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Type: Prelims Only

  • Air Pollution

    SC allows CAQM to take ‘proactive’ measures to curb Delhi air pollution

    20 November 2025 | Prelims Only |
    Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why In The News?

    The Supreme Court allowed CAQM full freedom to take proactive anti-pollution measures in Delhi-NCR, including applying GRAP-IV options like work-from-home and 50% office attendance during the ongoing GRAP-III stage.

    About the Judgement:

    • Supreme Court’s Direction: SC empowered CAQM to take proactive pollution-control measures in Delhi-NCR.
    • Bench Observation: CJI Gavai urged stakeholder consultation.
    • Key Proposals: Early use of GRAP-IV measures, vehicle exemptions, staggered timings, and congestion control.
    • Additional Proposals: CAQM proposed advancing GRAP measures, enforcing congestion control, notifying vehicle aggregator policies, reviewing school sports during pollution months, and adopting long-term steps like EV policy review and higher charges on luxury diesel SUVs

    2) What is CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management)?

    • About: A statutory body managing air quality in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, created under the CAQM Act, 2021, replacing the earlier EPCA (1998) and initially introduced via a 2020 ordinance.
    • Structure: Chairperson is a senior government official (Secretary/Chief Secretary); includes 5 ex-officio members from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh; 3 full-time technical members; 3 NGO members; supported technically by CPCB, ISRO, and NITI Aayog.
    • Functions: Responsible for monitoring, coordinating, and implementing air quality policies, researching pollution sources, proposing mitigation strategies, and raising public awareness.
    • Powers: Holds jurisdiction over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan; can issue binding directions, restrict polluting activities, enforce environmental rules, act against non-compliance, and initiate complaints under the CAQM Act, 2021.

    3) What is GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan)?

    • About: A pre-emptive and emergency framework to control Delhi-NCR air pollution; created under Supreme Court directions in C. Mehta vs Union of India (2016); notified in 2017 and implemented by CAQM, MoEFCC, and State authorities; operates through four graded stages linked to AQI levels.
    • Stages of GRAP:
      Stage I – Poor (AQI 201–300): Road dust control and enforcement of PUC norms.
      Stage II – Very Poor (AQI 301–400): Limits on diesel generators and actions in pollution hotspots.
      Stage III – Severe (AQI 401–450): Vehicle restrictions, construction curbs, and remote schooling
      Stage IV – Severe+ (AQI > 450): Ban on heavy vehicles, school closures, and shutdown of non-essential industries.
    • Purpose: To ensure a graded, coordinated, time-bound response that prevents air quality from escalating to hazardous levels.

    4)Air Quality Monitoring Measures:

    1) AQI (Air Quality Index)

    • Launched in 2014 with the concept “One Number – One Color – One Description” for easy public understanding.
    • Developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
    • Based on 8 pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, Pb.
    • Contains six air quality categories ranging from Good to Severe.

    2) SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research)

    • Provides location-specific, real-time air quality information for major Indian metropolitan cities.
    • Introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, developed by IITM Pune.
    • Measures pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, O3, CO, NOx, SO2, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Mercury.
    • Uses Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (CAAQMS); an example includes the one commissioned by the Indian Army in Kolkata.

    3) NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards)

    • Set by CPCB in 2009 under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
    • Covers 12 pollutants, including SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5, O3, Pb, CO, NH3, Benzene, Benzopyrene, As, Ni.
    • Specifies annual and 24-hour standards for industrial, residential, rural, and ecologically sensitive areas.

    4) NAMP (National Air Quality Monitoring Programme)

    • Executed by CPCB to monitor ambient air quality across India.
    • Network includes 800+ stations in 344 cities/towns, covering 28 states and 6 UTs.
    • Objectives: track air quality trends, assess compliance with NAAQS, identify non-attainment cities.
    • Monitors SO2, NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 along with meteorological factors like wind speed, humidity, and temperature.

