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Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

[20th September 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The Saudi-Pakistan pact is a dodgy insurance policy

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India'S Interests

PYQ Relevance:

[UPSC 2018] In what ways would the ongoing US–Iran Nuclear Pact controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation?

Linkage: The Saudi–Pakistan SMDA, like the earlier US–Iran Nuclear Pact controversy, reshapes West Asian alignments and directly impacts India’s energy security, diaspora safety, and regional stability. Just as India had to balance between Iran, the U.S., and Gulf partners in 2018, it must now carefully hedge between Riyadh and Islamabad while safeguarding its own strategic interests.

Mentor’s Comment

The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025 has been described as a pact of optics rather than substance. Its timing, context, and asymmetrical calculations raise questions on whether it strengthens West Asian security or merely signals short-term adjustments. For UPSC aspirants, this episode provides insights into the shifting geopolitics of South West Asia, Pakistan’s strategic opportunism, Saudi Arabia’s security dilemmas, and India’s balancing role.

Introduction

On 17 September 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Premier Shahbaz Sharif signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh, with Field Marshal Asim Munir in attendance. While presented as a landmark pact, its real significance lies in the optics of security reassurance amid the shifting sands of Middle Eastern politics. Both nations have a chequered past of military cooperation, rooted in shared faith but divided by divergent threat perceptions. The agreement’s asymmetrical benefits, U.S. undertones, and implications for India make it geopolitically consequential.

Why is the SMDA in the news and why is it significant?

  1. First major pact in decades: The last high-point of Saudi–Pakistan defence ties was in the 1979–89 period, when 20,000 Pakistani troops protected Saudi Arabia and the Holy Harams.
  2. Optical reassurance: The SMDA is viewed more as a symbolic gesture than a substantive alliance, designed to show unity amidst rising threats from Iran, Yemen, and Israel.
  3. Geopolitical urgency: Triggered by the September 9 Israeli air strike in Doha (Qatar), the pact signals waning U.S. credibility as a security guarantor for the Gulf.
  4. Big deal: Pakistan is now a declared nuclear state, raising speculation of nuclear cooperation with Riyadh, though practical transfer remains improbable.

What has been the history of Saudi-Pakistan defence cooperation?

  1. Golden phase (1979–89): 20,000 Pakistani soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia to protect the monarchy and act against Iran and Yemen.
  2. Saudi view: Treated Pakistani forces as paid Praetorian Guards, limiting their autonomy.
  3. Pakistani view: Resented lack of command; exclusion of Shia troops created tensions.
  4. 1990 onwards: Pakistan refused Saudi requests during major crises (Iraq’s Kuwait invasion, Yemeni war), limiting its role to protecting the Holy Harams.

How has the United States influenced the SMDA?

  1. Pentagon as the guarantor: U.S. historically underpinned Saudi–Pak defence ties “over-the-horizon.”
  2. Trump’s role: In June 2025, Field Marshal Munir’s “private lunch” with Trump in Washington signalled Washington’s blessing.
  3. Israeli factor: Saudi Arabia wanted a U.S. defence pact and nuclear technology in exchange for recognising Israel. The Hamas attack on Israel in Oct 2023 derailed the plan, leaving the SMDA as a consolation prize.
  4. Credibility gap: The U.S. failure to defend Qatar against Israeli strikes exposed fragility in Gulf security guarantees.

What are Riyadh’s calculations from the SMDA?

  1. Avoid Arab troops: Past experience with Arab/Turkish troops created risks of “political pollination.
  2. Massive arms imports: Saudi Arabia has ordered $100 billion worth of U.S. weapons in 2025.
  3. Nuclear hedge: Pakistan’s nuclear capability could deter Iran if it goes nuclear.
  4. Chinese factor: Pakistan’s ties with China may complicate Riyadh’s trust.
  5. Realistic expectation: Riyadh foresees smaller Pakistani footprints than before, given past frictions.

What are Islamabad’s calculations from the SMDA?

  1. Asymmetrical gains: No intention to fight Saudi wars against Iran, Yemen, or Israel.
  2. Strategic opportunism: Exploit Saudi insecurity to gain funds, oil, defence hardware, and training.
  3. Personal aggrandisement:Pakistan’s military elite aim to monetise “IOUs” from Riyadh and Washington.
  4. Regional calculus: Hopes trilateral axis will offset its strategic disadvantage against India.

