MADE EASY CURRENT AFFAIR MAGAZINE 2025 GATE EASE
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Oct 18, 2025
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About This Presentation
made easy 2025 current affair magazine
Slide Content
UPSC Engineering Services Examination, State PSCs and other examinations
ENGINEERS’ EXCLUSIVE
The Global Trade War
Global markets stabilize as Donald Trump
announces a 90-day pause on tariffs
worldwide, except for China.
Chief Election Commissioner
President of India appoints
th
Gyanesh Kumar as the 26
Chief Election Commissioner.
Jnanpith Award 2024
Vinod Kumar Shukla becomes
th
10 Hindi writer to win the
prestigious award.
PM Narendra Modi
attended BIMSTEC Summit
2025 held in Bangkok
Parliament passed the
Waqf (Amendment) Bill to
manage Waqf properties
Recent
Current Affairs
Questions
Annual Edition for ESE 2025
ENGINEERS’ EXCLUSIVE
The Global Trade War
Global markets stabilize as Donald Trump
announces a 90-day pause on tariffs
worldwide, except for China.
Chief Election Commissioner
President of India appoints
th
Gyanesh Kumar as the 26
Chief Election Commissioner.
Jnanpith Award 2024
Vinod Kumar Shukla becomes
th
10 Hindi writer to win the
prestigious award.
PM Narendra Modi
attended BIMSTEC Summit
2025 held in Bangkok
Parliament passed the
Waqf (Amendment) Bill to
manage Waqf properties
Recent
Current Affairs
Questions
Annual Edition for ESE 2025
AffairsCurrent
ENGINEERS' EXCLUSIVE
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect policy or position of CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine or
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the
author/ authors. The MADE EASY assumes no responsibility for views and opinions expressed
nor does it vouch for any claims made in the advertisements published in the Magazine. While
painstaking effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the informations
published in the Magazine, neither Publisher, Editor or any of its employee does not accept
any claim for compensation, if any data is wrong, abbreviated, cancelled, omitted or inserted
incorrect.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher.
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd has taken due care in collecting
the data before publishing this book. Inspite of this, if any
inaccuracy or printing error occurs then MADE EASY Publications
Pvt Ltd owes no responsibility. MADE EASY Publications Pvt
Ltd will be grateful if you could point out any such error.
Your suggestions will be appreciated. © All rights reserved by
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd. No part of this book may be
reproduced or utilized in any form without the written permission
from the publisher.
© Copyright 2025
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd
Corporate Office: 44-A/4, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi-110016
Visit us at: www.madeeasypublications.org
+91 - 9021300500
E-mail: infomep@madeeasy
.in
ESE 2025
Preliminary Examination
for
Annual Edition
ENGINEERS' EXCLUSIVE
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect policy or position of CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine or
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the
author/ authors. The MADE EASY assumes no responsibility for views and opinions expressed
nor does it vouch for any claims made in the advertisements published in the Magazine. While
painstaking effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the informations
published in the Magazine, neither Publisher, Editor or any of its employee does not accept
any claim for compensation, if any data is wrong, abbreviated, cancelled, omitted or inserted
incorrect.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher.
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd has taken due care in collecting
the data before publishing this book. Inspite of this, if any
inaccuracy or printing error occurs then MADE EASY Publications
Pvt Ltd owes no responsibility. MADE EASY Publications Pvt
Ltd will be grateful if you could point out any such error.
Your suggestions will be appreciated. © All rights reserved by
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd. No part of this book may be
reproduced or utilized in any form without the written permission
from the publisher.
© Copyright 2025
MADE EASY Publications Pvt Ltd
Corporate Office: 44-A/4, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi-110016
Visit us at: www.madeeasypublications.org
+91 - 9021300500
E-mail: infomep@madeeasy
.in
ESE 2025
Preliminary Examination
for
Annual Edition
Contents
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this
magazine are those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect policy or position of
CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine or
MADE EASY Publications Pvt. Ltd. They
should be understood as the personal
opinions of the author/ authors.
Current Economic Issues
Environment & Wildlife
National Affairs
PAGE 10
PAGE 35
PAGE 43
One Nation One Election: The
Constitution (One Hundred and
Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024,
popularly being referred to as the Bill
on “One Nation, One Election”.
.....47
18th Lok Sabha: The 18th Lok Sabha
has been commenced after electing 543 members of Parliament through the General Election 2024 held in
7 phases.
....................................55
COP29: UNFCCC Conference of
COP29 was concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan. This conference saw around 200 countries negotiate agreements aimed at addressing global climate challenges.
.........36
Economic Survey 2024-25: Union
Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the Parliament.
..........22
Reciprocal Tariffs: US President
Donald Trump announced ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on imports from various countries, including India,
...........10
Union Budget 2025-26: The Union
Budget 2025-2026 was framed around the theme "Sabka Vikas" emphasizing balanced growth across all regions of India.
...................24
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this
magazine are those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect policy or position of
CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine or
MADE EASY Publications Pvt. Ltd. They
should be understood as the personal
opinions of the author/ authors.
Current Economic Issues
Environment & Wildlife
National Affairs
PAGE 10
PAGE 35
PAGE 43
One Nation One Election: The
Constitution (One Hundred and
Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024,
popularly being referred to as the Bill
on “One Nation, One Election”.
.....47
18th Lok Sabha: The 18th Lok Sabha
has been commenced after electing 543 members of Parliament through the General Election 2024 held in
7 phases.
....................................55
COP29: UNFCCC Conference of
COP29 was concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan. This conference saw around 200 countries negotiate agreements aimed at addressing global climate challenges.
.........36
Economic Survey 2024-25: Union
Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the Parliament.
..........22
Reciprocal Tariffs: US President
Donald Trump announced ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on imports from various countries, including India,
...........10
Union Budget 2025-26: The Union
Budget 2025-2026 was framed around the theme "Sabka Vikas" emphasizing balanced growth across all regions of India.
...................24
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Miscellaneous........................................136
ESE-2024 Toppers' Interview..............152
Recent Current Affairs Questions.......156
Defence in News
Science and Technology
International Affairs
PAGE 75
PAGE 101
PAGE 115
PM Modi state visit to Mauritius: The
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid
a state visit to Mauritius. He was the
Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day
Celebrations on March 12.
.........76
ISRO in News :
Chandrayaan-5 Mission, ISRO’s 100th Launch, Chandrayaan-4, ISRO successfully sprouts cowpea seeds in Space, Aditya-L1, Power Head Test Article (PHTA), CE20 Cryogenic Engine, Gaganyaan Mission
...................111
2025: Year of Defence Reforms:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Defense Reforms,” signifying a commitment to modernizing and strengthening its armed forces.
..........................117
Miscellaneous........................................136
ESE-2024 Toppers' Interview..............152
Recent Current Affairs Questions.......156
Defence in News
Science and Technology
International Affairs
PAGE 75
PAGE 101
PAGE 115
PM Modi state visit to Mauritius: The
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid
a state visit to Mauritius. He was the
Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day
Celebrations on March 12.
.........76
ISRO in News :
Chandrayaan-5 Mission, ISRO’s 100th Launch, Chandrayaan-4, ISRO successfully sprouts cowpea seeds in Space, Aditya-L1, Power Head Test Article (PHTA), CE20 Cryogenic Engine, Gaganyaan Mission
...................111
2025: Year of Defence Reforms:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Defense Reforms,” signifying a commitment to modernizing and strengthening its armed forces.
..........................117
AIR
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AIR
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MUNISH KUMAR
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6
Dinesh Kumar Sharma
Classroom Foundation Course,
Classroom Mains Course,
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Classroom Test Series,
Interview Guidance Course
7
Shailendra Singh
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Krishna Kumar Dwivedi
Classroom Foundation Course,
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9
Vidhate Akshay Santosh
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10
Ankit Kumar
Online Test Series,
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11
Parmjeet
Online Mains Course,
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12
Vivek Kumar
Online Mains Course,
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14
Gavi Raju
Online Foundation Course,
Online Test Series,
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15
J C Rahan Kumar Das
Online Test Series,
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16
Rinku Ram Meena
Classroom Foundation Course,
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17
ME
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Rajesh Kasaniya
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Chandan Joshi
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Dinesh Kumar Sharma
Classroom Foundation Course,
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7
Shailendra Singh
Classroom Foundation Course,
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8
Krishna Kumar Dwivedi
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9
Vidhate Akshay Santosh
Interview Guidance Course
10
Ankit Kumar
Online Test Series,
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11
Parmjeet
Online Mains Course,
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12
Vivek Kumar
Online Mains Course,
Online Test Series,
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14
Gavi Raju
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15
J C Rahan Kumar Das
Online Test Series,
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16
Rinku Ram Meena
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17
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Priyanshu Mudgal
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Naman Agarwal
Online Foundation Course,
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4
Mayank Kumar Singh
Classroom Foundation Course,
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5
Ritvik Kok
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6
Manthan Sharma
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7
Pankaj Sharma
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11
Anmol Singh
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9
Mayank Jaiman
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Vikas Mishra
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15
Varun Dhankhar
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13
Roshan Bihari Bajpai
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12
Yash
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19
Vivek Kumar
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17
Mansi Singh
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16
Akshit Parashari
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10
D Achyutha Sai Ram Reddy
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14
Nihal Singh
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18
Gautam Sariyala
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22
Rahul Meena
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21
Vishal Kumar
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20
Sandeep Singh
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Vallemoni Vijay
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Abhishek Meena
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3
Naman Agarwal
Online Foundation Course,
Online Test Series,
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4
Mayank Kumar Singh
Classroom Foundation Course,
Classroom Mains Course,
Online Test Series,
Interview Guidance Course
5
Ritvik Kok
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Postal Study Course,
Interview Guidance Course
6
Manthan Sharma
Classroom Foundation Course,
Online Test Series,
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7
Pankaj Sharma
Online Mains Course, Classroom Test Series,
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11
Anmol Singh
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9
Mayank Jaiman
Postal Study Course, Classroom Test Series,
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8
Vikas Mishra
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15
Varun Dhankhar
Classroom Mains Course, Online Foundation Course,
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13
Roshan Bihari Bajpai
Classroom Foundation Course,
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12
Yash
Online Mains Course, Online Test Series,
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19
Vivek Kumar
Classroom Mains Course,
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17
Mansi Singh
Postal Study Course,
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16
Akshit Parashari
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10
D Achyutha Sai Ram Reddy
Interview Guidance Course
14
Nihal Singh
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18
Gautam Sariyala
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22
Rahul Meena
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23
Jitendra Kumar Meena
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21
Vishal Kumar
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20
Sandeep Singh
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26
Vallemoni Vijay
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Abhishek Meena
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Rajiv Ranjan Mishra
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Parag Saroha
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2
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7
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8
Thakare Piyush Dayanand
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9
Chandrika Gadgil
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6
Rajvardhan Sharma
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10
Nikhil Agnihotri
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11
Abhishek Kumar Pandey
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Abhash Kumar
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13
Ashish Kumar
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14
Vikash Kumar
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15
Satyanarayan
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16
Mahaveer Singh
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17
Harsh Mittal
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Kartik Pal
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Akhil
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Ram Pal Singh
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Prashant Lavania
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Siddhartha Patel
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Egu Dheeraj Kumar
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Shweta Gupta
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Bagade Girish Ravindra
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30
Chaithra A M
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31
Nulu Prashant Kumar
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32
Kharat Santosh Tukaram
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33
Harsh Singh
34
Tanya Tyagi
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35
Praveen Sharma
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7
Vidhu Shree
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Thakare Piyush Dayanand
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9
Chandrika Gadgil
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6
Rajvardhan Sharma
Classroom Foundation Course,
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10
Nikhil Agnihotri
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11
Abhishek Kumar Pandey
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12
Abhash Kumar
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13
Ashish Kumar
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14
Vikash Kumar
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Satyanarayan
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16
Mahaveer Singh
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17
Harsh Mittal
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18
Kartik Pal
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19
Akhil
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20
Ram Pal Singh
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21
Prashant Lavania
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23
Siddhartha Patel
Classroom Foundation Course,
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24
Aviraj
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27
Egu Dheeraj Kumar
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28
Shweta Gupta
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29
Bagade Girish Ravindra
Classroom Test Series, Online Test Series,
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30
Chaithra A M
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31
Nulu Prashant Kumar
Online Mains Course, Classroom Test Series,
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32
Kharat Santosh Tukaram
Interview Guidance Course Interview Guidance Course
33
Harsh Singh
34
Tanya Tyagi
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35
Praveen Sharma
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36
Anmol Sharma
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41
Rajeev Kumar
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42
Abhayam Verma Arya
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39
Nambi Mridupani
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38
Tantreshwar Kumar
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37
Keshav Jasrotia
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47
Milind Dattu Kamble
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48
Shivam Tiwary
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46
Waghmare Sandeep
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45
Gopesh Singh
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44
Kapil Tomer
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52
Hari Singh Meena
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53
Bhavya Kalani
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Online Test Series
51
Neetesh Kumar Meena
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50
Chintu Agarwal
Classroom Foundation Course,
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49
Krishna Kumar
Classroom Foundation Course,
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Online Test Series, Interview Guidance Course
57
Sandeep Kumar
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58
Kuldeep Meena
Online Test Series,
Interview Guidance Course
56
Somya Sharma
Online Mains Course,
Classroom Test Series, IGC
55
Makke Venkata Krishna
Interview Guidance Course
54
Pushpendra Jouliya
Online Mains Course, Online Test Series,
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62
Bhavana Shreeram
Classroom Foundation Course,
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63
Chander Kant
Interview Guidance Course
61
Deepak Meena
Online Test Series,
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60
Aman Sandhu
Classroom Test Series,
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59
Maneesh Neniwal
Classroom Foundation Course,
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Online Test Series, Interview Guidance Course
67
Shivani Ghunawat
Classroom Mains Course,
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68
Vishal Bikunia
Classroom Foundation Course,
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Interview Guidance Course
66
Pragathi Mosuganti
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65
Rohit Meena
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64
Nachiketh R Gonda
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70
Ram Ratan Meena
Classroom Foundation Course,
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69
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Rajeev Kumar
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Abhayam Verma Arya
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Nambi Mridupani
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37
Keshav Jasrotia
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47
Milind Dattu Kamble
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48
Shivam Tiwary
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46
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45
Gopesh Singh
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44
Kapil Tomer
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52
Hari Singh Meena
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Bhavya Kalani
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Neetesh Kumar Meena
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50
Chintu Agarwal
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49
Krishna Kumar
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57
Sandeep Kumar
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58
Kuldeep Meena
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56
Somya Sharma
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55
Makke Venkata Krishna
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Pushpendra Jouliya
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62
Bhavana Shreeram
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63
Chander Kant
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61
Deepak Meena
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60
Aman Sandhu
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59
Maneesh Neniwal
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67
Shivani Ghunawat
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68
Vishal Bikunia
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66
Pragathi Mosuganti
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65
Rohit Meena
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64
Nachiketh R Gonda
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70
Ram Ratan Meena
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in Engineering Service Exam 2024
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Engineering
10ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
CURRENT
ECONOMY ISSUES
Trump announced TARIFFs Worldwide
In a significant move, US President Donald Trump announced ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on imports from various
countries, including India, aimed to address trade imbalances but sparked global concerns about
economic stability and diplomatic relations.
Tariff
•
It is a
protect domestic industries, generate revenue, correct trade imbalances, and exert economic leverage.
Reciprocal Tariff
•
It refers to trade measures imposed by one country in response to tariffs or trade barriers set by another
country. It aims to create a level playing field by mirroring the duties imposed on exports.
Discounted Reciprocal Tariff
•
It is a trade arrangement between two countries (or economic blocs), where each agrees to reduce or eliminate import duties on
goods or services from the other on a reciprocal basis, but at discounted rates compared to standard tariff commitments.
• It is a trade measure designed to counteract perceived trade imbalances.
Key Highlights of Reciprocal Tariffs
• ‘Liber Trump
declared April 2, 2025, as ‘Liberation Day’
marking the introduction of reciprocal tariffs
aimed at addressing trade imbalances.
•
Baseline Tariff: A universal 10% tariff was
imposed on all imports, with higher rates applied to countries with significant trade surpluses with the USA. The tariffs ranged from 10% to 50% on its exports to the USA. Major sectors affected included textiles, chemicals, machinery, and electronics.
•
Country-Specific Tariffs: Earlier, India faced
a 26% discounted reciprocal tariff, but in a recent significant move, Trump has announced 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries, except China.
•
Economic Rationale: The tariffs were
calculated to balance trade deficits and address non-monetary trade barriers such as currency manipulation and regulatory differences.
Global Trade Tensions: Countries like China, Vietnam, and the European Union faced even higher tariffs. It escalated trade tensions and raised fears of a
global trade war.
Market Volatility: The tariffs triggered significant market fluctuations, with global stock indices experiencing sharp declines. Businesses reliant on
international supply chains faced disruptions and increased costs.
Retaliatory Measures: Several countries announced counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, further straining international trade relations.
Impact on India
•
ExporIndia will have impact on its exports to the US, affecting
key sectors such as automobiles, textiles, and fisheries. It posed a challenge
for Indian exporters, who had to navigate higher costs and reduced
competitiveness in the US market.
•
Economic Adjustments: To mitigate the impact, India might consider reducing
tariffs on US imports, including gems, jewelry, and auto parts.
• Strategic Partnerships: Despite the tariffs, India is emphasizing its commitment
to strengthening bilateral trade relations with the U.S., aiming for long-term economic collaboration.
•
Comparative Advantages: Tariff on India (26%) was lower than other Asian and
South Asian countries including Vietnam (46%), Thailand (37%), Bangladesh (37%), Sri Lanka (44%) and Pakistan (30%), which could give India some ‘comparative advantages’.
Sectors Affected in India
•
ElecNearly $14 billion worth of electronics exports from India
may be hit by new US tariffs.
• Gems and Jewellery: Over $9 billion worth of exports could be affected.
• Auto Parts & Aluminium: Not impacted by the earlier 26% tariff, but still face
an existing 25% tariff announced earlier by Trump.
• Pharmaceuticals & Energy Products: Approximately $9 billion in pharmaceutical
exports are exempt from the latest tariffs. Energy products are also exempt.Impact on the Rest of the World
CURRENT
ECONOMY ISSUES
Trump announced TARIFFs Worldwide
In a significant move, US President Donald Trump announced ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on imports from various
countries, including India, aimed to address trade imbalances but sparked global concerns about
economic stability and diplomatic relations.
Tariff
•
It is a
protect domestic industries, generate revenue, correct trade imbalances, and exert economic leverage.
Reciprocal Tariff
•
It refers to trade measures imposed by one country in response to tariffs or trade barriers set by another
country. It aims to create a level playing field by mirroring the duties imposed on exports.
Discounted Reciprocal Tariff
•
It is a trade arrangement between two countries (or economic blocs), where each agrees to reduce or eliminate import duties on
goods or services from the other on a reciprocal basis, but at discounted rates compared to standard tariff commitments.
• It is a trade measure designed to counteract perceived trade imbalances.
Key Highlights of Reciprocal Tariffs
• ‘Liber Trump
declared April 2, 2025, as ‘Liberation Day’
marking the introduction of reciprocal tariffs
aimed at addressing trade imbalances.
•
Baseline Tariff: A universal 10% tariff was
imposed on all imports, with higher rates applied to countries with significant trade surpluses with the USA. The tariffs ranged from 10% to 50% on its exports to the USA. Major sectors affected included textiles, chemicals, machinery, and electronics.
•
Country-Specific Tariffs: Earlier, India faced
a 26% discounted reciprocal tariff, but in a recent significant move, Trump has announced 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries, except China.
•
Economic Rationale: The tariffs were
calculated to balance trade deficits and address non-monetary trade barriers such as currency manipulation and regulatory differences.
Global Trade Tensions: Countries like China, Vietnam, and the European Union faced even higher tariffs. It escalated trade tensions and raised fears of a
global trade war.
Market Volatility: The tariffs triggered significant market fluctuations, with global stock indices experiencing sharp declines. Businesses reliant on
international supply chains faced disruptions and increased costs.
Retaliatory Measures: Several countries announced counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, further straining international trade relations.
Impact on India
•
ExporIndia will have impact on its exports to the US, affecting
key sectors such as automobiles, textiles, and fisheries. It posed a challenge
for Indian exporters, who had to navigate higher costs and reduced
competitiveness in the US market.
•
Economic Adjustments: To mitigate the impact, India might consider reducing
tariffs on US imports, including gems, jewelry, and auto parts.
• Strategic Partnerships: Despite the tariffs, India is emphasizing its commitment
to strengthening bilateral trade relations with the U.S., aiming for long-term economic collaboration.
•
Comparative Advantages: Tariff on India (26%) was lower than other Asian and
South Asian countries including Vietnam (46%), Thailand (37%), Bangladesh (37%), Sri Lanka (44%) and Pakistan (30%), which could give India some ‘comparative advantages’.
Sectors Affected in India
•
ElecNearly $14 billion worth of electronics exports from India
may be hit by new US tariffs.
• Gems and Jewellery: Over $9 billion worth of exports could be affected.
• Auto Parts & Aluminium: Not impacted by the earlier 26% tariff, but still face
an existing 25% tariff announced earlier by Trump.
• Pharmaceuticals & Energy Products: Approximately $9 billion in pharmaceutical
exports are exempt from the latest tariffs. Energy products are also exempt.Impact on the Rest of the World
11Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Rise of India’s External Debt
• As per
Bank of India, India's external debt
was placed at $663.8 billion, an
increase of US$ 39.7 billion over its
level at end-March 2023.
•
External Debt is money borrowed
from a source outside the country, which needs to be repaid
in the borrowed currency. It can be obtained from foreign
commercial banks, international financial institutions such as
the IMF and the World Bank, and from foreign governments.
•
The external debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 19.0% at end-
March 2023 to 18.7% at end-March 2024.
• There was a USD 45.6 billion increase in long-term debt
(maturing in over a year) to reach USD 541.2 billion in March 2024.
Proportion of short-term debt (maturing in up to a year)
decreased from 20.6% to 18.5%.
The ratio of short-term debt to forex reserves declined
from 22.2% to 19%.
• India's external debt as of March 2024 was primarily in
US Dollars (53.8%), followed by Indian Rupees (31.5%),
Yen (5.8%), SDR (5.4%), and Euro (2.8%). There was an
increase in debt of both government and non-government
sectors.
•
Non-financial corporations held the highest share of
outstanding debt (37.4%) followed by deposit-taking corporations (except the central bank)( 28.1%), general government (22.4%) and other financial corporations (7.3%).
•
Loans constitute 33.4% of external debt, followed by
currency and deposits (23.3%), trade credit and advances (17.9%), and debt securities (17.3%).
Discontinue of Gold Monetisation Scheme
(GMS)
•
The Government of India has recently
decided to discontinue the medium
and long-term components of
the Gold Monetisation Scheme
(GMS).
•
This decision, effective from
March 26, 2025, comes amid rising gold prices and a comprehensive review of the scheme’s performance. The Ministry of Finance stated that only short- term bank deposits will remain, subject to banks’ discretion.
Key highlights
• CThe GMS consisted of three
components:
1. Short-term bank deposits (1-3 years).
2. Medium-term government deposits (5-7 years).
3. Long-term government deposits (12-15 years). The
minimum deposit allowed was 10 grams of gold, with no
maximum limit.
• Interest Rates Under the Scheme: Interest rates for short-term
deposits were determined by individual banks based on market conditions.
For medium and long-term deposits, rates were set by
the government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI).
Medium-term bonds offered 2.25%, while long-term
bonds offered 2.5%.
• Performance and Impact of the Scheme: As of November
2024, approximately 31,164 kg of gold had been mobilised under the GMS.
Short-term deposits accounted for 7,509 kg, medium-
term for 9,728 kg, and long-term for 13,926 kg. About
5,693 depositors participated in the scheme.
The scheme aimed to convert idle gold into productive
assets.
• Reasons for Discontinuation: The Ministry of Finance cited
evolving market conditions and the scheme’s performance as reasons for its discontinuation.
The government has noted increase in gold prices,
prompting a reassessment of gold-related schemes.
The previous issuance of sovereign gold bonds also
faced similar scrutiny.
• Future of Gold Schemes in India: With the discontinuation of
the GMS’s medium- and long-term components, the focus
shifts to short-term bank deposits.
The RBI is expected to provide detailed guidelines on
the future of these deposits.
The government aims to refine gold-related policies to
adapt to changing economic conditions.
About G
• The Gold Monetisation Scheme was launched in
November 2015. Its primary aim was to mobilise idle
gold held by households and institutions.
• This initiative sought to reduce gold imports and the
current account deficit. The scheme allowed individuals to deposit gold with banks, making it productive for the economy.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Rise of India’s External Debt
• As per
Bank of India, India's external debt
was placed at $663.8 billion, an
increase of US$ 39.7 billion over its
level at end-March 2023.
•
External Debt is money borrowed
from a source outside the country, which needs to be repaid
in the borrowed currency. It can be obtained from foreign
commercial banks, international financial institutions such as
the IMF and the World Bank, and from foreign governments.
•
The external debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 19.0% at end-
March 2023 to 18.7% at end-March 2024.
• There was a USD 45.6 billion increase in long-term debt
(maturing in over a year) to reach USD 541.2 billion in March 2024.
Proportion of short-term debt (maturing in up to a year)
decreased from 20.6% to 18.5%.
The ratio of short-term debt to forex reserves declined
from 22.2% to 19%.
• India's external debt as of March 2024 was primarily in
US Dollars (53.8%), followed by Indian Rupees (31.5%),
Yen (5.8%), SDR (5.4%), and Euro (2.8%). There was an
increase in debt of both government and non-government
sectors.
•
Non-financial corporations held the highest share of
outstanding debt (37.4%) followed by deposit-taking corporations (except the central bank)( 28.1%), general government (22.4%) and other financial corporations (7.3%).
•
Loans constitute 33.4% of external debt, followed by
currency and deposits (23.3%), trade credit and advances (17.9%), and debt securities (17.3%).
Discontinue of Gold Monetisation Scheme
(GMS)
•
The Government of India has recently
decided to discontinue the medium
and long-term components of
the Gold Monetisation Scheme
(GMS).
•
This decision, effective from
March 26, 2025, comes amid rising gold prices and a comprehensive review of the scheme’s performance. The Ministry of Finance stated that only short- term bank deposits will remain, subject to banks’ discretion.
Key highlights
• CThe GMS consisted of three
components:
1. Short-term bank deposits (1-3 years).
2. Medium-term government deposits (5-7 years).
3. Long-term government deposits (12-15 years). The
minimum deposit allowed was 10 grams of gold, with no
maximum limit.
• Interest Rates Under the Scheme: Interest rates for short-term
deposits were determined by individual banks based on market conditions.
For medium and long-term deposits, rates were set by
the government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI).
Medium-term bonds offered 2.25%, while long-term
bonds offered 2.5%.
• Performance and Impact of the Scheme: As of November
2024, approximately 31,164 kg of gold had been mobilised under the GMS.
Short-term deposits accounted for 7,509 kg, medium-
term for 9,728 kg, and long-term for 13,926 kg. About
5,693 depositors participated in the scheme.
The scheme aimed to convert idle gold into productive
assets.
• Reasons for Discontinuation: The Ministry of Finance cited
evolving market conditions and the scheme’s performance as reasons for its discontinuation.
The government has noted increase in gold prices,
prompting a reassessment of gold-related schemes.
The previous issuance of sovereign gold bonds also
faced similar scrutiny.
• Future of Gold Schemes in India: With the discontinuation of
the GMS’s medium- and long-term components, the focus
shifts to short-term bank deposits.
The RBI is expected to provide detailed guidelines on
the future of these deposits.
The government aims to refine gold-related policies to
adapt to changing economic conditions.
About G
• The Gold Monetisation Scheme was launched in
November 2015. Its primary aim was to mobilise idle
gold held by households and institutions.
• This initiative sought to reduce gold imports and the
current account deficit. The scheme allowed individuals to deposit gold with banks, making it productive for the economy.
12ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Govt. plans to launch a Statistical
Business Register
•
The Government of India plans to launch a statistical
business register by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to
monitor the opening and closing of businesses across the
nation. It will provide a framework for the economic census
and various business surveys.
•
The register is designed to enhance data accuracy and
reduce errors in business information collection.
Key highlights:
•
P The primary goal of the register is to consolidate
information about all enterprises in India. It will track active and closed establishments. This data will be crucial for conducting the economic census and other surveys, such as the Annual Survey of Industries and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
•
Implementation: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) is responsible for the register. It plans to utilise multiple data sources. These include the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs database, Goods and Services Tax records, and the micro, small, and medium enterprises database. Sample data has already been received from several agencies.
•
Updating the Register: The statistical business register will
be updated regularly. Officials have indicated that updates could occur quarterly or semi-annually. This frequency aims to ensure that the data remains relevant and accurate for economic analysis.
•
Significance for Economic Census: The register will serve as a
key framework for the economic census, which is set to be conducted this year.
This census will capture the number of establishments
engaged in both agricultural and non-agricultural activities across all states.
The register will help avoid duplication during the census
process.
• International Recommendations: The United Nations Statistics
Division recommends the implementation of statistical business registers. Over 60% of developing countries have adopted this practice. India initially planned to establish the register during its sixth economic census. However, delays occurred due to issues with state preparations.
Impact on Economic Analysis
•
The statistical business register will aid in sectoral
performance analysis. It will also support calculations related to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
•
The initiative aims to provide a more robust economic
framework for understanding business dynamics in India.
NITI Aayog Report on Women Financial
Empowerment
Recently NITI Aayog launched the report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story." The report sheds light on the role of women entrepreneurs in shaping India’s economic landscape.
Key Highlights
•
S Women seeking credit grew
three times between 2019 and 2024, reflecting increased demand among female borrowers.
•
Women Borrower Demographics: About 60% of women
borrowers availing credit are from semi-urban or rural areas. Women under 30 years of age account for only 27% of retail credit uptake by women, compared to 40% for men.
•
Credit Supply Trends: Women’s participation in credit
origination has seen notable growth in recent years. Since 2019, the share of Women in Business Loans and Gold Loans has increased by 14% and 6% respectively.
By 2024, 42% of loans availed by women were for
personal finance, a slight increase from 39% in 2019.
The majority of loans availed by women continue to be
against gold – 36% of all loans availed by women in 2024 were gold loans vs. 19% of loans availed in 2019.
•
Rise in Credit Monitoring and Awareness: As of December
2024, 27 million women borrowers in India have monitored their credit information report and score with CIBIL.
Significance
•
EWomen constitute nearly half of India’s
population but contribute only 18% to the GDP. Encouraging women entrepreneurs can increase India’s GDP by 27%, as per IMF estimates.
•
Employment Generation: MSMEs owned by women play a
crucial role in job creation and skill development at local levels.
• Social Empowerment: It promotes gender equality by
demonstrating women’s ability to lead and manage enterprises successfully.
Government Initiatives
•
The National Rural Livelihood Mission has enabled 9 million
women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to improve their livelihoods through access to formal banking.
•
NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)
brings together public and private sector partners to create a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.
•
The PM SVANidhi Yojana supported 30.6 lakh women street
vendors with 5,939.7 crore in working capital loans as of December 2024.
•
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): In FY 2023-24, loans
totaling INR 2.22 lakh crore were disbursed to 4.24 crore women entrepreneurs.
Union Govt. plans to launch a Statistical
Business Register
•
The Government of India plans to launch a statistical
business register by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to
monitor the opening and closing of businesses across the
nation. It will provide a framework for the economic census
and various business surveys.
•
The register is designed to enhance data accuracy and
reduce errors in business information collection.
Key highlights:
•
P The primary goal of the register is to consolidate
information about all enterprises in India. It will track active and closed establishments. This data will be crucial for conducting the economic census and other surveys, such as the Annual Survey of Industries and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
•
Implementation: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) is responsible for the register. It plans to utilise multiple data sources. These include the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs database, Goods and Services Tax records, and the micro, small, and medium enterprises database. Sample data has already been received from several agencies.
•
Updating the Register: The statistical business register will
be updated regularly. Officials have indicated that updates could occur quarterly or semi-annually. This frequency aims to ensure that the data remains relevant and accurate for economic analysis.
•
Significance for Economic Census: The register will serve as a
key framework for the economic census, which is set to be conducted this year.
This census will capture the number of establishments
engaged in both agricultural and non-agricultural activities across all states.
The register will help avoid duplication during the census
process.
• International Recommendations: The United Nations Statistics
Division recommends the implementation of statistical business registers. Over 60% of developing countries have adopted this practice. India initially planned to establish the register during its sixth economic census. However, delays occurred due to issues with state preparations.
Impact on Economic Analysis
•
The statistical business register will aid in sectoral
performance analysis. It will also support calculations related to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
•
The initiative aims to provide a more robust economic
framework for understanding business dynamics in India.
NITI Aayog Report on Women Financial
Empowerment
Recently NITI Aayog launched the report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story." The report sheds light on the role of women entrepreneurs in shaping India’s economic landscape.
Key Highlights
•
S Women seeking credit grew
three times between 2019 and 2024, reflecting increased demand among female borrowers.
•
Women Borrower Demographics: About 60% of women
borrowers availing credit are from semi-urban or rural areas. Women under 30 years of age account for only 27% of retail credit uptake by women, compared to 40% for men.
•
Credit Supply Trends: Women’s participation in credit
origination has seen notable growth in recent years. Since 2019, the share of Women in Business Loans and Gold Loans has increased by 14% and 6% respectively.
By 2024, 42% of loans availed by women were for
personal finance, a slight increase from 39% in 2019.
The majority of loans availed by women continue to be
against gold – 36% of all loans availed by women in 2024 were gold loans vs. 19% of loans availed in 2019.
•
Rise in Credit Monitoring and Awareness: As of December
2024, 27 million women borrowers in India have monitored their credit information report and score with CIBIL.
Significance
•
EWomen constitute nearly half of India’s
population but contribute only 18% to the GDP. Encouraging women entrepreneurs can increase India’s GDP by 27%, as per IMF estimates.
•
Employment Generation: MSMEs owned by women play a
crucial role in job creation and skill development at local levels.
• Social Empowerment: It promotes gender equality by
demonstrating women’s ability to lead and manage enterprises successfully.
Government Initiatives
•
The National Rural Livelihood Mission has enabled 9 million
women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to improve their livelihoods through access to formal banking.
•
NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)
brings together public and private sector partners to create a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.
•
The PM SVANidhi Yojana supported 30.6 lakh women street
vendors with 5,939.7 crore in working capital loans as of December 2024.
•
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): In FY 2023-24, loans
totaling INR 2.22 lakh crore were disbursed to 4.24 crore women entrepreneurs.
13Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
SEBI launches MITRA platform
• The
(SEBI) has introduced a new digital platform
named Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and
Retrieval Assistant (MITRA). This initiative
aims to assist investors in tracking inactive
or unclaimed mutual fund folios.
•
The platform responds to concerns where investors lose track
of their investments due to outdated contact information or lack of awareness regarding investments made in their name.
Key highlights:
•
CA mutual fund folio is classified
as inactive if there are no investor-initiated transactions for a period of ten years, despite having a unit balance. This classification helps identify investments that may have been overlooked by the investor.
•
Role of Qualified RTAs: The platform will be managed by two
Qualified Registrars and Transfer Agents (QRTAs), namely Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS) and KFIN Technologies Limited. These QRTAs are responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining the platform’s integrity.
•
Awareness and Compliance: SEBI has directed all
stakeholders, including Asset Management Companies (AMCs) and mutual fund distributors, to raise awareness about the MITRA platform among investors. This initiative aims to reduce the number of non-KYC compliant folios and unclaimed mutual fund investments.
•
Impact on Investors: The launch of MITRA is expected to
encourage investors to reclaim their forgotten investments. It also aims to reduce the number of inactive folios, thereby enhancing investor protection. By making it easier for investors to trace their investments, SEBI hopes to encourage a more informed and engaged investor community.
•
Technological Considerations: The QRTAs must ensure the
platform complies with guidelines for Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) as specified by SEBI. This emphasis on technological compliance ensures that the platform remains secure and accessible to all investors.
About Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and
Retrieval Assistant (MITRA)
•
M
searchable database of inactive mutual fund folios.
• It encourages individuals to search for forgotten
investments and update their Know Your Customer (KYC) details as per current regulations.
•
The platform aims to mitigate the risks associated with
fraudulent redemptions of inactive folios.
RBI introduced bank.in domain
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has introduced the ‘bank.in ’ internet
domain to address increasing financial fraud cases in the country.
•
This initiative was announced during
a recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting led by newly appointed Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The RBI aims to enhance digital security and improve customer trust in online banking.
Key highlights:
•
R Recent data indicates surge in
banking fraud cases. In the first half of the fiscal year, the total number of fraud incidents rose to 18,461, with financial losses amounting to ₹21,367 crore. This sharp increase puts stress on the urgent need for enhanced security measures in the banking sector.
•
Future Plans for Financial Domains: The RBI is also planning
to introduce ‘fin.in’ for non-bank financial entities. This will further enhance security and trust in the financial services sector. The registration for ‘bank.in’ is set to start in April 2025, with ‘fin.in’ to follow shortly after.
•
Importance of Cyber Security: Cyber security is a critical
concern for the RBI. Governor Malhotra emphasised the need for banks to develop robust incident response and recovery mechanisms. Regular testing of these systems is essential for operational resilience against cyber threats.
About bank.in
• The
legitimate banking websites.
• It will assist in distinguishing fraudulent sites from
authentic ones.
• This move is a response to the alarming rise in cyber
fraud incidents, which increased by 27% in the first half of the fiscal year.
About
IDRBT
• The
Technology (IDRBT) will serve as the exclusive registrar for the ‘bank.in’ domain.
•
Detailed guidelines will be provided to banks for the
registration process.
• The RBI aims to streamline the domain allocation
process and ensure that only genuine banks can use the ‘bank.in’ extension.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
SEBI launches MITRA platform
• The
(SEBI) has introduced a new digital platform
named Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and
Retrieval Assistant (MITRA). This initiative
aims to assist investors in tracking inactive
or unclaimed mutual fund folios.
•
The platform responds to concerns where investors lose track
of their investments due to outdated contact information or lack of awareness regarding investments made in their name.
Key highlights:
•
CA mutual fund folio is classified
as inactive if there are no investor-initiated transactions for a period of ten years, despite having a unit balance. This classification helps identify investments that may have been overlooked by the investor.
•
Role of Qualified RTAs: The platform will be managed by two
Qualified Registrars and Transfer Agents (QRTAs), namely Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS) and KFIN Technologies Limited. These QRTAs are responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining the platform’s integrity.
•
Awareness and Compliance: SEBI has directed all
stakeholders, including Asset Management Companies (AMCs) and mutual fund distributors, to raise awareness about the MITRA platform among investors. This initiative aims to reduce the number of non-KYC compliant folios and unclaimed mutual fund investments.
•
Impact on Investors: The launch of MITRA is expected to
encourage investors to reclaim their forgotten investments. It also aims to reduce the number of inactive folios, thereby enhancing investor protection. By making it easier for investors to trace their investments, SEBI hopes to encourage a more informed and engaged investor community.
•
Technological Considerations: The QRTAs must ensure the
platform complies with guidelines for Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) as specified by SEBI. This emphasis on technological compliance ensures that the platform remains secure and accessible to all investors.
About Mutual Fund Investment Tracing and
Retrieval Assistant (MITRA)
•
M
searchable database of inactive mutual fund folios.
• It encourages individuals to search for forgotten
investments and update their Know Your Customer (KYC) details as per current regulations.
•
The platform aims to mitigate the risks associated with
fraudulent redemptions of inactive folios.
RBI introduced bank.in domain
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has introduced the ‘bank.in ’ internet
domain to address increasing financial fraud cases in the country.
•
This initiative was announced during
a recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting led by newly appointed Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The RBI aims to enhance digital security and improve customer trust in online banking.
Key highlights:
•
R Recent data indicates surge in
banking fraud cases. In the first half of the fiscal year, the total number of fraud incidents rose to 18,461, with financial losses amounting to ₹21,367 crore. This sharp increase puts stress on the urgent need for enhanced security measures in the banking sector.
•
Future Plans for Financial Domains: The RBI is also planning
to introduce ‘fin.in’ for non-bank financial entities. This will further enhance security and trust in the financial services sector. The registration for ‘bank.in’ is set to start in April 2025, with ‘fin.in’ to follow shortly after.
•
Importance of Cyber Security: Cyber security is a critical
concern for the RBI. Governor Malhotra emphasised the need for banks to develop robust incident response and recovery mechanisms. Regular testing of these systems is essential for operational resilience against cyber threats.
About bank.in
• The
legitimate banking websites.
• It will assist in distinguishing fraudulent sites from
authentic ones.
• This move is a response to the alarming rise in cyber
fraud incidents, which increased by 27% in the first half of the fiscal year.
About
IDRBT
• The
Technology (IDRBT) will serve as the exclusive registrar for the ‘bank.in’ domain.
•
Detailed guidelines will be provided to banks for the
registration process.
• The RBI aims to streamline the domain allocation
process and ensure that only genuine banks can use the ‘bank.in’ extension.
14ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Indian Railways Mission 3000
Indian Railways is striving to enhance its freight loading
capabilities under the ambitious Mission 3000 plan. This initiative
aims to achieve a cargo volume of 3,000 million tonnes (MT)
by 2030. Despite facing criticism for its slow progress, Union
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw remains optimistic about
meeting the targets. The ministry anticipates increases in freight
volumes through various infrastructure projects.
Key Points:
•
CIndian Railways is projected
to surpass 1,600 MT of cargo for the first time this financial year. However, it needs to nearly double its output within five years to meet the Mission 3000 target. The government has revised its freight loading estimates, now set at 1,635 MT for the current year and 1,700 MT for 2025-26. This reflects a mere 2.9% growth in freight for the current financial year.
•
Infrastructure Development: Key projects like the Sonnagar-
Andal quadrupling project are expected to boost cargo capacity. The government has allocated over ₹2,500 crore for Delhi’s railway infrastructure in the FY26 budget. Additionally, the introduction of hydrogen trains and Namo Bharat trains aims to modernise the fleet.
•
Market Share Challenges: Historically, Indian Railways held a
dominant 85% market share in logistics in 1950-51. However, this has now decreased to 27% as road transport has gained popularity. If the current growth trend continues, railways could see its market share drop to 22% by FY30.
•
Recommendations for Growth: The internal report Mission
3000 MT suggests expanding the network, increasing rolling stock, and reducing cargo tariffs by up to 30% by 2026-27. The report aims to enhance the average cargo speed from 24 km/h to 50 km/h and increase container movement market share from 16% to 32%.
•
Environmental Considerations: The shift to rail transport
is also driven by environmental concerns. Road freight contributes to carbon emissions. Increasing rail freight share is expected to lower logistics costs and reduce CO2 emissions, benefiting the environment.
•
Strategic Interventions Needed: To achieve its targets, Indian
Railways must implement strategic interventions. These include improving customer service, enhancing reliability, and diversifying the freight commodity basket. Currently, coal, iron ore, and food grains dominate the freight volume.
•
Financial Resources and Policy Reforms: The total capital
expenditure required for infrastructure improvements is estimated at ₹8.5 lakh crore. The report calls for five policy interventions to enhance competitiveness. This includes improving containerisation and attracting more automobile traffic to railways.
•
Future Growth Projections: To reach the 3,000 MT target,
Indian Railways must achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%. This requires departure from past growth rates, which averaged 4.1% over the last decade.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
2023-24 released
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
has released the factsheet of the Household Consumption
Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24.
Key Highlights:
•
R Rural consumption spending increased
significantly, with the average monthly per capita expenditure
(MPCE) rising to Rs 4,122 (up 9.3% from Rs 3,773 in 2022-23).
The MPCE of urban areas is Rs 6,996 (up 8.3% from Rs
6,459 in 2022-23).
The gap between rural and urban consumption narrowed
from 83.9% in 2011-12 to 69.7% in 2023-24, suggesting
that rural consumption is growing faster than urban
consumption.
Imputed values for free benefits (e.g., food grains, school
uniforms) under welfare schemes marginally increased MPCE estimates. Rural MPCE Rs 4,247 (with imputation) and Urban Rs 7,078 (with imputation).
•
Regional Disparities: Sikkim had the highest MPCE Sikkim
(rural Rs 9,377 and urban Rs 13,927), while Chhattisgarh
(rural Rs 2,739 and urban Rs 4,927) recorded the lowest.
Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and
Kerala, showed higher-than-average per capita
consumption spending.
West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh,
had lower spending than the national average.
Among the Union Territories (UTs), MPCE is the highest
in Chandigarh (Rural Rs. 8,857 and Urban Rs. 13,425),
whereas it is the lowest in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
Daman and Diu (Rs. 4,311) and Jammu and Kashmir
(Rs. 6,327) in rural and urban areas, respectively.
•
Consumption Inequality: The Consumption Inequality, as
measured by the Gini coefficient, has decreased in both
rural and urban areas.
The Gini coefficient dropped from 0.266 to 0.237 in rural
areas and from 0.314 to 0.284 in urban areas from 2022-
23 to 2023-24.
•
Food Expenditure: In 2023-24, spending on food increased
in both rural (47.04%) and urban (39.68%) areas, reversing previous declines.
The highest food expenditure was on beverages,
refreshments, and processed food, followed by milk,
milk products, and vegetables.
Indian Railways Mission 3000
Indian Railways is striving to enhance its freight loading
capabilities under the ambitious Mission 3000 plan. This initiative
aims to achieve a cargo volume of 3,000 million tonnes (MT)
by 2030. Despite facing criticism for its slow progress, Union
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw remains optimistic about
meeting the targets. The ministry anticipates increases in freight
volumes through various infrastructure projects.
Key Points:
•
CIndian Railways is projected
to surpass 1,600 MT of cargo for the first time this financial year. However, it needs to nearly double its output within five years to meet the Mission 3000 target. The government has revised its freight loading estimates, now set at 1,635 MT for the current year and 1,700 MT for 2025-26. This reflects a mere 2.9% growth in freight for the current financial year.
•
Infrastructure Development: Key projects like the Sonnagar-
Andal quadrupling project are expected to boost cargo capacity. The government has allocated over ₹2,500 crore for Delhi’s railway infrastructure in the FY26 budget. Additionally, the introduction of hydrogen trains and Namo Bharat trains aims to modernise the fleet.
•
Market Share Challenges: Historically, Indian Railways held a
dominant 85% market share in logistics in 1950-51. However, this has now decreased to 27% as road transport has gained popularity. If the current growth trend continues, railways could see its market share drop to 22% by FY30.
•
Recommendations for Growth: The internal report Mission
3000 MT suggests expanding the network, increasing rolling stock, and reducing cargo tariffs by up to 30% by 2026-27. The report aims to enhance the average cargo speed from 24 km/h to 50 km/h and increase container movement market share from 16% to 32%.
•
Environmental Considerations: The shift to rail transport
is also driven by environmental concerns. Road freight contributes to carbon emissions. Increasing rail freight share is expected to lower logistics costs and reduce CO2 emissions, benefiting the environment.
•
Strategic Interventions Needed: To achieve its targets, Indian
Railways must implement strategic interventions. These include improving customer service, enhancing reliability, and diversifying the freight commodity basket. Currently, coal, iron ore, and food grains dominate the freight volume.
•
Financial Resources and Policy Reforms: The total capital
expenditure required for infrastructure improvements is estimated at ₹8.5 lakh crore. The report calls for five policy interventions to enhance competitiveness. This includes improving containerisation and attracting more automobile traffic to railways.
•
Future Growth Projections: To reach the 3,000 MT target,
Indian Railways must achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%. This requires departure from past growth rates, which averaged 4.1% over the last decade.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
2023-24 released
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
has released the factsheet of the Household Consumption
Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24.
Key Highlights:
•
R Rural consumption spending increased
significantly, with the average monthly per capita expenditure
(MPCE) rising to Rs 4,122 (up 9.3% from Rs 3,773 in 2022-23).
The MPCE of urban areas is Rs 6,996 (up 8.3% from Rs
6,459 in 2022-23).
The gap between rural and urban consumption narrowed
from 83.9% in 2011-12 to 69.7% in 2023-24, suggesting
that rural consumption is growing faster than urban
consumption.
Imputed values for free benefits (e.g., food grains, school
uniforms) under welfare schemes marginally increased MPCE estimates. Rural MPCE Rs 4,247 (with imputation) and Urban Rs 7,078 (with imputation).
•
Regional Disparities: Sikkim had the highest MPCE Sikkim
(rural Rs 9,377 and urban Rs 13,927), while Chhattisgarh
(rural Rs 2,739 and urban Rs 4,927) recorded the lowest.
Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and
Kerala, showed higher-than-average per capita
consumption spending.
West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh,
had lower spending than the national average.
Among the Union Territories (UTs), MPCE is the highest
in Chandigarh (Rural Rs. 8,857 and Urban Rs. 13,425),
whereas it is the lowest in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
Daman and Diu (Rs. 4,311) and Jammu and Kashmir
(Rs. 6,327) in rural and urban areas, respectively.
•
Consumption Inequality: The Consumption Inequality, as
measured by the Gini coefficient, has decreased in both
rural and urban areas.
The Gini coefficient dropped from 0.266 to 0.237 in rural
areas and from 0.314 to 0.284 in urban areas from 2022-
23 to 2023-24.
•
Food Expenditure: In 2023-24, spending on food increased
in both rural (47.04%) and urban (39.68%) areas, reversing previous declines.
The highest food expenditure was on beverages,
refreshments, and processed food, followed by milk,
milk products, and vegetables.
15Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Non-F The share of non-food expenditure
remained high, at 52.96% in rural areas and 60.32% in urban
areas.
Rural households spent more on conveyance (7.59%),
medical expenses (6.83%), and clothing and bedding
(6.63%), while urban households spent more on
conveyance (8.46%), miscellaneous goods (6.92%), and
rent (6.58%).
•
Fractile Consumption Patterns: In 2023-24, consumption
spending decreased for the top 5% of both rural and urban populations, compared to 2022-23.
In contrast, the bottom 5% saw significant increases, with rural
spending rising 22% and urban spending growing 19%.
This shows significant growth in consumption for the
lower-income groups, indicating economic improvement.
About Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
• The HCES collects data on household spending
patterns to assess living standards, well-being, and consumption behavior.
•
HCES has been conducted by the National Statistical
Office (NSO) since 1951 as part of the National Sample Survey (NSS) under the MoSPI.
•
Significance: Provides inputs for calculating Consumer
Price Indices (CPI) and revising the base year for macroeconomic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HCES helps to measure poverty, inequality, and social well-being.
RBI to Launch Unified Lending Interface
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to launch the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) at national level to transform India’s lending sector. The ULI was launched as a pilot project by the RBI in 2023.
Key Features of ULI
• The ULI allows lenders to access a comprehensive range of
data including land records, satellite imagery, and financial insights. This is particularly beneficial for first-time borrowers who lack traditional credit histories.
•
With ULI, lenders can quickly assess an applicant’s
creditworthiness through available data, reducing the time and complexity of loan approvals.
•
Benefits for Borrowers: Borrowers, especially from rural areas,
can now secure loans without extensive documentation. ULI provides vital information about their economic activities, allowing lenders to automate decision-making. For instance, a dairy farmer can have their loan eligibility assessed based
on cash flow data from milk cooperatives and land ownership records.
•
Expansion and Future Scope: The RBI plans to expand ULI’s
scope by incorporating more loan types and data providers. This includes kisan credit cards, housing loans, and micro- business loans. The goal is to enhance the platform’s capabilities and further simplify credit access for diverse borrower profiles.
•
Digital Public Infrastructure: India’s embrace of Digital Public
Infrastructure (DPI) facilitates transparency and efficiency across various sectors. ULI is important component of this infrastructure, aiming to break down data silos that hinder effective credit delivery. By integrating diverse data sources, ULI enhances the overall digital ecosystem for financial transactions.
•
The Role of FinTechs: FinTech companies stand to benefit from
ULI. They can access a variety of lenders through a single platform, enabling them to provide deeper customer insights. This collaboration between traditional banks and FinTechs is expected to enhance the lending landscape further.
India updates GDP Base Year to 2022-23
Government has formed 26-member Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (NAS) to update the GDP base year from existing 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Key highlights:
•
The
formed to identify new data sources & refine methodology for compiling NAS. Central Statistics Office (CSO) brings out NAS annually which includes GDP estimates from multiple approaches.
•
Advisory Committee on NAS will review data sources to align
GDP with inflation and industrial indices.
• The previous base year revision in 2015 changed base
year from 2004-05 to 2011-12. In the new series, CSO did away with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost, and adopted the international practice of valuing industry-wise estimates as Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices.
About Base Year
•
A base year is the reference year whose prices are used to
calculate the real growth (minus inflation) in national income.
• Thus, Base year is a benchmark used for GDP calculation.
For example: If 2011-12 is the base year, GDP for other years is adjusted to match 2011-12 prices.
•
Revision of base year are also relevant for other metrics such
as the Index of Industrial Production (IIPs), the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Non-F The share of non-food expenditure
remained high, at 52.96% in rural areas and 60.32% in urban
areas.
Rural households spent more on conveyance (7.59%),
medical expenses (6.83%), and clothing and bedding
(6.63%), while urban households spent more on
conveyance (8.46%), miscellaneous goods (6.92%), and
rent (6.58%).
•
Fractile Consumption Patterns: In 2023-24, consumption
spending decreased for the top 5% of both rural and urban populations, compared to 2022-23.
In contrast, the bottom 5% saw significant increases, with rural
spending rising 22% and urban spending growing 19%.
