💥UPSC 2026, 2027 UAP Mentorship November Batch
Talk to Mentor

Archives: News

Bills/Act/LawsDOMREthicsExplainedHistorical SitesIndia MappingIOCRop-ed snapPIBPrelims OnlySC JudgementsSchemesSpeciesStatesWorld Mapping
November 2025
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930

Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

INS Sahyadri–HMAS Ballarat in AUSINDEX 2025

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

 Why in the News?

INS Sahyadri of the Indian Navy and HMAS Ballarat of the Royal Australian Navy participated in the AUSINDEX 2025 bilateral maritime exercise in the Northern Pacific, strengthening India–Australia defence cooperation and enhancing interoperability.

What is AUSINDEX?  

  • Bilateral naval exercise between India and Australia
  • First held in 2015
  • Aims at maritime cooperation, interoperability, and security
  • Conducted alternately in India and Australia / designated oceanic regions

AUSINDEX 2025 

  • Location: Northern Pacific
  • Participants:
  • INS Sahyadri – Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth frigate
  • HMAS Ballarat – Anzac-class frigate
  • Focus areas:
      • Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
      • Gunnery drills
      • Advanced flying operations
      • Joint maritime manoeuvres
  • Objective: Boost interoperability and reaffirm commitment to a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific
With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs: (2025)

I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft 

II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft III. C-17 Globemaster 

III : Military transport aircraft 

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? 

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) All the three 

(d) None

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Internal Security Trends and Incidents

DRI Seizes 32 kg Methamphetamine in North East

Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Border Area Security Challenges,Organized Crime & Terrorism

Why in the News?

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 32 kg methamphetamine tablets worth ₹32 crore in two separate operations in Assam and Tripura, exposing the continued use of the Indo–Myanmar route for drug trafficking. Three persons have been arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.

About Methamphetamine  

  • A synthetic psychostimulant
  • Known as Ya Ba / Speed pills in Southeast Asia
  • Highly addictive
  • Controlled under Schedule of NDPS Act, 1985

What is Hydroponic Weed?

  • Marijuana grown in nutrient-rich water systems, not soil
  • Higher potency due to controlled conditions
  • New smuggling trend: carried by air passengers into NE India

NDPS Act, 1985  

  • Regulates narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
  • Provides for seizure, arrests, forfeiture
  • Commercial quantity offences: 10–20 years imprisonment
  • Empowered agencies: DRI, NCB, Customs, State Police, BSF, Assam Rifles
Q: India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What countermeasures should be taken to prevent the same? (UPSC 2018) 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Dams and Hydroprojects

HMDA to use bioremediation to clean up Hussainsagar lake

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

Why in the News?

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has announced a new advanced bioremediation initiative using enzyme solutions and biochar-based Bokashi balls to clean and restore Hussainsagar Lake, which has long suffered from algal blooms, foul odour, sewage inflow, and industrial pollution.

About Hussainsagar Lake

  • A 16th-century artificial lake in Hyderabad.
  • Faces severe pollution due to:
    • Sewage inflow
    • Nutrient overload (nitrates, phosphates)
    • Industrial waste
  • Problems: algal blooms, foul odour, low Dissolved Oxygen (DO), high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

What Is Bioremediation?

  • Definition: Use of microorganisms, enzymes, or biological materials to break down pollutants and restore ecosystems.

  • Types relevant here:
    • In-situ bioremediation – treating the lake onsite without removing water.
    • Bio-augmentation – adding microbial cultures to enhance degradation.
    • Aerobic/oxygenation systems – boost DO to improve water quality.

New Intervention Planned by HMDA

  • Enzyme Solutions

      • Enhance microbial breakdown of organic pollutants.
      • Help reduce nutrient load responsible for algal blooms.

  • Bokashi Balls (with Biochar)

    • Bokashi = fermented organic matter rich in beneficial microbes.
    • Biochar:
      • Carbon-rich material produced from biomass.
      • Increases microbial activity, absorbs toxins, improves water clarity.
    • Purpose:
      • Reduce algae, odour, pathogenic bacteria.
      • Increase water transparency and DO levels.
In the context of solving pollution problems what is/are the advantage/disadvantages of bioremediation technique? (2017)

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: 

(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

International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

Moss Spores Survive Months in Space

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T,Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the news?

A recent study published in iScience revealed that moss spores (Physcomitrium patens) survived nine months outside the International Space Station (ISS), enduring vacuum, cosmic radiation, microgravity, and temperature extremes. Over 80% of the spores survived and successfully germinated on return to Earth. Scientists estimate moss could survive up to 15 years in space.

Key Findings of the Study

  • 20,000 moss spores were placed outside the ISS in March 2022.
  • Exposed to: Vacuum, Cosmic radiation, Microgravity and Extreme temperatures
  • After 283 days, the spores were retrieved.
  • Results: 80% survived
    • Among survivors, 89% germinated successfully
    • Chlorophyll levels normal except a 20% drop in chlorophyll a, but not harmful
  • Survival attributed to multiple spore wall layers offering passive protection.

About the Species

  • Species: Physcomitrium patens
  • Model organism for plant evolutionary studies
  • Mosses are one of the earliest land plants
  • Already known for surviving:
    • Antarctica
    • Volcanic fields
    • Deserts

Why Moss Survived – Scientific Insight

  • Multiple thick-walled layers → physical shielding
  • Ability to remain in dormant state
  • Natural mechanisms to handle:
    • Radiation
    • Desiccation
    • Freezing and thawing cycles

Why Is This Significant?

  • Implications for Space Exploration: 
      • Ability to survive harsh space environments → potential role in: Oxygen generation, Humidity control, Soil formation on Moon/Mars.
      • Supports concepts of bioregenerative life-support systems
      • It could be used in terraforming experiments on other celestial bodies

  • Astrobiology

      • Supports the idea that primitive plant life could survive interplanetary transport.
      • Relevant to panspermia hypothesis (life spreading across planets via spores).

  • Long-term Human Habitats

    • Moss can grow with minimal resources
    • Can contribute to:
      • Closed-loop ecosystems
      • Sustainable habitats
      • Psychological well-being in isolated environments (greenery)
Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water. 

2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water. 

3. Some microorganisms can grow in highly acidic environment with a pH below 3. 

How many of the above statements are correct? 

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

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

[24th November 2025] The Hindu OpED: The future of health lies in harmony

op-ed snap | Indian Society | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies?