What does the SMDA mean for India?

  1. Energy linkages: India is the third-largest oil importer and among Saudi’s top trade partners.
  2. Diaspora factor: Largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, valued for skills and neutrality.
  3. Diplomatic capital: Post-2014 outreach has created defence and intelligence-sharing frameworks.
  4. Saudi balancing act: Riyadh assured Reuters that ties with India remain “robust,” acknowledging India’s nuclear status and geoeconomic heft.
  5. Implication: India must remain vigilant, building greater Arabian Sea synergies to counterbalance tactical moves by Pakistan.

Conclusion

The Saudi–Pakistan pact is less a robust security alliance and more a political insurance policy, crafted in haste amid shifting regional dynamics. While it temporarily reassures Riyadh and monetarily benefits Islamabad, its sustainability remains doubtful due to divergent threat perceptions, nuclear sensitivities, and overlapping U.S.–China rivalries. For India, the SMDA underscores the need to strengthen its energy diplomacy, diaspora leverage, and strategic partnerships with Riyadh, while maintaining watchfulness over Pakistan’s manoeuvres.

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Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

A climate-health vision with lessons from India

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

Introduction

At the Global Conference on Climate and Health (July 2025, Brazil), 90 countries shaped the Belém Health Action Plan, which will guide the climate-health agenda at COP30 (Nov 2025). Ironically, India, despite having some of the most instructive welfare experiences linking climate and health, was not officially represented, a missed opportunity to emerge as a global exemplar.

India’s non-health interventions like the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) offer rich lessons for operationalising an integrated climate-health framework. They reveal that intentional, intersectoral action can yield multiple dividends: improved nutrition, reduced pollution, restored ecosystems, and healthier communities.

Why is this news significant?

India’s absence at Belém stands out because for the first time a global platform is drafting a climate-health action plan. While India has often been viewed through the prism of its energy transition challenges, this moment presented a chance to highlight its homegrown welfare successes with global resonance. The paradox is striking: even without designing policies as “climate policies,” India has reaped climate-health co-benefits, unlike many countries still struggling to integrate the two. Yet, persistent failures like high LPG refill costs in PMUY and siloed governance highlight the scale of unfinished work.

What is the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP)?

  • The BHAP is a strategic framework being finalized ahead of COP30 (Nov 2025, Belém, Brazil) intended to integrate health into climate change adaptation.
  • It emphasizes health equity, climate justice, and social participation alongside strengthening health systems to be resilient in face of climate change.

Key Features / Action Lines

Some of its priority action lines include:

  • Surveillance & Monitoring:
    • Linking climate/environmental data with health surveillance, early warning systems (for heatwaves, epidemics, etc.).
    • Real-time data, local / community-level monitoring.
  • Evidence-Based Policy Strategy & Capacity Building:
    • Training health workforce, integrating mental health & psychosocial support measures.
    • Gender-responsive, inclusive policies, recognizing most vulnerable groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities).
  • Innovation & Production:
    • Resilient infrastructure and services (e.g. climate-adapted health facilities), sustainable supply chains.
    • Focus on blended financing and mobilizing investments to make health systems adaptive and equitable.
  • Cross-cutting priorities:
    • Health equity & climate justice: ensuring that adaptation efforts do not further marginalize vulnerable groups.
    • Leadership & governance: accountability, social participation from civil society, clear institutional roles.

What lessons do India’s welfare programmes offer for climate-health synergy?

  1. PM POSHAN: Covers 11 crore children in 11 lakh schools, linking nutrition, agriculture, and education. Promotion of millets strengthens climate-resilient food systems.
  2. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Improved sanitation, public health, and environmental sustainability, while embedding dignity and cultural symbolism via Gandhi’s vision.
  3. MNREGA: Enhanced livelihood security while simultaneously restoring degraded ecosystems through water conservation and afforestation.
  4. PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Transition to clean cooking fuel cut household air pollution — a leading cause of respiratory illness — while reducing carbon emissions.

