The National Book Trust has released a book on highlighting physicist Anna Mani’s pioneering ozone and pollution studies in Pune decades before “climate change” entered discourse.
Who was Anna Mani (1918–2001)?
Overview: Indian physicist and meteorologist from Peermade, Kerala; pioneered India’s meteorological instrumentation and atmospheric science.
Alma mater: Studied physics at Presidency College, Chennai (1939); trained at Imperial College, London; joined IISc Bengaluru under C.V. Raman, publishing five crystallography papers.
Professional Career: Joined the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in 1948; later headed its Instruments Division; earned the title “Weather Woman of India.”
Key Contributions:
Meteorological Instrumentation: Designed and standardized 100+ weather instruments, including India’s first pyranometers and sunshine recorders, ending dependence on imports. Established the Regional Instrumentation Centre, Pune, for nationwide calibration.
Measurement Infrastructure: Created a national network of solar, wind, and radiation observatories; introduced WMO-grade calibration; data later used for India’s first Wind Energy Atlas.
Ozone & Atmospheric Research: In 1964, developed India’s first ozonesonde balloon measuring ozone up to 35 km; integrated into the WMO Global Ozone Mapping Programme. Her studies on ground-level ozone and urban aerosols anticipated modern air-pollution science.
Instrument Design & Ethics: Innovated with glass and Teflon components to remove chemical errors in ozonesondes; upheld the credo “wrong measurements are worse than none.” Her Pune lab became a model of scientific precision.
Publications: Authored “Handbook for Solar Radiation Data for India” (1980) and “Wind Energy Resource Survey in India” (1992), both still reference standards for renewable-energy studies.
Environmental Vision: Warned early about CFC emissions and ozone depletion; connected industrialization to atmospheric alteration, foreshadowing the Anthropocene concept.
Legacy: Her datasets form India’s earliest continuous record of ozone, radiation, and aerosol change, anchoring present-day climate-model validation and policy research.
The Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru team has mastered the Leggett–Garg Inequality (LGI)–based quantum randomness certification technique.
What is Quantum Randomness?
Overview: Quantum randomness means true unpredictability, results that even nature or science cannot predetermine. They arise from the laws of quantum physics, not from computer programs or hidden causes.
Ordinary Computers: In normal computers, random numbers come from formulas called pseudorandom generators. They look random but can be predicted if someone knows the starting point (the “seed”).
Quantum Systems: In quantum physics, when you measure something tiny, like the spin of an electron or the path of a light particle (photon), the result is decided only at the moment of measurement. No one, not even nature, “knows” the answer before that.
Why it Matters: True randomness is important for data security, safe online transactions, scientific research, and encryption, where predictability can lead to hacking or errors.
What has RRI achieved?
Discovery: Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, led by Prof. Urbasi Sinha, have found a way to create and verify true quantum randomness using a regular cloud-based IBM quantum computer.
Why it’s Important: Earlier, proving quantum randomness needed expensive lab equipment. Now it can be done remotely and cheaply, accessible to anyone with internet and quantum cloud access.
How it Works: The RRI team used just one qubit (the quantum version of a computer bit) to show that the randomness came from quantum effects, not from hardware noise or computer errors.
Key Finding: This demonstrates that even imperfect quantum computers can still generate trustworthy and verifiable random numbers, a capability that classical computers cannot achieve.
What is the Leggett–Garg Inequality (LGI)–Based Test?
Basic Idea: The Leggett–Garg Inequality (LGI) is a scientific test that checks whether something behaves like everyday objects (predictable) or like quantum systems (unpredictable).
How it was Used: The RRI scientists measured one qubit at three different times to see if its behavior followed normal physics or quantum rules.
Two Conditions Checked:
LGI Violation – confirmed the qubit was behaving in a truly quantum way.
No Signalling in Time – ensured that each measurement was independent and not influenced by the previous one.
Result: Meeting both tests proved that the numbers generated were certified as truly random, coming purely from quantum physics, not from any background noise or interference.
Real-life Applications:
Cybersecurity: Such randomness can make unbreakable encryption keys, protecting sensitive data from hackers.
Cloud Computing: People using quantum computers online can now access trusted random numbers for research or secure systems anywhere in the world.
Testing Quantum Machines: Helps scientists check the quality of quantum computers, since randomness shows how genuinely quantum the machine is.
Better Science: Used in simulations, artificial intelligence, and data analysis where unpredictability makes results more reliable.
Big Scientific Message: Confirms that the quantum world is truly uncertain, proving one of the most fascinating truths of modern science, that randomness is built into nature itself.
[UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements:
I. It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.
II. Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
III. Deep learning is machine learning.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only * (d) I, II and III
The Finance Ministry has approved the establishment of Maitri II, India’s newest Antarctic research station, to be built in eastern Antarctica by January 2029.
About Maitri II Research Station:
Objective: Advance research in climatology, glaciology, seismology, biology, and atmospheric sciences while maintaining eco-compliance.
Overview: India’s upcoming 4th Antarctic base, to be completed by January 2029 near Schirmacher Oasis, eastern Antarctica, replacing the aging Maitri (1989) which will operate as a summer camp.
