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Type: Prelims Only

  • Judicial Reforms

    Article 32 of Indian Constitution

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

    Why in the News?

    At an event marking 75 years of the Constitution, the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gawai, said Ambedkar saw Article 32 as the core provision allowing citizens to approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

    About Article 32:

    • Right to Constitutional Remedies: Article 32 allows any individual to directly approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights under Part III of the Constitution.
    • Judicial Review Power: Empowers the Supreme Court to issue directions, orders, or writs to protect Fundamental Rights, making judicial review an essential constitutional feature.
    • Fundamental Right Status: The right to move the Supreme Court is itself a Fundamental Right and can be suspended only during a National Emergency under Article 359.
    • Jurisdiction: Grants the Supreme Court original but not exclusive jurisdiction; High Courts also have concurrent writ powers under Article 226.
    • Types of Writs Under Article 32:
      1. Habeas Corpus: Commands authorities to produce a detained person before the Court to prevent illegal detention.
      2. Mandamus: Orders public officials or bodies to perform a legal duty they have failed to discharge.
      3. Certiorari: Quashes orders of courts or tribunals that act without jurisdiction or violate due process.
      4. Prohibition: Stops lower courts or tribunals from exceeding their lawful authority during proceedings.
      5. Quo Warranto: Requires a person holding a public post to prove their legal authority, preventing illegal occupation of public office.

    Ambedkar’s Rationale for Article 32:

    • Rights Need Remedies: Ambedkar held that rights are meaningless without enforceable remedies; therefore, Article 32 had to be placed within the Constitution itself.
    • Objective Resolution Gap: He noted that the Objective Resolution (1946) declared rights but failed to guarantee mechanisms for enforcement.
    • “Heart and Soul” of the Constitution: Ambedkar called Article 32 the heart and soul because it transforms Fundamental Rights into legally enforceable claims against the State.
    • Supreme Court as Protector: He believed the Supreme Court must act as the guardian of individual liberty, ensuring no authority can violate fundamental freedoms.
    • Living Constitution Principle: Article 32 works alongside the amendment power under Article 368, ensuring adaptability while preserving core civil liberties.
    [UPSC 2012] Which of the following is included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

    1. Dispute between the Government of India and one or more States
    2. A dispute regarding elections to either House of the parliament or that of Legislature of a State
    3. A dispute between the Government of India and Union Territory
    4. A dispute between two or more States.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 and 2  (b) 2 and 3  (c) 1 and 4* (d) 3 and 4

     

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  • North-East India – Security and Developmental Issues

    Army sets up three new garrisons near the Siliguri Corridor

    National Parks/WSPrelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: External State & Non-State Actors: Challenges To Internal Security.

    Why in the News?

    India has set up three new Army garrisons at Dhubri, Kishanganj, and Chopra to secure the vulnerable eastern frontier and protect the Siliguri Corridor amid instability in Bangladesh and rising Chinese activity.

    Army sets up three new garrisons near the Siliguri Corridor

    About Siliguri Corridor:

    • Overview: A narrow land strip connecting mainland India to the Northeast, popularly called the Chicken Neck due to its thin, vulnerable shape.
    • Dimensions: Roughly 60 km long and 17–22 km wide, making it one of India’s most strategically sensitive corridors.
    • Location: Lies in northern West Bengal, bordered by Nepal (west), Bangladesh (south), Bhutan (north), with China’s Chumbi Valley close to the tri-junction.
    • Link to Northeast: The only land route for supplying all eight northeastern states, carrying road, rail, fuel, food and military logistics (except limited Bangladesh transit routes).
    • Strategic Sensitivity: Its narrowness and proximity to the India–China–Bhutan tri-junction make it a potential chokepoint in conflict scenarios.
    • Military Importance: Acts as the primary logistical artery for moving Indian Army troops and equipment toward Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, especially during LAC tensions.
    • Security Challenges: Surrounded by multiple international borders, making it prone to illegal immigration, smuggling, cross-border crime, and potential external military pressure.
    • Economic Significance: Key route for trade with Nepal and Bhutan, and supports tourism to Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan.