How has leadership and community engagement shaped outcomes?

  1. Political leadership: Direct involvement of the Prime Minister gave Swachh Bharat and PMUY inter-ministerial traction and public legitimacy.
  2. Community engagement: PM POSHAN leveraged parent-teacher committees, Swachh Bharat invoked cultural pride in cleanliness, ensuring local ownership.
  3. Cultural anchoring: Climate action framed as health protection resonates more deeply than carbon metrics.

What structural challenges persist in implementation?

  1. Administrative silos: Divergent sectoral mandates limit integrated outcomes.
  2. High refill costs in PMUY: Oil marketing interests often outweigh beneficiary affordability.
  3. Social barriers: Gender norms and cultural practices limit uptake of clean fuel and sanitation.
  4. Output vs. outcome gap: Programmes measure immediate coverage but not long-term health-climate impact.

What framework does India’s experience suggest for climate-health governance?

  1. Strategic prioritisation: Frame climate action as immediate health security, not distant environmental risk.
  2. Procedural integration: Embed health impact assessments into energy, transport, and urban policies.
  3. Participatory implementation: Leverage ASHA workers, SHGs, Panchayats as health-climate advocates.

Why is this vision critical for the future?

  1. High stakes: Delinking climate and health crises leads to fragmented solutions with escalating costs.
  2. Transformative potential: An intersectoral, whole-of-society approach could position India as a global leader in climate-health governance.
  3. Clear choice: Continue piecemeal efforts or pioneer a bold model aligning welfare with planetary health.

Conclusion

India’s welfare architecture has shown that policies designed for social welfare can unintentionally become climate-health interventions. The challenge now is to make this synergy intentional and institutionalised, with robust political framing, procedural integration, and community mobilisation. At a time when the world is drafting a global climate-health action plan, India’s absence from the table is a wake-up call: to convert scattered lessons into a coherent model of governance that others can emulate.

Value Addition

Key Concepts

  1. Climate-Health Nexus: Environmental policies often have unintended health impacts; health policies also influence climate outcomes.
  2. Co-Benefits Approach: One intervention (e.g., PMUY for clean cooking fuel) yields multiple dividends (better health, women’s empowerment, reduced emissions).
  3. Whole-of-Society Approach: Intersectoral coordination between ministries, communities, and local bodies ensures impact.
  4. Output vs Outcome Gap: Many Indian schemes achieve outputs (LPG connections, toilets built) but outcomes (sustained use, cleaner air, health equity) remain weak.

Important Data / Reports

  1. WHO Report (2021): Air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths annually worldwide.
  2. Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change (2022): South Asia faces one of the highest global burdens of climate-related health risks.
  3. India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2021): Despite welfare schemes, 35.5% of children under 5 are stunted and 32.1% are underweight, showing links between nutrition, climate resilience, and health.
  4. UNDP (2023): Every $1 invested in resilience and adaptation yields $4 in avoided losses.
  5. Global Conference on Climate & Health (Belém Plan, 2025): First global blueprint on climate-health integration.

PYQ Linkage:

[UPSC 2017] ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?

Linkage: India’s welfare schemes like PM POSHAN, PMUY, Swachh Bharat and MNREGA demonstrate that non-health interventions can mitigate climate impacts while improving public health. The Himalayan and coastal states, most vulnerable to warming, floods, and sea-level rise, can benefit from such intersectoral, resilience-building models. Thus, India’s climate-health vision provides practical pathways to address both regional vulnerabilities and national climate commitments.

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-Nepal

Turmoil, tragedy, and tenacity in Nepal

Explained | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations

Introduction

In early September 2025, Nepal was rocked by its most intense youth uprising since the end of monarchy in 2008. Peaceful demonstrations against corruption and inequality, largely organised online, escalated into violent clashes, leaving 73 dead and vital government institutions in flames. The resignation of Oli and the appointment of Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister has opened a critical transition. The protests underscore the growing role of Gen Z digital activism in reshaping political landscapes.