Implementing Agency: Executed by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES); estimated cost ₹2,000 crore.
Design & Technology: Features AI-enabled systems, automated sensors, solar and wind power, and upgraded modular accommodation with strict environmental standards.
Construction Phases: Prefabrication in India → shipment via Cape Town → transport to Indian Barrier (120 km from Maitri) → on-site assembly during Antarctic summer.
Back2Basics: India’s Polar Programmes
Antarctica Programme: Began in 1981; coordinated by NCPOR.
Dakshin Gangotri (1983) – first base, now decommissioned.
Maitri (1989) – inland station near Lake Priyadarshini.
Bharati (2012) – modern coastal station 3,000 km east.
Maitri II (2029) – to be India’s largest and greenest base.
Research covers ice-core climate records, marine ecosystems, space weather, and climate modelling.
Arctic Programme (2007): Also led by NCPOR; permanent station Himadri at Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard, Norway) studies Arctic warming, polar-monsoon linkages, biodiversity; India holds Observer Status in the Arctic Council (since 2013).
Key Laws & Treaties governing Polar Expeditions:
India Antarctica Act 2022: Implements the Antarctica Treaty (1959); creates Central Committee on Antarctica Governance; bans mining, nuclear activity, non-native species; introduces permit system and Antarctica Fund; severe penalties (up to 20 years).
Antarctica Treaty (1959): 54 members (India joined 1983); ensures peaceful scientific use, bans territorial claims and military activity, upholds environmental cooperation.
Madrid Protocol (1991): Declares Antarctica a “natural reserve for peace and science”; forbids mineral extraction; mandates Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR, 1982): Conserves Antarctic marine biodiversity, regulates fishing and resource use to maintain ecosystem balance.
[UPSC 2015] The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of Options: (a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
(b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
(c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antartic region
(d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region *
This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in the Indian Express.
About the Volga River:
Overview: The longest river in Europe (about 3,500 km), originating in the Valdai Hills northwest of Moscow and flowing southeast to the Caspian Sea at Astrakhan.
Drainage Basin: Covers around 1.35 million sq. km, among Europe’s largest river systems, with major tributaries, Kama, Oka, Vetluga, and Sura.
Historical Role: Served as a critical front during the Battle of Stalingrad (World War II) and remains central to Russian historical and strategic narratives.
Cultural Significance: Revered as “Mother Volga”, symbolising Russian unity, resilience, and identity, deeply embedded in folklore and national consciousness.
Economic Importance: It contributes one-fourth of Russia’s agricultural output, supports industrial fishing, and sustains key industries, oil refining, shipbuilding, hydroelectric power.
Navigation & Connectivity: Linked to the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas through an extensive network of canals and reservoirs, forming the backbone of Russia’s inland transport system.
Urban & Industrial Corridor: Major cities like Kazan, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, and Volgograd lie along its course, forming Russia’s industrial-agricultural heartland.
Ecological Richness: Supports about 260 bird species and 70 fish species, making it a key biodiversity hotspot within Eurasia.
[UPSC 2020] Consider the following pairs: River Flows into
1. Mekong: Andaman Sea
2. Thames: Irish Sea
3. Volga: Caspian Sea
4. Zambezi: Indian Ocean
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 3 and 4 only * (d) 1, 2 and 4 only
President Droupadi Murmu met members of Gujarat’s Siddi Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) community and praised their 72% literacy rate as a sign of social progress.
About the Siddi Community:
Overview: An Afro-Indian tribal group descended from Bantu-speaking peoples of Southeast Africa, brought to India via the Indian Ocean slave trade (7th–19th centuries).
Arrival in India: First arrived at Bharuch port (628 CE) with Arab traders; major influxes during Muhammad bin Qasim’s conquest (712 CE) and later under Portuguese and British.
Migration & Settlement: Brought as soldiers, sailors, slaves, and servants; some escaped bondage to form independent forest settlements.
Genealogy: Studies show 60–75 % African admixture mixed with Indian and Portuguese ancestry accumulated over two centuries.
Geographic Distribution: Concentrated in Karnataka (Uttara Kannada, Belgaum, Dharwad) and Gujarat (Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Saurashtra); smaller groups in Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh; total population 40 k–2.5 lakh.
Historical Role: Served in Deccan Sultanate and Nizam armies; most famous figure, Malik Ambar (1600–1626), Ethiopian-origin prime minister of Ahmadnagar (now Ahilyanagar).
Cultural and Demographic Features:
Social Status: Recognised as Scheduled Tribe (ST) in five regions and as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
Language & Culture: Speak regional languages, Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi, Kannada, but retain African musical and spiritual traditions, notably the Goma/Dhamaal dance rooted in Ngoma drumming and ancestral worship.
Religion: Predominantly Muslim (≈ 99 % in Gujarat) with Hindu and Christian minorities; practices blend Sufi, African, and Indian folk elements.
Livelihoods & Economy: Depend on agriculture, forest labour, crafts, and daily wage work; socio-economic deprivation and limited access to education, health, housing persist.
Cultural Continuity: Maintain African-Indian fusion in music, attire, and cuisine; Marfa music in Hyderabad and Dhamaal dance near Sasan Gir remain iconic.
