Chile’s Atacama Salt Flat sinking due to Lithium Mining

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

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Salar de Atacama

Why in the News?

A recent study published in journal IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing has found that Chile’s Atacama salt flat (Salar de Atacama) is sinking at a rate of 1 to 2 centimetres per year due to lithium brine extraction.
- Lithium brine extraction involves pumping salt-rich water to the surface and letting it evaporate in ponds to collect lithium.

About Salar de Atacama

The Salar de Atacama in Chile boasts the highest lithium concentration (0.15% by weight) among all brine sources worldwide.
Argentina boasts more than half of the world’s total lithium resources.
It holds the distinction of having the 2nd-largest lithium resources, the 3rd-largest lithium reserves, and the 4th-largest lithium production in the world.
It is a part of the Lithium Triangle comprising of Uyuni (Bolivia) and Hombre Muerto (Argentina).

Key Findings of the Study:

Researchers analyzed satellite data from 2020 to 2023 to observe deformations in the Earth’s crust in the salt flat.
The area experiencing subsidence measures approximately 8 km north to south and 5 km east to west.
The study indicates that subsidence occurs because the rate of lithium brine pumping is faster than the recharge rate of aquifers, leading to the ground sinking.

What is Lithium?

Lithium is an alkali metal, often referred to as ‘white gold’ due to its value and color.
It is a soft, silvery-white metal, and notably, it is the lightest metal on the periodic table.
It is typically found in various minerals like spodumene, petalite, and lepidolite, from which it is extracted and refined.
The leading producers of lithium are Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina.

Effects of Lithium Mining on Environment:

Water Use: Lithium mining, especially from salt flats and brine pools, requires substantial water usage, which can deplete local water resources in arid areas.
Ecological Disruption: The extraction process can alter the chemical balance of the natural environment, affecting local flora and fauna.
Pollution: Mining and processing lithium can release harmful chemicals into the environment, impacting air and water quality.

PYQ:

[2008] Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively?

(a) Lithium and mercury

(b) Lithium and osmium

(d) Aluminium and mercury

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Civil Services Reforms

[pib] ANUBHAV AWARDS, 2024

Prelims Only | Trivia | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: ANUBHAV AWARDS, 2024

Why in the News?

The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions has conferred the Anubhav Awards 2024.

ANUBHAV Awards

	Details
Purpose	To recognize the contributions of retired officials to nation-building and document the administrative history of India through their written narratives.
Portal Launch	Launched in March 2015.
Organizing Body	Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.
Objectives	– Create a database of significant *suggestions and work experiences.* – Utilize the *experience* of *retiring employees for nation-building.* – Enable Ministries/Departments to *consider useful and replicable suggestions.*
Criteria	Retiring Central Government employees and pensioners, who can submit their Anubhav write-ups 8 months prior to retirement and up to 1 year post-retirement.
Award Process	Write-ups are assessed by the concerned Ministries/Departments, published, and then shortlisted for the Anubhav Awards and Jury Certificates.
Awards and Recognition	– ANUBHAV Awardees: Receive a medal, certificate, and a prize of ₹10,000. – Jury Certificate Winners: Receive a medal and a certificate.

PYQ:

[2021] Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards :

1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.

2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.

3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.

Which of the above statements are not correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Financial Inclusion in India and Its Challenges

[pib] 10 Years of Jan Dhan Scheme

Prelims Only Schemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Why in the News?

PM Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) on 28th August 2014. It has now completed a decade of successful implementation.

About PMJDY

	Details
Objective	• Banking the Unbanked: Open basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) accounts with minimal paperwork, relaxed KYC, e-KYC, account opening in camp mode, zero balance & zero charges. • Securing the Unsecured: Issue Indigenous Debit cards with free accident insurance coverage of ₹2 lakh. • Funding the Unfunded: Provide micro-insurance, overdraft, micro-pension, and micro-credit facilities.
Initial Features	• Universal Access to Banking Services: Access through branches and BCs. • Basic Savings Bank Accounts: With an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000 for every eligible adult. • Financial Literacy Program: Promote savings and credit usage. • Insurance: Accident cover up to ₹1 lakh and life cover of ₹30,000 for accounts opened between Aug 2014 to Jan 2015. • Pension Scheme: For the unorganized sector. • Creation of Credit Guarantee Fund.
Key Provisions	• Inter-operability: Through RuPay debit card or Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS). • Fixed-point Business Correspondents. • Simplified KYC / e-KYC.
Extension and New Features (Post-2018)	• Focus Shift: From ‘Every Household’ to ‘Every Unbanked Adult’. • RuPay Card Insurance: Increased accidental insurance cover to ₹2 lakh for new accounts. • Overdraft Facilities Enhanced: Limit doubled from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000; up to ₹2,000 without conditions. • Increase in upper age limit for OD: From 60 to 65 years.
Eligibility for Other Programs	PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Successes of PMJDY