Timeline of the protests

  1. 4 Sept 2025: Government orders registration/ban of 26 social media platforms (trigger).
  2. Early Sept (pre-8): Weeks of online organising; #NepoBabies and related trends circulate.
  3. 8 Sept 2025 (Day 1): Large peaceful gatherings at Maitighar Mandala; clashes erupt; official reports of first deaths (≈19 reported that night).
  4. 9 Sept 2025 (Day 2): Violence spreads; Parliament, Supreme Court, Singha Durbar attacked and some set on fire; casualty and injury figures climb.
  5. 10–12 Sept 2025: Army deployed to secure cities; Home Minister and Oli resign; negotiations with youth representatives begin.
  6. 12–14 Sept 2025: Sushila Karki sworn in as interim prime minister; Parliament dissolved; elections scheduled for March (caretaker mandate announced).

How did legal restraints on digital space ignite a national revolt?

  1. Trigger — Social Media Ban: On 4 September 2025, the government ordered the blocking/registration of 26 social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram.
  2. Impact: This cut off Gen-Z’s primary space for organisation, expression, and economic activity, seen as a direct assault on civic freedom.
  3. Outcome: Scattered anger was transformed into coordinated protests.
  4. Example: Youth groups used Discord and TikTok to plan assemblies at Maitighar Mandala and coordinate marches towards Parliament.

What were the structural grievances behind the uprising?

  1. Corruption & Elitism: Perceptions of elite capture, misuse of resources, and impunity fuelled resentment.
  2. Symbol of Rage: The #NepoKids / #NepoBabies campaign exposed politicians’ children flaunting luxury while ordinary youth faced precarity.
  3. Example: Viral clips contrasting lavish lifestyles with student unemployment intensified outrage.
  4. Data: Transparency International (2025): Nepal ranked 107/180 on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI score: 34).

Why did peaceful protests become deadly and destructive?

  1. Escalation: Initially peaceful gatherings on 8 September were dispersed using tear gas and reportedly live ammunition.
  2. Violence: Retaliatory riots followed; demonstrators targeted symbols of state power.
  3. Example: On 9 September, Parliament, Supreme Court, and Singha Durbar were set ablaze; crucial judicial records were damaged.
  4. Data: 72–73 deaths reported, with hundreds injured, mostly between ages 19–24.

What immediate political fallout followed the unrest?

  1. Leadership Change: Home Minister resigned on 8 Sept; PM K.P. Sharma Oli stepped down on 9 Sept.
  2. Caretaker Transition: The Army mediated negotiations; Parliament was dissolved.
  3. Interim PM: Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice, sworn in on 12 Sept 2025, mandated to hold elections within six months.
    • Karki visited hospitals, assured investigations, and pledged accountability and timely polls.

How did digital tools shape both mobilisation and misinformation?

  1. Mobilisation: Platforms like Discord, TikTok, and hashtags enabled rapid outreach, meme-culture, and youth identity in protests.
  2. Creativity: Anime/manga flags and viral videos energised Gen-Z demonstrations.
  3. Misinformation: False reports and AI-generated images (e.g., Pashupati Temple “burning”) created panic and confusion.
  4. Example: Fake claims about a senior politician’s family being killed circulated widely before being disproved.

What are the main challenges facing Nepal’s interim rulers?

  1. Legitimacy Concerns: Traditional political parties, deposed MPs, and royalist factions question the constitutional mandate of the interim set-up.
  2. Balancing Act: The government must address youth expectations of anti-corruption and inclusivity while ensuring political buy-in from entrenched elites.
  3. Stability: Conducting free and fair elections by March 2026 without undermining the democratic spirit of Gen-Z protests remains the foremost task.
  4. Example: Political parties and royalists have already raised doubts over Karki’s legitimacy despite broad youth support.

Implications for Nepal (domestic)

  • Political Legitimacy and Party Renewal
    • The protests revealed a deep erosion of trust in established parties.
    • Unless political parties reform and integrate youth aspirations into institutional politics, cycles of protest could continue.
    • Revamping youth wings and embracing inclusivity may be crucial for long-term stability.
    • (Echoes analysts’ calls for parties to redefine themselves in light of 1990 and 2006 lessons.)
  • Rule of Law and Accountability
    • Strong demands exist for independent investigations into the use of excessive force and arson during protests.
    • The credibility of Nepal’s democracy depends on whether security forces and political elites are held accountable.
    • Sushila Karki’s pledge to investigate abuses and compensate victims sets both a legal and moral benchmark.
  • Economic and Social Policy Pressure
    • With youth unemployment at 20%, migration pressures, and widening inequality, socio-economic grievances remain central.
    • The interim government faces urgent pressure to deliver short-term relief (jobs, anti-corruption crackdowns) while laying the groundwork for structural reforms in education, employment, and inclusivity.
    • Failure to deliver may reignite unrest and deepen distrust in democratic institutions.

