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Type: Prelims Only

  • Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

    National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal

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

    Why in the News?

    The PM has recently inspected the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in the Ahmedabad district.

    dhol.jpg

    About National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal:

    • Location: Lothal, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, in the Bhal region near the Gulf of Khambhat.
    • Developer: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
    • Objective: To showcase India’s 5,000-year-old maritime history, especially the role of Lothal as the world’s earliest dockyard during the Indus Valley Civilization.
    • Historical Significance of Lothal:
      • Built around 2200 BCE as a major Harappan trade and craft centre for beads, gems, and ornaments.
      • Lothal in Gujarati means “Mound of the Dead”, similar to Mohenjo-daro.
      • Excavated by S.R. Rao (1955–1960).
      • Dockyard confirmed through studies (size: 222 x 37 m), once linked with Sabarmati’s old course.
      • Evidence of Lock Gates and Sluice System to regulate flow of water.
      • Trade connections extended to Mesopotamia and other ancient regions.
      • Nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014); only known port-town of the Indus Valley Civilization.
    • Features of the Complex:
      • Exhibition halls, maritime park, amphitheater, museum, and research/educational facilities.
      • Will highlight ancient trade routes, shipbuilding traditions, and navigation techniques.
      • Expected to be a major hub for cultural tourism and heritage education.
    [UPSC 2021] Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelling water into connected reservoirs?

    (a) Dholavira*  (b) Kalibangan (c) Rakhigarhi (d) Ropar

     

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

    Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival

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

    Why in the News?

    The 14th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival was inaugurated in Manipur.

    Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival

    About Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival:

    • Overview: An annual agricultural and cultural festival celebrated in Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district, Manipur.
    • Origin: Began in 2010 to promote the Hathei chilli and its farming traditions.
    • Focus: Highlights the Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Hathei chilli, which received GI status in 2021.
    • Activities: Involves flag hoisting, Tangkhul Naga cultural events, buyer–seller meets, marketing programmes, exhibitions, and awareness drives on government schemes.

    Salient Features of Hathei Chilli:

    • Local Identity: Known as Sirarakhong chilli, indigenous to Ukhrul district.
    • Cultivation: Grown on slopes under the traditional jhum system.
    • Distinct Qualities: Recognised for its bright red colour, unique flavour, and medium pungency.
    • ASTA Value: Possesses a high American Spice Trade Association colour value, making it sought after for food colouring.
    • Nutritional Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and calcium, with medicinal value.
    • Uses: Widely used in cooking, pickles, flavouring, food colouring, and processing industries.
    • Uniqueness: Its qualities stem from the soil and climate of Sirarakhong, not reproducible elsewhere.
    [UPSC 2018] Consider the following pairs:

    Tradition- State

    1. Chapchar Kut festival — Mizoram

    2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur

    3. Thong-To dance — Sikkim

    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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  • Launch of Bima Sugam Portal

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Mobilization Of Resources

    Why in the News?

    Bima Sugam, envisioned as the world’s largest online marketplace for insurance, was officially launched by the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF) at the IRDAI headquarters in Hyderabad.

    What is Bima Sugam?

    • Overview: World’s largest unified digital marketplace for insurance products and services, initiated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
    • Coverage: Includes life, health, motor, travel, property, agricultural, and commercial insurance.
    • Function: Works like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for insurance, providing common infrastructure for purchase, renewal, management, and claims.
    • Stakeholders: Brings together insurers, intermediaries, agents, brokers, banks, and customers on a single platform.
    • Governance: Operated by the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF) with equity participation from insurance companies.
    • Policy Goal: Forms part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), aligned with the vision of Insurance for All by 2047.
    • Working:  The simplified way for a user on the platform would be as follows:
      • Registration: A person can register using Aadhaar-based KYC or other valid ID.
      • e-Bima Account Creation: A secure, integrated insurance repository has been created.
      • Policy search and comparison: Products from all registered insurance companies are listed with standardized information for easy comparison.
      • Purchase: Policies can be purchased digitally with instant e-documentation and secure payments.
      • Service: Policyholders can renew, update, port, or cancel policies and receive real-time assistance.
      • Claims: Users can submit claims and track the process; insurance companies and TPAs will use backend access for faster verification and settlement.

    Key Features:

    • Phased Rollout: Begins as an information and guidance hub; full transactions enabled gradually.
    • Low-Cost Model: Minimal user charges, unlike private aggregators that rely on high commissions.
    • Centralised Database: Enables policy comparison, customer query resolution, and faster product adoption.
    • Secure Digital Storage: Provides safe policy storage with robust security and compliance standards.
    • Inclusive Ecosystem: All insurers mandated as members, ensuring transparency and fair access.
    [UPSC 2014] With reference to “Aam Admi Bima Yojana”. Consider the following statements:

    1. The member insured under the scheme must be the head of the family or earning member of the family in a rural landless household.