    About the New Eastern Garrison Deployments:

    • Purpose: Developed to address rising security risks due to political changes in Bangladesh, demographic pressures along the border, and China’s increasing activity near the tri-junction.
    • Locations:
      1. Lachit Borphukan Military Station, Dhubri (Assam)
      2. Forward base, Kishanganj (Bihar)
      3. Forward base, Chopra (West Bengal)
    • Operational Role: Enables continuous surveillance, rapid troop movement, and strengthens defence preparedness across the India–Bangladesh frontier.
    • Local Support: Assam facilitated quick setup of the Dhubri station, named after Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, symbolising regional identity and military determination.

    Drivers Behind the Reinforcement:

    • Regime Change in Bangladesh: Expected shifts in border behaviour, cross-border movement, and potential security spillovers.
    • Illegal Immigration Concerns: Union Home Ministry has flagged demographic changes in border districts linked to cross-border inflow.
    • China’s Expanding Influence:
      • Accelerated LAC military build-up in Arunachal Pradesh.
      • Growing ties with Pakistan and Bangladesh, including a trilateral meet in Kunming, raising regional security concerns.
    • Regional Military Activity: India has conducted major exercises like Poorvi Prachand Prahar and IAF flying displays in Assam to signal operational readiness.
    • Pakistan–Bangladesh Engagements: Recent visit of a Pakistan Navy ship to Chattogram (first since 1971) has added a fresh strategic dimension to India’s eastern security planning.

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

    Quantum Clocks and the Cost of Timekeeping

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

    Why in the News?

    A new study in Physical Review Letters finds that in quantum clocks the main cost of timekeeping comes from measurement rather than the clockwork itself, reshaping ideas in quantum metrology.

    What are Quantum Clocks?

    • Concept: Quantum clocks are timekeeping devices based on microscopic quantum systems whose transitions – atomic jumps, tunnelling events, or energy-level shifts – act as clock ticks.
    • Quantum Nature: Unlike classical clocks, their evolution is probabilistic, allowing temporary backward ticks due to quantum fluctuations while still needing a mechanism to mark irreversible flow of time.
    • Irreversibility Requirement: A functional clock must create a permanent record distinguishing past from future, despite underlying reversible quantum dynamics.
    • Role of Measurement: Their precision depends on both internal quantum transitions and the classical measurement system used to read them, since measurement converts quantum events into usable time signals.
    • Double Quantum Dot Model: In setups using double quantum dots (DQDs), a single electron tunnels between two nanoscale sites; each tunnelling event forms a discrete tick.
    • Quantum Dot Basis: Quantum dots – recognised by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – can confine single electrons precisely, enabling well-resolved quantum transitions.
    • Entropy and Precision: The clock’s internal entropy rises with precision; at equilibrium (equal forward and backward ticks), entropy is zero and the system loses its ability to mark time.

    Recent Findings and Implications:

    • New Demonstration (2025): A Physical Review Letters study built a working quantum clock using a double quantum dot and separately measured entropy from the clockwork and from the measurement process.
    • Key Result: The entropy generated by measurement (via DC sensing and RF reflectometry) was nine orders of magnitude higher than the entropy needed for the electron-tunnelling clock itself.
    • Zero-Entropy Clockwork Still Works: Even when the quantum system produced no entropy, continuous measurement still created an irreversible classical record, allowing timekeeping.
    • Core Insight: The arrow of time in quantum clocks arises mainly from the classical measurement interface, not from the quantum dynamics.
    • 2023 Theoretical Link: Supports earlier findings that quantum measurement is inherently invasive and energy-costly, and that increasing measurement frequency does not always improve accuracy.

    Implications:

    • Thermodynamic Cost: Extracting information from any quantum system has an energy and entropy cost, affecting quantum sensing, quantum metrology, and clock design.
    • Application Outlook: Ultra-precise atomic clocks may be improved by lower-entropy measurement systems, leading to more efficient next-generation timekeeping.
    • Quantum Technologies: Insights are crucial for scalable quantum computers, where reading qubits must be precise yet thermodynamically minimal.
    • Conceptual Implication: Suggests that the microscopic arrow of time emerges from creating readable, irreversible records, rather than solely from quantum evolution itself.
    [UPSC 2022] Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned?

    Options: (a) Cloud Services (b) Quantum Computing* (c) Visible Light Communication Technologies (d) Wireless Communication Technologies

     

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  • Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

    Sankaradeva’s Vrindavani Vastra to be displayed in Assam

    Prelims Only | Art and Culture | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

    Why in the News?

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma left for London to initiate the process of bringing back the revered Vrindavani Vastra from the British Museum.