This shows significant growth in consumption for the
lower-income groups, indicating economic improvement.
About Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
• The HCES collects data on household spending
patterns to assess living standards, well-being, and consumption behavior.
•
HCES has been conducted by the National Statistical
Office (NSO) since 1951 as part of the National Sample Survey (NSS) under the MoSPI.
•
Significance: Provides inputs for calculating Consumer
Price Indices (CPI) and revising the base year for macroeconomic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HCES helps to measure poverty, inequality, and social well-being.
RBI to Launch Unified Lending Interface
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to launch the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) at national level to transform India’s lending sector. The ULI was launched as a pilot project by the RBI in 2023.
Key Features of ULI
• The ULI allows lenders to access a comprehensive range of
data including land records, satellite imagery, and financial insights. This is particularly beneficial for first-time borrowers who lack traditional credit histories.
•
With ULI, lenders can quickly assess an applicant’s
creditworthiness through available data, reducing the time and complexity of loan approvals.
•
Benefits for Borrowers: Borrowers, especially from rural areas,
can now secure loans without extensive documentation. ULI provides vital information about their economic activities, allowing lenders to automate decision-making. For instance, a dairy farmer can have their loan eligibility assessed based
on cash flow data from milk cooperatives and land ownership records.
•
Expansion and Future Scope: The RBI plans to expand ULI’s
scope by incorporating more loan types and data providers. This includes kisan credit cards, housing loans, and micro- business loans. The goal is to enhance the platform’s capabilities and further simplify credit access for diverse borrower profiles.
•
Digital Public Infrastructure: India’s embrace of Digital Public
Infrastructure (DPI) facilitates transparency and efficiency across various sectors. ULI is important component of this infrastructure, aiming to break down data silos that hinder effective credit delivery. By integrating diverse data sources, ULI enhances the overall digital ecosystem for financial transactions.
•
The Role of FinTechs: FinTech companies stand to benefit from
ULI. They can access a variety of lenders through a single platform, enabling them to provide deeper customer insights. This collaboration between traditional banks and FinTechs is expected to enhance the lending landscape further.
India updates GDP Base Year to 2022-23
Government has formed 26-member Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (NAS) to update the GDP base year from existing 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Key highlights:
•
The
formed to identify new data sources & refine methodology for compiling NAS. Central Statistics Office (CSO) brings out NAS annually which includes GDP estimates from multiple approaches.
•
Advisory Committee on NAS will review data sources to align
GDP with inflation and industrial indices.
• The previous base year revision in 2015 changed base
year from 2004-05 to 2011-12. In the new series, CSO did away with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost, and adopted the international practice of valuing industry-wise estimates as Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices.
About Base Year
•
A base year is the reference year whose prices are used to
calculate the real growth (minus inflation) in national income.
• Thus, Base year is a benchmark used for GDP calculation.
For example: If 2011-12 is the base year, GDP for other years is adjusted to match 2011-12 prices.
•
Revision of base year are also relevant for other metrics such
as the Index of Industrial Production (IIPs), the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
16ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India: Top Recipient of Remittances
India is the largest recipient of remittances in 2024, with an
estimated inflow of $129 billion, followed by Mexico, China,
Philippines, and Pakistan.
Key Highlights
• The
up from 1.2% in 2023.
• Official remittances to low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs) are expected to reach $685 billion in 2024.
• South Asia is expected to see the highest increase in
remittances (11.8%), driven by strong flows to India,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Remittances continue to outpace other financial flows,
including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• FDI has declined by 41% over the past decade, while
remittances have increased by 57%.
• The recovery of job markets in high-income OECD countries,
especially the United States, has been the key driver, with foreign-born worker employment increasing by 11% above pre-pandemic levels.
This recovery has particularly boosted remittances to
Latin America and the Caribbean.
NOTE
• Rem
individuals working abroad back to their
families and communities in their home
country.
•
These funds are typically transferred
through banks, online platforms, or money transfer services.
16th Finance Commission begun work
The 16th Finance Commission headed by Arvind Panagariya has begun its work by inviting suggestions from the public on the mandate set for it by the Centre.
Key functions
•
The
proportion of the Centre’s net tax revenue goes to the States overall (vertical devolution) and how this share for the States is distributed among various States (horizontal devolution).
•
The horizontal devolution of funds between States is usually
decided based on a formula created by the Commission that takes into account a State’s population, fertility level, income level, geography, etc.
•
The vertical devolution of funds, however, is not based on
any such objective formula.
• The Centre also aids States through additional grants for
certain schemes that are jointly funded by the Centre and the States.
About F
• The
constituted by the President of India under Article 280, that recommends how tax revenues collected by the Central government should be distributed among the Centre and various States in the country.
•
The Commission is reconstituted every five years
and usually takes a couple of years to make its recommendations to the Centre.
•
The Centre is not legally bound to implement the
suggestions made by the Finance Commission.
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in
Insurance Sector
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the opening up
of the insurance sector to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI),
up from the previous limit of 74%, to boost the sector.
Indian Insurance Sector
•
It
being dominated by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to a more diverse industry with various players offering a wide range of products.
•
The transformation has been driven by Economic
development, Technological advancements, Demographic changes, Increased consumer awareness, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding the importance of financial security through insurance.
India: Top Recipient of Remittances
India is the largest recipient of remittances in 2024, with an
estimated inflow of $129 billion, followed by Mexico, China,
Philippines, and Pakistan.
Key Highlights
• The
up from 1.2% in 2023.
• Official remittances to low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs) are expected to reach $685 billion in 2024.
• South Asia is expected to see the highest increase in
remittances (11.8%), driven by strong flows to India,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Remittances continue to outpace other financial flows,
including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• FDI has declined by 41% over the past decade, while
remittances have increased by 57%.
• The recovery of job markets in high-income OECD countries,
especially the United States, has been the key driver, with foreign-born worker employment increasing by 11% above pre-pandemic levels.
This recovery has particularly boosted remittances to
Latin America and the Caribbean.
NOTE
• Rem
individuals working abroad back to their
families and communities in their home
country.
•
These funds are typically transferred
through banks, online platforms, or money transfer services.
16th Finance Commission begun work
The 16th Finance Commission headed by Arvind Panagariya has begun its work by inviting suggestions from the public on the mandate set for it by the Centre.
Key functions
•
The
proportion of the Centre’s net tax revenue goes to the States overall (vertical devolution) and how this share for the States is distributed among various States (horizontal devolution).
•
The horizontal devolution of funds between States is usually
decided based on a formula created by the Commission that takes into account a State’s population, fertility level, income level, geography, etc.
•
The vertical devolution of funds, however, is not based on
any such objective formula.
• The Centre also aids States through additional grants for
certain schemes that are jointly funded by the Centre and the States.
About F
• The
constituted by the President of India under Article 280, that recommends how tax revenues collected by the Central government should be distributed among the Centre and various States in the country.
•
The Commission is reconstituted every five years
and usually takes a couple of years to make its recommendations to the Centre.
•
The Centre is not legally bound to implement the
suggestions made by the Finance Commission.
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in
Insurance Sector
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the opening up
of the insurance sector to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI),
up from the previous limit of 74%, to boost the sector.
Indian Insurance Sector
•
It
being dominated by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to a more diverse industry with various players offering a wide range of products.
•
The transformation has been driven by Economic
development, Technological advancements, Demographic changes, Increased consumer awareness, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, regarding the importance of financial security through insurance.
17Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The
economic development of India.
Impact of 100% FDI on Insurance
•
India’s insurance sector has attracted Rs 82,847 crore in FDI
since 2000, driving growth and improving operations.
• The government expects the sector to grow at 7.1% annually
over the next five years, driven by foreign investment and
policy changes.
• 100% FDI could address the insurance under-penetration in
India, accelerating the adoption of global best practices and introducing innovative products and services.
•
It will ensure long-term capital, enhance technology,
strengthen distribution, and increase competitiveness.
Income Tax Bill 2025 introduced
The government has proposed a new bill to repeal and replace the 60-year-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with a simpler and more efficient tax framework.
Key Highlights
•
Incom
1961. The new bill reduces chapters and words for enhanced clarity.
•
It aims to reduce litigation and enhance compliance.
Once passed, the proposed legislation will be called the Income Tax Act, 2025, and is expected to take effect in April 2026.
Features
•
Q
Simplified language, making the law more accessible.
Consolidation of amendments, reducing fragmentation.
Removal of obsolete and redundant provisions for
greater clarity.
Structural rationalization through tables and formulae for
improved readability.
Preservation of existing taxation principles, ensuring
continuity while enhancing usability.
• Crypto as Property: Virtual digital assets such as
cryptocurrencies have been included in the definition of
property to be counted as a capital asset.
• Dispute Resolution: It provides the points of determination,
decision, and the reasons behind it, marking a shift from the earlier section, which lacked clarity on the manner of issuing DRP directions.
•
Capital Gain Exemptions: Section 54E of the Act, which details
exemptions for capital gains on transfer of capital assets prior to April 1992 has been removed.
•
Tax Year: The Bill introduces the concept of “tax year”, which
has been defined as the 12-month period beginning April 1.
RBI’s Pravaah and Sarthi Initiatives
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been awarded the Digital Transformation Award 2025 for Digital Initiatives by Central Banking, London.
Digital Initiatives By RBI
•
The award highlights the RBI’s commitment to innovation
and efficiency in governance through its groundbreaking digital initiatives, Pravaah and Sarthi.
•
Sarthi System:
It is an internal workflow digitization system that has
streamlined record management, automated processes, and enhanced data analysis.
It has eliminated the reliance on manual paperwork,
boosting operational efficiency across RBI departments by enabling secure digital submissions and improving collaboration.
•
Pravaah System:
It serves as a digital regulatory application platform
for external users. It allows seamless submission and processing of regulatory applications, integrating directly with the Sarthi database.
It has significantly reduced paperwork, enhanced
transparency, and improved cybersecurity in financial documentation.
RBI joined Project Nexus
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined Project Nexus. Project Nexus is conceptualised by the Innovation Hub of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
•
It is the first BIS Innovation Hub
project in the payments area to
move towards live implementation.
• It seeks to enhance cross-border payments by connecting
multiple domestic instant payment systems (IPS) globally.
• BIS will facilitate central banks and IPS operators of India,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as they work towards live implementation in the next phase, with Bank of Indonesia as special observer.
•
The platform is expected to go live by 2026.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The
economic development of India.
Impact of 100% FDI on Insurance
•
India’s insurance sector has attracted Rs 82,847 crore in FDI
since 2000, driving growth and improving operations.
• The government expects the sector to grow at 7.1% annually
over the next five years, driven by foreign investment and
policy changes.
• 100% FDI could address the insurance under-penetration in
India, accelerating the adoption of global best practices and introducing innovative products and services.
•
It will ensure long-term capital, enhance technology,
strengthen distribution, and increase competitiveness.
Income Tax Bill 2025 introduced
The government has proposed a new bill to repeal and replace the 60-year-old Income Tax Act, 1961, with a simpler and more efficient tax framework.
Key Highlights
•
Incom
1961. The new bill reduces chapters and words for enhanced clarity.
•
It aims to reduce litigation and enhance compliance.
Once passed, the proposed legislation will be called the Income Tax Act, 2025, and is expected to take effect in April 2026.
Features
•
Q
Simplified language, making the law more accessible.
Consolidation of amendments, reducing fragmentation.
Removal of obsolete and redundant provisions for
greater clarity.
Structural rationalization through tables and formulae for
improved readability.
Preservation of existing taxation principles, ensuring
continuity while enhancing usability.
• Crypto as Property: Virtual digital assets such as
cryptocurrencies have been included in the definition of
property to be counted as a capital asset.
• Dispute Resolution: It provides the points of determination,
decision, and the reasons behind it, marking a shift from the earlier section, which lacked clarity on the manner of issuing DRP directions.
•
Capital Gain Exemptions: Section 54E of the Act, which details
exemptions for capital gains on transfer of capital assets prior to April 1992 has been removed.
•
Tax Year: The Bill introduces the concept of “tax year”, which
has been defined as the 12-month period beginning April 1.
RBI’s Pravaah and Sarthi Initiatives
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been awarded the Digital Transformation Award 2025 for Digital Initiatives by Central Banking, London.
Digital Initiatives By RBI
•
The award highlights the RBI’s commitment to innovation
and efficiency in governance through its groundbreaking digital initiatives, Pravaah and Sarthi.
•
Sarthi System:
It is an internal workflow digitization system that has
streamlined record management, automated processes, and enhanced data analysis.
It has eliminated the reliance on manual paperwork,
boosting operational efficiency across RBI departments by enabling secure digital submissions and improving collaboration.
•
Pravaah System:
It serves as a digital regulatory application platform
for external users. It allows seamless submission and processing of regulatory applications, integrating directly with the Sarthi database.
It has significantly reduced paperwork, enhanced
transparency, and improved cybersecurity in financial documentation.
RBI joined Project Nexus
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined Project Nexus. Project Nexus is conceptualised by the Innovation Hub of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
•
It is the first BIS Innovation Hub
project in the payments area to
move towards live implementation.
• It seeks to enhance cross-border payments by connecting
multiple domestic instant payment systems (IPS) globally.
• BIS will facilitate central banks and IPS operators of India,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as they work towards live implementation in the next phase, with Bank of Indonesia as special observer.
•
The platform is expected to go live by 2026.
18ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP)
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI) held a session on the Conceptual Framework of Gross
Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP)
Key Highlights
• The
innovation, and intellectual assets on India’s economic and social landscape.
•
GDKP could provide a more holistic picture of economic
growth driven by research, innovation, and technology.
About G
• The
Umberto Sulpasso of the University of Southern California along with Prof. Jeff Cole.
•
It is a proposed metric designed to measure the
knowledge generated and utilized within an economy and serve as a supplementary indicator to GDP.
•
GDKP evaluates a nation’s growth and future using
four fundamental pillars:
Knowledge Items (Ki): Identifying modern and
traditional cultural knowledge that contributes to
the country’s intellectual capital.
Country’s Knowledge Producing Matrix (CKPM):
Analyzing knowledge produced by government institutions, private organizations, and households.
Country’s Knowledge User Matrix (CKUM):
Measuring the value of knowledge purchased by individuals and private entities, reflecting its demand and practical application.
Cost of Learning: Similar to the cost of living, this
metric is proposed as a political reference point for government budget allocations and policy decisions.
e-NAM 2.0 : e-NAM to be upgraded
The Union Agriculture Minister has announced plans to upgrade the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) to e-NAM 2.0 to resolve logistical hurdles in inter-state and inter-mandi trade.
Key Features of e-NAM 2.0
• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) integration for
real-time tracking of produce.
• Optimized freight options to reduce transit times and improve
delivery efficiency.
• Expanded Warehousing and Cold Storage Infrastructure:
The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) will offer subsidized loans to promote private investment in storage facilities.
•
AI and Machine Learning (ML) to suggest fair market prices.
• Automated quality testing to minimize disputes over product
grading.
• Direct bank transfers and e-wallets for quick settlements.
• Fintech partnerships to provide micro-loans based on
transaction history.
• Introduction of a unified digital pass to ease regulatory
compliance.
• Standardized tax & compliance framework to facilitate free
movement of produce.
• Voice-based commands and local language options on the
e-NAM app.
• Digital literacy campaigns to help farmers navigate the
platform.
About e
• e-
connects Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
•
It is implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness
Consortium (SFAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW).
•
It provides digital services to traders, farmers, Farmer
Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Mandis.
• As of December 31, 2024, 1.79 crore farmers and 2.63
lakh traders have registered on the platform.
RBI released Financial Stability Report (FSR)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its December 2024 Financial Stability Report (FSR), projected India’s GDP growth at 6.6% for FY 2024-25.
Key Highlights
• RBI highlighted India’s economic
resilience, supported by sound macroeconomic fundamentals, improved asset quality in banks, and robust financial system indicators.
•
Risks such as moderation in urban demand, global
uncertainties, and protective trade policies were noted.
• Real GDP growth is forecasted at 6.6% for FY25, aided by
government investment, rural demand recovery, and a boost in services exports.
•
The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio of Scheduled
Commercial Banks (SCBs) hit a 12-year low of 2.6% in September 2024, while net NPAs dropped to 0.6%, showcasing improved asset quality.
Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP)
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI) held a session on the Conceptual Framework of Gross
Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP)
Key Highlights
• The
innovation, and intellectual assets on India’s economic and social landscape.
•
GDKP could provide a more holistic picture of economic
growth driven by research, innovation, and technology.
About G
• The
Umberto Sulpasso of the University of Southern California along with Prof. Jeff Cole.
•
It is a proposed metric designed to measure the
knowledge generated and utilized within an economy and serve as a supplementary indicator to GDP.
•
GDKP evaluates a nation’s growth and future using
four fundamental pillars:
Knowledge Items (Ki): Identifying modern and
traditional cultural knowledge that contributes to
the country’s intellectual capital.
Country’s Knowledge Producing Matrix (CKPM):
Analyzing knowledge produced by government institutions, private organizations, and households.
Country’s Knowledge User Matrix (CKUM):
Measuring the value of knowledge purchased by individuals and private entities, reflecting its demand and practical application.
Cost of Learning: Similar to the cost of living, this
metric is proposed as a political reference point for government budget allocations and policy decisions.
e-NAM 2.0 : e-NAM to be upgraded
The Union Agriculture Minister has announced plans to upgrade the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) to e-NAM 2.0 to resolve logistical hurdles in inter-state and inter-mandi trade.
Key Features of e-NAM 2.0
• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) integration for
real-time tracking of produce.
• Optimized freight options to reduce transit times and improve
delivery efficiency.
• Expanded Warehousing and Cold Storage Infrastructure:
The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) will offer subsidized loans to promote private investment in storage facilities.
•
AI and Machine Learning (ML) to suggest fair market prices.
• Automated quality testing to minimize disputes over product
grading.
• Direct bank transfers and e-wallets for quick settlements.
• Fintech partnerships to provide micro-loans based on
transaction history.
• Introduction of a unified digital pass to ease regulatory
compliance.
• Standardized tax & compliance framework to facilitate free
movement of produce.
• Voice-based commands and local language options on the
e-NAM app.
• Digital literacy campaigns to help farmers navigate the
platform.
About e
• e-
connects Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
•
It is implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness
Consortium (SFAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW).
•
It provides digital services to traders, farmers, Farmer
Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Mandis.
• As of December 31, 2024, 1.79 crore farmers and 2.63
lakh traders have registered on the platform.
RBI released Financial Stability Report (FSR)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its December 2024 Financial Stability Report (FSR), projected India’s GDP growth at 6.6% for FY 2024-25.
Key Highlights
• RBI highlighted India’s economic
resilience, supported by sound macroeconomic fundamentals, improved asset quality in banks, and robust financial system indicators.
•
Risks such as moderation in urban demand, global
uncertainties, and protective trade policies were noted.
• Real GDP growth is forecasted at 6.6% for FY25, aided by
government investment, rural demand recovery, and a boost in services exports.
•
The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio of Scheduled
Commercial Banks (SCBs) hit a 12-year low of 2.6% in September 2024, while net NPAs dropped to 0.6%, showcasing improved asset quality.
19Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Angel Tax abolished to boost startups
The recent abolition of the angel tax in India has sparked a wave
of optimism among startups.
Key Highlights
•
M
to India, encouraged by government initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
•
The decision, part of the FY25 Budget, has been instrumental
in reversing the trend of startups registering abroad for better tax advantages.
•
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT) has reported uptick in the number of startups returning to the country.
About A
• Angel tax is aimed to curb tax avoidance and money
laundering by taxing the difference between the fair market value (FMV) of shares and the price at which closely held companies issued them.
•
It was introduced in 2012.
• The removal of angel tax has led to a wave of “reverse
flipping,” where startups that initially registered abroad are now returning to India.
RBI allowed FIIs to invest in Green Bonds
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed investments in the country’s Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIS).
Key Highlights:
• This decision will expand the available capital for the
country’s ambitious objectives, as committed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2021 COP26 in Glasgow.
•
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are those institutional
investors who invest in assets belonging to a different country other than that where these organizations are based.
•
Investors such as pension funds, mutual funds, insurance
companies, banks, and other significant financial institutions from abroad are included in Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).
•
FIIs
liquidity, boost trading volumes, and affect stock prices.
• These investors deploy their capital into various financial
instruments like stocks, bonds, and derivatives, driven by their strategic investment plans and views on market conditions.
• The
the local economy, influenced by factors including market dynamics, governmental policies, and worldwide economic conditions.
•
FIIs in India are governed by the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They also set the investment limits for them.
•
SEBI has over 1450 foreign institutional investors registered
with it.
About G
• Green bonds are bonds issued by any sovereign entity,
inter-governmental groups or alliances and corporates with the aim that the proceeds of the bonds are utilised for projects classified as environmentally sustainable.
•
Green bonds are specifically designed to fund
environmentally friendly initiatives. The projects they finance can include renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable agriculture, and more.
•
Green Bonds provide investors with an opportunity to
support environmentally sound practices, impacting the strategic decisions of the entities issuing the bonds.
•
They offer a way to mitigate risks associated with
climate change and aim to achieve returns that are comparable to, if not better than, traditional investments.
Temporary Identification Number (TIN) to be
introduced
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has
recently implemented changes to the Goods and Services Tax
(GST) framework in India.
Key Facts
•
These changes include the introduction of a Temporary
Identification Number (TIN) for businesses that do not require mandatory registration.
•
This move aims to streamline tax compliance and facilitate
payments under the GST regime.
• Additionally, the CBIC has announced a waiver of excess late
fees for the financial years 2017-18 to 2022-23 concerning annual returns.
Temporary Identification Numbers Under GST
•
The GST Council has recommended a new rule enabling tax
officers to issue Temporary Identification Numbers to entities not liable for registration.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Angel Tax abolished to boost startups
The recent abolition of the angel tax in India has sparked a wave
of optimism among startups.
Key Highlights
•
M
to India, encouraged by government initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
•
The decision, part of the FY25 Budget, has been instrumental
in reversing the trend of startups registering abroad for better tax advantages.
•
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT) has reported uptick in the number of startups returning to the country.
About A
• Angel tax is aimed to curb tax avoidance and money
laundering by taxing the difference between the fair market value (FMV) of shares and the price at which closely held companies issued them.
•
It was introduced in 2012.
• The removal of angel tax has led to a wave of “reverse
flipping,” where startups that initially registered abroad are now returning to India.
RBI allowed FIIs to invest in Green Bonds
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed investments in the country’s Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIS).
Key Highlights:
• This decision will expand the available capital for the
country’s ambitious objectives, as committed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2021 COP26 in Glasgow.
•
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are those institutional
investors who invest in assets belonging to a different country other than that where these organizations are based.
•
Investors such as pension funds, mutual funds, insurance
companies, banks, and other significant financial institutions from abroad are included in Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).
•
FIIs
liquidity, boost trading volumes, and affect stock prices.
• These investors deploy their capital into various financial
instruments like stocks, bonds, and derivatives, driven by their strategic investment plans and views on market conditions.
• The
the local economy, influenced by factors including market dynamics, governmental policies, and worldwide economic conditions.
•
FIIs in India are governed by the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They also set the investment limits for them.
•
SEBI has over 1450 foreign institutional investors registered
with it.
About G
• Green bonds are bonds issued by any sovereign entity,
inter-governmental groups or alliances and corporates with the aim that the proceeds of the bonds are utilised for projects classified as environmentally sustainable.
•
Green bonds are specifically designed to fund
environmentally friendly initiatives. The projects they finance can include renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable agriculture, and more.
•
Green Bonds provide investors with an opportunity to
support environmentally sound practices, impacting the strategic decisions of the entities issuing the bonds.
•
They offer a way to mitigate risks associated with
climate change and aim to achieve returns that are comparable to, if not better than, traditional investments.
Temporary Identification Number (TIN) to be
introduced
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has
recently implemented changes to the Goods and Services Tax
(GST) framework in India.
Key Facts
•
These changes include the introduction of a Temporary
Identification Number (TIN) for businesses that do not require mandatory registration.
•
This move aims to streamline tax compliance and facilitate
payments under the GST regime.
• Additionally, the CBIC has announced a waiver of excess late
fees for the financial years 2017-18 to 2022-23 concerning annual returns.
Temporary Identification Numbers Under GST
•
The GST Council has recommended a new rule enabling tax
officers to issue Temporary Identification Numbers to entities not liable for registration.
20ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• This provision allows businesses to make necessary
payments even without a permanent GST registration.
• The notification clarifies that these TINs will be granted under
specific conditions outlined in Part B of FORM GST REG-12.
Threshold Limits for Registration
•
Under
turnover exceeds certain thresholds.
• For the manufacturing sector, the limit is ₹40 lakh.
• For the service sector, it is set at ₹20 lakh.
• Special Category States have different thresholds, with some like
Jammu and Kashmir opting for a ₹40 lakh limit for commodities.
• Other states, such as Puducherry, have chosen a ₹20 lakh
limit for goods.
Union Govt. formed Ramesh Chand Committee
The Union Government announced the formation of Ramesh
Chand Committee to revise the country’s Wholesale Price Index
(WPI), with a new base year of 2022-23, replacing the current
base year of 2011-12.
Key Facts
•
The WPI has undergone revisions in the past, with the last
update occurring in 2015 when the base year was changed from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
•
The primary objective of updating the Wholesale Price Index
(WPI) is to provide a more accurate representation of inflation at the producer level.
•
Currently, the WPI focuses solely on goods, overlooking the
service sector, which accounts for more than half of India’s economic output.
•
To address this limitation, the government plans to transition
to a more inclusive Producer Price Index (PPI). This shift aims to capture a broader range of economic activity by incorporating both goods and services, ensuring a more comprehensive and precise measure of inflation.
About R
• The panel, headed by NITI Aayog member Ramesh
Chand, will also review the methodology and composition of a new Producers’ Price Index (PPI).
•
The group’s task is to assess and suggest
improvements to the price collection system, refine the computation methods for both indices, and develop a roadmap for transitioning from the WPI to the PPI.
•
It is also expected to propose further enhancements
for the reliability of the indices. The final report is due by June 30, 2026.
Business Ready (B-READY) 2024 Report
India is facing challenges in achieving good scores in the World Bank’s Business Ready report.
Key Highlights
• The B-READY report, launched by the World Bank,
benchmarks the business environment and investment climate across economies.
•
It evaluates regulatory frameworks, public services, and their
effectiveness in facilitating business operations, replacing the previous Doing Business index.
•
Multiple steps in business entry and incomplete digital
integration, leading to moderate scores.
• Four labour codes introduced, but uneven state-level
implementation results in slow progress and moderate to low scores.
•
Burdensome GST compliance, slow dispute resolution, and
limited SME credit access add to challenges.
CCI to regulate Predatory Pricing
Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) released the draft Competition Commission of India (Determination of Cost of Production) Regulations, 2025, for predatory pricing.
•
Definition: Predator y pricing refers to the practice of selling
goods or services below the cost of production with the
intention of eliminating competition.
• Strategy: Typically employed by market giants with
substantial financial resources. Involves setting prices below average variable costs, accepting short-term losses to force competitors out of the market.
•
Impacts:
Short-term benefit: Consumers may enjoy lower prices.
Long-term harm: Once competitors are driven out, the
dominant firm may increase prices, negatively impacting consumers and market competition.
•
Regulation:
Competition Act, 2002: Prohibits predatory pricing under
Section 4(2)(a)(ii) as an abusive practice by dominant enterprises.
•
Draft Regulations (Latest Developments):
Recent updates to the regulations redefine the
methodology for calculating costs involved in predatory pricing allegations, replacing the 2009 regulations.
Part of a comprehensive regulatory update under
the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, aimed at modernizing India’s competition law. The new regulations seek to align India’s approach with global best practices and contemporary economic theories.
• This provision allows businesses to make necessary
payments even without a permanent GST registration.
• The notification clarifies that these TINs will be granted under
specific conditions outlined in Part B of FORM GST REG-12.
Threshold Limits for Registration
•
Under
turnover exceeds certain thresholds.
• For the manufacturing sector, the limit is ₹40 lakh.
• For the service sector, it is set at ₹20 lakh.
• Special Category States have different thresholds, with some like
Jammu and Kashmir opting for a ₹40 lakh limit for commodities.
• Other states, such as Puducherry, have chosen a ₹20 lakh
limit for goods.
Union Govt. formed Ramesh Chand Committee
The Union Government announced the formation of Ramesh
Chand Committee to revise the country’s Wholesale Price Index
(WPI), with a new base year of 2022-23, replacing the current
base year of 2011-12.
Key Facts
•
The WPI has undergone revisions in the past, with the last
update occurring in 2015 when the base year was changed from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
•
The primary objective of updating the Wholesale Price Index
(WPI) is to provide a more accurate representation of inflation at the producer level.
•
Currently, the WPI focuses solely on goods, overlooking the
service sector, which accounts for more than half of India’s economic output.
•
To address this limitation, the government plans to transition
to a more inclusive Producer Price Index (PPI). This shift aims to capture a broader range of economic activity by incorporating both goods and services, ensuring a more comprehensive and precise measure of inflation.
About R
• The panel, headed by NITI Aayog member Ramesh
Chand, will also review the methodology and composition of a new Producers’ Price Index (PPI).
•
The group’s task is to assess and suggest
improvements to the price collection system, refine the computation methods for both indices, and develop a roadmap for transitioning from the WPI to the PPI.
•
It is also expected to propose further enhancements
for the reliability of the indices. The final report is due by June 30, 2026.
Business Ready (B-READY) 2024 Report
India is facing challenges in achieving good scores in the World Bank’s Business Ready report.
Key Highlights
• The B-READY report, launched by the World Bank,
benchmarks the business environment and investment climate across economies.
•
It evaluates regulatory frameworks, public services, and their
effectiveness in facilitating business operations, replacing the previous Doing Business index.
•
Multiple steps in business entry and incomplete digital
integration, leading to moderate scores.
• Four labour codes introduced, but uneven state-level
implementation results in slow progress and moderate to low scores.
•
Burdensome GST compliance, slow dispute resolution, and
limited SME credit access add to challenges.
CCI to regulate Predatory Pricing
Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) released the draft Competition Commission of India (Determination of Cost of Production) Regulations, 2025, for predatory pricing.
•
Definition: Predator y pricing refers to the practice of selling
goods or services below the cost of production with the
intention of eliminating competition.
• Strategy: Typically employed by market giants with
substantial financial resources. Involves setting prices below average variable costs, accepting short-term losses to force competitors out of the market.
•
Impacts:
Short-term benefit: Consumers may enjoy lower prices.
Long-term harm: Once competitors are driven out, the
dominant firm may increase prices, negatively impacting consumers and market competition.
•
Regulation:
Competition Act, 2002: Prohibits predatory pricing under
Section 4(2)(a)(ii) as an abusive practice by dominant enterprises.
•
Draft Regulations (Latest Developments):
Recent updates to the regulations redefine the
methodology for calculating costs involved in predatory pricing allegations, replacing the 2009 regulations.
Part of a comprehensive regulatory update under
the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, aimed at modernizing India’s competition law. The new regulations seek to align India’s approach with global best practices and contemporary economic theories.
21Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Rbi enhances UPI Transaction Limit for Tax
Payments
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has taken a significant step to facilitate digital
payments by increasing the transaction
limit for tax payments through the Unified
Payments Interface (UPI).
Key Points:
•
IThe UPI transaction limit for tax payments
has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. This move aims to make it easier for taxpayers to settle their dues using UPI.
•
Delegated Payments Feature: In addition to the increased
limit, the RBI has proposed a new feature called “Delegated Payments” for UPI users.
It allows a primary user (say, an account holder) to
authorise another individual (a secondary user) to make
UPI transactions from the primary user’s bank account,
up to a specified limit.
Essentially, this means that parents can grant their
children limited access to their accounts for daily expenses, even if the children don’t have their own bank accounts or smartphones.
•
Previous Changes: It’s worth noting that in December of last
year, the RBI had already increased the UPI transaction limit to Rs 5 lakh (from Rs 1 lakh) specifically for payments related to hospitals and educational institutions.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
•
It is an advanced version of
Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) round–the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother.
•
UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into
a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
•
UPI is currently the biggest among the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) operated systems including National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc.
•
The top UPI apps today include PhonePe, Paytm, Google
Pay, Amazon Pay and BHIM, the latter being the Government offering.
•
Participants in UPI: Payer Payment Service Provider (PSP),
Payee PSP, Remitter Bank, Beneficiary Bank, NPCI, Bank Account holders, and Merchants.
National Payments Corporation of India
NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
USA to form Crypto Strategic Reserve
Recently, US President Donald Trump announced the formation of a United States ‘Crypto Strategic Reserve’. This initiative includes major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The announcement came just before the White House Crypto Summit, marking shift in the US government’s approach to digital assets.
•
Background:
The establishment of the Crypto Strategic Reserve aims
to position the US as a leader in the digital asset industry.
Trump’s previous stance on cryptocurrencies was
critical, labelling them as a ‘scam’. However, his 2024
campaign saw a pivot towards supporting the crypto
sector.
This change was influenced by substantial backing from
the cryptocurrency community.
• Market Impact:
The announcement triggered a $300 billion surge in the
global cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoin rose over 10%, reaching $94,821, while Ethereum
climbed by 12%. Other cryptocurrencies like XRP, Solana, and Cardano experienced even more gains of 30%, 20%, and over 50%, respectively.
This rally indicates strong market confidence in the new
strategic reserve.
• Regulatory Changes:
Trump’s current administration has shifted away from
the regulatory-heavy approach of the previous Biden administration.
The Biden administration had proposed a 30% tax on
cryptocurrency miners and pursued enforcement actions against crypto entities.
In contrast, Trump’s policies include nominating crypto
advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chairman and withdrawing investigations into various crypto firms.
•
Objectives of the Crypto Reserve:
The primary goal of the Crypto Strategic Reserve
is to enhance the legitimacy and acceptance of cryptocurrencies.
By holding a diverse portfolio of digital assets, the US
government aims to encourage institutional adoption and integration into traditional financial systems. This initiative could also shape global regulatory standards for cryptocurrencies.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Rbi enhances UPI Transaction Limit for Tax
Payments
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has taken a significant step to facilitate digital
payments by increasing the transaction
limit for tax payments through the Unified
Payments Interface (UPI).
Key Points:
•
IThe UPI transaction limit for tax payments
has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. This move aims to make it easier for taxpayers to settle their dues using UPI.
•
Delegated Payments Feature: In addition to the increased
limit, the RBI has proposed a new feature called “Delegated Payments” for UPI users.
It allows a primary user (say, an account holder) to
authorise another individual (a secondary user) to make
UPI transactions from the primary user’s bank account,
up to a specified limit.
Essentially, this means that parents can grant their
children limited access to their accounts for daily expenses, even if the children don’t have their own bank accounts or smartphones.
•
Previous Changes: It’s worth noting that in December of last
year, the RBI had already increased the UPI transaction limit to Rs 5 lakh (from Rs 1 lakh) specifically for payments related to hospitals and educational institutions.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
•
It is an advanced version of
Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) round–the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother.
•
UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into
a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
•
UPI is currently the biggest among the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) operated systems including National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc.
•
The top UPI apps today include PhonePe, Paytm, Google
Pay, Amazon Pay and BHIM, the latter being the Government offering.
•
Participants in UPI: Payer Payment Service Provider (PSP),
Payee PSP, Remitter Bank, Beneficiary Bank, NPCI, Bank Account holders, and Merchants.
National Payments Corporation of India
NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
USA to form Crypto Strategic Reserve
Recently, US President Donald Trump announced the formation of a United States ‘Crypto Strategic Reserve’. This initiative includes major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The announcement came just before the White House Crypto Summit, marking shift in the US government’s approach to digital assets.
•
Background:
The establishment of the Crypto Strategic Reserve aims
to position the US as a leader in the digital asset industry.
Trump’s previous stance on cryptocurrencies was
critical, labelling them as a ‘scam’. However, his 2024
campaign saw a pivot towards supporting the crypto
sector.
This change was influenced by substantial backing from
the cryptocurrency community.
• Market Impact:
The announcement triggered a $300 billion surge in the
global cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoin rose over 10%, reaching $94,821, while Ethereum
climbed by 12%. Other cryptocurrencies like XRP, Solana, and Cardano experienced even more gains of 30%, 20%, and over 50%, respectively.
This rally indicates strong market confidence in the new
strategic reserve.
• Regulatory Changes:
Trump’s current administration has shifted away from
the regulatory-heavy approach of the previous Biden administration.
The Biden administration had proposed a 30% tax on
cryptocurrency miners and pursued enforcement actions against crypto entities.
In contrast, Trump’s policies include nominating crypto
advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chairman and withdrawing investigations into various crypto firms.
•
Objectives of the Crypto Reserve:
The primary goal of the Crypto Strategic Reserve
is to enhance the legitimacy and acceptance of cryptocurrencies.
By holding a diverse portfolio of digital assets, the US
government aims to encourage institutional adoption and integration into traditional financial systems. This initiative could also shape global regulatory standards for cryptocurrencies.
22ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala
Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the
Parliament.
Major Highlights
• S India’s real GDP growth estimated at
6.4% in FY25, aligning with its decadal average.
Global GDP grew 3.3% in 2023, slightly higher than IMF’s
3.2% forecast for the next five years.
FY26 GDP growth expected between 6.3% and 6.8%.
Retail inflation reduced to 4.9% in FY25 (April-Dec).
Capital expenditure (CAPEX) grew 8.2% YoY post-
general elections in 2024.
India’s share in global services exports is 7th largest.
• Monetary and Financial Sector Developments: Bank credit
grew steadily; asset quality and profitability improved.
Gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) at a 12-year low
(2.6% of gross loans). ` 3.6 lakh crore realized from 1,068
insolvency resolutions.
India’s stock markets outperformed emerging market
peers.
Resource mobilization from primary markets reached
`11.1 lakh crore in FY25.
Insurance premiums grew by 7.7%, and pension sector
subscribers rose 16%.
• External Sector: Exports grew by 6%, with the services sector
up 11.6% (April-Dec FY25).
India ranked 2nd in global telecommunications, computer
& information services exports.
FDI inflows increased by 17.9% YoY to USD 55.6 billion
in FY25.
Forex reserves stood at USD 640.3 billion, covering 10.9
months of imports.
• Prices and Inflation: Global inflation moderated to 5.7% in
2024.
India’s retail inflation reduced to 4.9% in FY25.
RBI and IMF project inflation will align to around 4% by
FY26.
• Medium-Term Outlook: India aims for 8% growth to achieve
‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
Focus on deregulation to empower growth and ease of
doing business, particularly for SMEs.
• Investment and Infrastructure: Government capital
expenditure grew by 38.8% from FY20 to FY24.
5853 km of National Highways constructed in FY25 (Apr-
Dec).
Renewable energy capacity grew by 15.8% YoY by Dec
2024.
Significant infrastructure projects, including metro
expansion and electricity access for rural areas.
• Industry: Industrial growth projected at 6.2% in FY25, driven
by electricity and construction.
Automobile sales up by 12.5% in FY24.
India ranks 6th in global patent filings.
The MSME sector is growing, with initiatives like the Self-
Reliant India Fund.
• Services: Services sector contribution to GVA increased to
55.3% in FY25. Services exports grew by 12.8% in FY25 (Apr-Nov).
Indian Railways and tourism sector show strong growth.
• Agriculture and Food Management: Agriculture contributes
16% to GDP in FY24.
Kharif foodgrain production is expected to rise by 89.37
LMT in FY24.
Fisheries and livestock sectors show strong growth.
MSP increases for Arhar and Bajra by 59% and 77%,
respectively.
• Climate & Environment: India’s non-fossil fuel power
generation capacity reached 46.8% of total capacity.
LiFE initiative to drive sustainable living, with potential
global savings of USD 440 billion by 2030.
India’s carbon sink increased by 2.29 billion tonnes CO2
equivalent.
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala
Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the
Parliament.
Major Highlights
• S India’s real GDP growth estimated at
6.4% in FY25, aligning with its decadal average.
Global GDP grew 3.3% in 2023, slightly higher than IMF’s
3.2% forecast for the next five years.
FY26 GDP growth expected between 6.3% and 6.8%.
Retail inflation reduced to 4.9% in FY25 (April-Dec).
Capital expenditure (CAPEX) grew 8.2% YoY post-
general elections in 2024.
India’s share in global services exports is 7th largest.
• Monetary and Financial Sector Developments: Bank credit
grew steadily; asset quality and profitability improved.
Gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) at a 12-year low
(2.6% of gross loans). ` 3.6 lakh crore realized from 1,068
insolvency resolutions.
India’s stock markets outperformed emerging market
peers.
Resource mobilization from primary markets reached
`11.1 lakh crore in FY25.
Insurance premiums grew by 7.7%, and pension sector
subscribers rose 16%.
• External Sector: Exports grew by 6%, with the services sector
up 11.6% (April-Dec FY25).
India ranked 2nd in global telecommunications, computer
& information services exports.
FDI inflows increased by 17.9% YoY to USD 55.6 billion
in FY25.
Forex reserves stood at USD 640.3 billion, covering 10.9
months of imports.
• Prices and Inflation: Global inflation moderated to 5.7% in
2024.
India’s retail inflation reduced to 4.9% in FY25.
RBI and IMF project inflation will align to around 4% by
FY26.
• Medium-Term Outlook: India aims for 8% growth to achieve
‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
Focus on deregulation to empower growth and ease of
doing business, particularly for SMEs.
• Investment and Infrastructure: Government capital
expenditure grew by 38.8% from FY20 to FY24.
5853 km of National Highways constructed in FY25 (Apr-
Dec).
Renewable energy capacity grew by 15.8% YoY by Dec
2024.
Significant infrastructure projects, including metro
expansion and electricity access for rural areas.
• Industry: Industrial growth projected at 6.2% in FY25, driven
by electricity and construction.
Automobile sales up by 12.5% in FY24.
India ranks 6th in global patent filings.
The MSME sector is growing, with initiatives like the Self-
Reliant India Fund.
• Services: Services sector contribution to GVA increased to
55.3% in FY25. Services exports grew by 12.8% in FY25 (Apr-Nov).
Indian Railways and tourism sector show strong growth.
• Agriculture and Food Management: Agriculture contributes
16% to GDP in FY24.
Kharif foodgrain production is expected to rise by 89.37
LMT in FY24.
Fisheries and livestock sectors show strong growth.
MSP increases for Arhar and Bajra by 59% and 77%,
respectively.
• Climate & Environment: India’s non-fossil fuel power
generation capacity reached 46.8% of total capacity.
LiFE initiative to drive sustainable living, with potential
global savings of USD 440 billion by 2030.
India’s carbon sink increased by 2.29 billion tonnes CO2
equivalent.
23Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• SSocial services expenditure grew at 15%
CAGR from FY21 to FY25.
Decline in income inequality, with improvements in rural
and urban Gini coefficients.
Government health expenditure up from 29% to 48%,
reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
Ayushman Bharat has saved over ₹1.25 lakh crore.
• Employment and Skill Development: Unemployment rate
declined to 3.2% in FY24.
Government initiatives supporting women
entrepreneurship, including credit and skill development.
Emerging sectors like the digital economy and renewable
energy provide job opportunities.
EPFO payroll additions doubled in the last six years.
• Labour in the AI Era: AI expected to surpass human
performance in key sectors but faces barriers like reliability
and infrastructure.
India’s young, tech-savvy population is poised to
leverage AI for enhanced productivity.
Collaboration between government, private sector, and
academia is crucial to manage AI’s societal impact.
The Economic Survey is an
annual report presented by the
government before the Union
Budget to assess India's economic
condition.
Prepared by the Economic
Division of the Ministry of Finance
under the Chief Economic
Adviser's supervision, it is tabled
in both houses of Parliament by
the Union Finance Minister.
The survey assesses economic
performance, highlights
sectoral developments, outlines
challenges and provides an
economic outlook for the coming
year.
The Economic Survey was first
presented in 1950-51 as part
of the budget and became a
separate document from the
Union Budget in 1964, tabled a
day before the budget.
ECONOMIC SURVEY
OF INDIA
The Government of India has
appointed Anantha Nageswaran as
the new Chief Economic Advisor. He
is a former member of Prime Minister
Economic Advisory Council.
Nageswaran worked as a senior
advisor to the International Financial
Services Authority of India (IFSCA)
between 2019 and 2021.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• SSocial services expenditure grew at 15%
CAGR from FY21 to FY25.
Decline in income inequality, with improvements in rural
and urban Gini coefficients.
Government health expenditure up from 29% to 48%,
reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
Ayushman Bharat has saved over ₹1.25 lakh crore.
• Employment and Skill Development: Unemployment rate
declined to 3.2% in FY24.
Government initiatives supporting women
entrepreneurship, including credit and skill development.
Emerging sectors like the digital economy and renewable
energy provide job opportunities.
EPFO payroll additions doubled in the last six years.
• Labour in the AI Era: AI expected to surpass human
performance in key sectors but faces barriers like reliability
and infrastructure.
India’s young, tech-savvy population is poised to
leverage AI for enhanced productivity.
Collaboration between government, private sector, and
academia is crucial to manage AI’s societal impact.
The Economic Survey is an
annual report presented by the
government before the Union
Budget to assess India's economic
condition.
Prepared by the Economic
Division of the Ministry of Finance
under the Chief Economic
Adviser's supervision, it is tabled
in both houses of Parliament by
the Union Finance Minister.
The survey assesses economic
performance, highlights
sectoral developments, outlines
challenges and provides an
economic outlook for the coming
year.
The Economic Survey was first
presented in 1950-51 as part
of the budget and became a
separate document from the
Union Budget in 1964, tabled a
day before the budget.
ECONOMIC SURVEY
OF INDIA
The Government of India has
appointed Anantha Nageswaran as
the new Chief Economic Advisor. He
is a former member of Prime Minister
Economic Advisory Council.
Nageswaran worked as a senior
advisor to the International Financial
Services Authority of India (IFSCA)
between 2019 and 2021.
24ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
The Union Finance Minister quoted the renowned Telugu poet Shri Gurajada Appa Rao’s
saying, “A country is not just its soil; a country is its people,” to highlight the importance of
people-centric development.
Principles of Viksit Bharat:
• Eradicate poverty (Zero-poverty)
• Provide high-quality, universal school education
• Ensure access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare
• Achieve full employment with a skilled workforce
• Involve 70% women in economic activities
• Strengthen agriculture to make India the “food basket of the world
Budget Estimates 2025-26
•
The total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at ` 34.96
lakh crore and ` 50.65 lakh crore respectively.
• The net tax receipts are estimated at ₹ 28.37 lakh crore.
• The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 4.4 per cent of GDP.
• The gross market borrowings are estimated at `14.82 lakh crore.
• Capex Expenditure of ` 11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP) earmarked in FY2025-26.
Key Engines of Growth
•
ALaunch of Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to cover
100 districts.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses for Tur, Urad, and Masoor pulses.
Loan limit for Kisan Credit Cards raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Comprehensive program for vegetables, fruits, high-yield seeds, and cotton
productivity.
• MSMEs (2nd Engine): MSME investment & turnover limits enhanced to 2.5 and 2 times.
Credit cards for micro enterprises and a loan scheme for 5 lakh women and
marginalized entrepreneurs.
Development of a toy manufacturing hub and National Manufacturing Mission.
• Investment (3rd Engine): 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to be set up in schools.
Broadband for all secondary schools & PHCs under BharatNet project.
Establishment of National Centres of Excellence for skilling.
`1.5 lakh crore for 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure.
Urban Challenge Fund of ` 1 lakh crore to support urban development.
`20,000 crore for private sector-driven R&D and innovation.
National Geospatial Mission for urban planning and Gyan Bharatam Mission for
manuscript conservation.
Nuclear Energy Expansion: Rs.20,000 crore for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
• Exports (4th Engine): Launch of Export Promotion Mission and BharatTradeNet for trade
documentation.
Support for domestic manufacturing and integration with global supply chains.
Infrastructure support for air cargo and fisheries exports.
Reforms
•
F Increase in FDI limit in insurance from 74% to 100%.
Establishment of a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms.
Introduction of the Investment Friendliness Index of States.
Decriminalization of 100+ provisions under the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0.
Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) to review regulations.
was framed around the theme
emphasizing
balanced growth
across all regions
of India.
The
"Sabka Vikas",
The Union Finance Minister quoted the renowned Telugu poet Shri Gurajada Appa Rao’s
saying, “A country is not just its soil; a country is its people,” to highlight the importance of
people-centric development.
Principles of Viksit Bharat:
• Eradicate poverty (Zero-poverty)
• Provide high-quality, universal school education
• Ensure access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare
• Achieve full employment with a skilled workforce
• Involve 70% women in economic activities
• Strengthen agriculture to make India the “food basket of the world
Budget Estimates 2025-26
•
The total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at ` 34.96
lakh crore and ` 50.65 lakh crore respectively.
• The net tax receipts are estimated at ₹ 28.37 lakh crore.
• The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 4.4 per cent of GDP.
• The gross market borrowings are estimated at `14.82 lakh crore.
• Capex Expenditure of ` 11.21 lakh crore (3.1% of GDP) earmarked in FY2025-26.
Key Engines of Growth
•
ALaunch of Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to cover
100 districts.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses for Tur, Urad, and Masoor pulses.
Loan limit for Kisan Credit Cards raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Comprehensive program for vegetables, fruits, high-yield seeds, and cotton
productivity.
• MSMEs (2nd Engine): MSME investment & turnover limits enhanced to 2.5 and 2 times.
Credit cards for micro enterprises and a loan scheme for 5 lakh women and
marginalized entrepreneurs.
Development of a toy manufacturing hub and National Manufacturing Mission.
• Investment (3rd Engine): 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to be set up in schools.
Broadband for all secondary schools & PHCs under BharatNet project.
Establishment of National Centres of Excellence for skilling.
`1.5 lakh crore for 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure.
Urban Challenge Fund of ` 1 lakh crore to support urban development.
`20,000 crore for private sector-driven R&D and innovation.
National Geospatial Mission for urban planning and Gyan Bharatam Mission for
manuscript conservation.
Nuclear Energy Expansion: Rs.20,000 crore for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
• Exports (4th Engine): Launch of Export Promotion Mission and BharatTradeNet for trade
documentation.
Support for domestic manufacturing and integration with global supply chains.
Infrastructure support for air cargo and fisheries exports.
Reforms
•
F Increase in FDI limit in insurance from 74% to 100%.
Establishment of a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms.
Introduction of the Investment Friendliness Index of States.
Decriminalization of 100+ provisions under the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0.
Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) to review regulations.
was framed around the theme
emphasizing
balanced growth
across all regions
of India.
The
"Sabka Vikas",
25Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• T Fiscal deficit
target of 4.4% of GDP for FY 2025-26.
Increased receipts and
expenditure estimates for 2025-
26.
Commitment to fiscal consolidation
with a clear roadmap.
Tax Proposals
•
P no tax for
income up to ` 12 lakh per annum.
Standard deduction of `75,000 for
income up to 12.75 lakh.
Estimated `1 lakh crore revenue
loss due to tax reforms.
• TDS/TCS Rationalization: TDS limit on
interest for senior citizens increased from `50,000 to ` 1 lakh.
TDS threshold on rent raised to
`6 lakh from ` 2.4 lakh.
Extension of updated returns filing
to 4 years for any assessment year.
• Compliance Simplification: Increase in
registration period for small charitable trusts from 5 to 10 years.
Senior citizens benefit from tax
exemption on National Savings
Scheme withdrawals.
• Promotion of Employment &
Investment: Presumptive taxation regime for non-residents providing services to electronics manufacturing companies.
Extension of the Sover eign
Wealth Funds and Pension Funds
investment deadline to 2030.
• Customs Tariff Reforms: Removal of
seven tariffs, simplification of cess, and reduction of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on critical minerals and textiles.
Reduction in BCD on lithium-ion
battery manufacturing capital
goods and shipbuilding materials.
Duty adjustments to encourage
domestic manufacturing.
• Export Promotion: Reduction of BCD
on fish products and leather to boost exports.
Fully exempted BCD on lifesaving
medicines for cancer, rare
diseases, and chronic illnesses.
Gyan Bharatam Mission
The Gyan Bharatam Mission was
announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
•
It is a landmark initiative focused on the
survey, documentation, and conservation
of India’s manuscript heritage.
• The mission aims to cover more than
one crore manuscripts, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations.
•
With this initiative, the government is
taking significant steps to reviving the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) launched in 2003 but largely inactive, and promoting India’s rich literary and intellectual traditions at a global level.
•
To accommodate this initiative, the
budget for the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) has been significantly increased from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore.
•
Significance of the Mission:
Preserving India’s Intellectual and
Cultural Heritage: Manuscripts hold knowledge on subjects such as philosophy, science, medicine, literature, mathematics, and astronomy. Their preservation helps safeguard India’s historical wisdom.
Digital Access for Future
Generations: Manuscripts often suffer from physical decay. Digitization ensures 24/7 access to these texts worldwide while preventing deterioration.
Global Academic Impact: By
making manuscripts available for study, India strengthens its position as a hub of ancient knowledge and scholarship.
Samudrayaan Mission
Samudrayaan Mission has been allocated Rs 600 crore in Union Budget 2025-26.
•
Launched in 2021, it is India’s first
manned ocean mission to explore the
deep ocean.
• It is a project of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES) under the Deep Ocean Mission.
•
The technology is being developed
by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
NIOT is an autonomous institute under
MoES, has developed a 6000m depth-
rated Remotely Operated Vehicle
(ROV) ‘Matsya 6000’.
•
The mission aims to send three
people to a depth of 6,000 meters in a submersible called the MATSYA 6000.