    2. The member insured must be in the age group of 30 to 65 years.

    3. There is a provision for free scholarship for up to two children of the insured who are studying between classes 9 and 12.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

     

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  • WTO and India

    WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

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

    Why in the News?

    The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has entered into force on 15 September 2025, three years after adoption in June 2022.

    What is the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?

    • Nature: First WTO treaty centred on environmental sustainability, designed to reduce harmful subsidies that drive illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfishing.
    • Core Prohibitions:
      • Subsidies for IUU fishing vessels or operators.
      • Subsidies for fishing in overfished stocks, unless linked to recovery plans.
      • Subsidies for high-seas fishing in areas outside coastal state jurisdiction or Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
    • Transparency: Members must provide detailed reports on fish stocks, fleets, catch volumes, and subsidies.
    • Transition Period: Two years allowed for developing countries and least developed countries before full implementation.
    • Phased Approach: Called “Fish One”, to be followed by “Fish Two” covering overcapacity and fleet subsidies.
    • Global Significance: Contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, which seeks elimination of harmful subsidies to protect global fish stocks.

    India and this Agreement: 

    • Position: India welcomed the treaty, noting it is one of the lowest fisheries subsidizers despite its large fishing community.
    • Equity Argument: Urged that historic subsidizers and industrial fishing nations take greater obligations, based on polluter pays principle and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR).
    • Sector Context: India’s fisheries are dominated by millions of small-scale, traditional fishers dependent on coastal resources, requiring fair treatment.
    • Benefits for India:
      • Curbing IUU fishing by foreign industrial fleets, protecting coastal livelihoods.
      • Allowing space for stock-rebuilding subsidies tied to sustainability.
      • Ensuring fair competition for Indian traditional fishers in global trade.
    [UPSC 2015] The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the

    Options: (a) Food and Agricultural Organization (b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (c) World Trade Organization* (d) United Nations Environment Programme

     

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  • Dams and Hydroprojects

    In news: Almatti Dam

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

    1. Why in the News?

    Karnataka govt. has approved Upper Krishna Project Phase-III to raise Almatti dam height, while Maharashtra warned of moving the Supreme Court against it.

    Why is Maharashtra opposing it?

    • Fears submergence of villages and agricultural land in its territory if water levels rise further.
    • Worries about reduced water availability downstream, affecting its irrigation and drinking water projects.

    About Almatti Dam:

    • Overview: It is a hydroelectric and irrigation project built on the Krishna River in North Karnataka.
    • Completion: July 2005, as part of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project (UKP).
    • Dimensions: Height 52.5 m, length 3.5 km.
    • Power Generation: A 290 MW station using vertical Kaplan turbines (five of 55 MW and one of 15 MW).
    • Two separate powerhouses: Almatti I and II generate power before releasing water into the Narayanpur Reservoir.
    • Functions: Provides irrigation, potable water, hydroelectric power, and helps in flood management.

    Back2Basics: Krishna River

    In news: Almatti Dam

    • Origin: Near Mahabaleshwar (Satara, Maharashtra), in the Western Ghats.
    • Length: ~1,300 km, second-longest river in peninsular India after Godavari.
    • Course: Flows through Maharashtra (303 km), Karnataka (480 km), Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
    • Major Tributaries:
      • Right-bank: Ghatprabha, Malprabha, Tungabhadra.
      • Left-bank: Bhima, Musi, Munneru.
    • Hydropower & Irrigation Projects: Includes Koyna, Tungabhadra, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Almatti, Narayanpur, Bhadra.

     

    [UPSC 2005] The Almatti Dam is on the river:

    Options: (a) Godavari (b) Cauvery (c) Krishna* (d) Mahanadi

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    In news: Malabar Revolt (1921)

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

    Why in the News?

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

    About the Malabar Revolt:

    • Nature: Also known as the Moplah or Mappila Rebellion, it was a major uprising in the Malabar region of Kerala.
    • Causes:
      • Exploitative land tenure policies and high rents on tenant farmers.
      • Lack of tenure security and arbitrary evictions by Hindu Jenmi landlords.
      • A tradition of smaller Moplah uprisings since the 19th century.
    • Immediate trigger: British attempts to arrest Khilafat leaders in Eranad and Valluvanad during the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements.
    • Character: Combined anti-colonial resistance, agrarian unrest, and communal violence, making it one of the most complex uprisings of the freedom struggle.
    • Beginning: Revolt broke out on 20 August 1921, with attacks on police stations, British offices, and landlord property.
    • British Response: Martial law, mass troop deployment, brutal suppression by early 1922.
    • Leaders:
      • Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji: Set up a parallel Khilafat government in Nilambur.
      • Ali Musaliar: Spiritual guide, revered locally, executed by British.
      • Sayyid Alavi Tangal: religious inspiration for resistance.