    Sankaradeva’s Vrindavani Vastra to be displayed in Assam

    About Vrindavani Vastra:

    • Origin: 16th-century silk tapestry woven under the guidance of Srimanta Sankaradeva at Taniguchi (Barpeta), Assam.
    • Commission: Requested by Cilarai, brother of Koch king Naranarayana.
    • Weavers: Led by disciple Gopal (Mathuradas Budha Ata).
    • Design & Content:
      • Depicts Krishna’s childhood and Vrindavan leelas – birth, adventures, defeat of Kamsa.
      • Multicoloured silk with loom-embroidered captions for each scene.
    • Current Status:
      • Original piece lost; fragments preserved in British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum (London), Guimet Museum (Paris).
      • Plans are underway to bring it to Assam temporarily in 2027.

    Who was Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449–1568)?

    • About: Assamese Vaishnavite saint, scholar, cultural reformer, and polymath.
    • Religious Contribution:
      • Founded Ekasarana Dharma: Monotheistic Bhakti movement centred on Lord Krishna.
      • Rejected idol worship, caste divisions, Brahmanical orthodoxy, and sacrifices.
      • Motto: “Eka Deva, Eka Seva, Eka Biney Nahi Kewa” (One God, One Service, None Else).
      • Influenced Koch and Ahom kingdoms.
    • Cultural Contribution:
      • Borgeet (devotional songs).
      • Ankia Naat & Bhaona (religious theatre).
      • Sattriya dance (recognised as a classical dance of India).
      • Brajavali (literary language).
    • Social Reform:
      • Considered the father of modern Assamese identity.
      • Promoted equality, fraternity, and community cohesion.
      • Ended regressive practices (e.g., human sacrifice).
    • Legacy:
      • Combined art, devotion, and social reform into a unified cultural renaissance.
      • Revered as one of Assam’s greatest spiritual and cultural icons.
    [UPSC 2014] With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:

    1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.

    2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.

    3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only* (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    On Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, let’s celebrate his fight for dignity

    Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Introduction

    Birsa Munda and the larger Janjatiya movement occupy a central position in India’s social-political evolution. From colonial-era uprisings to modern state-led empowerment measures, tribal struggles reveal a continuous assertion of identity, land rights, cultural autonomy, and equitable development. The government’s recent initiatives, including the celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, PM-Janman Mission, tribal-focused infrastructure schemes, and protection of cultural heritage, highlight a renewed emphasis on integrating tribal communities into mainstream governance without erasing their distinctiveness.

    Why in the news?

    Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary gains special significance as India concludes the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Janjatiya icons during Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (2021-2024), a landmark recognition of tribal heritage at a national scale. For the first time, tribal leaders and movements are commemorated through a dedicated national day (Janjatiya Gaurav Divas), signalling a major shift from historical marginalisation to mainstream acknowledgment. This comes at a moment when tribal communities, once isolated, are transitioning toward empowered participation through new missions, infrastructure investments, and cultural revival measures highlighted in the article.

    How has the tribal freedom movement shaped India’s socio-political fabric?

    1. Historical Resistance: Tribal communities led sustained struggles against British colonial rule, moneylenders, and local landlords. Example: Movements led by Tilka Manjhi, Rani Gaidinliu, Sidhu-Kanhu, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, Tantia Bhil.
    2. Collective Assertion: Demonstrated that tribal revolts were not isolated incidents but powerful collective responses to exploitation.
    3. Cultural Protection: Defended land, culture, and dignity from systemic oppression, shaping India’s early political consciousness.

    Why is Birsa Munda a central figure in Janjatiya consciousness?

    1. Symbol of Dignity: Led the Ulgulan movement, highlighting tribal rights, cultural identity, and fight against colonial injustice.
    2. National Recognition: 2021 decision by the Prime Minister to commemorate his birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
      1. Significance: First national-level day dedicated to tribal heritage.
    3. Political Legacy: Birsa Munda’s region later inspired the creation of separate states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand, strengthening administrative representation for tribal communities.

    How have recent government initiatives enhanced tribal empowerment?

    1. PM-JANMAN Mission:
      1. Holistic Development: Transforms marginalised tribal communities from welfare-oriented to empowerment-oriented.
      2. Targeted Delivery: Implemented across 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
      3. Infrastructure: Houses, roads, electricity, drinking water, health, and education.
    2. Dhani Aaba Janjatiya Gaurav Ashram Abhiyan:
      1. Community Spaces: Creates structured social and economic development hubs.
      2. Outcome: Strengthens village-level institutions.
    3. EMRS Expansion:
      1. Educational Access: 728 Eklavya Model Residential Schools sanctioned; 479 operational.
      2. Impact: Bridges educational inequities for tribal children.
    4. Tribal Business Conclave:
      1. Market Linkages: Enhances geotagging of tribal products and economic inclusion.

