Why in the News?
For the first time since its 1962 revival (except during COVID-19), Delhi’s interfaith festival Phool Walon Ki Sair will not be held this year.
About ‘Phool Walon Ki Sair’ Festival:
- Timing: Held annually post-monsoon (September–November), attracting large participation from artisans, locals, and cultural groups.
- Meaning: Literally translates to “Procession of the Florists,” celebrated annually in Mehrauli, Delhi.
- Origin: Began in 1811 under Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II when Begum Mumtaz Mahal offered floral chadars at both the Yogmaya Temple and the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki.
- Symbolism: Represents Hindu–Muslim unity, interfaith respect, and religious harmony in Delhi’s cultural fabric.
- Historical Timeline:
- Banned by the British (1942) during the freedom movement.
- Revived in 1962 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of secular revivalism.
- Celebrations: Include floral processions, decorative pankhas (fans), qawwali, folk dances, and traditional fairs.
Cultural Significance:
- Ganga–Jamuni Tehzeeb: Embodies Delhi’s composite Indo-Islamic culture, celebrating shared heritage and pluralism.
- Interfaith Harmony: Promotes unity, peace, and mutual respect between communities.
- Secular Ethos: Serves as a living symbol of Indian secularism, transcending religious and social boundaries.
| [UPSC 2017] Consider the following pairs:
Traditions: Communities
1. Chaliha Sahib Festival- Sindhis 2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra- Gonds 3. Wari-Warkari- Santhals
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Options: (a) 1 only * (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) None of the above |
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Why in the News?
In 2025, foreign investors have invested only about ₹69,000 crore ($7.8 billion) nearly half than expected, into Indian government bonds, even though the rules were made simpler and more flexible under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to attract more investment.
What is Fully Accessible Route (FAR)?
- Overview: A special investment framework launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in March 2020 to attract foreign investment in Indian government securities (G-secs).
- Purpose: Aims to liberalise India’s debt market, enhance foreign participation, and integrate it with global financial systems.
- Eligible Investors: Open to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) without investment caps.
- Key Feature: Permits unlimited foreign investment in designated government bonds with free buy–sell access and no quantitative ceiling.
- Liquidity & Integration: Designed to improve bond market depth, diversify funding sources, and boost India’s visibility in global debt indices.
- Repatriation Freedom: Allows investors to repatriate capital and profits freely to their home countries.
- Global Milestone: In June 2024, JP Morgan included 29 Indian G-secs under FAR in its Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI), marking India’s debut in major global bond benchmarks.
Comparison with Other Routes:
- Medium Term Framework (MTF): Allows foreign investment in G-secs but with limits and conditions on exposure and tenure.
- Voluntary Retention Route (VRR): Permits FPIs to invest in G-secs provided they retain investments for a minimum period, ensuring stable long-term inflows.
Complementary Function: FAR, MTF, and VRR operate together, providing flexibility in investment terms and balancing market stability with foreign access. |
Why were higher inflows expected?
- Projected Inflows: Index inclusion in 2024–25 was expected to attract $20–25 billion from global institutional and index-tracking investors.
- Attractiveness Factors: India’s 7% stable yields, macroeconomic strength, and favourable risk–return ratio made it a promising destination for long-term capital.
- Actual Outcome: Only $10.7 billion flowed in during 2024-25: well below expectations.
- Key Reasons:
- Global monetary uncertainty: investors awaited clarity on the US Federal Reserve’s rate policy.
- Domestic caution: RBI removed 14- and 30-year bonds from FAR in 2024 to reduce volatility.
- Geopolitical tensions and FPI withdrawals from equities reduced investor appetite.
- Significance: Despite lower inflows, FAR remains a structural reform strengthening India’s position as a globally accessible and competitive bond market.
| [UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:
1. In India, Non-Banking Financial Companies can access the Liquidity Adjustment Facility window of the Reserve Bank of India.
2. In India, Foreign Institutional Investors can hold the Government Securities (G-Secs).
3. In India, Stock Exchanges can offer separate trading platforms for debts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 only* |
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Why in the News?
Researchers from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, reported alarming levels of heavy metal pollution in the Cauvery River and its fish species, warning against excessive consumption.
Key Findings of the Study:
- Scope & Period: Conducted August 2023–February 2024, covering 18 sediment and 10 fish-sampling sites, analysing chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn).
- Contamination Levels: Several rivers stretches showed cadmium and lead concentrations exceeding international safety limits in both sediments and fish tissues.
- Pollution Hotspots: The Erode stretch emerged as the most polluted, influenced by textile dyeing, electroplating, tannery effluents, urban sewage, and agricultural runoff.
- Bioaccumulation Pattern: Metal concentration followed the trend, liver > gills > muscle, reflecting tissue-specific accumulation in aquatic species.
- Toxic Metal Dominance: Cadmium and lead were identified as the most toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative, posing long-term ecological and health hazards.
Risks Associated:
- Ecological Impact:
- Heavy metals disrupt fish reproduction, growth, and survival, destabilising aquatic food webs.
- Sediment toxicity alters microbial and plankton communities, reducing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- Human Health Risks:
- Consumption of contaminated fish can cause carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects, particularly from cadmium and lead.
- Cadmium affects kidneys and bones, while lead impairs nervous and cognitive functions, especially in children.
- Chronic exposure linked to liver dysfunction, hypertension, and cancer.
- Safe Consumption Limit:
- Researchers recommend ≤2 fish servings/week (250 g each) to minimise health risk.
- Continuous intake leads to cumulative toxicity and higher disease risk.
Back2Basics: Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
What is Bioaccumulation?
- Overview: It is the gradual buildup of toxic substances, such as heavy metals or pesticides, in the tissues of living organisms over time.
