Why in the News?
Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, a maestro of Hindustani classical music and Padma Vibhushan recipient, passed away at 89.
Who was Pandit Chhannulal Mishra?
- Background: Born in 1936 in Varanasi, Pandit Chhannulal Mishra emerged from a modest family to become one of India’s greatest Hindustani classical vocalists.
- Musical Lineage: Foremost exponent of the Purab Ang Thumri of the Banaras Gharana, blending the melodic precision of Kirana with the emotive depth of Banaras traditions.
- Artistic Range: Mastered Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, and Chaiti, combining folk vitality and classical discipline—hallmarks of the Kashi musical spirit.
- Voice & Expression: His gravelly, resonant voice conveyed devotion, mysticism, and deep emotion, evoking Lord Shiva, the Ganga, and the eternal mood of Banaras.
- Cultural Symbol: Alongside Ustad Bismillah Khan, he personified the Ganga–Jamuni tehzeeb, symbolising the harmony of Hindu–Muslim artistic traditions.
- Honours: Recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, his legacy unites classical rigor, folk heart, and spiritual emotion in a single aesthetic stream.
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About Thumri Music:
- Nature: Thumri is a semi-classical vocal genre of North India known for its emphasis on emotion (bhava) rather than rigid raga structure.
- Origin: Developed in the 19th century under Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow; later enriched in Banaras, where it absorbed devotional and folk influences.
- Etymology: Derived from thumakna (“to walk gracefully”), reflecting its rhythmic, fluid, and expressive nature tied to Kathak dance.
- Themes: Revolves around Sringara rasa—love, separation, and devotion—especially Radha-Krishna narratives; often sung from a female perspective.
- Language: Primarily in Braj Bhasha, Awadhi, and Hindi, with traces of Urdu and Sanskrit.
- Musical Features:
- Uses popular ragas like Bhairavi, Khamaj, Kafi and tālas like Dadra and Keherva.
- Allows improvisation, vocal ornamentation (murki, meend, gamak), and interpretive freedom.
- Forms of Thumri:
- Bandish-ki-Thumri: Structured composition, rhythmically defined.
- Bol-Banao Thumri: Lyrical, slow, emotive style allowing deeper expression.
- Major Gharanas:
- Lucknow Gharana: Courtly refinement and dance association (Begum Akhtar).
- Banaras Gharana: Devotional Purab Ang tradition (Girija Devi, Rasoolan Bai, Siddheshwari Devi, Chhannulal Mishra).
- Patiala Gharana: Fast, rhythm-oriented style with tappa influence (Bade Ghulam Ali Khan).
Thumri and Indian Classical Tradition:
- Position in the Hindustani system:
- Thumri is semi-classical, bridging the gap between pure classical forms (like Khayal and Dhrupad) and folk/dance traditions.
- It prioritises emotional storytelling over technical display, making classical music accessible to the wider public.
- Connection with Kathak:
- Thumri complements Kathak dance, aiding abhinaya (expressive gesture) through musical narration.
- Hindustani vs Carnatic contrast:
- Hindustani classical music (North India) focuses on raga improvisation;
- Carnatic music (South India) is composition-centric with structured kritis and rigid tala frameworks.
- Cultural Role:
- Thumri mirrors the fusion of classical, folk, and devotional idioms, symbolising India’s cultural inclusivity.
- It thrives on the interplay of bhava (emotion), raga (melody), and laya (rhythm)—a trinity central to Indian aesthetics.
| [UPSC 2019] With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct? Options: (a)Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.*
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.
(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons.
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas. |
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Why in the News?
NITI Aayog has released a working paper recommending the introduction of an optional presumptive taxation scheme for foreign companies operating in India.
What is Presumptive Taxation?
- Overview: Presumptive taxation allows taxpayers to declare income at a fixed percentage (presumed rate) of total turnover or receipts without maintaining detailed books of accounts.
- Purpose: Simplifies taxation for small businesses or specific sectors by reducing compliance and administrative burden.
- Domestic Example: Under the Income Tax Act, Sections 44AD, 44ADA, and 44AE permit presumptive taxation for small businesses, professionals, and transporters.
- Key Feature:
- Tax is levied on deemed profits instead of actual income.
- Taxpayers opting for this scheme are exempt from detailed audits or complex record-keeping.
What has NITI Aayog Proposed?
- Scope: Extend the presumptive taxation concept to foreign companies operating in India.
- Objective: To reduce litigation related to Permanent Establishment (PE) status and profit attribution in cross-border taxation.
- Main Features:
- Optional Scheme: Foreign companies can either choose the presumptive scheme for certainty or file regular returns if actual profits are lower.
- Sector-Specific Rates: Different deemed profit rates for sectors such as manufacturing, digital services, and logistics.
- Safe Harbour Clause: Once a company opts in, tax authorities cannot separately litigate the PE existence for that activity.
- Alignment with Global Norms: Codify PE and attribution principles in domestic law consistent with OECD standards.
- Administrative Reforms: Training of tax officials to ensure consistent application in digital and cross-border cases.
Significance:
- Provides tax certainty and simplicity for foreign investors.
- Reduces disputes and promotes ease of doing business.