    How has political leadership supported Janjatiya reforms?

    1. Representation in Governance: Continuous policy focus on tribal welfare
    2. Heritage Recognition:
      • Museums: Ten freedom fighter museums sanctioned; four inaugurated. These recognise tribal contributions to the freedom struggle.
    3. Prime Minister’s Visit to Ulihatu: First Prime Minister to visit Birsa Munda’s birthplace, underscoring symbolic national acknowledgment.

    How are tribal communities moving from isolation to mainstream participation?

    1. Governance Inclusion: Tribal affairs institutionalised via a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
    2. Economic Upliftment: PM-JANMAN and other schemes ensure roads, schools, livelihood support, and market integration.
    3. Cultural Revival: Celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh fosters awareness of tribal culture across generations.

    Conclusion

    Birsa Munda’s legacy is not confined to the past; it continues to shape India’s pursuit of justice, dignity, and equitable development for tribal communities. As the nation celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh and strengthens missions like PM-JANMAN, the shift from historic marginalisation to institutional empowerment marks a significant transformation in India’s democratic evolution.

    Value Addition

    Who was Birsa Munda?

    Birsa Munda (1875-1900) was a revolutionary tribal leader, spiritual reformer, and social mobiliser belonging to the Munda tribe of the Chotanagpur plateau. Revered as Dharti Aba (Father of the Earth), he transformed scattered tribal discontent into a structured political uprising.

    Which Rebellion Was He Part Of?

    Ulgulan (The Great Tumult), 1899-1900

    The Ulgulan was the Munda Rebellion led by Birsa Munda against British colonial rule, zamindari oppression, and missionary cultural domination.

    Area of the Movement

    • Entire Chotanagpur region covering
      • Ranchi
      • Singhbhum
      • Gumla
      • Khunti
      • Tamar
      • Sarwada
    • Present-day Jharkhand

    This area was historically inhabited by the Munda, Oraon, Ho, and Santhal tribes, but Birsa’s core following was from the Munda tribe.

    Why did the Ulgulan Revolt Erupt? (Major Reasons)

    1. Land Alienation
      1. Zamindars, moneylenders, and British policies dispossessed Mundas from their traditional khuntkatti lands.
      2. Outsiders (dikus) seized land through taxation, debt, and fraudulent contracts.
    2. Exploitative Agrarian System
      1. Beth-begari (forced labour) imposed by landlords.
      2. High rent, illegal levies, and bonded labour.
    3. Colonial Forest Policies
      1. British restrictions on shifting cultivation, forest access, forest produce, and grazing rights.
    4. Cultural Domination
      1. Missionary influence attempted to alter tribal culture and traditional faith.
      2. Birsa’s movement demanded revival of tribal dharma.
    5. Social Reform and Purification
      1. Birsa preached reform against alcohol, superstition, and internal divisions.
    6. Political Awakening
      1. The community believed Birsa would restore a Golden Age (Sat-Yug) by driving away dikus.
      2. This turned Ulgulan into a millenarian and political movement

    Nature and Features of Ulgulan

    1. Millenarian Movement: Promised liberation and restoration of Munda rule.
    2. Cultural Revival: Emphasised indigenous identity and autonomy.
    3. Armed Resistance: Attacked police stations, zamindars, and Christian mission institutions.
    4. Political Assertion: First organised tribal movement with a coherent ideology.
    5. Mass Mobilisation: Unified thousands of tribal households across Chotanagpur.

    Demands of the Munda Rebellion

    1. Restoration of traditional khuntkatti land rights.
    2. End to forced labour and exploitative tenancy.
    3. Freedom from missionary domination.
    4. Recognition of tribal self-rule.
    5. Expulsion of dikus from tribal land.

    Immediate Result of the Movement

    1. Birsa was arrested in March 1900, imprisoned, and died in Ranchi jail (June 1900).
    2. The rebellion was militarily suppressed by the British.