Financial Inclusion: PMJDY is recognized as the largest financial inclusion initiative globally, with over 53 crore bank accounts opened as of August 2024.
- It has facilitated access to credit for individuals without a formal financial history, as evidenced by the rise in Mudra loan sanctions at a compounded annual rate of 9.8% from FY 2019 to FY 2024.
Social Empowerment: 55.6% of Jan Dhan account holders are women, and 66.6% of accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas, demonstrating the program’s reach among marginalized communities.
Deposit Growth: The total deposits in PMJDY accounts have reached Rs. 2.31 lakh crore, showing a 15-fold increase since August 2015.
Digital Transaction Growth: Digital transactions under PMJDY have surged, with UPI financial transactions growing from 535 crore in FY 2018-19 to 13,113 crore in FY 2023-24.
Effective DBT Mechanism: The Jan-Dhan Aadhaar Mobile (JAM) trinity has enabled a diversion-proof subsidy delivery mechanism, with subsidies and social benefits directly transferred into the bank accounts of the underprivileged.
Savings and Financial Discipline: The average deposit in the PMJDY account has increased 4 times since August 2015, indicating improved saving habits among account holders.

PYQ:

[2015] ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for

(a) Providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates.

(b) Promoting women’s Self-Help Groups in backward areas.

(d) Providing financial help to the marginalized communities.

[2016] Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poorer section of the Indian society? Give arguments to justify your opinion.

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Judicial Pendency

Report reveals minimal use of Plea Bargaining in Courts

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Plea Bargaining

Why in the News?

According to a report by the Ministry of Law and Justice, only 0.11% of cases were settled through “plea bargaining” in 2022.

Key Findings of the Report:

In 2022, only 19,135 out of 1,70,52,367 cases (about 0.11%) in Indian courts were disposed of through plea bargaining, indicating its minimal use.
Despite legal restrictions, 119 cases of crimes against women and only 4 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) were resolved through plea bargaining in 2022, showing a deviation from the intended exclusions.

What is Plea Bargaining?

	Details
Definition	Plea bargaining allows an accused person to negotiate with the *prosecution for a lesser punishment by pleading guilty to a less serious offence.* This involves pre-trial negotiations on the charge or the sentence.
Provision in India	• Introduced in 2006 as part of the *Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2005* under Chapter XXI-A (Sections 265A to 265L). • Limited to offences that do not attract the death sentence, life sentence, or a term above seven years.• Not applicable to offences affecting socio-economic conditions or committed against women or children under 14. (*applies only to offences punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment)*
Procedure in India	• Only the accused can initiate plea bargaining. • The accused must apply to the court to start the process. If permitted, a meeting involving the prosecutor, investigating officer, and victim (if any) is held for a satisfactory case disposition. • Includes possible reduced sentences and compensation payments to the victim by the accused.
Benefits Offered	• Speeds up trials, reduces litigation costs and ends uncertainty over case outcomes. • Helps reduce prison overcrowding and the number of prolonged imprisonments of undertrials. • Offers a chance for offenders to *make a fresh start.* • Could *improve conviction rates, as seen in the USA. • Recommended by the Malimath Committee (2000)* for its potential to dramatically impact conviction rates and ensure a speedy trial.

PYQ:

[2021] With reference to India, consider the following statements:

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in jail.

2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Right To Privacy

What is a Polygraph Test?

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: Polygraph Test, Judments mentioned

Why in the News?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded polygraph tests on the accused in the Kolkata Rape and Murder Case.