Linkage: Traditional medicine is gaining global traction, so protecting it from patenting and biopiracy is now a core policy priority rather than a cultural concern. As India leads the global traditional medicine agenda, this linkage makes the topic very likely to appear in future UPSC exams under health governance, IPR and soft-power.

Mentor’s Comment

The global health landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift. Traditional medicine, once seen as alternative, is now being recognised as a scientific and social asset. With India emerging as a hub of innovation and evidence-based traditional research, and hosting the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, the world is witnessing a renewed focus on health systems rooted in balance, sustainability and technology-enabled well-being.

INTRODUCTION

Health, in its original meaning, has always signified harmony, within the human body, and between humans and nature. With modern lifestyles driving chronic diseases, mental strain and ecological imbalance, traditional systems of medicine offer a rediscovered pathway to well-being that integrates mind, body, community, and environment. India, with its rich heritage of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa, is repositioning traditional medicine as an engine of science-driven global healthcare transformation.

WHY IN THE NEWS?

The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine hosted by India marks a watershed moment, for the first time, traditional medicine is being institutionalised globally as a scientific, evidence-backed and sustainable component of public health systems. With around 90% of WHO member-states reporting usage of traditional medicine, and India’s AYUSH market reaching USD 34.3 billion, global health priorities are shifting from reactive sick-care to proactive well-being. The Summit signals the beginning of a new chapter where traditional medicine integrates with modern technologies, data analytics and global governance.

Why is traditional medicine gaining global significance?

  1. Escalating lifestyle diseases: rising non-communicable diseases demand preventive, holistic models of care.
  2. Fragmented systems failing: reactive, curative-centric models cannot ensure long-term public well-being.
  3. Biodiversity-nutrition-livelihood interlinkages: traditional medicine influences food security, sustainability and livelihoods.
  4. Affordability for LMICs: for billions across low- and middle-income regions, traditional medicine remains first access to healthcare.

How is traditional medicine evolving from belief to science?

  1. Evidence-based research: WHO emphasises integration supported by data, learning and scientific validation.
  2. Shift from consumer preference to collective responsibility: well-being linked to shared ecosystems and sustainability.
  3. Recognition as a scientific and social asset: elevated at the 2023 WHO Summit in Gandhinagar.
  4. Institutional reforms in India: dedicated AYUSH department at BIS, and global standards under ISO/TC 249/SC 2.

What is India’s leadership role in global traditional medicine?

  1. WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar: a knowledge hub for innovation, analytics and sustainability.
  2. Memorandum of Understanding with WHO: India co-hosts global Summit and participates in shaping global priorities.
  3. Political and scientific commitment: Prime Minister’s focus leads to increasing investments and ecosystem building.
  4. Vision of collective global stewardship: India positions traditional knowledge as shared global heritage.

How does technology change future pathways of traditional medicine?

  1. Digital health and analytics: enable real-time monitoring, transparency and measurable clinical outcomes.
  2. Sustainability and biodiversity research: bridges traditional practice with ecological protection.
  3. Innovation-led scaling: makes traditional systems compatible with global regulatory and safety frameworks.
  4. Data-driven inclusion: ensures equitable access to health knowledge and solutions.

How does the Summit reshape global health governance?

  1. Benefit sharing and fair access: ensures equitable utilisation of biological and cultural assets.
  2. Value of local heritage in globalisation: respects indigenous knowledge in global supply chains.
  3. Integration with modern health priorities: aligns traditional medicine with contemporary clinical and public health goals.
  4. Ethical anchoring of future innovation: technology with community-rooted ethics and sustainability.

CONCLUSION

The world is moving toward a health model where prevention, sustainability, community participation and science converge. Traditional medicine, empowered by research, technology and equitable access, offers a pathway to resilience against lifestyle diseases and global health inequalities. India’s leadership in steering this transformation reinforces health not as the absence of disease, but as a state of balance between humans and nature.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

Labour codes: what changes for workers and employers

Explained | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Issues relating growth and development, employment

Introduction

The four labour codes, Code on Wages, Code on Social Security, Industrial Relations Code, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, aim to simplify compliance for industries, expand social security to workers, and improve ease of doing business. However, labour being a concurrent subject, implementation depends on states, and concerns have emerged about job security, worker rights, and the impact on collective bargaining.

Why in the News

The government has notified the implementation of four labour codes after over five years of deliberation and the consolidation of 29 central labour laws. This marks the first time India will operate under a uniform nationwide wage system and a consolidated social security architecture. While the reforms promise simplified compliance and a push for manufacturing efficiency, trade unions warn of reduced strike power, easier employee termination, and increased precarity for informal workers, making it one of the most debated labour reforms in recent times.

Labour Codes and the Changing Labour Landscape

  1. Consolidation of 29 laws into four codes to create uniformity and remove overlapping provisions.
  2. Target shift from penal to compliance-based enforcement, especially for small firms and first-time offences.
  3. Push for economies of scale in manufacturing, signalling alignment with global production norms.

Code on Wages: What changes for employees and employers?

  1. Uniform definition of wages: It ensures consistency in minimum wage calculation across states and sectors.
  2. Mandated national floor wage: It enables states to set minimum wages only above the national baseline.
  3. Time-bound wage payment: within 2 days of resignation/termination and 7 days of completion of the wage period.
  4. Broader coverage for all employees irrespective of industry or wage threshold.
  5. Overtime provisions strengthened: capped at 48 hours weekly, 12 hours daily shift duration permitted with breaks.

Code on Social Security: Is the social net expanding?

  1. Unified ecosystem of social security: It covers unorganised, informal, gig, and platform workers for the first time.
  2. National Social Security Board: For recommendations, registration, schemes, and funding decisions.
  3. Corporate Co-contribution: Corporates may co-contribute to gig/platform worker benefits but funding split still unclear.
  4. ESIC expansion: Applies to sectors previously exempt; plantation workers included voluntarily.
  5. Formalisation incentive through maternity benefits, gratuity reforms, and inclusion of fixed-term employees.

Industrial Relations Code: Does it limit collective bargaining?

  1. Stricter strike rules: 60-day notice before strike and prohibition of strike in the next 14 days of conciliation.
  2. Increase in threshold: Threshold for prior permission for layoffs raised from 100 to 300 workers, enabling easier hiring-firing.
  3. Negotiating Union provision: Only unions with 51% membership can negotiate; multi-union negotiation councils for fragmented memberships.
  4. Push for stable industrial climate: It is criticised for shrinking bargaining space for workers.

OSH Code: Will workplace safety improve?

