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

Type: Prelims Only

  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Cyclone Mocha developing in Bay of Bengal

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Cyclone Mocha

    Mains level: Not Much

    cyclone

    Central Idea: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a developing cyclonic or low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. It would be named Cyclone Mocha (pronounced ‘Mokha’).

    What is a cyclone and how are they formed?

    • A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.
    • Warm seas present ripe conditions for the development and strengthening of cyclones.
    • The air rises and blows in an anticlockwise direction around the low in the northern hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.
    • As warm air rises and cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and this can lead to rains.
    • Cyclones can cause significant impacts on life and property, including storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lightning.

    Requirements for a Cyclone to form

    There are six main requirements for tropical cyclogenesis:

    1. Sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures
    2. Atmospheric instability
    3. High humidity in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere
    4. Enough Coriolis force to develop a low-pressure centre
    5. A pre-existing low-level focus or disturbance
    6. Low vertical wind shear

    How are cyclones named?

    • Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialized meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
    • The IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean after following a standard procedure.
    • In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
    • After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalized the list.
    • This cyclone will be named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

    Why is it important to name cyclones?

    • Adopting names for cyclones makes it easier for people to remember, as opposed to numbers and technical terms.
    • It’s easier and less confusing to say “Cyclone Titli” than remember the storm’s number or its longitude and latitude.
    • Apart from the general public, it also helps the scientific community, the media, disaster managers etc.
    • With a name, it is also easy to identify individual cyclones, create awareness of its development, rapidly disseminate warnings to increase community preparedness etc.

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    What does the Constitution say about the sovereignty of India?

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Sovereignty

    Mains level: Not Much

    Central Idea

    • The article revolves around the issue of a political party filing a complaint against a politician of foreign origin with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
    • She had allegedly been advocating the secession of Karnataka from India in her election speeches.

    Definition of sovereignty

    • Sovereignty is the idea of having supreme authority over a defined territory.
    • In Western philosophy, the concept is used to describe the supremacy of the state over the people being governed.
    • The state has a legitimate claim to sovereignty in exchange for providing protection to its citizens, keeping society cohesive and at peace, and controlling law and order.

    Sovereignty in India’s Constitution

    • The word sovereignty appears in the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of India as the first attribute of the independent republic of India.
    • Its placement as the first among the core principles of the republic underlines its importance in the Constitution.
    • Sovereignty is invoked in the Indian Constitution to “declare the ultimate sovereignty of the people of India and that the Constitution rests on their authority.”
    • It is mentioned in the Constitution under Fundamental Duties, and citizens have a duty to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

    Relationship of Indian states with the sovereign Union

    • The Indian political system is described as “quasi-federal.”
    • India is a Union of States, and the component units have no freedom to secede or break away from it.
    • The Indian setup is more unitary in nature than the federal one, and the central government has more powers than the states.
    • The choice of a unitary bias that the Constitution makers made was possibly rooted in the difficulty of getting around 600 princely states to accede to India.

    Provisions attesting to the superior position of the Centre

    • The States in India need not be consulted in the matter of amendment to the bulk of the Constitution.
    • Governors in states are appointed “during the pleasure” of the President and are seen as representatives of the Union in the States.
    • The Sixteenth Amendment of 1963 laid down that even the advocacy of succession under Article 19 (1) will not be protected under law in the name of Freedom of Speech as directed under Article 19 (2).
    • The right to alter the boundaries of states and to create new states lies with Parliament alone.
    • The Constitution offers no guarantee to the States against their territorial integrity without their consent since it was not a result of an ‘agreement’ between the States.

    These provisions demonstrate the superior position of the Centre in the Indian political system.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

    What is Project Dantak?

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Project Dantak

    Mains level: NA

    The Prime Minister has praised the initiative by Border Roads Organisation Project Dantak to commemorate 64th Raising Day.

    What is Project Dantak?

    Description
    Establishment Established on April 24, 1961, as per the agreement between the third king of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.
    Objective Identify the most important aspects of connectivity and spur the socio-economic development and growth of Bhutan.
    Responsibility Construct and maintain roads suitable for motorised transportation in Bhutan.
    Legal Provision Established under the provision of the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949.