- Balances India’s sovereign tax rights with the need for a predictable, investor-friendly regime.
- Positions India as a more attractive FDI destination, aligned with its economic and tax reform agenda.
| [UPSC 2020] With reference to India’s decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act.
2. Non-resident entities that offer advertisement services in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements”.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 * |
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Why in the News?
Droughts and fires in South America highlight the importance of “flying rivers” — rain-bearing vapor streams disrupted by Amazon deforestation.
What are Atmospheric Rivers?
- Overview: Long, narrow bands of concentrated water vapour in the lower atmosphere, often termed “rivers in the sky.”
- Dimensions: Typically 2,000–5,000 km long, 400–500 km wide, and about 3 km deep.
- Water Transport: Carry nearly 90% of water vapour across Earth’s mid-latitudes — almost double the Amazon River’s flow.
- Formation: Warm tropical seawater evaporates, and winds transport this moisture; upon encountering land or mountains, vapour condenses into heavy rainfall or snow.
- Role: Unlike short-term weather systems, Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) shape long-term hydrological cycles and trigger extreme precipitation events.
Global Impacts of Atmospheric Rivers:
- Flooding & Extreme Weather: Cause 80% of flood-related damages along the US West Coast; also linked to devastating floods in Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia.
- South America: Amazon’s “flying rivers” disrupted by deforestation, leading to droughts in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador; threatens Amazon rainforest’s survival and risks savannisation.
- East Asia: Up to 80% of heavy rainfall events in China, Korea, and Japan during early monsoon linked to ARs.
- Climate Connection: Warming oceans are making ARs longer, wider, and more intense, increasing risks of catastrophic floods and landslides.
- Positive Role: Contribute 30–50% of annual precipitation in some regions (e.g., US West Coast) and help end 33–74% of droughts.
Atmospheric Rivers in India’s Context:
- Interaction: ARs combine with cyclonic circulations and the Himalayan ranges, causing extreme rainfall and flash floods.
- Case Studies:
- 2010 Leh cloudburst (Ladakh) – flash floods and mudslides.
- 2011 Kupwara floods (J&K) – severe AR-driven rainfall.
- Study (1951–2020): Identified 574 AR events during the monsoon season in India.
- Recent Trends: Nearly 80% of India’s most severe floods (1985–2020) linked to AR activity.
- Cause: Rapid Indian Ocean warming intensifies evaporation, moisture transport, and AR-driven floods.
- Impact: Leads to short, intense rainfall spells, landslides, flash floods, crop loss, and mass displacement of communities.
| [UPSC 2024] With reference to “water vapour,” which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 and 2 |
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Why in the News?
The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development has approved the National Pulses Mission (Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses).
About the National Pulses Mission:
- Launch (2025): Approved by the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by 2030–31, improve nutrition, and raise farmer incomes.
- Targets: Production to rise from 24.2 MT (2024–25) to 35 MT (2030–31); acreage 310 lakh ha, yield 1,130 kg/ha.
- Coverage: 416 districts, with focus on rice fallows, improved seeds, intercropping, irrigation, and market linkages.
- MSP Procurement: 100% assured for Tur, Urad, Masoor for four years under PM-AASHA Price Support Scheme, via NAFED/NCCF.
- Framework: Under National Food Security Mission (NFSM); combines ICAR-led R&D with private sector inputs, processing, and storage.
- Budget: ₹11,440 crore outlay up to 2030–31 for multi-year implementation.
- Outcomes: Improved nutrition, soil fertility (nitrogen-fixing), stable prices, climate resilience, and rural employment.
Key Features:
- Cluster-Based Approach: Targets high-potential regions, diversifies beyond traditional belts, reduces risks.
- Market Infrastructure: 1,000 post-harvest units (dal mills, grading, packaging) with subsidies up to ₹25 lakh/unit.
- Research & Extension: New high-yield, climate-resilient varieties; farmer training on nutrient, pest, and water management.
- Risk Cover: Subsidies, insurance, and credit to reduce cultivation risks.
- Market Reforms: Direct sales linkages, transparent logistics, MSP-backed procurement.
| [UPSC 2020] With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:
1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
(a) 1 only * (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Project Swastik celebrated its 65th Raising Day on October 01, 2025.
About Project Swastik:
- Origin: Established in 1960 as Project DRAGON, renamed Project Swastik on 1 October 1963.
- Organisation: A flagship initiative of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence.
- Mandate: Construction and maintenance of strategic roads, bridges, and tunnels in the high-altitude Himalayan terrain.
- Area of Responsibility: Covers North and East Sikkim up to forward border areas, also parts of North Bengal. The region is prone to landslides, fragile geology (Phyllites, Schists), and extreme weather conditions.
- Strategic Role: Provides vital support for Armed Forces mobility, disaster relief operations, and socio-economic connectivity for remote communities.
Major Accomplishments:
- Road & Bridge Network: Built and maintained over 1,412 km of roads and 80 major bridges since inception.
- Recent Achievements: In the last decade, completed 350 km of new roads, 26 bridges, and 1 tunnel, ensuring year-round access to forward areas.
- Key Road Links: Developed lifelines like the Gangtok–Chungthang and Gangtok–Nathula roads, critical for defence and civilian movement.