    5) WHO Ambient Air Quality Database

    • A global database compiling annual mean concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2.
    • First released in 2011; updated periodically—2023 is the sixth update.
    • Linked to WHO’s 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs), which tightened acceptable pollution limits.
    [UPSC 2022] In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

    1. The 24-hour mean of PM 2.5 should not exceed 15 μg/m³ and annual mean of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 μg/m³.

    2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

    3. PM 10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

    4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    Options: (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 1 and 4 only* (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 2 only

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  • Electoral Reforms In India

    Independence of Election Commission Of India(ECI)

    19 November 2025 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains Paper 2: Constitutional Bodies

    Why in the news?

    Amidst SIR exercise, the Opposition raised questions on the independence of ECI.

    About Election Commission of India(ECI)

    The Election Commission of India (ECI), established under Article 324, is responsible for ensuring free, fair, and impartial elections. Its independence is essential for democratic legitimacy.

    Constitutional Safeguards Ensuring Independence

    1.Security of Tenure – CEC-The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can be removed only through a process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge- by a special majority of Parliament on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

    2.Protection for Election Commissioners (ECs)-ECs can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC, preventing arbitrary dismissal by the executive.

    3. Financial Independence-ECI’s expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, insulating it from executive control through budget cuts.

    4. Plenary Powers under Article 324-ECI can act when existing laws are inadequate, allowing it functional autonomy during elections

    Independence After the 2023 Act

    Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. This Act overrides the 2023 Supreme Court directive that required a three-member committee :PM + Leader of Opposition + CJI.

    Key Provisions and Their Impact

    1.New Appointment Committee-Appointments to CEC and ECs now made by a three-member panel:

    • Prime Minister (Chairperson)
    • Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
    • Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM

    Impact: Replaces the CJI with a Cabinet minister, increasing executive dominance over appointments, raising concerns about ECI independence.

    2. Service Conditions-CEC and ECs will have the same salary and perks as Cabinet Secretary.

    Impact: This equates their status with high-ranking executive officers, which critics argue may reduce institutional insulation from the government.

    3.Term of Office-Fixed tenure of 6 years or until age 65, whichever earlier.

    Impact: Fixed tenure supports stability, but early retirement age could shorten term length.

    4. Removal & Suspension-No change: CEC retains constitutional protection; ECs removable only on CEC’s recommendation.

    Challenges to Independence (Post-2023 Act)

    • Executive-Dominated Appointments: A selection panel with a government majority may undermine the Commission’s neutrality.
    • Exclusion of CJI: Removing the Chief Justice from the panel weakens institutional checks and balances.
    • Status Dilution: Equating the CEC/ECs with a bureaucratic rank risks undermining their constitutional stature.
    • Post-Retirement Incentives: Possibility of government-appointed positions may affect independent decision-making.
    • Administrative Dependence: Continued reliance on government machinery for staffing and logistics limits functional autonomy.

    The Election Commission of India, protected by the Constitution, ensures free elections; the 2023 Act clarifies appointments, and strengthening autonomy and capacity can further reinforce its credibility and democratic role.

    [UPSC 2012] Consider the following statements:

    1. Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
    2. It is within the purview of the Chief Election Commissioner to adjudicate election disputes.
    3. According to the Constitution of India, the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha only.

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) None*

     

     

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  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    Sakurajima Volcano erupts in Japan’s Kyushu

    18 November 2025 | Prelims OnlyWorld Mapping | Geography
    Mains Paper 1: Salient Features Of World’S Physical Geography

    Why in the News?

    Japan’s Sakurajima volcano has erupted several times sending ash plumes up to 4.4 km into the atmosphere.

    Sakurajima Volcano erupts in Japan's Kyushu

    About Sakurajima Volcano:

    • Location: Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, sitting on the southern rim of the Aira caldera inside Kagoshima Bay.
    • Geological Origin: Linked to formation of the Aira caldera (22,000–29,000 years ago); Sakurajima developed as a post-caldera cone about 13,000 years ago.
    • Volcano Type: A classic stratovolcano built from alternating lava and ash layers; active vents include Minamidake crater and the Showa flank crater.
    • Physical Features: Height 1,117 m, circumference ≈50 km; originally an island until 1914 lava flows connected it to the Osumi Peninsula.
    • Eruption Style: Dominantly Strombolian eruptions (ash, bombs, lapilli) but historically capable of large Plinian eruptions.
    • Historical Activity: Continuous eruptive record since 963 AD; major episodes in 1471–76, 1779–82, and the 1914 catastrophic eruption.
    • Risk Status: Considered one of Japan’s most dangerous volcanoes due to high activity, caldera-linked magma supply and extreme proximity to inhabited zones.

