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Day: September 12, 2025

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Internal Security Architecture Shortcomings – Key Forces, NIA, IB, CCTNS, etc.

[12th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Relief for Refugees (Foreign (Exemption) Order, 2025)

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Ministries & Departments Of The Government

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka. Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement.

Linkage: The issue of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees directly ties to India’s longstanding friendship with Sri Lanka. While India has consistently extended humanitarian aid during Sri Lanka’s crises, the 2025 Immigration Order reflects another dimension of this support by protecting refugees from forcible repatriation. It highlights how India balances compassion for vulnerable groups with its broader role as a stabilising partner in Sri Lanka’s recovery

Mentor’s Comment

The recent Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, marks a turning point in India’s refugee policy, particularly concerning Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. While it offers legal relief, many gaps remain in ensuring citizenship, dignity, and durable solutions. This article explores the issue through a UPSC lens, connecting it with governance, international relations, and humanitarian concerns.

Introduction

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, exempting specified groups from passport and visa requirements for entering, staying, and exiting India. For the first time, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who have lived in Tamil Nadu since the 1990s, find explicit mention, gaining protection from forcible repatriation. However, questions of legal status, citizenship, and long-term rehabilitation remain unresolved, making this both a humanitarian and policy challenge.

Why in the News

For over three decades, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have lived in India without a clear roadmap for citizenship or repatriation. The 2025 Order gives them temporary relief but does not resolve their “illegal migrant” status. This is significant because, unlike the six religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who received relief under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Sri Lankan Tamils had been left out earlier. The recognition in 2025 is thus both a success and a reminder of unaddressed policy gaps.

What Does the New Immigration Order Provide?

  1. Exemption Granted: Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees, six religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lankan Tamils are exempted from strict passport and visa rules.
  2. Historical Reference: Refugees must have entered India before January 9, 2015, and registered themselves to avail of the benefit.
  3. Protection from Forcible Return: This safeguards Sri Lankan Tamils from involuntary repatriation after decades of uncertainty.

Why Are Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees a Special Case?

  1. Civil War Displacement: Many fled to Tamil Nadu in the 1990s during Sri Lanka’s civil war.
  2. Post-war Welfare: Both Union and Tamil Nadu governments provided welfare after the civil war ended in 2009.
  3. Exclusion from CAA 2019: Unlike refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, Sri Lankan Tamils were excluded from citizenship benefits.

What Legal Hurdles Do Refugees Still Face?

  1. Illegal Migrant Tag: Despite the order, they remain classified as “illegal migrants” under Indian law.
  2. Citizenship Barriers: They cannot easily apply for citizenship under Section 5 (registration) or Section 6 (naturalisation) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
  3. Long Term Visa (LTV) Gap: Exclusion from LTV eligibility blocks access to gainful employment and higher education.
  4. Missed Precedent: Tibetan refugees receive certificates of identity, which could serve as a model for Sri Lankan Tamils.

What Are the Policy Options Ahead?

  1. Liberalisation of LTVs: Extending LTVs to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees would facilitate education and jobs.
  2. Voluntary Repatriation: India and Sri Lanka can collaborate on structured assistance for safe return.
  3. Local Integration: For those unwilling to return, gradual local integration with a humane approach can be considered.
  4. Model Replication: Certificates of identity, as given to Tibetan refugees, can help provide dignity and legal standing.

Conclusion

The 2025 Immigration Order is a step forward, but it leaves critical questions unresolved. Sri Lankan Tamil refugees deserve a humane, durable solution, whether through voluntary repatriation with assistance, or integration with rights and dignity. India, while balancing domestic concerns and foreign relations with Sri Lanka, must craft a policy that reflects compassion, legality, and long-term stability.

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A Sense of Drift: Democracy at the Crossroads: Youth, Corruption and the New Global Malaise

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Introduction

Democracy, once celebrated as the ultimate safeguard of freedom and governance, is witnessing profound crises across continents. Nepal’s weak institutions, France’s protest-prone presidentialism, and America’s violent polarisation reveal that democratic malaise is not confined to one geography. The recurring theme is stark: young people feel robbed of their future.

Why is democracy back in crisis?

