiscal discipline and investment-led growth.
    2. Demand reliance: Strategy implicitly assumes households will sustain consumption through borrowing.
    3. Missing lever: Limited focus on disposable income expansion and social risk-sharing mechanisms.
    4. Fiscal inflection point: Restoring balance between growth, investment, and household resilience is central.

    Conclusion

    India’s household sector no longer acts as a passive beneficiary of macroeconomic stability but as an active shock absorber. Rising debt, volatile savings, and credit-dependent consumption expose a hidden fragility beneath stable aggregates. Without restoring income growth, risk-sharing mechanisms, and financial buffers, household stability may become the weakest link in India’s growth trajectory ahead of Budget 2026.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2017] Among several factors for India’s potential growth, savings rate is the most effective one. Do you agree? What are the other factors available for growth potential?

    Linkage: This PYQ directly links to the article’s core concern that household financial savings have turned volatile and are being offset by rising debt, weakening India’s savings-led growth model. It highlights how debt-financed consumption is replacing savings as a growth driver, raising risks to long-term growth potential and macroeconomic stability.