    What makes it unique?

    • Near-Continuous Activity: Erupts hundreds of times annually, ranking among the world’s most persistently active volcanoes.
    • Caldera System: Built on the Aira caldera, giving it a deep, complex, highly active magma plumbing network.
    • Landform Transformation: The 1914 eruption converted Sakurajima from an island into a peninsula, an unusual event in recorded volcanology.
    [UPSC 2005] Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St- Helens located?

    Options: (a) Chile (b) Japan (c) Philippines (d) United States of America*

     

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  • 75th anniversary of National Sample Survey (NSS)

    18 November 2025 | Prelims Only | Governance
    Mains Paper 2: Ministries & Departments Of The Government

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is conducting the 75th-anniversary culmination ceremony of the National Sample Survey (NSS) along with World Statistics Day on 18 November 2025.

    About National Sample Survey (NSS):

    • Origins: Started in 1950 to fill gaps in national income data; expanded into India’s largest multi-topic socio-economic survey system.
    • Institutional Home: Conducted by NSSO (set up 1970), now merged into the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
    • Organisational Structure: Four key divisions – SDRD (Kolkata) for survey design, FOD (Delhi/Faridabad) for fieldwork, DPD (Kolkata) for data processing, and SCD (New Delhi) for coordination.

    Survey Design and Coverage:

    • Rounds Structure: Includes large thick rounds every five years (≈1.2 lakh households) and thin rounds on specialised themes.
    • Geographic Coverage: Expanded from 1,833 villages in 1950–51 to over 14,000 rural villages and urban blocks in recent rounds.
    • Scope: Generates national and state-level estimates on consumption, employment, migration, health, education, disability, housing, agriculture, elderly conditions, and more than 50 socio-economic themes over 75 years.
    • Representativeness: Provides robust national and regional estimates but does NOT offer district-level granularity.

    Major Surveys Under NSS / NSO:

    1. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): Launched 2017; India’s key source on employment, unemployment, labour force participation, and quarterly urban labour indicators.
    2. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): Tracks organised manufacturing — output, inputs, employment, productivity, structural change.
    3. Price Surveys: Produce CPI-Rural, CPI-Urban, CPI-AL/RL, and contribute to WPI, forming the backbone of inflation monitoring.
    4. Urban Frame Survey (2022–27): Updates the sampling frame for all urban socio-economic surveys.
    5. Agriculture and Crop Surveys: Estimate crop yields and support state agricultural statistics systems.

    Significance of the NSS:

    • Policy Backbone: Critical for designing and evaluating programmes such as MGNREGA, PDS reforms, Ayushman Bharat, labour policies, rural development, and welfare targeting.
    • Macroeconomic Relevance: Supports GDP estimation, poverty assessment, consumption tracking, and inflation analysis.
    • Long-Term Value: Provides the most reliable, comparable household-level datasets in India, enabling analysis of structural change over decades.
    [UPSC 2018] As per the NSSO 70th Round “Situation Assessment Survey of Agriculture Households”, consider the following statements:

    1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agriculture households among its rural households.

    2. Out of the total households in the country, a little over 60 percent being to OBCs.

    3. In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agriculture households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agriculture activities.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

     

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  • Finance Commission – Issues related to devolution of resources

    Sixteenth Finance Commission submits its report for 2026-31 to the President 

    18 November 2025 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    Why in the News?

    The Sixteenth Finance Commission (16th FC), chaired by Arvind Panagariya, has formally submitted its report to the President of India on 17 November 2025.

    Recommendations will be made public once tabled in Parliament under Article 281.

