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Type: Prelims Only

  • Women empowerment issues – Jobs,Reservation and education

    Delimitation & Women’s Reservation 

    15 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains Paper 2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Why in the News?

    • The Centre has proposed inter-State redistribution of Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census, along with implementing 33% women’s reservation.

    Key Proposals

    1. Fresh Delimitation

    • Based on latest published Census (likely 2011)
    • Ends earlier freeze based on 1971 Census
    • Mandates readjustment of seats among States

    2. Increase in Lok Sabha Strength

    • Current: 543 seats
    • Proposed:
      • Up to 850 seats
      • Around 815 for States
      • 35 for Union Territories

    3. Women’s Reservation

    • 33% reservation in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies
    • Linked to:
      • Delimitation
      • Census-based seat allocation

    Major Impact  

    Shift in Representation

    • Hindi heartland States
      • Share increases: 38.1% → 43.1%
    • Southern States
      • Share decreases: 24.3% → 20.7%

    Examples of Seat Changes

    • Uttar Pradesh: +58 seats (80 → ~138)
    • Bihar: 40 → 72
    • Maharashtra: 48 → 78
    • Tamil Nadu: 39 → 50  
    • Kerala: 20 → 23  

    Constitutional Background

    Current System

    • Seat allocation based on:
      • 1971 Census (inter-State)
      • 2001 Census (intra-State)

    Relevant Articles

    • Article 81 — Composition of Lok Sabha
    • Article 82 — Readjustment after Census

    Freeze

    • Delimitation frozen till 2026
    • Reason: Promote population control policies
    [2024] Consider the following statements regarding ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’: 
    1 Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha. 
    2 This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act. 
    3 There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes. 
    Which of the statements given above are correct? 
    (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 3 only

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

    Amaravati Launches India’s First Quantum Computing Testing Facility 

    15 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Why in the News?

    • Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu launched India’s first indigenous quantum computing testing facility at SRM University.
    • The initiative strengthens India’s push under the National Quantum Mission.

    About Amaravati Quantum Facility

    • Name: Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF)
    • Location: Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
    • Type: Indigenous quantum testing infrastructure
    • Feature:
      • Open-access system
      • Sovereign quantum infrastructure

    Key Highlights

    • First quantum computing testing facility in India
    • Includes:
      • Amaravati 1Q system (with cryogenic cooling processor)
      • Open demonstration system for research access
    • System housed at:
      • Medha Towers, Gannavaram

    Amaravati Quantum Valley

    • Flagship initiative under National Quantum Mission
    • Aim: Develop Amaravati as a global quantum hub

    Major Features

    • Hosting IBM 133-qubit quantum computer
    • 80+ industry and academic partnerships
    • Focus areas:
      • Quantum computing
      • Quantum cloud
      • Skill development
      • Innovation ecosystem

    What is Quantum Computing

    • Uses principles of Quantum Mechanics
    • Basic unit: Qubit (instead of classical bit)
    [2022] Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? 
    (a) Cloud Services 
    (b) Quantum Computing 
    (c) Visible Light Communication Technologies 
    (d) Wireless Communication Technologies

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  • Monsoon Updates

    IMD Forecasts Below Normal Monsoon Due to El Niño  

    14 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Geography
    Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    Why in the News?

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast below normal monsoon rainfall for 2026, mainly due to the developing El Niño conditions.

    Key Highlights

    • Expected rainfall: 92% of Long Period Average (LPA)
    • Classification: Below Normal Monsoon
    • Error margin: ±5%
    • Monsoon period: June to September
    • India receives over 70% of annual rainfall during this period

    What is Long Period Average (LPA)

    • LPA: Average rainfall during monsoon season
    • Current LPA period: 1971 to 2020
    • LPA rainfall: 87 cm

    Monsoon Classification by IMD

    • Above normal: >104% of LPA
    • Normal: 96% to 104%
    • Below normal: 90% to 96%
    • Deficient: <90%

    2026 Forecast: 92% → Below Normal

    [2011] La Niña is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Niña different from El Niño? 
    1 La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. 
    2 El Niño has an adverse effect on the southwest monsoon of India, but La Niña has no effect on monsoon climate. 
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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  • Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

    India to Gain Preferential Access to 38 Developed Countries  

    14 April 2026 | Prelims Only | International Relations
    Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Why in the News?

    Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India will soon get preferential market access to 38 developed countries through multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

    These countries together account for:

    • Two thirds of global trade
    • Two thirds of global GDP

    Key FTAs Mentioned

    Already Operational

    • EFTA Countries (Effective October 2025): Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland

    Upcoming FTAs

    1. UK FTA: Expected to become operational: May 1, 2026

    2. Oman FTA: Expected to become operational: June 1, 2026

    3. New Zealand FTA

    • Signing expected soon
    • Likely operational: January 2027

    4. European Union (EU) FTA: Expected operational timeline: Early next year

    • Around January–February

    What is Preferential Access

    Preferential access means:

    • Lower tariffs for Indian exports
    • Better market access compared to competitors
    • Boost to exports and manufacturing

    Example:

    • If India’s tariff = lower than competitors
    • Indian goods become more competitive
    [2017] ‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and 
    (a) European Union 
    (b) Gulf Cooperation Council 
    (c) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 
    (d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization

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  • Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

    Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March  

    14 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Why in the News?

    Retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased marginally to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February 2026, mainly due to a rise in food prices.

    Key Highlights

    • Retail Inflation (March 2026): 3.4%
    • Retail Inflation (February 2026): 3.21%
    • Food Inflation (March 2026): 3.87%
    • Food Inflation (February 2026): 3.47%
      • Despite the increase, inflation remains below RBI’s target of 4%.

    RBI Inflation Target

    • RBI target inflation: 4%
    • Tolerance band: 2% to 6%
    • Current inflation: Within safe range

    Items Showing High Inflation

    • Gold and silver jewellery, Coconut (copra), Tomato, and Cauliflower

    Items Showing Negative Inflation 

    • Onion, Potato, Garlic, Arhar dal, and Chickpeas 

    Other Sector Inflation

    • Inflation in electricity, gas and other fuels rose to 1.65% in March from 1.52% in February.
    • Reason:
      • Impact of West Asia crisis
      • Increase in LPG and alternate fuel prices
    [2022] In India, which one of the following is responsible for maintaining price stability by controlling inflation? 
    (a) Department of Consumer Affairs 
    (b) Expenditure Management Commission 
    (c) Financial Stability and Development Council 
    (d) Reserve Bank of India

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  • Electoral Reforms In India

    Supreme Court on Voting Rights & Electoral Rolls  

    14 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

    Why in the News?

    • The Supreme Court observed that voting is not only a constitutional right but also a sentimental right, while hearing petitions related to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal electoral rolls.

    Key Observations by the Supreme Court

    • The right to vote is:
      • Constitutional in nature
      • Symbol of nationality and patriotism
      • Core element of participatory democracy
    • Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted:
      • Exclusion of voters must follow fair process
      • Due process rights of voters must be protected

    What is a “Sentimental Right”?

    A sentimental right is not a legal category in the Constitution.
    It is a moral, emotional, and symbolic importance attached to a right.

    When the Supreme Court said voting is a sentimental right, it meant:

    • Voting reflects citizenship identity
    • It creates a sense of belonging to the nation
    • It represents participation in democracy
    • It evokes patriotism and national pride
      • So, even though Right to Vote is legally a statutory right, it has deep emotional and democratic significance.
    [2017] Right to vote and to be elected in India is a: 
    (a) Fundamental Right 
    (b) Natural Right 
    (c) Constitutional Right 
    (d) Legal Right

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  • Indian Ocean Power Competition

    Chagos Islands  

    13 April 2026 | Prelims OnlyWorld Mapping | International Relations
    Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Why in the News?