    Consequences and Atrocities:

    • Parallel Government: Rebels briefly established parallel administration in parts of Malabar.
    • Casualties: 2,337 rebels killed, over 45,000 imprisoned, nearly 10,000 missing.
    • Violence: Widespread communal killings, forced conversions, destruction of temples and homes.
    • Wagon Tragedy (Nov 1921): 67 Moplah prisoners suffocated to death in a railway wagon.
    • Impact: Large-scale displacement, ruined villages, families uprooted.
    • Political Shift: Indian National Congress initially supported the anti-British nature, but withdrew after communal excesses.

    Historical Assessment:

    • Bipan Chandra: Saw it primarily as a peasant/agrarian revolt.
    • Sumit Sarkar: Interpreted it as an anti-landlord revolt.
    • Colonial View: Framed as a communal rebellion to weaken anti-British legitimacy.
    • Recent Scholarship: Abbas Panakkal highlights it as part of Khilafat and Non-Cooperation, initially uniting Hindus and Muslims.
    • E.M.S. Namboodiripad, Saumyendranath Tagore: Called it a spontaneous peasant uprising against colonial oppression.
    • Recognition: Many rebels are honoured as freedom fighters by Kerala government, though debates continue whether to classify it as anti-colonial, agrarian, or communal.
    [UPSC 2020] With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

    Options:

    (a) The Revolt of 1857 (b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921 (c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859 – 60 (d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900*

     

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  • Indian Army Updates

    Upgradation of Army Radars

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

    Why in the News?

    After Operation Sindoor and Pakistani drone incursions, the Army is upgrading air defence with advanced radars to counter low-RCS (radar cross-section) drones and other aerial threats along northern and western borders.

    What are Radars?

    • About: Radar stands for Radio Detection and Ranging; it uses radio waves to locate, track, and measure speed of objects.
    • Components: Transmitter emits radio signals, receiver captures reflections.
    • Functions: Measures direction, distance (via time delay), and velocity (via Doppler shift).
    • Types in air defence:
      • Surveillance radars: Monitor airspace and detect aerial objects, not directly linked to weapons.
      • Fire control radars: Provide targeting data to guide anti-aircraft guns or missiles.

    Current Indian Capabilities:

    • Indian Air Force: Operates High-Power Radars and Medium-Power Radars for long-range, high-altitude threats such as jets, AWACS, and large transport aircraft.
      • For fire control, the Air Force employs systems like the 3D Central Acquisition Radar and Rajendra radar.
    • Indian Army: Uses Low-Level Light-Weight Radars, designed to pick up low-flying, small radar cross-section objects like drones.
      • Upgraded Flycatcher and Air Defence Tactical Control Radar systems to aim weapons and manage local defence.

    India’s Air Defence Infrastructure:

    • Missile systems: Includes Russian S-400 and the indigenous Akash missile system.
    • Army’s Akashteer system: Integrates radars, sensors, air defence guns, and communications into a real-time operational air picture.
    • IAF’s IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System): Unifies data from multiple assets for coordinated detection and interception.
    • Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Ongoing modernisation programme; DRDO recently tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System.
    [UPSC 2024] Consider the following activities:

    1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft

    2. Monitoring of precipitation

    3. Tracking the migration of animals

    In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

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

     

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  • Blockchain Technology: Prospects and Challenges

    What are Stablecoins?

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

    Why in the News?

    Globally, stablecoins face regulatory scrutiny; the Bank of England has proposed ownership limits (£10k–£20k for individuals, £10m for businesses) to reduce banking system risks.

    About Stablecoins:

    • Definition: Cryptocurrencies designed to maintain stable value, usually pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or other crypto.
    • Role: Provide price stability, often used to park profits or enable fast, low-cost cross-border transactions without intermediaries.
    • Use: Rarely for retail payments; mainly act as a bridge asset within crypto markets.
    • Types:
      • Fiat-backed (e.g., Tether/USDT).
      • Commodity-backed (gold, silver, oil).
      • Crypto-backed (collateralised by other cryptos).
      • Algorithmic (peg maintained via programmed supply-demand adjustments).
    • Example: Tether (USDT) backed in theory by cash and US Treasuries.
    • Market Growth: Could rise tenfold to $2 trillion by 2028 (Standard Chartered, Apr 2025).