- Disaster Response: Effectively restored connectivity after Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), cloudbursts, and Teesta River floods. Widely praised during the 2023 Sikkim flash floods.
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Why in the News?
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), India’s newest science funding agency, has launched a digital tool called SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) to make scientific research more accessible.
What is Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)?
- Establishment: Created under the ANRF Act, 2023, replacing the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
- Nature: Acts as India’s apex science funding and policy-making body.
-
Mission & Objectives:
-
- Raise India’s R&D spending from 0.7% to 2% of GDP by 2030.
- Mobilise 70% private sector participation in research funding.
- Promote interdisciplinary research across sciences, technology, health, agriculture, humanities, and social sciences.
- Align research with Viksit Bharat 2047 and the National Education Policy (NEP).
-
Structure:
- Chairperson: Prime Minister of India (ex-officio).
- Vice Presidents: Union Ministers of Science & Technology and Education.
- Member Secretary: Principal Scientific Advisor.
- Guided by a Governing Council and Executive Council for policy and funding.
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About SARAL:
- Developer: Created by IIIT Hyderabad under the guidance of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
- Purpose: Designed to make complex research papers accessible to students, professionals, and the general public.
- AI Use: Generates summaries in multiple formats such as slides, videos, posters, and podcasts.
- Language Support: Available in 11 Indian languages, ensuring wider inclusivity in science communication.
- Workflow: Users upload research papers (LaTeX, arXiv links, PDFs); AI divides into sections (Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion); it produces editable slides and video summaries.
- Significance:
- Democratises science by converting research into layman-friendly outputs.
- Enhances science communication and outreach.
- Builds awareness of cutting-edge research across disciplines.
| [UPSC 2015] Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?
1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only* (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 |
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Why in the News?
A University of Exeter study found five major polar geoengineering methods ineffective and risky, failing criteria for responsible climate intervention.
Geoengineering in Polar Regions: Study Findings
| Method |
Description |
Intended Benefit |
Key Findings & Limitations |
| Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) |
Artificially releasing aerosols (SO₂, sulphur particles, TiO₂, CaCO₃) into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. |
Reduce surface temperatures by blocking solar radiation. |
- Ineffective in polar winters (no sunlight) and of limited use in summers (ice already highly reflective).
- Sudden termination can cause “termination shock” with rapid global warming.
- Potential to disrupt global weather cycles, harming food and water security.
- No global governance on costs or liability. Estimated cost: $55M/year per country (if 30 nations share).
|
| Sea Curtains / Sea Walls |
Massive buoyant barriers anchored to seafloor to block warm currents from reaching ice sheets. |
Slow melting of glaciers by insulating them from warm water. |
- Technically near-impossible in remote seas like Amundsen (Antarctica).
- Extremely high costs — >$1 billion/km.
- Threatens marine circulation, fish migration, and nutrient cycles.
- Installation in harsh polar seas only possible for few months a year; requires custom-built ships.
- Risk of toxic materials leaching into ocean.
|
| Sea Ice Management (Microbeads) |
Sprinkling glass microbeads over sea ice to increase albedo (reflectivity) and thicken ice. |
Preserve summer ice, slow down warming. |
- Requires 360M tonnes of beads annually — equal to world’s plastic production.
- Major logistical and emissions challenges.
- Beads dissolve quickly, reducing effectiveness.
- Some studies show beads absorb sunlight, causing net warming.
- Costly: $500B/year for Arctic deployment; requires 100M pumps, huge energy draw.
|
| Basal Water Removal |
Pumping subglacial meltwater from under Antarctic glaciers. |
Reduce glacier sliding, thus slowing sea-level rise. |
- Flawed logic: subglacial water is constantly replenished by frictional/geothermal heating.
- Highly emissions-intensive and energy-consuming.
- Requires continuous monitoring, maintenance, and heavy infrastructure.
- Long-term sustainability questioned.
|
| Ocean Fertilisation |
Adding nutrients (e.g., iron) to stimulate phytoplankton growth, enhancing CO₂ absorption. |
Sequester more carbon in oceans. |
- No control over which phytoplankton species dominate, creating food chain imbalances.
- Could harm marine biodiversity and alter global nutrient cycles.
- Needs deployment at massive, impractical scale.
- Risk of side-effects outweighs uncertain benefits.
|
| [UPSC 2020] Consider the following activities:
1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock extensively on farmlands
2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters
How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?
Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three* (d) None |
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Why in the News?
NASA has recently launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.
About IMAP Mission:
- Context: Operates under NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Probes Program, following missions like STEREO and IBEX.
- Objective: To map the heliosphere boundary, study energetic particle acceleration, and understand how the solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium.
- Location: Positioned at Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), ~1.5 million km from Earth, ensuring continuous solar observation.
Back2Basics: Heliosphere
- The heliosphere is a vast bubble-like region around the Sun created by the flow of solar wind (charged particles emitted by the Sun).
- It extends well beyond Pluto and acts as a shield, protecting the solar system from much of the harmful cosmic radiation from interstellar space.
- Its outer boundary, called the heliopause, marks where solar wind pressure balances with interstellar medium pressure.
