GS2 – International Relations Context: The 2025 G7 Summit, held in Canada to commemorate its 50th year, revealed significant internal fractures rather than the intended message of unity. The outcomes have triggered debates over the relevance of India’s continued participation in such platforms. Major Outcomes and Key Challenges Failure to …

GS2 – Polity Context: The upcoming 16th Finance Commission, whose recommendations will apply from April 2026, is facing increasing pressure from States to enhance their share in centrally collected taxes from the current 41% to 50%. What Is the Divisible Pool of Taxes? This refers to the shareable portion of …

GS3 – Environment Context India’s growing emphasis on biofuels is raising alarm over the diversion of food grains and subsidies for energy production, potentially undermining food security and equity in the green transition. Understanding Biofuels Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from organic material such as crops, algae, and agricultural …

Prelims Bits Context: Scientists have uncovered fossilized leaves, dating back approximately 24 million years, in Assam’s Makum Coalfield, which resemble modern-day Nothopegia plants currently found in the Western Ghats. Details of the Discovery: Geological Age: The fossils belong to the Late Oligocene epoch (around 24–23 million years ago), a period …

Prelims Bits Context: Iran deployed the Fattah missile in a recent attack on Israel, marking a significant step in its missile development program. About the Fattah Missile: Name Meaning: “Fattah” translates to “Conqueror” in Persian. Type: Iran’s first indigenously developed hypersonic ballistic missile. Propulsion System: Employs a two-stage mechanism that …

GS2 – Social Sector Context India has achieved a milestone with a record-breaking 54 institutions making it to the QS World University Rankings 2026. About the Rankings: The QS World University Rankings are released annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based organization that focuses on global higher education and international …

GS2 – International Relations Context: Amid evolving U.S. policies and geopolitical priorities, India–U.S. relations have encountered fresh challenges. A strategic reassessment is essential to safeguard mutual trust and ensure sustained alignment in the long term. Reasons for Tensions in Bilateral Relations Transactional vs. Strategic Mindsets: The U.S. often engages in …

GS1 – Geography Context: The Indian government plans to officially enforce Indian Standard Time (IST) as the sole time standard for legal, commercial, digital, and administrative matters across the country. This marks the first instance where IST will be legally recognized as India’s official time. To bring this into effect, …