    • The United Kingdom has put on hold the deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, keeping the long-running UK–Mauritius sovereignty dispute unresolved.

    About the Chagos Islands

    • Location: Central Indian Ocean
    • Distance: About 1,600 km south of India
    • Type: Archipelago (group of islands)
    • Status: British Overseas Territory
    • Established: 1965 (British Indian Ocean Territory)

    Major Islands in Chagos Archipelago

    • Diego Garcia (Largest island)
    • Peros Banhos Atoll
    • Solomon Islands
    • Egmont Islands
    • Eagle Islands
    • Nelsons Island
    • Three Brothers Islands
    • Danger Island
    [2022] Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? 
    a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. 
    b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. 
    c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. 
    d) Though International Court, of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

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  • Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.

    Export Inspection Council (EIC)  

    13 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Why in the News?

    • India clarified that Export Inspection Council (EIC) certificate for rice exports is required only for certain European countries, including: European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland

    About Export Inspection Council (EIC)

    • Established Under: Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963
    • Statutory Body 
    • Established By: Government of India
    • Year: 1963
    • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    • Headquarters: New Delhi

    Purpose

    • Ensures quality and safety of Indian exports
    • Promotes sound development of export trade
    • Acts as official export certification body of India

    Organizational Structure

    • Chairman — Head of Council
    • Executive Head: Director of Inspection & Quality Control
    • Responsible for day to day functioning
    [2025] With reference to India, consider the following pairs: Organization  Union Ministry 
    1. The National Automotive Board: Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
    2. The Coir Board: Ministry of Heavy Industries 
    3. The National Centre for Trade Information: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? 
    [A] Only one [B] Only two [C] All the three [D] None

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  • Tribes in News

    Lanjia Saora Tribe  

    13 April 2026 | Prelims Only | Indian Society
    Mains Paper 1: Diversity Of India

    Why in the News

    • Younger members of the Lanjia Saora tribe are reinterpreting traditions while adapting to modern lifestyles, reflecting cultural transformation within a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

    Who are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

    • PVTG are 75 specially identified, highly marginalised scheduled tribe communities in India (across 18 states/UTs) characterized by pre-agricultural technology, stagnant populations, extremely low literacy, and subsistence economies.

    About Lanjia Saora Tribe

    • State: Odisha (mainly)
    • Category: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)
    • Other Names: Savaras, Sabaras, Saura, and Sora

    Distribution

    • Primarily in Odisha
    • Also found in: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam

    Language

    • Language: Sora
    • Language Family: Munda (Austroasiatic family)
    • Script: Sorang Sompeng
    • One of the few tribal groups in India with their own script
    [2019] Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: 
    1 PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
    2 A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 
    3 There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. 
    4 Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct? 
    (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 1, 3 and 4.

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Indus River Dolphin  

    13 April 2026 | Prelims OnlySpecies | Environment
    Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    • Conservation reserves, citizen science, and habitat protection efforts are helping the Indus River Dolphin population recover in India, particularly in the Beas River.

    About the Indus River Dolphin

    • Scientific Name: Platanista minor
    • Common Name: Indus River Dolphin
    • Type: Freshwater river dolphin
    • One of the rarest mammals in the world
    • IUCN Status is Endangered

    Distribution

    • Primary Habitat: Indus River system (Pakistan)
    • India:
      • Beas River (Punjab) — small remnant population
    • Earlier found across:
      • Indus tributaries (Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum)

    Physical Appearance

    • Long, pointed snout
    • Visible teeth even when mouth is closed
    • Flexible neck (rare among dolphins)
    • Small dorsal fin
    [2019] Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in 
    1. Blue-finned Mahseer: Cauvery River 
    2. Irrawaddy Dolphin: Chambal River 
    3. Rusty-spotted Cat: Eastern Ghats 
    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? 
    [A] 1 and 2 only [B] 2 and 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3

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