  1. Standardised norms: Across industries norms for working hours, workplace safety, and facility obligations.
  2. Mandatory free annual health check-ups: For workers in notified industries.
  3. Women allowed in all sectors and night shifts: subject to safety conditions.
  4. Increased accountability for establishments: In case of handling hazardous activities and migrant labour.

Conclusion

The labour codes aim to simplify compliance and strengthen India’s labour market to support manufacturing-led growth. However, concerns persist regarding job security, collective bargaining, and implementation across states. Successful outcomes depend on balancing economic flexibility with worker protection and ensuring that reforms lead to formalisation without vulnerability.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Discuss the merits and demerits of the four ‘Labour Codes’ in the context of labour market reforms in India. What has been the progress so far in this regard?

Linkage: Growth driven mainly by labour productivity has led to GDP rising without proportional job creation. This links to the four Labour Codes, which seek higher productivity and flexibility, but face concerns on whether they will create jobs while protecting workers.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

How can State PSCs be reformed

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

Introduction

Public Service Commissions are constitutional institutions meant to ensure merit-based appointments insulated from political pressures. A century after the Montagu–Chelmsford report envisaged them, State PSCs face credibility challenges due to recruitment irregularities and systemic inefficiencies that affect millions of aspirants.

Why in the news?

At the 2025 National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions hosted by Telangana PSC, members acknowledged recruitment controversies and demanded urgent reforms. Aspirant protests in Hyderabad highlighted how even minor delays disrupt youth livelihood prospects. Persistent exam cancellations and unclear syllabi have deepened mistrust despite PSCs’ constitutional mandate of meritocracy.

Historical evolution of State PSCs :

  1. Montagu-Chelmsford Report :
    1. Recommended statutory recruitment bodies for welfare-oriented administration.
    2. Laid conceptual foundation for PSCs in India.
  2. First Public Service Commission (1926) :
    1. Set up for the Government of India before Independence.
    2. Marked beginning of institutionalised merit-based recruitment.
  3. Constitutionalisation through Article 315:
    1. Provided for separate Public Service Commissions for Union and States.
    2. Ensured autonomy and continuity post-Independence.

Constitutional structure and organisation :

  1. Appointment and tenure of members: Governor appoints chairperson and members with fixed tenure and protected service conditions.
  2. Constitutional independence: PSCs function autonomously and discharge duties without executive interference.
  3. Role of UPSC in relation to State PSCs: UPSC may advise State PSCs on service matters when requested.
  4. Role of Ministry of Personnel: Helps maintain coherence in administrative policies across States.

Present functioning and examination framework :

  1. Syllabus review mechanism: Periodic syllabus updates mandated to align with evolving administrative requirements.
  2. Question paper setting and evaluation: PSC sets papers, evaluates answer scripts and prepares selection lists.
  3. Cut-offs and result publication: Merit lists released after evaluation; criteria finalised by the PSC.

Current challenges and bottlenecks

  1. Irregular recruitment cycles: Long gaps between notification and appointments disrupt careers and spark protests.
  2. Lack of transparency: Limited disclosure on answer keys and evaluation has lowered institutional credibility.
  3. Paper leaks and cancellations: Allegations of malpractice lead to cancellation, delays and erosion of public trust.
  4. Outdated syllabus issues: Poor syllabus revisions fail to reflect new governance themes and legal developments.
  5. Inconsistent standards across States: Divergent evaluation standards hinder mobility and generate inequality.

Proposed reforms and restructuring measures:

  1. Revised manpower planning: Systematic vacancy forecasting to prevent examination delays.
  2. Fixed examination calendar: Annual, predictable and uniform recruitment schedule across States.
  3. Transparent evaluation policy: Mandatory disclosure of answer keys, normalisation criteria and cut-off logic.
  4. Academic and administrative alignment: Regular syllabus revision to match governance and administrative reality.
  5. Professional expertise induction: Inclusion of subject experts to improve paper quality and evaluation fairness.

Conclusion

State PSCs were created to provide equal opportunity in public employment. However, recruitment delays, unclear syllabi and opacity have damaged public trust. Ensuring predictability, transparency and institutional professionalism is essential to protect youth aspirations and restore confidence in constitutional recruitment bodies.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] What are the aims and objects of the recently passed and enforced Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations too are covered under the Act?

Linkage: The Act directly links to the PSC crisis by targeting leaks, exam fraud and loss of trust in public recruitment. It sets a future-ready template for PSC reforms through transparency, deterrence and integrity in examinations.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji: Martyrdom Day

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History,Salient features of Indian Society

Why in the news?

On the eve of the 350th Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru, highlighting his supreme sacrifice for the protection of righteousness, humanity and freedom of faith.

Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur?  

  • Ninth Guru of Sikhism (1621–1675).

  • Youngest son of Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Guru.

  • Known as “Hind di Chadar” (Shield of India) for defending religious freedom.

  • Key teachings recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib, including hymns on detachment, courage, and equality.

Why is His Martyrdom Significant?

  • Guru Tegh Bahadur opposed forced conversions under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
  • He defended the rights of Kashmiri Pandits, who sought his protection.
  • Arrested and executed in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, on 24 November 1675.
  • His martyrdom represents:

    • Protection of freedom of conscience
    • Defence of pluralism and interfaith harmony
    • Upholding justice and truth

President of India’s 2025 Message: Key Highlights

  • Tribute to his valour, sacrifice, and principles.
  • Emphasised his role in preserving: Righteousness, Humanity, Truth.
  • Called upon citizens to imbibe his values to strengthen harmony and unity in India.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Contributions  

  • Spiritual Teachings: Advocated nirbhau (fearlessness) and nirvair (compassion). Stressed spiritual liberation through humility and service.
  • Establishment of Sikh Centres: Founded the city of Anandpur Sahib (1665). Travelled widely across the Indian subcontinent, spreading Sikh philosophy.
  • Guru Granth Sahib Contribution: Composed 116 hymns, including shaloks on detachment and moral courage.
(2009) With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: 

1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 

2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

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

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Hunger and Nutrition Issues – GHI, GNI, etc.

Ultra-Processed Food Epidemic in India

Prelims Only | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Why in the news?

A recent Lancet three-paper series highlights the rapid rise in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption globally, including India, and its strong link to rising obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and premature mortality. The case of an 18-year-old Indian youth with obesity and early-onset metabolic disorders illustrates the growing public health crisis.

What are Ultra-Processed Foods?

