💥UPSC 2026, 2027, 2028 UAP Mentorship (March Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Type: Prelims Only

  • Indian Army Updates

    6th Edition of Exercise DUSTLIK

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

    Why in the News?

    The 6th edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-6 commenced at the Foreign Training Node at Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra.

    About Exercise DUSTLIK

    • Exercise DUSTLIK is an annual event alternating between India and Uzbekistan.
    • It is named after Dustlik, a town in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan.
    • The first edition of the exercise was held in 2019 near Tashkent.
    • The 5th edition was held in Termez District, Uzbekistan.
    • 4th edition held in Pithoragarh, India, in February 2023.

    Objectives and Focus Areas:

    • Focus on physical fitness, joint planning, and tactical drills.
    • Emphasis on special arms skills and multi-domain operations.
    • Tactical drills include establishing command posts, intelligence centers, heliborne operations, and room intervention.

    Back2Basics: India’s bilateral exercises with Central Asian Countries

    Country Exercise
    Kazakhstan Ex PRABAL DOSTYK, Ex KAZIND
    Kyrgyzstan Ex KHANJAR
    Mongolia Ex NOMADIC ELEPHANT
    Tajikistan Ex Farkhor

     

    [UPSC 2008] Hand-in-Hand 2007’, a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of the Army of which one of the following countries?

    Options: (a) China * (b) Japan (c) Russia (d) USA

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Governor vs. State

    History and Evolution of the Office of Governor

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

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Evolution of the Office of Governor

    Why in the News?

    The recent Supreme Court verdict on the powers of the President and Governors regarding assent to Bills under Articles 201 and 200 highlights the evolution of the office of the Governor and its changing role in India’s federal structure.

    Evolution of the Office of Governor:

    • Formal Establishment (1858): The office of the Governor was established under the Government of India Act of 1858, which transitioned administration from the East India Company to the British Crown. Governors acted as agents of the Crown and had significant powers in provincial administration.
    • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): The GoI Act of 1919, under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, aimed to increase Indian participation but kept the Governor central to governance, including vetoing Bills passed by legislative councils.
    • GoI Act of 1935: The GoI Act of 1935 gave provincial autonomy but retained the Governor’s discretionary powers, including vetoing Bills and withholding assent, signalling a transition toward more autonomy while maintaining significant Governor authority.
    • Post-Independence Transition (1947): As India moved toward independence, the India (Provisional Constitution) Order of 1947 modified the 1935 Act. It removed the phrase “in his discretion,” reducing the Governor’s discretionary powers and signalling a shift to a more symbolic and constitutional role.
    • Constituent Assembly Debates: It debated whether Governors should be elected or nominated. Concerns over separatism led to the decision that Governors would be nominated by the President to maintain unity and strengthen ties with the Centre, especially after the partition.
    • Post-Independence Framework: Before Independence, various documents and political proposals, including the Commonwealth India Bill (1925) and the Nehru Report (1928), supported retaining the office of the Governor, inspired by the Westminster model of governance.

    Constitutional Role of the Governor:

    • Article 163: The Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, except in certain discretionary situations.
    • Ambedkar’s Views: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar advocated for limited use of discretionary powers, ensuring the Governor’s actions align with the advice of the ministers.
    • Article 200: The Governor must grant assent to Bills, but may withhold assent, reserve the Bill for the President, or return it for reconsideration. Ambedkar amended this in 1949 to ensure the Governor acts in alignment with the elected government.
    • Symbolic and Impartial Role: The Governor is expected to represent the Union, support democratic functioning, and remain non-interfering in day-to-day state affairs.
    • Discretionary Powers: The Governor’s discretion is limited to constitutional guidelines and should be used sparingly, ensuring the Governor’s role remains constitutional, not political.
    [UPSC 2017] In the context of Indian history, the-principle of ‘Dyarchy (diarchy)’ refers to:

    (a) Division of the central legislature into two houses.

    (b) Introduction of double government i.e., Central and State governments.

    (c) Having two sets of rulers; one in London and another in Delhi.

    (d) Division of the subjects delegated to the provinces into two categories. *

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    New frog species ‘Leptobrachium aryatium’ discovered in Assam

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

    Why in the News?

    A 21-year-long study has resulted in the discovery of a new frog species, Leptobrachium aryatium, named after Arya Vidyapeeth College in Assam.