    Risks Associated with Stablecoins:

    • Financial Stability Risk: Vulnerable to bank-run scenarios. Example: TerraUSD collapse (2022) lost 60% peg value.
    • Banking System Impact: Can drain deposits from banks, reducing lending capacity.
    • BIS Concerns:
      • Singleness: Deviations from fiat peg in secondary markets.
      • Elasticity: Limited expansion due to reserve requirements.
      • Integrity: Weak KYC, enabling money laundering, terror financing.
    • Cybersecurity: DeFi-linked stablecoins prone to hacking and theft.
    • Regulatory Gaps: Lack of uniform global standards leads to fraud and accountability issues.

    Global Regulatory Approaches:

    • United States, GENIUS Act (2025): Only insured financial institutions may issue; must hold 1:1 low-risk reserves; AML/CFT compliance required.
    • European Union, MiCA (2024): Regulates E-money Tokens (EMTs) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs); issuers restricted to authorised EU firms; strict reserve and consumer protection.
    • Hong Kong, Stablecoin Ordinance (2025): Licensing by HK Monetary Authority; full high-quality liquid reserves; strict audits and AML/CFT rules.
    • United Kingdom, Bank of England: Proposed ownership limits to prevent rapid deposit outflows and maintain financial stability.
    [UPSC 2016] With reference to ‘Bitcoins’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.

    2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.

    3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

     

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

    What is Portable Ion Chromatography?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: S&T – Applications In Everyday Life

    Why in the News?

    Australian scientists have developed a simpler, portable version of ion chromatography called Aquamonitrix, enabling field-based analysis of nitrate and nitrite ions.

    About Ion Chromatography:

    • Overview: A laboratory technique used to separate and measure ions (charged particles) in a sample.
    • Process: A liquid sample is passed through a long column that separates ions based on their properties.
    • Equipment: Requires large, complex, and costly lab machines.
    • Use in Environment: Detects harmful ions like nitrate and nitrite that pollute soil and water.

    What is Aquamonitrix?

    • Overview: A portable ion chromatograph designed by the University of Tasmania (Australia).
    • Features: Small, battery-operated, and nearly 10 times cheaper than lab equipment.
    • Testing: Students tested it on soil pore water, measuring nitrate and nitrite levels accurately when compared with lab results.
    • How it Works?
      • Soil water collected with a vacuum pump and filtered.
      • Water injected into the Aquamonitrix unit.
      • Uses a sodium chloride solution to carry the sample.
      • Equipped with a UV light detector, showing nitrate and nitrite as clear peaks.
      • Simpler design avoids messy interference from multiple ions.

    Applications:

    • Environment: Monitoring nitrate and nitrite pollution in soil and water.
    • Agriculture: Helps optimise fertiliser use and reduce overuse.
    • Water Safety: Tests drinking water quality on site.
    • Education: Serves as a teaching tool linking classroom to real-world chemistry.
    [UPSC 2024] “Membrane Bioreactors” are often discussed in the context of:

    Options: (a) Assisted reproductive technologies

    (b) Drug delivery nanotechnologies

    (c) Vaccine production technologies

    (d) Wastewater treatment technologies*

     

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

    Nankana Sahib Pilgrimage

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

    Why in the News?

    The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed State governments not to process applications for Sikh pilgrims’ visit to Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, for the November 2025 birth anniversary (Parkash Gurpurab) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

    About Nankana Sahib:

    • Location: Punjab province, Pakistan, near Lahore.
    • Historical Significance: Birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469). Earlier called Rai-Bhoi-Di Talwandi; renamed Nankana Sahib in his honour.
    • Major Shrines:
      • Gurdwara Janam Asthan: Built over Guru Nanak’s birthplace by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1818–19).
      • Other sites: Gurdwara Patti Sahib, Bal Leela, Mal Ji Sahib, Kiara Sahib, Tambu Sahib, and shrines linked to Guru Arjan (5th Guru) and Guru Hargobind (6th Guru).
    • Cultural Relevance: Pilgrimage site for millions of Sikhs globally; integral to the annual Parkash Gurpurab commemorations.

    About Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539):

    • Birth & Early Life: Born in 1469 at Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib). Enlightened at Sultanpur Lodhi in 1496.
    • Teachings: Rejected rituals, caste hierarchy, and idol worship; emphasised devotion to one formless God (Nirankar).
    • Core Philosophy:
      • Three Pillars: Naam Japna (remembrance of God), Kirat Karna (honest work), Vand Chhakna (sharing with others).
      • Equality & Justice: Advocated gender equality, social service (Seva), and community dining (Langar).
      • Message: “Ek Onkar Satnam”, Oneness of God and humanity.
    • Death: Passed away in 1539 at Kartarpur Sahib (now in Pakistan). Appointed Guru Angad Dev Ji as successor.
    [UPSC 2013] Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

    1. Dadu Dayal

    2. Guru Nanak

    3. Tyagaraja

    Which among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi Dynasty fell and Babur took over?

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

     

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