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Type: Prelims Only

  • Health Sector – UHC, National Health Policy, Family Planning, Health Insurance, etc.

    Shingles Disease 

    Prelims Only | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

    Why in the news?

    A recent large study shows that shingles vaccination can reduce the risk of death from dementia and may help slow disease progression.

    What is Shingles

    • A viral infection characterized by a painful rash
    • Causative agent: Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
      • Same virus responsible for chickenpox
      • Remains latent in nerve cells after recovery from chickenpox
      • Can reactivate later in life

    Transmission

    • Shingles itself is not contagious
    • But the virus can spread to people without prior immunity, causing chickenpox (not shingles)

    Symptoms

    • Cluster of blisters appearing in a band-like pattern on one side of the body (typically torso, neck, or face)
    • Pain, burning, tingling sensation
    • Fever, fatigue, headache
    • Can lead to post-herpetic neuralgia (long-term nerve pain)
    HINI virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases? (2015)

    (a) AIDS 

    (b) Bird flu 

    (c) Dengue 

    (d) Swine flu

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  • Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

    Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) – NHAI Public InvIT

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Why in the news?

    SEBI has granted in-principle approval to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for registering Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) as an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) under SEBI (InvIT) Regulations, 2014. It will support asset monetisation of national highways.

    What is an InvIT

    • A collective investment structure similar to REITs but for infrastructure
    • Allows ownership of income-generating infrastructure assets
    • Investors receive regular returns from toll/usage revenues
    • Regulated by SEBI

    About RIIT

    • Sponsored by NHAI
    • Part of NHAI’s Public InvIT strategy to attract wider retail and domestic participation
    • Operated through Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt Ltd (RIIMPL)
    • RIIMPL ownership: SBI, PNB, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank

    InvITs and SARFAESI Act, 2002

    Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) are considered borrowers under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.

    What this means

    • When InvITs raise debt from banks or financial institutions, the lenders receive enforceable security
    • If InvITs default on repayment, lenders can:
      • Take over the secured assets
      • Manage or sell the assets to recover dues
      • Enforce security interest without court intervention

    SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014

    Objective
     To provide a regulated framework for pooling funds from investors into revenue-generating infrastructure assets and ensure transparency, investor protection, and efficient monetization.

    Key Features

    • Sponsors, Trust, Trustee, Investment Manager as major participants
    • InvITs can own completed or under-construction infrastructure projects
    • Public InvITs must be listed on stock exchanges
    • Mandatory regular distribution of income to unit holders (at least 90 percent of net distributable cash flow)
    • Minimum 80 percent of the value of assets must be in completed and operational projects for publicly listed InvITs
    • Leverage limits specified to maintain financial stability
    Consider the following statements : (2023)

    Statement-I : Interest income from the deposits in Infra-structure Investment Trusts (InvITs) distributed to their investors is exempted from tax, but the dividend is taxable. 

    Statement-II : InvITs are recognized as borrowers under the ‘Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002’. 

    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

    (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I 

    (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I 

    (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

    (d) Statement-I is incorrect but State-ment-II is correct

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  • Civil Aviation Sector – CA Policy 2016, UDAN, Open Skies, etc.

    IndiGo Flight Disruptions and DGCA Temporary FDTL Exemptions

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters,Statutory, Regulatory & Various Quasi-Judicial Bodies

    Why in the news?

    India’s largest airline IndiGo faced severe flight disruptions in early December 2025 due to shortage of flight crew under revised Flight Duty Time Limitation rules, prompting regulatory intervention.

    What is FDTL?

    Rules that regulate pilot duty hours, night operations, number of landings, and mandatory rest periods to manage pilot fatigue and ensure safety.

    New FDTL Norms

    Implemented in two stages:

    1. July 1 — Extended weekly rest for pilots to 48 hours from 36
    2. November 1 — Major changes for night operations
      • Extended definition of night hours
      • Capped night landings to two

    Restricted consecutive night duties to two days a week

    Why IndiGo was hit hardest

    • Very large scale of operations with lean staffing
    • High proportion of night and early morning flights

    Temporary Relief by DGCA (till February 10, 2026)

    • Night defined as midnight to 5 am instead of midnight to 6 am for IndiGo A320 pilots
    • Night landings allowed up to six instead of two
    • Clause restricting substitution of mandatory weekly rest withdrawn
    • 12 DGCA-deputed flight operations inspectors allowed to fly for IndiGo temporarily
    • Exemption reviewed every two weeks with progress report requirements

    UPSC Prelims Pointers

    • DGCA functions: regulatory oversight of civil aviation safety including FDTL norms
    • Pilot fatigue: identified by ICAO as a significant aviation safety hazard
    • IndiGo market share: over 60 percent in domestic aviation

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Predation by Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab: New Ecological Observation on India’s East Coast

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the news?