Implications for South Asia (regional)

  • Contagion Risk and Inspiration:
    • The Nepali uprising reflects a wider Gen-Z dissent pattern in Asia.
    • Similar youth-led movements in Sri Lanka (2022), Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines have challenged entrenched elites.
    • Nepal’s protests may inspire emulation across borders, intensifying regional instability.
  • Cross-Border Diplomacy & Stability:
    • Political turbulence in Kathmandu could strain bilateral relations with neighbours.
    • Instability may disrupt migration flows, remittances, and border trade.
    • Governments in South Asia may reassess youth policy, unemployment measures, and digital freedoms to preempt unrest.
  • Policy Lessons on Digital Platforms:
    • Nepal’s ban highlights the risks of hard regulation of social media.
    • Neighbouring states will closely observe whether bans quell dissent or provoke backlash.
    • The episode may shape future regional digital governance frameworks balancing free expression with misinformation control.

Conclusion

Nepal’s Gen Z uprising is both tragic and transformative. It highlights the power of digital natives to hold governments accountable, but also the dangers of violence and misinformation. The coming months will test whether Nepal can channel this energy into transparent, inclusive governance or relapse into instability.

PYQ Linkage:

[UPSC 2012] Discuss the contentious issues that have caused the prolonged

constitutional logjam in Nepal.

Linkage: The 2025 Gen Z protests in Nepal show that unresolved constitutional questions of inclusiveness, accountability, and representation remain central even after the 2015 Constitution. The uprising exposed youth anger at elite capture and exclusion of caste, ethnic, and gender groups — echoing the very fault lines that prolonged Nepal’s constitutional logjam post-2008 monarchy abolition. Thus, the recent turmoil is a continuation of the older struggle for a truly inclusive and accountable Nepali state.

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Supreme Court cites Preamble to reject a plea

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

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court rejected a plea against a religious leader inaugurating Mysuru Dasara, reminding that the Preamble upholds secularism, liberty, equality, and fraternity as core ideals of unity.

Backgrounder:

  • The Karnataka government invited Banu Mushtaq, 2025 International Booker Prize winner, to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara Festival and perform the pooja.
  • A 2023 video resurfaced where she questioned the worship of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, sparking controversy.
  • BJP and others opposed the invite, for her selective criticism of Hindu rituals and demanded withdrawal of the invite sent to her.

Supreme Court’s Observations:

  • Secular Character: The Court reminded that the Preamble enshrines secularism, liberty, equality, and fraternity as unifying ideals.
  • State’s Neutrality: Dasara inauguration was a State event, not a private ritual. The State “maintains no religion of its own” (echoing M. Ismail Faruqui, 1994).
  • Key Precedents Recalled:
    • Kesavananda Bharati (1973) & S.R. Bommai (1994): Secularism = basic feature of the Constitution.
    • R.C. Poudyal (1994): Even before “secular” was inserted (42nd Amendment, 1976), the Constitution upheld equal treatment of all faiths.
    • Dr. Balram Singh v. UOI (2024): State can intervene to curb religious practices impeding equality & development.

Preamble

About the Preamble:

  • Nature: Introductory statement; reflects philosophy, vision, and objectives.
  • Origin: Based on Objectives Resolution (Nehru, 1946); adopted 1947.
  • Declarations: India as Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic ensuring Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

  • Symbolism:

    1. Source of Authority: “We, the People of India.”
    2. Nature of State: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic.

Amendment of the Preamble:

  • Permissible: Supreme Court (Kesavananda Bharati, 1973) has held that Preamble is part of Constitution and can be amended without violating Basic Structure.
  • Only Amendment: 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 (during Emergency).
    • Added “Socialist” and “Secular” between Sovereign and Democratic.
    • Added “Integrity” to Unity of the Nation.