    About the frog ‘Leptobrachium aryatium’

    • Leptobrachium aryatium, a newly discovered species of frog, was found in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, located on the southwestern edge of Guwahati, Assam, near the Meghalaya border.
    • The species was identified through a re-analysis of past research and new studies on the Leptobrachium genus.
    • Key Features:
      • Distinctive Eyes: The frog has fiery orange-and-black eyes, setting it apart from other species in the genus.
      • Reticulated Throat Pattern: A unique reticulated pattern on its throat adds to its distinct appearance.
      • Smooth, Rhythmic Call: Emits a smooth, rhythmic call at dusk, a feature unique to this species in the genus.
      • Molecular and Morphological Distinctiveness: DNA analysis and physical studies confirmed it as a new species, distinguished by its unique call and appearance.
    [UPSC 2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?

    (a) Andaman Islands* (b) Anaimalai Forests (c) Maikala Hills (d) Tropical rain forests of northeast

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    India’s first-ever Seed Germination Database

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    On April 16, 2025, the Ecological Restoration Alliance-India (ERA-I) has released a first-of-its-kind seed germination database aimed at enhancing the success of growing native plants for ecological restoration.

    About the Seed Germination Database:

    • It was launched by the Ecological Restoration Alliance-India (ERA-I).  ERA was formed in July 2021, as an informal collective between practitioners, ecologists and individuals.
    • ERA-I collaborated with organizations like Auroville Botanical Gardens, NCF, and Wildlife Trust of India.
    • It features over 1,000 germination techniques for 465 native plant species found across India.
    • It aims to help restoration practitioners, nursery managers, and native plant enthusiasts improve success rates in growing plants for ecological restoration.
    • It is a free-access database and offers valuable information on germinating native plants crucial for restoration projects.
    • Native Plants Included:
      • The database features a diverse array of native plant species. These species are key to restoring balance in degraded ecosystems.
      • They are – Aegle marmelos (Wood apple), Bauhinia racemosa (Beedi leaf tree), Ficus benghalensis (Banyan), Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube), Knema attenuata (Wild nutmeg), Lawsonia inermis (Henna), Madhuca longifolia (Mahua), Vachellia nilotica (Babool).

    Significance:

    • Native plants are essential for creating climate-resilient ecosystems.
    • Such database plays a vital role in ecological restoration.
    • It provides 1,000+ techniques for growing native plants, enhancing the success of restoration projects.
    • The database supports India’s Bonn Challenge commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
    [UPSC 2016] In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the ‘Seed Replacement Rates’ of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/constraints in its wider/greater implementation?

    1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place.

    2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.

    3. There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Delamination of the Indian Plate

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Salient Features Of World’S Physical Geography

    Why in the News?

    Recent studies reveal that the Indian Plate is splitting into two, with the lower part detaching and sinking into the Earth’s mantle, a process called delamination, as published by the American Geophysical Union.

    About Delamination:

    • Delamination in tectonic plates refers to the process where the lower part of a continental plate, including the lower crust and/or lithospheric mantle, splits and sinks into the Asthenosphere.
    • This process is driven by density differences and can lead to rapid uplift, changes in stress regimes, and altered magmatism.
    • It can occur in various tectonic settings, including compressional zones, subduction zones, and intraplate regions. 
    • The denser lower part of the plate, including the lower crust and/or lithospheric mantle, is less buoyant than the less dense asthenosphere, leading to sinking.
    • High temperatures can also weaken the lithosphere and facilitate delamination.

    Delamination of the Indian Plate

    Indian Plate and Its Splitting:

    • The Indian Plate has been colliding with the Eurasian Plate for about 60 million years, causing the formation of the Himalayas and influencing regional seismic activity.
    • It is shifting northward at a rate of approximately 5 cm per year..
    • The lower, denser part of the Indian Plate is detaching and sinking into the Earth’s mantle.
    • This may lead to increased seismic activity due to shifts in tectonic stress.
    • In regions like the Himalayan collision zone, delamination results in fractures that increase stress in the Earth’s crust, raising the likelihood of seismic events.
    [UPSC 2004] Consider the following geological phenomena:

    1. Development of a fault 2. Movement along a fault 3. Impact produced by a volcanic eruption 4. Folding of rocks Which of the above cause earthquakes?

    Options:

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

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

    What is Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)?

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

    Why in the News?

    Recently Google introduced its seventh-generation TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), named Ironwood.