Sports & Identity: Active in boxing and football, using sport for youth empowerment and social mobility.
The Centre has notified the first legally binding Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025 for four high-emission sectors: aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper.
This marks a critical step in operationalising the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.
Back2Basics:Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI)
Overview: GEI is the amount of GHGs emitted per unit of product output or economic activity; for example, the emissions released in producing one tonne of cement, aluminium, or steel.
Unit of Measurement: Expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) per unit of product.
Purpose: GEI helps measure the efficiency of industrial production in terms of emissions.
Policy Significance: Reducing GEI aligns industrial operations with national and global climate commitments, particularly under the Paris Agreement (2015), where India has pledged to cut its emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
About Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025:
Notification: Issued by the MoEFCC on October 8, 2025, these are India’s first legally binding emission intensity targets for industries.
Objective: To limit greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product output in high-emission sectors, thereby promoting low-carbon industrial growth and aligning with India’s Paris Agreement commitment to reduce emission intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
Coverage: Applies to 282 industrial units across four sectors– cement (186 units), aluminium (13), chlor-alkali (30), and pulp & paper (53).
Compliance Period: 2025–26 and 2026–27; emission limits expressed in tCO₂e (tonnes of CO₂ equivalent) per unit of product.
Mechanism:
Units achieving targets earn carbon credits (certified by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency).
Non-compliant units must buy credits or face environmental compensation under CPCB oversight.
Purpose: To operationalise India’s domestic carbon market, encourage technology upgrades, and institutionalise market-based climate compliance.
Outcome: Marks transition from voluntary energy-efficiency drives (PAT Scheme) to a legally enforceable carbon-intensity regime, integrating emission monitoring, trading, and compliance.
What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023?
Launched by:Ministry of Power in 2023 to establish a domestic carbon trading market under India’s Energy Conservation Act framework.
Objective: To create a structured mechanism for generating, certifying, and trading carbon credits earned through verified emission reductions.
Administered by:Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), which issues Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC) to compliant industries.
Framework:
Industries meeting or exceeding GEI targets receive tradable credits.
Entities failing to meet targets must purchase credits to offset excess emissions.
Credits are traded on the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) platform.
Purpose: To make emission reduction economically incentivised, transforming carbon from a cost burden into a market asset.
Global Parallel: Similar to the EU Emissions Trading System (2005) and China’s National Carbon Market (2021).
Significance: Integrates energy efficiency, emission control, and fiscal instruments to drive India’s net-zero transition through a market-based, transparent, and measurable approach.
[UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements:
I. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO₂/capita.
II. In terms of CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.
III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options:
(a) I and III only (b) II only (c) II and III only * (d) I, II and III
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology announced the transfer of technology for agricultural and environmental solutions developed under the Agricultural and Environmental Electronics (AgriEnIcs) Programme.
What is AgriEnIcs Programme?
Overview: A national initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) integrating electronics, IT, and digital technologies into agriculture and environmental management.
Objective: To promote research, development, deployment, and commercialization of advanced tools for precision agriculture and sustainable resource monitoring.
Nature of Programme: Serves as a national R&D and technology translation platform connecting academia, industry, and government for innovation-driven solutions.
Implementing Agency: Led by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata as nodal agency, with participation from IITs, ICAR institutes, and private entities.
Development: All technologies designed and tested in India for affordability and rural scalability.
Strategic Vision: Strengthens India’s push toward AI- and IoT-enabled agri-systems, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India.
Key Features:
Integrated Tech Approach: Combines AI, IoT, machine vision, and sensor networks for intelligent agricultural and environmental systems.
Collaborative Framework: Operates through partnerships among MeitY, C-DAC, academic, and industrial institutions to speed up technology transfer.
Multi-Domain Focus: Addresses dairy health monitoring, crop quality estimation, odour detection, and waste-management automation.
AI & ML Applications: Enables predictive diagnostics, real-time data analytics, and automated decision support in farm operations.
Sensor-Based Systems: Deploys wearable sensors, vision devices, and automated analyzers for livestock, grain, and environment monitoring.
Scalable Architecture: Interoperable with AgriStack, Ayush Grid, and other government data platforms for nationwide expansion.
The Ministry of Ayush has launched the Digitized Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of Ayush Substances (DRAVYA) portal the largest digital repository of Ayurvedic ingredients and formulations.
About DRAVYA Portal:
Developed By: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush.
Purpose: To build a centralized, open-access knowledge platform integrating classical Ayurveda with modern scientific data for global research and policy use.
Launch: Released on 10th Ayurveda Day (23 September 2025) at Goa, marking a major digital step in traditional medicine.
Phase I Coverage: Includes data on 100 medicinal substances, updated through a dedicated entry system ensuring precision and authenticity.
Integration Goal: Designed to connect with the Ayush Grid and allied Ministry databases for coordinated digital governance and research.
Scope: Merges textual, botanical, pharmacological, and chemical information for cross-disciplinary validation and innovation.
Key Features:
AI-Ready Design: Built with artificial intelligence capability for analytics, discovery, and predictive research.
Open-Access Repository: Consolidates validated data from classical texts, scientific literature, and field studies in searchable form.