Key Judicial Pronouncements:

  • Berubari Union Case (1960): Preamble not a part of the Constitution; only a tool for interpretation.
  • Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): Overruled Berubari; Preamble is part of the Constitution, embodies basic structure but cannot override provisions.
  • S.R. Bommai Case (1994): Secularism upheld as basic feature of the Constitution.
  • LIC of India Case (1995): Reaffirmed Preamble as integral, but non-justiciable (not enforceable in court).
[UPSC 2020] The Preamble to the Constitution of India is:

Options: (a) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect

(b) not a part of the Constitution and has no legal effect either

(c) part of the Constitution and has the same legal effect as any other part

(d) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts*

 

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Electoral Reforms In India

Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP)

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

Why in the News?

The Election Commission de-listed 474 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP) for not contesting polls in six years, as part of its electoral clean-up drive.

Delisting of Political Parties:

  • ECI’s Powers: Governed by Section 29A, RP Act, 1951.
    • No explicit power with ECI to de-register a party once registered, except for fraud or anti-Constitutional allegiance.
  • Judicial Interpretation:
    • INC vs Institute of Social Welfare (2002): SC ruled that ECI cannot de-register parties, only delist or declare inactive, which removes privileges but NOT their legal entity.

About Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs):

  • Constitutional Right: Right to form political associations is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c).
  • Registration: RUPPs are political associations registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Section 29A, Representation of the People Act, 1951.
  • Not recognised: As either State or National parties because they have not secured the required vote share or seats in past elections.
  • Privileges & Benefits:
    • Tax exemption under Section 13A, Income Tax Act, 1961.
    • Eligibility for common poll symbols during elections (under Symbols Order, 1968).
    • Can nominate up to 20 star campaigners.
  • Obligations:
    • Must contest elections periodically.
    • File annual audit accounts and contribution reports.
    • Disclose donations above ₹20,000.
    • Ensure no donations above ₹2,000 are taken in cash.
  • Issues: Many RUPPs exploit privileges without contesting elections, crowding out genuine contesting parties and confusing voters.

What are Recognised Political Parties?

  • Types: Recognised parties are classified as National Parties or State Parties.
  • Privileges:
    • Exclusive reserved symbols.
    • Free copies of electoral rolls.
    • Broadcasting time on Doordarshan/All India Radio.
    • Consultation rights with ECI in election matters.
  • Recognition depends on vote share or seats won in Lok Sabha/Assembly elections.

Conditions for Recognition:

National Party State Party
Secures 6% of valid votes in Lok Sabha/Assembly elections in any 4 or more states + wins 4 Lok Sabha seats. Secures 6% of valid votes in the state Assembly election + wins 2 Assembly seats.
Wins 2% of Lok Sabha seats (currently 11 seats) from at least 3 states. Secures 6% of valid votes in the state’s Lok Sabha election + wins 1 Lok Sabha seat.
Recognised as a State Party in 4 or more states. Wins 3% of Assembly seats or 3 seats (whichever is higher) in the state Assembly.
— Wins 1 Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats allotted to that state.
— Secures 8% of total valid votes in the state’s Assembly or Lok Sabha election (added in 2011).

 

[UPSC 2001] Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India:

1. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties.

2. Registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commission.

3. A national level political party is one which is recognised in four or more States.

4. During the 1999 general elections, there were six National and 48 State level parties recognised by the Election Commission.

Options: (a) I, II and IV (b) I and III (c) II and IV (d) I, II, III and IV*

 

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ISRO Missions and Discoveries

Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

Why in the News?

Gyanex (Gaganyaan Analog Experiments) ground-based astronaut simulations are being conducted by ISRO with ICMR and Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, to prepare Indian astronauts for the 2027 Gaganyaan mission.

What are Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)?