    About Ironwood

    • Ironwood is Google’s seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), designed to accelerate AI model training and inference with improved performance and efficiency.
    • It builds on previous TPUs, enhancing speed and efficiency for AI workloads.
    • It has been optimized for complex AI tasks, especially those requiring high-speed data processing for neural networks and deep learning models.
    • Initially used internally, Ironwood is now available via Google Cloud Platform, allowing businesses to harness its power without investing in dedicated hardware.

    What is a TPU?

    • A TPU is a specialized processor developed by Google to accelerate machine learning tasks, particularly those involving TensorFlow.
    • TPUs are optimized for tensor operations, crucial for training deep learning models, enabling faster data processing and high efficiency.

    How is TPU Different from GPU and CPU?

    CPU GPU TPU
    What is it? Central Processing Unit – General-purpose processor for various computing tasks. Graphics Processing Unit – Specialized for parallel processing, initially for graphics rendering. Tensor Processing Unit – Specialized processor designed by Google for accelerating machine learning tasks, particularly for AI and deep learning.
    Specialization General-purpose tasks (sequential processing) Parallel processing (graphics, machine learning) Specialized for AI tasks (tensor computations)
    Performance Slower for AI tasks due to sequential processing Faster than CPU for parallel tasks Fastest for AI tasks like matrix multiplication
    Efficiency Versatile but less efficient for AI operations Energy-efficient for parallel tasks Highly energy-efficient for machine learning
    Best for Running applications, managing systems Graphics rendering, machine learning Deep learning, neural network training

     

    [UPSC 2020] With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?

    (1) Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units (2) Create meaningful short stories and songs (3) Disease diagnosis (4) Text-to-Speech Conversion (5) Wireless transmission of electrical energy

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Who was Sir Sankaran Nair (1857-1934)?

    Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Why in the News?

    PM recently remembered Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a nationalist and jurist who famously fought a courtroom battle against British officials involved in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.

    Nair’s stand in the courtroom is now a subject of a forthcoming film, Kesari Chapter 2.

    Who was Sir Sankaran Nair (1857-1934)?

    About Sir Sankaran Nair:

    • Born in 1857 in Mankara village, Kerala, Nair came from an aristocratic family.
    • He was educated at Presidency College in Madras and pursued a law degree.
    • Nair began his legal career with Sir Horatio Shepherd, Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
    • In 1897, Nair became the youngest president of the Indian National Congress (Amravati (Mh) Session) and was appointed as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court in 1908.

    Role in the Jallianwala Bagh Case:

    • Nair challenged Michael O’Dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, for his role in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), accusing him of following policies that led to the massacre.
    • O’Dwyer sued Nair in England for defamation. Despite biased British courts, Nair refused to apologize, even when O’Dwyer offered to forgo the £500 penalty.
    • The trial highlighted the bias in the British judicial system and fuelled Indian resentment against British rule.

    Other Contributions:

    • Nair made progressive rulings, like supporting inter-caste and inter-religious marriages and ruling against treating converts to Hinduism as outcasts.
    • He supported India’s self-government and played a key role in expanding the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms (1919).
    • In 1922, Nair critiqued Gandhi‘s methods in his work “Gandhi and Anarchy”.
    • He helped draft the 1919 constitutional reforms, pointing out flaws in British rule, with many of his suggestions accepted.
    [UPSC 2007] Which one of the following aroused a wave of popular indignation that led to the massacre by the British at Jallianwala Bagh?

    (a) The Arms Act (b) The Public Safety Act (c) The Rowlatt Act (d) The Vernacular Press Act

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Electronic System Design and Manufacturing Sector – M-SIPS, National Policy on Electronics, etc.

    China halts export of Rare Earth Magnets

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

    Why in the News?

    China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets after US’s tariff embargo.

    What Are Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and RE Magnets?

    • REEs are a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, including Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd), Europium (Eu), and Ytterbium (Yb).
    • Though not rare, they are found in low concentrations, making extraction challenging and costly.
    • Classification:
      • Light REEs (LREEs): Elements 57-63, such as La, Ce, Nd, and Sm.
      • Heavy REEs (HREEs): Elements 64-71, like Gd, Tb, Dy, and Er.
      • Scandium and Yttrium: Classified with HREEs due to similar chemical properties.
    • Rare Earth Magnets are powerful permanent magnets made from elements like Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm), and Dysprosium (Dy).
    • They are far stronger and more efficient than traditional magnets, crucial for high-tech electronic applications.