Comprehensive Profiles: Details each substance’s pharmacotherapeutics, botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and safety aspects.
QR-Code Integration: Enables standardised display of plant data in gardens, repositories, and institutions.
Advanced Search Filters: Sorts substances by rasa (taste), virya (potency), vipaka (post-digestive effect), and therapeutic use.
Dynamic Database: Continuously updated for authenticity and scientific rigour.
Global Accessibility: Serves as a credible digital reference for researchers, policymakers, and innovators worldwide.
Future Expansion: Will interlink with Ayush Grid, National Medicinal Plants Database, and Ayush Drug Policy for an integrated digital health ecosystem.
Maria Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for defending democracy in Venezuela; President Trump praised her but criticised the Nobel Committee.
About Nobel Peace Prize:
Origin: Instituted in 1901 under the will of Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and philanthropist, to honour outstanding contributions to peace and humanitarian cooperation.
Administered By: Managed by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member body appointed by the Parliament of Norway, distinct from Sweden’s Nobel institutions.
Purpose: Awards individuals or organisations advancing disarmament, peace negotiations, democracy, human rights, and a stable global order.
Expanded Focus: Now includes climate change, environmental protection, and global justice as integral to sustainable peace.
Prize Components: Laureates receive a gold medal, diploma, and 11 million Swedish krona (≈ US $1.2 million, 2025).
Venue: Presented in Oslo, Norway, the only Nobel Prize awarded outside Sweden, symbolising Norway’s neutral and humanitarian tradition.
Global Significance: Remains the world’s most prestigious peace honour, mirroring contemporary geopolitical and ethical realities.
These trivial facts are too unlikely to be asked in the CS prelims but may hold importance for CAPF and other exams.
US Presidents who won Nobel Peace Prize:
Theodore Roosevelt (1906): Mediated the Russo–Japanese War settlement; first US President to win the prize.
Woodrow Wilson (1919): Recognised for ending World War I and founding the League of Nations, precursor to the UN.
Jimmy Carter (2002): Cited for human-rights mediation and the Camp David Accords, plus global work via the Carter Center.
Al Gore (2007): Shared with the IPCC for elevating climate change as a global peace and security issue.
Barack Obama (2009): Honoured for efforts toward nuclear disarmament and renewed international diplomacy; only US President got awarded while in office.
The Indian Army has initiated procurement of ‘Saksham’, an indigenously developed Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid, to enhance airspace security and counter emerging aerial threats.
Visual Representation
About Saksham Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid:
Overview: Indigenous counter-drone system developed by the Indian Army with BEL, Ghaziabad, to detect, track, identify, and neutralise unmanned aerial threats.
Purpose: Secures the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS) or Air Littoral—airspace up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) against low-altitude drones.
Origin: Conceived after Operation Sindoor, which revealed gaps in air defence.
Acronym: SAKSHAM – Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft & Hard Kill Assets Management; a Command-and-Control (C2) platform integrating sensors, weapons, and AI analytics to create a Recognised UAS Picture (RUASP).
Procurement: Approved under Fast Track Procurement (FTP); aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Army’s Decade of Transformation (2023–2032).
Key Features:
Detection & Tracking: Continuous surveillance via radar, radio-frequency, and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors.
AI-Enabled Prediction: Uses AI to forecast hostile activity and suggest counter-responses.
Sensor–Weapon Fusion: Integrates jammers, directed-energy systems, and kinetic interceptors for unified action.
Automated Command Support: Provides real-time decision aids for threat prioritisation.
3-D Airspace Visualisation: Displays dynamic views of friendly and hostile assets.
Network Integration: Runs on the Army Data Network (ADN) and links with Akashteer Air Defence Control for unified airspace management.
Mobility & Modularity: Compact, scalable, and rapidly deployable across terrains.
Indigenous Focus: Fully designed and produced in India, demonstrating advanced self-reliant defence capability.
[UPSC 2025] With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements:
I. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing. II. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering. III. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None*
India unveiled its National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Global Context:
IUCN Red List: Globally, 1,69,420 species have been assessed; about 28% are classified as threatened.
Biodiversity Decline: The Living Planet Report 2024 documented a 73% decline in vertebrate populations (1970–2020), with freshwater species down by 85%.
Extinction Rate: Current extinction rates are 1,000–10,000 times higher than natural background levels due to human pressures such as habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change.
Global Need: Strengthening regional red lists like India’s provides granular, science-based data to guide conservation financing and global biodiversity monitoring.
About National Red List Roadmap and Vision (2025–2030):
Purpose: Marks India’s first coordinated national effort to scientifically assess the extinction risk of ~11,000 species of plants and animals by 2030 using IUCN Red List methodology, the global benchmark for species assessment.
Aim: To establish a science-based, nationally coordinated red-listing system that strengthens biodiversity planning, conservation policy, and threat mitigation.
Strategic Alignment: Supports India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), reaffirming India’s leadership in global biodiversity governance.
Outcome Goal: To publish National Red Data Books on flora and fauna by 2030, serving as authoritative reference guides for ecological protection and management.
Key Features of the Initiative:
Scientific Alignment: Adopts IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, ensuring uniformity and comparability with international conservation assessments.