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Key Features:
- Scientific Payload: 10 instruments including- Energetic Neutral Atom Detectors; Charged Particle Detectors and Magnetic & Dust Sensors.
- Real-Time Alerts: Equipped with I-ALiRT (Active Link for Real-Time) to broadcast space weather data and provide ~30 minutes’ warning of harmful solar radiation.
- Spacecraft Design: Spin-stabilized, in a Lissajous orbit around L1, ensuring Sun-facing stability.
- Enhanced Sensitivity: Higher resolution compared to ACE and IBEX, enabling detection of faint cosmic signals.
Significance:
- Scientific: Creates the most detailed maps of the heliosphere boundary, improves understanding of solar wind, cosmic rays, and space weather.
- Technological: Strengthens space weather forecasting, safeguarding satellites, GPS systems, and power grids.
- Human Spaceflight: Critical for Artemis and future deep-space missions, informing radiation shielding and safe travel routes.
- Global Collaboration: Complements missions like NASA–ESA’s Solar Orbiter and the upcoming LISA mission, boosting multi-messenger space science.
- Habitability Research: Provides insights into how heliospheres shield planets, vital for studying Earth’s resilience and exoplanet habitability.
| [UPSC 2016] What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
Options: (a) Electric plane tested by NASA *
(b) Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan
(c) Space observatory launched by China
(d) Reusable rocket designed by ISRO |
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instructed NGOs to submit their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 renewal applications at least four months before expiry.
About the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA):
- Origin: First enacted in 1976 during the Emergency to regulate inflow of foreign funds.
- FCRA, 2010: Replaced the 1976 Act to strengthen regulation and ensure foreign funds are used for legitimate purposes without compromising sovereignty, security, or national interest.
- Coverage: Applies to individuals, associations, and organizations receiving foreign contributions.
- Administration: Managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Objectives:
- Ensure foreign funds are used responsibly.
- Prevent undue foreign influence on Indian politics, civil society, and governance.
- Safeguard sovereignty, integrity, and harmony.
Key Provisions of FCRA, 2010:
- Registration: Only organizations with definite cultural, social, economic, educational, or religious objectives can apply.
- Validity: Registration valid for 5 years; renewal required 6 months before expiry.
- Designated Bank Account: NGOs must open an exclusive FCRA account in SBI, New Delhi.
- Annual Reporting:
- Receipts and utilization must be reported annually.
- Accounts must be audited by a Chartered Accountant.
- Banks must report foreign fund receipts to MHA.
- Administrative Expenses: NGOs can use a maximum of 20% of foreign funds for admin costs (earlier 50%).
- Special Provisions:
- NGOs can spend up to ₹25 lakh annually outside their constituency/state for projects promoting national unity.
- In severe natural calamities, MPs/NGOs may allocate up to ₹1 crore for relief anywhere in India.
- Prohibited Recipients: Foreign funds cannot go to election candidates, journalists, media houses, judges, government servants, political parties or office bearers, or organizations of political nature.
- Prohibited Activities: NGOs cannot:
- Represent fictitious entities.
- Engage in religious conversions.
- Have records of communal tension, disharmony, or sedition.
Amendments to FCRA:
FCRA Amendment Act, 2020
- Suspension: Government can suspend registration for up to 360 days.
- Mandatory Aadhaar: All office bearers, directors, and key functionaries must provide Aadhaar.
- Prohibition on Sub-Granting: NGOs cannot transfer foreign contributions to other NGOs/entities.
- Reduced Admin Cap: Admin expenses limited to 20% (earlier 50%).
- Designated SBI Account: All foreign funds must be received only in an FCRA account at SBI, New Delhi.
- Bar on Public Servants: Public servants prohibited from receiving foreign contributions.
- Renewal Scrutiny: Renewal applications can be examined for misuse, fictitious status, or rule violations.
- Surrender of Certificate: NGOs can surrender registration with government approval.
FCRA Rules, 2022:
- Raised the annual limit for money received from relatives abroad to ₹10 lakh (earlier ₹1 lakh) without notifying MHA.
- Strengthened safeguards against harmful foreign contributions.
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Why in the News?
Scientists are planning the Laser Interferometer Lunar Antenna (LILA) Project on the Moon to bypass seismic noise, atmosphere, and frequency limits faced by Earth-based detectors like Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).
What are Gravitational Waves?
- Overview: Gravitational waves are ripples in the spacetime continuum created when massive objects such as black holes or neutron stars collide.
- Speed & Effect: They travel at the speed of light, subtly stretching and compressing spacetime. On small scales, effects are extremely weak (e.g., Earth–Moon distance altered by less than an atom’s diameter).
- Prediction: Proposed by Albert Einstein (1916) in his General Theory of Relativity.
- First Detection: In 2015, LIGO recorded the first gravitational waves from two colliding black holes 1.3 billion light-years away, confirming their existence.
Detection on Earth and Challenges:
- Ground Observatories: LIGO (USA), Virgo (Italy), KAGRA (Japan), GEO600 (Germany) use laser interferometers to detect minuscule delays in light caused by waves.
- Working of LIGO: Two L-shaped detectors (Louisiana, Washington), each with 4 km arms; differences in reflections signal gravitational waves.