According to the NOVA classification, ultra-processed foods are:

  • Industrial formulations with multiple chemical and cosmetic ingredients
  • Made using high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, flavour enhancers, emulsifiers, preservatives, colours
  • Designed for long shelf life, hyper-palatable taste and convenience
    Examples: Soft drinks, chips, packaged noodles, biscuits, sugary beverages, chocolates, breakfast cereals, frozen pizzas, ready-to-heat meals, chicken nuggets, processed meats.

Difference from Processed Foods:
 Processed = minimal changes (washing, canning, cooking).
 Ultra-processed = heavy industrial formulations, low nutrients, high calories.

Note: NOVA is a food classification system developed by the University of São Paulo (Brazil) that categorises foods based on the extent and purpose of industrial processing, not nutrients.

India’s UPF Consumption – Why It’s a Concern?

  • Huge surge in consumption: Retail sales of UPFs in India jumped from USD 0.9 billion (2006) → USD 38 billion (2019) (approx. 40-fold increase).
  • Rising NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) burden: As per ICMR–INDIAB (2023): Obesity: 28.6%, Diabetes: 11.4%, Prediabetes: 15.3%, Abdominal obesity: 39.5% and Childhood obesity rising: 2.1% → 3.4% (NFHS).
A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers? (2011)

1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils. 

2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils. 

3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(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

Air Pollution

Thermal Power Plants Near Delhi Operating Without FGD

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

Why in the news?

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply in November 2025. A major contributing factor identified is the continued operation of several thermal power plant units within a 300-km radius of Delhi without Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems.

What is FGD?

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) is a pollution-control technology used in thermal power plants and industrial units to remove sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from exhaust flue gases before they are released into the atmosphere.

Status of FGD Installation 

Thermal Power Plants within 300 km of Delhi

  • Total plants: 11
  • Total units: 35
  • Units with FGD (as of Apr 2025): 13
  • Units without FGD: 22
  • Units currently operating without FGD (Nov 2025): 15
  • Units shut/reserve shutdown: 6

States & Operators

  • Haryana (HPGCL): Panipat TPS, Yamuna Nagar TPS.
  • Punjab (PSPCL): Guru Hargobind TPS and Ropar TPS.
  • Private: Talwandi Sabo (Vedanta).

Why SO₂ Emissions Matter?  

  • SO₂ converts into secondary PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant for human health.
  • Causes: Respiratory diseases, Acid rain and Visibility reduction (smog)
  • Travels long distances, affecting entire regions beyond plant boundaries.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions? (2024)

(a) Locomotives using fossil fuels 

(b) Ships using fossil fuels 

(c) Extraction of metals from ores 

(d) Power plants using fossil fuels

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

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

Low-Pressure Area in Bay of Bengal (November 2025) 

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Disaster Management

Why in the news?

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal on November 22, 2025. It is expected to intensify into a depression by November 24 and move west-northwestwards.

What Has the IMD Reported?  

a) Formation: Low-pressure area formed near the Malacca Strait over the South Andaman Sea. It arose due to a cyclonic circulation.

b) Likely Path: Expected to move west-northwestwards. Likely to intensify into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining south Andaman Sea by November 24.

c) Further IntensificationCould intensify further over the southwest Bay of Bengal within 48 hours after formation. IMD is uncertain whether it will develop into a cyclonic storm.

d) State Impact (Odisha & Coastal Areas): System is far from Odisha coast → dry weather Farmers in coastal and southern regions have started harvesting mature paddy in anticipation of possible heavy rains. The State Agriculture Department has not yet issued advisories.

(2015) In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason? 

(a) Sea surface temperatures are low 

(b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs 

(c) Coriolis force is too weak 

(d) Absence of land in those regions

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Governor vs. State

Presidential Reference on Governors & State Bills (2025)

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Constitutional Bodies,Federalism
 Why in the news?
 Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, on November 23, 2025, clarified the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion in the 2025 Presidential Reference regarding timelines for Governors and the President in granting assent to State Bills.

What is a Presidential Reference?

  • Made under Article 143 of the Constitution.
  • The President can seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court on questions of law or matters of public importance.
  • Not binding, but carries high persuasive value.
  • Cannot overrule an existing judgment, but can clarify the law.

CJI Gavai emphasised that the advisory opinion is not a judicial review judgment.

Background: 

Tamil Nadu Governor Case (April 8 Judgment) The April 8, 2025 Supreme Court judgment held:
  • Governors/President must act on pending Bills within 3 months,
  • Or else the Bill would be “deemed to have received assent”.

This introduced a judicially created timeline not explicitly present in the Constitution. This triggered the Presidential Reference seeking clarity.

Supreme Court’s Advisory Opinion (November 20, 2025)

A five-judge Bench led by CJI Gavai issued the following clarifications:

a) No Mandatory Timeline: The Constitution does not prescribe specific timelines for Governors or the President. Judiciary cannot read timelines into the Constitution.

b) “Reasonable Period” Standard: Governors and President must act within a “reasonable period”. However, the Court did not define what constitutes “reasonable”.

c) No Endless Delay: Governors cannot sit indefinitely on Bills. Courts may exercise limited judicial review in extreme delay cases.

d) Context Matters: Routine Bills → 1 month may be reasonable. Bills related to internal/external emergency → may require more time.

Key Constitutional Provisions Involved

Article 200 – Governor’s options on State Bills
  1. Give assent
  2. Withhold assent
  3. Return the Bill (if not a Money Bill)
  4. Reserve the Bill for President’s consideration
Article 201 – President’s powers over reserved Bills
  • Grant or withhold assent
  • No fixed timeline prescribed
Article 143 – Presidential Reference
  • Supreme Court gives advisory opinion

Why is this Important for UPSC Prelims?

This case clarifies the separation of powers, federalism, and the role of constitutional authorities.

Prelims often tests:

  • Powers of Governor
  • Assent procedures for Bills
  • Nature of advisory jurisdiction
  • Limits of judicial interpretation

Other Key Statements by CJI Gavai (Factual Highlights)

a) Advisory Opinion vs Judgment: Advisory opinion cannot overturn a judgment.

b) Judiciary–Executive Relations: CJI rejected the idea that “friction” is necessary between judiciary and government.

c) Judicial Independence: A judge’s independence is not measured by ruling against the government.

d) High Court Judge Transfers: Transfers made for administrative reasons and sometimes due to complaints after verification.

e) Personal Note: CJI forgave a lawyer who threw an object at him: “It’s how I was brought up.”

Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? (PYQ 2014)

1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President’s rule 

2. Appointing the Ministers 

3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India 

4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 1 and 3 only 

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only 

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

Centre notifies four new Labour Codes

Bills/Act/Laws | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

Why In The News?