Scope and Coverage: Envisions evaluation of 11,000 terrestrial and marine species, encompassing major ecological regions across India.
Core Outputs:
Peer-reviewed species assessments with global visibility.
Publication of National Red Data Books and creation of a digital public database for species data and risk analysis.
Institutional Framework:
Implemented jointly by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
Partner agencies include IUCN India, Centre for Species Survival: India – Wildlife Trust of India (CSS: India–WTI), and the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).
Funding and Resources: Total outlay of ₹95 crore, comprising ₹80 crore from BSI and ZSI budgets and ₹15 crore mobilised for training and international collaboration.
Capacity Building: Creation of a cadre of 300 trained species assessors and development of national training modules on biodiversity evaluation.
Policy Integration: The data generated will inform India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, legislative updates, and species recovery prioritisation through 2030.
Need for such a profile:
India’s Biodiversity Profile: Recognised as one of the 17 megadiverse nations, India hosts four biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
Ecological Richness: Despite covering only 2.4% of global land area, India shelters 8% of global flora and 7.5% of fauna, with 28% of plants and 30% of animals being endemic.
[UPSC 2011] The “Red Data Books’’ published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of:
(a) Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
(b) Threatened plant and animal species. *
(c) Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Laszlo Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian novelist known for his dense, philosophical narratives and apocalyptic vision of modern existence.
Back2Basics: Nobel Prize in Literature
First awarded in 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been conferred 117 times to 121 laureates.
Prize Details (2025): Each laureate receives 11 million Swedish kronor (~1.2 million USD), an 18-karat gold medal, and a diploma.
Ceremony: Held annually on December 10, marking the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel (1896), Swedish inventor and founder of the prize.
The 2024 laureate was Han Kang of South Korea, recognized for fiction confronting historical trauma and the fragility of life.
About Laszlo Krasznahorkai:
Overview: Hungarian novelist celebrated for his dense, philosophical, and apocalyptic prose that examines the fragility of modern civilization.
Background: Regarded as one of Europe’s leading postmodern writers, noted for long, flowing sentences and hypnotic rhythm.
Themes & Style: His works probe moral collapse, spiritual decay, existential isolation, and the search for meaning amid disorder.
Literary Voice: Combines dark humor with metaphysical reflection; often set in bleak, decaying landscapes where characters struggle between despair and artistic endurance.
Recognition: Known as a “writer’s writer”, his art embodies a belief in the redemptive endurance of literature.
Major Works & Adaptations:
Satantango (1985): Debut novel portraying a collapsing rural community; adapted by Béla Tarr into a seven-hour film, acclaimed for its realism and existential tone.
The Melancholy of Resistance (1989): Allegory of hysteria and conformity in a small town; adapted as Werckmeister Harmonies (2000).
War and War (1999): Follows a Hungarian archivist obsessed with preserving a manuscript symbolising human history; explores madness and transcendence.
Seiobo There Below (2008): Interlinked stories on art and divinity across cultures; won the 2015 Man Booker International Prize.
Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming (2016): Tragicomic portrait of post-communist moral decay; won the 2019 National Book Award (Translated Literature).
The Centre has recently proposed to open conservation of protected monuments to private participation, ending the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) exclusive control over this domain.
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
Establishment: Formed in 1861 under the Ministry of Culture, ASI is responsible for archaeological research, exploration, and protection of India’s cultural heritage.
Legal Authority: Enforces the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.
Scope of Work: Manages about 3,700 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
Organisational Structure: Operates through 37 regional Circles and specialist wings such as Science Branch (material analysis), Horticulture Branch (site maintenance), Temple Survey Projects (documentation), and Underwater Archaeology Wing (submerged heritage).
What is the new Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Model for Conservation?
Purpose: Supplements ASI’s work by allowing private participation in conservation of heritage monuments.
Participants: Corporates, PSUs, and philanthropic bodies may fund, execute, and monitor restoration projects under ASI supervision.
Funding Mechanism: Routed through the National Culture Fund (NCF); donations qualify as CSR expenditure with 100% tax exemption.
Implementation Framework:
Empanelment of conservation architects via RFP by the Ministry of Culture.
Donors select architects, who jointly engage restoration agencies experienced in structures over 100 years old.
Each project must have a Detailed Project Report (DPR) approved by ASI and comply with the National Policy for Conservation, 2014.
Priority Monuments: 250 sites identified for initial adoption based on region or thematic interest.
Eligibility: Proven heritage conservation experience, financial competence, and technical compliance with ASI standards.
Difference from ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme:
Earlier Model (2017, revised 2023): Focused on tourism amenities cafés, ticketing, signage through “Monument Mitras”; excluded structural restoration.
Current PPP Model: Extends to scientific conservation and architectural restoration under direct ASI oversight.
Regulatory Control: ASI retains authority over authenticity, ethics, and policy compliance; funding channelled via NCF with technical audit.
Policy Evolution: Marks a shift from tourism partnership to heritage stewardship, blending private resources with public accountability for monument preservation.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa, and Omar Yaghi for pioneering the creation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs).
What are Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)?
Overview: They are crystalline materials composed of metal ions linked by organic molecules, forming a three-dimensional porous network capable of selectively trapping and storing gases, vapours, or liquids.