- Detection Range: Sensitive to events up to 7 billion light years away; frequency range ~100–1,000 Hz.
- Challenges: Seismic noise, atmosphere, and human activity mask weaker signals.
- Future Space Missions:
- LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, 2030s): Three satellites in triangular formation, sensitive to 0.1 millihertz–0.1 hertz.
- SKA (Square Kilometre Array, Australia & South Africa): Monitors pulsars for nanohertz waves.
- Decihertz Gap: Frequencies 0.1–10 Hz remain unexplored, which LILA aims to study.
About Laser Interferometer Lunar Antenna (LILA) Project
- Overview: Proposed by Vanderbilt Lunar Labs, USA, to build a gravitational-wave detector on the Moon.
- Ideal Conditions: The Moon’s polar shadow zones provide ultra-low seismic activity, natural vacuum, and no atmospheric or radio interference.
- Focus: Sub-hertz gravitational waves, vital for studying intermediate-mass black holes and the early universe.
- Phases:
- LILA Pioneer: Can be deployed within this decade using American lunar landers (Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines) and possibly India’s Chandrayaan programme.
- LILA Horizon: Advanced phase requiring astronauts for setup.
- Cosmic Symphony Analogy:
- SKA: Captures low-frequency “bass notes.”
- LIGO (and future LIGO-India): Detects high-pitched bursts from stellar collisions.
- LILA: Covers missing middle frequencies, completing the “cosmic raag.”
- Historical Note: Since Apollo, retro-reflectors on the Moon track Earth–Moon distance. Some scientists suggest the Earth–Moon system itself acts as a natural detector.
Significance:
- Scientific Advancement: Opens the decihertz frontier, inaccessible so far.
- Global Collaboration: Complements LIGO-India (IndIGO project), operational by 2030.
- Research Potential: Helps study intermediate-mass black holes, cosmic mergers, and universe origins.
- Lunar Astronomy: Marks the start of using the Moon as a laboratory for space science.
- Holistic Coverage: With LISA, SKA, and Earth detectors, LILA would map the entire gravitational-wave spectrum, giving a complete picture of the universe.
| [UPSC 2020] The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to
Options: (a) Voyager-2 (b) New Horizons (c) LISA Pathfinder (d) Evolved LISA* |
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Why in the News?
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a siphon-based thermal desalination system that overcomes siltation issues, offering a low-cost and scalable solution.
About Siphon-Based Thermal Desalination System:
- Overview: Developed by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers to overcome the inefficiencies of conventional solar stills.
- Purpose: Designed as a low-cost, scalable, and sustainable freshwater solution for off-grid and water-stressed regions.
-
Working:
- Principle: Works on siphonage, where a fabric wick draws salty water and gravity maintains continuous flow.
- Innovation: A grooved metallic surface flushes away salt deposits before crystallization, preventing clogging.
- Process: Salty water evaporates as a thin film on a heated surface and condenses just 2 mm away on a cooler surface, ensuring high efficiency.
Key Features:
- High Efficiency: Generates >6 liters of freshwater per sq. m per hour under sunlight — several times more than conventional solar stills.
- Multistage Design: Uses stacked evaporator–condenser pairs to recycle heat and boost output.
- Salt Resistance: Handles up to 20% salinity without clogging, making it effective even for brine treatment.
- Affordable Materials: Built from aluminum and fabric, keeping costs low.
- Energy Flexibility: Operates on solar power or waste heat, adaptable to different settings.
- Scalable Applications: Useful for villages, disaster zones, and island communities.
- Sustainability: Offers a clean, low-maintenance desalination method without reliance on complex machinery.
| [UPSC 2008] Where was the first desalination plant in India to produce one lakh liters of freshwater per day based on low-temperature thermal desalination principle commissioned?
Options: (a) Kavaratti * (b) Port Blair (c) Mangalore (d) Valsad |
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Why in the News?
India and Bhutan have launched their first-ever rail links, connecting Kokrajhar–Gelephu (69 km, Assam–Bhutan) and Banarhat–Samtse (20 km, West Bengal–Bhutan).
About India–Bhutan Railway Connectivity:
- Overview: Agreements were signed during PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan (March 2024) and formalised in 2025.
- Projects:
-
- Kokrajhar–Gelephu line: 6 stations, multiple bridges, viaducts, designed for Vande Bharat trains; expected completion in 4 years.
- Banarhat–Samtse line: 2 stations, major & minor bridges, flyovers, underpasses; expected completion in 3 years.
- Both lines will be fully electrified, giving Bhutan direct access to India’s 1,50,000 km railway network, boosting passenger and goods transport.
Significance of the Project for India:
- Bilateral Relations: Strengthens ties with Bhutan, India’s closest neighbour and largest recipient of Indian development assistance.
- Strategic Security: Enhances regional security and serves as a counterbalance to China’s influence in South Asia.
- Economic Integration: Supports Bhutan’s trade (80% with India), boosts hydropower exports, and aids industrial development.
- Tourism & Culture: Improves people-to-people exchanges, especially linking Gelephu’s Mindfulness City and Samtse’s industrial hub.
- Act East Policy: Advances India’s policy through cross-border infrastructure in the eastern and northeastern region.