About Polygraph Tests in India

	Details
Definition	A procedure measures *physiological responses like blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity* while a subject answers questions to detect deception.
Physiological Indicators	• Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Monitored for changes. • Respiratory Rate: Tracks breathing patterns. • Galvanic Skin Response (GSR): Measures skin’s electrical conductance, which varies with moisture levels.
Procedure	• Sensor Connection: Attached to the chest, fingertips, and arm. • Baseline Questions: Establish physiological response baselines. • Control and Relevant Questions: Analyzed to identify deceptive responses by comparing physiological changes.
Constitutional Provisions	• Article 20(3): Protects against self-incrimination; necessitates consent for polygraph tests. • Article 21: Concerns about potential violations of the right to life and privacy due to mental torture aspects of polygraph tests.
Legal and Judicial Rulings	• Selvi vs. State of Karnataka (2010): Tests must be voluntary with informed consent. • D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal (1997): Involuntary tests could violate the Right to Life and Privacy.
Admissibility in Court	According to the Indian Evidence Act, 1871, results from polygraph tests are not admissible as evidence in court.
Guidelines	National Human Rights Commission Guidelines (1999): Establish consent and procedural requirements for administering polygraph tests to align with human rights standards.

PYQ:

[2018] Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement?

(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution.

(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.

(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution.

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Microfinance Story of India

MUDRA 2.0 Loans

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: MUDRA 2.0

Why in the News?

The Union Budget 2024 has sought to increase the loan limit under the MUDRA scheme signifying the potential launch of MUDRA 2.0.

What is MUDRA 1.0?

	Details
Launch	Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) Launched in 2015.
Purpose	To extend affordable credit to micro and small enterprises, bringing them into the formal financial system and funding the unfunded.
Loan Providers	Public Sector Banks (PSU Banks), Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks, Micro Finance Institutions (MFI), and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC).
Eligibility	Indian citizens with a business plan for non-farm sector income-generating activities in manufacturing, processing, trading, or services, requiring less than ₹10 lakh.
Types of Loans	• Shishu: Loans up to ₹50,000. • Kishor: Loans above ₹50,000 and up to ₹5 lakh. • Tarun: Loans above ₹5 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh.
Subsidy	No direct subsidy; Loans linked to Government schemes providing capital subsidies are eligible under PMMY.

Achievements of MUDRA 1.0

Financial Inclusion: Disbursed over Rs 27.75 lakh crore to 47 crore small entrepreneurs, improving access to formal credit.
Support for Marginalized Groups: 69% of loans went to women, and 51% to SC/ST and OBC entrepreneurs, enhancing social equity and gender equality.
Job Creation: Helped create jobs and encouraged self-employment, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
Reduction in NPAs: Reduced non-performing assets (NPAs) from 3.61% in FY21 to 2.1% in FY24, showing better loan management.

Challenges Faced by MUDRA 1.0

Unequal Loan Distribution: In 2021-22, the top 10 districts received Rs 26,000 crore, about the same as the bottom 318 districts, showing uneven credit distribution.
High NPAs in Early Categories: The Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000) and Kishore (loans between Rs 50,001 and Rs 5 lakh) categories had NPAs above 4% from FY20 to FY22 due to a lack of business skills among early-stage entrepreneurs.
Low Financial Literacy: Only 27% of the population is financially literate, leading to poor loan management and higher defaults.
Monitoring and Credit Appraisal Issues: Increased lending led to challenges in maintaining quality credit appraisal processes and monitoring, resulting in some misuse of funds.

What is MUDRA 2.0?

MUDRA 2.0 is the proposed next phase of the scheme, aiming to expand and enhance support for micro-entrepreneurs, especially in underserved regions.
Features of MUDRA 2.0:
- Expanded Outreach: Establish new centers in rural and semi-urban areas to provide financial literacy, mentorship, and business support.
- Enhanced Financial Literacy: Launch nationwide programs covering budgeting, savings, credit management, and digital literacy to help entrepreneurs manage their finances better.
- Improved Credit Support: Introduce the Enhanced Credit Guarantee Scheme (ECGS) to reduce risks for banks and encourage more lending to small enterprises.
- Stronger Monitoring: Implement a robust monitoring framework using data analytics to track loan disbursements, usage, and repayments in real-time, ensuring transparency and reducing misuse.

PYQ:

[2016] Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at:

(a) Bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system.

(b) Providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops.

(d) Funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation.

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International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

What was the Great Moon Hoax of 1835?

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

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Great Moon Hoax
Why in the News?

The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 is a series of fabricated news reports published by The New York Sun, an American newspaper, claiming that life had been discovered on the moon.