The Centre notified all four Labour Codes, introducing major reforms and replacing 29 outdated labour laws dating back to the 1930s.

1)Introduction to the Labour Codes Notification:

  • Major Reform Announcement: The Centre notified all four Labour Codes, introducing wide-ranging changes in India’s labour framework.
  • Key Focus Areas: The reforms expand social security to gig workers, ensure gender pay parity, enhance women’s workplace rights, and introduce fixed-term employment.
  • Replacement of Old Laws: The Codes replace 29 fragmented labour laws dating back to the 1930s–1950s.

2)Government’s Stance:

  • Prime Minister’s View: PM Modi described the reforms as one of the most comprehensive labour transformations since Independence.
  • Worker Empowerment: The government highlights that the Codes aim to ensure universal social security, timely wage payments, and safer workplaces.
  • Simplified Compliance: The reforms are expected to promote ease of doing business through simplified compliance mechanisms.
  • Minister’s Statement: Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Codes will formalise employment and make the labour ecosystem globally aligned.
  • State-Level Readiness: Most States have already issued draft rules; the Centre is supporting those still finalising rules.

3)Key Provisions:

  • Women’s Safety and Rights: Expanded rights, including permission for night shifts and enhanced workplace safety.
  • Health and Social Security: Free annual health check-ups for workers above 40 and nationwide ESIC coverage, including hazardous units.
  • Simplified Procedures: A single registration, licensing, and return system for employers.
  • Wage and Safety Standards: Introduction of a national floor wage and creation of a National OSH Board for uniform safety standards.
  • Fixed-Term Employment: Allows fixed-term workers to receive all benefits equivalent to permanent workers.
  • New Work Categories: Gig workers, platform workers, and aggregators are legally defined for the first time.
  • Universal Account Number: Aadhaar-linked UAN ensures portability and easy access to welfare benefits.
  • Inclusion of Plantation Workers: Plantation workers brought under OSHWC and Social Security Codes.

4)Responses from Stakeholders:

Trade Union Concerns:

  • Opposition to Codes: Several central trade unions reject the Labour Codes, labelling them anti-worker and pro-employer.
  • Issues with Timing: CTUs argue implementing the Codes amid rising unemployment and inflation will worsen workers’ hardships.
  • Protest Plans: Unions have announced nationwide protests on November 26 and cite earlier strikes against the Codes.
  • Fear of Exploitation: Trade unions warn the reforms could revive a “master-servant” relationship, reducing worker protections.

BMS Standpoint: The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh supports implementation but seeks amendments to remove perceived anti-worker provisions in OSH and Industrial Relations Codes.

Industry View: CII praises the reforms as a transformative step towards a modern and simplified labour ecosystem.

[UPSC 2021] With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements: 1.All casual workers are entitled to Employees Provident Fund coverage.

2.All casual workers are entitled to regular working hours and overtime payment.

3.The government can, by notification, specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account. Which of the above statements are correct? Options: (a) 1 and 2 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

Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Rajasthan farmers’ protests on insurance claims

Bills/Act/Laws | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

Why In The News?

Farmers in Rajasthan’s Churu district held a ‘Kisan Ekta Tractor March’ demanding pending crop insurance claims, fertiliser availability, transparency in the insurance portal, and inclusion of certain crops in PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana. The protest was postponed after government assurances during late-night negotiations.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

  • Launch & Purpose:
    • Launched on 18 February 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture to provide affordable crop insurance and financial protection against losses from natural calamities, pests, and diseases.
    • Implemented through insurance companies and banks.
  • Objectives:
    • Provide financial assistance for crop loss due to unforeseen events.
    • Stabilise farmer income and ensure continuity in farming.
    • Promote modern agricultural practices.
    • Encourage crop diversification, enhance creditworthiness, and improve agriculture sector competitiveness.
  • Eligibility:
    • All farmers including sharecroppers and tenant farmers growing notified crops in notified areas.
    • Compulsory: Loanee farmers with Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans.
    • Voluntary: Non-loanee farmers.
    • Must have insurable interest and valid land ownership/tenure documents.
    • Must not receive duplicate compensation from other sources.
    • Special focus on SC/ST/Women farmers with proportional budget allocation.
  • Benefits:
    • Affordable Premiums:
      • Farmers pay 2% for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops.
      • Government provides premium subsidy; pays full premium in NE states, J&K, and Himachal Pradesh.
    • Comprehensive Coverage:
      • Covers natural disasters, pests, diseases, and post-harvest losses (hailstorm, landslide).
      • Excludes losses due to war, nuclear risks, malicious damage, or preventable risks.
    • Timely Compensation:
      • Claims processed within two months of harvest.
    • Technology-Driven Implementation:
      • Uses satellite imaging, drones, and mobile apps for precise loss estimation.
      • NCIP for digital processing; YES-TECH for remote-sensing yield estimation; CROPIC for geotagged crop verification.
[UPSC 2020] In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture?
1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments
Select the correct answer using the code given below: Options: (a) 1, 2 and 5 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 2, 3 and 6 only* (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Government plans unification of port security regulations- sovereign entity to oversee private ports while CISF will regulate 80 ports

DOMR | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Border Area Security Challenges

Why In The News?

The government has designated CISF as the security regulator for 250+ seaports to strengthen coastal security.

1) New Security Framework:

  • Sovereign Entity at Seaports: Government to deploy CISF as a sovereign security force at private cargo-handling ports for a uniform security system.
  • Initial Coverage: CISF to regulate 80 major export-import seaports for access control, cargo screening, and seafront patrolling.
  • Phase-wise Expansion: Remaining 170 seaports will be brought under CISF in stages.
  • ISPS Code Role: CISF designated as the Recognised Security Organisation under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

2)Framework for Seaport Security in India:

  • International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code:
    India’s port security system aligns with the mandatory global ISPS Code, introduced after 9/11 to protect ships and port facilities from terrorism and other maritime threats.
  • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as Security Regulator:
    The Government of India has recently designated the CISF as the Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for ports, marking a major reform to strengthen and standardise port security across the country.

