PYQ Relevance:
[UPSC 2015] Earthquakes along the plate margins are still a cause of concern. India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
Linkage: The article emphasizes that India’s seismic risk is rooted in the northward drift of the Indian Plate colliding with the Eurasian Plate, which shaped the Himalayas and makes the region “overdue for a ‘Great Himalayan Earthquake’. The question specifically mentions “earthquakes along the plate margins” and critically highlights “India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. |
Mentor’s Comment: The 4.4 magnitude tremor in Delhi on July 10, 2025, though moderate, exposed the critical fragility of India’s infrastructure, especially in Delhi, where over 80% of buildings violate seismic safety norms. This event is part of a wider pattern of seismic activity across Asia, underlining the urgent need for earthquake preparedness. India, particularly northern and northeastern regions, lies in high-risk seismic zones (IV & V) due to the collision of tectonic plates, making a massive quake imminent. Urbanisation, outdated construction, and poor enforcement of seismic codes like IS 1893:2016 worsen the risk.
Today’s editorial analyses the vulnerability to earthquakes in India. This topic is important for GS Paper I (Geography) and GS Paper III (Disaster Management) in the UPSC mains exam.
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
On July 10, 2025, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Delhi, exposing the fragile state of infrastructure.
Why is Delhi vulnerable to earthquakes?
- High Seismic Risk Zone: Delhi lies in Seismic Zone IV, indicating a severe seismic hazard with a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of around 0.24g. Eg: Similar Zone IV cities like Srinagar and Patna have experienced strong tremors in the past.
- Poor Structural Compliance: Over 80% of buildings in Delhi, especially those constructed before 2000, do not comply with seismic safety codes. Eg: Unregulated high-rise apartments in East Delhi lack ductile detailing or shear walls, making them prone to collapse.
- Liquefaction-Prone Areas: Areas like East Delhi and Yamuna floodplains are built on soft alluvial soils, which are susceptible to liquefaction during earthquakes. Eg: In the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, structures on soft soil experienced severe tilting and collapse.
- Rapid Urbanisation Without Planning: Delhi’s urban sprawl and dense population (over 33 million) have led to haphazard construction, often violating zoning and structural norms. Eg: Many illegal colonies like those in outer Delhi lack any seismic design considerations.
What are the vulnerable areas in India?
- Himalayan Region: The Himalayan belt is highly prone to earthquakes due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Eg: Regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Northeast India fall under Seismic Zone V.
- Indo-Gangetic Plain: This region experiences significant seismic activity due to the tectonic stress transfer from the Himalayan region. Eg: Parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and West Bengal lie in Seismic Zones III and IV.
- Peninsular India Fault Zones: Though considered geologically stable, intraplate faults in Peninsular India can still trigger strong earthquakes. Eg: Areas like Latur (Maharashtra), Koyna (Maharashtra), and Bhuj (Gujarat) have witnessed major quakes in the past.
|
What are the steps taken by the Indian Government?
- Building Code Reforms: The government enforces Earthquake-Resistant Building Codes to ensure structural safety in seismic zones. Eg: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised IS 1893 and IS 4326 to include updated seismic design norms across construction sectors.
- National Seismic Zoning: India has been zoned into seismic risk areas to guide planning and construction based on earthquake vulnerability. Eg: The country is divided into Zone II to Zone V, with Zone V (like parts of Uttarakhand, Kashmir) being most earthquake-prone.
- Disaster Management Framework: The government has established a dedicated institutional framework to coordinate disaster preparedness and response. Eg: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues guidelines for earthquake risk mitigation and conducts regular mock drills and capacity-building programs.
What are the steps taken at the international level?
- Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030): The United Nations adopted this global framework to strengthen disaster preparedness, promote resilient infrastructure, and reduce disaster losses. Eg: Countries like Japan and Chile have aligned their national disaster policies with Sendai priorities, emphasizing risk governance and early warning.
- Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP): Led by the International Lithosphere Program, this initiative provides seismic hazard maps to help countries plan safer infrastructure. Eg: Italy and other European nations use GSHAP data to revise building codes and zoning laws in earthquake-prone zones.
- Early Warning Systems and Technology Sharing: Countries are collaborating to develop earthquake early warning systems and share real-time seismic data across borders. Eg: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Japan’s Earthquake Early Warning System help neighbouring nations prepare faster for seismic events.
What global lessons can India adopt from other countries? (Way forward)
- Building Code Enforcement: Strong and regularly updated building codes ensure that infrastructure can withstand seismic shocks, reducing casualties and damage. Eg: After the 1995 Kobe earthquake, Japan revised its seismic building codes, which helped limit destruction during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.