- Rail Diplomacy: Positions Indian Railways as a strategic enabler of diplomacy and connectivity in the neighbourhood.
| [UPSC 2023] With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None* |
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Why in the News?
India has added two new wetlands in Bihar — Gokul Jalashay (Buxar district) and Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran district) to the global Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance.
Important Facts:
- With this, India’s Ramsar sites rise to 93, consolidating its top rank in Asia and third in the world, after the UK (176) and Mexico (144).
- Bolivia has the largest Ramsar wetland area (Llanos de Moxos wetlands – 6.9 million ha).
- India’s Ramsar sites have expanded from 26 in 2012 to 93 in 2025, covering 13.6 lakh hectares, with 51 sites added since 2020.
- Globally, there are 2,544 Ramsar sites.
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Facts about the two Wetlands:
-
Gokul Jalashay (Buxar District):
- Oxbow lake spread over 448 hectares on the southern edge of the Ganga River.
- Acts as a flood buffer during high water events.
- Supports 50+ bird species and provides livelihoods through fishing, farming, and irrigation.
-
Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran District):
- Oxbow lake covering 319 hectares, part of the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary ecosystem, formed by the Gandaki River.
- Enhances ecological connectivity and supports the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.
About the Ramsar Convention:
- Establishment: Signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
- Objective: Provide a framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- Functions:
- Identify and designate wetlands of international importance.
- Promote effective management of wetlands.
- Foster international cooperation for conservation.
- Members: 173 countries (as of 2025).
- India and Ramsar:
- India joined in 1982.
- First Ramsar site: Chilika Lake, Odisha (1981).
- Current total: 93 sites (Sept 2025), covering 13,60,718 hectares.
- Growth: From 26 sites in 2012 to 93 in 2025 (51 added since 2020).
- State-wise: Tamil Nadu has the highest (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).
- About 10% of India’s total wetland area is under Ramsar listing.
- Montreux Record: List of Ramsar sites under threat of ecological change.
- 48 sites globally (2025).
- 2 Indian sites included: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
- World Wetlands Day: Celebrated on February 2nd every year.
- 2025 Theme: “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”.
Criteria for Declaration (9 Criteria):
A wetland can be declared a Ramsar site if it meets at least one of these:
- Has unique, rare, or representative wetland types.
- Supports vulnerable, endangered, or endemic species.
- Provides critical habitat for waterfowl, especially during migration.
- Contains significant ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological features.
- Supports biodiversity conservation and scientific research.
- Provides ecosystem services like flood control, groundwater recharge, and water purification.
- Has cultural, spiritual, or recreational importance.
- Ensures sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
- Faces threats requiring international cooperation for conservation.
| [UPSC 2022] Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake Location
1. Hokera Wetland — Punjab 2. Renuka Wetland — Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake — Tripura 4. Sasthamkotta Lake — Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Options: (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs* (c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs |
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Why in the News?
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province, China, is now the world’s tallest bridge, standing 625 m above the Beipan River.
About Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge:
- Height: Rises 625 m above the Beipan River, surpassing the previous record-holder, the Beipanjiang Bridge (565 m).
- Connectivity: Links the Liuzhi Special District and Anlong Special District, reducing travel time from 2 hours to just 2 minutes.
- Transport Network: Part of the Guizhou S57 Expressway and the 190 km Shantian–Puxi Expressway, boosting transport, economy, and tourism.
- Engineering Hub: Guizhou, called the “bridge museum of the world”, now has nearly half of the world’s 100 tallest bridges, showcasing China’s leadership in high-altitude civil engineering.
Key Features of the Bridge:
- Height Record: Deck-to-water clearance of 625 m, taller than most skyscrapers.
- Span & Length: Total length 2,890 m, with a 1,420 m suspension span, the longest in any mountainous region globally.
- Construction: Began January 2022, completed in just over three years; final truss installed January 2025; load-tested with 96 trucks.
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Why in the News?
UNESCO added India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR) to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
With this, India now has 13 UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves out of 18 designated nationally.
What are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves?
- Overview: Sites integrating biodiversity conservation + cultural heritage + sustainable development.
- Programme: MAB (1971).
- Designation Criteria:
- Must include a protected core zone.
- Must represent a unique biogeographical unit.
- Involve local communities in conservation.
- Potential to preserve traditional lifestyles.
- Functions: Conservation, Development, Logistic Support.
- Global Network (WNBR): 785 sites, 142 countries (2025); 7.4 million sq. km (~5% Earth’s surface); home to 275 million people.
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About Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR):
- Location: Lahaul–Spiti (Himachal Pradesh), part of Trans-Himalayan biogeographic province.
- Constituents: Includes Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, Sarchu Plains.
- Biodiversity:
- Flora: 732 vascular plants, incl. 30 endemic, 47 medicinal plants (Amchi / Sowa Rigpa).
- Fauna: Snow leopard (flagship), Tibetan wolf, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep (800+ in Spiti), Himalayan snowcock, golden eagle, bearded vulture.
- Communities: ~12,000 people; practice yak & goat herding, barley/pea farming, Tibetan herbal medicine, Buddhist monastic councils.