  1. Recurring crises: Democracies appear to follow cycles of expansion (40–50 years) followed by exhaustion.
  2. Current triggers: Corruption in Nepal, unsustainable economic models in France, and violent political divisions in the US.
  3. Historical echoes: Similar crises were witnessed in the 1920s–30s and the 1960s–70s, culminating in debates such as the Trilateral Commission’s 1975 report on “The Crisis of Democracy.”

What role does youth disillusionment play?

  1. Stolen future: Across Nepal, France, and the US, young people feel alienated and betrayed.
  2. Lack of consensus: Youth anger does not translate into youth unity; it produces anxiety but not collective solutions.
  3. Gerontocracy problem: Democracies like India and the US are led largely by older generations, deepening generational divides.

How does inequality and polarisation fuel the malaise?

  1. Different consensus: Unlike the 1970s when “excess participation” was blamed, today growing inequality is seen as the root of discontent.
  2. Dual polarisation: A clash of values coupled with diametrically opposed economic visions — Left demanding more state investment, Right fearing socialist excess.
  3. Jobless growth: Declining employment elasticity of capital threatens to erode trust even in well-designed policies.

Why does corruption persist as a democratic fault line?

  1. Structural vs transactional corruption: Elites monopolising power versus ostentatious lifestyles of politicians.
  2. Anti-corruption paradox: Movements rarely eliminate corruption and often fuel authoritarian turns, seen in Nepal’s staggering levels of rent extraction.
  3. Authoritarian co-option: Anti-corruption rhetoric is used to justify illiberal governance.

What is the role of war and misinformation?

  1. Historical corrosion: Vietnam and Iraq wars eroded democratic legitimacy in the US.
  2. Current crises: Gaza conflict risks corroding Western liberal legitimacy.
  3. Misinformation cycle: Radical democratisation of information through social media has dissolved authority and deepened adversarial suspicion.

Can democracies reinvent themselves?

  1. Past reinventions: Post-1930s depression and 1970s crises were followed by new waves of democratisation.
  2. Paradox of protest: While protests mobilise energy, they often breed drift, violence, or nihilism.

Way Forward for Democracies

  1. Institutional Reinvention: Strengthen checks and balances through judicial independence, parliamentary accountability, and free media — preventing democratic backsliding.
  2. Inclusive Growth: Address structural inequality and jobless growth by creating policies focused on employment elasticity and equitable redistribution.
  3. Youth Participation: Channel youth disillusionment into institutionalised participation (youth parliaments, policy fellowships, digital consultative platforms).
  4. Taming Polarisation: Build broad-based social coalitions that transcend Left–Right economic divides and cultural polarisation.
  5. Responsible Information Order: Regulate misinformation while protecting freedom of speech; strengthen media literacy to combat nihilism fuelled by social media.
  6. Corruption Reform: Focus on structural corruption (elite monopolisation of power) rather than episodic “anti-corruption crusades” that risk authoritarian capture.
  7. Global Learning: Draw lessons from past crises (1930s, 1970s) where institutional reinvention, new social contracts, and reform waves revitalised democracy.

Value Addition

Samuel P. Huntington’s Views and Theory on Democracy

Political Order and Institutionalisation

  • Book: Political Order in Changing Societies (1968).
  • Core Argument: The stability of a political system depends more on the strength of its institutions than on the level of modernisation.
  • Key Point: Modernisation without strong institutions leads to instability (e.g., corruption, coups, unrest).
  • Quote: “The most important political distinction among countries is not their form of government but their degree of government.”

The Third Wave of Democratisation

  • Book: The Third Wave: Democratisation in the Late Twentieth Century (1991).
  • Theory: Democracies emerge in “waves,” each followed by a possible “reverse wave.”
    • First Wave (1828–1926): Expansion in Western countries.
    • First Reverse Wave (1922–1942): Rise of fascism, military regimes.
    • Second Wave (1945–1962): Post-WWII, decolonisation.
    • Second Reverse Wave (1960–1975): Coups in Latin America, Africa, Asia.
    • Third Wave (1974 onwards): Started with Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, followed by democratisation in Latin America, Eastern Europe, parts of Asia and Africa.

Key Factors for Third Wave:

  • Declining legitimacy of authoritarian regimes.
  • Economic growth and rising middle class.
  • Religious changes (e.g., Catholic Church’s role in Latin America).
  • Global democratic norms (influence of EU, US).
  • “Snowballing effect” (success in one country inspired others).
  • Relevance: Many current democracies (including in Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe) emerged in this wave

Clash of Civilisations (1993)

  • Book: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.
  • Argument: Post-Cold War conflicts would be driven not by ideology or economics, but by cultural and civilisational differences.
  • Link to Democracy: Democracies rooted in Western civilisation may clash with non-Western civilisations (Islamic, Sinic/Chinese).