Makhana Board
The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated `100 crore to establish a Makhana Board
in Bihar, aimed at promoting Makhana products. The Board will provide training, support, and access to government schemes to benefit Makhana farmers.
•
Common Name: Fox nut
• Botanical Features: Recognized for its
violet and white flowers.
Has large, round, and prickly
leaves, often exceeding one
meter in diameter.
• Nutritional & Economic Importance:
Considered a superfood, rich in carbohydrates, protein, and minerals.
Widely used in m edicine,
healthcare, and nutrition.
Mithila Makhana received the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag
in 2022.
• Cultivation: Cultivated across South
and East Asia, with Bihar contributing nearly 90% of global production.
•
Major Producing Districts in
Bihar: Darbhanga, Madhubani,
Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, and Sitamarhi (Mithilanchal region).
•
Climatic & Agronomic Conditions:
Grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
Cultivated in stagnant water
bodies like ponds, lakes, and
wetlands (depth: 4-6 feet).
Optimal Growth Conditions:
Temperature: 20-35°C, Humidity: 50-90%, Annual Rainfall: 100-250 cm.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• T Fiscal deficit
target of 4.4% of GDP for FY 2025-26.
Increased receipts and
expenditure estimates for 2025-
26.
Commitment to fiscal consolidation
with a clear roadmap.
Tax Proposals
•
P no tax for
income up to ` 12 lakh per annum.
Standard deduction of `75,000 for
income up to 12.75 lakh.
Estimated `1 lakh crore revenue
loss due to tax reforms.
• TDS/TCS Rationalization: TDS limit on
interest for senior citizens increased from `50,000 to ` 1 lakh.
TDS threshold on rent raised to
`6 lakh from ` 2.4 lakh.
Extension of updated returns filing
to 4 years for any assessment year.
• Compliance Simplification: Increase in
registration period for small charitable trusts from 5 to 10 years.
Senior citizens benefit from tax
exemption on National Savings
Scheme withdrawals.
• Promotion of Employment &
Investment: Presumptive taxation regime for non-residents providing services to electronics manufacturing companies.
Extension of the Sover eign
Wealth Funds and Pension Funds
investment deadline to 2030.
• Customs Tariff Reforms: Removal of
seven tariffs, simplification of cess, and reduction of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on critical minerals and textiles.
Reduction in BCD on lithium-ion
battery manufacturing capital
goods and shipbuilding materials.
Duty adjustments to encourage
domestic manufacturing.
• Export Promotion: Reduction of BCD
on fish products and leather to boost exports.
Fully exempted BCD on lifesaving
medicines for cancer, rare
diseases, and chronic illnesses.
Gyan Bharatam Mission
The Gyan Bharatam Mission was
announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
•
It is a landmark initiative focused on the
survey, documentation, and conservation
of India’s manuscript heritage.
• The mission aims to cover more than
one crore manuscripts, ensuring their preservation and accessibility for future generations.
•
With this initiative, the government is
taking significant steps to reviving the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) launched in 2003 but largely inactive, and promoting India’s rich literary and intellectual traditions at a global level.
•
To accommodate this initiative, the
budget for the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) has been significantly increased from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore.
•
Significance of the Mission:
Preserving India’s Intellectual and
Cultural Heritage: Manuscripts hold knowledge on subjects such as philosophy, science, medicine, literature, mathematics, and astronomy. Their preservation helps safeguard India’s historical wisdom.
Digital Access for Future
Generations: Manuscripts often suffer from physical decay. Digitization ensures 24/7 access to these texts worldwide while preventing deterioration.
Global Academic Impact: By
making manuscripts available for study, India strengthens its position as a hub of ancient knowledge and scholarship.
Samudrayaan Mission
Samudrayaan Mission has been allocated Rs 600 crore in Union Budget 2025-26.
•
Launched in 2021, it is India’s first
manned ocean mission to explore the
deep ocean.
• It is a project of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES) under the Deep Ocean Mission.
•
The technology is being developed
by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
NIOT is an autonomous institute under
MoES, has developed a 6000m depth-
rated Remotely Operated Vehicle
(ROV) ‘Matsya 6000’.
•
The mission aims to send three
people to a depth of 6,000 meters in a submersible called the MATSYA 6000.
Makhana Board
The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated `100 crore to establish a Makhana Board
in Bihar, aimed at promoting Makhana products. The Board will provide training, support, and access to government schemes to benefit Makhana farmers.
•
Common Name: Fox nut
• Botanical Features: Recognized for its
violet and white flowers.
Has large, round, and prickly
leaves, often exceeding one
meter in diameter.
• Nutritional & Economic Importance:
Considered a superfood, rich in carbohydrates, protein, and minerals.
Widely used in m edicine,
healthcare, and nutrition.
Mithila Makhana received the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag
in 2022.
• Cultivation: Cultivated across South
and East Asia, with Bihar contributing nearly 90% of global production.
•
Major Producing Districts in
Bihar: Darbhanga, Madhubani,
Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, and Sitamarhi (Mithilanchal region).
•
Climatic & Agronomic Conditions:
Grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
Cultivated in stagnant water
bodies like ponds, lakes, and
wetlands (depth: 4-6 feet).
Optimal Growth Conditions:
Temperature: 20-35°C, Humidity: 50-90%, Annual Rainfall: 100-250 cm.
26ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Unemployment and its types
Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching
for employment and is unable to find work.
• Disguised Unemployment: It is a phenomenon wherein more
people are employed than actually needed. It is primarily
traced in the agricultural and the unorganised sectors of India.
• Seasonal Unemployment: It is an unemployment that occurs
during certain seasons of the year. Agricultural labourers in India rarely have work throughout the year.
•
Structural Unemployment: It is a category of unemployment
arising from the mismatch between the jobs available in the market and the skills of the available workers in the market.
•
Cyclical Unemployment: It is result of the business cycle,
where unemployment rises during recessions and declines with economic growth. Cyclical unemployment figures in India are negligible. It is a phenomenon that is mostly found in capitalist economies.
•
Technological Unemployment: It is loss of jobs due to
changes in technology. In 2016, World Bank data predicted that the proportion of jobs threatened by automation in India is 69% year-on-year.
•
Frictional Unemployment: The Frictional Unemployment
also called as Search Unemployment, refers to the time lag between the jobs when an individual is searching for a new job or is switching between the jobs.
•
Vulnerable Employment: This means, people working
informally, without proper job contracts and thus sans any legal protection. These persons are deemed ‘unemployed’ since records of their work are never maintained.
•
Unemployment Trap: It is a situation when unemployment
benefits discourage the unemployed to go to work. People find the opportunity cost of going to work too high when one can simply enjoy the benefits by doing nothing.
Capital Receipts
• All those receipts of the government which either creates
liability or reduces financial asset are capital receipts.
Examples: Market borrowings by the government from the public, Borrowings from the RBI, Borrowings from commercial banks or financial institutions through the sale of T-BILLS, loans received from foreign governments or international financial institutions, post office savings, post office saving certificates and PSU’s Disinvestment.
Revenue Receipts
•
These are receipts of the government incomes which cannot
be reclaimed back by the citizens from the government.
Capital Expenditure
•
All those expenditures of the government which either result in
the creation of physical/financial assets or reduction in financial
liabilities. Examples: Purchase of land, machinery, building and
equipment’s; investment in shares; loans and advances by the
central government to state governments and UTs.
Revenue Expenditure
•
The
creates any physical/financial asset nor reduces the liability of the government.
Perfect Competition
•
Pur
in which the following criteria are met:
• All firms sell an identical product (the product is a "commodity"
or "homogeneous").
• All firms are price takers (they cannot influence the market
price of their product).
• Market share has no influence on prices.
• Buyers have complete or "perfect" information—in the past,
present and future—about the product being sold and the
prices charged by each firm.
• Resources for such a labor are perfectly mobile.
• Firms can enter or exit the market without cost.
Primary Deficit
•
The borrowing requirement of the government includes interest
obligations on accumulated debt. The goal of measuring
primary deficit is to focus on present fiscal imbalances.
Important Terms used in
ECONOMY
Unemployment and its types
Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching
for employment and is unable to find work.
• Disguised Unemployment: It is a phenomenon wherein more
people are employed than actually needed. It is primarily
traced in the agricultural and the unorganised sectors of India.
• Seasonal Unemployment: It is an unemployment that occurs
during certain seasons of the year. Agricultural labourers in India rarely have work throughout the year.
•
Structural Unemployment: It is a category of unemployment
arising from the mismatch between the jobs available in the market and the skills of the available workers in the market.
•
Cyclical Unemployment: It is result of the business cycle,
where unemployment rises during recessions and declines with economic growth. Cyclical unemployment figures in India are negligible. It is a phenomenon that is mostly found in capitalist economies.
•
Technological Unemployment: It is loss of jobs due to
changes in technology. In 2016, World Bank data predicted that the proportion of jobs threatened by automation in India is 69% year-on-year.
•
Frictional Unemployment: The Frictional Unemployment
also called as Search Unemployment, refers to the time lag between the jobs when an individual is searching for a new job or is switching between the jobs.
•
Vulnerable Employment: This means, people working
informally, without proper job contracts and thus sans any legal protection. These persons are deemed ‘unemployed’ since records of their work are never maintained.
•
Unemployment Trap: It is a situation when unemployment
benefits discourage the unemployed to go to work. People find the opportunity cost of going to work too high when one can simply enjoy the benefits by doing nothing.
Capital Receipts
• All those receipts of the government which either creates
liability or reduces financial asset are capital receipts.
Examples: Market borrowings by the government from the public, Borrowings from the RBI, Borrowings from commercial banks or financial institutions through the sale of T-BILLS, loans received from foreign governments or international financial institutions, post office savings, post office saving certificates and PSU’s Disinvestment.
Revenue Receipts
•
These are receipts of the government incomes which cannot
be reclaimed back by the citizens from the government.
Capital Expenditure
•
All those expenditures of the government which either result in
the creation of physical/financial assets or reduction in financial
liabilities. Examples: Purchase of land, machinery, building and
equipment’s; investment in shares; loans and advances by the
central government to state governments and UTs.
Revenue Expenditure
•
The
creates any physical/financial asset nor reduces the liability of the government.
Perfect Competition
•
Pur
in which the following criteria are met:
• All firms sell an identical product (the product is a "commodity"
or "homogeneous").
• All firms are price takers (they cannot influence the market
price of their product).
• Market share has no influence on prices.
• Buyers have complete or "perfect" information—in the past,
present and future—about the product being sold and the
prices charged by each firm.
• Resources for such a labor are perfectly mobile.
• Firms can enter or exit the market without cost.
Primary Deficit
•
The borrowing requirement of the government includes interest
obligations on accumulated debt. The goal of measuring
primary deficit is to focus on present fiscal imbalances.
Important Terms used in
ECONOMY
27Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Fiscal Policy
• Fiscal policy means the use of taxation and public expenditure
by the government for stabilization or growth of the economy.
Some of the major instruments of fiscal policy are as follows:
Budget, Taxation, Public Expenditure, public revenue, Public
Debt, and Fiscal Deficit in the economy.
Privatization
• The tr
government to the private sector is termed privatization. The government ceases to be the owner of the entity or business.
Fiscal Deficit
•
A
compared with its spending. A fiscal deficit is calculated as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), or simply as total dollars spent in excess of income.
Trade War
•
Tr
between two or more nations regarding trade tariff imposition on each other’s goods.
Current Account Deficit
•
It means the value of imports of goods/services/investment
incomes is greater than the value of exports. It is sometimes informally referred to as a trade deficit.
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status
•
M
partner to ensure non-discriminatory trade between two countries vis-a-vis other trade partners.
Endowment Fund
•
It is an investment fund established by a foundation (universities,
nonprofit organisations, churches and hospitals etc.) that makes consistent withdrawals from invested capital. It means that endowment funds are basically investment portfolios where initial money is provided by donations to a foundation.
Market Capitalisation (m-cap)
•
M
number of company’s outstanding shares by the current market price of one share. The market-cap figure of listed companies changes daily with stock price movement.
External Commercial Borrowing (ECB)
•
ECB
companies to raise money outside the country in foreign currency. It may be commercial loans which can be in form of bank loans, bonds, securitised instruments, buyers’ and supplier’s credit availed from non-resident lenders with minimum average maturity of 3 years.
•
It should be noted that ECB is not Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI). In case of FDI, foreign money is only used to finance equity capital. But in case of ECB, foreign money is used to finance any kind of funding other than equity.
Fair and Remunerative Price
•
It
purchased by sugar mills from farmers. FRP is fixed by Union government on basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), an attached office of Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Shell Companies
•
A shell company is a corporation without active business
operations or actual assets. They exist only on paper and have no office and no employees, but may have a bank account or passive investments, etc.
Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETD)
•
ETD
prices i.e. on a centralised exchange while Over the Counter
(OTC) derivatives are for companies that are not listed on a
formal exchange and traded between two parties (bilateral
negotiation) without going through an exchange or any other
intermediaries.
Angel Tax
•
Angel tax is the tax charged on the closely held company
when it issues shares to a resident person at a price which is more than its fair market value.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
•
STT
strike price in case of exercise of options. STT (a direct tax)
is levied on every sale and purchase of securities that are
listed on recognised stock exchanges in India.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Fiscal Policy
• Fiscal policy means the use of taxation and public expenditure
by the government for stabilization or growth of the economy.
Some of the major instruments of fiscal policy are as follows:
Budget, Taxation, Public Expenditure, public revenue, Public
Debt, and Fiscal Deficit in the economy.
Privatization
• The tr
government to the private sector is termed privatization. The government ceases to be the owner of the entity or business.
Fiscal Deficit
•
A
compared with its spending. A fiscal deficit is calculated as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), or simply as total dollars spent in excess of income.
Trade War
•
Tr
between two or more nations regarding trade tariff imposition on each other’s goods.
Current Account Deficit
•
It means the value of imports of goods/services/investment
incomes is greater than the value of exports. It is sometimes informally referred to as a trade deficit.
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status
•
M
partner to ensure non-discriminatory trade between two countries vis-a-vis other trade partners.
Endowment Fund
•
It is an investment fund established by a foundation (universities,
nonprofit organisations, churches and hospitals etc.) that makes consistent withdrawals from invested capital. It means that endowment funds are basically investment portfolios where initial money is provided by donations to a foundation.
Market Capitalisation (m-cap)
•
M
number of company’s outstanding shares by the current market price of one share. The market-cap figure of listed companies changes daily with stock price movement.
External Commercial Borrowing (ECB)
•
ECB
companies to raise money outside the country in foreign currency. It may be commercial loans which can be in form of bank loans, bonds, securitised instruments, buyers’ and supplier’s credit availed from non-resident lenders with minimum average maturity of 3 years.
•
It should be noted that ECB is not Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI). In case of FDI, foreign money is only used to finance equity capital. But in case of ECB, foreign money is used to finance any kind of funding other than equity.
Fair and Remunerative Price
•
It
purchased by sugar mills from farmers. FRP is fixed by Union government on basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), an attached office of Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Shell Companies
•
A shell company is a corporation without active business
operations or actual assets. They exist only on paper and have no office and no employees, but may have a bank account or passive investments, etc.
Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETD)
•
ETD
prices i.e. on a centralised exchange while Over the Counter
(OTC) derivatives are for companies that are not listed on a
formal exchange and traded between two parties (bilateral
negotiation) without going through an exchange or any other
intermediaries.
Angel Tax
•
Angel tax is the tax charged on the closely held company
when it issues shares to a resident person at a price which is more than its fair market value.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
•
STT
strike price in case of exercise of options. STT (a direct tax)
is levied on every sale and purchase of securities that are
listed on recognised stock exchanges in India.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
28ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
the period of employment. A minimum of five years of service
with an organisation is mandatory for availing the benefit of
gratuity.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
• FPI
held by foreign investors. FPI does not provide the investor with direct ownership of financial assets. In India, FPIs are allowed to invest in various debt market instruments such as government bonds, treasury bills, state development loans (SDLs) and corporate bonds, but with certain restrictions and limits. FPI is part of countries capital account and is listed on its balance of payments (BOP).
Foreign Exchange Reserves
•
Foreign Exchange Reserves are the reserve assets held by
a central bank in foreign currencies. They are used to back
liabilities on their own issued currency as well as to influence
monetary policy. These reserves act as a buffer during the
challenging times to the economy.
•
The components of India’s FOREX Reserves which is
expressed in terms of US dollars include foreign currency
assets (FCAs), Gold Reserves, Special Drawing Rights
(SDRs) and RBI’s Reserve position with International
Monetary Fund (IMF). FCAs constitute the largest component
of Indian Forex.
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework
•
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework has been issued
by the RBI to maintain the sound financial health of banks. The RBI will initiate certain structured and discretionary actions for the bank under the PCA when the Banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points:
•
Capital to risk-weighted assets ratio
• Net non-performing assets
• Return on assets.
Standard Deduction
•
Standard Deduction refers to deduction allowed as per
the Income Tax irrespective of the expenses met or the investment made by the individual. An individual is not required to disclose any investment proofs or expense bills for this purpose, the Standard Deduction is allowed at a standard rate.
Multilateral Convention
•
The M
G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (called as BEPS Project). BEPS means tax planning strategies which exploit mismatches and gaps in tax rules so as to artificially shift profits to a low or no-tax location where there is little/no economic activity, which further results in little or no overall corporate tax being paid.
Pre-Paid Payment Instrument (PPIs)
•
PPIs are instruments which come with a preloaded value and
in even with pre-defined purpose of payment. PPIs facilitates financial services, inter-personal remittance transactions (like sending money to friend or a family member), purchase of goods and services (G&S), etc., against amount stored on such instruments.
Currency Chest
•
Curr
These chests act as the distributives of RBI cash and enable RBI to take back soiled notes and mutilated notes from the public.
Ways and Means Advances (WMA)
•
Ways and Means Advances is the temporary loan facility
provided by the RBI to the centre and state governments. The WMA scheme was introduced in 1997 to meet any temporary mismatches in the receipts and payments of the government.
•
The WMA needs to be vacated after 90 days. The interest
rate for WMA is currently charged at the Repo Rate. The limits for WMA are decided by the RBI and in consultation with the Government of India.
White Label ATMs
•
Autom
operated by non-bank entities are called White Label ATMs. These White Label ATMs provide banking services to the customers of banks on the basis of the cards (debit/credit/ prepaid) issued by banks.
Gratuity
•
Gratuity is the monetary benefit provided by the employer
to his/her employee for the services rendered by him during
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
the period of employment. A minimum of five years of service
with an organisation is mandatory for availing the benefit of
gratuity.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
• FPI
held by foreign investors. FPI does not provide the investor with direct ownership of financial assets. In India, FPIs are allowed to invest in various debt market instruments such as government bonds, treasury bills, state development loans (SDLs) and corporate bonds, but with certain restrictions and limits. FPI is part of countries capital account and is listed on its balance of payments (BOP).
Foreign Exchange Reserves
•
Foreign Exchange Reserves are the reserve assets held by
a central bank in foreign currencies. They are used to back
liabilities on their own issued currency as well as to influence
monetary policy. These reserves act as a buffer during the
challenging times to the economy.
•
The components of India’s FOREX Reserves which is
expressed in terms of US dollars include foreign currency
assets (FCAs), Gold Reserves, Special Drawing Rights
(SDRs) and RBI’s Reserve position with International
Monetary Fund (IMF). FCAs constitute the largest component
of Indian Forex.
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework
•
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework has been issued
by the RBI to maintain the sound financial health of banks. The RBI will initiate certain structured and discretionary actions for the bank under the PCA when the Banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points:
•
Capital to risk-weighted assets ratio
• Net non-performing assets
• Return on assets.
Standard Deduction
•
Standard Deduction refers to deduction allowed as per
the Income Tax irrespective of the expenses met or the investment made by the individual. An individual is not required to disclose any investment proofs or expense bills for this purpose, the Standard Deduction is allowed at a standard rate.
Multilateral Convention
•
The M
G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (called as BEPS Project). BEPS means tax planning strategies which exploit mismatches and gaps in tax rules so as to artificially shift profits to a low or no-tax location where there is little/no economic activity, which further results in little or no overall corporate tax being paid.
Pre-Paid Payment Instrument (PPIs)
•
PPIs are instruments which come with a preloaded value and
in even with pre-defined purpose of payment. PPIs facilitates financial services, inter-personal remittance transactions (like sending money to friend or a family member), purchase of goods and services (G&S), etc., against amount stored on such instruments.
Currency Chest
•
Curr
These chests act as the distributives of RBI cash and enable RBI to take back soiled notes and mutilated notes from the public.
Ways and Means Advances (WMA)
•
Ways and Means Advances is the temporary loan facility
provided by the RBI to the centre and state governments. The WMA scheme was introduced in 1997 to meet any temporary mismatches in the receipts and payments of the government.
•
The WMA needs to be vacated after 90 days. The interest
rate for WMA is currently charged at the Repo Rate. The limits for WMA are decided by the RBI and in consultation with the Government of India.
White Label ATMs
•
Autom
operated by non-bank entities are called White Label ATMs. These White Label ATMs provide banking services to the customers of banks on the basis of the cards (debit/credit/ prepaid) issued by banks.
Gratuity
•
Gratuity is the monetary benefit provided by the employer
to his/her employee for the services rendered by him during
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
29Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Priority Sectors
• Prior
of India and Reserve Bank of India consider as important for
the development of the basic needs of the country and are to
be given priority over other sectors. The banks are mandated
to encourage the growth of such sectors with adequate and
timely credit.
Basel III Norms
•
It is an international regulatory accord that introduced a set
of reforms designed to improve the regulation, supervision and risk management within the banking sectors.
Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure
•
Plan expenditure, also known as development expenditure,
is used on government programmes and flagship schemes, whereas non-Plan expenditure involves spending on defence, subsidies and transfer to states and the large share of government spending comes from none other than non- Plan expenditure. The Plan expenditure allocation estimates are determined by the Planning Commission whereas in the case of non-Plan expenditure, the finance ministry determines them without consultation with the Commission.
Deficit Financing
•
The
to gross national expenditure through budget deficits, whether the deficits are on revenue or on capital account.
Behavioural Economics
•
Behavioural economics majorly depends upon emphasising
the beneficial social norm and understanding their drivers; changing the default option and understanding the inertia of people to change and; repeated reinforcements to sustain changed behaviour.
Fiscal Rectitude
•
An
finances (tax revenues, for instance) by those hired or elected to do that job.
Gender Budgeting
•
Gender Budgeting is concerned with gender-sensitive
formulation of legislation, policies, plans, programmes and schemes; allocation and collection of resources; implementation and execution; monitoring, review, audit and impact assessment of programmes and schemes; and follow-up corrective action to address gender disparities.
Authorised Capital
•
Authorised Capital refers to the maximum amount of
capital for which shares can be issued by a company. The
Authorised capital would be mentioned in the Memorandum
of Association of the Company and can be increased at any
time in future.
Currency Swap Agreements
• A Currency swap agreement is a foreign exchange
agreement between two parties to exchange a given amount of one currency for another and, after a specified period of time, to give back the original amounts swapped.
Public Credit Registry
•
Public Credit Registry is a digital registry of authenticated
granular credit information and will work as a financial information infrastructure providing access to various stakeholders and enrich the existing credit information ecosystem. It would be mandatory for reporting for all material events for each loan, notwithstanding any threshold in the loan amount or type of borrower to the Public Credit Registry.
Electoral Bond
•
An Electoral Bond is just like a promissory note that will be
payable to bearer on demand and free of interest. It can be purchased by a citizen of India or anybody incorporated in India.
Commodity Market
•
It is physical or virtual marketplace for buying, selling and
trading raw or primary products. Thus, it is market that trades in primary economic sector rather than manufactured products.
Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL)
•
NDTL shows the difference between the sum of demand and
time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other bank.
Priority Sector Lending
•
It is an important role given by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) to the banks for providing a specified portion of the bank lending to few specific sectors.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Priority Sectors
• Prior
of India and Reserve Bank of India consider as important for
the development of the basic needs of the country and are to
be given priority over other sectors. The banks are mandated
to encourage the growth of such sectors with adequate and
timely credit.
Basel III Norms
•
It is an international regulatory accord that introduced a set
of reforms designed to improve the regulation, supervision and risk management within the banking sectors.
Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure
•
Plan expenditure, also known as development expenditure,
is used on government programmes and flagship schemes, whereas non-Plan expenditure involves spending on defence, subsidies and transfer to states and the large share of government spending comes from none other than non- Plan expenditure. The Plan expenditure allocation estimates are determined by the Planning Commission whereas in the case of non-Plan expenditure, the finance ministry determines them without consultation with the Commission.
Deficit Financing
•
The
to gross national expenditure through budget deficits, whether the deficits are on revenue or on capital account.
Behavioural Economics
•
Behavioural economics majorly depends upon emphasising
the beneficial social norm and understanding their drivers; changing the default option and understanding the inertia of people to change and; repeated reinforcements to sustain changed behaviour.
Fiscal Rectitude
•
An
finances (tax revenues, for instance) by those hired or elected to do that job.
Gender Budgeting
•
Gender Budgeting is concerned with gender-sensitive
formulation of legislation, policies, plans, programmes and schemes; allocation and collection of resources; implementation and execution; monitoring, review, audit and impact assessment of programmes and schemes; and follow-up corrective action to address gender disparities.
Authorised Capital
•
Authorised Capital refers to the maximum amount of
capital for which shares can be issued by a company. The
Authorised capital would be mentioned in the Memorandum
of Association of the Company and can be increased at any
time in future.
Currency Swap Agreements
• A Currency swap agreement is a foreign exchange
agreement between two parties to exchange a given amount of one currency for another and, after a specified period of time, to give back the original amounts swapped.
Public Credit Registry
•
Public Credit Registry is a digital registry of authenticated
granular credit information and will work as a financial information infrastructure providing access to various stakeholders and enrich the existing credit information ecosystem. It would be mandatory for reporting for all material events for each loan, notwithstanding any threshold in the loan amount or type of borrower to the Public Credit Registry.
Electoral Bond
•
An Electoral Bond is just like a promissory note that will be
payable to bearer on demand and free of interest. It can be purchased by a citizen of India or anybody incorporated in India.
Commodity Market
•
It is physical or virtual marketplace for buying, selling and
trading raw or primary products. Thus, it is market that trades in primary economic sector rather than manufactured products.
Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL)
•
NDTL shows the difference between the sum of demand and
time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other bank.
Priority Sector Lending
•
It is an important role given by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) to the banks for providing a specified portion of the bank lending to few specific sectors.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
30ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Regressive Tax
• Under
taxable amount increases. In other words, there is an inverse
relationship between the tax rate and taxable income. The rate
of taxation decreases as the income of taxpayers increases.
Special Drawing Rights
•
This
comprising leading currencies globally and created by the International Monetary Fund in the year 1969.
•
Before its creation, the international community had to face
several restrictions in increasing world trade and the level of financial development as gold and US dollars, which were the only means of trade, were in limited quantities. In order to address the issue, SDR was created by the IMF.
Proportional Tax
•
Propor
authority charges the same rate of tax from each taxpayer, irrespective of income. This means that lower class, or middle class, or upper class people pay the same amount of tax. Since the tax is charged at a flat rate for everyone, whether earning higher income or lower income, it is also called flat tax.
Derivatives
•
A derivative is a contract between two parties which derives
its value/price from an underlying asset. The most common types of derivatives are futures, options, forwards and swaps.
Hedge Fund
•
Hedge fund is a private investment partnership and funds
pool that uses varied and complex proprietary strategies and invests or trades in complex products, including listed and unlisted derivatives.
Phillips Curve
•
The
inflation when graphically charted is called the Phillips curve.
Laffer Curve
•
The Laffer Curve describes the relationship between tax
rates and total tax revenue, with an optimal tax rate that maximizes total government tax revenue.
Asset Turnover Ratio
•
Asset
company’s sales or revenues and the value of its assets. It is an indicator of the efficiency with which a company is deploying its assets to produce the revenue.
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)
•
CAR
weighted assets and current liabilities. It is decided by central banks and bank regulators to prevent commercial banks from taking excess leverage and becoming insolvent in the process.
Contagion
•
In
as a situation where a shock in a particular economy or region spreads out and affects others by way of, say, price movements.
Liquidity Trap
•
Liquidity trap is a situation when expansionary monetary
policy (increase in money supply) does not increase the interest rate, income and hence does not stimulate economic growth.
Non Performing Assets
•
A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which
the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.
•
Banks are required to classify NPAs further into Substandard,
Doubtful and Loss assets.
Profitability Index
•
Profitability index is a financial tool which tells us whether an
investment should be accepted or rejected. It uses the time value concept of money.
Venture Capital
•
Start up companies with a potential to grow need a certain
amount of investment. Wealthy investors like to invest
their capital in such businesses with a long-term growth
perspective. This capital is known as venture capital and the
investors are called venture capitalists.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
Regressive Tax
• Under
taxable amount increases. In other words, there is an inverse
relationship between the tax rate and taxable income. The rate
of taxation decreases as the income of taxpayers increases.
Special Drawing Rights
•
This
comprising leading currencies globally and created by the International Monetary Fund in the year 1969.
•
Before its creation, the international community had to face
several restrictions in increasing world trade and the level of financial development as gold and US dollars, which were the only means of trade, were in limited quantities. In order to address the issue, SDR was created by the IMF.
Proportional Tax
•
Propor
authority charges the same rate of tax from each taxpayer, irrespective of income. This means that lower class, or middle class, or upper class people pay the same amount of tax. Since the tax is charged at a flat rate for everyone, whether earning higher income or lower income, it is also called flat tax.
Derivatives
•
A derivative is a contract between two parties which derives
its value/price from an underlying asset. The most common types of derivatives are futures, options, forwards and swaps.
Hedge Fund
•
Hedge fund is a private investment partnership and funds
pool that uses varied and complex proprietary strategies and invests or trades in complex products, including listed and unlisted derivatives.
Phillips Curve
•
The
inflation when graphically charted is called the Phillips curve.
Laffer Curve
•
The Laffer Curve describes the relationship between tax
rates and total tax revenue, with an optimal tax rate that maximizes total government tax revenue.
Asset Turnover Ratio
•
Asset
company’s sales or revenues and the value of its assets. It is an indicator of the efficiency with which a company is deploying its assets to produce the revenue.
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)
•
CAR
weighted assets and current liabilities. It is decided by central banks and bank regulators to prevent commercial banks from taking excess leverage and becoming insolvent in the process.
Contagion
•
In
as a situation where a shock in a particular economy or region spreads out and affects others by way of, say, price movements.
Liquidity Trap
•
Liquidity trap is a situation when expansionary monetary
policy (increase in money supply) does not increase the interest rate, income and hence does not stimulate economic growth.
Non Performing Assets
•
A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which
the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.
•
Banks are required to classify NPAs further into Substandard,
Doubtful and Loss assets.
Profitability Index
•
Profitability index is a financial tool which tells us whether an
investment should be accepted or rejected. It uses the time value concept of money.
Venture Capital
•
Start up companies with a potential to grow need a certain
amount of investment. Wealthy investors like to invest
their capital in such businesses with a long-term growth
perspective. This capital is known as venture capital and the
investors are called venture capitalists.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
31Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
economic growth initially leads to greater inequality, followed
later by the reduction of inequality.
Balance Sheet
•
Balance Sheet is the financial statement of a company which
includes assets, liabilities, equity capital, total debt, etc. at a point in time. Balance sheet includes assets on one side, and liabilities on the other. For the balance sheet to reflect the true picture, both heads (liabilities & assets) should tally (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).
Debt Consolidation
•
Debt consolidation means combining more than one debt
obligation into a new loan with a favourable term structure such as lower interest rate structure, tenure, etc. Here, the amount received from the new loan is used to pay off other debts.
Freight Village
•
A
relating to transport, logistics and the distribution of goods, both for national and international transit, are carried out by various operators.
Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)
•
These are mutual fund like institutions that enable investments
into the infrastructure sector by pooling small sums of money from multitude of individual investors for directly investing in infrastructure so as to return a portion of the income to unit holders of InvITs, who pooled in the money. InvITs are regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India
Countervailing Duty (CVD)
•
Countervailing Duty (CVD) is an additional import duty
imposed on imported products (by the importing country) when such products enjoy benefits like export subsidies and tax concessions in the country of their origin.
Safeguard Duty
•
Safeguard Duty is duty payable on import of goods which
is already being manufactured in India but cost of which is high compared to import price. It is imposed by Central Government on goods so that the Indian manufacturers do not suffer due to import of cheaper goods from outside. It helps in creating a level playing field for Indian manufacturers and importers.
Dividend
•
Dividend refers to a reward, cash or otherwise, that a company
gives to its shareholders. Dividends can be issued in various forms, such as cash payment, stocks or any other form. A company’s dividend is decided by its board of directors and it requires the shareholders’ approval. However, it is not obligatory for a company to pay dividend. Dividend is usually a part of the profit that the company shares with its shareholders.
Appropriation Bill
•
Appr
funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting the expenditure during the financial year.
Securities Transaction Tax
•
STT
a small tax on the total consideration paid or received in a share transaction. STT was introduced in the Budget of 2004 and implemented in Oct 2004. The objective behind the levy is to mitigate tax evasion as the same is taxed at source. Stocks, futures, option, mutual funds and exchange traded funds come under the ambit of STT.
Subvention
•
Subvention refers to a grant of money in aid or support,
mostly by the government. The term finds a mention in almost every Budget.
Treasury Bills
•
These
of less than a year. T- bills are issued to meet short-term mismatches in receipts and expenditure. Bonds of longer maturity are called dated securities.
Credit Rating
•
Cr
a financial instrument or a financial entity. It is a rating given to a particular entity based on the credentials and the extent to which the financial statements of the entity are sound, in terms of borrowing and lending that has been done in the past.
Kuznets Curve
•
It is a curve used to demonstrate the hypothesis that
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
economic growth initially leads to greater inequality, followed
later by the reduction of inequality.
Balance Sheet
•
Balance Sheet is the financial statement of a company which
includes assets, liabilities, equity capital, total debt, etc. at a point in time. Balance sheet includes assets on one side, and liabilities on the other. For the balance sheet to reflect the true picture, both heads (liabilities & assets) should tally (Assets = Liabilities + Equity).
Debt Consolidation
•
Debt consolidation means combining more than one debt
obligation into a new loan with a favourable term structure such as lower interest rate structure, tenure, etc. Here, the amount received from the new loan is used to pay off other debts.
Freight Village
•
A
relating to transport, logistics and the distribution of goods, both for national and international transit, are carried out by various operators.
Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)
•
These are mutual fund like institutions that enable investments
into the infrastructure sector by pooling small sums of money from multitude of individual investors for directly investing in infrastructure so as to return a portion of the income to unit holders of InvITs, who pooled in the money. InvITs are regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India
Countervailing Duty (CVD)
•
Countervailing Duty (CVD) is an additional import duty
imposed on imported products (by the importing country) when such products enjoy benefits like export subsidies and tax concessions in the country of their origin.
Safeguard Duty
•
Safeguard Duty is duty payable on import of goods which
is already being manufactured in India but cost of which is high compared to import price. It is imposed by Central Government on goods so that the Indian manufacturers do not suffer due to import of cheaper goods from outside. It helps in creating a level playing field for Indian manufacturers and importers.
Dividend
•
Dividend refers to a reward, cash or otherwise, that a company
gives to its shareholders. Dividends can be issued in various forms, such as cash payment, stocks or any other form. A company’s dividend is decided by its board of directors and it requires the shareholders’ approval. However, it is not obligatory for a company to pay dividend. Dividend is usually a part of the profit that the company shares with its shareholders.
Appropriation Bill
•
Appr
funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting the expenditure during the financial year.
Securities Transaction Tax
•
STT
a small tax on the total consideration paid or received in a share transaction. STT was introduced in the Budget of 2004 and implemented in Oct 2004. The objective behind the levy is to mitigate tax evasion as the same is taxed at source. Stocks, futures, option, mutual funds and exchange traded funds come under the ambit of STT.
Subvention
•
Subvention refers to a grant of money in aid or support,
mostly by the government. The term finds a mention in almost every Budget.
Treasury Bills
•
These
of less than a year. T- bills are issued to meet short-term mismatches in receipts and expenditure. Bonds of longer maturity are called dated securities.
Credit Rating
•
Cr
a financial instrument or a financial entity. It is a rating given to a particular entity based on the credentials and the extent to which the financial statements of the entity are sound, in terms of borrowing and lending that has been done in the past.
Kuznets Curve
•
It is a curve used to demonstrate the hypothesis that
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
32ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
commercial substance and is not a genuine transaction, then
what should be the tax liability associated with it.
Windfall tax
•
A windfall tax is a tax levied by governments against certain
industries when economic conditions allow those industries to experience significantly above-average profits. Windfall taxes are primarily levied on companies in the targeted industry that have benefited the most from the economic windfall, most often commodity-based businesses.
Withholding Tax
•
A withholding tax is an amount that an employer withholds
from employees' wages and pays directly to the government. The amount withheld is a credit against the income taxes the employee must pay during the year. It also is a tax levied on income (interest and dividends) from securities owned by a non-resident as well as other income paid to non-residents of a country.
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT)
•
M
i.e., those companies which show zero or negligible income to avoid tax. Under MAT, such companies are made liable to pay to the government, by deeming a certain percentage of their book profit as taxable income.
Crowdfunding
•
Cr
a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture. Crowdfunding makes use of the easy accessibility of vast networks of people through social media and crowdfunding websites to bring investors and entrepreneurs together, and has the potential to increase entrepreneurship by expanding the pool of investors from whom funds can be raised beyond the traditional circle of owners, relatives and venture capitalists.
Bank Rate
•
Bank r
lending funds to commercial banks. It influences lending rates
of commercial banks. Higher bank rate will translate to higher lending rates by the banks. In order to curb liquidity, the central bank can resort to raising the bank rate and vice versa.
Dumping Duty
• It
to another country at a price lower than its normal value. This is an unfair trade practice which can have a distortive effect on international trade.
Anti-dumping Duty
•
Anti-
government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are
priced below fair market value. Dumping is a process where
a company exports a product at a price lower than the price
it normally charges in its own home market.
Shadow banking
• Shadow Banking is that part of the financial system where
credit intermediation involving entities and activities remains outside the regular banking system.
Masala Bonds
•
M
outside India by Indian companies. The bonds are directly pegged to the Indian currency. So, investors directly take the currency risk or exchange rate risks.
World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidies
•
In
identified by “Boxes” namely Green Box, Amber Box & Blue Box.
• Green Box - In simple terms, subsidies that not distort trade
or at most cause minimal distortion are in this box. Usually
these subsidies are not directed at specific products.
• Amber Box - The subsidies that distort the international trade
by making products of a particular country cheaper in the international market as compared to same or similar product from another country is slotted under this box.
•
Blue Box - These are basically Amber Box subsidies but they
tend to limit the production. Countries argue that Blue box subsidies are crucial for ushering in agricultural reforms.
General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR)
•
GAAR is a set of rules or a framework which helps the
revenue authorities decides whether a particular transaction has commercial substance or not. If it does not have
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
commercial substance and is not a genuine transaction, then
what should be the tax liability associated with it.
Windfall tax
•
A windfall tax is a tax levied by governments against certain
industries when economic conditions allow those industries to experience significantly above-average profits. Windfall taxes are primarily levied on companies in the targeted industry that have benefited the most from the economic windfall, most often commodity-based businesses.
Withholding Tax
•
A withholding tax is an amount that an employer withholds
from employees' wages and pays directly to the government. The amount withheld is a credit against the income taxes the employee must pay during the year. It also is a tax levied on income (interest and dividends) from securities owned by a non-resident as well as other income paid to non-residents of a country.
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT)
•
M
i.e., those companies which show zero or negligible income to avoid tax. Under MAT, such companies are made liable to pay to the government, by deeming a certain percentage of their book profit as taxable income.
Crowdfunding
•
Cr
a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture. Crowdfunding makes use of the easy accessibility of vast networks of people through social media and crowdfunding websites to bring investors and entrepreneurs together, and has the potential to increase entrepreneurship by expanding the pool of investors from whom funds can be raised beyond the traditional circle of owners, relatives and venture capitalists.
Bank Rate
•
Bank r
lending funds to commercial banks. It influences lending rates
of commercial banks. Higher bank rate will translate to higher lending rates by the banks. In order to curb liquidity, the central bank can resort to raising the bank rate and vice versa.
Dumping Duty
• It
to another country at a price lower than its normal value. This is an unfair trade practice which can have a distortive effect on international trade.
Anti-dumping Duty
•
Anti-
government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are
priced below fair market value. Dumping is a process where
a company exports a product at a price lower than the price
it normally charges in its own home market.
Shadow banking
• Shadow Banking is that part of the financial system where
credit intermediation involving entities and activities remains outside the regular banking system.
Masala Bonds
•
M
outside India by Indian companies. The bonds are directly pegged to the Indian currency. So, investors directly take the currency risk or exchange rate risks.
World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidies
•
In
identified by “Boxes” namely Green Box, Amber Box & Blue Box.
• Green Box - In simple terms, subsidies that not distort trade
or at most cause minimal distortion are in this box. Usually
these subsidies are not directed at specific products.
• Amber Box - The subsidies that distort the international trade
by making products of a particular country cheaper in the international market as compared to same or similar product from another country is slotted under this box.
•
Blue Box - These are basically Amber Box subsidies but they
tend to limit the production. Countries argue that Blue box subsidies are crucial for ushering in agricultural reforms.
General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR)
•
GAAR is a set of rules or a framework which helps the
revenue authorities decides whether a particular transaction has commercial substance or not. If it does not have
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
33Current Economy Issues
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
macroeconomic objectives like inflation, consumption,
growth and liquidity.
Purchasing Power Parity
•
Pur
adjustments needed to be made in the exchange
rates of two currencies to make them at par with the
purchasing power of each other. It is the expenditure on
a similar commodity must be same in both currencies
when accounted for exchange rate. It is used worldwide
to compare the income levels in different countries.
Repo Rate
• Repo r
money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of
funds. For RBI point of view it is called as short term lending
and from banks point of view it is short term borrowing.
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
•
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the ratio of total deposits
of a commercial bank which it has to keep with itself in the
form of liquid assets. Liquid assets may consist of cash in
hand, gold, reserves with RBI, excess reserves, government
securities and other encumbered securities, etc.
•
SLR is amount that banks are required to maintain as
stipulated proportion of their net demand and time liabilities
(NDTL) in form of liquid assets such as cash, gold treasury
bills, unencumbered securities and dated securities etc.
Sovereign Risk
•
Any
debt repayments or not honouring a loan agreement is a sovereign risk.
Service Tax
•
Ser
providers on certain service transactions, but is actually borne by the customers.
Reverse Repo Rate
•
Reverse Repo Rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank
of India borrows money from commercial banks within the country. It is a monetary policy instrument which can be used to control the money supply in the country. An increase in Reverse Repo Rate means that commercial banks will get more incentives to park their funds with the RBI, thereby decreasing the supply of money in the market.
Gross Domestic Product
•
GDP
within the geographic boundaries of a country during a specified period of time, normally a year. GDP growth rate is an important indicator of the economic performance of a country.
Gross National Product
• Gross
(GDP) plus net factor income from abroad. It measures
the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced by the country's factors of production irrespective of their location. It includes taxes but does not include subsidies.
Wholesale Price Index
•
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) represents the price of goods at
a wholesale stage i.e. goods that are sold in bulk and traded
between organizations instead of consumers. WPI is often
used as a measure of inflation.
Inflation
•
Inflation is the percentage change in the value of the Wholesale
Price Index (WPI) on a year-on year basis. It effectively measures
the change in the prices of a basket of goods and services in
a year. It occurs due to an imbalance between demand and
supply of money, changes in production and distribution cost
or increase in taxes on products. When economy experiences
inflation the price level of goods and services rises and the
value of currency reduces.
Liquidity
• Liquidity means how quickly one can get his cash in hand.
In simpler terms, liquidity is to get your money whenever you
need it. It might be emergency savings account or the cash
lying with you that you can access in case of any unforeseen
happening or any financial setback.
Monetary Policy
• M
the Reserve Bank of India. It involves management of money
supply and interest rate and it is the demand side economic
policy used by the government of a country to achieve
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
macroeconomic objectives like inflation, consumption,
growth and liquidity.
Purchasing Power Parity
•
Pur
adjustments needed to be made in the exchange
rates of two currencies to make them at par with the
purchasing power of each other. It is the expenditure on
a similar commodity must be same in both currencies
when accounted for exchange rate. It is used worldwide
to compare the income levels in different countries.
Repo Rate
• Repo r
money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of
funds. For RBI point of view it is called as short term lending
and from banks point of view it is short term borrowing.
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
•
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the ratio of total deposits
of a commercial bank which it has to keep with itself in the
form of liquid assets. Liquid assets may consist of cash in
hand, gold, reserves with RBI, excess reserves, government
securities and other encumbered securities, etc.
•
SLR is amount that banks are required to maintain as
stipulated proportion of their net demand and time liabilities
(NDTL) in form of liquid assets such as cash, gold treasury
bills, unencumbered securities and dated securities etc.
Sovereign Risk
•
Any
debt repayments or not honouring a loan agreement is a sovereign risk.
Service Tax
•
Ser
providers on certain service transactions, but is actually borne by the customers.
Reverse Repo Rate
•
Reverse Repo Rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank
of India borrows money from commercial banks within the country. It is a monetary policy instrument which can be used to control the money supply in the country. An increase in Reverse Repo Rate means that commercial banks will get more incentives to park their funds with the RBI, thereby decreasing the supply of money in the market.
Gross Domestic Product
•
GDP
within the geographic boundaries of a country during a specified period of time, normally a year. GDP growth rate is an important indicator of the economic performance of a country.
Gross National Product
• Gross
(GDP) plus net factor income from abroad. It measures
the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced by the country's factors of production irrespective of their location. It includes taxes but does not include subsidies.
Wholesale Price Index
•
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) represents the price of goods at
a wholesale stage i.e. goods that are sold in bulk and traded
between organizations instead of consumers. WPI is often
used as a measure of inflation.
Inflation
•
Inflation is the percentage change in the value of the Wholesale
Price Index (WPI) on a year-on year basis. It effectively measures
the change in the prices of a basket of goods and services in
a year. It occurs due to an imbalance between demand and
supply of money, changes in production and distribution cost
or increase in taxes on products. When economy experiences
inflation the price level of goods and services rises and the
value of currency reduces.
Liquidity
• Liquidity means how quickly one can get his cash in hand.
In simpler terms, liquidity is to get your money whenever you
need it. It might be emergency savings account or the cash
lying with you that you can access in case of any unforeseen
happening or any financial setback.
Monetary Policy
• M
the Reserve Bank of India. It involves management of money
supply and interest rate and it is the demand side economic
policy used by the government of a country to achieve
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
34ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Cash Reserve Ratio
• Cash
of the total deposits of customers, which commercial banks
have to hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with
the central bank.
Depreciation
• The
use, wear and tear or obsolescence. This loss is measured as depreciation.
Equated Monthly Installment
•
EMI or equated monthly installment, as the name suggests,
is one part of the equally divided monthly outgoes to clear off an outstanding loan within a stipulated time frame.
Microeconomics
• M
and firms' behaviour in decision making and allocation of resources. It generally applies to markets of goods and services and deals with individual and economic issues.
Ponzi scheme
•
A Ponzi scheme is an investment plan in which the operator
or the operating company pays returns to investors from the new capital coming in from new investors instead off the profits of the business. The investors get attracted to these schemes because of the unusual high rate of return offered within shorter time spans compared to other conventional investment options.
Demat Account
•
The way in which a bank keeps money in a deposit account,
the depository company converts share certificates into electronics form and keeps them in a Demat Account.
Vostro Account
•
When
it is known as Vostro account. eg. Standard Chartered Bank in India.
Recession
•
Recession is a slowdown or a massive contraction in
economic activities. A significant fall in spending generally
leads to a recession.
Marginal Standing Facility
•
M
from the Reserve Bank of India in an emergency situation
when inter-bank liquidity dries up completely.
• MSF is very short term borrowing scheme for scheduled
banks and is rate at which scheduled banks borrow funds overnight from RBI against government securities.
Exchange Rate
•
Exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of
another currency. Exchange rates can be either fixed or
floating. Fixed exchange rates are decided by central banks
of a country whereas floating exchange rates are decided by
the mechanism of market demand and supply.
Deflation
• When
becomes negative, it is called deflation. It is the opposite of
the inflation.
Balance of Payment
•
Accor
statement that shows the transaction in goods, services
and income between an economy and the rest of the world;
changes of ownership and other changes in that economy's
monetary gold, special drawing rights (SDRs), and financial
claims on and liabilities to the rest of the world, and
Unrequited transfers.
Base Rate
•
Base
of India below which banks are not allowed to lend to its customers.
It is decided in order to enhance transparency in
the credit market and ensure that banks pass on the lower cost of fund to their customers. Loan pricing will be done by adding base rate and a suitable spread depending on the credit risk premium.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
Cash Reserve Ratio
• Cash
of the total deposits of customers, which commercial banks
have to hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with
the central bank.
Depreciation
• The
use, wear and tear or obsolescence. This loss is measured as depreciation.
Equated Monthly Installment
•
EMI or equated monthly installment, as the name suggests,
is one part of the equally divided monthly outgoes to clear off an outstanding loan within a stipulated time frame.
Microeconomics
• M
and firms' behaviour in decision making and allocation of resources. It generally applies to markets of goods and services and deals with individual and economic issues.
Ponzi scheme
•
A Ponzi scheme is an investment plan in which the operator
or the operating company pays returns to investors from the new capital coming in from new investors instead off the profits of the business. The investors get attracted to these schemes because of the unusual high rate of return offered within shorter time spans compared to other conventional investment options.
Demat Account
•
The way in which a bank keeps money in a deposit account,
the depository company converts share certificates into electronics form and keeps them in a Demat Account.
Vostro Account
•
When
it is known as Vostro account. eg. Standard Chartered Bank in India.
Recession
•
Recession is a slowdown or a massive contraction in
economic activities. A significant fall in spending generally
leads to a recession.
Marginal Standing Facility
•
M
from the Reserve Bank of India in an emergency situation
when inter-bank liquidity dries up completely.
• MSF is very short term borrowing scheme for scheduled
banks and is rate at which scheduled banks borrow funds overnight from RBI against government securities.
Exchange Rate
•
Exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of
another currency. Exchange rates can be either fixed or
floating. Fixed exchange rates are decided by central banks
of a country whereas floating exchange rates are decided by
the mechanism of market demand and supply.
Deflation
• When
becomes negative, it is called deflation. It is the opposite of
the inflation.
Balance of Payment
•
Accor
statement that shows the transaction in goods, services
and income between an economy and the rest of the world;
changes of ownership and other changes in that economy's
monetary gold, special drawing rights (SDRs), and financial
claims on and liabilities to the rest of the world, and
Unrequited transfers.
Base Rate
•
Base
of India below which banks are not allowed to lend to its customers.
It is decided in order to enhance transparency in
the credit market and ensure that banks pass on the lower cost of fund to their customers. Loan pricing will be done by adding base rate and a suitable spread depending on the credit risk premium.
Important Terms used in ECONOMY
35Environment & Wildlife
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ENVIRONMENT
& WILDLIFE
Key Facts
•
It is published every two years by the Forest Survey of India under the
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The first survey
was published in 1987, and ISFR 2023 is the 18th such report in the
series.
•
The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove
cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire, Agroforestry, etc.
Major Findings of ISFR 2023
•
The Forest and Tree cover of the country is 8,27,357 sq km which is 25.17
percent of the geographical area of the country, consisting of 7,15,343 sq
km (21.76%) as forest cover and 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%) as tree cover.
• 19 states/UTs have above 33 percent of the geographical area under forest cover.
Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
•
There is an increase of 1445 sq km in the forest and tree cover of the country which includes
156 sq km increase in the forest cover and 1289 sq km increase in tree cover.
Top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover: Chhattisgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan.
Top three states showing maximum increase in forest cover: Mizoram, Gujarat and
Odisha.
Area-wise top three states having largest forest and tree cover: Madhya Pradesh,
Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Area-wise top three states having largest forest cover: Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to total geographical area, Lakshadweep
(91.33 percent) has the highest forest cover followed by Mizoram (85.34 percent) and
Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.62 percent).
• The total annual potential production of timber from trees outside forest has been estimated
as 91.51 million cum.
• The extent of bamboo bearing area for the country has been estimated as 1,54,670 sq km.
As compared to the last assessment done in 2021 there is an increase of 5,227 sq km
in bamboo area.
• The total carbon stock in the country’s forest is estimated to be 7,285.5 million tonnes.
There is an increase of 81.5 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as
compared to the last assessment.
• India’s mangrove cover has decreased. It is now 4,991.68 sq km, a decrease of 7.43 sq km.
• Gujarat, has lost the highest area under mangroves, when compared to the last assessment – 36.39 sq km.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, released the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) at
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
India State of Forest Report 2023
Forest Survey of India
• Forest
was established in 1981
and is under the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change.
•
It succeeded the Pre-
investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR), initiated in 1965 with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support.
•
It conducts surveys and
research to monitor India’s forest and land resources, providing data for national planning, conservation, and sustainable management.
•
Headquarters: Dehradun.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ENVIRONMENT
& WILDLIFE
Key Facts
•
It is published every two years by the Forest Survey of India under the
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The first survey
was published in 1987, and ISFR 2023 is the 18th such report in the
series.
•
The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove
cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire, Agroforestry, etc.
