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Type: Prelims Only

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

    ASI Excavation at Balirajgarh

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

    Why in the News?

    On March 28, 2026, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Patna Circle officially commenced a large-scale scientific excavation at the Balirajgarh site in the Madhubani district of Bihar. The project aims to uncover the “virgin soil” to determine the earliest human habitation and explore the site’s potential links to the Iron Age Videha Kingdom and the ancient civilization of Mithila.

    Key Highlights of the Balirajgarh Site

    • Location: Situated in the Babubarhi block of Madhubani district, Bihar.
    • Historical Identity: Locally known as Raja Bali Ka Garh, it is traditionally believed to be the capital of the legendary King Bali and a major administrative hub of the ancient Videha Kingdom.
    • Archaeological Status: Declared a protected site of national importance by the ASI in 1938.
    • Site Features: The site spans approximately 176 acres and features a massive brick fortification and over 20 archaeological mounds.
    [2023] With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A.H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with 
    (a) archaeological excavations (b) establishment of English Press in Colonial India (c) establishment of Churches in Princely States (d) construction of railways in Colonial India

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  • Waste Management – SWM Rules, EWM Rules, etc

    World Bank report suggests “New Water-Food Nexus Framework” for smarter hydrological use to feed 10 billion people

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

    Why in the News?

    In March 2026, the World Bank released a landmark report titled “New Water-Food Nexus Framework” ahead of World Water Day. The report warns of a “Global Water Bankruptcy,” stating that current water management can sustainably support food for only 3.4 billion people, far short of the 10 billion projected by 2050.

    Economic Impact of Productivity:

    • A 10% increase in agricultural productivity can lead to a 2.5–3% reduction in poverty.
    • Expanding irrigation in rainfed areas could potentially create 245 million jobs globally.

    Global Water Bankruptcy:

    • The UN and World Bank warn that water crises are no longer “temporary” but a structural state of bankruptcy.
    • South Asia (including India) is flagged for overexploiting resources, while Sub-Saharan Africa is noted for underusing available water.

    The “New Water-Food Nexus Framework”: 

    • The report categorizes nations into four quadrants to guide policy:
      • Water-secure food exporter: Abundant water, exports calories (e.g., Brazil).
      • Water-secure food importer: Has water but relies on trade for food.
      • Water-stressed food exporter: High water risk but remains a major exporter (India falls here).
      • Water-stressed food importer: Lacks water and relies on imports (e.g., Middle East).
    [2023] Consider the following statements: 
    Statement-I: According to the United Nations’ ‘World Water Development Report, 2022’, India extracts more than a quarter of world’s groundwater withdrawal each year. 
    Statement-II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory. 
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 
    (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Canada

    Canada audit flags high approval rates for Indian student visas amid fraud concerns

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

    Why in the News?

    In March 2026, the Auditor General of Canada (Karen Hogan) tabled a report in Parliament flagging significant integrity gaps in the International Student Program. The audit highlights how India, despite being a high-risk origin for fraudulent applications, maintained a 98% approval rate under the now-discontinued Student Direct Stream (SDS).

    Key Points: 

    • Student Direct Stream (SDS): Launched in 2018 as a “fast-track,” light-touch eligibility review for students from 14 countries (including India, China, Philippines). It was discontinued in late 2024 due to fraud and non-compliance concerns.
    • The “Indian Exception”: While India’s overall share of new study permits plunged from 51.6% (2023) to 8.1% (2025) due to a national cap, those applying via SDS saw approval rates jump to 98% in 2024, despite internal warnings of document fraud.
    • Integrity Gaps:Document Fraud: Audit identified 800 cases (mostly SDS) using fraudulent educational credentials or “ghost” institutions.
      • Extension Loophole: Study permit extensions (95% approval) face much lighter scrutiny than new permits (38-58% approval), allowing flagged individuals to stay in Canada.

    Relevance to Syllabus

    • GS-II: Effect of policies of developed countries on India’s interests (Indian Diaspora).
    • International Relations: Indo-Canadian bilateral ties and migration governance.
    With reference to India, consider the following statements: 
    1 There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 
    2 A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 
    3 A foreigner, once granted citizenship, cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. 
    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 
    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Should Kerala Capture Muttikomban or Promote Coexistence?

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

    Why in the news?

    The Kerala Forest Department is attempting to capture the wild elephant Muttikomban in Vadakkanad, Wayanad district, with plans to confine it in a kraal at Muthanga and convert it into a Kumki elephant, triggering scientific, legal and conservation concerns.

    Why Is Muttikomban Being Targeted?

