💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Type: Prelims Only

  • India to Gain Preferential Access to 38 Developed Countries  

    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

  • Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March  

    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

  • Supreme Court on Voting Rights & Electoral Rolls  

    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

  • Chagos Islands  

    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.

  • Export Inspection Council (EIC)  

    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

  • Lanjia Saora Tribe  

    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.

  • Indus River Dolphin  

    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

  • Kashmir Scientists Cultivate Rare Morel Mushrooms 

    Why in the News?

    • Scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Srinagar successfully cultivated Morel mushrooms (Morchella) in controlled conditions for the first time.
    • Considered a major scientific breakthrough due to the mushroom’s complex growth requirements.

    About Morel Mushrooms (Morchella)

    • Scientific name: Morchella
    • Local name (Kashmir): Kangaech
    • Type: Rare edible wild mushroom
    • Habitat:
      • High-elevation forests
      • Appears during short rainy season
    • Market Price: ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 per kg (one of the world’s most expensive mushrooms)

    Why Morels Are Expensive

    • Naturally grows in very specific environmental conditions
    • Short harvesting window
    • Difficult to locate in dense forests
    • Labour-intensive collection
    • High global demand in gourmet cuisine

    Cultivation Methods Achieved

    • Polyhouse cultivation (Controlled environment)
    • Open-field cultivation (Natural conditions simulation)
    [2022] With reference to ‘Gucchi’ sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: 
    1 It is a fungus. 
    2 It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. 
    3 It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. 
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
    (a) 1 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 2 (d) 2 and 3

  • IUCN Uplists Emperor Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal to Endangered

    Why in the News?

    The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has uplisted the Emperor Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal to the Endangered category, citing severe impacts of climate change and habitat loss.

    About Emperor Penguin

    • Largest penguin species in the world
    • Found only in Antarctica
    • Considered sentinel species of Antarctic ecosystem
    • IUCN Status: Endangered

    Antarctic Fur Seal

    About

    • Marine mammal
    • Member of eared seal family
    • IUCN Status: Endangered

    Habitat

    • Antarctic and Sub Antarctic waters
    • Major breeding ground:
      • South Georgia Island

    Key Threats

    • Climate change reducing krill population
    • Ocean warming pushing krill deeper
    • Food shortage for seals
    [2011] The ‘Red Data Books’ published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of:
    (a) Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
    (b) Threatened plant and animal species.
    (c) Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.
    (d) None of the above

  • Temperature Controlled Organic Nanomaterial Discovered by Indian Researchers

    Why in the News?

    Researchers from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a temperature controlled organic nanomaterial using Naphthalene Diimide (NDI).

    What is Naphthalene Diimide (NDI)?

    • Naphthalene Diimide (NDI) is an amphiphilic organic molecule
    • Has:
      • Water attracting part (hydrophilic)
      • Water repelling part (hydrophobic)
    • Enables self assembly into nanostructures

    How It Works

    At Room Temperature

    • NDI molecules form nanodisks
    • High electrical conductivity
    • Interact with polarized light

    When Heated

    • Nanodisks transform into 2D nanosheets
    • Electrical conductivity drops 7 times
    • Optical properties change
    • This allows temperature controlled switching of material properties.
    [2022] Consider the following statements: 1 Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature. 2 Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics. 3 Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 2 (d) 2 and 3