Relevant Quotes on Democracy 

On Cycles and Fragility

  • John Adams: “Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.”
  • Samuel Huntington: “Democracy is the only political system that is self-correcting.”

On Reinvention

  • Winston Churchill: “Democracy is the worst form of government — except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
  • Amartya Sen: “No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy.”

On Corruption and Morality

  • Mahatma Gandhi: “Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today.”
  • Alexis de Tocqueville: “The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”

On Youth and Future

  • Jawaharlal Nehru: “The future belongs to those who can give to the next generation reasons for hope.”
  • Kofi Annan: “Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation.”

How to Use in UPSC Answers

  • Quote John Adams or Huntington when talking about cycles of democracy.
  • Quote Gandhi or Amartya Sen when linking democracy with corruption or development outcomes.
  • Quote Churchill when emphasising democracy’s resilience despite flaws.

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2023] Constitutionally guaranteed judicial independence is a prerequisite of democracy. Comment.

Linkage: The current crisis of democracy, as highlighted in Nepal, France, and the US, shows that without robust and independent institutions, democratic legitimacy erodes. Judicial independence acts as a bulwark against corruption, elite capture, and authoritarian drift. Thus, safeguarding constitutional autonomy of the judiciary is indispensable for reinvigorating democracy.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-Pakistan

Looking at India-Pak ties through prism of Indus Waters Treaty

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

Introduction

For 65 years, the Indus Waters Treaty ensured the uninterrupted sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan despite wars and conflicts. Signed in 1960, with the World Bank as broker, it granted Pakistan control over nearly 80% of the Indus system waters while India retained rights over the eastern rivers. Yet, this arrangement, hailed by Nehru as a “gesture of peace,” was also criticized as appeasement. Today, the Treaty faces an existential challenge, as India, for the first time, suspends its obligations in response to cross-border terrorism. A fresh evaluation of the IWT reveals that Pakistan’s real concern is not water scarcity but the control of flows, a factor deeply tied to its obsession with Kashmir.

Why in the News

India, after decades of restraint, has finally exercised its strategic upper riparian advantage by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty following the April Pahalgam terror attack. This is a watershed moment: for the first time in 65 years, the Treaty, which survived four wars, terror attacks, and political turmoil, has been placed in abeyance. The move underscores a shift from India’s earlier magnanimity to a more assertive posture. It is significant because it challenges one of the few stable frameworks of India–Pakistan relations and introduces water as a core strategic lever, alongside terrorism and Kashmir.

Why was the Indus Waters Treaty so Significant?

  1. Historic endurance: The Treaty survived four wars, repeated terror attacks, and decades of hostility.
  2. Unique distribution: Pakistan received 80% of Indus waters (western rivers) despite being the lower riparian.
  3. Nehru’s vision: Seen as a stabilizing act of peace, prioritizing development over disputes.
  4. Pakistan’s insecurity: Never fully celebrated, fearing India’s control as upper riparian.

How Do India and Pakistan Perceive the Treaty Differently?

  1. India’s approach: Saw the Treaty as magnanimity; Nehru called it a “purchase of peace.”
  2. Criticism of India: S Jaishankar terms it appeasement, not peace.
  3. Pakistan’s strategy: Used Article IX dispute mechanism to obstruct Indian projects in J&K.
  4. Silent dissatisfaction: Despite receiving 80% waters, Pakistan avoided declaring victory to maintain a narrative of victimhood.

What Drives Pakistan’s Deep Insecurity?

  1. Not water, but control: Pakistan’s fear lies in disruption of flows, not absolute shortage.
  2. Kashmir link: To control rivers, Pakistan desires physical control of J&K.
  3. Historic evidence: Gen Ayub Khan soon after the Treaty linked water insecurity with demand for Kashmir.
  4. Perverse use of IWT: Constant attempts to delay Indian projects in J&K despite India’s limited use of western rivers.

Why Did the Treaty Survive for So Long?