- Mechanism: When uptake (from food, water, or sediment) exceeds the rate of excretion, contaminants accumulate within the organism’s body.
- Example: Fish in the Cauvery absorb cadmium and lead from contaminated sediments and water faster than they can eliminate them, leading to higher internal concentrations than in their environment.
What is Biomagnification?
- Overview: It refers to the progressive increase in the concentration of toxins as they move up the food chain.
- Process: Smaller aquatic organisms ingest pollutants → fish eat these organisms → humans consume contaminated fish, resulting in magnified exposure.
- Consequence: Top predators, including humans, end up with the highest toxin concentrations, making biomagnification a significant public health hazard in contaminated ecosystems.
|
| [UPSC 2024] With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements:
1. PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food, and food packaging materials.
2. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
3. Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3* |
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Why in the News?
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (2020–21 to 2025–26) is set to conclude this fiscal year.
About National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM):
- Overview: A Central Sector Scheme (2020) under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, promoting scientific beekeeping and driving a “Sweet Revolution” for rural income enhancement.
- Implementing Agency: Executed by the National Bee Board (NBB) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- Financial Outlay: ₹500 crore for FY 2020–21 to 2025–26.
- Core Aim: Boost honey production, pollination-based crop productivity, and farmers’ income through structured beekeeping and processing infrastructure.
- Technology & Quality Focus: Promotes traceability, quality assurance, and digital registration via the Madhukranti Portal.
- Implementation Structure:
-
- Mini Mission–I: Enhances honey and hive product production through scientific beekeeping and pollination.
- Mini Mission–II: Focuses on post-harvest management, collection, processing, storage, marketing, and value addition.
- Mini Mission–III: Supports research, innovation, and capacity building for technology-driven solutions.
- Institutional Network: Coordinated by NBB, involving NDDB, NAFED, TRIFED, ICAR, KVIC, SRLM/NRLM, and MSME bodies at national and state levels.
Achievements & Progress:
- Production & Exports: India produced 1.4 lakh MT honey (2024); exported 1.07 lakh MT worth USD 177.55 million (FY 2023–24), rising to 2nd globally from 9th in 2020.
- Infrastructure Development: Established 6 world-class labs, 47 mini labs, 6 diagnostic labs, 8 hiring centres, 26 processing units, 18 branding units, and 10 cold storages.
- Research Hub: National Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping set up at IIT Roorkee for innovation and training.
- Empowerment Initiatives: 167 SHG projects, 97 FPOs, 424 ha demonstrations, and 288 ha bee-friendly plantations sanctioned for livelihood diversification.
- Digital Integration: Madhukranti Portal hosts 14,859 beekeepers, 269 societies, 206 companies, with blockchain-based traceability for export-grade quality.
- Policy Support: Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 2,000/MT (till Dec 2024) set to curb dumping of inferior honey and safeguard domestic producers.
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Why in the News?
India will host the International Fleet Review, Exercise MILAN- 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs together in Visakhapatnam from February 15–25, 2026.
About Exercise MILAN:
- Overview: Biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy to promote interoperability, maritime cooperation, and goodwill among friendly navies.
- Origin: First conducted in 1995 under the Andaman and Nicobar Command with participation from Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
- Growth: Expanded over the years to include 40–55 participating nations, reflecting India’s growing maritime diplomacy under Act East Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.
- Participation: The 2026 edition will see participation from over 50 navies, including the U.S., Russia, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN countries.
- Venue: The 2026 edition will be hosted at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, marking the largest MILAN to date.
- Structure: Conducted in two phases, a Harbour Phase (seminars, workshops, cultural exchanges, planning conferences) and a Sea Phase (joint operational exercises).
- Sea Phase Activities: Includes anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defence, maritime domain awareness (MDA), search and rescue (SAR), and complex fleet manoeuvres.
- Strategic Significance: Strengthens regional maritime security, demonstrates India’s indigenous naval capabilities, and reinforces its role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.
Back2Basics: Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
- Overview: A voluntary, multilateral maritime cooperation initiative launched by the Indian Navy in 2008 to enhance regional maritime security and dialogue among littoral nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Membership: Comprises 25 member states and 9 observer countries, spanning Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
- Objective: To promote maritime safety, security, capacity building, information sharing, and cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
- Chairmanship: The chairmanship rotates biennially among member nations; India will assume the chair for 2025–2027.
- Key Areas of Focus:
- Enhancing maritime domain awareness (MDA) and information exchange.
- Combating piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and terrorism at sea.
- Strengthening maritime connectivity and blue economy cooperation.
- Coordinating disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations.
|
| [UPSC 2024] Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4* |
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Why in the News?
Around 500 Indian nationals who escaped the KK Park cybercrime compound in Myawaddy township, southeastern Myanmar, are being rescued by the Government of India.
About KK Park Cyber Scam Hub:
- Location & Setting: Situated in Myawaddy township, Karen State, Myanmar, near the Thailand border; originally built (2019–2021) as a border trade zone, later transformed into a cybercrime and human trafficking hub.
- Control & Operations: Managed by the Border Guard Force (BGF) under Saw Chit Thu, a junta-allied militia leader sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury.
- Nature of Activities: Functions as a “scam city” employing thousands of trafficked workers for online fraud, crypto scams, and romance-investment schemes.
- Human Trafficking: Victims are recruited via fake overseas job offers, then imprisoned, tortured, and forced to commit cybercrimes after passport confiscation.
- Scale: At its peak, housed over 20,000 trafficked workers, generating billions annually through global online fraud networks.
- Structure: Operated like a self-contained enclave with dormitories, shops, and armed security — preventing worker escape.