- Early Warning Systems: Timely alerts enable people to take quick protective actions, such as evacuation or shutting down utilities, before the shaking begins. Eg: In 2017, Mexico City’s SASMEX system gave a 20-second alert before the quake struck, allowing residents to prepare.
- Retrofitting Incentives: Providing financial support for retrofitting older buildings motivates citizens to strengthen structures against earthquakes. Eg: The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program in California offers funds to homeowners, promoting structural safety in vulnerable areas.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Recently, India has achieved 50% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of its Paris Agreement target. However, clean energy contributes under 30% of actual electricity supply due to low capacity utilisation rates.
Why is clean energy generation lower than installed capacity?
- Low Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF): Clean energy sources operate at lower efficiency. For example, solar power has a CUF of ~20% and wind ~25–30%, while coal operates at ~60% CUF and nuclear at ~80%. Eg: As of June 2025, India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity was 50% of 484 GW, but the actual electricity supplied from clean sources was only 28% of the total.
- Intermittent Generation and Time Dependence: Renewable energy depends on natural conditions — solar is only available during daylight hours, and wind is seasonal. Eg: In 2014-15, clean energy contributed 17% to total generation; despite reaching 50% installed capacity by 2025, generation rose only to 28%, reflecting the limitations of time-bound output.
- Lack of Energy Storage and Grid Flexibility: India lacks sufficient battery storage and smart grid infrastructure to store and distribute excess renewable energy. Eg: During daytime in summer, solar plants reduce coal dependence, but in the evening, coal still supplies 75% of the energy mix, due to the absence of stored solar power.
How does coal still dominate India’s energy mix?
- High Reliability and Base Load Supply: Coal provides consistent, round-the-clock electricity, making it ideal for base load demand that must be met continuously. Eg: Thermal power plants in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand run 24/7 to supply power to industrial zones in eastern India.
- Established Infrastructure: India has a vast network of coal-based plants, railways for coal transport, and supply chains, making coal a readily usable resource. Eg: The Singrauli region in Madhya Pradesh has integrated coal mines and thermal plants that supply electricity to multiple states.
- Lower Initial Costs for Generation: Coal-based plants are already built and operational, allowing them to generate electricity at a lower short-term marginal cost than new renewable setups. Eg: NTPC’s older thermal plants continue operating profitably with sunk capital costs.
- Policy and Economic Dependence: Coal is a major contributor to government revenue and employment, especially in coal-rich states like Odisha and Jharkhand. Eg: The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) contributes significantly to Odisha’s economy and supports thousands of livelihoods.
What can improve renewable energy reliability?
- Expansion of Renewable Energy Targets: India set a target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, in line with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
- Promotion of Solar Energy (PM-KUSUM & Rooftop Solar): Schemes like PM-KUSUM promote solar pumps for agriculture, while the Rooftop Solar Programme aims to increase solar adoption in residential and commercial sectors.
- Green Energy Corridor Development: The government is investing in Green Energy Corridors to enable the smooth transmission of renewable power from generation points to demand centres. Eg Under Green Energy Corridor Phase-I, over 9700 circuit km of transmission lines and 220 substations were planned.
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Solar Manufacturing: Under the PLI scheme, the government provides financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of solar PV modules, reducing import dependence.
- Push for Energy Storage and Hybrid Projects: Promotion of battery storage, pumped hydro projects, and hybrid renewable energy parks (solar + wind + storage) to ensure round-the-clock clean energy supply.
Case studies:
- Germany – Battery Storage and Smart Grids: Germany has invested heavily in battery storage systems and smart grid technology under its Energiewende (energy transition) policy. This enables better integration of solar and wind energy, helping maintain grid stability even during peak renewable generation hours.
- Australia – Hybrid and Community-Based Renewable Projects: Australia has developed hybrid power plants that combine solar, wind, and battery storage (e.g., the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia). It also supports community-led microgrids, improving reliability in remote areas with limited access to conventional grids.
|
What can improve renewable energy reliability?
- Energy Storage Systems: Deploying large-scale battery storage and pumped hydro storage can store surplus energy from solar and wind sources and release it during periods of high demand or low generation.
- Smart Grid Infrastructure: Implementing smart grids enables real-time demand-supply balancing, better integration of variable renewables, and supports differential pricing to shift demand to renewable-rich hours.