What is the Great Moon Hoax of 1835?
- The Great Moon Hoax was a series of newspaper articles falsely claiming that John Herschel, an astronomer, had discovered life on the moon.
- The hoax was created and published by The New York Sun, a daily newspaper in New York City, starting on August 25, 1835.
- It described various fantastical creatures, such as bat-winged humanoids (called Vespertilio-homo), unicorns, and upright beavers, along with detailed landscapes and other features of the moon.
- These reports were entirely fictional and intended as satire.
- However, they were widely believed by the public and reprinted in other newspapers.
Why the Hoax was conceived?
- To Mock Religious Influence on Science: It aimed to satirize the blend of religious beliefs with scientific claims, especially in astronomy.
- Boost Readership: The hoax was a tactic to increase The New York Sun’s circulation from 8,000 copies a day.
- Challenge Public Credulity: It highlighted how easily the public could be deceived by sensational stories without verifying their accuracy.
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Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Simple Medical Tools of an OPD Visit

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

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Medical devices mentioned and their working

Why in the News?

These medical tools—thermometers, stethoscopes, weighing scales, and sphygmomanometers—are essential for diagnosing and monitoring basic health parameters.
- Each tool has its own function and specific way of operation, which helps healthcare professionals make informed decisions about patient care.

Here is the list of tools used in a Doctor’s Diagnosis:

	Function	Description and Working Principle
Thermometer	Measures body temperature.	Mercury Thermometer: Features a mercury-filled bulb and a *glass capillary with numerical markings.* Temperature changes cause the mercury *to expand or contract,* moving through the capillary to *indicate temperature.* Digital Thermometer: Utilizes sensors like *infrared or thermistors* to detect temperature changes, which are then converted into digital readings.
Stethoscope	Listens to internal body sounds.	Acoustic Stethoscope: Comprises a diaphragm for *high-frequency sounds and a bell for low-frequency* sounds, connected by a tube to earpieces. Electronic Stethoscope (Stethophone): Amplifies body sounds electronically and may include recording capabilities and additional diagnostics such as electrocardiograms. These devices *transmit sound data to smartphones or other devices.*
Weighing Scale	Measures body weight.	Spring Scale: Uses a spring under a plate; weight is measured by the degree of *spring compression or extension.* Requires calibration to account for local gravity variations. Electronic Scale: Converts the *mechanical force of weight into electrical signals using load cells or strain gauges,* displayed as weight readings on a digital screen.
Sphygmomanometer	Measures blood pressure.	Manual Sphygmomanometer: Includes an inflatable cuff, linked to a mercury or aneroid manometer. Uses a stethoscope to *detect blood flow sounds (Korotkov sounds)* for determining systolic and diastolic pressures. Electronic Sphygmomanometer: Uses oscillometric technology to sense pressure oscillations caused by *arterial blood flow, automating blood pressure* measurement. Easier for home use but may have accuracy issues in patients with certain cardiovascular conditions.

PYQ:

[2019] In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?

Location identification of a person
Sleep monitoring of a person
Assisting the hearing-impaired person

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Languages and Eighth Schedule

Classical Language Centres ask for autonomy

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Classical Language

Why in the News?

Classical Language Centres in India are seeking more autonomy to improve their effectiveness and address operational challenges.

Classical Language Centres in India

India has designated 6 languages as classical: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
Special centres have been established to promote these languages.
Only the Centre for Tamil functions autonomously.
The centres for Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia operate under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysuru.

About Classical Languages in India

Aspect	Details
Recognized Classical Languages	Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014).
Additional Languages for Preservation	Pali, Persian, Prakrit, and Farsi (Persian) as per the National Education Policy-2020.
Criteria for Classical Language Status	– High Antiquity: Recorded history of 1500-2000 years. – Valuable Heritage: Possesses ancient literature and texts. – Originality: Unique literary tradition, not borrowed from other languages. – Distinctness: Language and literature distinct from modern forms.
Promotion of Classical Languages	– International Awards: Two major awards for scholars in classical Indian languages. – Centre of Excellence: For studies in classical languages. – Professional Chairs: UGC requested to create chairs in Central Universities.
The Eighth Schedule	Lists 22 official languages, governed by Articles 344(1) and 351 of the Constitution. Includes Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Chronological Additions to the Eighth Schedule	– 1950: Initially included 14 languages. – 1967: Sindhi added (21st Constitutional Amendment). – 1992: Konkani, Manipuri (Meitei), Nepali added (71st Constitutional Amendment). – 2003: Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santali added (92nd Constitutional Amendment). – 2011: “Oriya” replaced with “Odia” (96th Constitutional Amendment).