    Researchers from GITAM School of Science, Visakhapatnam, have documented the first confirmed instance of a horn-eyed ghost crab preying on a mottled lightfoot crab at Rushikonda Beach, Andhra Pradesh.
     Published in: Journal of Threatened Taxa (November edition).

    Significance of the Finding

    • Demonstrates unusual predator-prey interaction not recorded earlier in India
     • Indicates behavioural extension of the horn-eyed ghost crab into rocky intertidal zones
     • Suggests flexible foraging strategies in shifting coastal environments

    About Horn-Eyed Ghost Crab

    • Belongs to genus Ocypode and IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List
     • Keystone species and ecological indicator of coastal health
     • Known for sandy intertidal habitat
     • Roles in ecosystem: Regulates populations of smaller fauna and Burrowing influences sand structure and aeration
     • Known predators of clams, snails, worms, insects, shrimps and even turtle/bird hatchlings
     • India records six ghost crab species; Rushikonda hosts at least three (O. brevicornis, O. macrocera, O. cordimanus)
    With reference to ‘dugong’ a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

    (1) It is a herbivorous marine animal.

    (2) It is found along the entire coast of India.

    (3) It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-ASEAN

    ICGS Vigraha Visit to Indonesia 

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

    Why in the news?

    Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha is on an overseas deployment to ASEAN countries. It is making an operational visit to Jakarta, Indonesia from 2 to 5 December 2025.

    Purpose of Visit

    • Strengthen Coast Guard cooperation between India and Indonesia
     • Enhance interoperability in maritime safety and security
     • Joint professional interactions, shipboard drills, tabletop exercises, PASSEX (Passage Exercise)

    Diplomatic and Operational Significance

    • Reinforces cooperation for Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) in the Indo-Pacific
     • Supports coordinated surveillance of sea lanes and marine domain awareness
     • Includes cultural and people-to-people engagements

    India is a member of which among the following? (2015)

    (1) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 

    (2) Association of South-East Asian Nations 

    (3) East Asia Summit Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) India is a member of none of them

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  • Soil Health Management – NMSA, Soil Health Card, etc.

    World Soil Day 2025 

    Prelims Only | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

    Why in the news?

    Observed on 5 December each year, World Soil Day 2025 highlights the need to protect soil health amid rapid urbanization. Theme: Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.

    Objective

    • Raise global awareness on soil degradation
     • Promote sustainable soil management
     • Highlight soil’s significance for food security, water regulation, biodiversity, and climate resilience

    History

    • Proposed by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002
     • Supported by FAO and led by the Kingdom of Thailand
     • UN General Assembly declared December 5 as World Soil Day in 2013
     • First official observance: 2014

    Why Focus on Urban Soil

    • Important for stormwater absorption and flood control
     • Helps in temperature regulation in cities (reduces heat island effect)
     • Filters air and water pollutants
     • Supports urban biodiversity
     • Currently threatened by concretization, pollution, and shrinking green spaces

    Global Concerns

    • Takes up to 1,000 years to form a few centimeters of fertile soil

    The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of (2021)

    (a) brown forest soil 

    (b) fissure volcanic rock 

    (c) granite and schist 

    (d) shale and limestone

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  • Promoting Science and Technology – Missions,Policies & Schemes

    Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) 

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Why in the news?

    Meta is in advanced talks with Google to use its Tensor Processing Units for large scale AI workloads, indicating a major shift in the AI chip ecosystem. This led to a drop in Nvidia’s stock due to concerns over market share loss.