    Global Supply Chain of REEs:

    • REEs are abundant but difficult to extract economically.
    • China alone dominates, producing 70% of the global supply and controlling 80% of the refining capacity. REEs are primarily mined from China’s Bayan Obo mine.
    • Australia, USA, Brazil, and Russia also contribute, though less significantly.
    • Refining also is largely controlled by China, though other nations are working to build their own refining capabilities to reduce dependency.
    [UPSC 2022] Consider the following statements:

    1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. 4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

  • Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

    Telangana becomes first State to notify Sub- categorization of SCs

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

    Why in the News?

    The Telangana government has officially implemented the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) into three groups, following a Supreme Court judgment in August 2024 that upheld the constitutionality of sub-classifying SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to grant separate quotas for the most marginalized groups.

    Telangana becomes first State to notify Sub- categorization of SCs

    About Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Their Subcategorization:

    • SCs are a historically marginalized group identified in India’s Constitution to receive preferential treatment in education, employment, and political representation.
    • Constitutional Provisions:
      • Article 341: Empowers the President to specify castes as SCs within states or UTs.
      • Article 342: Allows Parliament to include/exclude castes from the SC list.
    • While grouped for reservations, disparities exist within SCs, with some groups being more disadvantaged than others.
    • Subcategorization involves dividing SCs into smaller groups based on social, economic, and educational backwardness, ensuring the most marginalized receive targeted benefits.
    • Sub-classification of SCs and STs for reservations is subject to judicial review to prevent misuse.

    Supreme Court Verdict on Sub-categorization: State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2020) Case

    • In its August 2024 verdict, the Supreme Court allowed states to sub-classify SCs and STs, enabling separate quotas for the most marginalized groups.
    • Key Points:
      • Empirical Data: Subclassification must be based on data of systemic discrimination, not political motives.
      • Creamy Layer: Excludes the more advanced members of SCs/STs, applying the creamy layer principle.
      • Quota Limits: No sub-categorization can exceed the overall constitutional quota ceiling.
      • First-Generation Benefit: Reservations are restricted to the first generation of a family that has not benefitted from previous reservations.

     

    [UPSC 2005] Which one of the following statements is correct regarding population?

    (a) Bihar has the highest percentage of Scheduled Castes in its population.

    (b) The decadal growth of population of India (1991-2001) has been below 20%.

    (c) Mizoram is the Indian State with the least population.

    (d) Pondicherry has the highest sex ratio among the Union Territories.

     

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

    Attend Now

  • Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

    KATRIN Experiment

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

    Why in the News?

    The KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment) has made a groundbreaking achievement by measuring neutrino mass with a new precision.

    About the KATRIN Experiment:

    • The KATRIN is located at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specifically on its Campus North site in Karlsruhe, Germany.
    • It is aimed at measuring the mass of the electron antineutrino with sub-eV precision.
    • It has measured the mass of neutrinos by studying the beta decay of tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen.
    • The mass was inferred by analyzing the energy of the emitted electrons.
    • Technological Setup:
      • A 70-meter-long beamline with a powerful tritium source.
      • A 10-meter-wide spectrometer to measure the energy of emitted electrons with high precision.
    • Key Findings:
      • KATRIN has set a new upper limit for neutrino mass at less than 0.45 eV/c² (8 × 10⁻³⁷ kg), nearly twice as precise as previous measurements from 2022.
      • Data Collection was based on five campaigns from 2019-2021, totalling 250 days of data.

    Neutrinos and Their Properties

    • Neutrinos are extremely light subatomic particles that rarely interact with matter, making them difficult to detect.
    • They are found in cosmic rays and solar radiation.
    • Properties:
      • Mass: Their small mass influences cosmic structure formation, such as galaxies and clusters.
      • Weak Interaction: They interact via the weak nuclear force, allowing them to pass through vast amounts of matter.
    • They are essential in particle reactions and play a key role in galaxy formation and the study of dark matter.

     

    [UPSC 2010] India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the planning commission as a mega-science project under the 11th Five-year plan. In this context, consider the following statements:

    1.Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light.

    2.Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay.

    3.Neutrinos have a negligible, but non-zero mass.

    4.Trillions of Neutrinos pass through the human body every second.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

     

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

    Attend Now