Major Findings of ISFR 2023
•
The Forest and Tree cover of the country is 8,27,357 sq km which is 25.17
percent of the geographical area of the country, consisting of 7,15,343 sq
km (21.76%) as forest cover and 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%) as tree cover.
• 19 states/UTs have above 33 percent of the geographical area under forest cover.
Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
•
There is an increase of 1445 sq km in the forest and tree cover of the country which includes
156 sq km increase in the forest cover and 1289 sq km increase in tree cover.
Top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover: Chhattisgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan.
Top three states showing maximum increase in forest cover: Mizoram, Gujarat and
Odisha.
Area-wise top three states having largest forest and tree cover: Madhya Pradesh,
Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Area-wise top three states having largest forest cover: Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to total geographical area, Lakshadweep
(91.33 percent) has the highest forest cover followed by Mizoram (85.34 percent) and
Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.62 percent).
• The total annual potential production of timber from trees outside forest has been estimated
as 91.51 million cum.
• The extent of bamboo bearing area for the country has been estimated as 1,54,670 sq km.
As compared to the last assessment done in 2021 there is an increase of 5,227 sq km
in bamboo area.
• The total carbon stock in the country’s forest is estimated to be 7,285.5 million tonnes.
There is an increase of 81.5 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as
compared to the last assessment.
• India’s mangrove cover has decreased. It is now 4,991.68 sq km, a decrease of 7.43 sq km.
• Gujarat, has lost the highest area under mangroves, when compared to the last assessment – 36.39 sq km.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, released the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) at
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
India State of Forest Report 2023
Forest Survey of India
• Forest
was established in 1981
and is under the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change.
•
It succeeded the Pre-
investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR), initiated in 1965 with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support.
•
It conducts surveys and
research to monitor India’s forest and land resources, providing data for national planning, conservation, and sustainable management.
•
Headquarters: Dehradun.
36ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights:
• Ne A major breakthrough at COP29
was the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance
(NCQG). It aims to triple climate finance for developing
countries to USD 300 billion per year by 2035 from the
previous goal of USD 100, with developed countries taking
the lead.
It also makes a general call on all actors to scale up
climate financing to USD1.3 trillion per year by 2035
from all public and private sources to help developing
countries mitigate and adapt to climate impacts.
•
Carbon Markets Agreement: COP29 reached a landmark
agreement to finalise the mechanisms for carbon markets, including country-to-country trading (Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement) and a centralised carbon market under the United Nations (UN) (Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement).
Article 6.2, allows bilateral agreements between countries
to trade carbon credits based on mutually agreed terms.
Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (also known
as Article 6.4) seeks to develop a centralised, United
Nations-managed carbon emissions offset and trading
system.
•
Declaration on Reducing Methane: Over 30 countries,
including the US, Germany, UK, and UAE, endorsed the COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste (India is not a signatory).
The declaration targets the waste sector’s methane
emissions, which contribute to 20% of global methane
emissions. It focuses on five priority areas: Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs), regulation, data,
finance, and partnerships.
Countries are encouraged to include sectoral targets for
reducing methane emissions from organic waste in their
NDCs.
This builds on the Global Methane Pledge (India is not a
signatory) to reduce global methane emissions by 30%
by 2030, addressing methane from agriculture, waste,
and fossil fuels.
•
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: COP29 reinforced
the importance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in addressing climate change.
COP29 adopted the Baku Workplan and renewed the
Facilitative Working Group (FWG) mandate under the Local
Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP).
The Baku work plan prioritises bridging indigenous
knowledge with modern science, enhancing indigenous participation in climate dialogues and embedding indigenous values into climate policies.
The FWG will implement the Baku Workplan in a
gender-responsive and collaborative manner, with a review of progress scheduled for 2027.
FWG of the LCIPP is a constituted body established
at COP24 to further operationalize the LCIPP and facilitate its functions on knowledge, engagement, and climate policies, working with diverse bodies.
•
Gender and Climate Change: A decision was made to extend
the Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) for another 10 years, reaffirming gender equality in climate action and the need for a new gender action plan to be adopted at COP30 (Belém, Brazil).
Established in 2014, the LWPG aims to advance gender
balance and integrate gender considerations to ensure
gender-responsive climate policy and action under the
Convention and the Paris Agreement.
•
Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers: The COP29
Presidency in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launches the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers.
It is a platform that brings together the dispersed
landscape of existing climate initiatives in the field of
food and agriculture, in order to make support for farmers
easier to find and to facilitate access to finance.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the
Parties 29 (COP29) was concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan. This conference saw around 200
countries negotiate agreements aimed at addressing global climate challenges.
Key Highlights:
• Ne A major breakthrough at COP29
was the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance
(NCQG). It aims to triple climate finance for developing
countries to USD 300 billion per year by 2035 from the
previous goal of USD 100, with developed countries taking
the lead.
It also makes a general call on all actors to scale up
climate financing to USD1.3 trillion per year by 2035
from all public and private sources to help developing
countries mitigate and adapt to climate impacts.
•
Carbon Markets Agreement: COP29 reached a landmark
agreement to finalise the mechanisms for carbon markets, including country-to-country trading (Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement) and a centralised carbon market under the United Nations (UN) (Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement).
Article 6.2, allows bilateral agreements between countries
to trade carbon credits based on mutually agreed terms.
Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (also known
as Article 6.4) seeks to develop a centralised, United
Nations-managed carbon emissions offset and trading
system.
•
Declaration on Reducing Methane: Over 30 countries,
including the US, Germany, UK, and UAE, endorsed the COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste (India is not a signatory).
The declaration targets the waste sector’s methane
emissions, which contribute to 20% of global methane
emissions. It focuses on five priority areas: Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs), regulation, data,
finance, and partnerships.
Countries are encouraged to include sectoral targets for
reducing methane emissions from organic waste in their
NDCs.
This builds on the Global Methane Pledge (India is not a
signatory) to reduce global methane emissions by 30%
by 2030, addressing methane from agriculture, waste,
and fossil fuels.
•
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: COP29 reinforced
the importance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in addressing climate change.
COP29 adopted the Baku Workplan and renewed the
Facilitative Working Group (FWG) mandate under the Local
Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP).
The Baku work plan prioritises bridging indigenous
knowledge with modern science, enhancing indigenous participation in climate dialogues and embedding indigenous values into climate policies.
The FWG will implement the Baku Workplan in a
gender-responsive and collaborative manner, with a review of progress scheduled for 2027.
FWG of the LCIPP is a constituted body established
at COP24 to further operationalize the LCIPP and facilitate its functions on knowledge, engagement, and climate policies, working with diverse bodies.
•
Gender and Climate Change: A decision was made to extend
the Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) for another 10 years, reaffirming gender equality in climate action and the need for a new gender action plan to be adopted at COP30 (Belém, Brazil).
Established in 2014, the LWPG aims to advance gender
balance and integrate gender considerations to ensure
gender-responsive climate policy and action under the
Convention and the Paris Agreement.
•
Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers: The COP29
Presidency in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launches the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers.
It is a platform that brings together the dispersed
landscape of existing climate initiatives in the field of
food and agriculture, in order to make support for farmers
easier to find and to facilitate access to finance.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the
Parties 29 (COP29) was concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan. This conference saw around 200
countries negotiate agreements aimed at addressing global climate challenges.
37Environment & Wildlife
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India’s stance at COP 29
• O India rejected the NCQG, criticising it
for its inadequacy. The USD 300 billion pledge was deemed
insufficient for addressing the climate challenges faced by
developing nations.
India, alongside other Global South countries, has been
advocating for at least USD 1.3 trillion annually to meet
the growing demands of climate change mitigation and
adaptation in developing nations, with USD 600 billion as
grants or grant-equivalent resources.
•
Article 9 of the Paris Agreement: India emphasised that
developed countries should lead in mobilising climate finance, in line with Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, which places responsibility on developed nations.
However, the final deal shifted the responsibility to
all actors, including developing countries, instead
of holding developed nations accountable for their
historical emissions and financial commitments.
•
Solidarity with Vulnerable Nations: India backed the concerns
of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who walked out of the negotiations, citing that their demands for a fair and adequate financial target were being ignored.
India Role in COP:
•
I India’s first
NDC was submitted in 2015, and it updated its climate goals in 2022, highlighting achievements such as reducing emissions intensity by 33–35% and meeting 40% of its energy capacity from non-fossil fuels.
•
Securing Climate Finance: India has been a major beneficiary
of funds through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and carbon credits markets.
COP discussions on the Loss and Damage Fund
are crucial for India to secure financial support for
addressing the climate-induced impacts such as floods
and cyclones.
•
Global Climate Leadership: COP provides India the
opportunity to assert its leadership in global climate action, with initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to drive sustainable solutions for the global climate challenge.
•
Leveraging International Influence: India leads the Like-
minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and BASIC group at COP, amplifying the voices of the Global South and advocating for equitable climate action and finance.
Platforms like COP provide India opportunities to promote
initiatives like the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and
Mangrove Alliance for Climate.
India’s Role in Global Climate Governance Evolved
•
1970s t India was cautious about Western environmental
calls, fearing they would hinder its economic development.
At the 1972 Stockholm Conference, the then Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi emphasised the need to balance
environmental protection with poverty alleviation.
By signing the UNFCCC in 1992 at the Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro, India formally embraced sustainable development and supported Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which recognised the varying capacities and responsibilities of developed and developing nations.
India hosted COP8 in 2002, marking its shift from a passive
participant to an active role in climate negotiations.
India launched the National Action Plan on Climate
Change (NAPCC) in 2008, demonstrating its commitment to reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy.
•
Post-2015: The Paris Agreement, 2015 marked a pivotal shift
in global climate governance, allowing developing nations like India to contribute to climate action without facing disproportionate obligations.
The transition from rigid emission reduction targets to
voluntary Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
enabled India to align its climate commitments with
developmental priorities.
India submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) and updated them in 2022.
India contributed USD 1.28 billion to climate finance for
other developing countries in 2022, reinforcing its role as a climate leader.
•
Advocacy for Climate Equity and Justice: India advocates for
developed nations to provide financial and technological support to developing countries and actively supports mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India’s stance at COP 29
• O India rejected the NCQG, criticising it
for its inadequacy. The USD 300 billion pledge was deemed
insufficient for addressing the climate challenges faced by
developing nations.
India, alongside other Global South countries, has been
advocating for at least USD 1.3 trillion annually to meet
the growing demands of climate change mitigation and
adaptation in developing nations, with USD 600 billion as
grants or grant-equivalent resources.
•
Article 9 of the Paris Agreement: India emphasised that
developed countries should lead in mobilising climate finance, in line with Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, which places responsibility on developed nations.
However, the final deal shifted the responsibility to
all actors, including developing countries, instead
of holding developed nations accountable for their
historical emissions and financial commitments.
•
Solidarity with Vulnerable Nations: India backed the concerns
of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who walked out of the negotiations, citing that their demands for a fair and adequate financial target were being ignored.
India Role in COP:
•
I India’s first
NDC was submitted in 2015, and it updated its climate goals in 2022, highlighting achievements such as reducing emissions intensity by 33–35% and meeting 40% of its energy capacity from non-fossil fuels.
•
Securing Climate Finance: India has been a major beneficiary
of funds through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and carbon credits markets.
COP discussions on the Loss and Damage Fund
are crucial for India to secure financial support for
addressing the climate-induced impacts such as floods
and cyclones.
•
Global Climate Leadership: COP provides India the
opportunity to assert its leadership in global climate action, with initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to drive sustainable solutions for the global climate challenge.
•
Leveraging International Influence: India leads the Like-
minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and BASIC group at COP, amplifying the voices of the Global South and advocating for equitable climate action and finance.
Platforms like COP provide India opportunities to promote
initiatives like the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and
Mangrove Alliance for Climate.
India’s Role in Global Climate Governance Evolved
•
1970s t India was cautious about Western environmental
calls, fearing they would hinder its economic development.
At the 1972 Stockholm Conference, the then Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi emphasised the need to balance
environmental protection with poverty alleviation.
By signing the UNFCCC in 1992 at the Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro, India formally embraced sustainable development and supported Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which recognised the varying capacities and responsibilities of developed and developing nations.
India hosted COP8 in 2002, marking its shift from a passive
participant to an active role in climate negotiations.
India launched the National Action Plan on Climate
Change (NAPCC) in 2008, demonstrating its commitment to reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy.
•
Post-2015: The Paris Agreement, 2015 marked a pivotal shift
in global climate governance, allowing developing nations like India to contribute to climate action without facing disproportionate obligations.
The transition from rigid emission reduction targets to
voluntary Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
enabled India to align its climate commitments with
developmental priorities.
India submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) and updated them in 2022.
India contributed USD 1.28 billion to climate finance for
other developing countries in 2022, reinforcing its role as a climate leader.
•
Advocacy for Climate Equity and Justice: India advocates for
developed nations to provide financial and technological support to developing countries and actively supports mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund.
38ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Madhav National Park: India’s 58th Tiger
Reserve
The Union Government declared
the Madhav National Park in
Madhya Pradesh as the country’s
58th tiger reserve.
Key Facts
•
It has become the ninth tiger
reserve in the state, the highest in any state.
• Location: It is situated near Shivpuri town in Madhya Pradesh
and is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills.
• Lakes: Sakhya Sagar (Ramsar site, in 2022) and Madhav
Sagar.
• Rivers: Manier and Sind river.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests and Dry Thorn
Forests.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, Dhaora and Khair.
• Fauna: Nilgai, Chinkara and Chowsinga and Deer including
Chital, Sambar and Barking Deer.
• It was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja
of Gwalior.
• It got the status of a National Park in 1958.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
Framework Agreement Signed
The Framework Agreement on the establishment of the
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) recently came into force,
making it a full-fledged, treaty-based inter-governmental
international organization.
•
The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
2023, during the “Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger”
event. It is headquartered in Delhi.
• Members: 27 countries have consented to join the Alliance.
Five countries (Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and
Liberia) have officially ratified and become members of the IBCA.
It was established by the Government of India through the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), with an order dated 12th March, 2024.
•
It aims to conserve seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion,
Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
It includes both range countries (countries where these species are found) and non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation.
•
The primary goal of IBCA is to facilitate global collaboration
for big cat conservation, consolidate successful conservation practices, and achieve the common goal of preserving big cats worldwide.
•
It aims to provide financial support, disseminate conservation best
practices, create a central repository of technical knowledge, and strengthen intergovernmental conservation platforms.
Indore & Udaipur : Global List of Accredited
Wetland Cities
Indore and Udaipur have become the first
two Indian cities to join the global list of
accredited wetland cities.
Key Highlights
•
Sirpur
has been recognised for water bird congregation and is being developed as a bird sanctuary.
•
Udaipur in Rajasthan is surrounded by five major wetlands,
namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
About W
• It
during COP12 held in the year 2015.
• Accreditation is granted to only those cities which
satisfy all the six international criteria including adopting measures for conservation of wetlands and their ecosystem services.
•
Aim: To promote conservation and wise use of urban
and peri-urban wetlands.
• Validity: It is valid for 6 years, after which it must be
renewed, providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria.
•
The global list of 74 accredited wetland cities
comprises the highest 22 from China followed by nine from France.
•
Ramsar Convention is an international convention
on wetlands, adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
It provides a framework for the conservation and
wise use of wetlands and their resources across its
172-member countries including India.
At present, 85 wetlands in India are protected
under the treaty.
Madhav National Park: India’s 58th Tiger
Reserve
The Union Government declared
the Madhav National Park in
Madhya Pradesh as the country’s
58th tiger reserve.
Key Facts
•
It has become the ninth tiger
reserve in the state, the highest in any state.
• Location: It is situated near Shivpuri town in Madhya Pradesh
and is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills.
• Lakes: Sakhya Sagar (Ramsar site, in 2022) and Madhav
Sagar.
• Rivers: Manier and Sind river.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests and Dry Thorn
Forests.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, Dhaora and Khair.
• Fauna: Nilgai, Chinkara and Chowsinga and Deer including
Chital, Sambar and Barking Deer.
• It was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja
of Gwalior.
• It got the status of a National Park in 1958.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
Framework Agreement Signed
The Framework Agreement on the establishment of the
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) recently came into force,
making it a full-fledged, treaty-based inter-governmental
international organization.
•
The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
2023, during the “Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger”
event. It is headquartered in Delhi.
• Members: 27 countries have consented to join the Alliance.
Five countries (Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and
Liberia) have officially ratified and become members of the IBCA.
It was established by the Government of India through the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), with an order dated 12th March, 2024.
•
It aims to conserve seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion,
Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
It includes both range countries (countries where these species are found) and non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation.
•
The primary goal of IBCA is to facilitate global collaboration
for big cat conservation, consolidate successful conservation practices, and achieve the common goal of preserving big cats worldwide.
•
It aims to provide financial support, disseminate conservation best
practices, create a central repository of technical knowledge, and strengthen intergovernmental conservation platforms.
Indore & Udaipur : Global List of Accredited
Wetland Cities
Indore and Udaipur have become the first
two Indian cities to join the global list of
accredited wetland cities.
Key Highlights
•
Sirpur
has been recognised for water bird congregation and is being developed as a bird sanctuary.
•
Udaipur in Rajasthan is surrounded by five major wetlands,
namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
About W
• It
during COP12 held in the year 2015.
• Accreditation is granted to only those cities which
satisfy all the six international criteria including adopting measures for conservation of wetlands and their ecosystem services.
•
Aim: To promote conservation and wise use of urban
and peri-urban wetlands.
• Validity: It is valid for 6 years, after which it must be
renewed, providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria.
•
The global list of 74 accredited wetland cities
comprises the highest 22 from China followed by nine from France.
•
Ramsar Convention is an international convention
on wetlands, adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
It provides a framework for the conservation and
wise use of wetlands and their resources across its
172-member countries including India.
At present, 85 wetlands in India are protected
under the treaty.
39Environment & Wildlife
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
New Ramsar Sites declared
Recently, the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird
Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; and Tawa Reservoir of Madhya
Pradesh have been recognised as wetlands of international
importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the tally to 85.
Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary
•
Located in Tiruppur district, in
Tamil Nadu this sanctuary is a haven for avian biodiversity, especially for waterfowl habitats.
•
The sanctuary is named after
Nanjarayan, a local deity associated with the well-being of birds and animals.
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
•
Found
in Tamil Nadu that provides essential habitat for various bird species, including migratory visitors.
•
With the addition of Nanjarayan
and Kazhuveli, Tamil Nadu now boasts 18 Ramsar sites—the highest number in India.
Tawa Reservoir
•
It is located in M adhya
Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district.
•
Its inclusion underscores our
commitment to preserving these vital ecosystems, which play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, water purification, and flood control.
India’s 1st Coastline-Waders Bird Census
Gujarat is set to conduct the country’s first-ever census of coastal and wader birds at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar.
Key Highlights
•
The census will be jointly organised by the state forest
department and the Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat.
• Waders Bird:
They are also known as shorebirds or sandpipers, are
a group of birds typically found in coastal habitats or wetlands.
They are characterized by long legs, slender bodies,
and often long bills, which they use to forage for food like insects and worms.
About M
• The
Gujarat is India’s first designated marine national park.
• Spanning the districts of Devbhoomi Dwarka,
Jamnagar, and Morbi, it covers approximately 170 km of coastline and 42 islands.
•
This protected area in the Gulf of Kutch was established
to conserve marine biodiversity and mangrove ecosystems.
•
The park is positioned along the Central Asian Flyway
(CAF).
• It is a key migratory route for birds traveling, covering
a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans and the associated island chains.
COP 16 of UNCCD: Business4Land initiative
launched
At the 16th session of the
Conference of the Parties
(COP16) of the United
Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) that took
place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Business4Land initiative was
launched.
Business4Land Initiative:
•
Launched by: United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) (It is a legally binding international
agreement.)
• Aim: To engage private sector actors in sustainable land
management strategies.
• Supported by: World Economic Forum, World Business
Council for Sustainable Development Sustainable Fibre Alliance, etc
•
Objectives:
Raising awareness about the importance of sustainable
land management within the private sector.
Encouraging businesses to commit to sustainable
practices & invest in land restoration
Fostering collaboration between businesses,
governments, and civil society to accelerate progress towards land degradation neutrality.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
New Ramsar Sites declared
Recently, the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird
Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; and Tawa Reservoir of Madhya
Pradesh have been recognised as wetlands of international
importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the tally to 85.
Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary
•
Located in Tiruppur district, in
Tamil Nadu this sanctuary is a haven for avian biodiversity, especially for waterfowl habitats.
•
The sanctuary is named after
Nanjarayan, a local deity associated with the well-being of birds and animals.
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
•
Found
in Tamil Nadu that provides essential habitat for various bird species, including migratory visitors.
•
With the addition of Nanjarayan
and Kazhuveli, Tamil Nadu now boasts 18 Ramsar sites—the highest number in India.
Tawa Reservoir
•
It is located in M adhya
Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district.
•
Its inclusion underscores our
commitment to preserving these vital ecosystems, which play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, water purification, and flood control.
India’s 1st Coastline-Waders Bird Census
Gujarat is set to conduct the country’s first-ever census of coastal and wader birds at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar.
Key Highlights
•
The census will be jointly organised by the state forest
department and the Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat.
• Waders Bird:
They are also known as shorebirds or sandpipers, are
a group of birds typically found in coastal habitats or wetlands.
They are characterized by long legs, slender bodies,
and often long bills, which they use to forage for food like insects and worms.
About M
• The
Gujarat is India’s first designated marine national park.
• Spanning the districts of Devbhoomi Dwarka,
Jamnagar, and Morbi, it covers approximately 170 km of coastline and 42 islands.
•
This protected area in the Gulf of Kutch was established
to conserve marine biodiversity and mangrove ecosystems.
•
The park is positioned along the Central Asian Flyway
(CAF).
• It is a key migratory route for birds traveling, covering
a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans and the associated island chains.
COP 16 of UNCCD: Business4Land initiative
launched
At the 16th session of the
Conference of the Parties
(COP16) of the United
Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) that took
place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Business4Land initiative was
launched.
Business4Land Initiative:
•
Launched by: United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) (It is a legally binding international
agreement.)
• Aim: To engage private sector actors in sustainable land
management strategies.
• Supported by: World Economic Forum, World Business
Council for Sustainable Development Sustainable Fibre Alliance, etc
•
Objectives:
Raising awareness about the importance of sustainable
land management within the private sector.
Encouraging businesses to commit to sustainable
practices & invest in land restoration
Fostering collaboration between businesses,
governments, and civil society to accelerate progress towards land degradation neutrality.
40ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
USA withdrew from Paris Agreement
US President Donald Trump
decided to withdraw the
United States from the Paris
Agreement again — having
first done so in 2017.
Key Facts
•
On
Trump also ordered an immediate revocation of all climate finance commitments made by the US.
He has promised to reverse some of the climate-friendly
energy policies of the last few years, and reiterated
his commitment to extracting more oil and gas to meet
America’s energy requirements.
•
Background:
Trump’s predecessor (and successor) Joe Biden had
taken the US back into the Paris Agreement in 2021.
The US had not become a party to the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol as well, having refused to ratify it after signing on to it.
He opined that the international regulations on climate
change have been unfair to the US because similar restrictions are not placed on China, on account of it being classified as a developing country.
About P
• It is a legally binding international treaty on climate
change, adopted in 2015, at the COP21 to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
•
It aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
•
The Paris Agreement emphasizes nationally
determined contributions (NDCs) and encourages all countries to take climate action.
•
Countries must review and update their NDCs every
five years to enhance their efforts and increase ambition over time.
•
Article 28 of the Paris Agreement lays out the procedure
and timeline for a country’s withdrawal from the treaty.
• Any time after three years from the date on which this
Agreement has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving written notification.
COP-16 of Convention on Biological Diversity
held
The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of
the Parties (COP-16) to the Convention on
Biological Diversity was held in Cali, Colombia.
National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan (NBSAP)
•
India
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(NBSAP) 2024-2030, at the COP 16 to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD).
•
India has updated the NBSAP to align with the Kunming-
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) establishing the National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs).
•
It outlines 23 National Biodiversity Targets focused on
reducing threats to biodiversity, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and enhancing tools for implementation.
Each target is linked to specific strategies aimed at
promoting ecosystem resilience, species recovery, and
sustainable management practices.
•
Implementation: The MoEFCC serves as the central agency
responsible for coordinating biodiversity conservation efforts across India.
About C
• The
opened for signature in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit). The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993.
•
The first session of the COP was scheduled in 1994 in
the Bahamas.
• Secretariat: Montreal, Canada.
• Ratification: The CBD has been ratified by 196 nations, making
it one of the most widely adopted international treaties.
The United States is the only UN member state that
has not ratified the convention.
• It has 3 main objectives;
The conservation of biological diversity
The sustainable use of the components of biological
diversity
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
•
Governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP),
which meets every two years.
USA withdrew from Paris Agreement
US President Donald Trump
decided to withdraw the
United States from the Paris
Agreement again — having
first done so in 2017.
Key Facts
•
On
Trump also ordered an immediate revocation of all climate finance commitments made by the US.
He has promised to reverse some of the climate-friendly
energy policies of the last few years, and reiterated
his commitment to extracting more oil and gas to meet
America’s energy requirements.
•
Background:
Trump’s predecessor (and successor) Joe Biden had
taken the US back into the Paris Agreement in 2021.
The US had not become a party to the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol as well, having refused to ratify it after signing on to it.
He opined that the international regulations on climate
change have been unfair to the US because similar restrictions are not placed on China, on account of it being classified as a developing country.
About P
• It is a legally binding international treaty on climate
change, adopted in 2015, at the COP21 to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
•
It aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
•
The Paris Agreement emphasizes nationally
determined contributions (NDCs) and encourages all countries to take climate action.
•
Countries must review and update their NDCs every
five years to enhance their efforts and increase ambition over time.
•
Article 28 of the Paris Agreement lays out the procedure
and timeline for a country’s withdrawal from the treaty.
• Any time after three years from the date on which this
Agreement has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving written notification.
COP-16 of Convention on Biological Diversity
held
The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of
the Parties (COP-16) to the Convention on
Biological Diversity was held in Cali, Colombia.
National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan (NBSAP)
•
India
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(NBSAP) 2024-2030, at the COP 16 to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD).
•
India has updated the NBSAP to align with the Kunming-
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) establishing the National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs).
•
It outlines 23 National Biodiversity Targets focused on
reducing threats to biodiversity, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and enhancing tools for implementation.
Each target is linked to specific strategies aimed at
promoting ecosystem resilience, species recovery, and
sustainable management practices.
•
Implementation: The MoEFCC serves as the central agency
responsible for coordinating biodiversity conservation efforts across India.
About C
• The
opened for signature in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit). The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993.
•
The first session of the COP was scheduled in 1994 in
the Bahamas.
• Secretariat: Montreal, Canada.
• Ratification: The CBD has been ratified by 196 nations, making
it one of the most widely adopted international treaties.
The United States is the only UN member state that
has not ratified the convention.
• It has 3 main objectives;
The conservation of biological diversity
The sustainable use of the components of biological
diversity
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
•
Governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP),
which meets every two years.
41Environment & Wildlife
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Cabinet approved BioE3 Policy
The Union Cabinet cleared
a proposal to bolster
biotechnology-based
manufacturing, called BioE3
(Biotechnology for Economy,
Environment and Employment)
Policy.
Key Highlights
•
To
priorities, the BioE3 Policy would broadly focus on the following strategic/thematic sectors:
high value bio-based chemicals, biopolymers & enzymes
smart proteins & functional foods;
precision biotherapeutics;
climate resilient agriculture;
carbon capture & its utilisation;
marine and space research.
• The policy includes innovation-driven support to R&D and
entrepreneurship across thematic sectors.
Significance:
•
The policy will accelerate technology development and
commercialization by establishing Biomanufacturing & Bio-
AI hubs and Bio-foundry.
• Along with prioritizing regenerative bioeconomy models of
green growth, this policy will facilitate expansion of India’s
skilled workforce and provide a surge in job creation.
• The Policy will further strengthen Government’s initiatives
such as ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy & ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ and will steer India on the path of accelerated ‘Green Growth’ by promoting ‘Circular Bioeconomy’.
•
It will foster an advanced future that is more sustainable,
innovative, and responsive to global challenges and lays
down the Bio-vision for Viksit Bharat.
State of the World’s Mangroves,
2024 Report released
The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA)
has released a report titled ‘The State
of the World’s Mangroves, 2024’ on
World Mangrove Day (26 July).
Key Highlights of the Report
• Distr
global mangrove cover with Indonesia alone having 21 percent of the world’s mangroves.
•
Area under threat:
Mangrove areas of Indonesia, northeast Brazil and
northwest Mexico are experiencing significant losses.
Mangroves in Lakshadweep archipelago and on the
coast of Tamil Nadu are critically endangered.
• Reasons for Loss:
Conversion to aquaculture, oil palm plantations and rice
cultivation together accounts for 43 percent of mangrove losses between 2000 and 2020.
Shrimp farms that are mostly constructed within the
vital intertidal zones, resulting in the total removal of mangroves.
World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 released
The 2024 World Wildlife Crime
Report was released by the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Key Highlights:
•
This r
into the illegal wildlife trade
that occurred between 2015
and 2021.
•
Rhinos, elephants, pangolins,
cedars, rosewoods and agarwood most affected by illegal wildlife trade
•
The 2024 report is the third edition, with earlier editions published in
2016 and 2020. It probes trends in the illicit trafficking of protected wildlife species.
•
It also presents systematic analyses of wildlife crime harms
and impacts, probes the factors driving wildlife trafficking
trends, and takes stock of current knowledge about the
effectiveness of the different types of intervention being
pursued to resolve this problem.
•
The report noted that wildlife trafficking persists worldwide
despite two decades of concerted action at international and national levels.
•
The document urged strong coherence and harmonisation across
the trade chain, strong international cooperation and increased
investment to build data and analytical capacity at national and
international levels in order to close knowledge gaps.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Cabinet approved BioE3 Policy
The Union Cabinet cleared
a proposal to bolster
biotechnology-based
manufacturing, called BioE3
(Biotechnology for Economy,
Environment and Employment)
Policy.
Key Highlights
•
To
priorities, the BioE3 Policy would broadly focus on the following strategic/thematic sectors:
high value bio-based chemicals, biopolymers & enzymes
smart proteins & functional foods;
precision biotherapeutics;
climate resilient agriculture;
carbon capture & its utilisation;
marine and space research.
• The policy includes innovation-driven support to R&D and
entrepreneurship across thematic sectors.
Significance:
•
The policy will accelerate technology development and
commercialization by establishing Biomanufacturing & Bio-
AI hubs and Bio-foundry.
• Along with prioritizing regenerative bioeconomy models of
green growth, this policy will facilitate expansion of India’s
skilled workforce and provide a surge in job creation.
• The Policy will further strengthen Government’s initiatives
such as ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy & ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ and will steer India on the path of accelerated ‘Green Growth’ by promoting ‘Circular Bioeconomy’.
•
It will foster an advanced future that is more sustainable,
innovative, and responsive to global challenges and lays
down the Bio-vision for Viksit Bharat.
State of the World’s Mangroves,
2024 Report released
The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA)
has released a report titled ‘The State
of the World’s Mangroves, 2024’ on
World Mangrove Day (26 July).
Key Highlights of the Report
• Distr
global mangrove cover with Indonesia alone having 21 percent of the world’s mangroves.
•
Area under threat:
Mangrove areas of Indonesia, northeast Brazil and
northwest Mexico are experiencing significant losses.
Mangroves in Lakshadweep archipelago and on the
coast of Tamil Nadu are critically endangered.
• Reasons for Loss:
Conversion to aquaculture, oil palm plantations and rice
cultivation together accounts for 43 percent of mangrove losses between 2000 and 2020.
Shrimp farms that are mostly constructed within the
vital intertidal zones, resulting in the total removal of mangroves.
World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 released
The 2024 World Wildlife Crime
Report was released by the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Key Highlights:
•
This r
into the illegal wildlife trade
that occurred between 2015
and 2021.
•
Rhinos, elephants, pangolins,
cedars, rosewoods and agarwood most affected by illegal wildlife trade
•
The 2024 report is the third edition, with earlier editions published in
2016 and 2020. It probes trends in the illicit trafficking of protected wildlife species.
•
It also presents systematic analyses of wildlife crime harms
and impacts, probes the factors driving wildlife trafficking
trends, and takes stock of current knowledge about the
effectiveness of the different types of intervention being
pursued to resolve this problem.
•
The report noted that wildlife trafficking persists worldwide
despite two decades of concerted action at international and national levels.
•
The document urged strong coherence and harmonisation across
the trade chain, strong international cooperation and increased
investment to build data and analytical capacity at national and
international levels in order to close knowledge gaps.
42ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
World Air Quality Report 2024 released
A recent report by IQAir revealed that India is among the world’s
most polluted nations. Thirteen of the top twenty polluted cities
globally are located in India.
Key Highlights
• Accor
as the fifth most polluted country, a slight improvement from
third place in 2023.
• The average PM2.5 concentration in India decreased by 7%
to 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre.
• However, cities like Delhi continue to struggle, with a PM2.5
level of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre. This figure is nearly unchanged from the previous year.
Major Polluted Cities in India
•
The report lists Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni,
New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi,
Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh, and Noida among the world’s
top polluted cities.
•
These cities report PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO limits by
over ten times.
Health Impacts of Air Pollution
•
Air
by an estimated 5.2 years due to poor air quality.
• A study published in Lancet Planetary Health indicates that
approximately 1.5 million deaths annually from 2009 to 2019 were linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5 particles, smaller than 2.5 microns, can infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing severe health issues such as respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and cancer.
UNEP launched Emissions Gap Report 2024
The Emissions Gap Report, an annual publication of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), has been released.
Key Highlights
•
It is UNEP’s spotlight report launched annually in advance of
the annual Climate negotiations.
• It tracks the gap between where global emissions are
heading with current country commitments and where they ought to be to limit warming to 1.5°C.
•
Each edition explores ways to bridge the emissions gap.
• The report assessed countries’ Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs), which they are required to update every five years, to determine how much the world might warm if these plans were fully implemented.
Major Findings
•
1.5 Degree Target: It warned that the Paris Agreement
objective of keeping global rise in temperatures to within 1.5 degree Celsius would be gone within a few years.
The bare minimum required to keep the 1.5-degree target
in sight was 42 percent reduction. The reductions must
increase to 57 percent by 2035 to keep the target alive.
• Global emissions in 2023 was 1.3 percent higher than the
previous year.
Greenhouse gas emissions of China and India, two of the top
three emitters, grew by 5.2 percent and 6.1 percent respectively.
• Current climate actions, even in the most optimistic scenario,
could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 10
percent by 2030 on 2019 levels.
The 2-degree Celsius threshold would be in danger of being
breached, unless countries dramatically scale up their climate
actions to reduce global emissions in two years.
Without dramatic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the
world could face an inevitable 3.1°C temperature rise.
About United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
• It is the leading environmental authority in the United
Nations system established in 1972.
• The UN Environment Assembly is the policy-making organ
of UNEP.
• Headquarter: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Major Reports: Global Environment Outlook, The Rise
of Environmental Crime Report, Actions on Air Quality, Frontiers Report, Adaptation Gap Report.
Rushikonda Beach received Blue Flag Tag
Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam wins back the Blue Flag tag. India currently has 13 beaches with Blue Flag certification.
•
The Blue Flag is an international eco-label awarded to
beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. It is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
•
Recognized globally as a symbol of cleanliness, safety, and
environmental sustainability.
• To earn the Blue Flag, a beach/marina must meet 33 strict
criteria across four main categories:
Environmental Education and Information
Water Quality
Environmental Management
Safety and Services
World Air Quality Report 2024 released
A recent report by IQAir revealed that India is among the world’s
most polluted nations. Thirteen of the top twenty polluted cities
globally are located in India.
Key Highlights
• Accor
as the fifth most polluted country, a slight improvement from
third place in 2023.
• The average PM2.5 concentration in India decreased by 7%
to 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre.
• However, cities like Delhi continue to struggle, with a PM2.5
level of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre. This figure is nearly unchanged from the previous year.
Major Polluted Cities in India
•
The report lists Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni,
New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi,
Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh, and Noida among the world’s
top polluted cities.
•
These cities report PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO limits by
over ten times.
Health Impacts of Air Pollution
•
Air
by an estimated 5.2 years due to poor air quality.
• A study published in Lancet Planetary Health indicates that
approximately 1.5 million deaths annually from 2009 to 2019 were linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5 particles, smaller than 2.5 microns, can infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing severe health issues such as respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and cancer.
UNEP launched Emissions Gap Report 2024
The Emissions Gap Report, an annual publication of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), has been released.
Key Highlights
•
It is UNEP’s spotlight report launched annually in advance of
the annual Climate negotiations.
• It tracks the gap between where global emissions are
heading with current country commitments and where they ought to be to limit warming to 1.5°C.
•
Each edition explores ways to bridge the emissions gap.
• The report assessed countries’ Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs), which they are required to update every five years, to determine how much the world might warm if these plans were fully implemented.
Major Findings
•
1.5 Degree Target: It warned that the Paris Agreement
objective of keeping global rise in temperatures to within 1.5 degree Celsius would be gone within a few years.
The bare minimum required to keep the 1.5-degree target
in sight was 42 percent reduction. The reductions must
increase to 57 percent by 2035 to keep the target alive.
• Global emissions in 2023 was 1.3 percent higher than the
previous year.
Greenhouse gas emissions of China and India, two of the top
three emitters, grew by 5.2 percent and 6.1 percent respectively.
• Current climate actions, even in the most optimistic scenario,
could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 10
percent by 2030 on 2019 levels.
The 2-degree Celsius threshold would be in danger of being
breached, unless countries dramatically scale up their climate
actions to reduce global emissions in two years.
Without dramatic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the
world could face an inevitable 3.1°C temperature rise.
About United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
• It is the leading environmental authority in the United
Nations system established in 1972.
• The UN Environment Assembly is the policy-making organ
of UNEP.
• Headquarter: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Major Reports: Global Environment Outlook, The Rise
of Environmental Crime Report, Actions on Air Quality, Frontiers Report, Adaptation Gap Report.
Rushikonda Beach received Blue Flag Tag
Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam wins back the Blue Flag tag. India currently has 13 beaches with Blue Flag certification.
•
The Blue Flag is an international eco-label awarded to
beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. It is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
•
Recognized globally as a symbol of cleanliness, safety, and
environmental sustainability.
• To earn the Blue Flag, a beach/marina must meet 33 strict
criteria across four main categories:
Environmental Education and Information
Water Quality
Environmental Management
Safety and Services
43National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Meaning of ‘Waqf’
Parliament Passes
Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, now renamed as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment,
Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill, has been passed in the Parliament. Mussalman Wakf
(Repeal) Bill 2024 also approved, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.
WAQF(Amendment) Bill 2025
Key Amendments
• CThe Union Minister in-charge of waqf is the ex-
officio chairperson.
• Council members include:
Members of Parliament (MPs).
Persons of national eminence.
Retired Supreme Court/High Court judges.
Eminent scholars in Muslim law.
The Bill removes the Muslim requirement for MPs, former judges, and eminent
persons.
The Bill mandates two non-Muslim members in the Council.
• Composition of Waqf Boards:
Empowers state governments to nominate one person from each group.
Non-Muslim members required: two.
Must include at least one member each from Shias, Sunnis, and Backward Muslim
classes.
Requires two Muslim women members.
• Composition of Tribunals:
Removes the expert in Muslim law.
District Court judge (Chairman).
Joint Secretary rank officer.
• Appeals Against Tribunal Orders:
Act: Decisions of Tribunals are final, with no appeals allowed in courts.
Bill: Allows appeals against Tribunal decisions to the High Court within 90 days.
• Survey of Properties: The Bill replaces the Survey Commissioner with the District Collector
or other senior officers to oversee the survey of Waqf properties.
• Government property as waqf: The Bill states that any government property identified as
waqf will cease to be so. The Collector of the area will determine ownership in case of
uncertainty, if deemed a government property, he will update the revenue records.
• Audits: Waqf institutions earning over ₹1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored
auditors.
• Centralized Portal: A centralized portal will be created for automating Waqf property
management, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
• Property Dedication: Practicing Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate property to
the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
• Women’s Inheritance: Women must receive inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with
special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
Refers to properties dedicated
solely for religious or charitable
purposes under Islamic law.
Sale or other use of the
property is prohibited.
The ownership of the property
is transferred from the person
making the Waqf (called waqif)
to Allah, making it irrevocable.
The creator is a wakif, and
the property is managed by a
mutawalli.
Origin of the Concept
of ‘Waqf’
Traces back to the Delhi
Sultanate when Sultan
Muizuddin Sam Ghaor
dedicated villages to
the Jama Masjid of
Multan.
Waqf properties grew with the
rise of Islamic dynasties in India.
The Mussalman Waqf Validating
Act of 1913 protected the
institution of Waqf in
India.
NATIONAL
AFFAIRS
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Meaning of ‘Waqf’
Parliament Passes
Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, now renamed as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment,
Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill, has been passed in the Parliament. Mussalman Wakf
(Repeal) Bill 2024 also approved, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.
WAQF(Amendment) Bill 2025
Key Amendments
• CThe Union Minister in-charge of waqf is the ex-
officio chairperson.
• Council members include:
Members of Parliament (MPs).
Persons of national eminence.
Retired Supreme Court/High Court judges.
Eminent scholars in Muslim law.
The Bill removes the Muslim requirement for MPs, former judges, and eminent
persons.
The Bill mandates two non-Muslim members in the Council.
• Composition of Waqf Boards:
Empowers state governments to nominate one person from each group.
Non-Muslim members required: two.
Must include at least one member each from Shias, Sunnis, and Backward Muslim
classes.
Requires two Muslim women members.
• Composition of Tribunals:
Removes the expert in Muslim law.
District Court judge (Chairman).
Joint Secretary rank officer.
• Appeals Against Tribunal Orders:
Act: Decisions of Tribunals are final, with no appeals allowed in courts.
Bill: Allows appeals against Tribunal decisions to the High Court within 90 days.
• Survey of Properties: The Bill replaces the Survey Commissioner with the District Collector
or other senior officers to oversee the survey of Waqf properties.
• Government property as waqf: The Bill states that any government property identified as
waqf will cease to be so. The Collector of the area will determine ownership in case of
uncertainty, if deemed a government property, he will update the revenue records.
• Audits: Waqf institutions earning over ₹1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored
auditors.
• Centralized Portal: A centralized portal will be created for automating Waqf property
management, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
• Property Dedication: Practicing Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate property to
the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
• Women’s Inheritance: Women must receive inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with
special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
Refers to properties dedicated
solely for religious or charitable
purposes under Islamic law.
Sale or other use of the
property is prohibited.
The ownership of the property
is transferred from the person
making the Waqf (called waqif)
to Allah, making it irrevocable.
The creator is a wakif, and
the property is managed by a
mutawalli.
Origin of the Concept
of ‘Waqf’
Traces back to the Delhi
Sultanate when Sultan
Muizuddin Sam Ghaor
dedicated villages to
the Jama Masjid of
Multan.
Waqf properties grew with the
rise of Islamic dynasties in India.
The Mussalman Waqf Validating
Act of 1913 protected the
institution of Waqf in
India.
NATIONAL
AFFAIRS
44ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Pamban Bridge
The new Pamban Bridge has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replacing the century-old structure.
Historical Linkages
• The Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram to mainland India, spanning across the ocean.
• It was originally built in 1914 and served as India’s first sea bridge, crucial for trade and pilgrimage.
• The old bridge survived the 1964 tsunami, which tragically washed away a train, but suffered extensive damage. It was later
restored by renowned engineer E. Sreedharan with the help of local fishermen.
• The new bridge was designed to overcome the limitations of the old structure, ensuring durability, improved maritime navigation,
and future-ready capacity. It aims to enhance regional connectivity and support economic growth.
New Bridge
•
The New Pamban Bridge has been constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of
Railways.
• It features a 72.5-meter lift span that can rise 17 meters to allow ships to pass.
• It is 3 meters higher than the old bridge and is designed to accommodate both heavy freight trains and advanced semi-high-
speed trains, like Vande Bharat.
• It spans 2.08 kilometers and has an expected lifespan of 58 years.
• It is India’s first Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge and is built with advanced materials to withstand harsh marine conditions.
Historical Background
•
C The Pamban Bridge was commissioned on February 24, 1914, to improve connectivity between
the mainland and Rameswaram Island. Over the years, it has become a key landmark in the region.
• Strategic Importance
Sole Link: For much of its history, the bridge was the only link between Rameswaram Island and the mainland, making it a
crucial infrastructure piece for both transportation and economic activities.
Pilgrimage Significance: The bridge has played a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of pilgrims traveling to the
Rameswaram Temple, a major religious site in Tamil Nadu.
Humanitarian Role: During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the bridge also served as an important route for refugees seeking asylum
in India, further emphasizing its strategic significance.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Pamban Bridge
The new Pamban Bridge has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replacing the century-old structure.
Historical Linkages
• The Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram to mainland India, spanning across the ocean.
• It was originally built in 1914 and served as India’s first sea bridge, crucial for trade and pilgrimage.
• The old bridge survived the 1964 tsunami, which tragically washed away a train, but suffered extensive damage. It was later
restored by renowned engineer E. Sreedharan with the help of local fishermen.
• The new bridge was designed to overcome the limitations of the old structure, ensuring durability, improved maritime navigation,
and future-ready capacity. It aims to enhance regional connectivity and support economic growth.
New Bridge
•
The New Pamban Bridge has been constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of
Railways.
• It features a 72.5-meter lift span that can rise 17 meters to allow ships to pass.
• It is 3 meters higher than the old bridge and is designed to accommodate both heavy freight trains and advanced semi-high-
speed trains, like Vande Bharat.
• It spans 2.08 kilometers and has an expected lifespan of 58 years.
• It is India’s first Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge and is built with advanced materials to withstand harsh marine conditions.
Historical Background
•
C The Pamban Bridge was commissioned on February 24, 1914, to improve connectivity between
the mainland and Rameswaram Island. Over the years, it has become a key landmark in the region.
• Strategic Importance
Sole Link: For much of its history, the bridge was the only link between Rameswaram Island and the mainland, making it a
crucial infrastructure piece for both transportation and economic activities.
Pilgrimage Significance: The bridge has played a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of pilgrims traveling to the
Rameswaram Temple, a major religious site in Tamil Nadu.
Humanitarian Role: During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the bridge also served as an important route for refugees seeking asylum
in India, further emphasizing its strategic significance.
45National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ken-Betwa River Linking Project unveiled
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the
interstate Ken-Betwa River linking project.
Key Highlights
•
In 2021, a memorandum of agreement was signed among
the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
•
The project will transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa
river, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
• The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km in length, including
a 2-km tunnel.
• It has two phases. Phase-I will involve building the Daudhan
Dam complex and its subsidiary units.
• Phase-II will involve three components — Lower Orr Dam,
Bina Complex Project and Kotha Barrage.
• The project lies in Bundelkhand, which spreads across 13
districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved
region.
• It is proposed to be implemented in eight years.
Concerns with the River Linking Projects
• Alter
ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, changes in biodiversity, and potential extinction of species.
•
The construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals for river
interlinking result in the displacement of communities, leading to social and economic hardships for affected populations.
•
River interlinking projects often involve multiple states, and
disagreements arise over water sharing, leading to inter- state disputes.
•
The construction of large-scale infrastructure for river
interlinking projects can be economically challenging, with costs often exceeding initial estimates.
•
Areas prone to earthquakes face increased risks due to the
construction of large dams and other infrastructure.
• Neglecting maintenance can lead to system failures and
adverse consequences.
• Local communities and environmental activists often oppose
river interlinking projects due to concerns about their impact
on the environment, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
Significance of River Linking Projects
•
It helps transfer surplus water from water-rich regions to
water-deficient areas, addressing water scarcity issues.
• It increased water availability in dry regions to enhance
agricultural productivity.
• Interlinking rivers help distribute excess water during periods
of heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of floods in specific
regions.
• The construction of reservoirs and canals for interlinking
projects create opportunities for hydropower generation.
• The construction and maintenance of interlinking
infrastructure create job opportunities, contributing to economic development.
•
River interlinking projects potentially reduce inter-state
disputes over water resources by providing a more equitable distribution of water.
Uttarakhand approved Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
The Uttarakhand Government approved the rules for the Uniform Civil Code.
Key Facts
•
In 2024, The Uttarakhand
Legislative Assembly passed The Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, becoming the first Indian State to adopt a UCC post- independence.
•
It bans polygamy, nikah halala, child marriage, and
extrajudicial divorce practices while ensuring uniform
marriageable ages (21 for men, 18 for women).
Women gain equal property rights, though personal laws
on guardianship and Hindu Undivided Families remain
unchanged.
Live-in relationships are recognized as quasi-marriages,
safeguarding offspring legitimacy.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ken-Betwa River Linking Project unveiled
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the
interstate Ken-Betwa River linking project.
Key Highlights
•
In 2021, a memorandum of agreement was signed among
the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
•
The project will transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa
river, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
• The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km in length, including
a 2-km tunnel.
• It has two phases. Phase-I will involve building the Daudhan
Dam complex and its subsidiary units.
• Phase-II will involve three components — Lower Orr Dam,
Bina Complex Project and Kotha Barrage.
• The project lies in Bundelkhand, which spreads across 13
districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved
region.
• It is proposed to be implemented in eight years.
Concerns with the River Linking Projects
• Alter
ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, changes in biodiversity, and potential extinction of species.
•
The construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals for river
interlinking result in the displacement of communities, leading to social and economic hardships for affected populations.
•
River interlinking projects often involve multiple states, and
disagreements arise over water sharing, leading to inter- state disputes.
•
The construction of large-scale infrastructure for river
interlinking projects can be economically challenging, with costs often exceeding initial estimates.
•
Areas prone to earthquakes face increased risks due to the
construction of large dams and other infrastructure.
• Neglecting maintenance can lead to system failures and
adverse consequences.
• Local communities and environmental activists often oppose
river interlinking projects due to concerns about their impact
on the environment, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
Significance of River Linking Projects
•
It helps transfer surplus water from water-rich regions to
water-deficient areas, addressing water scarcity issues.
• It increased water availability in dry regions to enhance
agricultural productivity.
• Interlinking rivers help distribute excess water during periods
of heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of floods in specific
regions.
• The construction of reservoirs and canals for interlinking
projects create opportunities for hydropower generation.
• The construction and maintenance of interlinking
infrastructure create job opportunities, contributing to economic development.
•
River interlinking projects potentially reduce inter-state
disputes over water resources by providing a more equitable distribution of water.
Uttarakhand approved Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
The Uttarakhand Government approved the rules for the Uniform Civil Code.
Key Facts
•
In 2024, The Uttarakhand
Legislative Assembly passed The Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, becoming the first Indian State to adopt a UCC post- independence.
•
It bans polygamy, nikah halala, child marriage, and
extrajudicial divorce practices while ensuring uniform
marriageable ages (21 for men, 18 for women).
Women gain equal property rights, though personal laws
on guardianship and Hindu Undivided Families remain
unchanged.
Live-in relationships are recognized as quasi-marriages,
safeguarding offspring legitimacy.
46ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
About Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
• A
law for the entire country, applicable to all religious
communities, in their personal matters such as
marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc.
•
It aims to replace the existing diverse personal laws
that vary based on religious affiliations.
• Article 44 contained in part IV of the Constitution says
that the state “shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.
•
Part IV of the Constitution outlines the Directive
Principles of State Policy, which, while not enforceable or justiciable in a court of law, are fundamental to the country’s governance.
•
UCC in Goa: It follows the Portuguese Civil Code of
1867, which means that people of all religions in Goa are subject to the same laws on marriage, divorce, and succession.
The Goa, Daman and Diu Administration Act of
1962, which was passed after Goa joined the
union as a territory in 1961, gave Goa permission
to apply the Civil Code.
Union Govt. approved Eighth Pay Commission
The Union Government has approved the establishment of the Eighth Pay Commission.
Key Points:
• The Pay Commission determines the salary, compensation,
and allowances for central government employees and pensioners.
•
Objectives:
Proposing formulas for dearness allowance (DA) and
dearness relief (DR) adjustments to mitigate inflation’s impact.
Recommendation of Pay commission is non-binding in
nature.
• Pay Commissions are generally constituted every 10 years.
The 8th Pay Commission is being set up well before the term of the 7th Pay Commission ends in 2025, allowing sufficient time for review and implementation.
•
The 7th pay commission headed by Justice A.K. Mathur,
was implemented in 2016 and introduced Pay Matrix; Min: Rs 18,000/month, Max: Rs 2,50,000/month.
•
Composition: Usually headed by a retired Supreme Court
judge.
Union Govt. approved President’s Rule in Manipur
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, with the state assembly placed under suspended animation.
Constitutional Provisions
•
Aempowers the President
of India to impose President’s Rule in a state when governance cannot be carried out as per constitutional provisions.
•
Grounds: If the President receives a report from the state’s
Governor or otherwise is convinced or satisfied that the
state’s situation is such that the state government cannot
carry on the governance according to the provisions of the
Constitution.
•
Under the President’s rule, the elected state government is
dismissed and its powers are suspended.
The Governor becomes the executive head of the state
and runs the administration on behalf of the President.
• The proclamation remains valid for up to two months but must
be approved by both Houses of Parliament to extend further.
If approved, the Rule can last for six months and be
extended in increments of six months, up to a maximum
of three years.
Union Govt. notified National Turmeric Board
The Government of India notified the
establishment of National Turmeric Board.