- Significance: Boosts eco-tourism, climate research, community-led conservation, sustainable livelihoods. Supports climate-resilient development in fragile ecosystems.
Biosphere Reserves in India:
- Total: 18 designated, of which 13 in UNESCO-WNBR (as of 2025).
- First: Nilgiri BR (1986); Largest: Gulf of Kachchh (Gujarat); Smallest: Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam).
- Scheme: Launched 1986; implemented by MoEFCC under MAB Programme.
- Three zones: Each biosphere reserve is organised into-
-
- Core zone (strictly protected),
- Buffer zone (limited human activity such as research, grazing, and tourism permitted), and
- Transition zone (sustainable human settlements and economic activities allowed).
- Funding: 90:10 (NE & Himalayan states); 60:40 (others).
| [UPSC 2019] Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?
Options: (a) Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve*
(b) Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park
(c) Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park
(d) Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve |
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Why in the News?
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, leading the demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Leh.
About the National Security Act, 1980:
- Enactment: Passed on 23 September 1980; applicable across India (earlier not in Jammu & Kashmir).
- Constitutional Basis: Rooted in Article 22(3)(b) (preventive detention permitted) and Article 22(4) (limit of 3 months unless Board approves).
- Objective: Provides for preventive detention to safeguard defence, national security, public order, foreign relations, and essential supplies/services.
- Grounds for Detention: Acts prejudicial to India’s defence or security, harming foreign relations, disturbing public order, endangering essential supplies, or regulating foreigners’ presence/expulsion.
- Authorities Empowered: Centre, States, District Magistrates, and Police Commissioners (if authorised).
- Duration: Detention up to 12 months; must communicate grounds within 5 days (extendable to 15). A person can be held 10 days without disclosure of charges.
- Advisory Board: Composed of three persons qualified to be High Court judges. Orders reviewed within 3 weeks; if no sufficient cause exists, release is mandatory.
- Background: Builds on colonial-era Bengal Regulation III (1818), Rowlatt Acts (1919), post-independence Preventive Detention Act (1950), and MISA (1971, repealed 1977). Reintroduced by Indira Gandhi in 1980.
Legal Options after Arrest under NSA:
- Representation to Government: Detainee can file a written representation challenging detention.
- Advisory Board Review: Must be reviewed within 3 weeks; release ordered if detention unjustified.
- Judicial Remedies: Writ petition in High Court (Art. 226) or Supreme Court (Art. 32).
- Revocation: Centre or State may revoke detention anytime.
- Limitations: No right to lawyer before Advisory Board; grounds may be withheld in “public interest.”
| [UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:
1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances.
2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held for preventive detention.
3. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, the confession of the accused before the police cannot be used as evidence.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one* (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None |
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Why in the News?
AstroSat, India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory has completed 10 years on September 28, 2025, boosting India’s role in multi-messenger astronomy.
What is Multi-Messenger Astronomy?
- Overview: A modern approach that uses different cosmic messengers to study the universe, not just light.
- Messengers:
- Light (photons): Radio, visible, UV, X-ray, gamma rays.
- Gravitational waves: From black hole/neutron star mergers.
- Neutrinos: From nuclear reactions in stars.
- Cosmic rays: Charged particles from space.
- Insights: Light shows stellar surfaces; Gravitational waves show collisions; Neutrinos probe stellar interiors.
- Example: 2017 neutron star collision observed with both light and gravitational waves, proving origin of heavy elements like gold.
- AstroSat’s Role: Enabled simultaneous UV, optical, and X-ray observations, tracking flares, black holes, and neutron stars.
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What is AstroSat?
- Overview: India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, launched on September 28, 2015 by PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota.
- Objective: To study celestial sources simultaneously in X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), and optical bands, unlike most single-band missions.
- Management: Controlled by the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISTRAC, Bengaluru.
- Mission Life: Designed for 5 years but operational even after 10 years.
- Payloads:
- UVIT (Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope).
- LAXPC (Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter).
- CZTI (Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager).
- SXT (Soft X-ray Telescope).
- SSM (Scanning Sky Monitor).
Its Accomplishments:
- Extended Life: Surpassed design life; still generating data.
- Black Hole Studies: Captured 500+ black hole births, advancing high-energy astrophysics.
- Galaxy Detection: Tracked extreme UV light from a galaxy 9.3 billion light-years away, aiding early universe studies.
- Gamma-Ray Bursts: 500+ bursts studied by CZTI.
- Discoveries: Identified rare UV-bright Milky Way stars, thousands of times brighter than the Sun.
| [UPSC 2016] With reference to ‘Astrosat’,’ the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2* |
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Why in the News?
The Prime Minister has paid tribute to Rani Rashmoni on her birth anniversary on 28th September.
Who was Rani Rashmoni (1793–1861)?
- Overview: A prominent zamindar, businesswoman, philanthropist, and social reformer from 19th-century Bengal.
- Birth: Born on 28 September 1793 in Halisahar, Bengal.
- Marriage: Married at the age of 11 to Raja Raj Chandra Das, wealthy zamindar of Janbazar, Kolkata.
- Leadership: Took charge of the estate and business after her husband’s death in 1836, unusual for women of her time.
- Reputation: Revered as “Lokmata” (Mother of the People) for her courage, administration, and social commitment.
