GS1

GS1 – Art & Culture Context: The ancient Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple located at Simhachalam is facing structural deterioration due to its age. Location & Deity Situated on the Simhachalam Hill Range in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Varaha Narasimha (boar-lion) incarnation. Architectural Style A …

GS1 – Art & Culture Context: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has granted Geo-Heritage Site status to the Belum Caves located in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district. Key Details about Belum Caves Initially identified in 1884 by Robert Bruce Foote, the caves were later extensively surveyed between 1982 and 1984 …

GS1 – Geography Context : A rare crescent-shaped weather formation observed over Delhi was identified by IMD radar as a “bow echo”. Understanding Bow Echo: Definition: A bow echo is a curved band of thunderstorms, also known as a squall line, which appears on radar in the form of an …

GS2 – Polity Context: The Prime Minister chaired the 10th meeting of the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council. Theme: Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047 Key Takeaways: Investment Charter: PM directed NITI Aayog to draft an Investment-Friendly Charter to encourage investments and economic development. Tourism: States were urged to each develop at …

GS 1 – HISTORY Background: Date: 12 March – 6 April 1930 Leader: Mahatma Gandhi Part of: Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Reason: Protest against the British monopoly over salt production and sale, and the Salt Tax, which affected every Indian, especially the poor. Causes: Unjust Salt Law: British prohibited Indians …

GS1 – Geography Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the updated SHAKTI Policy. About SHAKTI Scheme: Introduced by the Ministry of Coal in 2017, the SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) framework aims to allocate coal linkages in a transparent …

GS-1: Post-independence reorganization Key Points: The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement (SMM) created Maharashtra in 1960, driven by Marathi linguistic identity. Cultural figures, workers, and socialist ideals fueled the movement. Leaders like Annabhau Sathe, Prabodhankar Thackeray, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar shaped its ideology. Mumbai was a contentious focal point despite elite opposition. …

GS-1: Urbanization – Urban Safety Infrastructure Key Points: A tragic fire in a Kolkata hotel in the crowded Burrabazar area claimed 14 lives and injured 13, revealing deficiencies in urban fire safety and response. The six-storey building had only one staircase and no alternative exits, breaching fire safety regulations. A …

GS-1: Indian Society Key Points: Experts highlight that compiling a definitive list of castes and communities will be the primary hurdle for caste enumeration in the upcoming Census. India lacks a current, comprehensive caste database beyond constitutional SC, ST, and OBC lists. The 1931 Census, the last to fully enumerate …

GS 1 – HISTORY Context: The Vachana Mantapa project was launched in Kalaburagi during Basava Jayanti in 2025. Biography: Basaveshwara, also referred to as Bhakti Bhandari (treasurer of devotion), was an Indian philosopher, poet, and social reformer. Birth and Early Life: He was born in 1131 AD in Bagevadi, now …

The Supreme Court pointed out that both the state and national consumer commissions misinterpreted the legal doctrine known as the “eggshell skull” rule. What is the ‘Eggshell Skull’ Rule? The doctrine gets its name from the metaphor that a person who causes harm is fully liable even if the victim …

Overview: Massive forest fires are currently affecting various parts of Uttarakhand, with nearly 100 hectares of woodland already burned. These fires have been intensified by a prolonged heatwave and extremely dry conditions. In certain affected zones, helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets—a specialized aerial firefighting device—have been deployed to deliver water …

Context: A recent research study focused on six major river basins—Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery—examines the impact of heavy rainfall, baseflow, and river floods in Peninsular India, highlighting the factors contributing to regional flooding. What is Baseflow? Baseflow is the continuous flow of water in a river channel …

UPSC Relevance GS-1: Geography (plate tectonics, geomorphology) GS-3: Science and Technology (geological research) Key Points Scientists discovered that continental rifting triggers deep mantle waves, causing stable continental regions (cratons) to rise, forming plateaus and escarpments. Detailed Insights Rifting, as seen in the African Rift Valley, stretches the crust, initiating mantle …

GS 1 The Taliban’s evolving stance on cultural heritage sites in Afghanistan has attracted international attention, especially concerning the Bamiyan Buddhas. About the Bamiyan Buddhas Carved into the sandstone cliffs of Bamiyan Valley in central Afghanistan during the 6th century CE, the Bamiyan Buddhas were two monumental statues of standing …

GS 1 The Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir recently experienced severe weather, including heavy rainfall and hailstorms, leading to significant destruction in the area. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the region recorded 16.9 mm of rainfall within a 24-hour period—an astonishing 575% increase compared to the average …

GS1 – Geography Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), along with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in Delhi, is collaboratively working on India’s inaugural research testbed dedicated to the study of Norwesters. This initiative focuses on the …

Context: The Ministry of Mines has released guidelines to establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to boost innovation and research in critical mineral technologies. What is NCMM? The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a flagship programme launched in Union Budget 2024–25 to secure …

UPSC Relevance GS-1: Indian Society – Women’s roles, social movements GS-2: Governance – Gender empowerment, legislation GS-4: Ethics – Social sensitivity, equity, empathy Key Highlights Current Context The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 has brought gender equity into sharp political focus. Yet, this mainstreaming has polarized discourse, making it contentious due …

UPSC Relevance GS-1: Indian History & Culture – Historical narratives GS-2: Polity & Society – Communal harmony, constitutional values GS-4: Ethics – Integrity in interpreting history Key Highlights Rising Concerns March 2025 saw politically driven revisionism in textbooks and public narratives. Certain rulers are glorified, while others, like Aurangzeb and …