  1. India’s responsibility: As the upper riparian, India ensured minimum flows and shared data.
  2. Asymmetry of burden: Pakistan had little responsibility upstream but leveraged dispute clauses downstream.
  3. Counterfactual concern: Survival of Treaty is doubtful if Pakistan had been upper riparian.
  4. Symbol of stability: Often cited globally as a model of cooperative water-sharing.

What Could the Future Hold for the IWT?

  1. Pakistan’s likely strategy: Stonewall renegotiations, fearing worse outcomes.
  2. India’s new stance: Seeks bilateral renegotiation without World Bank involvement.
  3. Regional dimension: Pakistan may attempt to involve China (8% basin) and Afghanistan (6% basin).
  4. Strategic uncertainty: India may not disrupt flows but could introduce uncertainty, forcing Pakistan to rethink its terror policy.
  5. J&K projects: India likely to push through delayed hydro and irrigation projects without Pakistani consent.

Conclusion

The IWT, once a symbol of cooperation, now mirrors the fault lines of India–Pakistan relations. For decades, India upheld its obligations even at strategic cost. But by suspending the Treaty, India has signaled that goodwill cannot be one-sided, especially in the face of relentless terrorism. Water, development, security, and Kashmir are now deeply intertwined. The Indus basin, instead of being a bridge, risks becoming another battlefield in South Asia’s fraught geopolitics.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2015] Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India–Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.

Linkage: The Indus Waters Treaty itself was long considered a form of institutionalized soft power, surviving wars and terror. However, its suspension after the Pahalgam attack highlights how terrorism erodes even cooperative mechanisms. Just as cultural exchanges aim to build goodwill, water-sharing too depended on mutual trust — and both reveal how soft power collapses when hostility dominates.

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Bharat Emission Standards

BS-VII Emission Norms

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

To align India’s automobile sector with global standards, the government is planning to introduce BS VII emission norms by 2026-27.

About BS7 Norms:

  • Overview: India’s equivalent of Euro 7 emission standards, aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and aligning with global benchmarks.
  • Coverage: Applies uniformly to cars, vans, buses, trucks, petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles.
  • On-Board Monitoring (OBM): New system to monitor tailpipe emissions in real time, covering NOx, ammonia, PM, engine gases.
  • Non-Exhaust Regulation: First-time regulation of brake dust (PM) and tyre microplastics.
  • EV Standards: Introduces battery safety, durability, and longevity index to lower raw material use and build consumer confidence.
  • Digital Safeguards: Ensures vehicles are not tampered with and remain within emission limits.
  • Testing Scope: Expands checks to real driving conditions beyond lab-based cycles.

Key Differences: BS6 vs BS7

  • OBD vs OBM: BS6 used On-Board Diagnostics (OBD); BS7 brings OBM for direct emission monitoring.
  • NOx Standards: BS6 allowed 60 mg/km petrol, 80 mg/km diesel; BS7 sets uniform 60 mg/km.
  • Coverage: BS6 regulated exhaust only; BS7 adds non-exhaust (brakes, tyres).
  • EV Inclusion: BS6 ignored EVs; BS7 regulates battery life, safety, and replacement cycles.
  • Testing: BS6 relied on defined test cycles; BS7 uses broader real-world conditions.
  • Technology Push: BS7 compels automakers towards advanced emission-control systems and turbo, direct-injection engines.
  • Cost Factor: BS7 compliance raises vehicle costs; some older models may be discontinued.

History of Emission Norms in India:

Year / Period Key Development
1991 Mass emission norms introduced for petrol vehicles.
1992 Mass emission norms introduced for diesel vehicles.
April 1995 Mandatory catalytic converters in new petrol cars in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai; unleaded petrol (ULP) introduced.
2000 Introduction of Euro I equivalent “India 2000” norms for passenger and commercial vehicles; stricter norms for two-wheelers.
2001 Euro II equivalent Bharat Stage II (BS II) norms introduced in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.
August 2002 First Auto Fuel Policy announced, outlining emission and fuel roadmap up to 2010.
April 2005 Bharat Stage III (BS III) norms implemented in 13 metro cities; rest of India continued with BS II.
April 2010 Bharat Stage IV (BS IV) implemented in 13 metro cities; rest of India adopted BS III.
October 2014 BS IV extended to 20 more cities.
2013 Auto Fuel Policy 2025 submitted to MoPNG (Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas), outlining roadmap up to 2025.
April 2017 Nationwide implementation of BS IV.
April 2020 Direct leap to BS VI (skipping BS V) due to severe pollution in Delhi NCR.
Upcoming (BS VII) To be aligned with Euro 7 standards: stricter norms, On-Board Monitoring (OBM), coverage of brake & tyre emissions, and EV battery standards.