Structure: Metal ions serve as nodes or connectors, while organic ligands (carbon-based linkers) create scaffold-like frameworks with very high surface area and controllable pore size.
Porosity: MOFs possess some of the highest porosity among solids, often exceeding 7,000 square metres per gram, enabling the storage of large volumes of gases within minimal material.
Flexibility: Organic linkers can be chemically modified, allowing custom design for specific interactions, such as selective gas capture or catalysis.
Thermal and Chemical Stability: Advanced MOFs remain stable up to 300–400°C and can withstand diverse chemical environments, suitable for industrial and environmental use.
Bonding Principle: Based on coordination chemistry, MOFs combine metal rigidity with organic flexibility, enabling precise control over molecular architecture.
Functionality: Their open channels permit easy adsorption and desorption, making MOFs reusable, durable, and efficient for a range of scientific and industrial applications.
Applications of MOFs:
Water Harvesting: Capture moisture from arid air and release it upon heating — enabling portable water generation in desert regions.
Carbon Capture: Their selective pores allow efficient CO₂ capture and storage, aiding climate change mitigation.
Hydrogen and Methane Storage: Act as solid sponges essential for fuel cells and clean energy systems.
Pollutant Filtration: Remove PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), heavy metals, and organic contaminants from water sources.
Food Preservation: Absorb ethylene gas emitted by fruits, slowing ripening and extending shelf life.
Catalysis and Sensing: Serve as heterogeneous catalysts and chemical sensors for trace-level detection in industrial settings.
Clean Energy Systems: Integrated into batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors for energy storage due to high conductivity and surface area.
Scientific Development:
Richard Robson (University of Melbourne, 1970s): He pioneered the idea of linking metal atoms and ligands into extended frameworks, though early models were fragile.
Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University): Built porous coordination polymers, the first to demonstrate that gases could diffuse through molecular cavities—a defining MOF feature.
Omar Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley, 1990s): Created robust, heat-resistant MOFs, standardised synthesis techniques, and coined the term “Metal–Organic Framework” in a 1995 Nature paper.
Breakthrough Achievement: Yaghi’s team designed copper- and cobalt-based MOFs stable up to 350°C, capable of hosting guest molecules without collapse.
[UPSC 2024] With reference to Direct Air Capture, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) I and II only (b) II only (c) I, II, and III* (d) None of the above statements is correct
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has expanded the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) by including 9 additional commodities, raising the total tradable items on the platform to 247.
AboutNational Agriculture Market (e-NAM):
Launch: Introduced in April 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under the Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing (ISAM).
Implementing Agency: Managed by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
Objective: To unify agricultural markets across India by offering farmers and traders a transparent, competitive, and quality-based digital trading platform for real-time price discovery and reduced intermediary dependence.
Legal Framework: Operates within state Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts, harmonised through inter-state trading licences and digital linkage.
Funding & Governance: Fully centrally funded, providing both digital infrastructure and physical market modernisation to APMCs.
Working Mechanism:
Digital APMC Integration: Each mandi connected to the e-NAM portal for online inter-state trading.
Online Auctions: Produce graded, assayed, and weighed before real-time electronic bidding.
Price Discovery & Payment: Transparent auction ensures quality-linked pricing; proceeds transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts.
Unified Licensing: A single trading licence enables purchase from multiple mandis nationwide.
Warehouse Trading (e-NAM 2.0): Incorporates warehouses and cold storages for sale of stored produce and extended logistics support.
Coverage (2025):
Mandis Integrated: 1,522 mandis across 23 States & 4 UTs.
Commodities: 247 tradable items including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, spices, and medicinal plants.
Participants: Around 1.7 crore farmers and 4,500 FPOs registered.
Leading States: Tamil Nadu (213 mandis), followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Data Analytics: Real-time insights on trade volume, prices, and demand trends aid policy decisions.
Key Features & Impact:
Pan-India Integration: Realises “One Nation, One Market” by linking mandis and private markets.
Quality Assurance: Standardised parameters framed by Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) ensure grade-based pricing.
Digital Efficiency: Electronic weighing, e-payments, and cloud-based architecture cut transaction time from 8–10 hours to 30 minutes.
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to showcase India’s PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar schemes to several African and island nations through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) platform.
India’s Global Outreach via International Solar Alliance (ISA):
Founded:2015, jointly by India and France, headquartered in Gurugram (Haryana, India).
Membership (2025):98 countries, focused on promoting solar energy deployment in developing and tropical nations.
Mandate: Facilitate affordable solar technology, finance mobilization, and policy support to achieve global energy access and climate goals.
Strategic Focus Areas (2025):
Catalytic Finance Hub: Mobilising global investments in solar infrastructure.
Global Capability Centre: Providing technical training, digital tools, and policy frameworks.
Technology Roadmap: Driving innovation in floating solar, AI-based grid management, green hydrogen, and One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) connectivity.
Country Engagement: Strengthening regional partnerships for implementation and capacity-building.
Global Showcasing of Indian Models:
India plans to export the PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar models to Africa and island nations facing low electrification and irrigation coverage.