    Back2Basics: Finance Commission

    • Constitutional Body: Established under Article 280 of the Constitution to define financial relations between the Union and the States.
    • Appointment: Constituted every 5 years or earlier by the President.
    • Composition: A Chairperson and 4 members, all appointed by the President.
    • Qualifications (under Finance Commission Act, 1951):
      • Chairperson must have experience in public affairs.
      • Members must be persons with expertise as:
        1. a High Court judge,
        2. an expert in government finance and accounts,
        3. a specialist in financial administration,
        4. an economist.
    • Functions: Recommends
      • Distribution of net proceeds of central taxes between Centre & States (vertical devolution);
      • Allocation of States’ share across individual States (horizontal distribution);
      • Principles governing grants-in-aid under Article 275;
      • Measures to augment State resources to support Panchayats and Municipalities;
      • Any additional financial matter referred by the President.
    • Submission & Tabling: Submits report to President; President lays it before both Houses of Parliament along with an explanatory memorandum.
    • Purpose: Ensures cooperative fiscal federalism, balanced revenue distribution, financial stability, and predictable Union–State relations.

    About Sixteenth Finance Commission:

    • Constitution & Basis: Constituted by the President of India under Article 280(1) in November 2024 to examine Union and State finances and recommend tax-sharing for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.
    • Chairperson & Members: Chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya with members Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, T. Rabi Sankar, Dr. Soumyakanti Ghosh, and Secretary Ritvik Pandey.
    • Report Submission: Submitted its report to the President on 17 November 2025; copies also presented to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister.
    • Term of Work: Mandated to submit the report by 31 October 2025, covering a five-year award period starting FY 2026-27.
    • Mandate (Terms of Reference): Recommend
      • Vertical devolution – share of States in the Centre’s divisible pool;
      • Horizontal distribution – breakup of the States’ share across individual States;
      • Principles for grants-in-aid to States under Article 275;
      • Measures to augment State resources to support Panchayats and Municipalities;
      • Review of financing arrangements for Disaster Management, including National and State Disaster Response Funds;
      • Any other matter referred by the President.
    • Method of Work: Analysed finances of Union & States; held extensive consultations with
      • Central government, all State governments,
      • Local governments (urban & rural),
      • Chairpersons of previous Finance Commissions,
      • Multilateral institutions, academic & research bodies,
      • Advisory Council and domain experts.
    • Structure of Report: Final output organised in two volumes – Volume I (recommendations) and Volume II (annexures and analytical backup).
    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following:

    1. Demographic performance 2. Forest and ecology 3. Governance reforms 4. Stable government 5. Tax and fiscal efforts

    For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?

    Options: (a) Only two (b) Only three* (c) Only four (d) All five

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)

    18 November 2025 | Prelims Only | History
    Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    Why in the News?

    This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu.

    Remembering Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)

    About Batukeshwar Dutt (1910 to 1965):

    • Early Life: Born 18 November 1910 in Burdwan, Bengal Presidency; educated at Theosophical High School and Prithvinath College, Kanpur.
    • Political Affiliations: Joined Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and Naujawan Bharat Sabha; became a close associate of Bhagat Singh during his Kanpur days.
    • Jail Endurance: Known for remarkable resilience in Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem, and Andaman Cellular Jail.
    • Later Imprisonment: Released in 1938; joined Quit India Movement in 1942 and jailed again for four years.
    • Life Post-Independence: Settled in Patna, married Anjali; daughter Bharti became a professor.
    • Death: Died on 20 July 1965 at AIIMS Delhi from bone cancer.
    • Last Wish: Cremated at Hussainiwala, beside Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

    Important Revolutionary Activities:

    • Assembly Bombing (8 April 1929): Co-executed the Central Legislative Assembly bombing with Bhagat Singh to protest colonial repression; bombs were non-lethal.
    • Political Message: Threw pamphlets, shouted “Inquilab Zindabad,” and refused to escape, converting the trial into a political platform.
    • Sentencing: Received life imprisonment on 12 June 1929 in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case.
    • Cellular Jail: Deported to Andamans; repeatedly led hunger strikes demanding recognition of political prisoners.
    • Long Fasts: Undertook multiple prolonged fasts, including two over a month long.
    • Prison Transfers: Shifted through Multan, Jhelum, Hazaribagh, Delhi and Patna jails.
    • Post-Illness Activism: Continued revolutionary involvement even after severe health decline; joined Quit India after release.
    • Cultural Protest: Criticised misrepresentation of revolutionaries in films; approved only Manoj Kumar’s 1965 film Shaheed.