Key Facts
•
It
to promote turmeric cultivation, research, and exports, ensuring holistic growth in the turmeric sector.
•
Headquarters: Nizamabad, Telangana.
• First Chairperson: Palle Ganga Reddy.
• Ministry: Operates under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
• Aim: To enhance turmeric production.
Support farmers and improve their livelihoods.
Boost global exports of turmeric and value-added
products.
• Functions: The Board will also look into creating awareness
on the essential and medical properties of turmeric, ways to increase its yield and boost logistics and supply chain to foster trade into newer markets.
About Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
• A
law for the entire country, applicable to all religious
communities, in their personal matters such as
marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc.
•
It aims to replace the existing diverse personal laws
that vary based on religious affiliations.
• Article 44 contained in part IV of the Constitution says
that the state “shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.
•
Part IV of the Constitution outlines the Directive
Principles of State Policy, which, while not enforceable or justiciable in a court of law, are fundamental to the country’s governance.
•
UCC in Goa: It follows the Portuguese Civil Code of
1867, which means that people of all religions in Goa are subject to the same laws on marriage, divorce, and succession.
The Goa, Daman and Diu Administration Act of
1962, which was passed after Goa joined the
union as a territory in 1961, gave Goa permission
to apply the Civil Code.
Union Govt. approved Eighth Pay Commission
The Union Government has approved the establishment of the Eighth Pay Commission.
Key Points:
• The Pay Commission determines the salary, compensation,
and allowances for central government employees and pensioners.
•
Objectives:
Proposing formulas for dearness allowance (DA) and
dearness relief (DR) adjustments to mitigate inflation’s impact.
Recommendation of Pay commission is non-binding in
nature.
• Pay Commissions are generally constituted every 10 years.
The 8th Pay Commission is being set up well before the term of the 7th Pay Commission ends in 2025, allowing sufficient time for review and implementation.
•
The 7th pay commission headed by Justice A.K. Mathur,
was implemented in 2016 and introduced Pay Matrix; Min: Rs 18,000/month, Max: Rs 2,50,000/month.
•
Composition: Usually headed by a retired Supreme Court
judge.
Union Govt. approved President’s Rule in Manipur
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, with the state assembly placed under suspended animation.
Constitutional Provisions
•
Aempowers the President
of India to impose President’s Rule in a state when governance cannot be carried out as per constitutional provisions.
•
Grounds: If the President receives a report from the state’s
Governor or otherwise is convinced or satisfied that the
state’s situation is such that the state government cannot
carry on the governance according to the provisions of the
Constitution.
•
Under the President’s rule, the elected state government is
dismissed and its powers are suspended.
The Governor becomes the executive head of the state
and runs the administration on behalf of the President.
• The proclamation remains valid for up to two months but must
be approved by both Houses of Parliament to extend further.
If approved, the Rule can last for six months and be
extended in increments of six months, up to a maximum
of three years.
Union Govt. notified National Turmeric Board
The Government of India notified the
establishment of National Turmeric Board.
Key Facts
•
It
to promote turmeric cultivation, research, and exports, ensuring holistic growth in the turmeric sector.
•
Headquarters: Nizamabad, Telangana.
• First Chairperson: Palle Ganga Reddy.
• Ministry: Operates under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
• Aim: To enhance turmeric production.
Support farmers and improve their livelihoods.
Boost global exports of turmeric and value-added
products.
• Functions: The Board will also look into creating awareness
on the essential and medical properties of turmeric, ways to increase its yield and boost logistics and supply chain to foster trade into newer markets.
47National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly
being referred to as the Bill on “One Nation, One Election”, was introduced in the Lok
Sabha by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the
elections of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi, was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
•
Simultaneous Elections (One Nation One Election) refer to the idea of holding Lok
Sabha and State legislative assembly elections together, with the aim of reducing the frequency of elections and their associated costs.
•
Simultaneous elections in India to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies
were held in the years 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Thereafter, the schedule could not be maintained and the elections to the Lok Sabha and the State legislative assembly have still not been realigned.
One Nation One Election Bill History
The years 1951-52, 1962 and 1967 witnessed simultaneous elections dating back the
concept of one nation one election to the early years of Indian Independence. This process
was only discontinued after the 1967 elections due to the premature dissolution of a few
state assemblies and Lok Sabha in 1970. Since then the elections are being conducted
separately which is only leading to increased costs. The concept of one nation one election
has been revived recently with the aim of aligning India’s electoral process.
RAM NATH KOVIND COMMITTEE
The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, headed by former
President Ram Nath Kovind, was constituted by the Government of India
on 2nd September 2023.
Its primary objective was to explore the feasibility of conducting
simultaneous elections for
the Lok Sabha and State
Legislative Assemblies.
The Committee
submitted
its report to
President of
India Droupadi
Murmu on
14th March
2024.
The committee recommended a two-step approach to
lead to the simultaneous elections.
Step 1 : Simultaneous elections to be held for the Lok
Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
Step 2 : The elections to the municipalities and the
panchayats to be held within 100 days of holding the
Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
One Nation One Election
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly
being referred to as the Bill on “One Nation, One Election”, was introduced in the Lok
Sabha by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the
elections of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi, was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
•
Simultaneous Elections (One Nation One Election) refer to the idea of holding Lok
Sabha and State legislative assembly elections together, with the aim of reducing the frequency of elections and their associated costs.
•
Simultaneous elections in India to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies
were held in the years 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Thereafter, the schedule could not be maintained and the elections to the Lok Sabha and the State legislative assembly have still not been realigned.
One Nation One Election Bill History
The years 1951-52, 1962 and 1967 witnessed simultaneous elections dating back the
concept of one nation one election to the early years of Indian Independence. This process
was only discontinued after the 1967 elections due to the premature dissolution of a few
state assemblies and Lok Sabha in 1970. Since then the elections are being conducted
separately which is only leading to increased costs. The concept of one nation one election
has been revived recently with the aim of aligning India’s electoral process.
RAM NATH KOVIND COMMITTEE
The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, headed by former
President Ram Nath Kovind, was constituted by the Government of India
on 2nd September 2023.
Its primary objective was to explore the feasibility of conducting
simultaneous elections for
the Lok Sabha and State
Legislative Assemblies.
The Committee
submitted
its report to
President of
India Droupadi
Murmu on
14th March
2024.
The committee recommended a two-step approach to
lead to the simultaneous elections.
Step 1 : Simultaneous elections to be held for the Lok
Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
Step 2 : The elections to the municipalities and the
panchayats to be held within 100 days of holding the
Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
One Nation One Election
48ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Z-Morh Tunnel
The Z-Morh Tunnel, Infrastructure project in Kashmir, aims to
enhance connectivity in the region, has been inaugurated by PM
Narendra Modi.
Key Highlights
• A 6.4-
a popular tourist destination, with Kangan town in the Ganderbal district.
•
Its construction addresses the challenges posed by heavy
snowfall and avalanches during winter, which often render the roads impassable.
•
The tunnel promises year-round access, benefiting both
tourism and military operations in Ladakh.
• The Z-Morh Tunnel will ensure uninterrupted access, vital for
both civilian and military transport.
• Initiated in 2012, the project faced numerous delays due to
financial and administrative issues.
Strategic Importance
•
The Z-
project, which aims to connect Srinagar with Ladakh.
• This connectivity is critical for India’s defence strategy,
especially given the region’s contentious borders with Pakistan and China.
•
The tunnel will reduce reliance on air transport for military
logistics, enhancing operational efficiency.
India’s First Green Hydrogen Hub launched
India’s first integrated green hydrogen production facility “Green Hydrogen Hub (GHH)” project has been officially launched in Pudimadaka, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh.
Key Highlights
• This
represents step towards enhancing India’s renewable energy capacity and achieving its net zero goals by 2070.
•
The GHH will feature a capacity to produce 1,500 tonnes per
day (TPD) of green hydrogen. Additionally, it will produce 7,500 TPD of green hydrogen derivatives, including green methanol, green urea, and sustainable aviation fuel.
•
The GHH project is expected to generate over 57,000 jobs by
2032. This employment boost will impact the local economy, encouraging growth in the region and contributing to India’s broader economic objectives.
•
The GHH project aligns with India’s target of achieving
500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. It aims to facilitate decarbonisation across major sectors and support the nation’s quest for energy independence.
NITI Aayog launched EmpowHER Biz
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog has recently launched a new initiative called EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan.
Key Highlights
•
The EmpowHER Biz initiative aims to empower women
entrepreneurs by providing them with essential skills and resources to thrive in the organised retail sector.
•
This programme is in partnership with New Shop, a leading
24/7 convenience retail chain in India.
• EmpowHER Biz is designed to equip aspiring wom en
entrepreneurs with mentorship and comprehensive training.
• The programme focuses on key areas such as retail
management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development. It seeks to create a supportive environment for women to succeed in retail.
About W
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform was incubated
in NITI Aayog in 2018 and transitioned into a public- private partnership in 2022.
•
The platform aims to empower women entrepreneurs
by addressing information asymmetry and providing support across several pillars – Access to Finance, Market Linkages, Training and Skilling, Mentoring & Networking, Compliance & Legal Assistance, and Business Development Services.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Z-Morh Tunnel
The Z-Morh Tunnel, Infrastructure project in Kashmir, aims to
enhance connectivity in the region, has been inaugurated by PM
Narendra Modi.
Key Highlights
• A 6.4-
a popular tourist destination, with Kangan town in the Ganderbal district.
•
Its construction addresses the challenges posed by heavy
snowfall and avalanches during winter, which often render the roads impassable.
•
The tunnel promises year-round access, benefiting both
tourism and military operations in Ladakh.
• The Z-Morh Tunnel will ensure uninterrupted access, vital for
both civilian and military transport.
• Initiated in 2012, the project faced numerous delays due to
financial and administrative issues.
Strategic Importance
•
The Z-
project, which aims to connect Srinagar with Ladakh.
• This connectivity is critical for India’s defence strategy,
especially given the region’s contentious borders with Pakistan and China.
•
The tunnel will reduce reliance on air transport for military
logistics, enhancing operational efficiency.
India’s First Green Hydrogen Hub launched
India’s first integrated green hydrogen production facility “Green Hydrogen Hub (GHH)” project has been officially launched in Pudimadaka, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh.
Key Highlights
• This
represents step towards enhancing India’s renewable energy capacity and achieving its net zero goals by 2070.
•
The GHH will feature a capacity to produce 1,500 tonnes per
day (TPD) of green hydrogen. Additionally, it will produce 7,500 TPD of green hydrogen derivatives, including green methanol, green urea, and sustainable aviation fuel.
•
The GHH project is expected to generate over 57,000 jobs by
2032. This employment boost will impact the local economy, encouraging growth in the region and contributing to India’s broader economic objectives.
•
The GHH project aligns with India’s target of achieving
500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. It aims to facilitate decarbonisation across major sectors and support the nation’s quest for energy independence.
NITI Aayog launched EmpowHER Biz
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog has recently launched a new initiative called EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan.
Key Highlights
•
The EmpowHER Biz initiative aims to empower women
entrepreneurs by providing them with essential skills and resources to thrive in the organised retail sector.
•
This programme is in partnership with New Shop, a leading
24/7 convenience retail chain in India.
• EmpowHER Biz is designed to equip aspiring wom en
entrepreneurs with mentorship and comprehensive training.
• The programme focuses on key areas such as retail
management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development. It seeks to create a supportive environment for women to succeed in retail.
About W
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform was incubated
in NITI Aayog in 2018 and transitioned into a public- private partnership in 2022.
•
The platform aims to empower women entrepreneurs
by addressing information asymmetry and providing support across several pillars – Access to Finance, Market Linkages, Training and Skilling, Mentoring & Networking, Compliance & Legal Assistance, and Business Development Services.
49National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• This parade was presided over by the President of India, who is the supreme
commander of the Armed Forces.
• Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the chief guest at the event.
• A contingent of 342 members from the Indonesian National Armed Forces also
participated in the parade, marking the first-time troops from Indonesia joined a
foreign parade.
• Foreign soldiers took part in the parade for the first time in 2016 with the participation
of the French army contingent.
• Sanjay and Pralay: The Army’s battle surveillance system “Sanjay” and the Defence
Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) surface-to-surface tactical missile “Pralay” were featured for the first time.
Republic Day Parade 2025
• Join For the first time,
a tri-services tableau, highlighting enhanced synergy among the country’s armed forces was showcased.
It depicted a coordinated
battlefield scenario, featuring
land, air, and naval operations.
• Key Military Assets: BrahMos, Pinaka,
and Akash systems.
• Indian Navy: It showcased indigenous
warship design and included models of vessels such as INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer, underlining the country’s progress in maritime security.
Showcasing Women Empowerment
•
Dim
created history by becoming the first woman officer to present a salute to the President.
•
An all-women marching contingent
from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
•
The Delhi Police All-Women Band,
included four women Sub-Inspectors
and 64 women constables from the
Brass and Pipe Band units.
•
The ministry of rural development’s
tableau on the “Lakhpati Didi Initiative,” which promotes women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and self- reliance.
Indian Culture
•
The
31 tableaux from 16 states and union
territories, as well as central ministries
and organizations.
•
Theme: Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas.
• Uttar Pradesh’s tableau highlighted
the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, showcasing scenes of ‘Samudra Manthan,’ ‘Amrit Kalash,’ and holy bathing at the Sangam.
•
Cultural performance: It spanned
the entire Kartavya Path for the first time, over 5,000 folk and tribal artists performed 45 dance forms. The 11-minute performance, titled “Jayati Jaya Mamah Bharatam,” was curated by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Significance
•
It m
Constitution on January 26, 1950.
January 26 is chosen to honour
the declaration of Purna Swaraj
made by the Indian National
Congress on January 26, 1930.
•
It honors the martyrs who have
sacrificed their lives for the country and to bestow bravery awards upon military personnel and citizens.
•
It also pays tribute to the Constitution’s
principles and the democratic framework it established, highlighting values such as justice, equality, and fraternity.
During the 76th Republic Day parade, India showcased its military strength and cultural heritage.
Union Govt. launched Project ISHAN
With the idea of One nation, one airspace, India has initiated Project ISHAN (Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management) at Nagpur.
Key Highlights:
•
It is an integration initiative which seek to merge India’s four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and
Chennai into one airspace around Nagpur.
• This project aims to enhance the capacity of the aviation industry to handle the increasing domestic passenger numbers, which
has been predicted to double by 2030.
• The aim behind the initiative is to reduce carbon footprint, enhance safety, and reduce aircraft fuel usage.
• A single flight information region (FIR) created as part of Project ISHAN would offer numerous advantages in terms of safety,
efficiency, user satisfaction, reduced carbon footprint, and optimal manpower utilization.
• There are several challenges in implementation such as standardization of technology, revision of procedures, and formulation of
new policies.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• This parade was presided over by the President of India, who is the supreme
commander of the Armed Forces.
• Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the chief guest at the event.
• A contingent of 342 members from the Indonesian National Armed Forces also
participated in the parade, marking the first-time troops from Indonesia joined a
foreign parade.
• Foreign soldiers took part in the parade for the first time in 2016 with the participation
of the French army contingent.
• Sanjay and Pralay: The Army’s battle surveillance system “Sanjay” and the Defence
Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) surface-to-surface tactical missile “Pralay” were featured for the first time.
Republic Day Parade 2025
• Join For the first time,
a tri-services tableau, highlighting enhanced synergy among the country’s armed forces was showcased.
It depicted a coordinated
battlefield scenario, featuring
land, air, and naval operations.
• Key Military Assets: BrahMos, Pinaka,
and Akash systems.
• Indian Navy: It showcased indigenous
warship design and included models of vessels such as INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer, underlining the country’s progress in maritime security.
Showcasing Women Empowerment
•
Dim
created history by becoming the first woman officer to present a salute to the President.
•
An all-women marching contingent
from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
•
The Delhi Police All-Women Band,
included four women Sub-Inspectors
and 64 women constables from the
Brass and Pipe Band units.
•
The ministry of rural development’s
tableau on the “Lakhpati Didi Initiative,” which promotes women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and self- reliance.
Indian Culture
•
The
31 tableaux from 16 states and union
territories, as well as central ministries
and organizations.
•
Theme: Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas.
• Uttar Pradesh’s tableau highlighted
the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, showcasing scenes of ‘Samudra Manthan,’ ‘Amrit Kalash,’ and holy bathing at the Sangam.
•
Cultural performance: It spanned
the entire Kartavya Path for the first time, over 5,000 folk and tribal artists performed 45 dance forms. The 11-minute performance, titled “Jayati Jaya Mamah Bharatam,” was curated by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Significance
•
It m
Constitution on January 26, 1950.
January 26 is chosen to honour
the declaration of Purna Swaraj
made by the Indian National
Congress on January 26, 1930.
•
It honors the martyrs who have
sacrificed their lives for the country and to bestow bravery awards upon military personnel and citizens.
•
It also pays tribute to the Constitution’s
principles and the democratic framework it established, highlighting values such as justice, equality, and fraternity.
During the 76th Republic Day parade, India showcased its military strength and cultural heritage.
Union Govt. launched Project ISHAN
With the idea of One nation, one airspace, India has initiated Project ISHAN (Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management) at Nagpur.
Key Highlights:
•
It is an integration initiative which seek to merge India’s four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and
Chennai into one airspace around Nagpur.
• This project aims to enhance the capacity of the aviation industry to handle the increasing domestic passenger numbers, which
has been predicted to double by 2030.
• The aim behind the initiative is to reduce carbon footprint, enhance safety, and reduce aircraft fuel usage.
• A single flight information region (FIR) created as part of Project ISHAN would offer numerous advantages in terms of safety,
efficiency, user satisfaction, reduced carbon footprint, and optimal manpower utilization.
• There are several challenges in implementation such as standardization of technology, revision of procedures, and formulation of
new policies.
50ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 observed
The 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was held
in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10, 2025.
Key Highlights
•
This event aimed to strengthen ties between India and its
diaspora.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the convention,
with President Christine Carla Kangaloo of Trinidad and Tobago as the chief guest addressing the gathering virtually.
•
The event celebrated the contributions of overseas Indians
to India’s progress.
• This year’s theme was “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit
Bharat.” The convention same participation from over 50 countries, including prominent businessmen, entrepreneurs, and economists.
•
The event aimed to encourage dialogue between the
Government of India and its diaspora.
• Discussions was focused on visa regulations, investment
opportunities, and community welfare.
About P
• The Pr
January 9. This date marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915.
•
The event marks the importance of the Indian diaspora
in shaping India’s identity and global presence.
• It serves as a reminder of the historical connections
between India and its overseas citizens.
Union Govt. launched Bharatpol Portal
The Bharatpol portal, launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marks advancement in India’s law enforcement capabilities.
Key Highlights
• This innovative platform, developed by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), facilitates real-time information sharing
among state police and central agencies.
• The initiative aims to enhance international police cooperation
through Interpol, particularly in addressing transnational crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.
•
The Bharatpol portal is designed to streamline requests for
international assistance in criminal investigations. It allows
police forces across states and Union Territories to send
requests for information on fugitives and other criminal
matters.
•
The portal aims to expedite the process of obtaining support
from Interpol, which is crucial for tackling crimes that cross national borders.
About C
• The CBI was established in 1963,
evolving from the Special Police Establishment set up during World War II.
•
Originally focused on corruption,
the agency has expanded its mandate to include serious crimes such as terrorism, economic fraud, and organized crime.
•
The CBI operates under the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, 1946, and is recognised as the nodal agency for Interpol-related affairs in India.
One Nation One Subscription Initiative unveiled
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative is a landmark step aimed at democratizing access to global scholarly knowledge in India.
Key Highlights
• The Information and Library Network Centre under UGC will
centrally manage the subscription and distribution, ensuring seamless digital access to resources.
•
A centralized platform will simplify access and reduce
administrative burdens.
• A ₹6,000 crore budget has been allocated for the scheme’s
first phase (2025–2027).
• Phase I (2025–2027): Establish the framework, provide access
to research materials, and negotiate Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Indian researchers.
•
It will provide equitable access to international research
resources across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, addressing regional disparities in research opportunities.
•
It will provide access to high-quality journals enhances
research capabilities, enabling Indian researchers to contribute to cutting-edge global innovations.
•
The discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) will
make publishing in high-impact journals more accessible.
• Integration with global research communities promotes
interdisciplinary and international collaborations, elevating India’s global research footprint.
•
It will enhance India’s R&D ecosystem, supporting innovation
in critical areas like STEM, medicine, and social sciences, which are pivotal for economic growth and self-reliance.
•
It will complement initiatives like the Anusandhan National
Research Foundation (ANRF), creating a more robust research infrastructure.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 observed
The 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was held
in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10, 2025.
Key Highlights
•
This event aimed to strengthen ties between India and its
diaspora.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the convention,
with President Christine Carla Kangaloo of Trinidad and Tobago as the chief guest addressing the gathering virtually.
•
The event celebrated the contributions of overseas Indians
to India’s progress.
• This year’s theme was “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit
Bharat.” The convention same participation from over 50 countries, including prominent businessmen, entrepreneurs, and economists.
•
The event aimed to encourage dialogue between the
Government of India and its diaspora.
• Discussions was focused on visa regulations, investment
opportunities, and community welfare.
About P
• The Pr
January 9. This date marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915.
•
The event marks the importance of the Indian diaspora
in shaping India’s identity and global presence.
• It serves as a reminder of the historical connections
between India and its overseas citizens.
Union Govt. launched Bharatpol Portal
The Bharatpol portal, launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marks advancement in India’s law enforcement capabilities.
Key Highlights
• This innovative platform, developed by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), facilitates real-time information sharing
among state police and central agencies.
• The initiative aims to enhance international police cooperation
through Interpol, particularly in addressing transnational crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.
•
The Bharatpol portal is designed to streamline requests for
international assistance in criminal investigations. It allows
police forces across states and Union Territories to send
requests for information on fugitives and other criminal
matters.
•
The portal aims to expedite the process of obtaining support
from Interpol, which is crucial for tackling crimes that cross national borders.
About C
• The CBI was established in 1963,
evolving from the Special Police Establishment set up during World War II.
•
Originally focused on corruption,
the agency has expanded its mandate to include serious crimes such as terrorism, economic fraud, and organized crime.
•
The CBI operates under the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, 1946, and is recognised as the nodal agency for Interpol-related affairs in India.
One Nation One Subscription Initiative unveiled
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative is a landmark step aimed at democratizing access to global scholarly knowledge in India.
Key Highlights
• The Information and Library Network Centre under UGC will
centrally manage the subscription and distribution, ensuring seamless digital access to resources.
•
A centralized platform will simplify access and reduce
administrative burdens.
• A ₹6,000 crore budget has been allocated for the scheme’s
first phase (2025–2027).
• Phase I (2025–2027): Establish the framework, provide access
to research materials, and negotiate Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Indian researchers.
•
It will provide equitable access to international research
resources across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, addressing regional disparities in research opportunities.
•
It will provide access to high-quality journals enhances
research capabilities, enabling Indian researchers to contribute to cutting-edge global innovations.
•
The discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) will
make publishing in high-impact journals more accessible.
• Integration with global research communities promotes
interdisciplinary and international collaborations, elevating India’s global research footprint.
•
It will enhance India’s R&D ecosystem, supporting innovation
in critical areas like STEM, medicine, and social sciences, which are pivotal for economic growth and self-reliance.
•
It will complement initiatives like the Anusandhan National
Research Foundation (ANRF), creating a more robust research infrastructure.
51National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India’s First Zero-Waste Airport unveiled
Indore, recognized as India’s
cleanest city, became the
first zero-waste airport in the
country.
Key Highlights
•
This recognistion focuses
on comprehensive waste
management, recycling waste generated by both the airport
and its aircraft.
•
The airport has implemented a complete waste management
system. This system will recycle waste from planes, shops, gardens, and toilets. Wet waste will be transformed into fertilizer, contributing to a circular economy.
•
The project not only reduces waste but also promotes
environmental sustainability.
4R Principle
The zero-waste project adheres to the 4R principle – Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle, and Restore. This framework aims to minimize
waste generation while maximizing resource recovery.
First Diabetes Biobank established
India has established its first biobank
for diabetes in Chennai.
Key Facts
•
A biobank is a facility that collects,
processes, stores, and distributes
biological samples, such as blood, tissues, and DNA.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in
collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), has launched this diabetes biobank.
•
This initiative aims to advance scientific studies on diabetes,
focusing on its causes, variations, and complications in the Indian population.
•
It will enable researchers to access a diverse range of
biospecimens from individuals with various types of diabetes, including Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
•
The biobank can help in the discovery of novel biomarkers
for early diagnosis of diabetes. Biomarkers are critical for developing personalized treatment and management strategies.
•
India is known as the diabetes capital of the world, with over
10 crore diabetes cases and around 13.6 crore pre-diabetes cases.
Classical Language Status: 5 more languages
added
The Union Cabinet has granted classical language status
to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing
recognized classical languages to eleven.
Classical Languages
•
Ear
Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
• Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, Sanskrit in
2005, Kannada in 2008, Telugu in 2008, Malayalam in 2013, and Odia in 2014. All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
•
It should have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded
history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years, a body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
•
The Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote
it such as:
Two major annual international awards for scholars of
eminence in the said languages.
A Centre of Excellence for Studies in the classical
language is set up, and the University Grants Commission
is requested to start with a certain number of Chairs for
the classical language at least in the Central Universities.
India’s First Constitution Museum inaugurated
India’s first Constitution Museum was inaugurated in Sonipat,
Haryana.
Key Highlights
•
The m
and aims to tell the significance of the Constitution of India.
• The museum features interactive displays and advanced
technology. It showcases the Constitution’s history over 75 years. Each section of the Constitution has been represented. Various formats have been used, including text, audio- visuals, and experiential exhibits.
•
The museum highlights profiles of the Constituent Assembly
members.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar will be prominently featured. He is
recognized as the principal architect of the Constitution.
About S.A.M.V.I.D. Project
• Smart Assistant for Museum Visitors and Interactive
Displays (S.A.M.V.I.D.) project is a collaboration between JGU and IIT Madras.
•
It seeks to make learning engaging and interactive. The
project focuses on innovative storytelling techniques.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India’s First Zero-Waste Airport unveiled
Indore, recognized as India’s
cleanest city, became the
first zero-waste airport in the
country.
Key Highlights
•
This recognistion focuses
on comprehensive waste
management, recycling waste generated by both the airport
and its aircraft.
•
The airport has implemented a complete waste management
system. This system will recycle waste from planes, shops, gardens, and toilets. Wet waste will be transformed into fertilizer, contributing to a circular economy.
•
The project not only reduces waste but also promotes
environmental sustainability.
4R Principle
The zero-waste project adheres to the 4R principle – Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle, and Restore. This framework aims to minimize
waste generation while maximizing resource recovery.
First Diabetes Biobank established
India has established its first biobank
for diabetes in Chennai.
Key Facts
•
A biobank is a facility that collects,
processes, stores, and distributes
biological samples, such as blood, tissues, and DNA.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in
collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), has launched this diabetes biobank.
•
This initiative aims to advance scientific studies on diabetes,
focusing on its causes, variations, and complications in the Indian population.
•
It will enable researchers to access a diverse range of
biospecimens from individuals with various types of diabetes, including Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
•
The biobank can help in the discovery of novel biomarkers
for early diagnosis of diabetes. Biomarkers are critical for developing personalized treatment and management strategies.
•
India is known as the diabetes capital of the world, with over
10 crore diabetes cases and around 13.6 crore pre-diabetes cases.
Classical Language Status: 5 more languages
added
The Union Cabinet has granted classical language status
to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing
recognized classical languages to eleven.
Classical Languages
•
Ear
Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
• Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, Sanskrit in
2005, Kannada in 2008, Telugu in 2008, Malayalam in 2013, and Odia in 2014. All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
•
It should have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded
history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years, a body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
•
The Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote
it such as:
Two major annual international awards for scholars of
eminence in the said languages.
A Centre of Excellence for Studies in the classical
language is set up, and the University Grants Commission
is requested to start with a certain number of Chairs for
the classical language at least in the Central Universities.
India’s First Constitution Museum inaugurated
India’s first Constitution Museum was inaugurated in Sonipat,
Haryana.
Key Highlights
•
The m
and aims to tell the significance of the Constitution of India.
• The museum features interactive displays and advanced
technology. It showcases the Constitution’s history over 75 years. Each section of the Constitution has been represented. Various formats have been used, including text, audio- visuals, and experiential exhibits.
•
The museum highlights profiles of the Constituent Assembly
members.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar will be prominently featured. He is
recognized as the principal architect of the Constitution.
About S.A.M.V.I.D. Project
• Smart Assistant for Museum Visitors and Interactive
Displays (S.A.M.V.I.D.) project is a collaboration between JGU and IIT Madras.
•
It seeks to make learning engaging and interactive. The
project focuses on innovative storytelling techniques.
52ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Charaideo Moidams
• Assam
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s
(UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list. It is India’s 43rd UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
•
The Charaideo moidams represents the late medieval (13th-19th
century CE) mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahom community in
Assam.
• Charaideo, more than 400 km east of Guwahati, was the first capital
of the Ahom dynasty founded by Chao Lung Sukaphaa in 1253.
• The Ahoms preferred to place the deceased family members at
Charaideo where the first king Sukapha was laid to rest.
• The historical chronicles inform that wives, attendants, pet animals
and huge quantity of valuables were buried with the departed kings.
• After 18th century, the Ahom rulers adopted the Hindu method of
cremation and began entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Maidam at Charaideo.
•
Out of 386 Maidams explored so far, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, representative of and
the most complete examples of mound burial tradition of the Ahoms.
Who were the Ahoms?
•
The Ahom, also known as the Tai-Ahom, are an ethnic group from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in India.
This ethnic group is made up of interbred descendants of the Tai people, who first came to Assam's Brahmaputra valley in 1228, and indigenous people who later joined them.
•
The current Ahom people and culture are a mix of the ancient Tai people and culture, as well as
indigenous Tibeto-Burman people and cultures that they assimilated in Assam. Sukaphaa, the Tai group's leader, and his 9000 supporters founded the Ahom empire (1228-1826 CE), which ruled over part of modern-day Assam's Brahmaputra Valley until 1826.
•
It retained sovereignty for 600 years until annexed by British India in 1826 (Treaty of Yandaboo).
Lachit Borphukan (1622-1672) is the most celebrated ruler of Ahom Dynasty.
President of India constituted 23rd Law
Commission
President Droupadi Murmu has sanctioned the constitution of the
23rd Law Commission of India, which will serve from September
1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.
Constitution of the 23rd Law Commission
•
T
A full-time Chairperson.
four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary).
Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex officio
Member.
Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member;
and not more than five part-time Members.
About La
• Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body.
• It is constituted by a notification of the Department of
Legal Affairs of Ministry of Law & Justice.
• It is constituted with definite terms of reference to carry
out research in the field of law.
• The Commission makes recommendations to the
Government in the form of Reports as per its terms of reference. However, these recommendations are not binding on the Government.
•
The first law commission in independent India was
established in 1955, with its chairman M.C.Setalvad.
Charaideo Moidams
• Assam
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s
(UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list. It is India’s 43rd UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
•
The Charaideo moidams represents the late medieval (13th-19th
century CE) mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahom community in
Assam.
• Charaideo, more than 400 km east of Guwahati, was the first capital
of the Ahom dynasty founded by Chao Lung Sukaphaa in 1253.
• The Ahoms preferred to place the deceased family members at
Charaideo where the first king Sukapha was laid to rest.
• The historical chronicles inform that wives, attendants, pet animals
and huge quantity of valuables were buried with the departed kings.
• After 18th century, the Ahom rulers adopted the Hindu method of
cremation and began entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Maidam at Charaideo.
•
Out of 386 Maidams explored so far, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, representative of and
the most complete examples of mound burial tradition of the Ahoms.
Who were the Ahoms?
•
The Ahom, also known as the Tai-Ahom, are an ethnic group from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in India.
This ethnic group is made up of interbred descendants of the Tai people, who first came to Assam's Brahmaputra valley in 1228, and indigenous people who later joined them.
•
The current Ahom people and culture are a mix of the ancient Tai people and culture, as well as
indigenous Tibeto-Burman people and cultures that they assimilated in Assam. Sukaphaa, the Tai group's leader, and his 9000 supporters founded the Ahom empire (1228-1826 CE), which ruled over part of modern-day Assam's Brahmaputra Valley until 1826.
•
It retained sovereignty for 600 years until annexed by British India in 1826 (Treaty of Yandaboo).
Lachit Borphukan (1622-1672) is the most celebrated ruler of Ahom Dynasty.
President of India constituted 23rd Law
Commission
President Droupadi Murmu has sanctioned the constitution of the
23rd Law Commission of India, which will serve from September
1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.
Constitution of the 23rd Law Commission
•
T
A full-time Chairperson.
four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary).
Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex officio
Member.
Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member;
and not more than five part-time Members.
About La
• Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body.
• It is constituted by a notification of the Department of
Legal Affairs of Ministry of Law & Justice.
• It is constituted with definite terms of reference to carry
out research in the field of law.
• The Commission makes recommendations to the
Government in the form of Reports as per its terms of reference. However, these recommendations are not binding on the Government.
•
The first law commission in independent India was
established in 1955, with its chairman M.C.Setalvad.
53National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Government launched 21st Livestock
Census
The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying, launched the
21st Livestock Census.
Key Facts
•
It
and carries out a headcount of the
number of domesticated animals,
poultry, and stray animals in the country.
Information about the species, breed, age, sex, and
ownership status is noted.
• Since 1919, a total of 20 livestock censuses have been
carried out so far, with the last being conducted in 2019.
About 21st Livestock Census
• It will take place between October 2024 to February 2025.
• It is expected to cover 30 crore households in India.
• 16 animal species will be collected in the census.
• It will also carry out a headcount of poultry birds such
as fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, and
emu.
• The data from the census will also be crucial to track
progress of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Union Govt. launched White Revolution 2.0
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the
standard operating procedure for ‘White Revolution 2.0’.
Key Highlights
•
Gover
and strengthening of two lakh new Multipurpose Primary
Agriculture Cooperative Societies, dairy and fishery
cooperatives.
•
The White Revolution 2.0 focuses on four key areas
– empowering women farmers, enhancing local milk production, strengthening dairy infrastructure and boosting dairy exports.
•
White Revolution 2.0 aims to increase milk procurement by
dairy cooperative societies by 50 percent over the next five years.
The dairy cooperatives will procure one thousand lakh
litre of milk daily by the end of the fifth year significantly
enhancing the livelihoods of rural producers.
• The
new and existing district cooperative societies, multi-
purpose district cooperative societies, and multi-purpose
PACS, which will be linked to milk routes with necessary
infrastructure.
About W
• The White Revolution in India,
also known as Operation Flood, was a significant dairy development program implemented to enhance milk production and address the country’s milk scarcity issues.
•
It was launched in 1970 by the National Dairy
Development Board (NDDB) under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, often referred to as the “Father of the White Revolution.”
Union Cabinet approved National Maritime
Heritage Complex (NMHC)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage
Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.
About Na
• It is being constructed at Lothal, Gujarat, a site of
historical significance linked to the Indus Valley
Civilization. The project is under the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways.
•
Its primary objective is to showcase the maritime
heritage of India from ancient to modern times, utilizing an edutainment approach and incorporating the latest technology
•
The NMHC is set to become the world’s largest maritime
museum complex, positioning it as a key international tourist destination.
•
The project aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision to
showcase India’s 4,500-year maritime heritage, initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
•
It is a part of the Sagarmala Programme, a flagship
initiative by the Government of India aimed at promoting port-led development and enhancing the efficiency of logistics in the country.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Government launched 21st Livestock
Census
The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying, launched the
21st Livestock Census.
Key Facts
•
It
and carries out a headcount of the
number of domesticated animals,
poultry, and stray animals in the country.
Information about the species, breed, age, sex, and
ownership status is noted.
• Since 1919, a total of 20 livestock censuses have been
carried out so far, with the last being conducted in 2019.
About 21st Livestock Census
• It will take place between October 2024 to February 2025.
• It is expected to cover 30 crore households in India.
• 16 animal species will be collected in the census.
• It will also carry out a headcount of poultry birds such
as fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, and
emu.
• The data from the census will also be crucial to track
progress of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Union Govt. launched White Revolution 2.0
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the
standard operating procedure for ‘White Revolution 2.0’.
Key Highlights
•
Gover
and strengthening of two lakh new Multipurpose Primary
Agriculture Cooperative Societies, dairy and fishery
cooperatives.
•
The White Revolution 2.0 focuses on four key areas
– empowering women farmers, enhancing local milk production, strengthening dairy infrastructure and boosting dairy exports.
•
White Revolution 2.0 aims to increase milk procurement by
dairy cooperative societies by 50 percent over the next five years.
The dairy cooperatives will procure one thousand lakh
litre of milk daily by the end of the fifth year significantly
enhancing the livelihoods of rural producers.
• The
new and existing district cooperative societies, multi-
purpose district cooperative societies, and multi-purpose
PACS, which will be linked to milk routes with necessary
infrastructure.
About W
• The White Revolution in India,
also known as Operation Flood, was a significant dairy development program implemented to enhance milk production and address the country’s milk scarcity issues.
•
It was launched in 1970 by the National Dairy
Development Board (NDDB) under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, often referred to as the “Father of the White Revolution.”
Union Cabinet approved National Maritime
Heritage Complex (NMHC)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage
Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.
About Na
• It is being constructed at Lothal, Gujarat, a site of
historical significance linked to the Indus Valley
Civilization. The project is under the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways.
•
Its primary objective is to showcase the maritime
heritage of India from ancient to modern times, utilizing an edutainment approach and incorporating the latest technology
•
The NMHC is set to become the world’s largest maritime
museum complex, positioning it as a key international tourist destination.
•
The project aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision to
showcase India’s 4,500-year maritime heritage, initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
•
It is a part of the Sagarmala Programme, a flagship
initiative by the Government of India aimed at promoting port-led development and enhancing the efficiency of logistics in the country.
54ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Government notified
Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security)
Rules, 2024
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the
Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024.
Key Provisions
•
It aim
and services, through measures including specified timelines for telcos to report security incidents and make disclosures.
•
A telecommunication entity will include any person providing
telecom services, or establishing, operating, maintaining, or expanding telecom network, including an authorised entity holding an authorisation.
•
The rules also empower the central government/ its
authorised agency to seek traffic data and any other data (other than the content of messages) from a telecom entity for the purpose of ensuring cyber security.
•
It has mandated telecom companies to report cybersecurity
incidents to the government within six hours of becoming aware and additional details within 24 hours.
•
Telecom companies have been asked to appoint a chief
telecommunications security officer, who is a citizen and resident of India.
•
The telecom operators are also required to adopt a telecom
cybersecurity policy, which includes security safeguards, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices and technologies.
•
A manufacturer of equipment that has an International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is required to register the number of such equipment manufactured in India with the government before the sale of first such equipment.
Union Govt. launched AgriSURE Fund & Krishi
Nivesh Portal
The Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister launched
the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal in New Delhi.
Key Highlights
•
A It aims to support start-ups and agripreneurs
in the agriculture and allied sectors.
The fund will provide both equity and debt support.
The fund will support sector-specific, sector-agnostic,
and debt AIFs.
It will also offer direct equity support to start-ups.
Focus: Investments will target high-risk, high-impact
activities within the agriculture value chain.
The initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability
in India’s agricultural sector.
• Krishi Nivesh Portal: It aims to boost agricultural investment
in India.
The portal will serve as an integrated, centralized
platform.
It aims to provide a one-stop solution for agri-investors.
The portal will help investors access various government
schemes and benefits.
First Bio-Bitumen Highway Stretch
inaugurated
The first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch on NH-
44 was inaugurated in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, utilizes
lignin-based bio-bitumen technology, developed through
collaborative efforts involving Praj Industries, CSIR-CRRI,
NHAI, and Oriental.
About Bio
Bio-bitumen is a sustainable alternative to traditional bitumen. It is derived from lignin, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. This material serves as a binder, providing similar properties to conventional bitumen but with ly lower environmental impact.
Importance of Lignin
Lignin is abundant in agricultural waste and is a renewable resource. By using lignin, this project addresses the shortage of traditional bitumen, which currently sees 50% of its supply imported into India. The shift to bio-bitumen reduces dependency on imports and promotes local production.
Environmental Benefits
The use of bio-bitumen contributes to global sustainability goals. It is estimated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to fossil-based alternatives. Additionally, this initiative prevents stubble burning, which is contributor to air pollution
Union Government notified
Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security)
Rules, 2024
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the
Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024.
Key Provisions
•
It aim
and services, through measures including specified timelines for telcos to report security incidents and make disclosures.
•
A telecommunication entity will include any person providing
telecom services, or establishing, operating, maintaining, or expanding telecom network, including an authorised entity holding an authorisation.
•
The rules also empower the central government/ its
authorised agency to seek traffic data and any other data (other than the content of messages) from a telecom entity for the purpose of ensuring cyber security.
•
It has mandated telecom companies to report cybersecurity
incidents to the government within six hours of becoming aware and additional details within 24 hours.
•
Telecom companies have been asked to appoint a chief
telecommunications security officer, who is a citizen and resident of India.
•
The telecom operators are also required to adopt a telecom
cybersecurity policy, which includes security safeguards, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices and technologies.
•
A manufacturer of equipment that has an International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is required to register the number of such equipment manufactured in India with the government before the sale of first such equipment.
Union Govt. launched AgriSURE Fund & Krishi
Nivesh Portal
The Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister launched
the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal in New Delhi.
Key Highlights
•
A It aims to support start-ups and agripreneurs
in the agriculture and allied sectors.
The fund will provide both equity and debt support.
The fund will support sector-specific, sector-agnostic,
and debt AIFs.
It will also offer direct equity support to start-ups.
Focus: Investments will target high-risk, high-impact
activities within the agriculture value chain.
The initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability
in India’s agricultural sector.
• Krishi Nivesh Portal: It aims to boost agricultural investment
in India.
The portal will serve as an integrated, centralized
platform.
It aims to provide a one-stop solution for agri-investors.
The portal will help investors access various government
schemes and benefits.
First Bio-Bitumen Highway Stretch
inaugurated
The first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch on NH-
44 was inaugurated in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, utilizes
lignin-based bio-bitumen technology, developed through
collaborative efforts involving Praj Industries, CSIR-CRRI,
NHAI, and Oriental.
About Bio
Bio-bitumen is a sustainable alternative to traditional bitumen. It is derived from lignin, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. This material serves as a binder, providing similar properties to conventional bitumen but with ly lower environmental impact.
Importance of Lignin
Lignin is abundant in agricultural waste and is a renewable resource. By using lignin, this project addresses the shortage of traditional bitumen, which currently sees 50% of its supply imported into India. The shift to bio-bitumen reduces dependency on imports and promotes local production.
Environmental Benefits
The use of bio-bitumen contributes to global sustainability goals. It is estimated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to fossil-based alternatives. Additionally, this initiative prevents stubble burning, which is contributor to air pollution
55National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
18th Lok Sabha
The 18th Lok Sabha has been commenced
after electing 543 members of Parliament
through the General Election 2024 held in
7 phases.
The 18th Lok Sabha
elected Om Birla as
the new Speaker.
It is the 2nd term
of Om Birla has
the Speaker of Lok
Sabha.
Earlier, Bhartruhari
Mahtab was
appointed as pro-
tem Speaker of the
18th Lok Sabha.
He is the Member
of Parliament from Cuttack Lok Sabha
constituency.
Election of Speaker
•
The
House of Parliament, the Lok Sabha
Speaker, is the constitutional head of
the House.
•
In the absence of the Speaker, the
Deputy Speaker discharges his/her functions.
•
Article 93 of the Indian Constitution
provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
•
Generally, a member belonging to the
ruling party is elected as Speaker.
• The ruling party nominates a candidate,
then after a formal consultation with the opposition party, the candidate is named the Speaker of Lok Sabha for the respective assembly.
•
However, in the less practiced
method, the ruling and opposition
party nominates one candidate
from each side for the position. The
Speaker is elected based on votes
cast by the present MPs of the Lok
Sabha on the day of the election.
Om Birla
Bhartruhari Mahtab
About Pro-tem Speaker
• Befor
President appoints pro-tem Speaker. He is chosen to administer some important duties. ‘Pro-tem’ essentially means ‘for the time being’ or ‘temporarily’.
•
The Constitution does not mention
the post. However, the official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ speaks about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.
•
Administering oaths to the new MPs is
the pro-tem Speaker’s primary duty.
• The seniormost members (in terms
of number of years of membership of the House) are generally chosen for the purpose, though there have been exceptions.
Parliamentary Form of Government
•
It
the Executive branch derives its legitimacy and authority from the Legislative branch (Parliament).
•
In this model, the head of government
(usually the Prime Minister) is accountable to the Parliament and can be removed through a vote of no confidence.
•
In a Parliamentary form of Government,
the day-to-day working of the system places significant demands on the time and resources of various Ministries and Departments.
•
The Constitution of India outlines
provisions related to the parliamentary form of government.
Advantages of a Parliamentary System
•
The government is directly
accountable to the parliament.
Regular question sessions, debates,
and motions ensure transparency and
scrutiny.
•
MPs scrutinise government actions,
budgets, and policies.
• The majority party or coalition usually
enjoys a stable mandate, reducing the risk of frequent elections. This stability promotes long-term policy planning.
•
The fusion of powers enables quick
decision-making. The government can swiftly respond to crises or urgent matters.
•
Quick decision-making due to the
close relationship between the executive and legislative branches.
•
The Parliament represents diverse
interests, allowing for broader participation in governance. Minority parties have a voice and can influence policies.
•
Unlike presidential systems, where
executive-legislative conflicts can lead to gridlock, parliamentary systems facilitate smoother functioning.
Key facts about 18th Lok Sabha
•
L Narendra Modi
(Constituency : Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh).
•
Leader of Opposition : Rahul Gandhi
(Constituency : Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh)
•
Oldest Member : T. R. Baalu
(Constituency : Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu)
•
Youngest Member : Pushpendra Saroj
(Constituency : Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh)
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
18th Lok Sabha
The 18th Lok Sabha has been commenced
after electing 543 members of Parliament
through the General Election 2024 held in
7 phases.
The 18th Lok Sabha
elected Om Birla as
the new Speaker.
It is the 2nd term
of Om Birla has
the Speaker of Lok
Sabha.
Earlier, Bhartruhari
Mahtab was
appointed as pro-
tem Speaker of the
18th Lok Sabha.
He is the Member
of Parliament from Cuttack Lok Sabha
constituency.
Election of Speaker
•
The
House of Parliament, the Lok Sabha
Speaker, is the constitutional head of
the House.
•
In the absence of the Speaker, the
Deputy Speaker discharges his/her functions.
•
Article 93 of the Indian Constitution
provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
•
Generally, a member belonging to the
ruling party is elected as Speaker.
• The ruling party nominates a candidate,
then after a formal consultation with the opposition party, the candidate is named the Speaker of Lok Sabha for the respective assembly.
•
However, in the less practiced
method, the ruling and opposition
party nominates one candidate
from each side for the position. The
Speaker is elected based on votes
cast by the present MPs of the Lok
Sabha on the day of the election.
Om Birla
Bhartruhari Mahtab
About Pro-tem Speaker
• Befor
President appoints pro-tem Speaker. He is chosen to administer some important duties. ‘Pro-tem’ essentially means ‘for the time being’ or ‘temporarily’.
•
The Constitution does not mention
the post. However, the official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ speaks about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.
•
Administering oaths to the new MPs is
the pro-tem Speaker’s primary duty.
• The seniormost members (in terms
of number of years of membership of the House) are generally chosen for the purpose, though there have been exceptions.
Parliamentary Form of Government
•
It
the Executive branch derives its legitimacy and authority from the Legislative branch (Parliament).
•
In this model, the head of government
(usually the Prime Minister) is accountable to the Parliament and can be removed through a vote of no confidence.
•
In a Parliamentary form of Government,
the day-to-day working of the system places significant demands on the time and resources of various Ministries and Departments.
•
The Constitution of India outlines
provisions related to the parliamentary form of government.
Advantages of a Parliamentary System
•
The government is directly
accountable to the parliament.
Regular question sessions, debates,
and motions ensure transparency and
scrutiny.
•
MPs scrutinise government actions,
budgets, and policies.
• The majority party or coalition usually
enjoys a stable mandate, reducing the risk of frequent elections. This stability promotes long-term policy planning.
•
The fusion of powers enables quick
decision-making. The government can swiftly respond to crises or urgent matters.
•
Quick decision-making due to the
close relationship between the executive and legislative branches.
•
The Parliament represents diverse
interests, allowing for broader participation in governance. Minority parties have a voice and can influence policies.
•
Unlike presidential systems, where
executive-legislative conflicts can lead to gridlock, parliamentary systems facilitate smoother functioning.
Key facts about 18th Lok Sabha
•
L Narendra Modi
(Constituency : Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh).
•
Leader of Opposition : Rahul Gandhi
(Constituency : Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh)
•
Oldest Member : T. R. Baalu
(Constituency : Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu)
•
Youngest Member : Pushpendra Saroj
(Constituency : Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh)
56ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Kozhikode: India’s first UNESCO ‘City of
Literature
Recently, Kozhikode, known for its
rich cultural heritage, was officially
declared as India’s first UNESCO ‘City
of Literature’.
Key Facts
•
Ear
secured a place in the ‘Literature’ category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). It acknowledges the city’s profound cultural and literary contributions.
•
Kozhikode (known as Calicut during British rule) has a
vibrant literary tradition.
• The city is renowned for its role as an ancient trading hub
and the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first landed in India in 1498.
•
From the year 2025, June 23 will be celebrated as the ‘City of
Literature’ Day in Kozhikode.
About UNESCO
• United
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was formed in 1945, is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
•
UNESCO contributes to peace and security by
promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information.
•
It has 195 member states and ten associate members.
• India is a founding member of the Organisation.
IREDA gets Navratna Status
Recently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) was granted 'Navratna Status' by the Department of Public Enterprises.
Key highlights:
• It
(CPSEs) in India, providing them with greater autonomy to compete in the global market.
•
It was first introduced in 1997, with the aim of empowering
CPSEs to compete globally.
Eligibility Criteria for Navratna Status:
• The company should already hold the Miniratna Category
Status and be listed under Schedule A of CPSEs.
• It must have consistently received an outstanding rating
under the Memorandum of Understanding System for at
least three out of the last five years.
• The company needs to meet specific criteria across six key
areas, including net profit to net worth, gross margin as capital expenditure, manpower cost to cost of production or services, gross profit as turnover, and earnings per share. The company must attain a composite score of 60 or above in the areas mentioned above.
Benefits of Navratna Status:
•
FNavratna companies can invest up to
`1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project
without government approval. They can invest up to 30% of their net worth within a year, as long as it stays below `1,000 crores.
•
Operational Freedom: These companies have the liberty
to form joint ventures, establish subsidiaries overseas, and make strategic decisions in areas such as capital expenditure and human resources management.
About I
Agency (IREDA)
•
IREDA has been notified as a ‘Public Financial
Institution’ under ‘Section 4A’ of the Companies Act,
1956 and registered as a Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) with RBI.
•
It comes under the administrative control of the Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• ‘Motto: Energy for Ever’
Objectives:
• To give financial support to specific projects and
schemes for generating electricity and / or energy
through new and renewable sources and conserving
energy through energy efficiency.
•
To maintain its position as a leading organisation to
provide efficient and effective financing in renewable energy and energy efficiency / conservation projects.
•
To increase IREDA`s share in the renewable energy
sector by way of innovative financing.
Kozhikode: India’s first UNESCO ‘City of
Literature
Recently, Kozhikode, known for its
rich cultural heritage, was officially
declared as India’s first UNESCO ‘City
of Literature’.
Key Facts
•
Ear
secured a place in the ‘Literature’ category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). It acknowledges the city’s profound cultural and literary contributions.
•
Kozhikode (known as Calicut during British rule) has a
vibrant literary tradition.
• The city is renowned for its role as an ancient trading hub
and the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first landed in India in 1498.
•
From the year 2025, June 23 will be celebrated as the ‘City of
Literature’ Day in Kozhikode.
About UNESCO
• United
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was formed in 1945, is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
•
UNESCO contributes to peace and security by
promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information.
•
It has 195 member states and ten associate members.
• India is a founding member of the Organisation.
IREDA gets Navratna Status
Recently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) was granted 'Navratna Status' by the Department of Public Enterprises.
Key highlights:
• It
(CPSEs) in India, providing them with greater autonomy to compete in the global market.
•
It was first introduced in 1997, with the aim of empowering
CPSEs to compete globally.
Eligibility Criteria for Navratna Status:
• The company should already hold the Miniratna Category
Status and be listed under Schedule A of CPSEs.
• It must have consistently received an outstanding rating
under the Memorandum of Understanding System for at
least three out of the last five years.
• The company needs to meet specific criteria across six key
areas, including net profit to net worth, gross margin as capital expenditure, manpower cost to cost of production or services, gross profit as turnover, and earnings per share. The company must attain a composite score of 60 or above in the areas mentioned above.
Benefits of Navratna Status:
•
FNavratna companies can invest up to
`1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project
without government approval. They can invest up to 30% of their net worth within a year, as long as it stays below `1,000 crores.
•
Operational Freedom: These companies have the liberty
to form joint ventures, establish subsidiaries overseas, and make strategic decisions in areas such as capital expenditure and human resources management.
About I
Agency (IREDA)
•
IREDA has been notified as a ‘Public Financial
Institution’ under ‘Section 4A’ of the Companies Act,
1956 and registered as a Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) with RBI.