    Long-Term Outcomes & Legacy

    1. CNT Act, 1908
      1. Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) restricted transfer of tribal land to non-tribals.
      2. Institutionalised protection of tribal land rights.
    2. Rise of Tribal Political Consciousness: Ulgulan transformed tribal resistance from sporadic revolts to a structured political assertion.
    3. Cultural Assertion: Revived pride in tribal identity, customs, and autonomy.
    4. Administrative Reforms: Better regulation of zamindari and recognition of tribal customary laws.
    5. Modern Legacy:
      1. Birsa Munda remains a symbol of indigenous rights.
      2. His legacy contributed to the demand for Jharkhand statehood (2000).
      3. Celebrated annually as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas since 2021.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2023] How did colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to colonial oppression?

    Linkage: The PYQ is relevant as colonial exploitation of land, forests, and culture sparked major tribal revolts like Ulgulan. The article links directly by showing Birsa Munda’s movement as a prime example of tribal resistance to colonial oppression.

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  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    Study on Lithium-Rich Red Giant Stars and Helium Abundance

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

    Why in the News?

    A recent study conducted by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has discovered a link between Lithium-rich red giant stars and their enhanced helium abundance.

    What are Red Giant Stars?

    • Overview: Evolved stars that have exhausted core hydrogen, causing the core to contract and the outer layers to expand into a large, cool, reddish envelope.
    • Formation Process: Core contraction increases temperature while the outer shell expands and cools, triggering hydrogen shell burning.
    • Temperature and Luminosity: Surface temperature drops to 2,000–5,000 K, but luminosity rises sharply due to vastly increased radius.
    • Internal Fusion: Helium fusion begins in the core, producing heavier elements like carbon and oxygen.
    • Evolutionary Stage: Represents the late life cycle of medium-mass stars; the Sun will enter this phase in about 5 billion years.
    • End Stage: Outer layers are shed into a planetary nebula, leaving a white dwarf remnant that cools over time.

    Key Findings of the Study:

    • New Discovery: IIA established the first spectroscopic link between helium enhancement and lithium enrichment in red giant stars.
    • Data Source: Based on Himalayan Chandra Telescope observations and archival global spectroscopic datasets.
    • Sample Profile: 20 cool giants studied- 18 red giants and 2 supergiants.
    • Helium-Enriched Stars: Six stars showed high helium-to-hydrogen ratios (He/H > 0.1).
    • Distribution: Five were red giants and one a supergiant, showing a trend toward helium enhancement in lithium-rich giants.
    • Scientific Insight: Offers direct evidence of deep internal mixing and nucleosynthesis shaping surface chemical composition.

    What is the correlation between Lithium and Helium?

    • Coupled Enrichment: All helium-enhanced giants were lithium-rich, suggesting a shared internal mixing mechanism.
    • Asymmetry: Not all lithium-rich giants showed helium enhancement, implying lithium can rise without parallel helium increase.
    • Internal Mixing Role: Deep convection likely dredges up newly formed helium and lithium from the interior to the photosphere.
    • Photospheric Evidence: Confirms mixing-driven changes detectable on the stellar surface during the red giant stage.

    Significance of the Findings:

    • First Measurement: Provides the first direct spectroscopic photospheric helium estimates for normal and lithium-rich red giants.
    • Astrophysical Value: Refines understanding of mixing, nucleosynthesis, and energy transport inside red giant branch (RGB) stars.
    • Galactic Evolution: Improves models of how stars contribute heavier elements to the interstellar medium.
    • Methodological Advance: Strengthens indirect helium-measurement techniques for cool stars where helium lines are not visible.
    • Evolutionary Insight: Shows helium enrichment is integral to changes in luminosity, temperature evolution, and mass-loss pathways.
    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following pairs:

    Objects in space: Description

    1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space

    2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically

    3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse

    How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    Options: (a) Only one* (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

     

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  • GI(Geographical Indicator) Tags

    Recently awarded GI Tags

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Intellectual Property Rights

    Why in the News?

    The Geographical Indications (GI) Registry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry granted GI recognition to multiple traditional products across India, including Ambaji Marble (Gujarat), Panna Diamond (Madhya Pradesh), and Lepcha Instruments (Sikkim).