     

    Works and Involvement

    Description
    Infrastructure Development Constructing infrastructure in adjoining Indian districts, including Sherbathang–Nathu La road, Gangtok–Sherbathang road, and Sevoke–Gangtok road.
    Establishment of Facilities Establishing medical and education facilities in outlying areas, which were the first in those regions.
    Takthi Canteen Takthi Canteen, commonly known as the DANTAK canteen, is a major stop for travelers midway between Phuentsholing and Thimphu.
    Recruitment of Workers Recruiting local workers from Bhutan and Indian workers from adjoining districts like Jaigaon, Alipurduar, and other parts of Eastern and North-Eastern India under a basic monthly wage.
    Supervision of Work Posting officials from India for the supervision of work.

     

    Controversies and Incidents

    • The Bhutanese Government accused DANTAK of installing Indian tricolour-themed raised pavement markers or reflectors on the highway railings. DANTAK confirmed their presence, and those reflectors were immediately replaced.
    • A 204 meters long bridge in Haa along the Damchu-Haa road collapsed in February 2021, leaving 3 workers dead and 6 missing. The bridge was handed over to Project DANTAK by the contractor.
    • The project has faced criticisms for its approach to hiring practices and labor management.

    Major projects undertaken

    • Paro Airport: Built in 1968 as an airstrip for on-call helicopter services for the Indian Armed Forces. Now used as an international airport.
    • Yonphula Airfield: Domestic Airport in Bhutan
    • Thimphu – Trashigang Highway: Major Highway in Bhutan
    • Damchu-Chukha Road: Major Road in Bhutan
    • India House Estate: The Indian Embassy in Bhutan.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Zoonotic Diseases: Medical Sciences Involved & Preventive Measures

    FDA approves first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, F Protein

    Mains level: NA

    respiratory

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first vaccine ‘Arexvy’ for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to lower respiratory tract disease in people older than 60 years.

    What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus?

    • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause illness in people of all ages.
    • It is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, and it can also affect older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
    • RSV is highly contagious and spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching one’s face.
    • Symptoms of RSV can range from mild to severe, including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
    • In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or death.

    Identification of Protein F

    • In 2013, Barney Graham and other scientists identified the key protein, protein F, responsible for the RSV virus to infect human cells.
    • The protein, introduced in humans, elicited neutralizing antibodies against the virus.

    Approval and Efficacy of Arexvy

    • The FDA has approved Arexvy, the first RSV vaccine to be approved anywhere in the world, manufactured by GSK.
    • The approval was based on a phase-3 trial carried out on nearly 25,000 participants.
    • It showed a single dose of the vaccine reduced the risk of developing lower respiratory tract disease caused by the RSV virus by 82.6% and severe disease by 94.1% in people older than 60 years.
    • The vaccine will be available for older adults in the U.S. before the 2023-2024 RSV season.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Scientists help find new kind of Molecular Motor

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Molecular Motor

    Mains level: Not Much

    motor

    Central Idea: Researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences have discovered a new kind of molecular motor that has potential applications in biology and medicine.

    What is a molecular motor?

    • Cells use molecular motors to move things like organelles and molecules, and disruption of these processes can lead to diseases.
    • Molecular motors use biochemical energy to do mechanical work.

    What did the new study find?

    • The study found that EEA1, a long protein, can regain its rigid shape to create a new kind of two-part molecular motor.
    • EEA1 regains its rigid shape through a reaction called GTP hydrolysis, mediated by enzymes called GTPases.
    • The researchers believe this could mark a new class of molecular machines that operate as motors in a unique way with novel collective effects.

    Why is the finding significant?

    • The motor is different from most motors because it doesn’t produce a lever-like back-and-forth action and it uses GTP instead of ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate) for energy.
    • EEA1 exerts an entropic force on the membranes that it pulls, which is a unique feature.
    • The finding could have potential applications for understanding membrane fusion and for many other mechanochemical proteins or assemblies.

    What are the potential applications?

    • The discovery of the molecular motor could have potential applications in biology and medicine.
    • The study provides a general mechanism that is applicable to many mechanochemical proteins or assemblies that harness chemical energy for mechanical work in cells.

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Railway Reforms

    Rail Vikas Nigam gets Navratna Status

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) , Navratna status

    Mains level: Public Sector Enterprises

    Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was recently granted Navratna status by the Ministry of Railways.

    About RVNL

    • RVNL was incorporated in 2003 with the aim of implementing rail infrastructure projects quickly and raising extra budgetary resources for SPV projects.
    • The company started operating in 2005 after the appointment of its board of directors.
    • RVNL was granted Mini-Ratna status in 2013.