•
It comes under the administrative control of the Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• ‘Motto: Energy for Ever’
Objectives:
• To give financial support to specific projects and
schemes for generating electricity and / or energy
through new and renewable sources and conserving
energy through energy efficiency.
•
To maintain its position as a leading organisation to
provide efficient and effective financing in renewable energy and energy efficiency / conservation projects.
•
To increase IREDA`s share in the renewable energy
sector by way of innovative financing.
57National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ladakh: Reservation of 95% Jobs for Locals
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed 95% reservation
in government jobs for locals in Ladakh.
Key Highlights
•
95% r
ST status in Ladakh. Gazetted posts will be filled through Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), not through the DANICS.
•
33% reservation for women in both Leh and Kargil
Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC).
• A draft will be proposed to ensure constitutional safeguards
for preserving Ladakh’s land and culture.
• The government will declare Urdu and Bhoti as official
languages of Ladakh.
Jammu & Kashmir : Srinagar (World Craft City)
Srinagar has become the fourth Indian city to be recognised as a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC). Previously Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore have been recognised as World Craft Cities from India.
Key Facts
•
The WCC listed a number of craft
products of Kashmir including Papier-Mache, Hand Knotted Carpets, Pashmina Shawls, Kani and Sujini work.
•
This achievement follows Srinagar’s recognition as a United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for Crafts in 2021.
About W
• The
founded at the 1st World Crafts Council General Assembly in New York in 1964.
•
The main objective of the World
Crafts Council is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life.
•
The Council aims to pr omote fellowship among
craftspersons by offering them encouragement, help, and advice.
Gujarat : India’s first solar-powered village
Masali village has become India’s first solar-powered border village.
•
It is situated in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.
• It is located 40 km from the Pakistan border
• The village of 800 people now has 119 houses with solar
rooftops, generating over 225 kilowatts of electricity.
• This initiative, part of the PM Suryaghar Yojana, was carried
out under the Border Development Project.
• Masali is the second solar village in Gujarat, after Modhera,
and the first in a border area in India.
Bihar : First Dry Port inaugurated
Bihar got its first dry port at Bihta, a town near state capital
Patna.
Key Highlights
•
A dry port, or inland container depot (ICD), provides a
logistics facility away from a seaport or airport for cargo
handling, storage, and transportation. It acts as a bridge
between sea/air ports and inland regions, facilitating efficient
movement of goods.
•
It was much needed for Bihar as its export goods mainly agro-
based, garments and leather products are manufactured in diverse locations.
•
Bihar is a major producer of fruits and vegetables such as
potato, tomato, banana, litchi and makhana (fox nuts).
Maharashtra: First Made-in-India Surgical
Robot
The SSI Mantra, India’s first made-in-India surgical robot, has
been installed at Noble Hospital and Research Centre in Pune,
Maharashtra. This advancement in medical technology recently
gained approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO). The installation ceremony was attended
by Marathi actor Prasad Oak, marking a milestone in India’s
healthcare landscape.
Features of SSI Mantra
The SSI Mantra boasts five robotic arms and a 3D HD headset for
surgeons, including a vision cart that provides 3D 4K imaging.
These features enhance precision and control during surgical
procedures, ensuring better outcomes for patients.
STATES/UTs
in News
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ladakh: Reservation of 95% Jobs for Locals
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed 95% reservation
in government jobs for locals in Ladakh.
Key Highlights
•
95% r
ST status in Ladakh. Gazetted posts will be filled through Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), not through the DANICS.
•
33% reservation for women in both Leh and Kargil
Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC).
• A draft will be proposed to ensure constitutional safeguards
for preserving Ladakh’s land and culture.
• The government will declare Urdu and Bhoti as official
languages of Ladakh.
Jammu & Kashmir : Srinagar (World Craft City)
Srinagar has become the fourth Indian city to be recognised as a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC). Previously Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore have been recognised as World Craft Cities from India.
Key Facts
•
The WCC listed a number of craft
products of Kashmir including Papier-Mache, Hand Knotted Carpets, Pashmina Shawls, Kani and Sujini work.
•
This achievement follows Srinagar’s recognition as a United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for Crafts in 2021.
About W
• The
founded at the 1st World Crafts Council General Assembly in New York in 1964.
•
The main objective of the World
Crafts Council is to strengthen the status of crafts in cultural and economic life.
•
The Council aims to pr omote fellowship among
craftspersons by offering them encouragement, help, and advice.
Gujarat : India’s first solar-powered village
Masali village has become India’s first solar-powered border village.
•
It is situated in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.
• It is located 40 km from the Pakistan border
• The village of 800 people now has 119 houses with solar
rooftops, generating over 225 kilowatts of electricity.
• This initiative, part of the PM Suryaghar Yojana, was carried
out under the Border Development Project.
• Masali is the second solar village in Gujarat, after Modhera,
and the first in a border area in India.
Bihar : First Dry Port inaugurated
Bihar got its first dry port at Bihta, a town near state capital
Patna.
Key Highlights
•
A dry port, or inland container depot (ICD), provides a
logistics facility away from a seaport or airport for cargo
handling, storage, and transportation. It acts as a bridge
between sea/air ports and inland regions, facilitating efficient
movement of goods.
•
It was much needed for Bihar as its export goods mainly agro-
based, garments and leather products are manufactured in diverse locations.
•
Bihar is a major producer of fruits and vegetables such as
potato, tomato, banana, litchi and makhana (fox nuts).
Maharashtra: First Made-in-India Surgical
Robot
The SSI Mantra, India’s first made-in-India surgical robot, has
been installed at Noble Hospital and Research Centre in Pune,
Maharashtra. This advancement in medical technology recently
gained approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO). The installation ceremony was attended
by Marathi actor Prasad Oak, marking a milestone in India’s
healthcare landscape.
Features of SSI Mantra
The SSI Mantra boasts five robotic arms and a 3D HD headset for
surgeons, including a vision cart that provides 3D 4K imaging.
These features enhance precision and control during surgical
procedures, ensuring better outcomes for patients.
STATES/UTs
in News
58ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Applications in Surgery
The robotic system will facilitate various life-saving surgeries.
It will be employed in general surgery, cardiac and thoracic
operations, urology, gynecology, and complex procedures.
The first surgery performed using the robot was a robotic right
extended hemicolectomy on a colon cancer patient.
Assam: Union Govt. to implemented Assam Accord
The Assam government has decided to fulfill most of the
recommendations of the high-powered committee appointed by
the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to implement Clause 6 of the
Assam Accord, 1985.
Key Facts
•
The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 amongst Union of
India, Govt. of Assam, All Assam Student of Union, All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad.
•
To implement the various Clauses of Assam Accord a
new Department has been established in the name of “Implementation of Assam Accord Department” during the year 1986.
•
The Accord set March 24, 1971, as a cut-off. Anyone who
had come to Assam before midnight on that date would be an Indian citizen, while those who had come after would be dealt with as foreigners.
•
The same cut-off was used in updating the National Register
of Citizens (NRC).
• The Assam Accord’s Clause 6 says, “Constitutional,
legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
Clause 6 focuses on protecting the cultural, social, and
linguistic identity of the Assamese people.
Himachal Pradesh: Govt. increased Minimum
Age of Marriage for Women
In a significant move towards gender equality and promoting
higher education, the Himachal Pradesh State Assembly
recently passed the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal
Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024’.
Key facts
•
The Pr
prevent the solemnisation of child marriages and address related matters.
•
The Bill proposes raising the minimum age of marriage for
girls from 18 to 21 years. It aims to provide gender equality and create opportunities for girls to pursue higher education and personal development.
•
Himachal Pradesh proudly claims the title of being the first
state in India to enact legislation increasing the marriage age of girls to 21.
Kerala : Justice Hema Committee Report
released
The Justice Hema Committee report exposed pervasive
sexual exploitation and rights violations against women in the
Malayalam film industry.
Key Facts
•
Five years ago, the report was submitted to the Kerala
government.
• The committee identified at least 17 forms of exploitation
experienced by women working in 30 different categories within the industry.
Key issues included the casting couch, lack of basic
amenities, and threats against filing complaints.
• The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the
practice of “casting couch” in the industry.
Background
•
The three-member committee, consisting of retired High
Court Justice K. Hema, former actress Sharada, and retired
IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, was established in response
to a demand from the Women in Cinema Collective.
•
This demand followed the abduction and sexual assault of
a leading female actor in 2017—a case that remains in trial, with prominent actor Dileep listed as the eighth accused.
Major Concerns
•
Producers are warned by the industry’s “power group” not to
cast actors who fall out of favour with them.
• Even the release of movies can be prevented as the Film
Chamber of Commerce has to issue NOC.
• The report highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet
facilities on the set, especially in outdoor locations, leading to urinary infection for many women.
•
Junior artists are in some cases “treated worse than slaves”
with work extending up to 19 hours.
• The lack of a written contract is exploited by some to
deprive the actors and technicians of even the remuneration promised orally.
STATES/UTs
in News
Applications in Surgery
The robotic system will facilitate various life-saving surgeries.
It will be employed in general surgery, cardiac and thoracic
operations, urology, gynecology, and complex procedures.
The first surgery performed using the robot was a robotic right
extended hemicolectomy on a colon cancer patient.
Assam: Union Govt. to implemented Assam Accord
The Assam government has decided to fulfill most of the
recommendations of the high-powered committee appointed by
the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to implement Clause 6 of the
Assam Accord, 1985.
Key Facts
•
The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 amongst Union of
India, Govt. of Assam, All Assam Student of Union, All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad.
•
To implement the various Clauses of Assam Accord a
new Department has been established in the name of “Implementation of Assam Accord Department” during the year 1986.
•
The Accord set March 24, 1971, as a cut-off. Anyone who
had come to Assam before midnight on that date would be an Indian citizen, while those who had come after would be dealt with as foreigners.
•
The same cut-off was used in updating the National Register
of Citizens (NRC).
• The Assam Accord’s Clause 6 says, “Constitutional,
legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
Clause 6 focuses on protecting the cultural, social, and
linguistic identity of the Assamese people.
Himachal Pradesh: Govt. increased Minimum
Age of Marriage for Women
In a significant move towards gender equality and promoting
higher education, the Himachal Pradesh State Assembly
recently passed the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal
Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024’.
Key facts
•
The Pr
prevent the solemnisation of child marriages and address related matters.
•
The Bill proposes raising the minimum age of marriage for
girls from 18 to 21 years. It aims to provide gender equality and create opportunities for girls to pursue higher education and personal development.
•
Himachal Pradesh proudly claims the title of being the first
state in India to enact legislation increasing the marriage age of girls to 21.
Kerala : Justice Hema Committee Report
released
The Justice Hema Committee report exposed pervasive
sexual exploitation and rights violations against women in the
Malayalam film industry.
Key Facts
•
Five years ago, the report was submitted to the Kerala
government.
• The committee identified at least 17 forms of exploitation
experienced by women working in 30 different categories within the industry.
Key issues included the casting couch, lack of basic
amenities, and threats against filing complaints.
• The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the
practice of “casting couch” in the industry.
Background
•
The three-member committee, consisting of retired High
Court Justice K. Hema, former actress Sharada, and retired
IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, was established in response
to a demand from the Women in Cinema Collective.
•
This demand followed the abduction and sexual assault of
a leading female actor in 2017—a case that remains in trial, with prominent actor Dileep listed as the eighth accused.
Major Concerns
•
Producers are warned by the industry’s “power group” not to
cast actors who fall out of favour with them.
• Even the release of movies can be prevented as the Film
Chamber of Commerce has to issue NOC.
• The report highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet
facilities on the set, especially in outdoor locations, leading to urinary infection for many women.
•
Junior artists are in some cases “treated worse than slaves”
with work extending up to 19 hours.
• The lack of a written contract is exploited by some to
deprive the actors and technicians of even the remuneration promised orally.
STATES/UTs
in News
59National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Another alarming finding is that many men assume that
women willing to perform intimate scenes on-screen
are also willing to do so off-set, reflecting a lack of
professionalism and understanding of the craft among
men in the industry.
Karnataka : Karnataka Govt. unveiled plan for
SWIFT City
The Karnataka government has unveiled its ambitious plan
to establish SWIFT City (Startups, Workspaces, Innovation,
Finance, and Technology City) in Bengaluru, aiming to enhance
the start-up ecosystem and making the city industrial hub.
Key Highlights
• The pr
Wellbeing, and Innovation City (KWIN City), further
emphasizing the government’s focus on innovation and
entrepreneurship.
•
SWIFT City will cover over 1,000 acres and is designed to
attract start-ups, aims to replicate the success of established industrial areas like International Tech Park (ITPL) and Electronic City. The project is set to become a central point for innovation and technology in Bengaluru.
•
SWIFT City will offer 8 to 10 plug-and-play facilities, each
spanning 20–25 acres. Start-ups can access land parcels ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. These options will be available through lease, sale, or equity-sharing agreements, providing flexibility for new businesses.
Arunachal Pradesh : Mission Arun Himveer
The government of Arunachal Pradesh
has launched ‘Mission Arun Himveer’,
which aims to improve market access for
agricultural and horticultural products.
Key Highlights
•
M
signing of an agreement between the Arunachal Pradesh
Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP).
•
Mission Arun Himveer focuses on supplying locally grown
produce to the ITBP, which includes fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry. The products will be sourced from local farmers, self-help groups (SHGs), farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), and cooperatives.
• The m
villages, which is expected to enhance farmers’ income and provide employment opportunities. The initiative will also strengthen ties between local communities and ITBP forces.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Port Blair
renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram
The Indian government
has decided to rename
Port Blair in the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
as Sri Vijaya Puram to
remove colonial imprints
and honor the islands’
role in India’s freedom
struggle.
Key Facts
•
Por
• It was originally named after Archibald Blair, a British naval
surveyor who explored the area in the late 18th century.
• Blair initially named the natural harbor Port Cornwallis before
it was renamed Port Blair.
• The East India Company (EIC) used the islands as a penal
colony and strategic base.
• Port Blair was established as a penal colony after the Revolt
of 1857, with a significant cellular jail (Kaala Paani) built in
1906 housing freedom fighters like Veer Damodar Savarkar.
• A prominent king of the dynasty, Rajendra Chola, maintained
the Nicobar Islands as a naval base to launch attacks on the Srivijaya kingdom based on the Sumatra islands of present- day Indonesia. This naval expedition was a unique event in Indian history and its legacy of peaceful relations with Southeast Asia. During 1014 AD and 1042 AD, the southern islands of this archipelago were used as a strategic naval base by the Chola Dynasty
•
The islands, once a Chola naval base and the site of key
events like the first Tiranga unfurling by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the imprisonment of freedom fighters in the cellular jail, are now seen as crucial for India’s strategic and developmental goals.
30th December 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose hoisted the national flag for the first time on
Indian soil, at Port Blair.
STATES/UTs
in News
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Another alarming finding is that many men assume that
women willing to perform intimate scenes on-screen
are also willing to do so off-set, reflecting a lack of
professionalism and understanding of the craft among
men in the industry.
Karnataka : Karnataka Govt. unveiled plan for
SWIFT City
The Karnataka government has unveiled its ambitious plan
to establish SWIFT City (Startups, Workspaces, Innovation,
Finance, and Technology City) in Bengaluru, aiming to enhance
the start-up ecosystem and making the city industrial hub.
Key Highlights
• The pr
Wellbeing, and Innovation City (KWIN City), further
emphasizing the government’s focus on innovation and
entrepreneurship.
•
SWIFT City will cover over 1,000 acres and is designed to
attract start-ups, aims to replicate the success of established industrial areas like International Tech Park (ITPL) and Electronic City. The project is set to become a central point for innovation and technology in Bengaluru.
•
SWIFT City will offer 8 to 10 plug-and-play facilities, each
spanning 20–25 acres. Start-ups can access land parcels ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. These options will be available through lease, sale, or equity-sharing agreements, providing flexibility for new businesses.
Arunachal Pradesh : Mission Arun Himveer
The government of Arunachal Pradesh
has launched ‘Mission Arun Himveer’,
which aims to improve market access for
agricultural and horticultural products.
Key Highlights
•
M
signing of an agreement between the Arunachal Pradesh
Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP).
•
Mission Arun Himveer focuses on supplying locally grown
produce to the ITBP, which includes fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry. The products will be sourced from local farmers, self-help groups (SHGs), farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), and cooperatives.
• The m
villages, which is expected to enhance farmers’ income and provide employment opportunities. The initiative will also strengthen ties between local communities and ITBP forces.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Port Blair
renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram
The Indian government
has decided to rename
Port Blair in the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
as Sri Vijaya Puram to
remove colonial imprints
and honor the islands’
role in India’s freedom
struggle.
Key Facts
•
Por
• It was originally named after Archibald Blair, a British naval
surveyor who explored the area in the late 18th century.
• Blair initially named the natural harbor Port Cornwallis before
it was renamed Port Blair.
• The East India Company (EIC) used the islands as a penal
colony and strategic base.
• Port Blair was established as a penal colony after the Revolt
of 1857, with a significant cellular jail (Kaala Paani) built in
1906 housing freedom fighters like Veer Damodar Savarkar.
• A prominent king of the dynasty, Rajendra Chola, maintained
the Nicobar Islands as a naval base to launch attacks on the Srivijaya kingdom based on the Sumatra islands of present- day Indonesia. This naval expedition was a unique event in Indian history and its legacy of peaceful relations with Southeast Asia. During 1014 AD and 1042 AD, the southern islands of this archipelago were used as a strategic naval base by the Chola Dynasty
•
The islands, once a Chola naval base and the site of key
events like the first Tiranga unfurling by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the imprisonment of freedom fighters in the cellular jail, are now seen as crucial for India’s strategic and developmental goals.
30th December 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose hoisted the national flag for the first time on
Indian soil, at Port Blair.
STATES/UTs
in News
60ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
REPORTS & INDICES
Fiscal Health Index (FHI) Report
NITI Aayog has released the first Fiscal Health Index (FHI) report.
Key Highlights
• The r
2022-23.
• It covers 18 major States that drive the Indian economy in
terms of their contribution to India’s GDP, demography, total
public expenditure, revenues, and overall fiscal stability.
• It will be an annual publication and offers a systematic
approach to assess the state’s fiscal health, identify areas for improvement, and promote best practices across states.
•
Sub-Indices: Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation,
Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.
Major Findings
•
TOdisha, Chhattisgarh,
Goa, Jharkhand and Gujarat have emerged as top-performing ‘achievers’ among the States.
It displays strong fiscal health,
excelling in revenue mobilization,
expenditure management, and
debt sustainability.
•
Aspirational States: Haryana, Kerala, West
Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
These states face high debt, large interest payments,
weak revenue generation, and inefficiencies in capital
expenditure, with reliance on non-tax revenue impacting
their fiscal health and rankings.
Andhra Pradesh : P4 Initiative launched
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister launched the ‘Zero Poverty – P4’ initiative under Swarnadra 2047 vision.
Key Facts
• A To ensure poverty-free Andhra Pradesh by 2029.
• ‘P4’ stands for ‘Public, Private, People Partnership’, and
achieving ‘zero poverty’ is one of the (10 principles) of Swarna Andhra-2047.
•
Key Benefits:
House sites and house construction.
Sanitation facilities and 100% tap water connections.
LPG connections, reliable power supply, and rooftop
solar incentives.
High-speed internet for all households.
Promotion of entrepreneurship in every family.
• Target Beneficiaries: Economically weaker families, termed
‘Bangaru Kutumbam’ (golden families).
• Supporters: Well-off contributors, called ‘Margadarsis’ (guides).
Priority is given to the 20 lakh most deprived families for
adoption by the top 10% wealthier families.
• Role of ‘Margadarsis’:
Provide financial support or mentorship (e.g., education,
career guidance, business support).
Engage in long-term support beyond financial help.
Contributions can include funding for education, medical
expenses, and community development.
• Expected Outcome: Mobilize public-private participation,
foster inclusive economic growth, and create a new poverty alleviation model in India.
Jharkhand : Sarhul Festival celebrated
Adivasis in Jharkhand and the larger Chhotanagpur region will welcome the new year and the spring season with the Sarhul festival.
Key Facts
•
Sar
the union of the Sun (male priest) and the Earth (priest’s wife), symbolizing life’s cycles. It marks the beginning of agricultural activities after rituals. Sal trees (Shorea robusta) are venerated in Adivasi tradition as the abode of Sarna Maa, the deity who protects villages from natural forces.
•
The festival lasts for three days.
• The main rituals happen on day two at Sarna Sthals.
These communally protected “sacred groves” can be
found near villages across Chhotanagpur, which includes Jharkhand, parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar.
•
Sarhul is celebrated by tribes like Oraon, Munda, Santal,
Khadia, and Ho, with each having unique ways of celebrating. The festival has evolved from a hunting tradition to one focused on agriculture.
•
The festival spread beyond Chhotanagpur with tribes
migrating as indentured labor, now celebrated in places like Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
STATES/UTs
in News
REPORTS & INDICES
Fiscal Health Index (FHI) Report
NITI Aayog has released the first Fiscal Health Index (FHI) report.
Key Highlights
• The r
2022-23.
• It covers 18 major States that drive the Indian economy in
terms of their contribution to India’s GDP, demography, total
public expenditure, revenues, and overall fiscal stability.
• It will be an annual publication and offers a systematic
approach to assess the state’s fiscal health, identify areas for improvement, and promote best practices across states.
•
Sub-Indices: Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation,
Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability.
Major Findings
•
TOdisha, Chhattisgarh,
Goa, Jharkhand and Gujarat have emerged as top-performing ‘achievers’ among the States.
It displays strong fiscal health,
excelling in revenue mobilization,
expenditure management, and
debt sustainability.
•
Aspirational States: Haryana, Kerala, West
Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
These states face high debt, large interest payments,
weak revenue generation, and inefficiencies in capital
expenditure, with reliance on non-tax revenue impacting
their fiscal health and rankings.
Andhra Pradesh : P4 Initiative launched
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister launched the ‘Zero Poverty – P4’ initiative under Swarnadra 2047 vision.
Key Facts
• A To ensure poverty-free Andhra Pradesh by 2029.
• ‘P4’ stands for ‘Public, Private, People Partnership’, and
achieving ‘zero poverty’ is one of the (10 principles) of Swarna Andhra-2047.
•
Key Benefits:
House sites and house construction.
Sanitation facilities and 100% tap water connections.
LPG connections, reliable power supply, and rooftop
solar incentives.
High-speed internet for all households.
Promotion of entrepreneurship in every family.
• Target Beneficiaries: Economically weaker families, termed
‘Bangaru Kutumbam’ (golden families).
• Supporters: Well-off contributors, called ‘Margadarsis’ (guides).
Priority is given to the 20 lakh most deprived families for
adoption by the top 10% wealthier families.
• Role of ‘Margadarsis’:
Provide financial support or mentorship (e.g., education,
career guidance, business support).
Engage in long-term support beyond financial help.
Contributions can include funding for education, medical
expenses, and community development.
• Expected Outcome: Mobilize public-private participation,
foster inclusive economic growth, and create a new poverty alleviation model in India.
Jharkhand : Sarhul Festival celebrated
Adivasis in Jharkhand and the larger Chhotanagpur region will welcome the new year and the spring season with the Sarhul festival.
Key Facts
•
Sar
the union of the Sun (male priest) and the Earth (priest’s wife), symbolizing life’s cycles. It marks the beginning of agricultural activities after rituals. Sal trees (Shorea robusta) are venerated in Adivasi tradition as the abode of Sarna Maa, the deity who protects villages from natural forces.
•
The festival lasts for three days.
• The main rituals happen on day two at Sarna Sthals.
These communally protected “sacred groves” can be
found near villages across Chhotanagpur, which includes Jharkhand, parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar.
•
Sarhul is celebrated by tribes like Oraon, Munda, Santal,
Khadia, and Ho, with each having unique ways of celebrating. The festival has evolved from a hunting tradition to one focused on agriculture.
•
The festival spread beyond Chhotanagpur with tribes
migrating as indentured labor, now celebrated in places like Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
STATES/UTs
in News
61National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
REPORTS & INDICES
Report on S.A.F.E. Accommodation
NITI Aayog released a report on
“S.A.F.E. Accommodation – Worker
Housing for manufacturing growth”.
Key Highlights
• The
of secure, affordable, flexible, and
efficient (S.A.F.E.) accommodations
for industrial workers in boosting
India’s manufacturing sector.
•
It identifies key challenges, offers
actionable solutions, and highlights the pivotal interventions required to scale up such housing facilities across the country.
•
In the Union Budget 2024-25, the Union Finance Minister
emphasized the importance of rental housing for industrial workers. This initiative, to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
•
India is poised to elevate its manufacturing sector’s
contribution to GDP from the current 17% to 25% as part of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.
This goal is aligned with the country’s objectives of
becoming a global manufacturing hub.
About S.A.F.E.
• The
comprehensive framework by aligning regulatory and
financial frameworks.
• The report identifies several benefits of S.A.F.E.:
Proximate and well-designed housing improves
workers’ quality of life, reduces commute times, and
enhances overall productivity.
High-quality accommodations demonstrate India’s
commitment to international standards, thereby making the country a preferred destination for manufacturing investments.
Adherence to international labour standards enhances
India’s reputation and competitiveness in the global market.
India Skills Report, 2025
As per the recent “India Skills Report
2025,” nearly 55% of Indian graduates are
projected to be globally employable by
2025, an increase from 51.2% in 2024.
Key Highlights
•
The r
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
with Wheebox and the All-India Council
for Technical Education (AICTE).
•
Management graduates lead with an
employability rate of 78%, followed by engineering (71.5%),
MCA (71%), and science graduates (58%).
• Key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are
emerging as talent hubs, with cities such as Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai providing a skilled workforce.
•
The men’s employability is expected to rise to 53.5% in 2025
from 51.8% in 2024, while women’s employability is projected to decline from 50.9% to 47.5%.
Women and Men in India 2024 Report
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI), released the 26th
edition of its publication titled “Women and Men
in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”.
Key Highlights
•
The publication offers a comprehensive
overview of the gender landscape in
India, presenting selected indicators
and data across key areas like
population, education, health, economic participation,
and decision-making, all sourced from various Ministries/
Departments/Organizations.
•
Education: The Gender Parity Index (GPI) for enrolments at
both primary and higher secondary levels increased in FY24 compared to FY23 and FY22, indicating more girls being enrolled in school.
At the upper primary and elementary levels, the enrolment
numbers were nearly equal for both boys and girls.
• Labour Force Participation: The Labour Force Participation Rate
(LFPR) for women aged 15 years and above saw a significant improvement from 49.8% in 2017–18 to 60.1% in 2023–24.
This reflects growing inclusion of women in the workforce
and economic activity.
• Financial Inclusion: Women owned 39.2% of all bank accounts
in India as of the latest data. They contributed 39.7% to total deposits in banks.
Women’s presence is most prominent in rural areas, where
they make up 42.2% of account holders.
• Entrepreneurship & Economic Independence: The number
of female-headed proprietary establishments across manufacturing, trade, and services has been rising consistently between 2021–22 and 2023–24.
Startups with at least one woman director (DPIIT-recognized):
In 2017: 1,943 startups
In 2024: 17,405 startups
This is more than an 800% increase in 7 years.
• Political Participation: Female voter turnout has seen variations
over the years, rising to 67.2% in 2019, followed by a modest dip to 65.8% in 2024.
•
Violence against Women: Nearly 31.9% of married women
aged 18 to 49 in India report experiencing spousal violence, with the highest prevalence observed in Karnataka (48.4%), Bihar (42.5%), and Manipur (41.6%).
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
REPORTS & INDICES
Report on S.A.F.E. Accommodation
NITI Aayog released a report on
“S.A.F.E. Accommodation – Worker
Housing for manufacturing growth”.
Key Highlights
• The
of secure, affordable, flexible, and
efficient (S.A.F.E.) accommodations
for industrial workers in boosting
India’s manufacturing sector.
•
It identifies key challenges, offers
actionable solutions, and highlights the pivotal interventions required to scale up such housing facilities across the country.
•
In the Union Budget 2024-25, the Union Finance Minister
emphasized the importance of rental housing for industrial workers. This initiative, to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
•
India is poised to elevate its manufacturing sector’s
contribution to GDP from the current 17% to 25% as part of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.
This goal is aligned with the country’s objectives of
becoming a global manufacturing hub.
About S.A.F.E.
• The
comprehensive framework by aligning regulatory and
financial frameworks.
• The report identifies several benefits of S.A.F.E.:
Proximate and well-designed housing improves
workers’ quality of life, reduces commute times, and
enhances overall productivity.
High-quality accommodations demonstrate India’s
commitment to international standards, thereby making the country a preferred destination for manufacturing investments.
Adherence to international labour standards enhances
India’s reputation and competitiveness in the global market.
India Skills Report, 2025
As per the recent “India Skills Report
2025,” nearly 55% of Indian graduates are
projected to be globally employable by
2025, an increase from 51.2% in 2024.
Key Highlights
•
The r
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
with Wheebox and the All-India Council
for Technical Education (AICTE).
•
Management graduates lead with an
employability rate of 78%, followed by engineering (71.5%),
MCA (71%), and science graduates (58%).
• Key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are
emerging as talent hubs, with cities such as Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai providing a skilled workforce.
•
The men’s employability is expected to rise to 53.5% in 2025
from 51.8% in 2024, while women’s employability is projected to decline from 50.9% to 47.5%.
Women and Men in India 2024 Report
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI), released the 26th
edition of its publication titled “Women and Men
in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”.
Key Highlights
•
The publication offers a comprehensive
overview of the gender landscape in
India, presenting selected indicators
and data across key areas like
population, education, health, economic participation,
and decision-making, all sourced from various Ministries/
Departments/Organizations.
•
Education: The Gender Parity Index (GPI) for enrolments at
both primary and higher secondary levels increased in FY24 compared to FY23 and FY22, indicating more girls being enrolled in school.
At the upper primary and elementary levels, the enrolment
numbers were nearly equal for both boys and girls.
• Labour Force Participation: The Labour Force Participation Rate
(LFPR) for women aged 15 years and above saw a significant improvement from 49.8% in 2017–18 to 60.1% in 2023–24.
This reflects growing inclusion of women in the workforce
and economic activity.
• Financial Inclusion: Women owned 39.2% of all bank accounts
in India as of the latest data. They contributed 39.7% to total deposits in banks.
Women’s presence is most prominent in rural areas, where
they make up 42.2% of account holders.
• Entrepreneurship & Economic Independence: The number
of female-headed proprietary establishments across manufacturing, trade, and services has been rising consistently between 2021–22 and 2023–24.
Startups with at least one woman director (DPIIT-recognized):
In 2017: 1,943 startups
In 2024: 17,405 startups
This is more than an 800% increase in 7 years.
• Political Participation: Female voter turnout has seen variations
over the years, rising to 67.2% in 2019, followed by a modest dip to 65.8% in 2024.
•
Violence against Women: Nearly 31.9% of married women
aged 18 to 49 in India report experiencing spousal violence, with the highest prevalence observed in Karnataka (48.4%), Bihar (42.5%), and Manipur (41.6%).
62ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced by
the Union Minister of Railways in the Lok Sabha, proposing
significant reforms to enhance the autonomy and efficiency of
Indian Railways.
Key Highlights
•
It am
to the Railway Board, which has operated without statutory
backing since its inception.
• It grants greater autonomy to railway zones to manage
budgets, infrastructure, and recruitment independently.
• It introduces an autonomous body to regulate tariffs, ensure
safety, and facilitate private sector participation.
• It merges the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, with the
Railways Act, 1989.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Lok Sabha passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill,
2024.
Key Highlights
•
It
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, (iii) State Bank of India Act,
1955, (iv) Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer
of Undertakings) Act, 1970, and (v) Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.
Key Changes Made
• Shifting to a calendar month-based definition makes
calculating the average daily balance for cash reserves simpler and more aligned with standard accounting practices.
•
Extending the tenure to 10 years may provide more stability
and continuity in the leadership of co-operative banks.
• The exemption for central co-operative bank directors
serving on state co-operative bank boards could facilitate better coordination and collaboration within the co-operative banking sector.
•
Raising the threshold to ₹2 crore reflects the changing
economic landscape and may encourage greater investment in companies by individuals associated with banks.
•
Allowing up to four nominees provides greater flexibility for
depositors in distributing their assets and can help streamline the inheritance process.
Section 6A of Citizenship Act
In a 4:1 majority verdict, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme
Court upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship
Act, 1955.
Key Facts
•
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, confers citizenship
to immigrants who entered Assam after January 1, 1966 but
before March 24, 1971. The provision was inserted into the
Act in furtherance of a Memorandum of Settlement called the
“Assam Accord”.
•
Under Section 6A, foreigners who had entered Assam before
January 1, 1966, and been “ordinarily resident” in the State, would have all the rights and obligations of Indian citizens.
•
The cut-off date provides a different standard for citizenship
for immigrants entering Assam than the rest of India (which is July 1948) and violates the right to equality (Article 14) of the Constitution.
•
Also, the provision violates the rights of indigenous people
from Assam under Article 29 by changing the demographics in the state.
Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced by
the Union Minister of Railways in the Lok Sabha, proposing
significant reforms to enhance the autonomy and efficiency of
Indian Railways.
Key Highlights
•
It am
to the Railway Board, which has operated without statutory
backing since its inception.
• It grants greater autonomy to railway zones to manage
budgets, infrastructure, and recruitment independently.
• It introduces an autonomous body to regulate tariffs, ensure
safety, and facilitate private sector participation.
• It merges the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, with the
Railways Act, 1989.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Lok Sabha passed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill,
2024.
Key Highlights
•
It
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, (iii) State Bank of India Act,
1955, (iv) Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer
of Undertakings) Act, 1970, and (v) Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.
Key Changes Made
• Shifting to a calendar month-based definition makes
calculating the average daily balance for cash reserves simpler and more aligned with standard accounting practices.
•
Extending the tenure to 10 years may provide more stability
and continuity in the leadership of co-operative banks.
• The exemption for central co-operative bank directors
serving on state co-operative bank boards could facilitate better coordination and collaboration within the co-operative banking sector.
•
Raising the threshold to ₹2 crore reflects the changing
economic landscape and may encourage greater investment in companies by individuals associated with banks.
•
Allowing up to four nominees provides greater flexibility for
depositors in distributing their assets and can help streamline the inheritance process.
Section 6A of Citizenship Act
In a 4:1 majority verdict, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme
Court upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship
Act, 1955.
Key Facts
•
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, confers citizenship
to immigrants who entered Assam after January 1, 1966 but
before March 24, 1971. The provision was inserted into the
Act in furtherance of a Memorandum of Settlement called the
“Assam Accord”.
•
Under Section 6A, foreigners who had entered Assam before
January 1, 1966, and been “ordinarily resident” in the State, would have all the rights and obligations of Indian citizens.
•
The cut-off date provides a different standard for citizenship
for immigrants entering Assam than the rest of India (which is July 1948) and violates the right to equality (Article 14) of the Constitution.
•
Also, the provision violates the rights of indigenous people
from Assam under Article 29 by changing the demographics in the state.
63National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Supreme Court Ruling
• The
groups within a state does not, in itself, constitute a violation
of Article 29(1) of the Constitution (protection of interests of
minorities).
•
Section 6A is a statutory intervention that balances the
humanitarian needs of migrants of Indian origin and the impact of such migration on economic and cultural needs of Indian states
•
The judgment underlined parliamentary supremacy over
citizenship matters under Article 11 of the Constitution.
• It also reinforced the Union government’s defense of
amendments under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, which is presently pending challenge in the Supreme court.
Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
Parliament has passed the Disaster Management (Amendment)
Bill 2024.
Key Facts
•
The Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• The DM Act establishes:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA),
and the District Disaster Management Authority.
• These authorities are responsible for disaster management
at the national, state, and district level, respectively.
Key Highlights of the Bill
•
PThe Bill provides
that NDMA and SDMA will prepare disaster management
plans, which was earlier prepared by the National a State
Executive Committee.
•
Functions of NDMA and SDMA: The Bill adds these functions:
taking periodic stock of disaster risks, including emerging
risks from extreme climate events,
providing technical assistance to authorities below them,
recommending guidelines for minimum standards of
relief,
and preparing national and state disaster databases,
respectively.
• The Bill also empowers NDMA to make regulations under the
Act with prior approval of the central government.
• Disaster Database: The Bill mandates the creation of a
comprehensive disaster database at both national and state
levels.
• Urban Disaster Management Authorities: It empowers the
state government to constitute a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with a municipal corporation.
•
Formation of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): The Bill
empowers the state government to constitute a SDRF. The state government will define the functions of SDRF and prescribe the terms of service for its members.
•
Statutory status to existing committees: The Bill provides
statutory status to existing bodies such as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC).
The NCMC will function as the nodal body for dealing
with major disasters with serious or national ramifications.
The HLC will provide financial assistance to state
governments during disasters.
• Appointments to NDMA: It empowers NDMA to specify
the number and category of officers and employees, with
previous approval of the central government. NDMA may
also appoint experts and consultants as necessary.
NAMASTE Scheme
The distribution of PPE kits and Ayushman
health cards under the NAMASTE scheme
is a crucial step towards ensuring dignity,
safety, and social empowerment of Safai
Mitras.
•
Objectives: Eradicate manual scavenging
by promoting mechanized sanitation.
Enhance the safety and dignity of sewer & septic tank
workers.
Formalize the workforce and provide skill development
opportunities.
• Implemented by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
(MoSJE) & Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Implementation Timeline: FY 2023-24 to 2025-26 (3 years).
• Target Group: Initially focused on sewer and septic tank
workers (SSWs). Waste-pickers were added in 2024 to
further expand coverage.
National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land
Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)
The National Geospatial Knowledge-
based Land Survey of Urban
Habitations (NAKSHA) is programme
launched by the Government of
India.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Supreme Court Ruling
• The
groups within a state does not, in itself, constitute a violation
of Article 29(1) of the Constitution (protection of interests of
minorities).
•
Section 6A is a statutory intervention that balances the
humanitarian needs of migrants of Indian origin and the impact of such migration on economic and cultural needs of Indian states
•
The judgment underlined parliamentary supremacy over
citizenship matters under Article 11 of the Constitution.
• It also reinforced the Union government’s defense of
amendments under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, which is presently pending challenge in the Supreme court.
Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
Parliament has passed the Disaster Management (Amendment)
Bill 2024.
Key Facts
•
The Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• The DM Act establishes:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA),
and the District Disaster Management Authority.
• These authorities are responsible for disaster management
at the national, state, and district level, respectively.
Key Highlights of the Bill
•
PThe Bill provides
that NDMA and SDMA will prepare disaster management
plans, which was earlier prepared by the National a State
Executive Committee.
•
Functions of NDMA and SDMA: The Bill adds these functions:
taking periodic stock of disaster risks, including emerging
risks from extreme climate events,
providing technical assistance to authorities below them,
recommending guidelines for minimum standards of
relief,
and preparing national and state disaster databases,
respectively.
• The Bill also empowers NDMA to make regulations under the
Act with prior approval of the central government.
• Disaster Database: The Bill mandates the creation of a
comprehensive disaster database at both national and state
levels.
• Urban Disaster Management Authorities: It empowers the
state government to constitute a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with a municipal corporation.
•
Formation of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): The Bill
empowers the state government to constitute a SDRF. The state government will define the functions of SDRF and prescribe the terms of service for its members.
•
Statutory status to existing committees: The Bill provides
statutory status to existing bodies such as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC).
The NCMC will function as the nodal body for dealing
with major disasters with serious or national ramifications.
The HLC will provide financial assistance to state
governments during disasters.
• Appointments to NDMA: It empowers NDMA to specify
the number and category of officers and employees, with
previous approval of the central government. NDMA may
also appoint experts and consultants as necessary.
NAMASTE Scheme
The distribution of PPE kits and Ayushman
health cards under the NAMASTE scheme
is a crucial step towards ensuring dignity,
safety, and social empowerment of Safai
Mitras.
•
Objectives: Eradicate manual scavenging
by promoting mechanized sanitation.
Enhance the safety and dignity of sewer & septic tank
workers.
Formalize the workforce and provide skill development
opportunities.
• Implemented by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
(MoSJE) & Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Implementation Timeline: FY 2023-24 to 2025-26 (3 years).
• Target Group: Initially focused on sewer and septic tank
workers (SSWs). Waste-pickers were added in 2024 to
further expand coverage.
National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land
Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)
The National Geospatial Knowledge-
based Land Survey of Urban
Habitations (NAKSHA) is programme
launched by the Government of
India.
64ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• NAKSHA aims to create and update land records in urban
and semi-urban areas.
• It covers 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 states
and three Union Territories. The programme is fully funded
by the central government, with an estimated cost of ₹194
crore.
Objectives of NAKSHA
•
The
documentation of land ownership.
• It aims to empower citizens by improving ease of living and
enhancing urban planning.
• The initiative also seeks to reduce land-related disputes.
• By establishing reliable land records, it promotes
transparency and efficiency in property administration.
Technological Framework
•
The NAKSHA programme employs advanced technology for
land surveying.
• Drones will be used to conduct aerial surveys, which will
provide orthorectified imagery.
• The Survey of India serves as the technical partner,
responsible for the aerial surveys.
• The Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development
Corporation (MPSEDC) will develop an end-to-end web-GIS platform for data management.
PM-AASHA
The Union Government has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA) Scheme during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
Components of PM-AASHA
•
P The government procures
pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP.
The Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) conduct
procurement in collaboration with state agencies.
Only produce meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ)
standards is procured.
• Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): It directs
compensation payments to pre-registered farmers for the
difference between MSP and the market price.
There is no physical procurement of produce.
It applies to oilseeds and requires transactions through a
transparent auction process in notified market yards.
• P
It allows states to involve private stockists for oilseed
procurement.
It is implemented in selected Agricultural Produce Market
Committees (APMCs) or districts.
Key Changes in the scheme
•
In 2024 the Government converged the Price Support
Scheme (PSS) & Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes
in PM AASHA to serve the farmers and consumers more
efficiently.
It will help in protecting consumers from extreme volatility
in prices of agri-horticultural commodities by maintaining
strategic buffer stock of pulses and onion for calibrated
release; to discourage hoarding, unscrupulous speculation;
and for supplies to consumers at affordable prices.
•
The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was made a
component of the integrated scheme of PM-AASHA.
The scheme is for perishable agricultural and horticultural
commodities like onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.
It is implemented when prices fall by at least 10% from
the previous normal season.
About P
• The
scheme to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to
farmers, particularly for pulses, oilseeds, and copra.
• It aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and
price stability in the agricultural sector.
Soil Health Card
The Soil Health Card Scheme, introduced on February 19, 2015, in Rajasthan, has completed 10 years in operation.
Soil Health Cards Scheme
• Objec Soil health card provides
information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.
The scheme assists State Governments to issue soil
health cards to all farmers in the country.
• The Soil Health Card contains status of the soil with respect
to 12 parameters that determine soil health:
Macro-nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium
(K), Sulfur (S).
Micro-nutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu),
Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo).
Key Highlights
• NAKSHA aims to create and update land records in urban
and semi-urban areas.
• It covers 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 states
and three Union Territories. The programme is fully funded
by the central government, with an estimated cost of ₹194
crore.
Objectives of NAKSHA
•
The
documentation of land ownership.
• It aims to empower citizens by improving ease of living and
enhancing urban planning.
• The initiative also seeks to reduce land-related disputes.
• By establishing reliable land records, it promotes
transparency and efficiency in property administration.
Technological Framework
•
The NAKSHA programme employs advanced technology for
land surveying.
• Drones will be used to conduct aerial surveys, which will
provide orthorectified imagery.
• The Survey of India serves as the technical partner,
responsible for the aerial surveys.
• The Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development
Corporation (MPSEDC) will develop an end-to-end web-GIS platform for data management.
PM-AASHA
The Union Government has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA) Scheme during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
Components of PM-AASHA
•
P The government procures
pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP.
The Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) conduct
procurement in collaboration with state agencies.
Only produce meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ)
standards is procured.
• Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): It directs
compensation payments to pre-registered farmers for the
difference between MSP and the market price.
There is no physical procurement of produce.
It applies to oilseeds and requires transactions through a
transparent auction process in notified market yards.
• P
It allows states to involve private stockists for oilseed
procurement.
It is implemented in selected Agricultural Produce Market
Committees (APMCs) or districts.
Key Changes in the scheme
•
In 2024 the Government converged the Price Support
Scheme (PSS) & Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes
in PM AASHA to serve the farmers and consumers more
efficiently.
It will help in protecting consumers from extreme volatility
in prices of agri-horticultural commodities by maintaining
strategic buffer stock of pulses and onion for calibrated
release; to discourage hoarding, unscrupulous speculation;
and for supplies to consumers at affordable prices.
•
The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was made a
component of the integrated scheme of PM-AASHA.
The scheme is for perishable agricultural and horticultural
commodities like onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.
It is implemented when prices fall by at least 10% from
the previous normal season.
About P
• The
scheme to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to
farmers, particularly for pulses, oilseeds, and copra.
• It aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and
price stability in the agricultural sector.
Soil Health Card
The Soil Health Card Scheme, introduced on February 19, 2015, in Rajasthan, has completed 10 years in operation.
Soil Health Cards Scheme
• Objec Soil health card provides
information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.
The scheme assists State Governments to issue soil
health cards to all farmers in the country.
• The Soil Health Card contains status of the soil with respect
to 12 parameters that determine soil health:
Macro-nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium
(K), Sulfur (S).
Micro-nutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu),
Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo).
65National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
O pH level (Acidity or Basicity of soil),
Electrical Conductivity (Indicates the presence of salts in
soil), Organic Carbon (OC).
• Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya
Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme as one of its components under the name ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign
Union Minister for Women and Child Development launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” which aims to eradicate child marriage and empower young girls across the nation.
Key Highlights
•
The campaign will prioritize seven states with high rates of
child marriage: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan,
Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
• The campaign will involve community mobilization and
awareness-raising activities to change societal norms and attitudes towards child marriage. Action plan aimed at reducing the child marriage rates below 5% by 2029 was launched.
•
The campaign will strengthen the legal framework to prevent
and punish child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
•
A dedicated online portal will enable citizens to report child
marriage incidents and access information about legal remedies.
Status of Child Marriage in India
•
Accor
halved from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21. This decline is attributed to the implementation of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) in 2006 and various awareness programmes.
•
As per the NFHS-5 data, there has been a substantial
decrease in child marriage rates, from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 26.8% in 2015-16.
•
Despite the overall decline, certain states like West Bengal,
Bihar, and Tripura still report higher rates of child marriage compared to the national average.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
More than 10 lakh senior citizens
have enrolled for the newly
launched Ayushman Vay Vandana
Card.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
• It enables all senior citizens aged 70 and above to access
free healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
• Eligible beneficiaries covered under Private health
insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme will also be eligible to avail benefits under PMJAY.
•
Those already availing benefits of Central Government
Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) may have to either choose their existing scheme or opt for PMJAY.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme
•
It
achieving universal health coverage. It has two key components;
1. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB PM-JAY)
2. Ayushman Arogya Mandir
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB
PM-JAY)
AB PM-JAY is the largest publicly funded health
assurance scheme in the world which provides health
cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary
and tertiary care hospitalization.
It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days
of post – hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.
•
Ayushman Arogya Mandir
It aims to provide free Comprehensive Primary Health
Care, emphasizing wellness and a wider array of services at the community level.
Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has doubled the monthly nutrition support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) for tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Key Facts
•
The m
Rs. 500 per month/patient to Rs. 1,000/month/patient for the
entire duration of the treatment.
• Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) is a centrally sponsored
scheme under National Health Mission (NHM), and all notified TB patients are beneficiaries of the scheme.
•
It was launched in 2018 and is implemented by the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
O pH level (Acidity or Basicity of soil),
Electrical Conductivity (Indicates the presence of salts in
soil), Organic Carbon (OC).
• Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya
Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme as one of its components under the name ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign
Union Minister for Women and Child Development launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” which aims to eradicate child marriage and empower young girls across the nation.
Key Highlights
•
The campaign will prioritize seven states with high rates of
child marriage: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan,
Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
• The campaign will involve community mobilization and
awareness-raising activities to change societal norms and attitudes towards child marriage. Action plan aimed at reducing the child marriage rates below 5% by 2029 was launched.
•
The campaign will strengthen the legal framework to prevent
and punish child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
•
A dedicated online portal will enable citizens to report child
marriage incidents and access information about legal remedies.
Status of Child Marriage in India
•
Accor
halved from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21. This decline is attributed to the implementation of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) in 2006 and various awareness programmes.
•
As per the NFHS-5 data, there has been a substantial
decrease in child marriage rates, from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 26.8% in 2015-16.
•
Despite the overall decline, certain states like West Bengal,
Bihar, and Tripura still report higher rates of child marriage compared to the national average.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
More than 10 lakh senior citizens
have enrolled for the newly
launched Ayushman Vay Vandana
Card.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
• It enables all senior citizens aged 70 and above to access
free healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
• Eligible beneficiaries covered under Private health
insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme will also be eligible to avail benefits under PMJAY.
•
Those already availing benefits of Central Government
Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) may have to either choose their existing scheme or opt for PMJAY.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme
•
It
achieving universal health coverage. It has two key components;
1. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB PM-JAY)
2. Ayushman Arogya Mandir
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB
PM-JAY)
AB PM-JAY is the largest publicly funded health
assurance scheme in the world which provides health
cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary
and tertiary care hospitalization.
It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days
of post – hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.
•
Ayushman Arogya Mandir
It aims to provide free Comprehensive Primary Health
Care, emphasizing wellness and a wider array of services at the community level.
Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has doubled the monthly nutrition support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) for tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Key Facts
•
The m
Rs. 500 per month/patient to Rs. 1,000/month/patient for the
entire duration of the treatment.
• Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) is a centrally sponsored
scheme under National Health Mission (NHM), and all notified TB patients are beneficiaries of the scheme.
•
It was launched in 2018 and is implemented by the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare.
66ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The m
nutritional recovery, improve response to treatment and
outcomes and reduce mortality due to TB in India.
• India has the highest burden of TB and it kills an estimated
4,80,000 Indians every year.
• Although elimination of tuberculosis is one of the sustainable
development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world, India has set the target of 2025.
NAMO DIDI Drone Scheme
The Government has approved ‘Namo
Drone Didi’ as Central Sector Scheme
for providing drones to the Women Self
Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs.
1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24
to 2025-26.
Key Features of the Scheme:
•
Centr
to Rs. 8 lakhs. Additional funding options available through
Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF).
• Comprehensive package includes a drone with essential
accessories (batteries, spray equipment, tools) and a one- year warranty.
•
Mandatory 15-day training to be provided to one of the
members of women SHGs as a drone pilot and additional training for agriculture purpose for nutrient and pesticide application.
Jalvahak Scheme
The Union Government launched the
‘Jalvahak’ scheme to incentivise cargo
movement via inland waterways, across
National Waterways-1 (Ganga River),
National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra
River), and National Waterways-16
(Barak River).
Key facts
•
The scheme offers direct incentives to cargo owners for
transporting goods via inland waterways for distances
exceeding 300 km. Reimbursement of up to 35% of total
operating expenditure incurred during cargo transportation
is provided.
•
The scheme is a joint effort of the Inland Waterways Authority
of India (IWAI) and the Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL).
•
Cargo owners are encouraged to hire vessels owned or
operated by organisations outside IWAI or ICSL to boost private participation in inland waterways transportation.
•
The duration of this scheme is three years.
Current Status of Inland Waterways in India
•
India has an extensive inland waterways network of 20,236
km, comprising 17,980 km of rivers and 2,256 km of canals suitable for mechanised crafts.
•
India currently has 111 National Waterways (NWs), as
declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
• Cargo transported on national waterways increased from
18.07 Million Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2013-14 to 132.89 Million MT in 2023-24 — a growth of over 700%.
•
India aims to achieve 200 Million MT of cargo movement via
waterways by 2030 and 500 Million MT by 2047.
TULIP Programme
The Union Minister for Social Justice
and Empowerment (SJE) launched
‘TULIP’ (Traditional Artisans’
Upliftment Livelihood Programme).
Key Highlights
•
Under
(SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), sanitation workers,
and persons with disabilities will have an e-platform to
market their products.
•
The goal of TULIP is to empower marginalized artisans by
providing them with a platform for global exposure and sales of their products through e-marketing.
PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved PM Vidyalaxmi,
which seeks to provide financial support to
meritorious students in their pursuit of higher
education.
Key Highlights
•
PM-
facilitates the extension of education loans to students who
get admission in the top 860 quality higher educational
institutions (QHEIs) of the nation.
•
Benefits: For loans up to ₹7.5 lakh, the student will receive a
credit guarantee of 75%, enabling banks to extend education loans to students.
The scheme will provide for students with up to Rs. 8
lakhs annual family income, for 3% interest subvention
on loans up to Rs 10 lakh.
• The m
nutritional recovery, improve response to treatment and
outcomes and reduce mortality due to TB in India.
• India has the highest burden of TB and it kills an estimated
4,80,000 Indians every year.
• Although elimination of tuberculosis is one of the sustainable
development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world, India has set the target of 2025.
NAMO DIDI Drone Scheme
The Government has approved ‘Namo
Drone Didi’ as Central Sector Scheme
for providing drones to the Women Self
Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs.
1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24
to 2025-26.
Key Features of the Scheme:
•
Centr
to Rs. 8 lakhs. Additional funding options available through
Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF).
• Comprehensive package includes a drone with essential
accessories (batteries, spray equipment, tools) and a one- year warranty.
•
Mandatory 15-day training to be provided to one of the
members of women SHGs as a drone pilot and additional training for agriculture purpose for nutrient and pesticide application.