Global Concern and UN Findings:
- UN Reports: Identified by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) as part of a network of cyber-scam compounds spanning Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos).
- Economic Scale: The cyber-scam economy earns over USD 10 billion annually, victimising users in 110 countries.
- Myanmar’s 2025 Raid: Seizure of 30 Starlink terminals was seen as a cosmetic crackdown, as ringleaders escaped beforehand.
- UN Appeal: Calls for cross-border enforcement, crypto tracking, and victim rehabilitation, viewing scam hubs as a fusion of trafficking and transnational organised crime.
How does it impact Indians?
- Victimisation: India serves as both a source and target of such scams; hundreds trafficked to Myanmar and Cambodia under fake IT job offers.
- Rescue Operations: Since 2022, over 1,600 Indians repatriated, including 500 from KK Park (2025); IAF rescued 283 stranded in Thailand earlier.
- Cyber Threats: Rising crypto frauds, impersonation scams, and digital extortion targeting Indian citizens.
- Government Response: EAM S. Jaishankar confirmed coordination for repatriation and stronger cyber-diplomacy engagement.
- Policy Imperative: Highlights India’s need for international law enforcement cooperation, cybersecurity awareness, and anti-trafficking vigilance across Southeast Asia.
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d’état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Options: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I *
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain 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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Why in the News?
Environmentalists in Assam have proposed the Rowmari–Donduwa Wetland Complex for designation as a Ramsar Site, citing its exceptional biodiversity and ecological services.
Assam’s Wetland Context:
- Current Scenario: Assam has 3,500+ wetlands (≈1.01 lakh ha), but only Deepor Beel (2002) is a Ramsar Site.
- Conservation Importance: Designating Rowmari–Donduwa would fill a 20-year conservation gap and enhance Assam’s global wetland profile.
- Regional Context: North-East India’s Ramsar Sites- Deepor Beel (Assam), Loktak (Manipur), Rudrasagar (Tripura), Pala (Mizoram).
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About Rowmari–Donduwa Wetland Complex:
- Overview: Situated within the Laokhowa–Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaon district, Assam, forming part of the Kaziranga–Orang landscape.
- Ecological Role: An interconnected floodplain–marsh system acting as an ecological corridor between Kaziranga and Orang National Parks, supporting wildlife movement and genetic diversity.
- Biodiversity Significance: The 6th Kaziranga Wetland Bird Census (2025) recorded 47,000+ birds of 120 species, exceeding counts from Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake.
- Key Species: Hosts globally threatened birds, Knob-billed Duck, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Black-necked Stork, Ferruginous Pochard, and Common Pochard.
- Ecosystem Services: Provides flood control, groundwater recharge, carbon storage, and supports fisheries and ecotourism-based livelihoods.
- Ramsar Eligibility: Fulfils 8 of 9 Ramsar criteria, qualifying as a Wetland of International Importance.
Back2Basics: Ramsar Convention
- Establishment: Signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
- Objective: Provide a framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- Functions:
- Identify and designate wetlands of international importance.
- Promote effective management of wetlands.
- Foster international cooperation for conservation.
- Members: 173 countries (as of 2025).
- India and Ramsar:
- India joined in 1982.
- First Ramsar site: Chilika Lake, Odisha (1981).
- Current total: 93 sites (Sept 2025), covering 13,60,718 hectares.
- Growth: From 26 sites in 2012 to 93 in 2025 (51 added since 2020).
- State-wise: Tamil Nadu has the highest (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).
- About 10% of India’s total wetland area is under Ramsar listing.
- Montreux Record: List of Ramsar sites under threat of ecological change.
- 48 sites globally (2025).
- 2 Indian sites included: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
- World Wetlands Day: Celebrated on February 2nd every year.
- 2025 Theme: “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”.
Criteria for Declaration (9 Criteria):
A wetland can be declared a Ramsar site if it meets at least one of these:
- Has unique, rare, or representative wetland types.
- Supports vulnerable, endangered, or endemic species.
- Provides critical habitat for waterfowl, especially during migration.
- Contains significant ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological features.
- Supports biodiversity conservation and scientific research.
- Provides ecosystem services like flood control, groundwater recharge, and water purification.
- Has cultural, spiritual, or recreational importance.
- Ensures sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
- Faces threats requiring international cooperation for conservation.
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| [UPSC 2022] Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake Location
1. Hokera Wetland- Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland- Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake- Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake- Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Options: (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs* (c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs |
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Why in the News?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the GSAT-7R (CMS-03) communication satellite for the Indian Navy from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Back2Basics: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) Rocket
- Overview: LVM3 formerly GSLV Mk-III, is ISRO’s heaviest and most powerful launch vehicle, built to lift 4-tonne GTO and 8-tonne LEO payloads.
- Configuration: A 3-stage system – (1) S200 solid boosters, (2) L110 liquid core (UH25 + N₂O₄), and (2) C25 cryogenic upper stage (LH₂ + LOX) providing high thrust and precision.
- Payload Capacity: Delivers ~4,000 kg to GTO and ~8,000 kg to LEO; GSAT-7R demonstrated >4,400 kg capability, setting a new record.
- Mission Legacy: Successfully launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, OneWeb satellites, and Gaganyaan crew module tests.
- Cryogenic Stage: The C25 engine produces ~20 tonnes thrust; the upgraded C32 stage (22 tonnes thrust) is under development.
- Future Upgrade: Plans to replace L110 with a semi-cryogenic kerosene–liquid oxygen stage for higher efficiency and lower cost.
- Reliability & Role: With seven consecutive successes, LVM3 is India’s most dependable heavy launcher and baseline vehicle for Gaganyaan and Bharatiya Antariksh Station missions.