3)Challenges to Port Security:

  • Non-Standardised Security Framework:
    • Security at many non-major ports historically lacked uniformity and expert oversight.
    • Heavy dependence on private security agencies or local police resulted in inconsistent standards.
  • Transnational & Non-Traditional Threats:
    • Maritime terrorism remains a persistent risk.
    • Smuggling and drug trafficking, with ports often used for large narcotics consignments.
    • Cyberattacks targeting port IT systems and critical infrastructure.
  • Infrastructure & Manpower Gaps:
    • Difficulty in ensuring uniform, high-quality security infrastructure across 250+ ports.
    • Significant manpower shortages: CISF requires 800-1,000 personnel per major seaport and has requested 10,000 additional personnel for initial deployment.
  • Coastal Vulnerabilities:
    • Large stretches of coastline remain open, poorly monitored, or unguarded.
    • Absence of a sovereign security force at private ports has created long-standing security gaps.
  • Identified Gaps in Official Reviews:
    • Coastal security flagged as a priority for discussion at the Director Generals of Police (DGP) Conference, attended by the Prime Minister.
    • The 2023 MHA guidelines highlighted major deficiencies and recommended comprehensive improvements.

4) Committee Recommendations:

  • Committee Findings: A 2024 Joint Committee (CISF + Director General Shipping) conducted gap analysis and proposed corrective measures.
  • Hybrid Security Model: Core security functions to be handled by CISF, while State Police/private agencies manage non-core duties.

5)About CISF:

  • Overview: CISF is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, headquartered in New Delhi; motto: “Protection and Security.”
  • Establishment:
    • Formed in 1969 through the CISF Act, 1968 with three battalions.
    • Declared an Armed Force of the Union after the 1983 amendment.
    • Expanded into a multi-skilled force with 188,000+ personnel.
    • Provides security to 359 establishments nationwide.
  • Organisation Structure:
    • Headed by a Director-General (IPS), assisted by an Additional DG.
    • Divided into seven sectors: Airport, North, North-East, East, West, South, Training.
    • Has a dedicated Fire Service Wing.
  • Functions:
    • Secures critical infrastructure: nuclear and space facilities, airports, seaports, power plants.
    • Protects Delhi Metro, Parliament Complex, heritage monuments, and major government buildings.
    • Responsible for airport security since 2000 (post IC-814 hijacking).
    • Provides VIP security to designated protectees.
    • Trained in disaster management (floods, earthquakes, cyclones).
    • Operates India’s largest Fire Protection Service among CAPFs.
    • Post-2008 Mumbai attacks, expanded to private sector security.
    • Functions as a compensatory cost force, billing clients for services.
[UPSC 2023] With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements:

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.

2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security.

3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some States.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) All three (d) None

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

IAF’s Tejas jet crashes during demo flight at Dubai Air Show, pilot killed

Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Indigenization Of Technology

Why In The News?

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during the Dubai Air Show, killing Wing Commander Namansh Syal, after spiralling out of control and igniting on impact at Al Maktoum International Airport.

1)Tejas Mk1A: 

  • About: The Tejas Mk1A is an upgraded variant of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • Purpose: This version is aimed to enhance operational and combat capabilities, survivability and maintainability over the baseline Mk1.
  • Capabilities:
    • Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar integration.
    • Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS) – radar‑warning and self‑protection jamming.
    • Upgraded Flight Control Computer (DFCC Mk1A) for better maneuverability and stability.
    • Missile compatibility- Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground missiles and Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM).
    • Planned integration of Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Operating Data Link (ODL) with existing onboard avionics.

2) LCA Tejas:

  • About: The LCA Tejas programme, initiated by the Government of India in 1984, aimed to replace the ageing MiG-21 fighter jets. The programme is managed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
  • Features:
    • Lightest, smallest, and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter in its class.
    • Capable of carrying a variety of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and precision-guided weapons.
    • Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
    • Maximum speed: Mach 1.8.
    • Range: 3,000 km.
  • Variants of Tejas:
    • Tejas Trainer: 2-seater operational conversion trainer for training air force pilots.
    • LCA Navy: Twin- and single-seat carrier-capable for the Indian Navy.
    • LCA Tejas Navy MK2: This is phase 2 of the LCA Navy variant.
    • LCA Tejas Mk-1A: This is an improvement over the LCA Tejas Mk1 with a higher thrust engine.

3)Fifth Generation Fighter Jets:

  • About:
    • Combat Role: Designed for highly contested combat zones with advanced air and ground threats.
    • Stealth & Speed: Feature stealth technology and supercruise capability.
    • Key Advantages:
      • Multi-spectral low-observable design
      • Enhanced self-protection
      • Radar jamming capabilities
      • Fully integrated avionics systems
    • Global Operators:
      • Russia: Sukhoi Su-57
      • China: Chengdu J-20
      • United States: F-35 series
  • Need for India:
    • Squadron Strength: IAF has ~30 squadrons, below the sanctioned 42.
    • Ageing Fleet:
      • MiG-21
      • MiG-29
      • Jaguar
      • Mirage 2000
      • All to be phased out by mid-next decade.
    • Airpower Gap:
      • China: 3,304 aircraft
      • India: 2,296 aircraft
      • Pakistan: 1,434 aircraft
    • Strategic Need: Strengthen air defences against China and Pakistan and increase defence self-reliance.
    • Indigenous Development:
      • Developing AMCA
      • Five prototypes planned
      • Joint effort by ADA, HAL, and private industry
    • Strategic Positioning: 5G fighters would place India alongside the US, Russia, and China.
[UPSC 2024] Question: Consider the following aircraft:

1. Rafael

2. MiG-29

3. Tejas MK-1

How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None*

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Protesters clash with police for a second day as Sangai Festival kicks off in Manipur

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

Why In The News?

The Sangai Festival in Manipur opened amid protests by IDPs and NGOs, lowering attendance. Critics say the government should prioritise resolving the Kuki-Zo–Meitei ethnic conflict and resettling displaced people before holding tourism events after the May 2023 violence.

1) About Sangai Festival:

  • Celebration Period: Manipur Sangai Festival is held every year from 21-30 November.
  • Objective: The festival aims to showcase Manipur as a world-class tourism destination.
  • Name Origin: It is named after the State animal – the Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.
  • Beginning: The festival started in 2010.
  • Theme: The theme for this year is “Festival of Oneness.”
  • Focus Areas: It highlights Manipur’s tourism potential in Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine, and Music.

2) About Sangai Deer:

General Information:

  • Scientific Name: Rucervus eldii
  • Common Names: Sangai, Brow-antlered Deer, Dancing Deer
  • Population: About 260 (Forest Department census, 2016).
  • Habitat: Exclusively in Keibul Lamjao National Park, located on phumdi in Loktak Lake, Bishnupur district.