Jalvahak Scheme
The Union Government launched the
‘Jalvahak’ scheme to incentivise cargo
movement via inland waterways, across
National Waterways-1 (Ganga River),
National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra
River), and National Waterways-16
(Barak River).
Key facts
•
The scheme offers direct incentives to cargo owners for
transporting goods via inland waterways for distances
exceeding 300 km. Reimbursement of up to 35% of total
operating expenditure incurred during cargo transportation
is provided.
•
The scheme is a joint effort of the Inland Waterways Authority
of India (IWAI) and the Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL).
•
Cargo owners are encouraged to hire vessels owned or
operated by organisations outside IWAI or ICSL to boost private participation in inland waterways transportation.
•
The duration of this scheme is three years.
Current Status of Inland Waterways in India
•
India has an extensive inland waterways network of 20,236
km, comprising 17,980 km of rivers and 2,256 km of canals suitable for mechanised crafts.
•
India currently has 111 National Waterways (NWs), as
declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
• Cargo transported on national waterways increased from
18.07 Million Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2013-14 to 132.89 Million MT in 2023-24 — a growth of over 700%.
•
India aims to achieve 200 Million MT of cargo movement via
waterways by 2030 and 500 Million MT by 2047.
TULIP Programme
The Union Minister for Social Justice
and Empowerment (SJE) launched
‘TULIP’ (Traditional Artisans’
Upliftment Livelihood Programme).
Key Highlights
•
Under
(SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), sanitation workers,
and persons with disabilities will have an e-platform to
market their products.
•
The goal of TULIP is to empower marginalized artisans by
providing them with a platform for global exposure and sales of their products through e-marketing.
PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved PM Vidyalaxmi,
which seeks to provide financial support to
meritorious students in their pursuit of higher
education.
Key Highlights
•
PM-
facilitates the extension of education loans to students who
get admission in the top 860 quality higher educational
institutions (QHEIs) of the nation.
•
Benefits: For loans up to ₹7.5 lakh, the student will receive a
credit guarantee of 75%, enabling banks to extend education loans to students.
The scheme will provide for students with up to Rs. 8
lakhs annual family income, for 3% interest subvention
on loans up to Rs 10 lakh.
67National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The scheme will be applicable to the QHEIs of the nation, as
determined by the National Institutional Ranking Framework
(NIRF) rankings, including all HEIs – government and private.
• It will supplement Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha
Protsahan (PM-USP) Scheme.
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommended
expanding financial assistance to meritorious students
across both public and private higher education institutions
in India.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme
The PM Electric Drive Revolution in
Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM
E-DRIVE) Scheme was approved by the
Cabinet with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crore
till March 2026.
Key Highlights
•
It
transportation systems.
• Its primary aim is to accelerate the adoption of electric
vehicles (EVs), establish charging infrastructure, and build a robust EV manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
Objectives:
•
Promote mass mobility via EVs.
• Offer upfront incentives for EV purchases to boost adoption.
• Establish a competitive EV manufacturing ecosystem aligned
with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Improve air quality and reduce transportation-related
environmental impacts.
Key Components:
•
Subsidies: Incentives for various EV types, including e-2Ws, e-3Ws,
e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other emerging EV categories.
• Grants for Capital Assets: Funding for electric buses, charging
stations, and upgrades to testing facilities.
• Administrative Costs: Includes funding for IEC (Information,
Education & Communication) activities and a project
management agency.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
The government has
doubled the loan limit under
the Pradhan Mantri Mudra
Yojana (PMMY) to ` 20 lakh to
enhance entrepreneurship in India.
Key Facts:
• It
providing loans up to Rs.10 Lakh to the non-corporate, non-
farm small/micro enterprises
• It aims to provide financial inclusiveness and support to the
marginalised and hitherto socio-economically neglected classes.
• Categories: MUDRA loans are offered in three categories
namely, ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore and ‘Tarun’ which signifies the stage of growth or development and funding needs of the borrowers:
Shishu: covering loans upto Rs. 50,000/-
Kishore: covering loans above Rs. 50,000/- and up to Rs.
5 lakhs
Tarun: covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
• Latest Developments: A new “Tarun Plus” category will be
introduced for loans ranging from ` 10 lakh to ` 20 lakh,
specifically for eligible entrepreneurs.
This change, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2024-25, aims to
support entrepreneurs who have previously taken and
successfully repaid loans under the “Tarun category.”
The guarantee coverage of PMMY loans for amounts up
to `20 lakh will be provided under the Credit Guarantee
Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).
Prime Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship
Scheme (YUVA) Scheme
The Ministry of Education
(MoE) and the National Book
Trust (NBT) of India launched
the third edition of the Prime
Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship Scheme.
Key Facts
•
YUVA 1.0 (launched in May 2021) marked the beginning of
the initiative during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations,
commemorating 75 years of India’s independence. Its theme
was the National Movement of India, focusing on unsung
heroes, little-known facts, and various aspects of the freedom
struggle.
•
YUVA 2.0 (launched in October 2022) built upon the
foundation of YUVA 1.0 with a focus on Democracy as the core theme. It aimed to develop young writers who could explore India’s democratic values, traditions, and governance structures.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The scheme will be applicable to the QHEIs of the nation, as
determined by the National Institutional Ranking Framework
(NIRF) rankings, including all HEIs – government and private.
• It will supplement Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha
Protsahan (PM-USP) Scheme.
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommended
expanding financial assistance to meritorious students
across both public and private higher education institutions
in India.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme
The PM Electric Drive Revolution in
Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM
E-DRIVE) Scheme was approved by the
Cabinet with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crore
till March 2026.
Key Highlights
•
It
transportation systems.
• Its primary aim is to accelerate the adoption of electric
vehicles (EVs), establish charging infrastructure, and build a robust EV manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
Objectives:
•
Promote mass mobility via EVs.
• Offer upfront incentives for EV purchases to boost adoption.
• Establish a competitive EV manufacturing ecosystem aligned
with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Improve air quality and reduce transportation-related
environmental impacts.
Key Components:
•
Subsidies: Incentives for various EV types, including e-2Ws, e-3Ws,
e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other emerging EV categories.
• Grants for Capital Assets: Funding for electric buses, charging
stations, and upgrades to testing facilities.
• Administrative Costs: Includes funding for IEC (Information,
Education & Communication) activities and a project
management agency.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
The government has
doubled the loan limit under
the Pradhan Mantri Mudra
Yojana (PMMY) to ` 20 lakh to
enhance entrepreneurship in India.
Key Facts:
• It
providing loans up to Rs.10 Lakh to the non-corporate, non-
farm small/micro enterprises
• It aims to provide financial inclusiveness and support to the
marginalised and hitherto socio-economically neglected classes.
• Categories: MUDRA loans are offered in three categories
namely, ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore and ‘Tarun’ which signifies the stage of growth or development and funding needs of the borrowers:
Shishu: covering loans upto Rs. 50,000/-
Kishore: covering loans above Rs. 50,000/- and up to Rs.
5 lakhs
Tarun: covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
• Latest Developments: A new “Tarun Plus” category will be
introduced for loans ranging from ` 10 lakh to ` 20 lakh,
specifically for eligible entrepreneurs.
This change, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2024-25, aims to
support entrepreneurs who have previously taken and
successfully repaid loans under the “Tarun category.”
The guarantee coverage of PMMY loans for amounts up
to `20 lakh will be provided under the Credit Guarantee
Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).
Prime Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship
Scheme (YUVA) Scheme
The Ministry of Education
(MoE) and the National Book
Trust (NBT) of India launched
the third edition of the Prime
Minister’s Young Authors Mentorship Scheme.
Key Facts
•
YUVA 1.0 (launched in May 2021) marked the beginning of
the initiative during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations,
commemorating 75 years of India’s independence. Its theme
was the National Movement of India, focusing on unsung
heroes, little-known facts, and various aspects of the freedom
struggle.
•
YUVA 2.0 (launched in October 2022) built upon the
foundation of YUVA 1.0 with a focus on Democracy as the core theme. It aimed to develop young writers who could explore India’s democratic values, traditions, and governance structures.
68ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Mission Mausam
Cabinet approved ‘Mission Mausam’ to create a more weather-
ready and climate-smart Bharat.
About M
• It is a two-year initiative aimed at enhancing India’s
capacity to cope with extreme weather and climate
challenges.
• The mission, with a financial outlay of `2,000 crore, will
be implemented under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The India Meteorological Department, the Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National
Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences will
spearhead the mission’s implementation.
•
Key components include expanding r esearch
in atmospheric sciences, focusing on weather surveillance, forecasting, and modelling.
The mission will integrate advanced technologies
such as artificial intelligence, machine learning,
and high-performance computing to improve the
accuracy of weather predictions.
•
Importance: It will enhance weather observation
systems and provide better monsoon forecasts, air quality alerts, and extreme weather warnings.
The mission will benefit sectors including
agriculture, disaster management, and health.
SEHER Programme
Recently, Women Entrepreneurship Platform and TransUnion
CIBIL Partner launched the SEHER Program to empower women
entrepreneurs.
About A
• It
aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in India by providing essential financial literacy content and business skills to women business owners.
•
It facilitates better access to credit and financial
resources for women-led businesses.
• It provides women entrepreneurs with knowledge
about credit scores, loan eligibility, and financial planning.
Unified Pension Scheme
Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by replacing the National Pension System (NPS).
Key Facts
• Based on the recommendations of T. V.
Somanathan Committee (2023), it will be effective from April
1, 2025.
• The UPS proposes to amalgamate advantages of both Old
Pension Scheme (OPS) and New Pension Scheme (NPS).
• It represents a forward-looking approach to retirement
planning in India, aiming to provide a secure and sustainable
pension system for all eligible employees.
• It aims to provide long-term financial security to government
employees while maintaining flexibility and choice.
Key Features of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
•
Under
equal to 50% of their average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation. For service periods between 10 and 25 years, the pension will be proportional.
•
Employees with a minimum qualifying service of 25 years will
receive the full assured pension. In case of an employee’s
demise, their family will receive an assured pension equal to
60% of the employee’s pension before their demise.
•
Upon superannuation after a minimum of 10 years of service,
employees will receive an assured minimum pension of Rs
10,000 per month. It ensures a safety net for retirees.
The UPS promises central government employees who
have completed at least 25 years of service a guaranteed
pension.
It is calculated as half of their average basic salary over
the 12 months preceding superannuation.
• The UPS applies inflation indexation to the assured pension,
assured family pension, and assured minimum pension.
In the form of Dearness Relief based on All India
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW),
similar to service employees.
• In addition to gratuity, 1/10th of monthly salary+ Dearness
Allowance for every completed six months of service.
• Employees choosing the UPS will continue to contribute 10%
of their salary.
The government’s contribution will increase from 14% to
18.5%.
It ensures that employees do not face any additional
financial burden.
Mission Mausam
Cabinet approved ‘Mission Mausam’ to create a more weather-
ready and climate-smart Bharat.
About M
• It is a two-year initiative aimed at enhancing India’s
capacity to cope with extreme weather and climate
challenges.
• The mission, with a financial outlay of `2,000 crore, will
be implemented under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The India Meteorological Department, the Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National
Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences will
spearhead the mission’s implementation.
•
Key components include expanding r esearch
in atmospheric sciences, focusing on weather surveillance, forecasting, and modelling.
The mission will integrate advanced technologies
such as artificial intelligence, machine learning,
and high-performance computing to improve the
accuracy of weather predictions.
•
Importance: It will enhance weather observation
systems and provide better monsoon forecasts, air quality alerts, and extreme weather warnings.
The mission will benefit sectors including
agriculture, disaster management, and health.
SEHER Programme
Recently, Women Entrepreneurship Platform and TransUnion
CIBIL Partner launched the SEHER Program to empower women
entrepreneurs.
About A
• It
aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in India by providing essential financial literacy content and business skills to women business owners.
•
It facilitates better access to credit and financial
resources for women-led businesses.
• It provides women entrepreneurs with knowledge
about credit scores, loan eligibility, and financial planning.
Unified Pension Scheme
Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by replacing the National Pension System (NPS).
Key Facts
• Based on the recommendations of T. V.
Somanathan Committee (2023), it will be effective from April
1, 2025.
• The UPS proposes to amalgamate advantages of both Old
Pension Scheme (OPS) and New Pension Scheme (NPS).
• It represents a forward-looking approach to retirement
planning in India, aiming to provide a secure and sustainable
pension system for all eligible employees.
• It aims to provide long-term financial security to government
employees while maintaining flexibility and choice.
Key Features of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
•
Under
equal to 50% of their average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation. For service periods between 10 and 25 years, the pension will be proportional.
•
Employees with a minimum qualifying service of 25 years will
receive the full assured pension. In case of an employee’s
demise, their family will receive an assured pension equal to
60% of the employee’s pension before their demise.
•
Upon superannuation after a minimum of 10 years of service,
employees will receive an assured minimum pension of Rs
10,000 per month. It ensures a safety net for retirees.
The UPS promises central government employees who
have completed at least 25 years of service a guaranteed
pension.
It is calculated as half of their average basic salary over
the 12 months preceding superannuation.
• The UPS applies inflation indexation to the assured pension,
assured family pension, and assured minimum pension.
In the form of Dearness Relief based on All India
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW),
similar to service employees.
• In addition to gratuity, 1/10th of monthly salary+ Dearness
Allowance for every completed six months of service.
• Employees choosing the UPS will continue to contribute 10%
of their salary.
The government’s contribution will increase from 14% to
18.5%.
It ensures that employees do not face any additional
financial burden.
69National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Swachh Bharat Mission
Swachh Bharat Mission completed
the 10 years of implementation on
2nd October 2024. This year’s theme,
‘Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar
Swachhata,’ emphasises the importance of cleanliness and
environmental well-being.
Key points:
•
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in 2014
with the goal of achieving universal sanitation coverage by
2019, as a tribute to the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi.
•
It aims to make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF).
• It aims to build toilet infrastructure by offering financial
incentives for building household toilets, as well as
community toilets for slums and migrant populations.
• It consisted of two sub-missions, urban, and rural or Gramin
(G).
• SBM(G) sought to improve “the levels of cleanliness through
Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities and making Gram Panchayats Open Defecation Free (ODF), clean and sanitized.
2019 marked the end of the first phase of SBM(G), the
second phase, started in 2020-2021, expands efforts
with a focus on safe management of solid and liquid
waste and sustainability of ODF.
•
SBM (Urban) 2.0: Commenced in 2021 and is expected to
run till 2026.
Targets: Sustaining the achievements of phase 1 and
ensuring that treatment of both liquid and solid waste
is achieved through the help of technology and private
sector engagement.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
(DAJGUA)
The Prime Minister launched the Dharti
Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
(DAJGUA).
Key Facts
•
The scheme is launched for
improving the socio-economic
condition of tribal communities, by adopting saturation
coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and
aspirational districts.
• The
more than 5 crore tribal people in all tribal majority villages
and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs.
• It envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure,
health, education, livelihood.
• The Mission comprises 25 interventions which will be
implemented by 17-line ministries.
• Each Ministry/Department would be responsible for
implementation of schemes related to it in a time bound manner through funds allocated to them under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) in the next 5 years.
National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds
(NMEO-Oilseeds)
The Union Cabinet approved the National
Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-
Oilseeds) to increase domestic oilseed
production and achieve self-sufficiency in
edible oils.
Key points NMEO-Oilseeds
•
The initiative will span from 2024-25 to 2030-31 and will
focus on enhancing the production of key primary oilseed
crops such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean,
Sunflower, and Sesamum.
It will also focus on increasing collection and extraction
efficiency from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice
Bran, and Tree Borne Oils.
• Aim: To increase primary oilseed production from 39
million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030- 31, meeting around 72% of our projected domestic requirement.
•
Implementation: By promoting adoption of high-yielding
high oil content seed varieties, extending cultivation into rice fallow areas, and promoting intercropping.
Oil Seed Production in India
•
India is the fourth largest oilseeds producer in the world,
behind the USA, China, and Brazil. It has 20.8% of the total area under cultivation globally, accounting for 10% of global production.
•
The largest oilseed-producing states in India include
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Swachh Bharat Mission
Swachh Bharat Mission completed
the 10 years of implementation on
2nd October 2024. This year’s theme,
‘Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar
Swachhata,’ emphasises the importance of cleanliness and
environmental well-being.
Key points:
•
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in 2014
with the goal of achieving universal sanitation coverage by
2019, as a tribute to the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi.
•
It aims to make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF).
• It aims to build toilet infrastructure by offering financial
incentives for building household toilets, as well as
community toilets for slums and migrant populations.
• It consisted of two sub-missions, urban, and rural or Gramin
(G).
• SBM(G) sought to improve “the levels of cleanliness through
Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities and making Gram Panchayats Open Defecation Free (ODF), clean and sanitized.
2019 marked the end of the first phase of SBM(G), the
second phase, started in 2020-2021, expands efforts
with a focus on safe management of solid and liquid
waste and sustainability of ODF.
•
SBM (Urban) 2.0: Commenced in 2021 and is expected to
run till 2026.
Targets: Sustaining the achievements of phase 1 and
ensuring that treatment of both liquid and solid waste
is achieved through the help of technology and private
sector engagement.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
(DAJGUA)
The Prime Minister launched the Dharti
Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
(DAJGUA).
Key Facts
•
The scheme is launched for
improving the socio-economic
condition of tribal communities, by adopting saturation
coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and
aspirational districts.
• The
more than 5 crore tribal people in all tribal majority villages
and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs.
• It envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure,
health, education, livelihood.
• The Mission comprises 25 interventions which will be
implemented by 17-line ministries.
• Each Ministry/Department would be responsible for
implementation of schemes related to it in a time bound manner through funds allocated to them under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) in the next 5 years.
National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds
(NMEO-Oilseeds)
The Union Cabinet approved the National
Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-
Oilseeds) to increase domestic oilseed
production and achieve self-sufficiency in
edible oils.
Key points NMEO-Oilseeds
•
The initiative will span from 2024-25 to 2030-31 and will
focus on enhancing the production of key primary oilseed
crops such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean,
Sunflower, and Sesamum.
It will also focus on increasing collection and extraction
efficiency from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice
Bran, and Tree Borne Oils.
• Aim: To increase primary oilseed production from 39
million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030- 31, meeting around 72% of our projected domestic requirement.
•
Implementation: By promoting adoption of high-yielding
high oil content seed varieties, extending cultivation into rice fallow areas, and promoting intercropping.
Oil Seed Production in India
•
India is the fourth largest oilseeds producer in the world,
behind the USA, China, and Brazil. It has 20.8% of the total area under cultivation globally, accounting for 10% of global production.
•
The largest oilseed-producing states in India include
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
70ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Over
oil in the country has seen rise. This surge in demand has
significantly outpaced domestic production, leading to
a heavy reliance on imports to meet both domestic and
industrial needs.
•
In 2022-23, India imported 16.5 million tonnes (MT) of edible
oils, with domestic production fulfilling only 40-45% of the country’s requirements.
Digital Agriculture Mission
Recently, the Union Cabinet Committee
approved the Digital Agriculture
Mission with an outlay of Rs.
2817 Crore, including the central
share of Rs. 1940 Crore.
Key Facts
•
It aims to nurture agri-
tech start-ups by harnessing
cutting-edge advancements in cloud
computing, earth observation, remote sensing, data
analytics, and artificial intelligence/machine learning models.
•
It is conceived as an umbrella scheme to support digital
agriculture initiatives, such as creating Digital Public Infrastructure, implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and taking up other IT initiatives by the Central Government, State Governments, and Academic and Research Institutions.
•
At its core, DAM seeks to transform India’s agricultural
landscape by infusing it with digital nutrients.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture: It aims to
provide authenticated demographic details, land holdings,
and crop information for cultivators and tenant farmers.
It’s like giving each farmer a digital identity (akin to
Aadhaar) – a trusted ‘Kisan ki Pehchaan’ (a digital
Farmer ID) – while connecting them to relevant state and
central government databases.
This data-driven approach promises innovative, farmer-
centric services.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram
Abhiyan (PMJUGA)
The Union Cabinet approved Pradhan
Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan for
improving the socio-economic condition of
tribal communities.
Key Highlights
• The
Rs.56,333 crore and State Share: Rs. 22,823 crore).
• It will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than
705 tribal communities as announced in the Budget Speech
2024-25.
India has Scheduled Tribe population of 10.45 crore
as per 2011 census and there are more than 705 tribal
communities.
• The Mission comprises 25 interventions which will be
implemented by 17-line ministries.
• Each Ministry/Department would be responsible for
implementation of scheme related to it through funds
allocated to them under Development Action Plan for
Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) in next 5 years to achieve
following goals:
Goal-I: Pucca house for eligible Households with other
entitlements and Improving Village infrastructure,
Goal-2: Promotion of Economic Empowerment by Skill
Development Entrepreneurship promotion and enhanced
livelihood(self-employment),
Goal-3: Universalization of Access to Good Education,
Goal-4: Healthy lives and Dignified Ageing.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB-PM-JAY)
The Union Cabinet has approved
extending Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
health coverage to all senior citizens aged
70 and above, regardless of income.
Key Points
•
Eligible senior citizens will receive a distinct card to access
their entitled benefits.
• Seniors already covered by AB PM-JAY will receive an
additional top-up of Rs. 5 lakh annually for themselves.
This top-up is separate from their family’s existing coverage.
• Options for Other Health Insurance Schemes: Senior citizens
covered under other public health insurance schemes
such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS),
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and
Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can either
retain their existing coverage or opt for AB PM-JAY.
Senior citizens under private health insurance or the
Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme are also
eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits.
• Over
oil in the country has seen rise. This surge in demand has
significantly outpaced domestic production, leading to
a heavy reliance on imports to meet both domestic and
industrial needs.
•
In 2022-23, India imported 16.5 million tonnes (MT) of edible
oils, with domestic production fulfilling only 40-45% of the country’s requirements.
Digital Agriculture Mission
Recently, the Union Cabinet Committee
approved the Digital Agriculture
Mission with an outlay of Rs.
2817 Crore, including the central
share of Rs. 1940 Crore.
Key Facts
•
It aims to nurture agri-
tech start-ups by harnessing
cutting-edge advancements in cloud
computing, earth observation, remote sensing, data
analytics, and artificial intelligence/machine learning models.
•
It is conceived as an umbrella scheme to support digital
agriculture initiatives, such as creating Digital Public Infrastructure, implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and taking up other IT initiatives by the Central Government, State Governments, and Academic and Research Institutions.
•
At its core, DAM seeks to transform India’s agricultural
landscape by infusing it with digital nutrients.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture: It aims to
provide authenticated demographic details, land holdings,
and crop information for cultivators and tenant farmers.
It’s like giving each farmer a digital identity (akin to
Aadhaar) – a trusted ‘Kisan ki Pehchaan’ (a digital
Farmer ID) – while connecting them to relevant state and
central government databases.
This data-driven approach promises innovative, farmer-
centric services.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram
Abhiyan (PMJUGA)
The Union Cabinet approved Pradhan
Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan for
improving the socio-economic condition of
tribal communities.
Key Highlights
• The
Rs.56,333 crore and State Share: Rs. 22,823 crore).
• It will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than
705 tribal communities as announced in the Budget Speech
2024-25.
India has Scheduled Tribe population of 10.45 crore
as per 2011 census and there are more than 705 tribal
communities.
• The Mission comprises 25 interventions which will be
implemented by 17-line ministries.
• Each Ministry/Department would be responsible for
implementation of scheme related to it through funds
allocated to them under Development Action Plan for
Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) in next 5 years to achieve
following goals:
Goal-I: Pucca house for eligible Households with other
entitlements and Improving Village infrastructure,
Goal-2: Promotion of Economic Empowerment by Skill
Development Entrepreneurship promotion and enhanced
livelihood(self-employment),
Goal-3: Universalization of Access to Good Education,
Goal-4: Healthy lives and Dignified Ageing.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB-PM-JAY)
The Union Cabinet has approved
extending Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
health coverage to all senior citizens aged
70 and above, regardless of income.
Key Points
•
Eligible senior citizens will receive a distinct card to access
their entitled benefits.
• Seniors already covered by AB PM-JAY will receive an
additional top-up of Rs. 5 lakh annually for themselves.
This top-up is separate from their family’s existing coverage.
• Options for Other Health Insurance Schemes: Senior citizens
covered under other public health insurance schemes
such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS),
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and
Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can either
retain their existing coverage or opt for AB PM-JAY.
Senior citizens under private health insurance or the
Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme are also
eligible for AB PM-JAY benefits.
71National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key highlights:
• AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health
assurance scheme.
• It provides Rs. 5 lakh annual coverage per family for
secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations.
• Based on Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011)
for rural and urban areas.
• The scheme is being implemented in 33 States/UTs except
for the NCT of Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• Up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-
hospitalization expenses (e.g., diagnostics, medicines).
No restrictions on family size, age, or gender.
Coverage includes all pre-existing conditions from day
one.
• So far, it has facilitated over 7.37 crore hospital admissions,
benefiting 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore families.
Initially, the scheme covered 10.74 crore vulnerable
families (40% of India’s population).
In January 2022, the base was expanded to 12 crore
families to account for population growth.
The recent extension also includes free healthcare for 37
lakh ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, and Helpers (AWWs/
AWHs) across the country.
NIPUN Bharat Mission
Recently, the union government
launched the NIPUN (National Initiative
for Proficiency in Reading with
Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat
Mission.
Key Highlights
•
It is launched by the Ministry of Education, a crucial step
toward ensuring that every child in India acquires foundational literacy —such as reading, writing, and numeracy skills that are essential for a child’s overall development and future success.
•
The mission’s primary goal is to achieve universal
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) among children in the age group of 3 to 9 years.
•
By the end of Grade 3 (approximately age 8-9), every child
should possess the necessary competencies in reading, writing, and basic maths.
Significance
•
NaNEP places
foundational literacy and numeracy as the highest priority.
It recognises that without these fundamental skills, further learning becomes challenging.
•
Universal Access: NIPUN Bharat aims to ensure that no child
is left behind. Regardless of socio-economic background or geographical location, every young learner should have access to quality education.
•
Holistic Development: Strong foundational skills not only
enable academic success but also contribute to a child’s overall cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Implementation and Key Components
•
NaIt was set up by the Ministry
of Education to oversee the progress of NIPUN Bharat. It includes education secretaries from various states and other key stakeholders.
•
Monitoring and Tracking: State and union territories are
preparing implementation plans to achieve universal FLN in primary schools. Regular monitoring ensures progress toward the 2026-27 goal.
Collaborative Efforts
•
NCER It plays a pivotal role in designing curriculum
frameworks, teacher training, and assessment tools for NIPUN Bharat.
•
CBSE: It actively suppor ts the mission by integrating FLN
competencies into its curriculum.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014 under the Ministry of Finance has completed a decade of successful implementation.
Key Features of the Jan Dhan Yojana
•
PMJDY being the largest financial inclusion initiative to provide
support to the marginalised and economically backward
sections through its financial inclusion interventions.
• Under the PMJDY, individuals can open a basic savings
bank deposit (BSBD) account at any bank branch or through a Business Correspondent (‘Bank Mitra’).
Key benefits of the scheme include:
•
No r
• Interest earned on deposits in PMJDY accounts
• Provision of a RuPay Debit card to account holders
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key highlights:
• AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health
assurance scheme.
• It provides Rs. 5 lakh annual coverage per family for
secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations.
• Based on Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011)
for rural and urban areas.
• The scheme is being implemented in 33 States/UTs except
for the NCT of Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• Up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-
hospitalization expenses (e.g., diagnostics, medicines).
No restrictions on family size, age, or gender.
Coverage includes all pre-existing conditions from day
one.
• So far, it has facilitated over 7.37 crore hospital admissions,
benefiting 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore families.
Initially, the scheme covered 10.74 crore vulnerable
families (40% of India’s population).
In January 2022, the base was expanded to 12 crore
families to account for population growth.
The recent extension also includes free healthcare for 37
lakh ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, and Helpers (AWWs/
AWHs) across the country.
NIPUN Bharat Mission
Recently, the union government
launched the NIPUN (National Initiative
for Proficiency in Reading with
Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat
Mission.
Key Highlights
•
It is launched by the Ministry of Education, a crucial step
toward ensuring that every child in India acquires foundational literacy —such as reading, writing, and numeracy skills that are essential for a child’s overall development and future success.
•
The mission’s primary goal is to achieve universal
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) among children in the age group of 3 to 9 years.
•
By the end of Grade 3 (approximately age 8-9), every child
should possess the necessary competencies in reading, writing, and basic maths.
Significance
•
NaNEP places
foundational literacy and numeracy as the highest priority.
It recognises that without these fundamental skills, further learning becomes challenging.
•
Universal Access: NIPUN Bharat aims to ensure that no child
is left behind. Regardless of socio-economic background or geographical location, every young learner should have access to quality education.
•
Holistic Development: Strong foundational skills not only
enable academic success but also contribute to a child’s overall cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Implementation and Key Components
•
NaIt was set up by the Ministry
of Education to oversee the progress of NIPUN Bharat. It includes education secretaries from various states and other key stakeholders.
•
Monitoring and Tracking: State and union territories are
preparing implementation plans to achieve universal FLN in primary schools. Regular monitoring ensures progress toward the 2026-27 goal.
Collaborative Efforts
•
NCER It plays a pivotal role in designing curriculum
frameworks, teacher training, and assessment tools for NIPUN Bharat.
•
CBSE: It actively suppor ts the mission by integrating FLN
competencies into its curriculum.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014 under the Ministry of Finance has completed a decade of successful implementation.
Key Features of the Jan Dhan Yojana
•
PMJDY being the largest financial inclusion initiative to provide
support to the marginalised and economically backward
sections through its financial inclusion interventions.
• Under the PMJDY, individuals can open a basic savings
bank deposit (BSBD) account at any bank branch or through a Business Correspondent (‘Bank Mitra’).
Key benefits of the scheme include:
•
No r
• Interest earned on deposits in PMJDY accounts
• Provision of a RuPay Debit card to account holders
72ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Accident insurance cover of Rs 100,000 (increased to Rs
200,000 for new accounts opened after August 28, 2018)
with the RuPay card
• Overdraft facility of up to Rs 10,000 for eligible account holders
• Eligibility for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri
Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.
Lakhpati Didi Yojana
Recently, the Prime Minister participated in ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ at Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
Key Highlights
•
It
the achievements of women who have become ‘Lakhpati
Didis’ – those who earn an annual sustainable income of at
least `1 lakh (approximately $1,350).
•
This income is calculated for at least four agricultural
seasons and/or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding Rupees Ten Thousand (Rs. 10,000), so that it is sustainable.
•
It aims to uplift women in rural areas by providing them
with skill development, training programmes, and financial support, organised under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
•
It facilitates diversified livelihood activities, by ensuring
convergence across all Government departments/ Ministries, Private sector and Market players. The strategy includes focused planning, implementation and monitoring at all levels.
•
The government disburses funds to self-help groups (SHGs)
through a revolving fund.
• Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, one crore
women have already achieved Lakhpati status, and the government has set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis, reflecting its commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
The Union Government is preparing to train
a workforce of 100,000 individuals in the
installation and maintenance of solar panels
to aid its initiative of assisting 10 million
households in transitioning to solar energy.
Key Highlights:
• PM Sur
electricity to one crore households in India, who opt to install roof top solar electricity units.
•
The households will be able to get 300 units of electricity free
every month.
• The scheme provides for a subsidy of 60 percent of the solar
unit cost for systems up to 2 kW capacity and 40 percent of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity.
•
The subsidy has been capped at 3 kW capacity.
• A Model Solar Village will be developed in each district of the
country to act as a role model for adoption of rooftop solar in rural areas,
•
Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions shall
also benefit from incentives for promoting Rooftop Solar (RTS) installations in their areas.
•
The scheme provides a component for payment security for
renewable energy service company (RESCO) based models as well as a fund for innovative projects in RTS.
Longevity India Initiative
Recently, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched the ‘Longevity India Initiative’ aiming at extending human health-span and tackling ageing-related challenges.
Key Highlights:
•
It
academia, industry, and healthcare to address complex challenges related to ageing.
•
It primarily focuses on identifying early disease indicators,
investigating ageing biomarkers, and developing new therapeutics and technologies to aid healthy ageing.
•
It seeks to enhance the understanding of aging through both
fundamental and applied research, and to develop solutions that can improve quality of life.
•
The initiative has received initial grant funding support from
Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India.
• It is an attempt to bring together multiple stakeholders
working in the space, and explore the subject, factoring in India’s specific and diverse needs.
• Accident insurance cover of Rs 100,000 (increased to Rs
200,000 for new accounts opened after August 28, 2018)
with the RuPay card
• Overdraft facility of up to Rs 10,000 for eligible account holders
• Eligibility for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri
Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.
Lakhpati Didi Yojana
Recently, the Prime Minister participated in ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ at Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
Key Highlights
•
It
the achievements of women who have become ‘Lakhpati
Didis’ – those who earn an annual sustainable income of at
least `1 lakh (approximately $1,350).
•
This income is calculated for at least four agricultural
seasons and/or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding Rupees Ten Thousand (Rs. 10,000), so that it is sustainable.
•
It aims to uplift women in rural areas by providing them
with skill development, training programmes, and financial support, organised under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
•
It facilitates diversified livelihood activities, by ensuring
convergence across all Government departments/ Ministries, Private sector and Market players. The strategy includes focused planning, implementation and monitoring at all levels.
•
The government disburses funds to self-help groups (SHGs)
through a revolving fund.
• Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, one crore
women have already achieved Lakhpati status, and the government has set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis, reflecting its commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
The Union Government is preparing to train
a workforce of 100,000 individuals in the
installation and maintenance of solar panels
to aid its initiative of assisting 10 million
households in transitioning to solar energy.
Key Highlights:
• PM Sur
electricity to one crore households in India, who opt to install roof top solar electricity units.
•
The households will be able to get 300 units of electricity free
every month.
• The scheme provides for a subsidy of 60 percent of the solar
unit cost for systems up to 2 kW capacity and 40 percent of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity.
•
The subsidy has been capped at 3 kW capacity.
• A Model Solar Village will be developed in each district of the
country to act as a role model for adoption of rooftop solar in rural areas,
•
Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions shall
also benefit from incentives for promoting Rooftop Solar (RTS) installations in their areas.
•
The scheme provides a component for payment security for
renewable energy service company (RESCO) based models as well as a fund for innovative projects in RTS.
Longevity India Initiative
Recently, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched the ‘Longevity India Initiative’ aiming at extending human health-span and tackling ageing-related challenges.
Key Highlights:
•
It
academia, industry, and healthcare to address complex challenges related to ageing.
•
It primarily focuses on identifying early disease indicators,
investigating ageing biomarkers, and developing new therapeutics and technologies to aid healthy ageing.
•
It seeks to enhance the understanding of aging through both
fundamental and applied research, and to develop solutions that can improve quality of life.
•
The initiative has received initial grant funding support from
Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India.
• It is an attempt to bring together multiple stakeholders
working in the space, and explore the subject, factoring in India’s specific and diverse needs.
73National Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• India’s elderly population is projected to surge to 347 million
by 2050.
• It is imperative to leverage technology to provide accessible
geriatric healthcare, nurture the silver economy, and invest
in digital systems that support ageing populations.
Prerana Programme
Recently, the Secretary of the
Department of School Education
and Literacy (DoSEL) addressed
the first alumni meeting of the
Prerana Programme.
Key Highlights:
• Prerana is an experiential and inspirational learning program
for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.
•
It is Launched by Department of School Education & Literacy,
Ministry of Education, Government of India
• To offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all
participants and empowering them with leadership qualities.
• It is a week-long residential program for selected students of
class IX to XII.
• PRERANA started in the pilot phase from January to February
2024 in the Vernacular school at Vadnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat. The 6th batch will start from 15th April 2024.
•
In this phase, the Prerana program has been held for five
batches of 20 participants each from five states and one Union Territory.
•
Prerana combines experiential learning with cutting-edge
technology, bridging traditional heritage with modern innovation.
• The curriculum is built around nine core values: Dignity and
Humility, Valor and Courage, Hard Work and Dedication, Compassion and Service, Diversity and Unity, Integrity and Purity, Innovation and Curiosity, Faith and Trust, and Freedom and Responsibility.
•
These themes aim to instill a deep respect for India’s
diverse culture and promote the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
• The day-wise program includes yoga, mindfulness, and
meditation, alongside thematic experiential learning and
engaging hands-on activities.
• Evening activities will include visits to ancient and heritage sites,
inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach.
GREAT Scheme
The Empowered Programme Committee
(EPC) has approved 7 startup proposals
under the GREAT scheme.
Key highlights:
•
The
across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) scheme
is a key initiative under the National Technical Textiles
Mission (NTTM) of the Ministry of Textiles.
•
Grant-in-aid of up to ` 50 lakhs for a period of 18 months
would be given under the scheme.
• It is open to individual entrepreneurs, startups, and
companies working on innovative technical textiles projects.
•
It helps towards promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and
indigenous production in the technical textiles sector in India.
ULLAS Initiative
Ladakh has achieved full
functional literacy under the
ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta
Karyakram (ULLAS-NILP).
Key fatcs:
•
ULLAS is a centrally sponsored scheme, launched by
the Ministry of Education that aims to cover all aspects of
Education for All.
• It targets non-literates aged 15 and above, running from FY
2022-23 to 2026-27.
• ULLAS-NILP comprises five components: Foundational
Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Its implementation is facilitated through volunteerism and online mode.
GREAT
Scheme
G
r
a
n
t
f
o
r
R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h
a
n
d
E
n
tr e
p
r e
neurshipacrossA
s
p
i
r
i
n
g
I
n
n
o
v
a
t
o
r
s
i
n
T
e
c
h
n
ic
a
l
T
e
x
tile
s
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• India’s elderly population is projected to surge to 347 million
by 2050.
• It is imperative to leverage technology to provide accessible
geriatric healthcare, nurture the silver economy, and invest
in digital systems that support ageing populations.
Prerana Programme
Recently, the Secretary of the
Department of School Education
and Literacy (DoSEL) addressed
the first alumni meeting of the
Prerana Programme.
Key Highlights:
• Prerana is an experiential and inspirational learning program
for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.
•
It is Launched by Department of School Education & Literacy,
Ministry of Education, Government of India
• To offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all
participants and empowering them with leadership qualities.
• It is a week-long residential program for selected students of
class IX to XII.
• PRERANA started in the pilot phase from January to February
2024 in the Vernacular school at Vadnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat. The 6th batch will start from 15th April 2024.
•
In this phase, the Prerana program has been held for five
batches of 20 participants each from five states and one Union Territory.
•
Prerana combines experiential learning with cutting-edge
technology, bridging traditional heritage with modern innovation.
• The curriculum is built around nine core values: Dignity and
Humility, Valor and Courage, Hard Work and Dedication, Compassion and Service, Diversity and Unity, Integrity and Purity, Innovation and Curiosity, Faith and Trust, and Freedom and Responsibility.
•
These themes aim to instill a deep respect for India’s
diverse culture and promote the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
• The day-wise program includes yoga, mindfulness, and
meditation, alongside thematic experiential learning and
engaging hands-on activities.
• Evening activities will include visits to ancient and heritage sites,
inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach.
GREAT Scheme
The Empowered Programme Committee
(EPC) has approved 7 startup proposals
under the GREAT scheme.
Key highlights:
•
The
across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) scheme
is a key initiative under the National Technical Textiles
Mission (NTTM) of the Ministry of Textiles.
•
Grant-in-aid of up to ` 50 lakhs for a period of 18 months
would be given under the scheme.
• It is open to individual entrepreneurs, startups, and
companies working on innovative technical textiles projects.
•
It helps towards promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and
indigenous production in the technical textiles sector in India.
ULLAS Initiative
Ladakh has achieved full
functional literacy under the
ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta
Karyakram (ULLAS-NILP).
Key fatcs:
•
ULLAS is a centrally sponsored scheme, launched by
the Ministry of Education that aims to cover all aspects of
Education for All.
• It targets non-literates aged 15 and above, running from FY
2022-23 to 2026-27.
• ULLAS-NILP comprises five components: Foundational
Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Its implementation is facilitated through volunteerism and online mode.
GREAT
Scheme
G
r
a
n
t
f
o
r
R
e
s
e
a
r
c
h
a
n
d
E
n
tr e
p
r e
neurshipacrossA
s
p
i
r
i
n
g
I
n
n
o
v
a
t
o
r
s
i
n
T
e
c
h
n
ic
a
l
T
e
x
tile
s
74ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Miscellaneous
National
The
launch of the National Critical Mineral
Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure
of Rs. 16,300 crore.
Critical minerals are those minerals
that are essential for economic development and national security.
Aim: To create a fast-track regulatory approval process for critical mineral mining projects.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah
led the 27th Western Zonal Council meeting in Pune, Maharashtra.
The meeting included the Chief
Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa, the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and senior government officials from the state and central ministries.
Zonal Councils remain vital for
encouraging cooperative federalism in India. They facilitate dialogue between states, addressing issues of common interest and enhancing collaboration among regions.
The Government of India recently
launched a revamped e-auction portal named ‘Baanknet’, for buyers and investors interested in properties auctioned by public sector banks (PSBs).
The portal aims to streamline the
auction process and enhance transparency in the real estate market.
Baanknet boasts several advanced
features designed to improve user experience. It offers a frictionless journey for users, integrating pre- auction, auction, and post-auction
processes into a single application.
The Bombay High Court struck down
the amended Information Technology
Rules, 2023, which empowered the Centre to set up a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify fake, false and misleading information about the government.
The Rules made it obligatory on
intermediaries like social media
platforms “to not to publish, share
or host fake, false or misleading
information in respect of any business
of the Central Government”.
It was established under the Press
Information Bureau (PIB) and started its operations in 2019.
The government has decided to
observe the 25th of June every year as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’.
On 25 June in 1975, former Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency in the country which lasted until March 21, 1977.
There was large-scale suspension of
fundamental rights for the citizenry, detention and arrest of Opposition leaders and critics, and press censorship.
The government has reconstituted
the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, increasing the number of special invitees from five to 11.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains
the Chairperson and economist Suman K Bery will continue to be the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
While the top postions remain
unchanged, several new ministers in the newly formed government have been appointed as either ex-officio members or special invitees to the Aayog.
The National Skill Developm ent
Corporation (NSDC) launched the
Women Entrepreneurship Programme.
The initiative aims to empower 25
lakh women across India, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to start and grow successful businesses.
Divided into two phases, NSDC, with
support from the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), will offer free online self-learning entrepreneurship courses through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) as part of the programme.
Recently, NITI Aayog informed that
the National Monetisation Pipeline monetized Rs 3.85 Lakh Crore Assets in last 3 Years.
It is a strategic initiative aimed at
unlocking the value of brownfield public sector assets.
It lists potential core assets of the
Central Government that can be monetized.’
The Union Minister inaugurated
India’s first demonstration facility for biopolymers at Jejuri in Pune (Maharashtra).
The facility is a demonstration of
India’s commitment to transitioning from fossil-based plastics to eco- friendly alternatives, addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.
Biopolymers are the materials derived
from biological sources such as fats, vegetable oils, and sugars, which offer several advantages over traditional synthetic polymers, which are typically made from petrochemical sources.
Miscellaneous
National
The
launch of the National Critical Mineral
Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure
of Rs. 16,300 crore.
Critical minerals are those minerals
that are essential for economic development and national security.
Aim: To create a fast-track regulatory approval process for critical mineral mining projects.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah
led the 27th Western Zonal Council meeting in Pune, Maharashtra.
The meeting included the Chief
Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa, the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and senior government officials from the state and central ministries.
Zonal Councils remain vital for
encouraging cooperative federalism in India. They facilitate dialogue between states, addressing issues of common interest and enhancing collaboration among regions.
The Government of India recently
launched a revamped e-auction portal named ‘Baanknet’, for buyers and investors interested in properties auctioned by public sector banks (PSBs).
The portal aims to streamline the
auction process and enhance transparency in the real estate market.
Baanknet boasts several advanced
features designed to improve user experience. It offers a frictionless journey for users, integrating pre- auction, auction, and post-auction
processes into a single application.
The Bombay High Court struck down
the amended Information Technology
Rules, 2023, which empowered the Centre to set up a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify fake, false and misleading information about the government.
The Rules made it obligatory on
intermediaries like social media
platforms “to not to publish, share
or host fake, false or misleading
information in respect of any business
of the Central Government”.
It was established under the Press
Information Bureau (PIB) and started its operations in 2019.
The government has decided to
observe the 25th of June every year as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’.
On 25 June in 1975, former Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency in the country which lasted until March 21, 1977.
There was large-scale suspension of
fundamental rights for the citizenry, detention and arrest of Opposition leaders and critics, and press censorship.
The government has reconstituted
the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, increasing the number of special invitees from five to 11.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains
the Chairperson and economist Suman K Bery will continue to be the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
While the top postions remain
unchanged, several new ministers in the newly formed government have been appointed as either ex-officio members or special invitees to the Aayog.
The National Skill Developm ent
Corporation (NSDC) launched the
Women Entrepreneurship Programme.
The initiative aims to empower 25
lakh women across India, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to start and grow successful businesses.
Divided into two phases, NSDC, with
support from the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), will offer free online self-learning entrepreneurship courses through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) as part of the programme.
Recently, NITI Aayog informed that
the National Monetisation Pipeline monetized Rs 3.85 Lakh Crore Assets in last 3 Years.
It is a strategic initiative aimed at
unlocking the value of brownfield public sector assets.
It lists potential core assets of the
Central Government that can be monetized.’
The Union Minister inaugurated
India’s first demonstration facility for biopolymers at Jejuri in Pune (Maharashtra).
The facility is a demonstration of
India’s commitment to transitioning from fossil-based plastics to eco- friendly alternatives, addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.
Biopolymers are the materials derived
from biological sources such as fats, vegetable oils, and sugars, which offer several advantages over traditional synthetic polymers, which are typically made from petrochemical sources.
75International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
PM Narendra Modi attended the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
Summit in Bangkok, hosted by Thailand.
Key Highlights
•
T “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”
• Focus on shared growth amid global uncertainties.
• The BIMSTEC Summit is the first in-person meeting in seven years.
• The chairmanship of the regional grouping was handed over to
Bangladesh.
India-led Initiatives:
•
Pr
• Mitigation and Disaster Management:
Establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster
Management in India to cooperate in disaster management,
relief and rehabilitation.
Fourth joint exercises between BIMSTEC Disaster Management
Authorities to be held in India this year.
• BODHI Program for skilling youth: BODHI [BIMSTEC for Organized
Development of Human Resource Infrastructure] under which training and scholarships would be provided to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats and others.
300 youths will be trained from BIMSTEC countries in India
every year.
• India to host BIMSTEC Athletics Meet this year.
First BIMSTEC Games in 2027
BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival.
• Youth-focused initiatives: Young Leaders’ Summit, Hackathon,
Young Professional Visitors program.
Pilot study on Digital Public Infrastructure, cancer care capacity
building.
Proposal for BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Business
Summit.
• Proposed establishing connectivity between India’s Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) and the payment systems of BIMSTEC member states.
Such integration would bring substantial benefits across trade,
industry and tourism, enhancing economic activity at all levels.
• Space Sector: Build nano-satellites for the BIMSTEC member nations
and also explore the setting up of ground stations and promote the use of remote sensing data.
•
Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre: Proposed the establishment
of a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India to enhance coordination in capacity building, research, innovation and maritime policies.
BIMSTEC Summit, 2025
Summit Outcomes:
• BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: It’s the first long-term plan to
make BIMSTEC more prosperous, strong, and open by the year 2030. The vision focuses on improving trade, transport links, and people’s safety and well-being
•
Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC: This sets clear rules for how
BIMSTEC will work, helping the group to function more smoothly and efficiently.
•
Report by the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group: This report
gives helpful suggestions for how BIMSTEC should move forward, in line with the 2030 vision.
•
Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation: A new
agreement was signed to improve sea transport between South and Southeast Asia. This will help reduce shipping costs, make trade faster, and make it easier for goods and people to move across the region
• It
with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. It unites South and Southeast Asian nations bordering the Bay of Bengal.
•
Founding Members (1997): Bangladesh, India, Sri
Lanka, Thailand.
• Current Members: It comprises seven member states:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
•
Objective: To help countries in their economic growth,
to support social development, and to encourage development in other areas, like science, technology and economic development.
BIMSTEC
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
PM Narendra Modi attended the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
Summit in Bangkok, hosted by Thailand.
Key Highlights
•
T “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”
• Focus on shared growth amid global uncertainties.
• The BIMSTEC Summit is the first in-person meeting in seven years.
• The chairmanship of the regional grouping was handed over to
Bangladesh.
India-led Initiatives:
•
Pr
• Mitigation and Disaster Management:
Establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster
Management in India to cooperate in disaster management,
relief and rehabilitation.
Fourth joint exercises between BIMSTEC Disaster Management
Authorities to be held in India this year.
• BODHI Program for skilling youth: BODHI [BIMSTEC for Organized
Development of Human Resource Infrastructure] under which training and scholarships would be provided to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats and others.
300 youths will be trained from BIMSTEC countries in India
every year.
• India to host BIMSTEC Athletics Meet this year.
First BIMSTEC Games in 2027
BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival.
• Youth-focused initiatives: Young Leaders’ Summit, Hackathon,
Young Professional Visitors program.
Pilot study on Digital Public Infrastructure, cancer care capacity
building.
Proposal for BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Business
Summit.
• Proposed establishing connectivity between India’s Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) and the payment systems of BIMSTEC member states.
Such integration would bring substantial benefits across trade,
industry and tourism, enhancing economic activity at all levels.
• Space Sector: Build nano-satellites for the BIMSTEC member nations
and also explore the setting up of ground stations and promote the use of remote sensing data.
•
Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre: Proposed the establishment
of a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India to enhance coordination in capacity building, research, innovation and maritime policies.
BIMSTEC Summit, 2025
Summit Outcomes:
• BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: It’s the first long-term plan to
make BIMSTEC more prosperous, strong, and open by the year 2030. The vision focuses on improving trade, transport links, and people’s safety and well-being
•
Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC: This sets clear rules for how
BIMSTEC will work, helping the group to function more smoothly and efficiently.
•
Report by the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group: This report
gives helpful suggestions for how BIMSTEC should move forward, in line with the 2030 vision.
•
Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation: A new
agreement was signed to improve sea transport between South and Southeast Asia. This will help reduce shipping costs, make trade faster, and make it easier for goods and people to move across the region
• It
with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. It unites South and Southeast Asian nations bordering the Bay of Bengal.
•
Founding Members (1997): Bangladesh, India, Sri
Lanka, Thailand.
• Current Members: It comprises seven member states:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
•
Objective: To help countries in their economic growth,
to support social development, and to encourage development in other areas, like science, technology and economic development.
BIMSTEC
76ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Mauritius
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Mauritius.
He was the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day Celebrations
on March 12.
Key Highlights of the Visit
• MOUIncludes training civil servants, small and
medium enterprises, blue economy development, combating financial crimes, and local currency settlement for trade.
•
Indian Rupee Credit Line: A 487.6 crore INR line of credit for
replacing water pipelines in Mauritius, a first-ever INR-based credit line.
•
White-Shipping Agreement: Technical agreement for maritime
security and information exchange.
• Award Conferred: PM Modi received the Grand Commander
of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, marking him as the first Indian recipient.
•
Vision for the Global South: PM introduced Vision
MAHASAGAR (Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions), building on the previous Vision SAGAR.
India- Mauritius Relations
•
DIndia and Mauritius established
diplomatic relations in 1948 and have become key trading partners in the Asian continent.
•
Commercial Relations: For the FY 2022-2023, Indian exports
to Mauritius was USD 462.69 mn, Mauritian exports to India was USD 91.50 mn and Total trade was USD 554.19 mn.
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement: Signed in 1982 to
help non-resident investors avoid double taxes.
FDI Source: Mauritius is the second-largest source of
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India for FY 2023-
24, after Singapore.
• Defence Relations: India is Mauritius’ preferred defence
partner for acquiring platforms, capacity building, joint patrolling, hydrological services, etc.
First Agreement: Transfer of a Dornier aircraft and an
Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) to Mauritius on lease.
Second Agreement: A $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) for
Mauritius to procure defence equipment.
• Space Cooperation: India and Mauritius are exploring space
research opportunities and signed an MoU in November
2023 for developing a joint satellite.
• Development Partnership: India has been contributing
to projects like the Metro Express, new hospitals, and infrastructure in Agaléga Island.
•
SAGAR: The term SAGAR – ‘Security and Growth for All in the
Region’ was coined by the PM in 2015 during his visit with a focus on the blue economy.
Mauritius
•
M
western Indian Ocean, close to India. It occupies a total area of 2,040 sq. km.
•
Nearly 70% of the population (1.2 million) of Mauritius is of
Indian origin, strengthening ties with India.
• Mauritius was initially a French colony before becoming a
British possession.
• Mauritius celebrates National Day on March 12, in honor
of the date of Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi
March.
• Mauritius Capital: Port Louis
• History: In the 16th century, it was
colonized by the Dutch, who named
it after Prince Maurice of Nassau.
Later, the French took control in
the 18th century before
ceding it to the British in
the early 19th century.
Mauritius gained
independence from
Britain in 1968 and
became a republic
in 1992.
PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Mauritius
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Mauritius.
He was the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day Celebrations
on March 12.
Key Highlights of the Visit
• MOUIncludes training civil servants, small and
medium enterprises, blue economy development, combating financial crimes, and local currency settlement for trade.