    GI Tag/Product

    Details
    Ambaji White Marble (Gujarat)

    		 • Known for pure white color, high calcium content, and durability
    • Sourced from Ambaji Shaktipeeth, Banaskantha
    • Used in Dilwara Temples and Ayodhya Ram Temple
    • Applied by Ambaji Marbles Quarry and Factory Association
    • Contains calcium oxide and silicon oxide, enhancing strength
    • Exported for temple use in USA, New Zealand, and UK
    Panna Diamond (Madhya Pradesh)

    		 • Application by Collectorate (Diamond Branch), Panna
    • Features a light green tint and weak carbon line
    • Managed by NMDC’s Diamond Mining Project
    • Supported by Padma Shri Rajni Kant (GI Man of India)
    • Enhances traceability, authenticity, and export potential
    Sikkim Lepcha Tungbuk

    		 • Traditional three-string musical instrument of Lepcha tribe
    • Holds cultural and spiritual importance in Lepcha music
    • GI granted on Nov 5, 2025 under Musical Instrument category
    Sikkim Lepcha Pumtong Pulit

    		 • Bamboo flute central to Lepcha folk traditions
    • Symbol of Lepcha cultural identity and heritage
    • Preserves traditional instrument-making and youth cultural continuity
    Kannadippaya (Kerala)

    		 • Traditional bamboo mat crafted by Kerala artisans
    • Recognized for eco-friendly material and handwoven design
    • Boosts rural cooperative income and craft heritage branding
    Apatani Textile (Arunachal Pradesh)

    		 • Handwoven by Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley
    • Features geometric motifs and natural dye usage
    • Represents sustainable tribal textile craftsmanship
    Marthandam Honey (Tamil Nadu)

     

    		 • Produced in Kanyakumari district
    • Known for unique floral aroma, high medicinal value
    • Supports local beekeeping and biodiversity-based livelihoods
    Bodo Aronai (Assam)

    		 • Traditional handwoven scarf of the Bodo community
    • Symbol of honor, identity, and ceremonial respect
    • Made using handspun cotton/silk with tribal patterns
    Bedu & Badri Cow Ghee (Uttarakhand)

    		 • Produced from indigenous hill cow breeds
    • Known for nutritional richness and purity from high-altitude regions
    • Promotes mountain organic economy and heritage dairy products

     

    [UPSC 2018] Consider the following pairs:
    Craft. Heritage of
    1. Puthukkuli shawls Tamil Nadu
    2. Sujni embroidery Maharashtra
    3. Uppada Jamdani saris Karnataka
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 3 only (d) 2 and 3*

     

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  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission to Mars

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

    Why in the News?

    NASA launched the ESCAPADE mission aboard the New Glenn rocket developed by Blue Origin.

    About ESCAPADE Mission:

    • Mission Overview: ESCAPADE is a NASA Mars mission consisting of two identical orbiters (Blue and Gold) designed to study how the solar wind interacts with the Martian atmosphere and magnetosphere.
    • Launch: Launched aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, marking a major step for commercial heavy-lift launches.
    • Programme: Part of NASA’s SIMPLEx programme, which focuses on low-cost, small planetary missions using compact spacecraft.
    • Science Goal: To understand how Mars lost its ancient thick atmosphere by measuring plasma, magnetic fields, and ion escape processes driven by the solar wind.
    • Trajectory: Uses an innovative path via the Earth–Sun L2 point, loitering for nearly a year before heading to Mars due to an imperfect launch-window alignment; arrival expected in 2027.

    Key Features of ESCAPADE:

    • Twin–Spacecraft Design: Two orbiters operate together to take simultaneous measurements, allowing scientists to separate time-varying vs space-varying phenomena around Mars.
    • Hybrid Magnetosphere Focus: Mars lacks a global magnetic field but has patchy crustal magnetisation; ESCAPADE will map how these regions interact with solar-wind plasma and how ions escape into space.
    • Low-Cost Architecture: Built on Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft bus, making ESCAPADE a model for frequent, affordable interplanetary missions (~200–500 kg class).
    • Advanced Instruments:
      1. EMAG (magnetometer) to measure magnetic fields.
      2. EESA (electrostatic analyzer) to analyse ions and electrons.
      3. ELP (Langmuir probe) to study plasma density and temperature.
    • Innovative Mission Timeline:
      • One year at Earth–Sun L2.
      • Transfer to Mars in 2027.
      • Science operations begin after Mars-orbit insertion.
    • Science Operations:
      • String-of-pearls formation: both orbiters on the same orbit, separated by minutes.
      • Divergent orbits: spacecraft split to sample different regions of Mars’s space environment.
    • Commercial Enabling: Demonstrates the role of commercial heavy rockets like New Glenn in future deep-space missions.
    [UPSC 2018] What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?