    • Repeated crop damage in farms and plantations
    • Frequent movement into settlements
    • Recent death of farmer Rajeev
    • Locals suspect Muttikomban responsible

    However

    • No scientific evidence linking elephant to death
    • No camera trap or forensic confirmation
    • No record of previous human killing

    What Is a Kraal?

    • Wooden enclosure used to confine wild elephants
    • Used during taming and training process
    • Step before conversion into Kumki elephant

    What Is a Kumki Elephant?

    • Trained captive elephant
    • Used to control wild elephants
    • Used during capture operations
    • Used in forest management

    Why Are Experts Opposing Capture?

    Legal Concerns

    • Wildlife Protection Act 1972
    • Capture allowed only as Last Resort
    • Requires Verified Threat Evidence
    • Experts say Legal criteria not met

    Ethical Concerns

    • Stress during tranquilisation
    • Captivity of wild elephant
    • Possible Violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

    [2022] With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 
    1 Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 
    2 When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 
    3 Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. 
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
    (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only

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  • Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

    Global Out of School Population Increased to 273 Million?

    Prelims Only | Education | : Health & Education

    Why in News?

    A UNESCO Report titled 2026 GEM Report Access and Equity Countdown to 2030 revealed that 273 million children, adolescents and youth were out of school globally in 2024, highlighting slow progress toward SDG 4 Education by 2030.

    How Many Children Are Out of School Globally?

    • 273 million children and youth out of school globally
    • Additional 13 million children excluded in conflict affected countries
    • One in six school age children excluded from education
    • Only Two thirds students complete secondary education

    Why Is This Important for SDG 4?

    SDG 4 Goal
    • Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education
    • Lifelong Learning Opportunities
    • Deadline 2030

    Where Does India Stand in the UNESCO 2026 GEM Report?

    The UNESCO 2026 GEM Report does not highlight India among worst performing countries, but India still faces major structural challenges affecting education access, equity and learning outcomes.

    [2011] Consider the following: 
    1 Right to education 
    2 Right to equal access to public service 
    3 Right to food 
    Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”? 
    (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

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  • Women Safety Issues – Marital Rape, Domestic Violence, Swadhar, Nirbhaya Fund, etc.

    Supreme Court Highlight Lapses in Safeguarding Sexual Assault Survivors’ Identity

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary,Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections

    Why in the news?

    The Supreme Court of India flagged serious lapses by trial courts and police in protecting the identity of sexual assault survivors and warned about general indifference towards statutory safeguards.

    What Did the Supreme Court Observe?

    • General indifference by trial courts and police
    • Disclosure of survivors’ identity in court records and affidavits
    • Violation of legal safeguards protecting survivors
    • Court intervened twice in one week
    • Directed redaction of names and identity details

    What Were the Recent Cases Highlighted?

    Gurugram Case

    • 3.8 year old survivor case
    • Police affidavits disclosed identity details
    • School records attached with personal details
    • Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant
    • Supreme Court Registry ordered to redact identity

    Himachal Pradesh Case

    • Nine year old survivor
    • Identity disclosed in court documents
    • Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Karol
    • Court termed disclosure disturbing

    Which Law Protects Survivor Identity?

    Section 228A IPC Now Section 72 BNS

    • Section 228A IPC now Section 72 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
    • Prohibits disclosure of sexual assault survivor identity
    • Applies to Police, Courts, Media, Public
    • Violation is a Criminal Offence

    [2024] Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India placed the Right to Privacy? (a) Article 15 (b) Article 16 (c) Article 19 (d) Article 21

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    New Butterfly Species Named After Zubeen Garg

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

    Why in the news?

    A new butterfly species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada district has been named Euthalia zubeengargi in honour of Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon of Assam, whose death on September 19, 2025 triggered widespread public reaction.

    What Is the Newly Discovered Butterfly Species?

    • Scientific Name: Euthalia zubeengargi
    • Common Name Proposed: Basar Duke
    • Genus: Euthalia
    • Habitat: Semi evergreen forests
    • Elevation Range: 600 to 750 metres
    • Location: Leparada district, Arunachal Pradesh

    Why Is the Discovery Important?

    • Only Two Male Individuals recorded
    • One Collected Specimen
    • One Photographed in Wild
    • Indicates Rare or Highly Localised Species
    • Found in Forest Ecosystem of Eastern Himalayas

    [2016] Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’? 
    (a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Himachal Pradesh (c) Karnataka (d) Maharashtra

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  • Tax Reforms

    Why Did the Government Cut Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel but Prices Did Not Fall?

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Why in News?

    The Union Government reduced Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre each. However, fuel prices at petrol pumps remained unchanged because the benefit was not passed on to consumers.

    Why Did Fuel Prices Not Decrease Despite Excise Duty Cut?