- Strategic Significance: Establishes India’s complete autonomy in heavy launch capability, strengthening its position in the global space economy.
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About GSAT-7R (CMS-03):
- Overview: An advanced multiband communication satellite developed to strengthen the Indian Navy’s secure communications and maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Developer & Design: Indigenously designed by ISRO under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, advancing self-reliance in defence space infrastructure.
- Mass & Orbit: Weighs ~4,410 kg, the heaviest communication satellite launched from Indian soil; inserted into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) before shifting to Geostationary Orbit (~36,000 km).
- Technical Features: Equipped with secure, high-throughput multiband transponders supporting voice, data, and video links across ships, submarines, and aircraft.
- Coverage & Capability: Provides pan-Indian Ocean coverage, enabling real-time encrypted communication and Blue Water operational readiness.
- Strategic Role: Functions as a key node in the Defence Communication Network (DCN), enhancing situational awareness and naval coordination.
- Predecessor: Succeeds GSAT-7 (Rukmini, 2013) with expanded range, bandwidth, and capacity.
- Significance: Symbolises India’s move toward indigenous defence satellites, merging space technology and national security.
| [UPSC 2018] With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements :
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only * (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only |
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Why in the News?
At the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Lucknow was officially designated a “Creative City of Gastronomy”, making it only the second Indian city after Hyderabad (2019) to receive this title.
About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN):
- Aim: To promote the integration of cultural industries into economic, social, and environmental policies, strengthening innovation and cultural diversity.
- Establishment: Created by UNESCO in 2004 to foster global cooperation among cities leveraging culture and creativity for sustainable urban development.
- Creative Fields: Recognises excellence across 7 categories: Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, Music, and Crafts & Folk Art.
- Membership Scope: Encompasses over 250 cities worldwide, selected through a rigorous UNESCO evaluation process assessing creativity, sustainability, and community engagement.
- Core Objectives:
- Encourage innovation-driven growth and cultural diversity.
- Facilitate knowledge-sharing, cultural exchange, and urban identity building.
- Support creative economy development and inclusive city policies.
- Collaborative Role: Serves as a global platform for member cities to share best practices, co-develop cultural initiatives, and enhance local creative ecosystems.
Creative Cities in India:
- Jaipur – Crafts & Folk Arts (2015)
- Varanasi – Music (2015)
- Chennai – Music (2017)
- Mumbai – Film (2019)
- Hyderabad – Gastronomy (2019)
- Srinagar – Crafts & Folk Arts (2022)
- Gwalior – Music (2025)
- Kozhikode – Literature (2025)
- Lucknow – Gastronomy (2025)
| [UPSC 2024] Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?
Options: (a) Chhau dance (b) Durga Puja (c) Garba dance* (d) Kumbh Mela |
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Why in the News?
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has announced major reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in the national rehabilitation system.
About the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI):
- Overview: It is a statutory body established under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992, and came into statutory force on 22 June 1993.
- Vision: To build a skilled, ethical, and inclusive rehabilitation workforce aligned with India’s disability rights framework and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) commitments.
- Nodal Agency: Functions under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
- Historical Background: Initially set up as a registered society in 1986, later granted statutory powers to regulate rehabilitation education and practice nationwide.
- Regulatory Role: Acts as the national authority for training, education, and certification of professionals working in rehabilitation and special education.
- Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR): Maintains and updates the CRR, a national database of all certified rehabilitation professionals in India.
- Scope of Coverage: Regulates 16 professional categories including special educators, audiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists.
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Why in the News?
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying George Kurian officially launched the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 at ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
About National Marine Fisheries Census, 2025:
- Objective: To collect detailed data on fishermen population, crafts, gear, livelihood patterns, and welfare indicators for evidence-based policy and blue economy planning.
- Overview: The 5th national enumeration of India’s marine fisheries sector after 1980, 1998, 2005, and 2010 rounds.
- Implementing Agencies: Conducted by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, coordinated by ICAR–CMFRI with Fishery Survey of India (FSI) as operational partner.
- Coverage: Encompasses 1.2 million fisher households across 4,000–5,000 marine fishing villages in nine coastal states and four UTs, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- Funding & Legal Basis: Financed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an allocation of ₹16.2 crore for digital census operations.
Key Features:
- Digital Data Collection: First paperless marine census using apps, VyAS Bharat, VyAS Sutra, and VyAS NAV, enabling geo-tagged, real-time data capture and validation.
- Technological Integration: Uses drone-based craft surveys and live dashboards at CMFRI; establishes a National Marine Fisheries Data Centre for analytics and storage.
- Expanded Scope: Covers ornamental fisheries, seaweed farming, and post-harvest value chain activities; includes data on credit, insurance, and welfare access.
- NFDP Linkage: Mandates registration on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) to ensure DBT-based benefit delivery under PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
- Inclusive Approach: Involves 1,000+ trained enumerators with state departments and fisher cooperatives, promoting community participation for accuracy.
- Government Initiative: Promotes safety tools like vessel transponders and turtle excluder devices (TEDs); embodies the vision “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries.”
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Why in the News?
In October 2025, seven countries, Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uganda, secured $5.8 million in grants from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) to promote nature-friendly agriculture.
What is Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF)?
- Objective: To assist developing nations in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and restoring ecosystems by 2050.
- Overview: Established in 2021 during Part 1 of COP-15 at Kunming, China, under China’s presidency of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Initial Contribution: China pledged 1.5 billion yuan (~USD 200 million) as seed funding.
- Administration: Managed by China’s Ministry of Ecology & Environment, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the CBD Secretariat; functions as a Multi-Partner Trust Fund with UNDP and others.
- Focus Areas:
- Support for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
- Ecosystem restoration, invasive-species control, and sustainable agriculture.
- Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation.
- 2025 Allocation: Released USD 5.8 million via FAO to Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, and Uganda for biodiversity-linked agriculture and resilience projects.
- Alignment: Advances KMGBF Target 19 (mobilising USD 200 billion per year by 2030) and helps bridge the USD 700 billion annual global biodiversity finance gap.
- Global Significance: Serves as a cornerstone of biodiversity finance, complementing the GEF, Green Climate Fund, and Cali Fund (2025) to mobilise global conservation resources.
India and the KBF:
- Funding Status: As of 2025, India has not yet received direct KBF funding but remains eligible as a biodiversity-rich developing country and active CBD Party.
- National Alignment: India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP), National Biodiversity Mission, and Green India Mission align with KBF priorities, especially ecosystem restoration, biodiversity mainstreaming, and community participation.
| [UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining acces and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2* (d) Neither 1 nor 2 |
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed major revisions in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, to be implemented in the new retail inflation series from February 2026.
About the Consumer Price Index (CPI):
- Overview: The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services typically consumed by households.
- Purpose: It tracks retail inflation showing how the purchasing power of money changes due to price variations, and how living costs evolve across different population groups.
- Components:
- Food and Beverages: Cereals, pulses, vegetables, milk, meat, fish, sugar, and beverages.
- Housing: Rent paid for rented houses and imputed rent for self-occupied dwellings.
- Clothing and Footwear: Garments, textiles, footwear, and related goods.
- Fuel and Light: LPG, kerosene, electricity, firewood, and other fuels.
- Miscellaneous: Transport, communication, education, health, recreation, personal care, and other services.
- Publishing Authority: The CPI is compiled and released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) through the National Statistical Office (NSO) every month.
- Current Base Year: 2012, which is being revised to 2024 to reflect more recent household consumption patterns captured in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023–24.
- Coverage: Separate indices are compiled for Rural, Urban, and Combined (Rural + Urban) sectors to reflect diverse consumption and price patterns.
- Types of CPI in India:
-
- CPI for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW): Base year 2016; tracks inflation for organized industrial workers; used for Dearness Allowance (DA) revisions.
- CPI for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL): Base year 1986–87; measures price changes faced by agricultural labourers.
- CPI for Rural Labourers (CPI-RL): Base year 1986–87; monitors inflation for rural households dependent on wage labour.
- CPI (Urban), CPI (Rural), and CPI (Combined): Base year 2012; represents national-level retail inflation and is the official measure of inflation in India.
- Weightage: The relative importance (weight) of each component reflects its share in total household expenditure, for instance, food and beverages hold over 45%, while housing has 21.67% in urban CPI and 10.07% in all-India CPI.
- Use and Importance:
- Inflation Targeting: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses CPI as the anchor for its Monetary Policy Framework, aiming for 4% ± 2% inflation.
- Wage & Pension Adjustments: CPI is used to revise wages, pensions, and dearness allowances in both government and industrial sectors.
- Policy Planning: It provides essential inputs for economic policy, poverty analysis, and fiscal decisions.
- Economic Indicator: Serves as the primary indicator of cost of living, influencing interest rate decisions, tax indexation, and social welfare adjustments.
Revisions in the CPI:
- Monthly Rent Data: Collection every month for both rural & urban areas, replacing earlier six-monthly urban series.
- Inclusion of Rural Housing: Covers imputed rents for owner-occupied rural dwellings.
- Exclusion of Employer Housing: Removes HRA-based distortions from government/PSU quarters.
- Expanded Sampling & IMF Alignment: Broader coverage, discontinuation of panel imputation, adoption of IMF-recommended rent index computation.
- Weight Revision: Recalibrates housing share (currently 21.67 % urban; 10.07 % all-India) using new expenditure data.
- Transparency: MoSPI discussion papers (2024-25) invite feedback on PDS treatment, housing index, and base methodology.
Rationale & Impact:
- Captures Post-Pandemic Rent Surge overlooked by the 2012 base.
- Addresses Rural Under-coverage for two-thirds of India’s population.
- Enhances RBI’s Inflation Targeting through more accurate rent data.
- Aligns with Global Standards, strengthening CPI’s credibility as a comprehensive welfare and policy indicator.
[UPSC 2020] Consider the following statements:
1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
3. Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on changing the key policy rates.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only* (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated India’s first air export of GI-tagged Indi Lime and Puliyankudi Lime to the UK.
![[pib] GI Tagged Indi and Puliyankudi Limes](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/indi.jpg)
About Indi Lime:
- Origin: Cultivated predominantly in Vijayapura district, Karnataka.
- GI Tag: Granted in 2023, becoming India’s second lime variety to obtain a GI certification after the Assam Lemon.
- Characteristics:
- Renowned for its zesty aroma, balanced acidity, high juice yield, and thin rind.
- Possesses a distinctive tangy-sweet flavor and rich oil content that enhances its culinary and medicinal appeal.
- Cultivation Conditions:
- Thrives in semi-arid climates and black cotton soils of northern Karnataka.
- Largely cultivated using traditional, organic farming practices.
- Economic Importance:
- Vijayapura district contributes around 58% of Karnataka’s total lime production.
- Widely used in food, traditional medicine, and cultural practices, reflecting the region’s agricultural heritage.
About Puliyankudi Lime:
- Origin: Cultivated in Puliyankudi (Tenkasi district), Tamil Nadu, often termed the “Lemon City of Tamil Nadu.”
- GI Tag: Officially registered in April 2025.
- Characteristics:
- The Kadayam variety is noted for its thin peel, strong acidity, high juice content (~55%), and ascorbic acid levels (34.3 mg/100g).