    Options: (a) To study the possibility of life on Mars

    (b) To study the satellites of Saturn

    (c) To study the colorful display of high latitude skies*

    (d) To build a space laboratory to study stellar explosions

     

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  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Holding up GLASS to India: securing stewardship to tackle AMR

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

    INTRODUCTION

    AMR in India is now labelled a “serious and escalating threat”, with the latest WHO GLASS report (2025) confirming extraordinarily high resistance levels across commonly used antibiotics. Nearly one in five severe infections in India mirrored or exceeded South and East Asian trends, and one in six confirmed infections was resistant. India’s high infectious disease burden, misuse of antibiotics, weak surveillance, and gaps in healthcare infrastructure continue to aggravate the problem. The article highlights incomplete data, insufficient funding, fragmented stewardship, and the urgent need for rational antibiotic use, surveillance strengthening, and affordable new-generation antibiotics.

    WHY IN THE NEWS? 

    India features prominently in the WHO’s October 2025 GLASS report, which confirms that the country now records some of the highest antibiotic resistance rates globally, particularly for gram-negative pathogens. For the first time, GLASS shows significant data gaps, reflected in India uploading surveillance results from only tertiary hospitals, leaving rural and peripheral areas undocumented. The report highlights a sharp contrast with global progress, exposing India’s limited surveillance expansion, weak stewardship, and slow adoption of newer effective antibiotics, despite AMR being among the country’s gravest public-health threats.

    Understanding the Scale of AMR in India

    1. High Resistance Rates: India shows disproportionately high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, especially in infections caused by E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogens causing sepsis in ICUs.
    2. Escalating Threat Category: WHO labels AMR in India as a “serious and escalating threat,” placing India among the highest global burden countries.
    3. Gram-Negative Pathogens: Severe risks emanate from resistance trends in gram-negative bacteria which limit treatment options in hospitals.
    4. Community-Hospital Gap: Surveillance primarily reflects tertiary hospital data, leaving a large rural and primary-care void, producing incomplete national estimates.

    Why Current Surveillance is Insufficient

    1. Incomplete Data Representation: GLASS data reflects only a segment of India’s population; peripheral, rural, and primary-care levels remain unrepresented, leading to erroneous conclusions.
    2. Fragmented Networks: Laboratories under NCDC’s AMR and AMRRSN networks provide data, but coverage is inadequate for a country of India’s scale.
    3. Operational Challenges: Shortage of trained microbiologists, inconsistent reporting, and infrastructure deficits weaken surveillance reliability.
    4. Underestimation of Burden: Without wider surveillance, actual AMR spread across different geographies or demographic groups remains unknown.

    Kerala’s State-Led Model of AMR Management

    1. State Action Plan Success: Kerala’s progress stems from early adoption of the State Action Plan aligned with India’s National Action Plan (NAP-AMR).
    2. Whole-of-System Approach: Kerala integrates veterinary, human health, and environmental data, demonstrating One Health operationalisation.
    3. Institutional Leadership: Dedicated stewardship committees and infection-control protocols ensure sustained monitoring and policy continuity.

    Antibiotic Stewardship and Public Awareness Challenges

    1. Unregulated Antibiotic Use: Easy over-the-counter access, self-medication, and incomplete courses contribute to rising resistance.
    2. Hospital Overuse: Lack of stewardship committees and infection-control practices deepen resistance in ICUs and emergency departments.
    3. Limited Community Awareness: Behavioural change campaigns remain inadequate, leading to misconceptions about antibiotic effectiveness.
    4. Inappropriate Prescriptions: Physicians often prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics without culture sensitivity results due to delays or lack of labs.

    Innovation, R&D Pipelines and the Crisis of New Antibiotics

    1. Weak Domestic Innovation: Only 2 of the 32 antibiotics under global development meet WHO innovation criteria.
    2. Positive Trend: India’s CDSCO approved two new antibiotic candidates recently, while six others received global approval.
    3. Global Gap: Out of 97 candidates in preclinical pipelines (2022), few target WHO’s priority pathogens.
    4. High Barriers: Costly R&D, limited incentives, and delayed regulatory approvals weaken India’s innovation environment.

    Global and National Funding Gaps

    1. Insufficient Domestic Funding: India’s AMR response suffers from limited financial allocations, affecting surveillance expansion and lab capacity building.
    2. Gaps in Multilateral Support: Despite WHO’s Global AMR Challenge, LMICs like India lack sustained funding for new antibiotics and diagnostics.
    3. Need for Collaborative Platforms: Strengthened partnerships with bodies like the AMR Industry Alliance and CARB-X can accelerate innovation pipelines.

    Why Solutions Must Prioritise Stewardship, Surveillance, and Affordability

    1. Urgency of Behaviour Change: Stewardship requires both medical and community engagement to reduce irresponsible antibiotic use.
    2. Strengthening Peripheral Health Systems: Decentralised surveillance networks are essential to capture India’s actual AMR burden.
    3. Making New Antibiotics Accessible: India must prioritise affordability and availability given rising MDR (multi-drug resistant) infections in LMICs.
    4. Integrating One Health: Coordinated animal-human-environmental monitoring is indispensable for durable AMR containment.

    CONCLUSION

    India stands at a critical juncture where AMR has outpaced existing stewardship, surveillance, and innovation capabilities. The GLASS 2025 report acts as a mirror reflecting the country’s systemic gaps, from incomplete data and misuse of antibiotics to insufficient funding and slow R&D advancement. A robust national response must integrate strong stewardship, affordable innovation, decentralised surveillance, and a One Health framework to prevent AMR from becoming an unmanageable public-health catastrophe.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2014] Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.

    Linkage: Because AMR is a recurring public-health crisis with direct links to governance, regulation, and science-tech, making it a favourite UPSC theme. The article shows rampant antibiotic misuse and OTC access driving India’s high resistance rates. This exactly reflects the PYQ’s focus on irrational use, weak monitoring, and stewardship gaps.

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  • Mother and Child Health – Immunization Program, BPBB, PMJSY, PMMSY, etc.

    Why Hepatitis A deserves a place in India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?

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

    Why in the News?

    Health authorities are debating whether Hepatitis A vaccine should have higher priority for inclusion in Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) compared to Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV).

    About Hepatitis A:

    • Overview: Viral infection caused by Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), spreading through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person.
    • Nature of Disease: Leads to acute liver inflammation with fever, jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
    • Treatment: No antiviral therapy; illness is self-limiting and recovery occurs within six months with supportive care.
    • Vaccine: Highly effective (90 to 95 percent), long-lasting immunity for 15 to 20 years or lifelong; prevents symptomatic infection.
    • Current Trend: Improved sanitation lowers childhood exposure, but adult susceptibility is rising, increasing disease severity.

    What is Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?

    • Launch and Evolution: Started in 1985; later integrated with Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (1992) and National Rural Health Mission (2005).
    • Coverage: Provides free vaccines against 12 diseases–  9 nationally (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hib) and 3 in selected states (Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, Japanese Encephalitis).
    • Achievements: Played a central role in polio eradication, reducing measles deaths, and improving child survival indicators.

    Why Hepatitis A deserves priority?

    • Greater Adult Severity: Shift from childhood to adult infections results in higher rates of acute liver failure.
    • Recent Outbreaks: Reported surges in Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh signal a widening public-health risk.
    • Falling Immunity: Seroprevalence has declined from around 90 percent to under 60 percent in many cities, leaving millions unprotected.
    • Indigenous Vaccine: Biovac-A (Biological E Ltd.) is safe, affordable, and effective, with single-dose protection simplifying rollout.
    • No Resistance Concerns: Viral disease with no antibiotic use eliminates resistance challenges.
    • Cost Advantage: More economical and operationally easier than multi-dose vaccines like typhoid conjugate vaccine.
    • Policy Relevance: Inclusion in the national programme could curb outbreaks and reduce adult liver-failure cases.

    Back2Basics: Hepatitis

    • What is it: Liver inflammation from viruses, alcohol, toxins, drugs, autoimmune disorders, or metabolic issues.
    • Viral Types:
      • A – Fecal-oral; acute; vaccine available.
      • B – Blood/body fluids; chronic risk; vaccine available.
      • C – Blood-to-blood; often chronic; no vaccine; treatable with antivirals.
      • D – Discussed above.
      • E – Fecal-oral; usually acute.
    • Chronic B, C, D: Major drivers of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
    • Prevention: Vaccination (A, B), safe injections, screened blood, safe sex, good hygiene.

     

    [UPSC 2019] Which one of the following statements is not correct?

    (a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.

    (b) Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine. *

    (c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.

    (d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.

     

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