    • Government reduced Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED)
    • Diesel duty reduced to Zero
    • Petrol duty reduced to ₹3 per litre
    • Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) absorbed benefit instead of consumers
    • Objective was to reduce losses faced by OMCs
    • Government clarified cut not meant to lower retail prices

    Why Are Oil Marketing Companies Facing Losses?

    • Global crude oil prices surged above $111 per barrel
    • Public sector OMCs selling fuel below cost
    • Under recovery around ₹24 per litre petrol
    • Under recovery around ₹30 per litre diesel
    • Total losses around ₹2,400 crore per day

    Why Did Government Increase Export Duties?

    • Export duty on diesel increased to ₹21.5 per litre
    • Export duty on ATF increased to ₹29.5 per litre
    • Expected additional revenue ₹1,500 crore
    • Helps offset fiscal loss from excise duty cut

    What Is the Fiscal Impact of the Decision?

    • Excise duty cut cost around ₹7,000 crore
    • Export duty increase adds ₹1,500 crore
    • Net revenue loss around ₹5,500 crore per 15 days
    • Review every fortnight by government

    What Other Measures Were Announced?

    • Commercial LPG allocation increased by 20%
    • Total LPG allocation raised to 70% of pre crisis levels
    • Priority sectors where Piped Natural Gas (PNG) unavailable

    [2025] Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct?
    I Revenue deficit is ₹20,000 crores.
    II Fiscal deficit is ₹10,000 crores. 
    III Primary deficit is ₹4,000 crores. 
    Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only (d) I, II and III

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  • Cyber Security – CERTs, Policy, etc

    Home Ministry Sends 290 Takedown Notices Daily

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: E-Governance

    Why in News

    Union Home Ministry issued average 290 online content takedown notices per day under Information Technology Act 2000, indicating rise in online regulation and cybersecurity threats.

    Key Highlights

    • 1,11,185 suspicious online content blocked in 2024 to 25
    • 290 takedown notices per day issued by Home Ministry
    • Social media platforms must remove content within 3 hours
    • Sharp rise in cybersecurity incidents reported

    Legal Provision

    Section 79 of Information Technology Act 2000

    Section 79(1)

    • Provides Safe Harbour Protection
    • Platforms not liable for user generated content

    Section 79(3)(b)

    • Safe harbour removed if
    • Platform fails to remove flagged unlawful content
    • Government can issue takedown notices

    Nodal Agency

    Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre I4C

    • Designated on March 13, 2024
    • Empowered to issue takedown notices
    • Functions under Ministry of Home Affairs

    Sahyog Portal

    • Centralised portal for sending takedown notices
    • Police agencies across India can issue requests
    • Used to coordinate with social media platforms

    3 Hour Rule

    Social media platforms must Remove unlawful content Within 3 hours of receiving order. Order may come from Court, Government agency, and Law enforcement

    Rise in Cybersecurity Incidents

    • According to CERT In
      • 2021: 14.02 lakh incidents
      • 2022: 13.91 lakh incidents
      • 2023: 15.92 lakh incidents
      • 2024: 20.41 lakh incidents
      • 2025: 29.44 lakh incidents
    • Highest incidents reported from National Capital Territory of Delhi

    What is CERT In

    Indian Computer Emergency Response Team

    • National cybersecurity agency
    • Established under Section 70B of IT Act 2000
    • Functions under Ministry of Electronics and IT

    Functions
    • Track cyber threats
    • Issue alerts
    • Incident response
    • Cybersecurity coordination

    [2017] In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?
    1 Service providers 
    2 Data Centres 
    3 Body corporate 
    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 
    (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

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  • Social Media: Prospect and Challenges

    US Jury Verdicts Against Meta and Google Raise Questions Over Tech Liability Shield

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

    Why in News

    US juries held Meta and Google liable in lawsuits related to harm caused to children, potentially challenging legal protections under Section 230 of US law.

    Key Verdicts

    California Case

    • Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable
     • Harm caused: Depression and suicidal thoughts
     • Platforms involved: Instagram and YouTube
     • Compensation ordered: $6 million

    New Mexico Case

    • Jury found Meta liable
     • Allegation: Misleading about child safety
    • Issue: Sexual exploitation risks on platform
     • Compensation ordered: $375 million

    What is Tech Liability Shield

    • Tech Liability Shield refers to legal protection given to technology platforms such as social media companies so they are not held responsible for user generated content.
    • This protection mainly comes from Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996 in the United States.

    Section 230 Tech Liability Shield

    Section 230 states

    • Online platforms are not treated as publishers
    • Platforms not liable for user posted content
    • Companies protected from lawsuits over user activity

    Often called The law that built the internet

    [2019] Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (GDPR) in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018? 
    (a) Australia (b) Canada (c) The European Union (d) The United States of America

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