    Association with Bhagat Singh:

    • Early Bond: Met Bhagat Singh in Kanpur and was shaped by his discipline and ideological clarity.
    • Joint Action: Collaborated closely in HSRA; jointly executed the Assembly bombing as symbolic resistance.
    • Hunger Strike: Participated with Singh in the historic 114 day hunger strike for humane jail conditions.
    • After the Martyrdom: News of Singh’s execution (23 March 1931) reached him in Salem jail; he was haunted by visions of Singh.
    • Family Ties: Maintained lifelong connection with Bhagat Singh’s family; Mata Vidyawati stayed with him during his last illness.
    • Comradeship: Supported through final days by HSRA comrades like Shiv Verma, Sadashivrao Malkapurkar, and Kiran Das.
    [UPSC 2022] Consider the following freedom fighters:

    1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh 2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee 3. Rash Behari Bose

    Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

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

     

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  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    Centre announces National Gopal Ratna Awards

    18 November 2025 | Prelims Only | Agriculture
    Mains Paper 3: Economics Of Animal-Rearing

    Why in the News?

    The National Gopal Ratna Awards for 2025 has been announced by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

    About the National Gopal Ratna Awards:

    • Overview: Established in 2021 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to promote excellence in dairy management and indigenous breed conservation.
    • Target Groups: Recognises dairy farmers, Dairy Cooperatives, Milk Producer Companies (MPCs), Dairy FPOs, and Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians for outstanding performance.
    • Breed Focus: Encourages scientific rearing and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds with high productivity and economic value.
    • Regional Inclusion: Contains a special category for North Eastern and Himalayan States to strengthen dairy development and acknowledge regional innovation.
    • Institutional Responsibility: Conferred annually by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
    • Award Categories: Best Dairy Farmer (indigenous breeds), Best Dairy Cooperative Society or MPC or FPO, Best AI Technician, and special regional awards for NER/Himalayan States.
    • Selection Parameters: Based on breed improvement results, milk yield, adoption of scientific practices, cooperative performance, and quality of AI service delivery.
    • Participation Scale: Receives thousands of applications annually (e.g., 2081 entries in the current cycle), reflecting wide national engagement.
    • Commemoration: Awards are presented on National Milk Day (26 November), marking the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

    Award Components and Cash Prizes:

    • Cash Awards: Given only in the first two categories: Best Dairy Farmer and Best Dairy Cooperative/MPC/FPO.
    • Prize Amounts:
      1. First prize- ₹5,00,000
      2. Second prize- ₹3,00,000
      3. Third prize- ₹2,00,000
    • Regional Prizes: Special NER and Himalayan category winners receive ₹2,00,000.
    • Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians Category: No cash component; recognition only.
    [UPSC 2025] Regarding the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

    I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.

    II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options; (a) I only (b) II only (c) Both I and II* (d) Neither I nor II

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Asiatic Caracal spotted at Ramgarh in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer

    18 November 2025 | Prelims OnlySpecies | Environment
    Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    The elusive Asiatic Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) has been rediscovered at Ramgarh, Jaisalmer, reaffirming its survival in the Thar Desert after years of uncertainty.