PYQ:

[2015] Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

(a) Odia

(b) Konkani

(d) Assamese

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Women Safety Issues – Marital Rape, Domestic Violence, Swadhar, Nirbhaya Fund, etc.

Justice J.S. Verma Committee and Its Recommendations

Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Verma Committee Recommendations

Why in the News?

The recent brutal rape and murder case in Kolkata has sparked widespread calls for the death penalty for the accused.
- The Justice J.S. Verma Committee, formed in response to the 2012 Delhi gang rape, recommended against the death penalty for rape, even in the rarest of rare cases, arguing that it would be a regressive step.

About Justice J.S. Verma Committee Recommendations

Recommendations on	Explanation
Rape	• It recognized rape as a *Crime of Power, not just passion. • Expand definition* to include all forms of non-consensual penetration. • Remove marital rape exception; marriage should not imply automatic consent. (European Commission of Human Rights in C.R. vs U.K)
Sexual Assault	• Broaden definition to include all non-consensual, non-penetrative sexual acts. • Penalty: Up to 5 years of imprisonment or fines.
Verbal Sexual Assault	• Criminalize unwelcome sexual threats. • Punishable by up to 1 year in prison or fines.
Sexual Harassment at Workplace	• Include domestic workers under protections. • Replace internal complaint committees with Employment Tribunals. • Employers to compensate victims of sexual harassment.
Acid Attacks	• Propose a 10-year minimum punishment, separate from grievous hurt. • Establish a compensation fund for victims.
Women in Conflict Areas	• Review AFSPA; exclude government sanction for prosecuting sexual offenses by armed forces. • Appoint special commissioners to monitor offenses.
Trafficking	• Comprehensive anti-trafficking laws beyond prostitution. • Protective homes for women and juveniles overseen by High Courts.
Child Sexual Abuse	• Define ‘harm’ and ‘health’ in the Juvenile Justice Act to include both physical and mental aspects.
Death Penalty	• Opposed chemical castration and death penalty for rape. • Recommend life imprisonment.
Medical Examination of Rape Victims	• Ban the two-finger test; victim’s past sexual history should not influence the case.
Reforms in Case Management	• Set up Rape Crisis Cells, increase police accountability, allow online FIR filing. • Encourage community policing and increase police personnel.

Union Cabinet’s Decision on the Death Penalty

The Union Cabinet, while clearing an ordinance on sexual assault in 2013, chose NOT to adopt the committee’s recommendation against the death penalty.
Key amendments included:
- Section 376A: Death penalty for rape leading to the death of the victim or reducing her to a persistent vegetative state.
- Section 376E: Death penalty for repeat offenders.
- 2018 Amendments: Death penalty for gang rape of a victim under 12 years (Section 376DB) and life imprisonment for rape of a victim under 16 years (Section 376DA).
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) includes similar provisions for rape, with specific sections detailing the punishment, including the death penalty for certain cases.

PYQ:

[2014] We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.

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Type: Prelims Only

Why in the News?

About Salar de Atacama

Key Findings of the Study:

What is Lithium?

Effects of Lithium Mining on Environment:

PYQ:

Why in the News?

ANUBHAV Awards

PYQ:

Why in the News?

About PMJDY

Successes of PMJDY

PYQ:

Why in the News?

Key Findings of the Report:

What is Plea Bargaining?

PYQ:

Why in the News?

About Polygraph Tests in India

PYQ:

Why in the News?

What is MUDRA 1.0?

Achievements of MUDRA 1.0

Challenges Faced by MUDRA 1.0

What is MUDRA 2.0?

PYQ:

Why in the News?

What is the Great Moon Hoax of 1835?

Why the Hoax was conceived?

Why in the News?

Here is the list of tools used in a Doctor’s Diagnosis:

PYQ:

Why in the News?

Classical Language Centres in India

About Classical Languages in India

PYQ:

Why in the News?

About Justice J.S. Verma Committee Recommendations

Recommendations on

Explanation

Union Cabinet’s Decision on the Death Penalty

PYQ: