GS

Norwesters

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 …

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India Justice Report 2025

GS2 – Polity Context: Tata Trusts, in collaboration with a network of civil society organizations, has released the 2025 edition of the India Justice Report. The report evaluates the performance of states and union territories across 24 indicators, covering the four core pillars of the justice system—police, judiciary, prisons, and …

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Federal Structure

GS2 – Polity Tamil Nadu Forms Committee on State Autonomy Context: The Tamil Nadu government has set up a high-powered panel led by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Kurian Joseph. This committee’s primary role is to analyze Centre-State relations and recommend ways to reinforce the constitutional rights of states. Previously, …

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Birth and Death Registration in India

GS2 – Governance Context: The Registrar General of India (RGI) has issued a warning to both public and private healthcare institutions, urging them to report all birth and death occurrences within 21 days. Concerns Highlighted by RGI: Incomplete Registration: The RGI has pointed out that nearly 10% of birth and …

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National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)

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 …

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EV Transition: Key Challenges for India

GS3 – Infrastructure & Environment Context: A recent study highlights the major risks and challenges India faces in transitioning to Electric Vehicles (EVs). EV Adoption: Goals and Current Status   Government Targets for 2030: 30% electrification of private cars 80% for two- and three-wheelers Current EV Market Share: Around 8% …

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Digital Literacy

GS2 – Governance Context: Kerala has become the first state in India to achieve total digital literacy, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital empowerment journey. What is Digital Literacy? Digital Literacy refers to the ability of individuals and communities to effectively understand, access, and use digital technologies in …

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Green Status Assessment of Asiatic Lions

GS3 – Environment Context: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released its first-ever Green Status Assessment, categorizing the Asiatic Lion as ‘Largely Depleted’. This evaluation complements the IUCN Red List by focusing on the recovery and ecological functionality of species. About Lions Lions are the second-largest big …

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Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)

GS3 – Science & Technology Context: Google recently unveiled a new computer chip named Ironwood, marking the launch of its 7th generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). These chips are specifically engineered to power Artificial Intelligence (AI) models. Processing units serve as the central hardware components that drive computing operations. What …

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Child Trafficking in India

GS II-Vulnerable section Overview Child trafficking is a form of human trafficking that involves the illegal transportation, recruitment, or harboring of minors using coercion, force, fraud, or deception. This exploitative practice aims to subject children to inhumane conditions such as forced labor, prostitution, slavery, organ trade, and servitude. While child …

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Bonds and Their Various Types

GS III-Economy Bonds function as a form of lending where individuals provide funds to entities like companies, municipalities, or governments. In return, the bond issuer promises to pay back the borrowed amount with interest over a defined time. Since bonds generate consistent returns, they are referred to as fixed-income securities, …

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MINIATURE LASER ON SILICON CHIP COULD TRANSFORM COMPUTING

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Science & Technology – Electronics advancements, silicon photonics GS-3: Economy – Innovation, cost-efficient manufacturing GS-3: Infrastructure – Impact on digital communication, data centers Key Highlights From Electrons to Photons Conventional chips rely on electrons for data transfer. Researchers have now integrated miniature lasers onto silicon chips, enabling …

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ENSURING SPACEFLIGHT SAFETY

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Science and Technology – Indian scientific achievements, technology indigenization GS-2: International Relations – India’s space mission collaborations Essay & Ethics – Risk management, human-focused science policy Key Highlights Safety in Human Spaceflight The safe return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from the ISS highlights …

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FEMINISM IN POLARIZED TIMES

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 …

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UNWARRANTED CHANGE: RTI ACT AMENDMENT

UPSC Relevance GS-2: Governance – Transparency, accountability, RTI Act GS-2: Polity – Fundamental Rights (Article 21), data privacy GS-4: Ethics – Public interest, governance principles Key Highlights Amendment Details The government amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act through Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act 2023. The original clause permitted …

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FALLING SHORT: ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

UPSC Relevance GS-3: Indian Economy – Growth, manufacturing sector GS-3: Economic Data – IIP, inflation, consumption, investment trends Key Highlights Declining Industrial Growth Industrial production growth dropped to 2.9% in February, down from 5.2% in January and 5.6% in February 2024. Sectoral declines: Mining: 1.6% Manufacturing: 2.9% Consumer Durables: -3.8% …

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HISTORY AS A BATTLEGROUND: RISKS OF REWRITING THE PAST

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 …

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IMPLICATIONS OF A POST-ASSAD SYRIA FOR CHINA

UPSC Relevance GS-2: International Relations – West Asia geopolitics, China’s strategic priorities GS-3: Security – Global terrorism, Uyghur concerns Key Highlights Uyghur Presence in Syria Uyghur fighters from the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have assumed military roles in the new Syrian regime. One Uyghur is among Syria’s 50 top-ranking …

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