    Asiatic Caracal spotted at Ramgarh in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer

    About Asiatic Caracal:

    • Scientific Name: Caracal caracal schmitzi, the Asiatic subspecies of the globally distributed caracal species.
    • Distribution: Native to Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Pakistan, and historically across northwestern and central India, now restricted mainly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • Indian Population: Fewer than 50 individuals survive in India, with small, fragmented groups in the Thar Desert, Ranthambhore landscape, and Kutch region.
    • Habitat: Prefers semi deserts, savannahs, scrublands, steppes, dry forests, and open arid terrains; uses grassland scrub mosaics for hunting and denning.
    • Ecology: A shy nocturnal mesopredator feeding on rodents, hares, birds, and occasionally small ungulates; known for vertical leaps up to 3 metres to strike flying prey.
    • Legal Protection: Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and categorised as Least Concern globally but critically sparse within India.
    • Threats: Habitat loss from land conversion, solar parks, linear infrastructure, hunting, and misclassification of grasslands as wastelands reducing viable habitat.
    • Conservation Status in India: Included in the 2021 Species Recovery Plan by National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and MoEFCC, with urgent need for grassland restoration, monitoring, and community based protection.
    [UPSC 2019] Question: Consider the following statements:

    1. Asiatic lion is naturally found In India only.

    2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.

    3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

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

     

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Researchers to study rare Dolphin-Fisher kinship in Ashtamudi Lake

    17 November 2025 | Prelims OnlySpecies | Environment
    Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Why in the News?

    In Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala, artisanal fishers and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) engage in a rare and sophisticated form of human–wildlife cooperative hunting.

    Researchers to study rare Dolphin-Fisher kinship in Ashtamudi Lake

    Unique Dolphin-Fisher in Ashtamudi Lake:

    • Cooperative Hunting: Dolphins herd fish towards artisanal fishers standing in shallow water.
    • Signals: Dolphins give tail-slaps or rolls to signal fishers to cast nets.
    • Mutual Benefit: Fishers get high catches; dolphins feed on escaping fish, forming a rare human–wildlife cooperation system.
    • Documentation: First studied by University of Kerala researchers; Similar systems studied in Brazil and Myanmar.
    • Expected Outcomes: Insights into animal culture, evolution of cooperation, and improved sustainable fishing practices.

    About Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa plumbea):

    • Distribution: Found from East Africa to India, the Middle East and western Indochina, with major populations along India’s west coast.
    • Appearance: Identified by a large hump under the dorsal fin, dark grey plumbeous body, white mottling, and occasional pink shading; adults grow up to 2.8 m, newborns 97–108 cm.
    • Identification Traits: Long slender beak, dorsal fin perched on a mid-back hump, adults darken with age and often show shark-related scars.
    • Habitat: Prefer shallow waters (<20 m) within 1.5 km of shore; commonly near estuaries, river mouths, bays and nearshore fish concentrations.
    • Group Behaviour: Groups of 50–100 reported in India; shy but often seen during dolphin-watching trips.
    • Diet: Feed mainly on mullet, mackerel, sardines, pomfret and other schooling fish; sometimes exploit fishing nets, increasing entanglement risk.
    • Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN), Appendix I (CITES), NOT LISTED under India’s Wildlife Protection Act (only Ganges and Snubfin dolphins are listed).
    • Colour Variation: Pinkish tint comes from superficial blood vessels used for thermoregulation; calves are dark grey.

    Researchers to study rare Dolphin-Fisher kinship in Ashtamudi Lake

    About Ashtamudi Lake:

    • Location: A brackish estuarine lake in Kerala covering 5,700 hectares; designated a Ramsar Site (2002).
    • Name Origin: “Ashtamudi” refers to its eight channels, forming a gateway to the Kerala backwaters.
    • Hydrology: Fed mainly by the Kallada River; empties into the Arabian Sea via Neendakara estuary.
    • History: Once the ancient port of Quilon mentioned by Ibn Battuta.
    • Flora: Mangroves include Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Sonneratia caseolaris; region hosts rare plants like Syzygium travancoricum and Calamus rotang.
    • Fauna: Supports 57 bird species (6 migratory, 51 resident).
    • Sustainable Fishery: Home to India’s first MSC-certified clam fishery (2014).
    • Livelihood & Ecology: Vital for traditional fisheries, estuarine biodiversity, and local livelihood systems.
    [UPSC 2012] Which one of the following is not a lagoon?

    Options: (a) Ashtamudi lake (b) Chilka lake (c) Preiyar lake * (d) Pulicat lake

     

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  • Judicial Reforms

    Article 32 of Indian Constitution

    17 November 2025 | 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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