- Hybrid Renewable Projects: Promoting hybrid systems that combine solar, wind, and storage ensures more consistent power output by compensating for the variability of individual sources.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2022] How much of India’s energy requirements are met by 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 article talks about the India has achieved a significant milestone with 50% of its total electric power capacity sourced from non-fossil fuels (solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and nuclear power), the actual share of clean energy in the electricity supplied is below 30%. This question directly related to the India’s energy requirements are met by renewable energy.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Recently, a 20-year-old student in Odisha died after setting herself ablaze over ignored sexual harassment complaints, spotlighting the failure of redressal systems like Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs).
Why are crimes against women still rising despite strict laws?
- Inadequate Implementation of Legal Mechanisms: Institutions may not establish ICCs, or form them without independent or trained members, rendering them ineffective. Eg: The University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022 reported that over 150 colleges across India had not constituted ICCs despite mandatory provisions under the 2013 POSH Act.
- Institutional Apathy and Lack of Accountability: Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs), mandated under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, are either non-functional or reactive rather than preventive. Eg: Following the Odisha incident, the State government had to direct all colleges to form ICCs within 24 hours, a reactionary step rather than proactive enforcement.
- Underreporting and Social Stigma: Many women do not report crimes due to fear of social backlash, victim-blaming, or lack of faith in the justice system. Eg: According to NCRB 2022, 4,45,256 crimes against women were registered, a 4% increase over 2021, with experts noting that many cases still go unreported, masking the real extent of violence.
- Lack of Awareness and Sensitisation: Many students and staff are unaware of their rights or how to report harassment, leading to silence and inaction. Eg: A 2023 survey by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) found that over 60% of women students in rural colleges were unaware of the existence of Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs).
How effective are Internal Complaint Committees?
- Effectiveness Varies Across Institutions: While ICCs are mandated under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, their effectiveness depends on proper constitution, independence, and stakeholder awareness. In many cases, ICCs exist only on paper.
- Lack of Training and Sensitisation Hampers Functioning: ICC members often lack training, legal knowledge, and sensitivity in handling cases, leading to mistrust and poor case resolution.
What are the steps taken by the Indian Government?
- Legal Reforms: Enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 post-Nirbhaya case, which introduced stricter punishments for rape, stalking, acid attacks, and voyeurism.
- Institutional Mechanisms: Made it mandatory to form Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 in all workplaces and educational institutions.
- Technology and Support Initiatives: Launched measures like the One Stop Centres, Women Helpline (181), and Nirbhaya Fund for setting up CCTV, panic buttons in public transport, and support for survivors of violence.
What steps can improve institutional accountability? (Way forward)
- Strict Enforcement of ICC Guidelines: Ensure timely formation, training, and functioning of Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) with regular audits and penalties for non-compliance.
- Transparent Grievance Redressal Systems: Establish time-bound complaint resolution mechanisms, publicly accessible reporting channels, and third-party oversight to reduce bias.
- Protection and Support for Victims: Guarantee anonymity, non-retaliation, and access to counselling/legal aid for complainants to build trust in the system.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2017] Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Linkage: The articles highlights the worrying trend of sexual violence occurring in spaces often considered safe, such as school and college campuses or workplaces. This PYQ directly addresses the effectiveness of institutional mechanisms by asking about the ability of the National Commission for Women (NCW) to tackle “problems that women face at both public and private spheres.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable practices, and improving rural livelihoods.
About Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)
- Objective: Aims to transform agriculture in 100 low-performing districts by addressing productivity gaps.
- Inspiration: Modelled on NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme; first scheme focused solely on agriculture and allied sectors.
- Launch: Announced in Union Budget 2025–26 and approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
- Approach: Driven by convergence of schemes, collaboration across stakeholders, and healthy competition among districts.
Key Features:
- Scheme Integration: Merges 36 schemes from 11 ministries into one unified framework.
- Budget & Duration: ₹24,000 crore annual outlay for six years (starting 2025–26).
- District Selection:
- 100 districts with low productivity, cropping intensity, and credit access
- At least one district from each state/UT
- Focus Areas:
- Boosting productivity
- Promoting crop diversification and sustainability
- Improving irrigation and water efficiency
- Expanding post-harvest storage
- Enhancing credit access
- Performance Monitoring: Monthly ranking on 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) via centralized dashboard.
- Support Mechanism: NITI Aayog to provide capacity-building and reviews.
- Expert Note: Credit-based selection criteria may require refinement.
Implementation:
- District Planning: Each district to prepare an Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan.
- Plan Approval: Handled by District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, chaired by the Collector and including progressive farmers.
- National Alignment:
- Agricultural self-sufficiency
- Soil and water conservation
- Promotion of organic/natural farming
- Governance: Committees at district, state, and national levels to guide execution.
- Monitoring: Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) to conduct field visits and track progress.
- Technical Support: Agricultural universities to serve as knowledge partners.