Characteristics:

  • Medium-sized deer with distinctive long brow antlers forming the main beam.
  • Antlers appear to grow from the eyebrow, giving the name brow-antlered deer.
  • Possesses a dark reddish-brown winter coat that becomes paler in summer.
  • Walks with mincing hops on floating phumdi, hence called the Dancing Deer.

Status:

  • State Animal of Manipur.
  • Listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Conservation Issues:

  • Threatened by degenerating phumdi habitat due to continuous inundation from the artificial reservoir.
  • Invasion of non-native plants like Paragrass.
  • Risks from diseases, inbreeding depression, and poaching.

3) Manipur Crisis:

About the Violence:

  • Violence occurred between Kuki tribe and Meitei community across multiple regions of Manipur.
  • The Imphal Valley (10% of land) is dominated by Meiteis (64% of population) and elects 40 of 60 MLAs.
  • The hills (90% of land) are inhabited by 35%+ recognised tribes, electing 20 MLAs.
  • Unrest began in February 2023 after an eviction drive seen as targeting a tribal group.

Meitei Demand for ST Status:

  • Supported by the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) since 2012.
  • Claim that Meiteis were recognised as a tribe before the 1949 merger with India.
  • Demand ST status to preserve land, culture, language, and ancestral identity.
  • Argue they face marginalisation and cite population decline from 59% (1951) to 44% (2011).

Why Tribal Groups Oppose ST Status for Meiteis:

  • Tribals argue Meiteis already hold demographic, political, and economic advantages.
  • Fear ST status will allow Meiteis to acquire land in the hills, reducing tribal land rights.
  • Meitei dominance includes:
    • Manipuri language in the Eighth Schedule
    • Sections already under SC/OBC categories
  • Tribes believe Meitei claims of cultural vulnerability are self-defeating.
[UPSC 2017] Consider the following pairs : Traditions Communities

1. Chaliha Sahib Festival — Sindhis

2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra — Gonds

3. Wari-Warkari — Santhals Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 and 3 only (c)1 and 3 only (d) None of the above

 

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Foreign Policy Watch: India-ASEAN

[22nd November 2025] The Hindu Op-ED: The new direction for India should be toward Asia

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] The West is fostering India as an alternative to reduce dependence on China’s supply chain and as a strategic ally to counter China’s political and economic dominance. Explain this statement with examples.

Linkage: This question is relevant as the article highlights India’s discomfort with Western strategic pressure and the U.S. attempt to position India as a counter-weight to China. It directly links to the theme that India must prioritise Asian partnerships based on autonomy rather than being shaped by Western geopolitical expectations.

Mentor’s Comment

India’s foreign policy stands at its most decisive turning point in decades. Recent global summits have marked a visible discomfort in Western partnerships and a stronger inclination toward Asian platforms such as SCO, BRICS, and ASEAN. If sustained, this pivot could influence not only India’s security and economy but also the balance of power across the 21st century.

Introduction

India is emerging as a global economic heavyweight. At a time when geopolitical polarization between the West and China is intensifying, India is being pushed to define where its long-term interests lie. The article argues that India’s most strategic future lies within the Asian ecosystem, economically, technologically and militarily, rather than within Western-led institutional frameworks.

Why in the News

Diplomatic signals at recent top summits have shown a clear turning point: India expressed discomfort with the U.S. stance on Russia-China while showing greater comfort engaging Asian multilateral platforms. This reverses decades of Western strategic centrality and marks the first open debate about whether India should integrate with a U.S.-dominated global order or anchor its future with Asia’s rapidly rising power architecture.

Is India undergoing a decisive Asian pivot?

  1. Growing tilt toward Asian blocs: India’s policy space is increasingly shaped by negotiations with China and Russia rather than the U.S. and Europe.
  2. Limits of multialignment exposed: External pressure from the U.S. forces India to re-evaluate whether neutrality remains viable.

Why is Western strategic centrality fading for India?

  1. Summit unease and leadership signalling: Interactions at the G-7 and Busan Summit highlighted visible discomfort between Indian and U.S. leadership.
  2. U.S. pressure on trade and Russia policy: Washington expects India to align its tariff playbook and Russian relations to Western priorities.
  3. Security divergence: U.S.-driven defence expectations conflict with India’s commitment to independent threat assessment.

Why does Asia offer a stronger pathway for India’s growth?

  1. Demographic and economic centre of gravity: Two-thirds of global population and global wealth lie in Asia, creating large consumer and innovation markets.
  2. Rise of continental and maritime platforms: BRICS, SCO and ASEAN integrate security with economic restructuring outside WTO constraints.
  3. Technological and industrial complementarities: Asian RCEP supply chains, semiconductor hubs, manufacturing and defence technologies align with India’s development goals.

What hard decisions are demanded from India now?

  1. Strategic autonomy based on Indian capacity: Policy alignment must reflect national strengths rather than expectations of great powers.
  2. Growth-labour dynamic within Asia: Asia offers the highest growth rate and workforce depth but demands competitiveness and industrial performance from India.
  3. Reducing dependency on imported defence systems: Innovation in AI, cyber capability, missiles and marine strength becomes essential.

How does the global AI and military innovation race shape India’s choices?

  1. Shift from land-based warfare to technology-centric warfare: Cyber, naval and AI superiority determine 21st-century power projection.
  2. Asian innovation ecosystem more open than Western models: Western blocs impose regulatory constraints while Asia prioritises co-development and technology transfer.
  3. Defence industrialisation as a growth multiplier: AI-driven defence manufacturing advances both national security and economic output.

Conclusion

India is not compelled to choose between the West and Asia, but strategic realities suggest that Asia provides the most fertile ground for technological development, economic partnerships and military advancement. A calibrated pivot anchored in strategic autonomy and innovation may be the key to India becoming a rule-shaping, rather than rule-following, global power by mid-century.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Overcoming resistance: On the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025–29)

Explained | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Introduction

The Government has introduced the second iteration of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) in response to escalating resistance to antibiotics across sectors. While version 1 generated marginal gains and placed AMR on India’s health agenda, its sluggish implementation led to persistent misuse of antibiotics, weak state collaboration, and rising resistance. New evidence, including the 2023 WHO Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance report, confirms the urgency for renewed stewardship and a strengthened One Health strategy.

Why in the News?

 India has launched Version 2 of the National Action Plan on AMR amid alarming data that in 2023, one in three bacterial infections in India showed resistance to commonly used antibiotics, against one in six globally. The spike comes despite NAP-AMR (2017–21), revealing that implementation, not intent, is the major roadblock. The new plan is a crucial attempt to arrest a humongous health, veterinary and environmental crisis before last-line antibiotics become fully ineffective.