    RVNL’s functions

    • RVNL has been assigned to undertake project development and execution of works covering the full project lifecycle.
    • The company will create project-specific SPVs for individual works if required.
    • RVNL will hand over completed railway projects to the concerned zonal railway for operation and maintenance.

    Major projects undertaken

    RVNL has implemented various projects in the rail sector, including:

    • Doubling and electrification of existing lines
    • Construction of new lines
    • Gauge conversion projects.

    Navratna status and its benefits

    • Navratna’s status will give RVNL more operational freedom and financial autonomy.
    • Enhanced delegation of powers will also be granted to the company.
    • Navratna’s status will be a huge boost to RVNL’s progress.
    • This status will be especially beneficial for the company as it expands its operations beyond the railway’s sector and into international projects.

    Back2Basics: Central Public Sector Enterprises

    • The Government runs the CPSEs under the Department of Public Enterprises of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
    • The government grants them the status of Navratna, Miniratna and Maharatna based upon the profit made by these CPSEs.
    • The Maharatna category has been the most recent one since 2009, other two have been in function since 1997.
      Maharatna Navratna Miniratna Category-I Miniratna Category-II
    Eligibility Net profit of ₹2,500 crore per annum OR

    Net worth of ₹10,000 crore for 3 yrs.

    Score of 60 based on financial parameters AND be a Miniratna with 4 independent directors

    Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum for last 3 years

    Net profit of ₹30 crore per annum OR Positive net worth and profit for last 3 years
    Benefits for investment ₹1,000-5,000 crore or 15% of net worth Up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worth on a project OR 30% of net worth per annum Up to ₹500 crore or net worth, whichever is lower Up to ₹300 crore or 50% of net worth, whichever is lower

     

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Telecom and Postal Sector – Spectrum Allocation, Call Drops, Predatory Pricing, etc

    All India Radio (AIR) to be renamed Akashvani

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: All India Radio

    Mains level: Not Much

    radio

    Central idea: The Centre has ordered that public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes.

    All India Radio: Through history

    • The journey of radio broadcasting in India began with the first commercial transmission sent out by the Radio Club of Bombay in 1923.
    • In 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was established and in 1930, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was set up.
    • In 1936, ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR).
    • At the time of Independence, AIR covered only two percent of India’s land area and reached just 11 percent of its population.
    • Today, AIR has a network of over 262 radio stations, covering 92% of India’s area and nearly all of its population.
    • It broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects and also has an External Services Division which broadcasts in 11 Indian and 16 foreign languages, reaching out to more than 100 countries.
    • AIR’s News Services Division broadcasts 647 bulletins daily for a total duration of nearly 56 hours.
    • FM broadcasting began in 1977 in Chennai and today, AIR has 18 FM stereo channels.

    Why the name change?

    • The order to exclusively refer to AIR as Akashvani is in line with the provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, passed by Parliament.
    • Listeners have more of a connect with Akashvani and that the name change is in tune with the law which came into being in 1997.

    Importance of AIR

    • AIR played a crucial role in communicating momentous events in India’s recent history, prior to the advent of television or digital media.
    • AIR’s place in history is cemented due to its role in broadcasting Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in 1947 and Kapil Dev’s mythical 175 run knock in 1983, among other events.
    • For many Indians, the Akashvani jingle evokes nostalgia and memories of a bygone era when they woke up to the sounds of the jingle at the break of dawn and started their day with AIR programming.
  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    Europe de-recognizes 6 Indian clearing corporations

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Clearing Corporations

    Mains level: NA

    Central Idea

    • The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has de-recognised 6 clearing corporations in India as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) with effect from April 30.
    • However, it allowed European banks to continue business with them till April 2023 without penal consequences.

    What are Clearing Corporations?

    • Clearing corporations, also known as central counterparties (CCPs), are financial institutions that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers in financial markets.
    • They help to manage the risk of default by ensuring that each party involved in a trade has the necessary funds or securities to fulfil their obligations.
    • Clearing corporations also ensure that trades are settled in a timely and efficient manner.
    • In the context of this article, clearing corporations refer to those involved in the clearing and settlement of trades in India’s cash and derivatives market.

    Decisions by ESMA

    • ESMA has withdrawn recognition of six Indian clearing corporations including- CCIL, Indian Clearing Corporation Ltd, NSE Clearing Ltd, Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing, India International Clearing Corporation, and NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation.
    • ESMA asked Indian regulators to sign an agreement to give it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
    • Indian regulators refused to give supervisory power to foreign entities in Indian clearing corporations.
    • ESMA recognised these clearing corporations as Third Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) in the EU region.