- Expected Outcomes: Boost farm income, create local livelihoods, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat through enhanced agri-productivity.
| [UPSC 2020] Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes?
1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini truck
3. Consumption requirements of farm households
4. Post-harvest expenses
5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only* (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Researchers have reported the detection of an exceptionally massive black hole merger, labelled GW231123.
About Black Holes and Black Hole Merger:
- Overview: Black holes are extremely dense celestial objects whose gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape.
- Types of Black Holes:
-
- Stellar-mass: Around 20 times the mass of the Sun or more.
- Intermediate-mass: Between 100 and 100,000 times the mass of the Sun.
- Supermassive: From 100,000 to several billion times the mass of the Sun.
- Black Hole Merger:
- Occurs when two black holes orbit each other, lose energy via gravitational waves, and merge into a larger black hole.
- The GW231123 event involved black holes of approximately 140 and 100 solar masses, forming a final black hole of 225 solar masses — the largest detected through gravitational waves.
- Scientists suggest such massive black holes may form via hierarchical mergers (successive black hole mergers).
- Supports theories on the formation of supermassive black holes, often found at galactic centers.
Recent Observations:
- Event Timing: The GW231123 event was detected on November 23, 2023, though it occurred billions of years ago.
- Signal Characteristics:
- Lasted only a tenth of a second but matched Einstein’s predictions under General Relativity.
- Both black holes were rapidly spinning, hinting at a complex formation history.
- Scientific Significance:
- Involved intermediate-mass black holes, rarely observed in nature.
- Challenges existing models of black hole formation via stellar collapse.
- Indicates the presence of black holes in the so-called “forbidden mass gap”.
- Conference Presentation:
- Findings to be presented at the 24th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (GR24) and the 16th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves, held in Glasgow, UK (July 14–18, 2025).
- Broader Implications:
- Opens new questions about the origin of massive black holes.
- Offers insights into gravitational physics, cosmology, astrophysics, and potentially particle physics or cosmic string theory.
- Model refinements are ongoing to better understand such extreme cosmic phenomena.
Gravitational Wave Detection Network:
- Nature of Gravitational Waves: Invisible ripples in spacetime caused by cataclysmic cosmic events like black hole collisions; predicted by Einstein in 1916.
- Global Detection Network (LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA):
- Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO):
- Operates two detectors in the United States (in the states of Louisiana and Washington).
- First detected gravitational waves in 2015, leading to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.
- Virgo Observatory: Located near Pisa, Italy and operated by the European Gravitational Observatory.
- Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA): Located underground in the Kamioka mine, Japan, and notable for its cryogenic mirror technology.
- LIGO-India:
- Under construction in Hingoli, Maharashtra in partnership with the US National Science Foundation.
- Involves scientists from 17 Indian institutions.
| [UPSC 2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth.
What is the significance of this observation?
Options: (a) Higgs boson particles’ were detected. (b) Gravitational waves’ were detected * (c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed. (d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi, have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to enhance phosphate uptake and utilization in japonica rice.
Back2Basics: CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing
- What It Is: A powerful gene-editing tool that allows targeted changes to DNA sequences.
- Full Form: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9.
- Nobel Prize: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this discovery.
- Key Components:
- Cas9 Enzyme: Acts as molecular scissors to cut DNA at a specific location.
- Guide RNA (gRNA): Directs Cas9 to the exact DNA sequence to be edited.
- How It Works?
-
- A gRNA is designed to match the target DNA.
- Cas9 and gRNA form a complex inside the cell.
- The complex binds to the target and cuts the DNA.
- The cell’s repair system modifies the DNA—adding, deleting, or changing genetic material.
|
About Japonica Rice:
- Overview: Japonica is one of the two major cultivated rice subspecies, the other being Indica.
- Research Use: The Nipponbare variety of Japonica was used in recent gene-editing experiments.
- Why Japonica is Preferred in Studies:
- High regeneration potential in tissue culture
- Easier genetic transformation and faster growth in lab conditions
- Relevance to India: While not widely cultivated in India, Japonica acts as a model variety for testing before applying results to Indian Indica varieties.
Key Features of the Japonica Rice Study:
- Gene Editing Technique: Used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit a 30 base-pair repressor binding site on the promoter of the OsPHO1;2 gene.
- Outcomes of the Edit:
- Enhanced phosphate uptake from the soil
- Improved phosphate transport from root to shoot
- Yield increased by up to 40% using only 10% of the usual phosphate fertilizer
- Normal seed traits retained: size, shape, starch, and phosphate levels
- Significance: Demonstrated precise, minimal gene editing as a proof-of-concept that can be adapted to Indian rice varieties.
| [UPSC 2018] With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:
1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only * (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
To bridge the research capability gap in India’s state universities, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched the Prime Minister Professorships.