 

[UPSC 2004] Consider the following statements:

1. The Oil Pool Account of Government of India was dismantled with effect from 1-4-2002.

2. Subsidies on PDS kerosene and domestic LPG are borne by Consolidated Fund of India.

3. An expert committee headed by Dr. R.A. Mashelkar to formulate a national auto fuel policy recommended that Bharat Stage-II Emission Norms should be applied throughout the country by 1 April, 2004.

Which of these statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3*

 

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Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Researchers develop Red Ivy Plant-Based Wound-Healing Pad

Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

Researchers at JNTBGRI has developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad using nanomaterials, inspired by the red ivy plant (Strobilanthes alternata), traditionally used in folk medicine.

About the Red Ivy Plant:

  • Overview: Strobilanthes alternata, locally called murikooti pacha, belonging to the Acanthaceae family.
  • Habitat: Found abundantly in tropical regions, including India.
  • Traditional Use: Used in folk medicine for treating cuts and wounds.
  • Scientific Discovery: JNTBGRI, Palode isolated acteoside, a natural bioactive compound, for the first time in this plant.
  • Therapeutic Use: Acteoside, known elsewhere for medicinal activity, showed high wound-healing efficacy at 0.2% concentration in red ivy.

Features of the Wound-Healing Pad:

  • Design: India’s first multifunctional herbal wound dressing pad, combining traditional knowledge with nanotechnology.
  • Components: Electro-spun nanofiber layer (biodegradable, porous, antimicrobial barrier); Acteoside + neomycin sulfate blend (healing and infection control); Sodium alginate sponge (absorbs exudates); Activated carbon layer (controls odour).
  • Significance: Affordable, scalable, and a model of herbal medicine integrated with modern nanotech innovation.
[UPSC 2021] Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?

Options:

(a) Congress grass (b) Elephant grass (c) Lemongrass* (d) Nut grass

 

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Indian Navy Updates

Expedition ‘Samudra Pradakshina’

Prelims Only | Trivia | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

Why in the News?

Defence Minister flagged off Samudra Pradakshina, the world’s first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing mission, from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.

About Expedition ‘Samudra Pradakshina’:

  • Overview: First-ever all-women tri-service circumnavigation sailing expedition in the world.
  • Crew: Ten women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, led by Lt. Col. Anuja Varudkar.
  • Vessel: IASV Triveni, a 50-foot yacht built indigenously in Puducherry.
  • Duration & Route: Nine months, covering 26,000 nautical miles, crossing the Equator twice, and rounding Capes Leeuwin, Horn, and Good Hope.
  • Port Calls: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cape Town (South Africa).
  • Mission Objectives: Showcase Nari Shakti, promote joint military cooperation, advance Atmanirbhar Bharat, strengthen maritime diplomacy, and conduct ocean research with the National Institute of Oceanography.

Historic Precursors:

  • Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (UK):  First solo non-stop circumnavigation (1969).
  • Captain Dilip Donde (2009–10): First Indian solo circumnavigation. Commander Abhilash Tomy (2012–13) — first Indian solo non-stop circumnavigation.
  • Women-led Expeditions: Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017–18)– first all-women Indian Navy circumnavigation on INSV Tarini. Navika Sagar Parikrama-II (2024–25) – second successful all-women naval circumnavigation on INSV Tarini.
[UPSC 2025] Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

Options:

(a) Operation Sankalp (b) Operation Maitri (c) Operation Sadbhavana* (d) Operation Madad

 

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Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Vultures and Pandemic Prevention

Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

Vultures, vital for carcass disposal and disease control, are key to pandemic preparedness.

About Vulture Species in India:

  • Overview: Vultures are among 22 global species of large scavenger birds, found mostly in tropics and subtropics.
  • Ecological Role: Serve as nature’s garbage collectors, preventing disease spread and maintaining balance in ecosystems.
  • Indian Diversity: India hosts 9 species — Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous, and Eurasian Griffon.