- Exhibits an intense aroma and distinct tanginess, making it highly prized in both domestic and international markets.
- Cultivation Conditions:
- Grown in red loamy soils under tropical climatic conditions, maintaining traditional horticultural methods.
- Significance: A rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, supporting immunity, digestion, and metabolic health.
| [UPSC 2015] Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees 2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma 3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
China has lodged a formal complaint at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) alleging that India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries, Automobile and Auto Components, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) violate WTO subsidy rules.
About the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:
- Overview: Launched in 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to strengthen domestic manufacturing and global competitiveness.
- Objectives:
- Provides financial incentives based on incremental sales of manufactured goods over a base year.
- Aims to attract global investment, enhance exports, create jobs, and integrate MSMEs into value chains.
- Coverage: Covers 14 strategic sectors, including electronics, autos, solar modules, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.
- Incentive Design: Incentives are non-export linked, based on domestic sales and value addition achieved within India.
PLI Schemes Challenged by China:
- PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries: Incentivises giga-scale battery manufacturing with 25% Domestic Value Addition (DVA) requirement.
- PLI for Automobiles and Auto Components: Promotes Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products with 50% DVA target.
- PLI for Electric Vehicles (EVs): Encourages global EV manufacturers to establish production bases in India.
|
Issues Raised by China at WTO:
- Complaint: In October 2025, China filed a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) claiming that India’s PLI schemes violate global subsidy and trade rules.
- Core Allegation – DVA Linkage:
- The Domestic Value Addition (DVA) requirement in the PLI scheme, where incentives depend on how much of a product’s value is created within India, is the main point of dispute.
- China argues that by linking financial incentives to DVA thresholds, India is indirectly forcing firms to use locally made components instead of imported ones.
- This, China claims, acts as a “local content requirement”, which WTO rules prohibit because it discriminates against imported goods, especially Chinese batteries, auto parts, and electronic components.
- Why China Objects to DVA:
- According to China, the PLI design discourages import of foreign components, making it harder for Chinese products to compete in the Indian market.
- It considers DVA-based incentives as “import substitution subsidies”, banned under the WTO’s Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM).
- China also claims this approach distorts trade, reduces fair competition, and restricts market access for foreign suppliers.
- Summary of the Dispute:
- China’s view: DVA = hidden import restriction → violates WTO rules.
- India’s view: DVA = measure of domestic value creation → fully WTO-compliant.
WTO Rules Cited by China:
- Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) Agreement:
- Article 1 – Defines subsidy as a financial benefit given by a government.
- Article 3.1(b) – Bans subsidies that depend on using domestic goods over imports.
- GATT 1994 (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade):
- Article III.4 – Ensures equal treatment for imported and domestic goods.
- TRIMs (Trade-Related Investment Measures) Agreement:
- Article 2.1 – Forbids policies that violate national treatment.
- Annex – Lists Local Content Requirements (LCRs) as WTO-inconsistent.
- China argues that India’s PLI incentives linked to DVA break all three rules and act as local content conditions.
India’s Response:
- WTO Compliance: India says PLI is WTO-compliant and does not force local sourcing.
- Clarification: DVA only measures economic value created in India, like labour, R&D, and innovation, not just use of local parts.
- Open for Global Firms: Foreign companies can join and freely import materials; PLI only rewards domestic value creation.
- Legal Justification: India cites GATT Article XX, allowing policies for environmental or developmental goals, especially for green tech like EVs and batteries.
- Policy Standpoint: India argues that industrial subsidies are a sovereign tool to fix trade imbalances and promote sustainable growth.
- WTO Procedure: India will first hold consultations with China (first step of dispute). If unresolved, a WTO panel may be formed, but no ruling will take effect soon as the Appellate Body is non-functional since 2019.
- Practical Impact: India can continue the PLI schemes while the dispute is pending.
[UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:
Statement I: India accounts for 3.2% of global exports of goods.
Statement II: Many local companies and some foreign companies operating in India have taken advantage of India’s ‘Production-linked Incentive’ scheme.
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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Why in the News?
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines has launched two major digital governance platforms, the KOYLA SHAKTI Dashboard and the Coal Land Acquisition, Management, and Payment (CLAMP) Portal, through video conference in New Delhi.
About Koyla Shakti Dashboard:
- Overview: It is developed by the Ministry of Coal as a unified digital platform for coal sector management.
- Purpose: Integrates the entire coal value chain, from production and logistics to dispatch and consumption, into a single real-time digital interface.
- Key Features:
- Data Integration: Consolidates inputs from coal PSUs, Indian Railways, ports, power utilities, and state mining departments, enabling end-to-end visibility across operations.
- Real-Time Analytics: Employs AI-based predictive tools for demand forecasting, logistics optimisation, and supply chain efficiency.
- Governance Impact: Enhances transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making through live dashboards and standardised performance indicators.
- Utility for Policymakers: Provides a decision-support system for resource allocation, capacity utilisation, and production planning.
- Sectoral Benefits: Reduces bottlenecks, improves coordination, and facilitates efficient coal dispatch and monitoring.
- Reform Milestone: Marks a major step in India’s transition toward digital governance and operational transparency in the extractive sector.
About CLAMP Portal:
- Overview: It is a centralised digital system to manage land acquisition, compensation, and R&R (Rehabilitation & Resettlement) in coal-bearing regions.
- Developer: Implemented by the Ministry of Coal to streamline land-related processes for public sector coal companies.
- Objective: Integrates land records, ownership details, compensation workflows, and payment tracking into one secure interface.
- Key Features:
- Transparency & Accountability: Enables real-time tracking of land acquisition progress and compensation disbursements, reducing disputes and delays.
