Editorials

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Economy (growth, employment, resource mobilization) GS-3: Science and Technology (technological applications) GS-1: Indian Culture (art, literature, cultural heritage) Key Points India’s demographic and technological strengths position it as a potential global media and entertainment (M&E) hub. The World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai aims to …

UPSC Relevance GS-2: Social Justice (health, education, human resources) GS-3: Economy (food security, nutrition) GS-4: Ethics (education for societal well-being) Key Points The UN’s Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) stresses global efforts to combat malnutrition. Experts advocate embedding nutrition education in school curricula from pre-school onward. This education should …

UPSC Relevance GS-2: International Relations (West Asia crisis, nuclear proliferation, global policies affecting India) Key Points Indirect U.S.-Iran talks, mediated by Oman, aim to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). The Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal led Iran to exceed the deal’s nuclear limits. Current negotiations focus on sanctions relief …

UPSC Relevance GS-2: International Relations (India-Pakistan relations, terrorism’s impact) GS-3: Security (cross-border terrorism, internal security)  Key Points India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) adopted firm diplomatic measures against Pakistan post-Pahalgam attack. Actions include canceling Pakistani visas, suspending the Attari-Wagah border check post, and halting engagement until Pakistan addresses terror groups. …

UPSC Relevance GS-2: International Relations (India-Pakistan ties, border management) GS-3: Security (terrorism, internal security, border area management) Key Points Rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) due to small arms fire incidents. The Army Chief conducted a security review in Srinagar amid intensified anti-militancy efforts. Security forces effectively countered …

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Science and Technology (AI, skill development) GS-2: Economy (employment, technological shifts) Key Points India faces a shortage of Agentic AI professionals amid rising demand for autonomous AI systems capable of decision-making and adaptation. Detailed Insights Agentic AI processes data from multiple sources to analyze challenges, strategize, and …

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Economy (corporate governance, social responsibility) GS-2: Governance (Companies Act, 2013) Key Points CSR spending by listed firms rose 16% to ₹17,967 crore in 2023-24 from ₹15,524 crore in 2022-23, driven by higher profits. HDFC Bank led with ₹945.31 crore, followed by Reliance Industries and TCS. Detailed Insights …

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale recently struck Istanbul, with its epicenter located in the Sea of Marmara. Overview of the Sea of Marmara The Sea of Marmara is a relatively small inland body of water entirely surrounded by Turkey, acting as a natural divider between the …

GS2 – International Relations Context: India’s Energy Minister recently assessed the progress of the Arun-III Hydroelectric Project located in Nepal. Key Highlights: The Arun-III is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility situated on the Arun River within Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha District in the eastern part of the country. About the Arun River: The …

GS3 – Environment Context: A recent report by ICIMOD highlights that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region has witnessed a third consecutive year of below-average snow persistence, with 2024-25 marking historic lows, posing serious threats to water security across Asia. Understanding Snow Persistence: Snow persistence measures the proportion of time …

Context Researchers have identified two new species of freshwater fish, Labeo uru and Labeo chekida, from the Western Ghats. This discovery addresses a long-standing 150-year-old confusion, in which both species were mistakenly identified as Labeo nigrescens (Rohu). The two species are endemic to their specific river systems. Labeo uru: This …

GS2 – Schemes Context : The SVAMITVA scheme marks its five-year anniversary. Why SVAMITVA was Needed Precise Land Documentation: In many Indian villages, homes and land parcels were never systematically documented. Utilization of Property: In the absence of legal proof, residents were unable to leverage their properties for bank loans …

Recent Update: The Indian government has recently declared that Pakistani citizens will no longer be eligible to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Overview of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES): Introduced in 1992, the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was designed to promote easier movement across …

The Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, recently carried out a successful test launch of a medium-range surface-to-air missile in the Arabian Sea. Overview of INS Surat INS Surat is the fourth and final vessel in the Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer series, also known as the Visakhapatnam …

The 2025 Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions are taking place in Geneva from April 28 to May 9. These meetings aim to address global concerns around hazardous chemicals, including chlorpyrifos. Understanding Chlorpyrifos Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide labeled as “moderately hazardous” by the World …

In a recent verdict, the Supreme Court underscored that the use of the Doctrine of Prospective Overruling—or assigning future effect to a judgment—should not become a standard approach. The Court must first be convinced that the situation genuinely warrants such an application. Understanding the Doctrine of Prospective Overruling This legal …

A team of Indian researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has introduced a groundbreaking method to precisely estimate the amount of Helium present in the Sun’s photosphere. This approach relies on indirect spectral analysis. Context Helium, the Sun’s second most prevalent element, poses challenges for direct detection in …

The keel for Yard 3040—the fourth vessel in the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) series under construction by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata—was recently laid in a ceremonial event. Overview of NGOPVs Each NGOPV has an estimated displacement of around 3,000 tonnes and is built …

The Measles-Rubella (M-R) Elimination Campaign for 2025–26 is targeting full immunisation coverage by delivering two doses of the M-R vaccine to all eligible children. Understanding Measles Measles is an extremely infectious viral illness that mainly affects young children. It can lead to severe complications or even death, particularly in undernourished …

BRIC-inStem, based in Bengaluru, in collaboration with CMC Vellore, has successfully completed India’s inaugural human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia—a significant milestone in the country’s medical research. Understanding Gene Therapy Gene therapy is an advanced biomedical strategy aimed at correcting or replacing defective genes to treat or prevent diseases. Instead …