Vultures and Pandemic Prevention

Distribution and Population Trends:

  • Historic Abundance: In the 1980s, India had over 40 million vultures, often in large groups near carcass dumps.
  • Population Crash: Since the 1990s, numbers have declined by over 95%, mainly due to diclofenac poisoning from veterinary use.
  • Flyway Connection: Vultures are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), linking breeding sites in Central Asia with South Asia’s wintering zones.
  • Global Relevance: The CAF spans 30+ countries, making vulture conservation a regional and international public health concern.

Vultures and Pandemic Preparedness:

  • Carcass Disposal: By consuming dead animals, vultures stop spread of pathogens such as anthrax, Clostridium botulinum, rabies.
  • Bio-Monitor Role: As first responders at carcasses, they act as natural surveillance systems, reducing risks of zoonotic spillover.
  • Conservation Gap: Protection of vultures is rarely included in One Health strategies, despite being low-cost compared to pandemic response.
  • Community Involvement: Local communities coexisting with vultures can aid in awareness, conservation, and disease monitoring, but remain underutilised.
[UPSC 2012] Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to:

(a) the destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species disease among them

(b) a drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle persistent and fatal*

(c) scarcity of food available to them

(d) a widespread, persistent and fatal disease among them

 

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Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

In news: Pugad Island

world map | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

The Philippine island of Pugad in Manila Bay is facing an existential threat as rising sea levels and rapid land subsidence combine to submerge homes and livelihoods.

About Pugad Island:

  • Overview: Small 7-hectare island in Manila Bay, situated at the mouth of the Angat–Pampanga River Delta, under Hagonoy municipality, Bulacan province, Philippines.
  • Population: Home to about 1,636–2,056 residents, living in a single clustered village of roughly 384 houses.
  • Livelihoods: Community depends on fishing and aquaculture, with families cultivating clams, mussels, and whiting fish in converted fishponds.
  • Living Conditions: Houses built mainly from bamboo and old metal sheets, with poor sanitation, minimal healthcare facilities, and only elementary-level schooling.
  • Flooding Challenge: Regularly hit by high-tide and monsoon floods, made worse by land subsidence (11 cm/year) and sea-level rise (three times global average).
  • Environmental Hazards: Loss of mangroves, urban encroachment, and exposure to typhoons increase risks of disaster and displacement.
[UPSC 2018] Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities?

1.Aral Sea 2.Black Sea 3.Lake Baikal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

 

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Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Swami Vivekananda and Vedanta Philosophy

Prelims Only | Art and Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Why in the News?

On the 132nd anniversary of his 1893 Chicago address, Swami Vivekananda was remembered for introducing Indian spirituality and Vedanta to the world with a message of tolerance and unity.

About Swami Vivekananda:

  • Early life: Born Narendranath Datta in 1863, Kolkata; Chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
  • Role: Monk, reformer, and founder of the Ramakrishna Mission (1897).
  • Chicago Speech: Rose to global fame with his 1893 Parliament of Religions address in Chicago, calling for religious tolerance and universal brotherhood.
  • Teachings: Advocated social service, education, and spiritual sovereignty as means of national regeneration.
  • Legacy: Inspired the rise of Vedanta Societies worldwide, spread yoga and meditation in the West, and became a key figure in the Indian renaissance and freedom movement.

What is Vedanta Philosophy?

  • Roots: Derived from the Upanishads, especially Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism).
  • Oneness of Existence: The universe is one absolute Brahman; all souls are divine.
  • Religious Pluralism: All religions are valid paths to the same truth; promotes harmony, not division.
  • Self-Realization: The aim of life is to realize and manifest one’s innate divinity.
  • Karma Yoga: Selfless service is a spiritual practice — “Jiva is Shiva” (service to man is service to God).
  • Practical Vedanta: Application of spiritual wisdom to daily life and social reform, bridging tradition and modernity.

Back2Basics: Indian Classical Philosophy

There are 6 classical schools of Indian philosophy in the orthodox (Astika) tradition, which accept the authority of the Vedas:

  1. Nyaya: School of logic and reasoning
  2. Vaisesika:  Atomism and categories of reality
  3. Sankhya: Dualism of consciousness (purusha) and matter (prakriti)
  4. Yoga: Practical discipline based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
  5. Mimamsa (Purva Mimamsa): Ritual action and dharma
  6. Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa): Philosophy of the Upanishads

Apart from these, there are also heterodox (Nastika) schools, which do not accept Vedic authority, such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Charvaka (materialism).

 

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