What is PM Professorships?
- Objective: A program to leverage retired experts and professionals to mentor emerging state universities.
- Relocation: Selected Professors must shift to host universities and offer sustained support.
- Goal: Democratize quality research across all regions and institutions.
- Eligibility:
Key Features:
- Host Institution Requirement
-
- Placement: At Category A “spoke” institutions under ANRF’s PAIR programme
- Type: Mainly state universities with limited research capacity
-
- Mentor faculty and students; Promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Enable 6-month internships in top institutions.
-
- ₹30 lakh annual fellowship
- ₹24 lakh annual research grant
- ₹1 lakh overhead to host university
-
- Tenure: Up to 5 years based on performance
- Full-time presence required
- No dual fellowship/salary
- IP rights per host institution norms
| [UPSC 2015] Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?
1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 Only * b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
The National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) has launched a community-driven initiative to promote awareness and encourage the adoption of low-sodium salt substitutes.
About the Silent Salt Consumption Epidemic:
- What is it: The epidemic refers to the widespread, unmonitored intake of excess salt leading to chronic diseases.
- Silent Nature of the Problem: It remains “silent” as its health impacts like hypertension and heart ailments develop gradually over time.
- Cultural and Behavioral Factors: Cultural dietary habits and low public awareness contribute to its persistence.
- Public Health Recognition: ICMR-NIE has termed it a public health crisis, prompting intervention projects in selected states.
Salt Consumption in India:
- Urban-Rural Disparity: Urban Indians consume about 9.2 grams of salt per day, while rural populations consume around 5.6 grams—both above safe limits.
- Gender-Based Consumption Data: A national survey (2023) revealed men consume 8.9 grams and women 7.1 grams daily.
- Dietary Practices and Salt Intake: The excessive intake is tied to Indian cooking styles, snack consumption, and processed food habits.
WHO Directives on Salt Consumption:
- Recommended Salt Intake: WHO recommends a maximum daily salt intake of 5 grams per person.
- Global Average Consumption: The global average salt consumption stands at 10.8 grams/day, highlighting a universal public health challenge.
- Suggested Interventions: WHO encourages the use of low-sodium salt substitutes and public education campaigns to reduce consumption.
|
Issues with High Salt Consumption:
- Health Impact: Linked to kidney stones, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and strokes.
- Mortality Burden: Globally, excess salt intake is responsible for around 5 million deaths annually.
- Limited Access to Low-Sodium Salt: Only 28% of retail outlets in Chennai had low-sodium salt; just 4% availability in small grocery shops.
| [UPSC 2005] Assertion (A): The person with diabetes insipidus feels thirsty. Reason (R): A person with diabetes insipidus suffers from excess secretion of vasopressin.
Options: (a) A is true but R is false* (b) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A (c) A is false but R is true
(d) A is false but R is false |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
CERN scientists have detected a tiny but significant difference in how matter and antimatter versions of baryons behave — offering clues to why matter dominates the universe, despite both being created equally after the Big Bang.
What is CERN’s LHCb Experiment?
- Location: At the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, on the France–Switzerland border.
- Name: LHCb = Large Hadron Collider beauty; focuses on beauty (bottom) quarks.
- Started: Built in early 2000s; began collecting data in 2009.
- Purpose: Studies particle decay, especially of beauty quark-containing particles, to test the Standard Model and search for small anomalies.
Matter vs Antimatter – The Big Puzzle:
- Matter: Everything around us is made of it.
- Antimatter: Mirror image of matter, with opposite charges.
- Big Bang Theory: Both should have been produced equally — and destroyed each other.
- But…: Only matter remains — a mystery science is still trying to solve.
- CP Symmetry: Physics expects matter and antimatter to behave identically (Charge-Parity symmetry).
- CP Violation: When this symmetry breaks — possibly explaining why matter survived.
What did Scientists Discover?
- Focus: Lambda-b baryons and their antimatter versions.
- Finding: A small but clear CP violation — they decayed differently.
- Significance: First such discovery in baryons (previously seen only in mesons).
- Certainty: Highly reliable — only 1 in 3.5 million chance it’s random.
Why is this Important?
- Helps explain why the universe is made of matter.
- Expands discovery of CP violation to heavier particles.
- Could hint at physics beyond the Standard Model.
- Moves us closer to solving one of the universe’s biggest mysteries.
| [UPSC 2013] The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle?
1. It will enable us to under-stand as to why elementary particles have mass. 2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. 3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now