Why did Version 1 of NAP-AMR fall short?

  1. Sluggish implementation: Raised the profile of AMR nationally but failed to translate into coordinated ground-level action.
  2. Weak state participation: Only a few states formulated policies; Kerala alone implemented effectively, registering a slight drop in AMR levels.
  3. Narrow ecosystem focus: Neglect of veterinary, environment, agriculture and aquaculture vectors.
  4. Enforcement gaps: Despite a ban on Colistin as a growth promoter in the husbandry sector, misuse continued in varying degrees.

How serious is AMR in India today?

  1. High disease burden: High infectious disease load increases antibiotic exposure and accelerates resistance.
  2. Overuse and misuse: Indiscriminate use in healthcare and self-medication remain widespread.
  3. Critical pathogens advancing: E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae show high resistance to critical antibiotics, rendering last-line drugs ineffective.

Why has AMR become a multi-sectoral challenge?

  1. Agriculture & husbandry: Growth promoters and preventive antibiotic usage fuel microbial resistance.
  2. Veterinary medicine: Improper prescription and uncontrolled access to antibiotics.
  3. Soil & water contamination: Antibiotic residues affect ecosystems and re-enter human food chains.
  4. Aquaculture & food processing: Residues facilitate community-level resistance.

Why is One Health no longer optional?

  1. Integrates human, animal and environmental health to handle widespread resistance emerging across the food chain and biosphere.
  2. Breaks inter-sectoral silos to ensure synchronised surveillance and regulation.
  3. Guides community-level resistance mitigation, not just tertiary hospitals.

What must Version 2 achieve to succeed?

  1. Strong antibiotics stewardship programmes across community and hospital settings.
  2. Reliable nationwide surveillance network beyond pandemic-led laboratory expansion.
  3. State partnership and compliance mechanisms rather than voluntary policy uptake.
  4. Accountability measures for misuse in human healthcare, veterinary practice and agriculture.

Conclusion

India stands at a critical point where policy intent must translate into enforceable implementation. The success of NAP-AMR (Version 2) depends on strong stewardship, inter-state coordination, and an uncompromising One Health approach. Without systemic commitment, antibiotic resistance risks becoming the defining public health disaster of the decade.

Value Addition

What is AMR? 

  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) refers to a biological phenomenon in which microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the action of antimicrobial drugs. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist, and the risk of spread, severe illness, and mortality increases.

India AMR data cue:

  • WHO Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report (2023): 1 in 3 bacterial infections in India resistant to commonly used antibiotics, compared to 1 in 6 globally.

Kerala as a Model State 

  • Kerala is often cited as the only state that implemented its state-level action plan on AMR effectively enough to show measurable impact.
  • Key success factors:
    • Strong state-led antibiotic stewardship programme
    • Mandatory prescription audits and regulation of over-the-counter sales
    • Hospital-level AMR surveillance linked to community-level action
    • Training of medical and veterinary practitioners
    • Public awareness + behavioural campaigns

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2014] Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.

Linkage: This question is directly relevant as India faces one of the world’s highest AMR burdens driven by misuse and over-the-counter sale of antibiotics. It links to National Action Plan on AMR (Version 2), antibiotic stewardship, surveillance gaps, and public health governance.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

How India’s agri exports posted impressive growth

Explained | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

Introduction

Agriculture continues to be a critical pillar of India’s external trade. Despite restrictions on cereals in recent years, India is witnessing robust export performance driven by meat, rice, spices, fruits-vegetables, tobacco, and marine products. Import trends indicate rising edible oil dependence and inflation moderation.

Why in the News?

India’s agricultural exports have surged faster than overall merchandise exports, reaching $25.9 billion in April-September 2024, a 25.8% jump over the previous year, compared to a marginal 0.1% rise in total exports. This turnaround comes after a period of contraction due to export curbs (2022-23) on key items like wheat and non-basmati rice. The renewed momentum signals policy success, global demand recovery, and diversification beyond the US market.

What is driving the recent surge in agri exports?

  1. Policy relaxation: Lifting of post-Ukraine export curbs on wheat, rice, sugar, etc., improved outbound shipments.
  2. Market diversification: Growth in demand from Latin America, Africa, Middle-East reduced dependency on the US.
  3. Production rebound: Normal monsoon boosted availability of sugar, spices, seafood, fruit-veg.
  4. High-value product focus: Marine goods ($4.8 bn), non-basmati rice ($2.85 bn), and cotton ($1.6 bn) led performance.

Which products are leading the export spike?

  1. Marine products: Largest export category at $4.8 bn Apr-Sep 2024.
  2. Rice (Non-basmati): Strong recovery despite earlier restrictions ( $2.85 bn ).
  3. Buffalo meat & poultry: $2.25 bn & $0.414 bn exports supported by West Asia.
  4. Fresh fruits & vegetables: Jump to $1.49 bn due to tomato, onion shipments.
  5. Sugar & tobacco: Robust global prices drove exports above $0.9 bn and $0.82 bn respectively.

How have imports behaved during the same period?

  1. Edible oils dominate: $7.3 bn, showing structural import dependence.
  2. Cashew, pulses, fresh fruits: Rising imports due to domestic shortfalls.
  3. Wheat trade flip: Exports rose post-2022 restrictions but imports revived due to domestic price pressures.
  4. India remains a net agri-exporter, but oil imports remain a vulnerability.

What are the key factors shaping fluctuations in exports?

  1. Geopolitics & tariffs:
    1. US-China trade tensions: Opened new windows for India.
    2. Trump-era duties impacted Indian produce.
    3. Russia war disrupted sunflower oil & grain flows.
  2. Commodity price volatility: FAO Index declined and this led to lower export values for wheat, sugar.
  3. Logistics: Container shortages & high freight (2022-23) stabilised by 2024.

What are the major challenges ahead?

  1. Export restrictions continue on items like wheat, some rice variants.
  2. Quality & traceability issues: Growing scrutiny by EU/Australia.
  3. Climate shocks impacting horticulture and cash crops.
  4. Overdependence on 2-3 markets for meat, marine products.

Conclusion

India’s recent agricultural export growth reflects policy easing, supply recovery, and expanding market access. However, sustaining competitiveness demands edible oil self-reliance, quality upgrades, logistics reforms, and stable export policies. Balanced agri-trade will support farmer income and strengthen India’s role in global food value chains.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] What are the main bottlenecks in the upstream and downstream process of marketing of agricultural products in India?

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.