Only 4% of Africa’s arable land is irrigated, creating a vast opportunity for solar-powered irrigation and energy access.
Significance: ISA serves as the primary vehicle for India’s renewable diplomacy, promoting clean energy cooperation, technology transfer, and South–South collaboration for sustainable development.
Back2Basics:
[1] PM-KUSUM Scheme:
Full Name:Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) launched in 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Objective: To promote solar energy use in agriculture, enabling farmers to generate clean electricity, replace diesel pumps, and earn additional income through sale of surplus solar power.
Targets:
Add 34,800 MW of decentralized solar capacity by March 2026.
Total outlay of ₹34,422 crore in Central financial assistance.
Structure: Three key components –
Component A: 10,000 MW of decentralized grid-connected solar/renewable plants on barren land.
Component B: 14 lakh standalone solar pumps for irrigation.
Limited progress in grid-connected plants (6%) and pump solarization (16–25%).
Scheme likely to be extended beyond 2026 due to delayed infrastructure readiness.
Benefits: Reduces input costs, ensures energy self-reliance, lowers carbon emissions, and generates sustainable farmer income through surplus power sales.
[2] PM Surya Ghar Scheme:
Full Name:PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana launched in 2025 as a flagship rooftop solar initiative for residential households.
Implementing Agency:Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Objective: To promote rooftop solar installations for one crore households, especially middle-class and economically weaker sections, providing affordable or free electricity.
Budget:₹75,021 crore for implementation till FY 2026–27.
Features:
Subsidy up to 40% of total installation cost.
Annual household savings of up to ₹18,000 through self-generation.
Net metering enables sale of surplus power to the grid.
Simplified application via national portal; eligibility limited to one household per residence.
Impact: Reduces power bills, promotes decentralized renewable energy generation, and contributes to India’s target of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
[UPSC 2016] Consider the following statements:
1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
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
A new species of wasp, Nesolynx banabitanae, has been discovered in Central Park (Banabitan), Salt Lake, Kolkata.
About ‘Nesolynx banabitanae’:
Taxonomic Family: Belongs to the Eulophidae family — known for parasitic and hyperparasitic wasps.
Type of Species: It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning it parasitises other parasitoid wasps rather than directly preying on host insects.
Host Interaction: Parasitises the ichneumonid parasitoid Charops aditya, which itself attacks caterpillars of the Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra) and Common Castor (Ariadne merione) butterflies.
Significance: Only the seventh known wasp species discovered in India, adding to the country’s limited record of Nesolynx genus.
Etymology: Named banabitanae after “Banabitan”, the local Bengali name for Central Park, where it was first identified.
Significance:
Ecological Role: Contributes to multitrophic ecological interactions by adding a fourth trophic level influencing population dynamics of butterflies and their parasitoids.
Scientific Relevance: Enhances understanding of hyperparasitoid behaviour, urban insect ecology, and biodiversity conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.
Analytical Importance: The SEM-based structural mapping provides baseline data for future phylogenetic and taxonomic comparisons within Nesolynx.
[UPSC 2024] Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements:
I. It is an omnivorous crustacean. II. Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas. III. In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only (b) I and III (c) II only (d) II and III *
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.
Discovery of Macroscopic Quantum Effects:
Essence of the Discovery: John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis proved that quantum effects—tunnelling and energy quantisation—can occur in macroscopic electrical circuits, not just in atoms or particles.
Experiments (UC Berkeley, 1984–85): Demonstrated that superconducting circuits, visible to the naked eye, act as quantum systems when isolated from external disturbances.
Observed Phenomena:
Macroscopic Quantum Tunnelling: Electric current “jumps” through an insulating barrier even when classical physics predicts no flow.
Energy Quantisation: The circuit holds only discrete energy levels, behaving like an artificial atom that exchanges energy in fixed quanta.
Scientific Breakthrough: First experimental proof that quantum mechanics governs engineered large-scale systems, forming the foundation of quantum computing.
The Josephson Junction:
Structure: Two superconductors separated by a thin insulating layer, allowing the passage of Cooper pairs paired electrons that move as a single quantum entity.
Mechanism: Though insulators block current in classical systems, Cooper pairs tunnel through the barrier, producing a supercurrent without resistance.
Key Berkeley Findings:
The phase difference across the junction behaved as a quantum variable, showing discrete energy states.
Spontaneous tunnelling of current produced measurable voltage, confirming macroscopic quantum tunnelling.
Outcome: The Josephson junction became the first laboratory model of macroscopic quantum behaviour and the prototype for superconducting qubits used in today’s quantum computers.
Significance:
Redefined Quantum Boundaries: Established that quantum laws are universal, applying from electrons to circuits of billions of atoms when quantum coherence is preserved.
Foundation for Quantum Computing: Provided the conceptual basis for superconducting qubits, now central to Google, IBM, and TIFR quantum processors.
Technological Impact: Enabled innovations in quantum sensors, precision metrology, and quantum communication through microwave-to-optical conversion.
Philosophical Insight: Resolved the scale question of how large a system can remain quantum, proving that superconducting isolation preserves coherence even at macroscopic levels.
Legacy: Bridged the quantum–classical divide, converting a theoretical boundary into experimentally verified reality, launching the modern quantum technology era.
