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

Type: Prelims Only

  • Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

    NITI Aayog Report on School Education 

    Why in the News

    NITI Aayog released a report titled “School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement”, highlighting poor student retention and weak learning outcomes in India’s school system.

    Key Findings of the Report

    • Near Universal Primary Access: India has achieved near universal enrolment at the primary level. However, Significant dropouts occur at secondary and higher secondary stages

    Student Dropout Concern

    • Around 4 out of 10 students drop out before completing higher secondary education
    • Reason: Frequent school transitions due to lack of continuous schooling structure.

    Pyramid Structure of Schooling

    The report describes India’s education system as a “sharp pyramid”.

    Statistics

    • Total schools: 14.71 lakh
    • Total students: 24.69 crore
    • Primary schools: 7.3 lakh
    • Higher secondary schools: 1.64 lakh
    [2025] Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct? 
    I. It has recommended grants of ₹ 4,800 crores from the year 2022-23 to the year 2025-26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes. 
    II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States. 
    III. ₹ 45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms. 
    IV. Its reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance. 
    Select the correct answer using the code given below. 
    [A] I, II and III [B] I, II and IV [C] I, III and IV [D] II, III and IV
  • Indian Air Force Updates

    Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) 

    Why in the News

    Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha on May 7, 2026.

    About TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation)

    • It is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system
    • Purpose: Converts unguided warheads into precision guided weapons

    Developed By

    • Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
    • Along with other DRDO laboratories

    Key Features

    • Glide Weapon System: Uses aerodynamic lift to glide towards targets after launch
    • Enhances:
      • Accuracy
      • Lethality
      • Operational range
    • Low Cost Technology: Utilises state of the art low cost systems
    [2023] Consider the following statements 
    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of fight. 
    2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. 
    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
  • Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

    Swasth Bharat Portal 

    Why in the News

    The Government of India has launched the Swasth Bharat Portal, a unified digital platform aimed at integrating fragmented health programme systems across the country.

    About Swasth Bharat Portal

    • A single integrated digital health platform
    • Designed to connect multiple health programme systems through:
      • API based interoperability

    What are Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)?

    • Instead of building unique, complex connections between every single system, APIs act as “universal translators” or bridges, allowing disparate tools to work together seamlessly without requiring deep knowledge of each other’s internal code

    Main Objectives

    • Eliminate duplicate data entry
    • Streamline reporting systems
    • Improve evidence based planning
    • Support faster decision making in health programmes

    Key Features

    • Unified Health Platform: Acts as a one stop aggregator for health programmes
    • Interoperability
    • Uses federated architecture and APIs
    • Enables seamless exchange of health data
    • Data VisualisationProvides tools for monitoring and local level planning
    [2022] With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: 
    1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it. 
    2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately. 
    3. It has seamless portability across the country.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
    [A] 1 and 2 only [B] 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3
  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Oak Trees Delay Leafing to Avoid Caterpillars 

    Why in the News

    A study published in Nature has found that oak trees in temperate forests delay budburst and leaf emergence after heavy caterpillar infestation to reduce insect damage.

    Key Findings of the Study

    • Oak trees delayed spring leaf emergence by about:
      • Three days after severe caterpillar attacks
    • Study conducted across:
      • 60 oak forest sites
      • Over 2,400 km
      • During 2017 to 2021

    What is Budburst

    • Stage when tree buds open and new leaves emerge during spring

    Why Trees Delay Leafing

    • Caterpillars depend on soft fresh leaves immediately after hatching
    • Delayed leaf emergence creates temporary food shortage for insects
    • Result:
      • Reduced caterpillar survival
      • Lower leaf damage

    Major Outcomes

    • Leaf damage reduced by nearly: 55%
    • Delayed leafing found more energy efficient than chemical defence mechanisms
    [2022] If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there? 
    1. Oak 
    2. Rhododendron 
    3. Sandal wood 
    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 
    a) 1 and 2 only b) 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
  • Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

    AMOC Collapse and Its Impact on India 

    Why in the News

    Scientists have warned that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major Atlantic Ocean current system, could weaken drastically by 2100 due to climate change, potentially affecting global climate and the Indian monsoon.

    What is AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation)?

    • A large system of ocean currents in the Atlantic Ocean often described as a global ocean conveyor belt

    How AMOC Works

    • Warm, salty surface water flows northward from the tropics
    • Near the Arctic, water cools and becomes denser
    • Dense water sinks deep into the ocean
    • Cold deep water then flows southward

    Importance of AMOC

    • Maintains relatively mild climate in Europe
    • Influences:
      • Rainfall patterns
      • Monsoons
      • Global temperature distribution
      • Marine ecosystems

    Connection with El Niño

    • El Niño
      • Periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters
      • Influences global weather patterns
    • A weaker AMOC may: Make El Niño events more extreme and unpredictable
    [2020] With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 
    1.OMT is measured up to a depth of 26ºC isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March. 
    2.OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean. 
    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
  • Road and Highway Safety – National Road Safety Policy, Good Samaritans, etc.