    What is a TPU

    • A specialized hardware chip designed to accelerate artificial intelligence and machine learning processing
     • Developed by Google in 2016
     • Optimized for tensor computations used in deep learning
     • Widely deployed in data centers and cloud platforms

    Why TPUs are Important

    • Deep learning models require high-speed matrix and tensor calculations
     • CPUs are optimized for general-purpose tasks
     • GPUs are effective for parallel graphics and AI workloads
     • TPUs surpass them in efficiency for specific deep learning operations

    How TPUs Work

    • Built to handle large scale tensor and matrix computations
     • Use massive parallelism to execute numerous operations simultaneously
     • Consume less energy while delivering high throughput
     • Include specialized circuits to avoid unnecessary general-purpose processing overhead

    What are GPU and TPU? 

    ​​GPU: general-purpose parallel compute processor (Used by Navidia)

    TPU: AI-specific chip optimised for deep learning tensor operations
    With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)

    (1) Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units

    (2) Create meaningful short stories and songs (3) Disease diagnosis

    (4) Text-to-Speech Conversion

    (5) Wireless transmission of electrical energy

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

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  • Citizenship and Related Issues

    Assam Accord 

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Why in the news?

    The Supreme Court recently questioned whether a new order enabling entry of persecuted minorities into India violates the Assam Accord’s cut-off date of 24 March 1971 for detecting illegal immigrants.

    Background

    • Signed on 15 August 1985
     • Parties: Union of India, Government of Assam, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad
     • Ended the Assam Movement (1979 to 1985) against illegal immigration
     • Aim: Detect and expel persons entering Assam illegally after 24 March 1971 (midnight)

    Cut-off Dates and Citizenship Provisions

    • 1 January 1966 fixed as the base cut-off for detection and deletion of foreigners
     • Persons entering Assam from the “Specified Territory” before 1 January 1966 deemed Indian citizens
     • Migrants entering from 1 January 1966 to 24 March 1971:
     To be detected as per Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners Tribunals Order 1939
     Names deleted from electoral rolls
      Must register under the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939
     Voting rights only after 10 years from date of detection
     • Migrants entering on or after 25 March 1971: To be detected, deleted from rolls, and expelled as per law

    Clause 6

    • Mandates safeguards to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people
     • Constitutional, legislative, and administrative measures envisaged

    Significance

    • Central to demographic and cultural protection concerns in Assam
     • Continues to influence citizenship policies including NRC and related legal debates

    With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2021)

    1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 

    2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 

    3. A foreigner, once granted citizenship, cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3

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  • Defence Sector – DPP, Missions, Schemes, Security Forces, etc.

    INS Aridhaman

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Indigenization Of Technology

    Why in the News

    The Indian Navy has indicated that INS Aridhaman, India’s third nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), will be inducted soon.

    About INS Aridhaman

    • Second submarine of the Arihant class SSBNs
      • Developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project
       • Built at Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam
       • Strengthens India’s nuclear triad with credible sea based deterrence.

    Strategic Significance 

    • Enhances deterrence posture under No First Use policy
       • Consolidates India’s position as a blue water navy
       • Increases maritime security presence in the Indian Ocean Region

    Note: A blue water navy is a maritime force that can operate far beyond its own coastal waters and project power across the deep oceans of the world.

    Consider the following statements: (2023)

    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at sub-sonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight. 

    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

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Humpback Whale Population Recovery

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News

    The Humpback whale population has seen a major recovery from about 10,000 to nearly 80,000, due to successful conservation measures and their ability to adapt their food sources.

    Humpback Whale 

    • Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae
       • Family: Balaenopteridae (Rorqual whales)
       • Type: Baleen whale

    Distribution and Migration

    • Found in all major oceans from sub polar waters to equatorial regions
      • Known for long distance migrations: Polar regions in summer for feeding and Tropical/subtropical seas in winter for breeding

    Physical Characteristics

    • A prominent hump in front of the dorsal fin
      • Extra long pectoral fins (inspiration for the name Megaptera meaning big winged)
      • Females larger than males

    Feeding and Behaviour

    • Unique feeding strategy: Bubble Net Feeding
    • Whales exhale bubbles while spiraling upward to trap prey
    • Diet: Krill and various schooling fish like anchovies, sardines, mackerel, cod, capelin

    Lifespan and Reproduction

    • Sexual maturity: 4 to 10 years
      • One calf every 2 to 3 years

    Conservation Status

    • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
      • Population recovery highlights the success of global marine conservation policies and sustainable whaling bans
    With reference to ‘dugong’ a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

    (1) It is a herbivorous marine animal

    (2) It is found along the entire coast of India

    (3) It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

    (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only

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