[UPSC 2022] Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned?
Options: (a) Cloud Services b) Quantum Computing* (c) Visible Light Communication Technologies (d) Wireless Communication Technologies
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) imposed under the Finance Act, 2004.
Legal Context of this Case:
Petitioner:Aseem Juneja – contends that STT violates fundamental and economic rights.
Bench: Headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala; formal notice issued to Union Ministry of Finance.
The plea invokes Article 265 — “No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.”
The Court will assess reasonableness, equity, and proportionality in transaction-based taxation.
A ruling against STT may impact ₹30,000-crore annual revenue and require redesign of securities taxation.
What is the Securities Transaction Tax (STT)?
About: A direct tax levied on purchase and sale of securities through recognised stock exchanges.
Introduction: Under the Finance Act, 2004, to ensure transparency and curb tax evasion in capital markets.
Objective: Replace complex capital-gains tracking with a small, upfront levy to counter under-reporting and increase tax buoyancy.
Administered by:Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ministry of Finance.
Scope: Applies to-
Equityshares of listed companies
Derivatives (futures & options)
Equity-oriented mutual funds and ETFs.
Purpose:
Simplify tax collection from capital market participants.
Create a traceable, automated tax mechanism.
Generate steady revenue while discouraging speculative trading.
Nature: A transaction-based tax (TBT) collected automatically at the time of trade, irrespective of overall profit or loss.
Distinctive features:
Applies even on loss-making trades payable merely for conducting a transaction.
Non-refundable and non-adjustable, unlike TDS.
Raises transaction costs for high-frequency traders.
Imposition of STT:
Mode of collection: Automatically deducted by stock exchanges on every taxable trade and deposited into the government account; Ensures near-universal compliance and minimal evasion.
Rate & coverage: Varies across instruments and between buy/sell transactions; Periodically revised through Union Budgets.
Key Grounds of Challenge:
Violation of Fundamental Rights:
Article 14 (Equality): Unequal treatment; tax imposed irrespective of gain or loss.
Article 19(1)(g) (Right to Trade): Penalises the act of trading itself.
Article 21 (Livelihood & Dignity): Non-refundable levy burdens small traders.
Double Taxation: Traders already pay Capital Gains Tax on profits; STT adds a second layer on the same transaction.
Arbitrariness / Lack of Proportionality: Taxing even unprofitable transactions violates the principle of reasonable classification and fiscal fairness.
No Refund or Adjustment Mechanism: Absence of provision similar to TDS refunds; creates permanent loss even when income is negative.
Changed Circumstances: With digital audit trails, PAN-linked demat accounts, and near-complete transparency, the original rationale (to curb evasion) may no longer hold.
The DRDO is preparing for the maiden test of the “Dhvani” hypersonic missile.
About the Dhvani Missile and Its Features
Overview: The Dhvani hypersonic missile is being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of its advanced hypersonic weapons programme.
Type: It is designed as a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) — a next-generation missile system capable of travelling at hypersonic speeds (beyond Mach 5 or over 7,400 km/h) while performing sharp maneuvers at high altitudes.
Range and Speed:
Expected operational range:6,000–10,000 km, potentially doubling the reach of India’s Agni-V ICBM.
Speed: Exceeds Mach 5, making interception nearly impossible with current missile defence systems.
Flight Mechanism:
Launched to extreme altitudes before entering a glide phase in the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.
The glide vehicle can change direction mid-course, allowing unpredictable trajectories that evade radar and anti-missile systems.
Design and Engineering:
Length: ~9 metres; Width: ~2.5 metres.
Blended Wing-Body Configuration: Enhances lift and stability while reducing aerodynamic drag.
Thermal Protection System: Uses ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites capable of withstanding 2,000–3,000°C during re-entry.
Stealth Features: Angled surfaces and smooth contours minimise radar cross-section, making it virtually undetectable to enemy radars.
Development Heritage:
Builds upon DRDO’s success with the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which validated India’s scramjet propulsion and heat-resistant materials.
Represents the transition from technology demonstrator to operational weapon system, signalling India’s arrival in the hypersonic era.
Comparison with Global Hypersonic Systems:
System Name
Type
Speed (Mach)
Operational Status
Russia
Avangard
HGV
20+
Deployed
China
DF-ZF
HGV
10
Deployed
United States
Dark Eagle / HACM
Hypersonic Glide / Cruise
8–10
In testing
India
Dhvani (HGV)
Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
5–6+
Pre-test stage (2025)
Strategic Significance for India:
Global Standing: Positions India alongside the U.S., Russia, and China in the exclusive club of hypersonic powers, showcasing its advanced defence R&D capacity.
Regional Deterrence: Creates a technological and strategic edge over Pakistan and provides a credible counterbalance to China’s hypersonic arsenal.
Survivability and Precision: The missile’s speed, stealth, and maneuverability make interception nearly impossible while enabling pinpoint strikes on both land and sea targets.
Indigenous Achievement: Developed entirely through Indian expertise, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in critical defence technologies.
Force Multiplier: Strengthens India’s nuclear deterrent and strategic triad, ensuring readiness for long-range precision and deterrence missions.
[UPSC 2014] Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