    NCRB Report on Traffic Accidents in India 

    Why in the News

    According to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded nearly 1.99 lakh traffic related deaths in 2024, with speeding emerging as the leading cause of fatalities.

    Key Findings of the NCRB Report

    • Traffic Accident Deaths
      • Average deaths per day: 546
      • Total traffic related deaths in 2024: 1.99 lakh
    • Share of Road Accidents: Around 88% of traffic deaths were due to road accidents
    • States with Highest Fatalities
      • Uttar Pradesh
      • Tamil Nadu
      • Maharashtra

    About NCRB

    National Crime Records Bureau

    • Established in: 1986
    • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
    • Compiles and analyses crime and accident statistics in India

    Government Initiatives for Road Safety

    • Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019
    • National Road Safety Policy
    • Black Spot Identification Programme
    [2022] In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers? 
    (a) Central Statistics Office 
    (b) Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade 
    (c) Labour Bureau 
    (d) National Technical Manpower Information System
  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Cyborg Materials and Learning Metamaterials 

    Why in the News

    Researchers in Europe have developed a synthetic metamaterial capable of physically learning and changing shape in response to external conditions. The findings were published in the journal Nature Physics.

    About Metamaterials

    • Special engineered materials whose properties depend on:
      • Internal structure
      • Physical arrangement
      • Not just chemical composition
    • Can exhibit unusual properties not found in natural materials

    Key Features of the New Material

    • Built as a chain of connected robotic units
    • Each unit contains:
      • Motor
      • Angle sensor
      • Microcontroller
    • Capable of:
      • Learning shapes
      • Forgetting previous configurations
      • Adapting to new external conditions
    [2023] Consider the following actions: 
    1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously
     2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive 
    3. Detection of the tilt of the smart- phone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and landscape mode 
    In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required? 
    [A] Only one [B] Only two [C] All three [D] None
  • Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

    Hantavirus and Andes Virus 

    Why in the News

    Health authorities in South Africa detected the Andes strain of hantavirus in passengers linked to a cruise ship outbreak off Cape Verde. The Andes virus is notable because it can spread from human to human in rare cases.

    About Hantavirus

    • A group of viruses mainly spread by:
      • Rodents
    • Humans may become infected through:
      • Contact with rodent urine, saliva, or droppings
      • Contaminated air particles

    Andes Virus

    • A specific strain of hantavirus
    • Found mainly in:
      • Argentina
      • Chile

    Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection

    • Fever
    • Muscle pain
    • Fatigue
    • Respiratory distress in severe cases
    [2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? 
    (a) Syria and Jordan 
    (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
    (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea 
    (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
  • Air Pollution

    SO₂ Emissions from Coal Power Plants: IIT Delhi Study

    Why in the News

    A study by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has found that fully controlling sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from coal-fired power plants could prevent nearly 1.24 lakh deaths annually in India.

    Key Findings of the Study

    • Reduction of SO₂ emissions can significantly lower:
      • PM2.5 pollution
      • Respiratory diseases
      • Cardiovascular illnesses
    • Estimated annual prevention:
      • 1,24,564 deaths
      • Including thousands of respiratory and heart disease cases

    About SO₂ (Sulphur Dioxide)

    • A major air pollutant released from:
      • Coal fired thermal power plants
      • Fossil fuel combustion
    • In atmosphere, SO₂ forms:
      • Sulphates
      • Secondary particulate matter (PM2.5)

    What is PM2.5

    • Fine particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres
    • Can penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream
    • Causes:
      • Asthma
      • Lung diseases
      • Heart diseases

    Coal Fired Power Plants (CFPPs)

    • Major contributors to:
      • SO₂ emissions
      • Air pollution in India
    • Important pollution hotspots identified in:
      • Chhattisgarh
      • Odisha
      • Maharashtra
      • Tamil Nadu
      • Karnataka

    Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)

    • FGD Technology
      • Removes SO₂ from exhaust gases of thermal plants
      • Helps reduce: Air pollution and Acid rain
    [2024] According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions? 
    (a) Locomotives using fossil fuels 
    (b) Ships using fossil fuels 
    (c) Extraction of metals from ores 
    (d) Power plants using fossil fuels
  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Rusty Spotted Cat in Aravallis 

    Why in the News

    The Rusty-spotted Cat, one of the world’s smallest wildcat species, has been recorded alive and breeding in the Aravalli Range near Delhi, including sightings in Faridabad and Gurugram regions.

    About Rusty Spotted Cat

    • Scientific name: Prionailurus rubiginosus
    • One of the smallest wild cats in the world
    • Native to: India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

    Conservation Status

    IUCN Red List: International Union for Conservation of Nature status: Near Threatened

    Wildlife Protection in India

    • Protected under: Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972  
    • Highest level of legal protection in India.
    [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