Her Contributions:
- Patronage: Built the Dakshineswar Kali Temple (1847–1855); appointed Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as chief priest despite caste opposition.
- Social Reforms: Opposed polygamy and child marriage; supported widow remarriage; submitted a draft bill against polygamy to the British.
- Public Welfare & Infrastructure: Constructed major ghats on the Ganga including Babughat, Ahiritola Ghat, Nimtala Ghat. Funded roads, reservoirs, and pilgrim facilities, such as the road from Subarnarekha River to Puri.
- Resistance to British Rule: Fought against fishing taxes on Hooghly fishermen by blocking river traffic, compelling British to abolish the tax. Defied British restrictions on Durga Puja processions, preserving traditions.
- Support for Education & Culture: Donated to the Imperial Library (now National Library of India) and Hindu College (now Presidency University). Established schools for women and marginalized groups.
| [UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II* (d) Neither I nor II |
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Why in the News?
A recent study by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona warns that the Ganga River is drying at a rate unseen in more than a millennium.
About Drying of the Ganga River: New Study Findings
- Overview: Reconstructed streamflow since 700 AD using tree-ring records (Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas) and hydrological models. Validated against historic droughts and famines such as the Bengal famine.
-
Findings:
- Between 1991 and 2020, multiple droughts lasted 4–7 years, the rarest in the past 1,300 years.
- The 2004–2010 drought was the most severe in 1,300 years.
- Post-1990s drying was 76% more intense than the worst 16th-century drought.
-
Causes:
- Weaker monsoons from Indian Ocean warming and aerosol pollution.
- Groundwater over-extraction reducing river baseflow.
- Land-use change disrupting natural recharge.
- Climate Models: Most fail to reproduce the drying trend, raising doubts about optimistic rainfall projections.
- Implications: Severe threats to agriculture, 600 million livelihoods, Bay of Bengal ecosystems, and the 40% GDP share of the basin. Calls for adaptive water management.
About the Ganga River:
- Length: ~2,525 km, the longest river in India.
- Origin: Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand at 3,892 m elevation as Bhagirathi.
- Formation: Named Ganga at Devprayag after meeting Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.
- Course: Flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal before entering Bangladesh as Padma and emptying into the Bay of Bengal through the Sundarbans Delta.
- Basin: Covers about 8.61 lakh sq. km, which is 26.4% of India’s area.
-
- Left bank: Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda.
- Right bank: Yamuna, Tons, Karamnasa, Sone, Punpun, Falgu, Kiul, Chandan, Ajoy, Damodar, Rupnarayan.
- Population: Supports over 600 million people, making it the world’s most densely populated river basin.
- Cultural Importance: Sacred in Indian culture; declared National River in 2008.
- Economic Role: Central to agriculture, fisheries, and trade, contributing about 40% of India’s GDP.
- Ecological Significance: Home to snow leopard, elephants, and Ganga dolphin; includes Corbett, Dudhwa, and Sundarbans reserves.
- Conservation Efforts: Ganga Action Plan (1985) and Namami Gange Programme (2014); persistent issues of pollution, over-extraction, and climate change.
| [UPSC 2024] With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?
Options: (a) Ghaghara – Gomati – Gandak – Kosi
(b) Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi*
(c) Ghaghara – Gomati – Kosi – Gandak
(d) Gomati – Ghaghara – Kosi – Gandak |
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Why in the News?
On his birth anniversary (26 September), the Union Home Minister paid tribute to the Bengali social reformer, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
About Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:
- Birth & Death: Born on 26 September 1820 in Birsingha, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal; died on 29 July 1891 in Kolkata.
- Early Life: Born into a poor priest family to Thakurdas Bandyopadhyay and Bhagavati Devi.
- Title “Vidyasagar”: Meaning “Ocean of Knowledge,” conferred by Sanskrit College for his mastery of Sanskrit and philosophy.
- Education: Excelled in Sanskrit grammar, Vedanta, literature, astronomy, logic; graduated with honours in 1841 from Sanskrit College, Calcutta.
- Career: Served as Head Pandit at Fort William College, later Principal of Sanskrit College, Kolkata, and also Inspector of Schools.
His Contributions:
-
Educational Reforms:
- Simplified and modernised the Bengali alphabet and prose.
- Authored “Borno Porichoy”, a primer still used to teach Bengali script.
- Opened teacher training institutions and promoted non-Brahmin access to Sanskrit College.
- Advocated blending traditional Indian learning with Western education.
-
Women’s Rights and Social Reform:
- Leading advocate of Hindu widow remarriage; efforts led to the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856.
- Strongly opposed child marriage and polygamy.
- Championed raising the age of consent, influencing the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
- Promoted women’s education, serving as secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune School).
-
Philanthropy and Grassroots Work:
- Founded schools for girls and adults in Santhal Parganas (Jharkhand).
- Set up a free homeopathy clinic for tribals and the poor.
-
Language and Literature:
- Regarded as the Father of Modern Bengali Prose.
- Made Bengali prose clear, concise, and accessible to common people.
| [UPSC 2021] Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
Options: (a) Annie Besant (b) Debendranath Tagore (c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar* (d) Sarojini Naidu |
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