- Institutional Coordination: Acts as a single-window system linking coal PSUs, state revenue departments, and district administrations.
- Efficiency Gains: Eliminates manual paperwork, ensures timely approvals, and improves compliance with land and rehabilitation laws.
- Public-Centric Governance: Prioritises justice, equity, and procedural clarity for affected communities through digital grievance redressal and payment verification.
[UPSC 2022] In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO) ?
1. CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India.
2. It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks.
3. It hears any objection to the Government’s notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas.
4. It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3* (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 4 |
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) in New Delhi.
About the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS):
- Overview: Introduced on 30 October 2025 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education (Department of School Education and Literacy), and Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- Objective: Aims to promote public participation and youth engagement in grassroots democracy through simulated Gram Sabha sessions in schools.
- Educational Integration: Designed under the National Education Policy, 2020, combining civic education with local self-governance to instil values of democracy, accountability, transparency, and leadership.
- Implementation Scale: To be rolled out across 1,000+ schools, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools.
Back2Basics: Gram Sabha
- Overview: The Gram Sabha, under Article 243(b) of the Constitution, is the basic unit of direct democracy in the Panchayati Raj system.
- Composition: Comprises all village residents aged 18 or above whose names appear on the electoral rolls.
- Function: Central to village development planning, social audits, and Gram Panchayat accountability.
- Meetings: Convened 2–4 times annually under State Panchayati Raj Acts, commonly on 26 January, 1 May, 15 August, and 2 October.
- Authority: Organised by the Panchayat Secretary (Gram Sevak) with approval of the Sarpanch (village head).
- Quorum Rule: Requires participation of 10% of total members or at least 50 villagers, notified five days in advance.
- Decision-Making: Approves budgets, welfare schemes, beneficiary lists, and development priorities; no major Panchayat action is valid without its consent.
- Purpose: Ensures public participation, transparency, and self-governance (Swaraj) through collective village-level decision-making.
- Democratic Essence: Serves as the cornerstone of rural democracy, empowering citizens to shape governance and development outcomes directly.
|
| [UPSC 2017] Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in:
Options: (a) Federalism (b) Democratic decentralisation * (c) Administrative delegation (d) Direct democracy |
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Why in the News?
Cyclone Montha, classified as a severe cyclonic storm, has made landfall near Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) on October 28.
Back2Basics: Tropical Cyclones
- What is it: Large low-pressure systems over warm oceans, marked by rotating winds, heavy rain, and storm surges.
- Conditions: Form when ocean temps >27°C, with moist rising air releasing latent heat to fuel convection.
- Rotation: Driven by the Coriolis force – anticlockwise in Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in Southern.
- Structure: Eye (calm), Eyewall (violent winds/rains), Rainbands (widespread showers).
- Regional Names: Typhoons (Pacific), Hurricanes (Atlantic/Caribbean), Cyclones (Indian Ocean).
- Drivers & Frequency: Common in Southeast Asia due to warm Pacific waters, El Niño/La Niña cycles, and climate change.
- Impacts: Loss of life, property damage, flooding, soil salinisation, displacement, and disease outbreaks.
- Climate Change Link: Global warming is making tropical cyclones stronger, less predictable, and more frequent, raising risks for coastal populations.
|
What is the Landfall of a Cyclone?
- Overview: A tropical cyclone is said to make landfall when its centre (eye) crosses the coastline from sea to land.
- Not the Same as a Direct Hit:
- Landfall = when the eye crosses the coast.
- Direct hit = when the eyewall (zone of strongest winds) impacts the coast, even if the centre remains offshore.
- Duration: Landfall usually lasts a few hours, depending on wind speed and storm size.
- Post-Landfall Behaviour: Cyclones lose intensity rapidly after landfall due to loss of oceanic moisture and increased land friction.
Behind the Naming of Cyclones:
- Overview: Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) / United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (since 2004).
- Naming Authority: Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), New Delhi, operated by IMD.
- 13 Member Countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
- Submission of names: Each country submits 13 culturally neutral, gender-neutral names, forming a 169-name rotating list.
- Non-repetition: Names are used sequentially and not repeated after one use.
- “Montha”: It was suggested by Thailand, meaning “beautiful” or “fragrant flower.”
- Significance: Naming helps public communication, ensures clarity in warnings, and avoids confusion during multiple simultaneous storms.
- Current sequence: Shakthi (Sri Lanka) → Montha (Thailand) → Senyar (UAE) → Ditwah (Yemen) → Arnab (Bangladesh) → Murasu (India).
| [UPSC 2020] Consider the following statements:
1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only* (d) 1 and 3 only |
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Why in the News?
Astronomers discovered 3I/ATLAS, a 7-billion-year-old interstellar comet, using the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile. It is now nearing its closest approach to the Sun.
About 3I/ATLAS:
- Discovery: It was detected on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Río Hurtado, Chile; confirmed interstellar due to its hyperbolic orbit and high speed (57–68 km/s).
- Significance: It is likely the oldest comet ever observed, possibly 7.6–14 billion years old, older than our 4.5-billion-year-old solar system.
- Nature: It appeared like an interstellar comet, showing signs of activity, including a coma (cloud of dust/ice) and likely a tail as it nears the Sun.
- Composition: Rich in water ice and complex organic compounds; has a reddish hue indicating ancient, primordial material.
- Size: Estimated nucleus diameter is 10–30 km, larger than previous interstellar objects like 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
- Trajectory:
- Closest to Earth: ~270 million km (no threat).
- Closest to Sun: ~210 million km (Oct 29–30, 2025).
- Will exit the solar system permanently after perihelion.
- Scientific Importance:
- It offers rare opportunity to study materials from another star system.