  • Purpose: India’s first systematic programme in space medicine and astronaut psychology, preparing protocols for Gaganyaan and future missions like space stations and lunar expeditions.
  • Setup: Conducted at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, with ICMR support. Astronauts and defence personnel live in a mock spacecraft simulator under confinement, consuming DRDO-developed space food.
  • Activities: Strict space-like routines involving scientific experiments, resource management, schedules, and limited supplies. Tests also cover communication with time-delay simulation.
  • Gyanex-1: Group Captain Angad Pratap and two others confined for 10 days; completed 11 experiments on psychology, biomedicine, and communications.
  • Microgravity Simulation: Weightlessness cannot be reproduced on Earth; instead, 7-day bed-confinement at 6° head tilt studied microgravity effects.
  • Other Indian Analog Missions:
    • Ladakh Human Analog Mission (Nov 2024): Simulated interplanetary survival in cold, barren terrain.
    • HOPE Habitat at Tso Kar (Aug 2025): Tested 8 m habitat + 5 m utility module in Mars-like conditions of low pressure, saline permafrost, and high UV radiation.

About Gaganyaan Mission:

  • Overview: India’s first human spaceflight mission, initiated in 2007, to send 3 astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for 3 days, followed by Arabian Sea splashdown.
  • Rocket: Human-Rated LVM3 (HLVM3), adapted from GSLV Mk3, certified in 2025 for safe human use.
  • Significance: India to become the 4th nation (after US, Russia, China) with crewed spaceflight capability.
  • Latest Timeline (as of Sept 2025):
    • Dec 2025: First uncrewed mission (G1) with humanoid Vyommitra.
    • 2026: Two more uncrewed flights for life-support, avionics, and escape tests.
    • Early 2027: First crewed mission – 3 astronauts in orbit for 3 days.
  • Progress so far:
    • 80–85% development complete: avionics, parachutes, crew safety systems validated.
    • Integrated Air Drop Test (Aug 2025): Confirmed crew module deceleration.
    • Crew Escape System: Multiple ground and flight tests successful.
    • Recovery: Indian Navy and Australian Space Agency conducting splashdown drills.
    • Four IAF test pilots shortlisted: Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan.
    • All trained in Russia, now in advanced Indian training. Final crew of three will be chosen for maiden flight.
[UPSC 2016] Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission

2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA

3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its first attempt.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

 

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Water Management – Institutional Reforms, Conservation Efforts, etc.

Ecological Impact of the ELSA 3 Shipwreck in the Arabian Sea

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

Why in the News?

The sinking of the ELSA 3 ship off the Kerala coast in May led to a significant ecological disruption in the south-eastern Arabian Sea, a new study has confirmed.

Ecological Impact of the ELSA 3 Shipwreck in the Arabian Sea

About the Pollution and Contaminants:

  • Oil Slick: Wreck of ELSA 3 released petroleum pollutants, initially forming a slick of about 2 square miles.
  • Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Compounds like naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene detected; toxic, carcinogenic, and bioaccumulative.
  • Naphthalene Marker: High levels confirmed continuous leakage from fuel tanks.
  • Trace Metals: Nickel, lead, copper, vanadium found in elevated levels in water and sediments, worsening toxicity.
  • Distribution: Oil spread shifted with sea turbulence—first mid-depth concentration, later visible on the surface.

Ecological Impacts of the Oil Spill:

  • Plankton: Zooplankton showed pollutant accumulation, marking entry into the marine food chain.
  • Fish Eggs & Larvae: Collected in the southwest monsoon spawning season displayed decay and mortality, threatening commercial species recruitment.
  • Benthic Organisms: Sensitive species declined within days; only pollution-tolerant worms and bivalves survived, reflecting seabed stress.
  • Higher Fauna: Brown Noddy seabird (Anous stolidus) recorded with oil-soaked plumage, highlighting risks to birds and larger marine life.
  • Overall Effect: A multi-level disruption from plankton to fish stocks to seabirds.

Microbial Response and Bioremediation:

  • Bacterial Diversity: Metagenomic studies found hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria near the wreck.
  • Key Strains: Neptunomonas acidivorans, Halomonas tabrizica, Acinetobacter baumannii detected.
  • Implications: Their presence reflects both severe contamination and natural bioremediation potential.
  • Outlook: Microbial action may reduce pollution gradually, but contamination in the Arabian Sea remains significant.
[UPSC 2017] In the context of solving pollution problems what is/are the advantage/disadvantages of bioremediation technique?

1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.

2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.

3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

 

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