    India’s rebuttal

    • ESMA had asked the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to sign an agreement giving it the power to monitor and supervise the clearing corporations.
    • Indian regulators did not agree to give supervisory power to a foreign entity on Indian clearing corporations.

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!

  • Urban Transformation – Smart Cities, AMRUT, etc.

    All Cantonments to be disbanded: Centre

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Cantonments

    Mains level: ULBs in India

    cantonment

    Central Idea: The Union government has kicked off a plan to abolish the 62 cantonments around the country as “archaic colonial legacies”. The first cantonment to be renamed a military station is Yol in Himachal Pradesh.

    What is the plan?

    • The plan is to carve out the military areas in all cantonments and convert them into “exclusive military stations” with the Army exercising “absolute control” over them.
    • The civilian areas, in turn, will be merged with the local municipalities, which will be responsible for their maintenance among other things.
    • The Army moved away from the concept of cantonments after independence, mainly due to the friction between military and civilian authorities.
    • But some major cantonments continued to exist. Ex. Pune Cantonment, Agra Cantonment etc.

    What are Cantonments?

    • Cantonments in India are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are stationed for administrative purposes.
    • These cantonments are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006 which provides for municipal administration and control of these areas.
    • There are 62 cantonments in India which are located in various states across the country.
    • These areas are maintained by the Defence Estates Organization (DEO) under the Ministry of Defence, and are distinct from military bases or barracks which are temporary locations for military personnel.
    • Cantonments are generally considered to be areas with better infrastructure and facilities compared to other parts of the country.

    Their features

    • Cantonment Boards are democratic bodies comprising elected and nominated members.
    • In terms of Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing Accommodation therein is the subject matter of the Union.
    • The Station Commander of the Cantonment is the ex-officio President of the Board, and an officer of the IDES or Defence Estates Organisation is the Chief Executive Officer who is also the Member-Secretary of the Board.
    • They have equal representation of elected and nominated/ex-officio members to balance official representation with democratic composition.
    • They maintain ecological balance while providing better civic facilities to the residents.

    History of establishments

    • The Cantonments Act, 1924 was enacted by the British to regulate the municipal administration of Cantonments.
    • After India’s independence, the Cantonments Act, 1924, was modified to suit the democratic setup of the country.
    • The Cantonments Act, 2006, replaced the Cantonments Act, 1924, and aims to provide greater autonomy and accountability to the Cantonment Boards.

    Categories

    There are four categories of Cantonments, depending on the size of the population residing inside a Cantonment:

    1. Category I: Cantonments having a population of more than 50,000.
    2. Category II: Cantonments having a population of 10,000 to 50,000.
    3. Category III: Cantonments having a population of less than 10,000.
    4. Category IV: Industrial or training Cantonments, irrespective of their population size.
  • Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

    India drops 11 places to rank 161 in World Press Freedom Index

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: World Press Freedom Index

    Mains level: Freedom of press in India and global propaganda

    Central Idea: India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, according to the latest report released by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

    What is Press Freedom Index?

    • The PFI is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters without Borders since 2002.
    • It is based upon the organisation’s own assessment of the countries’ press freedom records in the previous year.
    • It defines press freedom as “the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.”
    • It intends to reflect the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations, and netizens have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom.
    • It does not measure the quality of journalism in the countries it assesses, nor does it look at human rights violations in general.

     Irony of the rankings

    • In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
    • Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year’s 157th rank.
    • Afghanistan was ranked 152nd. This raises some questions about the methodology of the index.

    Global scenario

    • Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022
    • Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press freedom, while Vietnam, China and North Korea constituted the bottom three.

    Back2Basics: Freedom of Press and Constitutional Provisions

    • The Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. the State of Madras, 1950 observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.
    • It is guaranteed under the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19, which deals with ‘Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.
    • Freedom of the press is not expressly protected by the Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution.
    • The freedom of the press is also not absolute.

    Reasonable restrictions

    • A law could impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, it faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows:
    1. Sovereignty and integrity of India
    2. Security of the State,
    3. Friendly relations with foreign States
    4. Public order, decency or morality
    5. Contempt of court
    6. Defamation
    7. Incitement to an offence

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your personal mentor for UPSC 2024 | Schedule your FREE session and get the Prelims prep Toolkit!