- It can reveal clues about the formation of the Milky Way, other solar systems, and early star formation processes.
Back2Basics: ATLAS Telescope
- ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) is a NASA-funded early warning project for detecting small near-Earth objects (NEOs).
- It is developed and operated by the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy.
- As of 2025, ATLAS operates five telescopes in Hawaii, South Africa, Chile, and the Canary Islands.
- Each telescope has a 0.5-meter Wright-Schmidt design, a 1-meter focal length, and a 110 MP CCD detector with a 7.4° field of view.
- The system scans 20,000 square degrees of sky three times per night and provides 1–3 week warnings for asteroids 45–120 meters wide.
- In addition to asteroids, ATLAS also discovers supernovae, comets, dwarf planets, and variable stars.
|
What are Interstellar Objects?
- Overview: Celestial bodies that originate outside the solar system and travel through it on open-ended (hyperbolic) orbits.
- Key Characteristics:
- Not gravitationally bound to the Sun.
- Travel at very high speeds, often unaffected by solar gravity.
- Do not return once they pass through the inner solar system.
- Known Interstellar Visitors:
-
- 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) – Asteroid-like, no coma or tail.
- 2I/Borisov (2019) – Active comet with typical cometary features.
- 3I/ATLAS (2025) – Discussed above.
- How are they Identified:
- Hyperbolic trajectory confirmed via orbital calculations.
- Speed at great distances exceeds gravitational escape velocity.
- Scientific Value:
- Provide direct clues about planetary formation beyond our solar system.
- Can reveal chemical signatures from other star systems.
- Allow us to study primordial matter from distant parts of the galaxy.
- Act as natural probes from unknown regions of the Milky Way.
How is 3I/ATLAS different from ordinary Comets?
|
3I/ATLAS
|
Ordinary Comets
|
| Origin |
Formed outside the Solar System; interstellar in nature |
Formed within the Solar System — Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud |
| Orbital Type |
Hyperbolic (eccentricity ≈ 6); unbound from the Sun |
Elliptical or parabolic; bound by the Sun’s gravity |
| Velocity |
Very high,~57 km/s (too fast to be captured by Sun) |
Moderate, typically 10–40 km/s within solar orbit |
| Trajectory |
Enters and exits Solar System once; non-repeating |
Periodic or long-period; returns after fixed intervals |
| Tail Direction |
Exhibited a rare sunward (anti-tail) due to CO₂-driven ice scattering |
Always points away from the Sun due to radiation pressure and solar wind |
| Composition |
High CO₂/H₂O ratio, nickel-rich, iron-poor, chemically distinct |
Dominated by H₂O, CO, CO₂, silicates, and dust in solar proportions |
| Activity Pattern |
Displays phase shift: anti-tail → normal tail as it nears the Sun |
Predictable increase in activity and sublimation near perihelion |
| Spectral Signature |
Strong CO₂ emission lines; unusual metallic features |
Typical cometary spectra, OH, CN, C₂, CO, NH₂ bands |
| Size of Nucleus |
Estimated 0.44–5.6 km in diameter |
Varies widely; many are a few kilometres across |
| Scientific Significance |
Provides insight into exoplanetary system composition and interstellar chemistry |
Preserves a record of early Solar System formation and evolution |
| Speculative Aspects |
Some hypotheses suggest a possible artificial or exotic origin (no evidence) |
Fully natural and well-understood in origin and dynamics |
| [UPSC 2011] What is the difference between asteroids and comets?
1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. 2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and mercury. 3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only* (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Why in the News?
The Govt. of India has officially constituted the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) to review and recommend revisions in the salaries, pensions, and service conditions of Central Government employees and pensioners.
About the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC):
- Objective: To assess fiscal sustainability, pay parity with the private sector, cost of living, pension liabilities, and Centre–State financial impact.
- Announcement: Its formation was first announced in January 2025, following Cabinet’s in-principle approval for the new pay revision cycle.
- Composition:
- Chairperson– Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retd.)
- Part-time Member– Prof. Pulak Ghosh (IIM Bangalore)
- Member-Secretary– Pankaj Jain (Petroleum Secretary)
- Mandate Duration: Expected to submit its report within 18 months of constitution, i.e., by mid-2026.
- Scope: Covers over 50 lakh Central employees and 68 lakh pensioners, with consultations extending to State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
About Pay Commissions:
- Overview: They are temporary expert bodies established roughly every 10 years to revise salary structures, allowances, and pensions of Central Government employees and defence personnel.
- First Commission: Constituted in 1946, marking the beginning of India’s formal public service wage policy.
- Frequency: Eight Commissions (1946–2025), each responding to economic, social, and inflationary shifts.
- Composition: Typically includes retired judges, economists, and senior bureaucrats, ensuring multi-disciplinary expertise.
- Implementation Process: Recommendations will be reviewed by the Finance Ministry and approved by the Union Cabinet, followed by phased rollout across departments.
- Impact: Shapes public expenditure patterns, influencing State pay revisions, PSU wages, and defence outlays for the next decade.
- Notable Reforms by Past Commissions:
- 2nd CPC (1957)– Adjusted post-Independence wage inflation.
- 3rd CPC (1970)– Introduced the Dearness Allowance (DA) mechanism.
- 4th CPC (1983)– Standardised pay bands across cadres.
- 5th CPC (1994) – Enhanced pensions and streamlined hierarchies.
- 6th CPC (2006)– Introduced Pay Band + Grade Pay and MACP system.
- 7th CPC (2014–2016)– Implemented Matrix Pay Structure and Fitment Factor (2.57).
- 8th CPC (2025): Continues this decadal reform tradition, aligning pay structure with digital governance, modern workforce management, and inflation-linked fiscal stability.
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