•
Indian Rupee Credit Line: A 487.6 crore INR line of credit for
replacing water pipelines in Mauritius, a first-ever INR-based credit line.
•
White-Shipping Agreement: Technical agreement for maritime
security and information exchange.
• Award Conferred: PM Modi received the Grand Commander
of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, marking him as the first Indian recipient.
•
Vision for the Global South: PM introduced Vision
MAHASAGAR (Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions), building on the previous Vision SAGAR.
India- Mauritius Relations
•
DIndia and Mauritius established
diplomatic relations in 1948 and have become key trading partners in the Asian continent.
•
Commercial Relations: For the FY 2022-2023, Indian exports
to Mauritius was USD 462.69 mn, Mauritian exports to India was USD 91.50 mn and Total trade was USD 554.19 mn.
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement: Signed in 1982 to
help non-resident investors avoid double taxes.
FDI Source: Mauritius is the second-largest source of
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India for FY 2023-
24, after Singapore.
• Defence Relations: India is Mauritius’ preferred defence
partner for acquiring platforms, capacity building, joint patrolling, hydrological services, etc.
First Agreement: Transfer of a Dornier aircraft and an
Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) to Mauritius on lease.
Second Agreement: A $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) for
Mauritius to procure defence equipment.
• Space Cooperation: India and Mauritius are exploring space
research opportunities and signed an MoU in November
2023 for developing a joint satellite.
• Development Partnership: India has been contributing
to projects like the Metro Express, new hospitals, and infrastructure in Agaléga Island.
•
SAGAR: The term SAGAR – ‘Security and Growth for All in the
Region’ was coined by the PM in 2015 during his visit with a focus on the blue economy.
Mauritius
•
M
western Indian Ocean, close to India. It occupies a total area of 2,040 sq. km.
•
Nearly 70% of the population (1.2 million) of Mauritius is of
Indian origin, strengthening ties with India.
• Mauritius was initially a French colony before becoming a
British possession.
• Mauritius celebrates National Day on March 12, in honor
of the date of Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi
March.
• Mauritius Capital: Port Louis
• History: In the 16th century, it was
colonized by the Dutch, who named
it after Prince Maurice of Nassau.
Later, the French took control in
the 18th century before
ceding it to the British in
the early 19th century.
Mauritius gained
independence from
Britain in 1968 and
became a republic
in 1992.
77International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Squad Alliance: India invited to join the group
India has been invited to join the multilateral alliance Squad to
prevent China’s influence in the South China Sea.
Key Highlights
•
The Squad is an informal alliance formed in 2024 with
countries such as Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the
United States. The group now plans to invite India and South
Korea to join it.
•
The defence forces of this alliance have conducted joint
maritime activities in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the South China Sea.
•
Aim: The Squad’s joint maritime activities are aimed at
providing strategic responses to tensions in the Philippines’ waters in the South China Sea.
•
Currently, India is a part of Quad, an alliance of the US,
Japan, and Australia, which informally tries to keep a check on China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
•
The Quad is a tactical grouping that operates at a higher,
more strategic level, across the Indo-Pacific.
Raisina Dialogue 2025 held
The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was recently held in New Delhi, bringing together leaders, thinkers, and policymakers from across the globe.
Key Facts
• It
(ORF) and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
•
Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand was the
Chief Guest.
• The central theme for 2025 was “Kalachakra – People,
Peace, and Planet,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of
humanity, global harmony, and environmental sustainability.
• The dialogue served as a platform to discuss pressing global
challenges, including climate change, digital transformation, economic competition, and geopolitical conflicts, aiming to foster collaborative solutions and strengthen international partnerships.
•
The dialogue witnessed participation from representatives
of over 125 countries, including ministers, former heads of state and government, military commanders & industry leaders etc.
Significance of Raisina Dialogue 2025
The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue holds significant
importance for several reasons:
•
Decadal Milestone: Celebrating a decade since its inception,
the 2025 edition reflects on its journey and contributions to
global discourse.
• Premier Global Platform: As India’s leading conference on
geopolitics and geo-economics, it brings together global leaders to discuss critical international issues.
•
Extensive Global Participation: With representatives from
around 125 countries, the dialogue fosters international collaboration and diverse perspectives.
•
Influence on Policy and Diplomacy: The discussions contribute
to shaping policy decisions, enhancing global cooperation and understanding.
•
Strengthening Economic Ties: Coinciding with the India-New
Zealand Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the dialogue underscores its diplomatic and economic significance.
•
Multilateral Engagement: Serving as a platform for cross-
sector and cross-regional dialogue, it promotes multilateral cooperation among world leaders and experts.
•
As the Raisina Dialogue 2025 convenes in New Delhi, it is
set to be a landmark event, fostering insightful discussions and meaningful collaborations on global challenges and opportunities.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Squad Alliance: India invited to join the group
India has been invited to join the multilateral alliance Squad to
prevent China’s influence in the South China Sea.
Key Highlights
•
The Squad is an informal alliance formed in 2024 with
countries such as Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the
United States. The group now plans to invite India and South
Korea to join it.
•
The defence forces of this alliance have conducted joint
maritime activities in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the South China Sea.
•
Aim: The Squad’s joint maritime activities are aimed at
providing strategic responses to tensions in the Philippines’ waters in the South China Sea.
•
Currently, India is a part of Quad, an alliance of the US,
Japan, and Australia, which informally tries to keep a check on China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
•
The Quad is a tactical grouping that operates at a higher,
more strategic level, across the Indo-Pacific.
Raisina Dialogue 2025 held
The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was recently held in New Delhi, bringing together leaders, thinkers, and policymakers from across the globe.
Key Facts
• It
(ORF) and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
•
Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand was the
Chief Guest.
• The central theme for 2025 was “Kalachakra – People,
Peace, and Planet,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of
humanity, global harmony, and environmental sustainability.
• The dialogue served as a platform to discuss pressing global
challenges, including climate change, digital transformation, economic competition, and geopolitical conflicts, aiming to foster collaborative solutions and strengthen international partnerships.
•
The dialogue witnessed participation from representatives
of over 125 countries, including ministers, former heads of state and government, military commanders & industry leaders etc.
Significance of Raisina Dialogue 2025
The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue holds significant
importance for several reasons:
•
Decadal Milestone: Celebrating a decade since its inception,
the 2025 edition reflects on its journey and contributions to
global discourse.
• Premier Global Platform: As India’s leading conference on
geopolitics and geo-economics, it brings together global leaders to discuss critical international issues.
•
Extensive Global Participation: With representatives from
around 125 countries, the dialogue fosters international collaboration and diverse perspectives.
•
Influence on Policy and Diplomacy: The discussions contribute
to shaping policy decisions, enhancing global cooperation and understanding.
•
Strengthening Economic Ties: Coinciding with the India-New
Zealand Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the dialogue underscores its diplomatic and economic significance.
•
Multilateral Engagement: Serving as a platform for cross-
sector and cross-regional dialogue, it promotes multilateral cooperation among world leaders and experts.
•
As the Raisina Dialogue 2025 convenes in New Delhi, it is
set to be a landmark event, fostering insightful discussions and meaningful collaborations on global challenges and opportunities.
78ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Israel-Hamas Draft Ceasefire Deal
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages.
Key Highlights
•
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year
trying to mediate an end to the 15-month war.
• The plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet
for final approval.
• It is a three-phase agreement — based on a framework laid
out by US Presi-dent Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
•
First Phase: It would begin with the gradual release of 33
hostages over a six-week period in exchange for Palestinian
women and children imprisoned by Is-rael. It will be a 42-
day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population
centers.
•
In the second phase, Hamas would release the remaining
living captives, main-ly male soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners and the “complete withdraw-al” of Israeli forces from Gaza.
•
In a third phase, the bodies of remaining hostages would be
returned in ex-change for a three- to five-year reconstruction
plan to be carried out in Gaza under international supervision.
About Hamas
• Hamas is the largest Palestinian
militant Islamist group and one of the two ma-jor political parties in the region. Currently, it governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
•
The group was founded in the
late 1980s, after the beginning of the first Pales-tinian uprising against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
•
Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel,
the United States, the Europe-an Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
• It
began in the middle of the twentieth century when the Jews from various parts of the world were granted the homeland in present-day Israel by Britain.
•
It is one of the world’s longest conflicts where Israel has
occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip which the Palestine state claims.
•
With time, the countries around have normalized the ties with
Israel through the Abraham Accord, Oslo Accord, etc.
• But the deadlock still persists and the world community is
persistent in its ef-fort to attain the two-state solution.
UK to hand-over Chagos Island to Mauritius
The United Kingdom (UK) announced that an agreement has been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute and negotiation over Britain’s last African colony.
Chagos Archipelago:
• The Chagos archipelago, comprising 58 islands, lies roughly
500 km to the south of the Maldives archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
•
These islands were uninhabited until the late 18th century,
when the French brought in slave labour from Africa and India to work in newly-established coconut plantations. In 1814, France ceded the islands to the British.
•
In 1965, the UK constituted the British Indian Ocean Territory
(BIOT), of which the Chagos Islands were a central part. A few other BIOT islands were later ceded to the Seychelles in 1976 after it gained independence from Britain.
•
Chagos was attached to Mauritius, another British colony
in the Indian Ocean, for administrative purposes. But when Mauritius gained independence in 1968, Chagos remained with Britain.
G20 Rio Summit, 2024 held
The 19th G20 Summit held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro concluded with the adoption of the Rio Declaration, addressing critical global issues such as climate change, the Ukraine war, conflicts in West Asia, and economic inequality.
Israel-Hamas Draft Ceasefire Deal
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages.
Key Highlights
•
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year
trying to mediate an end to the 15-month war.
• The plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet
for final approval.
• It is a three-phase agreement — based on a framework laid
out by US Presi-dent Joe Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
•
First Phase: It would begin with the gradual release of 33
hostages over a six-week period in exchange for Palestinian
women and children imprisoned by Is-rael. It will be a 42-
day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population
centers.
•
In the second phase, Hamas would release the remaining
living captives, main-ly male soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners and the “complete withdraw-al” of Israeli forces from Gaza.
•
In a third phase, the bodies of remaining hostages would be
returned in ex-change for a three- to five-year reconstruction
plan to be carried out in Gaza under international supervision.
About Hamas
• Hamas is the largest Palestinian
militant Islamist group and one of the two ma-jor political parties in the region. Currently, it governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
•
The group was founded in the
late 1980s, after the beginning of the first Pales-tinian uprising against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
•
Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel,
the United States, the Europe-an Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
• It
began in the middle of the twentieth century when the Jews from various parts of the world were granted the homeland in present-day Israel by Britain.
•
It is one of the world’s longest conflicts where Israel has
occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip which the Palestine state claims.
•
With time, the countries around have normalized the ties with
Israel through the Abraham Accord, Oslo Accord, etc.
• But the deadlock still persists and the world community is
persistent in its ef-fort to attain the two-state solution.
UK to hand-over Chagos Island to Mauritius
The United Kingdom (UK) announced that an agreement has been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute and negotiation over Britain’s last African colony.
Chagos Archipelago:
• The Chagos archipelago, comprising 58 islands, lies roughly
500 km to the south of the Maldives archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
•
These islands were uninhabited until the late 18th century,
when the French brought in slave labour from Africa and India to work in newly-established coconut plantations. In 1814, France ceded the islands to the British.
•
In 1965, the UK constituted the British Indian Ocean Territory
(BIOT), of which the Chagos Islands were a central part. A few other BIOT islands were later ceded to the Seychelles in 1976 after it gained independence from Britain.
•
Chagos was attached to Mauritius, another British colony
in the Indian Ocean, for administrative purposes. But when Mauritius gained independence in 1968, Chagos remained with Britain.
G20 Rio Summit, 2024 held
The 19th G20 Summit held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro concluded with the adoption of the Rio Declaration, addressing critical global issues such as climate change, the Ukraine war, conflicts in West Asia, and economic inequality.
79International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• The
Paris Agreement and progress under the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The declaration unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its
forms and stressed the importance of protecting civilians, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza and Lebanon.
•
It emphasized diplomacy and dialogue to resolve ongoing
wars and crises, urging comprehensive ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon to mitigate humanitarian suffering.
•
Leaders called for an enlarged Security Council, advocating
better representation for underrepresented regions and groups.
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
•
The
launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
•
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty aim s to
accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty while promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
•
The goal is to eliminate all nations from the Food and
Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) hunger map by 2030.
• It consists of 148 members. This includes 82 countries,
the African Union, the European Union, some international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
•
The Alliance has been open to member ship even for
countries that are not part of the G20.
How does India’s Leadership within the G20 Impact
Global Issues?
•
CIndia has
prioritized global food security,
leveraging its expertise in
agriculture and technology to
mitigate food crises.
•
Reforming Multilateral
Platforms: India has actively
championed the reform of global multilateral platforms, including the United Nations and financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
•
Supporting the Global South: India has emerged as a strong
advocate for the Global South, amplifying its voice on critical issues such as sustainable development, climate finance, and equitable vaccine distribution.
•
Bilateral Talks and Strategic Partnerships: On the sidelines of
the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, India held significant bilateral discussions with countries like Australia, Norway, Indonesia, Portugal, Italy, the UK, and France.
India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding
Commission
India has been re-elected
to the UN Peacebuilding
Commission for 2025–2026.
Key Highlights
•
India’s current term on the Commission was expiring on
December 31.
• The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is an intergovernmental
advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict- affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda.
•
The PBC is composed of 31 Member States, elected from the
General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council.
•
The Commission is mandated to bring together all relevant
actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery; to focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict.
•
It is also mandated to provide recommendations and
information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, to develop best practices, to help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and to extend the period of attention given by the international community to post-conflict recovery.
•
The Commission also focuses on promoting an integrated,
strategic and coherent approach to peacebuilding.
Indonesia: Latest Full Member of BRICS
Indonesia has officially become a full member of the BRICS group, as announced by Brazil, strengthening partnerships with other developing nations of the group.
•
BRICS is an acronym representing Brazil, Russia, India,
China, and South Africa. The group was informally
established in 2006 and formalised in 2009.
• The inaugural summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• South Africa joined the following year, expanding the group’s
influence.
• BRICS has since included additional members, including
Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and UAE, reflecting its growing prominence in global affairs.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• The
Paris Agreement and progress under the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The declaration unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its
forms and stressed the importance of protecting civilians, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza and Lebanon.
•
It emphasized diplomacy and dialogue to resolve ongoing
wars and crises, urging comprehensive ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon to mitigate humanitarian suffering.
•
Leaders called for an enlarged Security Council, advocating
better representation for underrepresented regions and groups.
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
•
The
launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
•
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty aim s to
accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty while promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
•
The goal is to eliminate all nations from the Food and
Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) hunger map by 2030.
• It consists of 148 members. This includes 82 countries,
the African Union, the European Union, some international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
•
The Alliance has been open to member ship even for
countries that are not part of the G20.
How does India’s Leadership within the G20 Impact
Global Issues?
•
CIndia has
prioritized global food security,
leveraging its expertise in
agriculture and technology to
mitigate food crises.
•
Reforming Multilateral
Platforms: India has actively
championed the reform of global multilateral platforms, including the United Nations and financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
•
Supporting the Global South: India has emerged as a strong
advocate for the Global South, amplifying its voice on critical issues such as sustainable development, climate finance, and equitable vaccine distribution.
•
Bilateral Talks and Strategic Partnerships: On the sidelines of
the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, India held significant bilateral discussions with countries like Australia, Norway, Indonesia, Portugal, Italy, the UK, and France.
India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding
Commission
India has been re-elected
to the UN Peacebuilding
Commission for 2025–2026.
Key Highlights
•
India’s current term on the Commission was expiring on
December 31.
• The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is an intergovernmental
advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict- affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda.
•
The PBC is composed of 31 Member States, elected from the
General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council.
•
The Commission is mandated to bring together all relevant
actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery; to focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict.
•
It is also mandated to provide recommendations and
information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, to develop best practices, to help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and to extend the period of attention given by the international community to post-conflict recovery.
•
The Commission also focuses on promoting an integrated,
strategic and coherent approach to peacebuilding.
Indonesia: Latest Full Member of BRICS
Indonesia has officially become a full member of the BRICS group, as announced by Brazil, strengthening partnerships with other developing nations of the group.
•
BRICS is an acronym representing Brazil, Russia, India,
China, and South Africa. The group was informally
established in 2006 and formalised in 2009.
• The inaugural summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• South Africa joined the following year, expanding the group’s
influence.
• BRICS has since included additional members, including
Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and UAE, reflecting its growing prominence in global affairs.
80ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The intergovernmental organization is currently looking to
cement its reputation as an alternative to G7 grouping, which
is led by the US.
• Over 30 nations, including Southeast Asian countries like
Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have shown interest or applied for BRICS membership.
Syrian War: The Rebels ended Bashar al-
Assad’s regime
The Syrian rebels took over the capital Damascus, which ended the rule of Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria.
Key Highlights
•
Rebels launched a new assault
on Aleppo. With Assad’s allies focused elsewhere his army quickly collapses and rebels have taken most major cities, driving Assad from power.
•
Syria is located in the Middle East, in the western part of the
Asian continent.
• It shares borders with Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east,
Jordan to the south, Israel and Lebanon to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
•
Syria occupies a strategic position, linking the Levant region
with the rest of the Arab world.
• The Levant is a historical and geographical term referring to
a region in the Eastern Mediterranean. It includes modern- day countries Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Turkey.
Nigeria: The latest Partner Country of BRICS
Recently, Nigeria was officially admitted as a Partner country of the BRICS group.
Key Facts
•
This move reflects
Nigeria’s growing influence as Africa’s largest economy and its commitment to enhancing international collaboration.
•
BRICS aims to provide a counterbalance to Western-led
economic forums and promote South-South cooperation.
• The BRICS bloc also seeks to challenge the dominance
of the US dollar in global trade. Leaders have discussed creating alternative payment systems to reduce dependence on dollar-based transactions.
• Niger
Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand,
Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
• Nigeria’s inclusion is due to its large population and
economic potential. It aims to leverage BRICS for trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation, aligning with its development objectives.
About BRICS
• BRICS was formed in 2009 to represent emerging
economies.
• Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, the
fifth member South Africa joined in 2010.
• The group focuses on economic cooperation, political
dialogue, and reforming global governance.
• Recently, BRICS expanded with Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Indonesia and the UAE as the members.
BRICS Summit 2024 held
The 2024 BRICS Summit held
in Kazan, Russia, focused on
Strengthening Multilateralism for
Just Global Development and
Security.
Key Highlights
•
The Kazan Declaration, issued at the summit, is a
comprehensive document that emphasizes the need for
enhanced cooperation among the participating countries
and presents the bloc’s unified stance on key global issues.
•
The Kazan Declaration emphasized “Strengthening
Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security” with commitment to fostering peace, ensuring a fairer international order, and promoting sustainable development.
•
Russia emphasized a BRICS-led payment system against
SWIFT, an international financial network that Russian banks were cut off from in 2022, as well as the escalating situation in West Asia.
•
The BRICS nations agreed to explore initiatives, such as
BRICS Grain Exchange and BRICS (Re)Insurance Company.
• The summit also endorsed the creation of a BRICS Partner
Country category, which would allow other nations to collaborate with BRICS on various projects.
•
BRICS R&D Vaccine Center was announced for fostering
research in vaccine development.
• India’s initiative to create an International Big Cats Alliance
was recognized during the summit.
• The intergovernmental organization is currently looking to
cement its reputation as an alternative to G7 grouping, which
is led by the US.
• Over 30 nations, including Southeast Asian countries like
Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have shown interest or applied for BRICS membership.
Syrian War: The Rebels ended Bashar al-
Assad’s regime
The Syrian rebels took over the capital Damascus, which ended the rule of Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria.
Key Highlights
•
Rebels launched a new assault
on Aleppo. With Assad’s allies focused elsewhere his army quickly collapses and rebels have taken most major cities, driving Assad from power.
•
Syria is located in the Middle East, in the western part of the
Asian continent.
• It shares borders with Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east,
Jordan to the south, Israel and Lebanon to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
•
Syria occupies a strategic position, linking the Levant region
with the rest of the Arab world.
• The Levant is a historical and geographical term referring to
a region in the Eastern Mediterranean. It includes modern- day countries Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Turkey.
Nigeria: The latest Partner Country of BRICS
Recently, Nigeria was officially admitted as a Partner country of the BRICS group.
Key Facts
•
This move reflects
Nigeria’s growing influence as Africa’s largest economy and its commitment to enhancing international collaboration.
•
BRICS aims to provide a counterbalance to Western-led
economic forums and promote South-South cooperation.
• The BRICS bloc also seeks to challenge the dominance
of the US dollar in global trade. Leaders have discussed creating alternative payment systems to reduce dependence on dollar-based transactions.
• Niger
Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand,
Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
• Nigeria’s inclusion is due to its large population and
economic potential. It aims to leverage BRICS for trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation, aligning with its development objectives.
About BRICS
• BRICS was formed in 2009 to represent emerging
economies.
• Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, the
fifth member South Africa joined in 2010.
• The group focuses on economic cooperation, political
dialogue, and reforming global governance.
• Recently, BRICS expanded with Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Indonesia and the UAE as the members.
BRICS Summit 2024 held
The 2024 BRICS Summit held
in Kazan, Russia, focused on
Strengthening Multilateralism for
Just Global Development and
Security.
Key Highlights
•
The Kazan Declaration, issued at the summit, is a
comprehensive document that emphasizes the need for
enhanced cooperation among the participating countries
and presents the bloc’s unified stance on key global issues.
•
The Kazan Declaration emphasized “Strengthening
Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security” with commitment to fostering peace, ensuring a fairer international order, and promoting sustainable development.
•
Russia emphasized a BRICS-led payment system against
SWIFT, an international financial network that Russian banks were cut off from in 2022, as well as the escalating situation in West Asia.
•
The BRICS nations agreed to explore initiatives, such as
BRICS Grain Exchange and BRICS (Re)Insurance Company.
• The summit also endorsed the creation of a BRICS Partner
Country category, which would allow other nations to collaborate with BRICS on various projects.
•
BRICS R&D Vaccine Center was announced for fostering
research in vaccine development.
• India’s initiative to create an International Big Cats Alliance
was recognized during the summit.
81International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
BRICS
It is an acronym that refers to a group of five major emerging
national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South
Africa.
Origin: The term BRIC was coined by British economist Jim
O’Neill in 2001 to represent emerging economies.
The group began holding annual meetings starting
in 2006 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
(UNGA), and its success led to formal summits.
BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits
since 2009.
South Africa was inducted in 2010.
Expansion of BRICS: Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran and the UAE
are the five new additions to the BRICS.
International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit held
The 7th session of the
International Solar Alliance
(ISA) Assembly was held in
New Delhi. India elected as
president and France as co-president for a two-year term from
2024 to 2026.
Key Facts about ISA
•
ISA is an intergovernmental organization launched in 2015
by India and France at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.
•
Objectives:
Achieve 1000 GW of solar capacity worldwide by 2030.
Mobilize over USD 1 trillion in solar investments for
member countries.
Develop financial mechanisms to reduce solar energy
costs.
Establish solar energy as a mainstream source globally.
• Evolution: Initially for tropical countries, ISA expanded
its scope in 2020, allowing all UN member states to join. Currently, over 110 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with 90 full members.
It became the first international intergovernmental
organization headquartered in India at National Institute
of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram.
• Governance Structure:
ISA Assembly: The main decision-making body
comprising representatives from member countries.
Steering Committee: Provides strategic guidance and
oversight.
Secretariat: Administrative body responsible for
implementing decisions.
Director General: Leads the ISA Secretariat for a term of
4 years with the possibility of re-election.
SCO Summit, 2024 held
The Heads of Government Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) were attended by India, Pakistan, China, Russia and six other member countries. It was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 15-16 October, 2024.
Key Highlights
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to Islamabad
for the meeting, the first such visit in nine years.
• Due to territorial sovereignty issues, India remains the only
SCO member to oppose China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The SCO’s joint communique reaffirmed support for China’s BRI.
•
The summit saw criticism of Western sanctions on Russia
and Iran, which were deemed harmful to international trade and economic relations.
•
Discussions between India and Pakistan indicated a potential
resumption of cricket ties, though these are still early.
• In a reference to Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister
said, “If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people- to-people exchanges in parallel.”
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
•
Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a series of border
demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan
were members of the Shanghai Five.
With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001,
the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
• Objective: To enhance regional cooperation for efforts to
curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central
Asian region.
• Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and
the four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
•
Observer status: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
• Language: The SCO’s official languages are Russian and
Chinese.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
BRICS
It is an acronym that refers to a group of five major emerging
national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South
Africa.
Origin: The term BRIC was coined by British economist Jim
O’Neill in 2001 to represent emerging economies.
The group began holding annual meetings starting
in 2006 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
(UNGA), and its success led to formal summits.
BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits
since 2009.
South Africa was inducted in 2010.
Expansion of BRICS: Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran and the UAE
are the five new additions to the BRICS.
International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit held
The 7th session of the
International Solar Alliance
(ISA) Assembly was held in
New Delhi. India elected as
president and France as co-president for a two-year term from
2024 to 2026.
Key Facts about ISA
•
ISA is an intergovernmental organization launched in 2015
by India and France at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.
•
Objectives:
Achieve 1000 GW of solar capacity worldwide by 2030.
Mobilize over USD 1 trillion in solar investments for
member countries.
Develop financial mechanisms to reduce solar energy
costs.
Establish solar energy as a mainstream source globally.
• Evolution: Initially for tropical countries, ISA expanded
its scope in 2020, allowing all UN member states to join. Currently, over 110 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with 90 full members.
It became the first international intergovernmental
organization headquartered in India at National Institute
of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram.
• Governance Structure:
ISA Assembly: The main decision-making body
comprising representatives from member countries.
Steering Committee: Provides strategic guidance and
oversight.
Secretariat: Administrative body responsible for
implementing decisions.
Director General: Leads the ISA Secretariat for a term of
4 years with the possibility of re-election.
SCO Summit, 2024 held
The Heads of Government Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) were attended by India, Pakistan, China, Russia and six other member countries. It was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 15-16 October, 2024.
Key Highlights
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to Islamabad
for the meeting, the first such visit in nine years.
• Due to territorial sovereignty issues, India remains the only
SCO member to oppose China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The SCO’s joint communique reaffirmed support for China’s BRI.
•
The summit saw criticism of Western sanctions on Russia
and Iran, which were deemed harmful to international trade and economic relations.
•
Discussions between India and Pakistan indicated a potential
resumption of cricket ties, though these are still early.
• In a reference to Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister
said, “If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people- to-people exchanges in parallel.”
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
•
Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a series of border
demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan
were members of the Shanghai Five.
With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001,
the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
• Objective: To enhance regional cooperation for efforts to
curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central
Asian region.
• Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and
the four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
•
Observer status: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
• Language: The SCO’s official languages are Russian and
Chinese.
82ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• S The supreme decision-making body of the SCO is the
Council of Heads of States (CHS) which meets once a year.
The Organization has 2 standing bodies — the Secretariat
in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional
Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
50th G7 Summit held
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit in Puglia, Italy.
Outcomes of G7 Summit:
• Promotion to G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure
and Investment):
50th G7 Summit Decision: Leaders decided to promote
concrete G7 PGII initiatives.
Initiative Launch: Launched by the US and G7 allies at
the 48th G7 Summit in 2022.
Objective: Aim to narrow the USD 40 trillion infrastructure
gap in the developing world.
Principles: Values-driven, high-impact, and transparent
infrastructure partnership to meet infrastructure needs of
low and middle-income countries.
Funding Goal: G7 will mobilize USD 600 billion by 2027
for infrastructure projects in developing and middle- income countries.
•
Support and Promotion to India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC):
Commitment: G7 nations committed to promoting the
IMEC.
IMEC Aim: Create a comprehensive transportation
network (rail, road, sea) connecting India, the Middle
East, and Europe.
Signing: Signed at the G20 Summit in New Delhi,
September 2023, as part of the PGII.
Corridors: East Corridor: Connecting India to the Arabian
Gulf and Northern Corridor: Connecting the Gulf to Europe.
Infrastructure: Includes railroad, ship-to-rail networks,
road transport routes, electricity cable, hydrogen pipeline, and high-speed data cable.
Signatories: India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, EU, Italy,
France, Germany.
• Support to Infrastructure Projects:
Lobito Corridor: Extends from Lobito, Angola, through
DRC, to Zambia.
Luzon Corridor: Strategic economic and infrastructure
corridor in Luzon, Philippines.
Middle Corridor: Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route (TITR), connecting Europe and Asia, serving as an alternative to traditional corridors.
•
The Great Green Wall Initiative:
Objective: Combat desertification and land degradation
in the Sahel region of Africa.
Scope: Create a wall of trees across Africa to prevent
Sahara Desert spread, improve biodiversity, and provide economic opportunities.
About G7 Summit
• O The G7 originated from a 1973 meeting of
finance ministers and central bank governors. This
meeting was convened in response to major economic
challenges of at time –an oil crisis, rising inflation and
collapse of the Bretton Woods system.
•
Summit: The first summit of Heads of State and
Government was held in 1975 in Rambouillet, France.
• Members: France, United States, United Kingdom,
Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, and the European Union.
•
The formation of G7 served two purposes: First, to
address economic, political and security differences and manage crises among the members. Second, to reinforce the dominance of the Western democratic and liberal economic model in the global order.
•
The G-7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed
headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.
•
Timeline:
Canada joined the group in 1976, and the European
Union began attending in 1977.
The G-7 was known as the ‘G-8’ for several years
after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997.
The Group returned to being called G-7 after Russia
was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
• S The supreme decision-making body of the SCO is the
Council of Heads of States (CHS) which meets once a year.
The Organization has 2 standing bodies — the Secretariat
in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional
Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
50th G7 Summit held
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit in Puglia, Italy.
Outcomes of G7 Summit:
• Promotion to G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure
and Investment):
50th G7 Summit Decision: Leaders decided to promote
concrete G7 PGII initiatives.
Initiative Launch: Launched by the US and G7 allies at
the 48th G7 Summit in 2022.
Objective: Aim to narrow the USD 40 trillion infrastructure
gap in the developing world.
Principles: Values-driven, high-impact, and transparent
infrastructure partnership to meet infrastructure needs of
low and middle-income countries.
Funding Goal: G7 will mobilize USD 600 billion by 2027
for infrastructure projects in developing and middle- income countries.
•
Support and Promotion to India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC):
Commitment: G7 nations committed to promoting the
IMEC.
IMEC Aim: Create a comprehensive transportation
network (rail, road, sea) connecting India, the Middle
East, and Europe.
Signing: Signed at the G20 Summit in New Delhi,
September 2023, as part of the PGII.
Corridors: East Corridor: Connecting India to the Arabian
Gulf and Northern Corridor: Connecting the Gulf to Europe.
Infrastructure: Includes railroad, ship-to-rail networks,
road transport routes, electricity cable, hydrogen pipeline, and high-speed data cable.
Signatories: India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, EU, Italy,
France, Germany.
• Support to Infrastructure Projects:
Lobito Corridor: Extends from Lobito, Angola, through
DRC, to Zambia.
Luzon Corridor: Strategic economic and infrastructure
corridor in Luzon, Philippines.
Middle Corridor: Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route (TITR), connecting Europe and Asia, serving as an alternative to traditional corridors.
•
The Great Green Wall Initiative:
Objective: Combat desertification and land degradation
in the Sahel region of Africa.
Scope: Create a wall of trees across Africa to prevent
Sahara Desert spread, improve biodiversity, and provide economic opportunities.
About G7 Summit
• O The G7 originated from a 1973 meeting of
finance ministers and central bank governors. This
meeting was convened in response to major economic
challenges of at time –an oil crisis, rising inflation and
collapse of the Bretton Woods system.
•
Summit: The first summit of Heads of State and
Government was held in 1975 in Rambouillet, France.
• Members: France, United States, United Kingdom,
Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, and the European Union.
•
The formation of G7 served two purposes: First, to
address economic, political and security differences and manage crises among the members. Second, to reinforce the dominance of the Western democratic and liberal economic model in the global order.
•
The G-7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed
headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.
•
Timeline:
Canada joined the group in 1976, and the European
Union began attending in 1977.
The G-7 was known as the ‘G-8’ for several years
after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997.
The Group returned to being called G-7 after Russia
was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
83International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India-Canada Diplomatic Row
India decided to withdraw
its High Commissioner, other
diplomats and officials from
Canada amid diplomatic row
between the two countries.
Key Highlights
•
In September 2023, the then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
alleged Indian involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India rejected.
•
India advised its nationals in Canada and suspended visa services
for Canadians.
• Visa Resumption: Services resumed in specific categories
in October and e-visas for certain categories in November 2023.
•
The Ministry of External Affairs said the “unsubstantiated
allegations” sought to shift focus away from “Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have been provided shelter in Canada”.
•
Concerns were raised about the safety of Indian diplomats,
stating that the Trudeau Government’s actions contribute to an atmosphere of extremism and violence
India-Canada Bilateral Relations
•
India-
democracy, cultural diversity, economic engagement, and people-to-people connections.
•
In 2015, PM Modi visited Canada, leading to multiple
agreements.
In 2018, Trudeau visited India, signing six agreements in
various sectors.
COVID-19 Cooperation: Leaders discussed vaccine
collaboration and evacuation of stranded citizens.
G-7 Meeting (2022): The two PMs met to enhance bilateral
relations.
G20 Summit (2023): Trudeau attended the summit in India
and met Modi.
• Established dialogues in trade, energy, and foreign affairs,
with recent consultations in 2023.
• Counter-terrorism efforts under a Joint Working Group
established in 1997.
• An agreement signed in 2010 for peaceful nuclear energy
uses, with implementation oversight by a Joint Committee.
• Expanded Ministerial level Energy Dialogue since 2018 to
include renewables.
• MoUs signed for satellite tracking and astronomy; ISRO has
launched Canadian satellites.
• Total bilateral trade in 2023 reached USD 9.36 billion, with
significant service trade.
Canadian investments in India exceed CAD 75 billion,
with over 600 Canadian companies operating in India.
Exports: Pharmaceuticals, electronic goods, jewelry,
seafood, engineering goods.
Imports: Minerals, pulses, potash, and chemicals.
• Multiple MoUs signed for research and technological
collaboration.
• Largest foreign student demographic in Canada is Indian,
with around 427,000 students.
Balochistan Train Hijack
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility
for hijacking the Jaffar Express.
India’s Stand on Balochistan
•
CIndia’s stance on Balochistan is shaped
by geopolitics, regional stability, and its relationship with Pakistan. The India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir makes any involvement in Balochistan a potential trigger for escalating tensions.
•
Support for Self-Determination: India supports the right
to self-determination for Balochistan’s people but avoids interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
•
Overall, India’s stance on Balochistan involves expressing
concerns about human rights violations without interfering into the internal affairs.
About B
• It is the largest but least populated
of Pakistan’s four provinces – Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
•
Ethnic Groups: Baloch, Brahui, and Pashtuns.
• It has substantial reserves of oil and gas, alongside
gold and copper deposits, but has lagged in economic growth compared to other regions in the country.
•
The province has been the site of a ser ies of
insurgencies, brutal state repression, and an enduring Baloch nationalist movement since 1948.
About
B
• The BLA are a Baloch ethnonationalist group who
emerged in the 2000s with the aim of achieving independence for Balochistan.
•
Pakistan banned the organisation in 2006, and the
United States designated it as a global terrorist organisation in 2019.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India-Canada Diplomatic Row
India decided to withdraw
its High Commissioner, other
diplomats and officials from
Canada amid diplomatic row
between the two countries.
Key Highlights
•
In September 2023, the then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
alleged Indian involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India rejected.
•
India advised its nationals in Canada and suspended visa services
for Canadians.
• Visa Resumption: Services resumed in specific categories
in October and e-visas for certain categories in November 2023.
•
The Ministry of External Affairs said the “unsubstantiated
allegations” sought to shift focus away from “Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have been provided shelter in Canada”.
•
Concerns were raised about the safety of Indian diplomats,
stating that the Trudeau Government’s actions contribute to an atmosphere of extremism and violence
India-Canada Bilateral Relations
•
India-
democracy, cultural diversity, economic engagement, and people-to-people connections.
•
In 2015, PM Modi visited Canada, leading to multiple
agreements.
In 2018, Trudeau visited India, signing six agreements in
various sectors.
COVID-19 Cooperation: Leaders discussed vaccine
collaboration and evacuation of stranded citizens.
G-7 Meeting (2022): The two PMs met to enhance bilateral
relations.
G20 Summit (2023): Trudeau attended the summit in India
and met Modi.
• Established dialogues in trade, energy, and foreign affairs,
with recent consultations in 2023.
• Counter-terrorism efforts under a Joint Working Group
established in 1997.
• An agreement signed in 2010 for peaceful nuclear energy
uses, with implementation oversight by a Joint Committee.
• Expanded Ministerial level Energy Dialogue since 2018 to
include renewables.
• MoUs signed for satellite tracking and astronomy; ISRO has
launched Canadian satellites.
• Total bilateral trade in 2023 reached USD 9.36 billion, with
significant service trade.
Canadian investments in India exceed CAD 75 billion,
with over 600 Canadian companies operating in India.
Exports: Pharmaceuticals, electronic goods, jewelry,
seafood, engineering goods.
Imports: Minerals, pulses, potash, and chemicals.
• Multiple MoUs signed for research and technological
collaboration.
• Largest foreign student demographic in Canada is Indian,
with around 427,000 students.
Balochistan Train Hijack
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility
for hijacking the Jaffar Express.
India’s Stand on Balochistan
•
CIndia’s stance on Balochistan is shaped
by geopolitics, regional stability, and its relationship with Pakistan. The India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir makes any involvement in Balochistan a potential trigger for escalating tensions.
•
Support for Self-Determination: India supports the right
to self-determination for Balochistan’s people but avoids interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
•
Overall, India’s stance on Balochistan involves expressing
concerns about human rights violations without interfering into the internal affairs.
About B
• It is the largest but least populated
of Pakistan’s four provinces – Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
•
Ethnic Groups: Baloch, Brahui, and Pashtuns.
• It has substantial reserves of oil and gas, alongside
gold and copper deposits, but has lagged in economic growth compared to other regions in the country.
•
The province has been the site of a ser ies of
insurgencies, brutal state repression, and an enduring Baloch nationalist movement since 1948.
About
B
• The BLA are a Baloch ethnonationalist group who
emerged in the 2000s with the aim of achieving independence for Balochistan.
•
Pakistan banned the organisation in 2006, and the
United States designated it as a global terrorist organisation in 2019.
84ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Regime Change in Bangladesh
Recent exit of Bangladesh’s
Prime Minister from power
could jeopardize India-
Bangladesh relationships
and affect growing trade ties,
restricting the movement
of people and goods etc.
between the two countries.
Factors Behind Sheikh Hasina’s Departure:
•
Na What
began as a peaceful student protest against the 30% civil service reservation for freedom fighters escalated into a nationwide movement due to the government's harsh response. The situation worsened when the Awami League's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, attacked protesters, and the government imposed a strict curfew with a 'shooton- sight' order.
Labeling the demonstrators as 'Razakars' a term historically
associated with collaborators during the 1971 war further heightened tensions.
•
Economic Slowdown: Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership,
Bangladesh saw rapid economic growth, with per capita income tripling over a decade and over 25 million people lifted out of poverty according to World Bank estimates.
•
Erosion of Democratic Values: The parliamentary elections
in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were marred by controversy, low voter turnout, violence, and boycotts by opposition parties, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic values in Bangladesh.
•
Reliance on Hard Power: To maintain control, Hasina’s
government increasingly relied on hard power, fostering a climate of fear and repression.
•
Rising Economic Inequality: Despite overall economic
progress, public discontent grew due to increasing economic inequality, fueled by bank scams, a growing list of loan defaulters, and rampant corruption.
India-Bangladesh Relations under Sheikh Hasina’s
Regime:
•
ErUnder Sheikh Hasina's
leadership, anti-India terror groups and their supporter,
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which had operated from safe
havens in Bangladesh during the BNP-Jamaat rule from
2001-2006, were eradicated following her return to power.
•
Growth in Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade between India and
Bangladesh flourished during Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
• Enhanced Connectivity Projects: A number of infrastructure
and connectivity projects were developed between India
and Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
• FDuring Sheikh
Hasina’s regime, India and Bangladesh initiated negotiations for a FTA. The proposed FTA would reduce or eliminate customs duties on goods traded between the two countries and simplify norms to further promote trade and investment.
•
Defence Cooperation: The India-Bangladesh border,
spanning 4,096.7 km, is the longest land boundary India shares with any neighbor.
Way Forward:
•
CPrioritize technical and diplomatic
discussions to find a mutually beneficial solution, involving
both national and state-level stakeholders.
• Enhanced Border Security: Strengthen border infrastructure
and surveillance to reduce illegal activities and unauthorized movement.
•
Humanitarian Assistance: Provide continued humanitarian
support to Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees and work diplomatically with Myanmar for safe repatriation.
•
Reassurance and Dialogue: Engage in dialogue with
Bangladesh to address concerns and reassure that the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 is not intended to harm bilateral relations.
World’s Largest Hydropower Dam to be built
in China
China has approved the construction of the world’s largest
hydropower dam close to the Indian border, raising concerns in
riparian countries — India and Bangladesh.
Key Facts
• It will be constructed at a massive gorge in the Himalayan
region, where the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra) takes a sharp U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh (India) and then Bangladesh.
•
The project, costing over one trillion yuan ($137 billion),
is expected to generate over 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the yearly energy needs of more than 300 million people.
Regime Change in Bangladesh
Recent exit of Bangladesh’s
Prime Minister from power
could jeopardize India-
Bangladesh relationships
and affect growing trade ties,
restricting the movement
of people and goods etc.
between the two countries.
Factors Behind Sheikh Hasina’s Departure:
•
Na What
began as a peaceful student protest against the 30% civil service reservation for freedom fighters escalated into a nationwide movement due to the government's harsh response. The situation worsened when the Awami League's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, attacked protesters, and the government imposed a strict curfew with a 'shooton- sight' order.
Labeling the demonstrators as 'Razakars' a term historically
associated with collaborators during the 1971 war further heightened tensions.
•
Economic Slowdown: Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership,
Bangladesh saw rapid economic growth, with per capita income tripling over a decade and over 25 million people lifted out of poverty according to World Bank estimates.
•
Erosion of Democratic Values: The parliamentary elections
in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were marred by controversy, low voter turnout, violence, and boycotts by opposition parties, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic values in Bangladesh.
•
Reliance on Hard Power: To maintain control, Hasina’s
government increasingly relied on hard power, fostering a climate of fear and repression.
•
Rising Economic Inequality: Despite overall economic
progress, public discontent grew due to increasing economic inequality, fueled by bank scams, a growing list of loan defaulters, and rampant corruption.
India-Bangladesh Relations under Sheikh Hasina’s
Regime:
•
ErUnder Sheikh Hasina's
leadership, anti-India terror groups and their supporter,
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which had operated from safe
havens in Bangladesh during the BNP-Jamaat rule from
2001-2006, were eradicated following her return to power.
•
Growth in Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade between India and
Bangladesh flourished during Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
• Enhanced Connectivity Projects: A number of infrastructure
and connectivity projects were developed between India
and Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
• FDuring Sheikh
Hasina’s regime, India and Bangladesh initiated negotiations for a FTA. The proposed FTA would reduce or eliminate customs duties on goods traded between the two countries and simplify norms to further promote trade and investment.
•
Defence Cooperation: The India-Bangladesh border,
spanning 4,096.7 km, is the longest land boundary India shares with any neighbor.
Way Forward:
•
CPrioritize technical and diplomatic
discussions to find a mutually beneficial solution, involving
both national and state-level stakeholders.
• Enhanced Border Security: Strengthen border infrastructure
and surveillance to reduce illegal activities and unauthorized movement.
•
Humanitarian Assistance: Provide continued humanitarian
support to Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees and work diplomatically with Myanmar for safe repatriation.
•
Reassurance and Dialogue: Engage in dialogue with
Bangladesh to address concerns and reassure that the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 is not intended to harm bilateral relations.
World’s Largest Hydropower Dam to be built
in China
China has approved the construction of the world’s largest
hydropower dam close to the Indian border, raising concerns in
riparian countries — India and Bangladesh.
Key Facts
• It will be constructed at a massive gorge in the Himalayan
region, where the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra) takes a sharp U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh (India) and then Bangladesh.
•
The project, costing over one trillion yuan ($137 billion),
is expected to generate over 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the yearly energy needs of more than 300 million people.
85International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• This
kWh of the Three Gorges Dam in central China, currently the
world’s largest hydropower project.
• This project is part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)
and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 adopted by Plenum, a key policy body of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2020.
•
However, the dam also presents enormous engineering
challenges, as the site is located on a tectonic plate boundary prone to earthquakes.
U.S.-India TRUST Initiative launched
India and the US have launched the
“Transforming Relationship Utilizing
Strategic Technology” (TRUST)
initiative.
Key Highlights:
•
It builds on national programs like
the US Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) program and India’s National Critical Minerals Mission to boost exploration, recycling, and R&D in critical minerals.
•
It focuses on cooperation in the recovery and processing of
critical minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs).
•
It aims to reduce barriers to technology transfer, address
export controls, and enhance high-tech commerce between the two countries, particularly in critical minerals and advanced materials.
•
It will promote collaboration among governments, academia,
and the private sector to drive innovation in sectors like defense, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, and space. It aims to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals supply chains.
December, 21: World Meditation Day
December 21 is now designated as World Meditation Day after a UN General Assembly draft resolution co-sponsored by India and adopted unanimously.
Key Highlights
•
World Meditation Day is
aimed at human well-being, including mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions.
• India, along with other nations in the core group, guided
the resolution, emphasizing its philosophy of Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”).
Significance of December 21
•
W Marks the shortest day and longest night of
the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Ancient Indian texts like Surya Siddhanta reference solstices
in calendrical and temple alignments.
• The date falls exactly six months after International Yoga Day
(June 21).
Brain Rot: Oxford Word of the Year 2024
Oxford University Press (OUP) has announced ‘Brain Rot’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, reflecting a defining cultural and societal theme of the year.
Key Highlights
• The term ‘Braint Rot’ gained prominence due to concerns
over the detrimental effects of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially via social media.
•
Selected through a global public vote involving over 37,000
participants and expert analysis of language trends, ‘brain rot’ captures the zeitgeist of 2024, where digital consumption and its consequences have been central topics of discussion.
•
First recorded in 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden,
the phrase has evolved to gain renewed relevance in the digital age.
•
Initially popularized on platforms like TikTok, the term is
now being used more broadly, including in mainstream journalism, to articulate concerns about the societal and individual impacts of online habits.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• This
kWh of the Three Gorges Dam in central China, currently the
world’s largest hydropower project.
• This project is part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)
and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 adopted by Plenum, a key policy body of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2020.
•
However, the dam also presents enormous engineering
challenges, as the site is located on a tectonic plate boundary prone to earthquakes.
U.S.-India TRUST Initiative launched
India and the US have launched the
“Transforming Relationship Utilizing
Strategic Technology” (TRUST)
initiative.
Key Highlights:
•
It builds on national programs like
the US Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) program and India’s National Critical Minerals Mission to boost exploration, recycling, and R&D in critical minerals.
•
It focuses on cooperation in the recovery and processing of
critical minerals, including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs).
•
It aims to reduce barriers to technology transfer, address
export controls, and enhance high-tech commerce between the two countries, particularly in critical minerals and advanced materials.
•
It will promote collaboration among governments, academia,
and the private sector to drive innovation in sectors like defense, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, and space. It aims to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals supply chains.
December, 21: World Meditation Day
December 21 is now designated as World Meditation Day after a UN General Assembly draft resolution co-sponsored by India and adopted unanimously.
Key Highlights
•
World Meditation Day is
aimed at human well-being, including mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions.
• India, along with other nations in the core group, guided
the resolution, emphasizing its philosophy of Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”).
Significance of December 21
•
W Marks the shortest day and longest night of
the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Ancient Indian texts like Surya Siddhanta reference solstices
in calendrical and temple alignments.
• The date falls exactly six months after International Yoga Day
(June 21).
Brain Rot: Oxford Word of the Year 2024
Oxford University Press (OUP) has announced ‘Brain Rot’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, reflecting a defining cultural and societal theme of the year.
Key Highlights
• The term ‘Braint Rot’ gained prominence due to concerns
over the detrimental effects of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially via social media.
•
Selected through a global public vote involving over 37,000
participants and expert analysis of language trends, ‘brain rot’ captures the zeitgeist of 2024, where digital consumption and its consequences have been central topics of discussion.
•
First recorded in 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden,
the phrase has evolved to gain renewed relevance in the digital age.
•
Initially popularized on platforms like TikTok, the term is
now being used more broadly, including in mainstream journalism, to articulate concerns about the societal and individual impacts of online habits.
86ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
BIMSTEC Youth Summit held
India hosted the 1st BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat
Key Highlights
•
It
Ministry of External Affairs, and CII YI as the knowledge partner.
•
It brings together over 70 young leaders from the seven
BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) to discuss challenges and opportunities in areas such as entrepreneurship, technology, digital connectivity, and sustainable development.
•
The theme, “Youth as a bridge for intra-BIMSTEC exchange,”
focuses on empowering youth to address regional issues and collaborate on solutions for a better future.
•
It aims to foster youth engagement and development in the
region, aligning with India’s “Neighborhood First” and “Act East” policies, and its vision for regional security and growth (SAGAR).
•
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
•
Initially called BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-
Thailand Economic Cooperation), it later expanded to include Myanmar in December 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal in 2004, changing its name to BIMSTEC.
•
Initially focused on six sectors (trade, technology, energy,
transport, tourism, fisheries), cooperation expanded in 2008 to include agriculture, health, poverty alleviation, counter- terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact, and climate change.
Interpol launched Silver Notice
Interpol has recently launched its first Silver Notice, aimed at locating laundered assets across borders.
Key Highlights
• This initiative is part of a pilot project involving 52 member
countries, including India.
• The Silver Notice is a new addition to Interpol’s existing
suite of colour-coded notices, which facilitate international cooperation in law enforcement.
•
The Silver Notice is designed to assist countries in
tracking down assets linked to criminal activities. It allows member nations to request information on properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses associated with individuals involved in serious crimes such as fraud, corruption, and drug trafficking.
•
Each participating country can request up to 500 notices,
which will be evenly distributed among them. This collaborative approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of asset tracing on a global scale.
•
Before publication, every Silver Notice will undergo a review
by Interpol’s General Secretariat to ensure compliance with the organisation’s rules. This includes verifying that notices are not used for political purposes, in line with Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution.
Interpol’s Colour-Coded Notices
Interpol currently employs several types of notices to facilitate international cooperation:
•
Red Notice: Requests the detention of fugitives.
• Yellow Notice: Aids in locating missing persons, especially
minors.
• Blue Notice: Collects additional information related to
individuals in criminal investigations.
• Black Notice: Seeks information on unidentified bodies.
• Green Notice: Provides warnings about individuals posing a
potential threat.
• Orange Notice: Warns of imminent threats to public safety.
• Purple Notice: Shares information on criminal methods and
techniques.
• UN Security Council Special Notice: Targets individuals or
entities under UN sanctions.
BIMSTEC Youth Summit held
India hosted the 1st BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat
Key Highlights
•
It
Ministry of External Affairs, and CII YI as the knowledge partner.
•
It brings together over 70 young leaders from the seven
BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) to discuss challenges and opportunities in areas such as entrepreneurship, technology, digital connectivity, and sustainable development.
•
The theme, “Youth as a bridge for intra-BIMSTEC exchange,”
focuses on empowering youth to address regional issues and collaborate on solutions for a better future.
•
It aims to foster youth engagement and development in the
region, aligning with India’s “Neighborhood First” and “Act East” policies, and its vision for regional security and growth (SAGAR).
•
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
•
Initially called BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-
Thailand Economic Cooperation), it later expanded to include Myanmar in December 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal in 2004, changing its name to BIMSTEC.
•
Initially focused on six sectors (trade, technology, energy,
transport, tourism, fisheries), cooperation expanded in 2008 to include agriculture, health, poverty alleviation, counter- terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact, and climate change.
Interpol launched Silver Notice
Interpol has recently launched its first Silver Notice, aimed at locating laundered assets across borders.
Key Highlights
• This initiative is part of a pilot project involving 52 member
countries, including India.
• The Silver Notice is a new addition to Interpol’s existing
suite of colour-coded notices, which facilitate international cooperation in law enforcement.
•
The Silver Notice is designed to assist countries in
tracking down assets linked to criminal activities. It allows member nations to request information on properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses associated with individuals involved in serious crimes such as fraud, corruption, and drug trafficking.
•
Each participating country can request up to 500 notices,
which will be evenly distributed among them. This collaborative approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of asset tracing on a global scale.
•
Before publication, every Silver Notice will undergo a review
by Interpol’s General Secretariat to ensure compliance with the organisation’s rules. This includes verifying that notices are not used for political purposes, in line with Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution.
Interpol’s Colour-Coded Notices
Interpol currently employs several types of notices to facilitate international cooperation:
•
Red Notice: Requests the detention of fugitives.
• Yellow Notice: Aids in locating missing persons, especially
minors.
• Blue Notice: Collects additional information related to
individuals in criminal investigations.
• Black Notice: Seeks information on unidentified bodies.
• Green Notice: Provides warnings about individuals posing a
potential threat.
• Orange Notice: Warns of imminent threats to public safety.
• Purple Notice: Shares information on criminal methods and
techniques.
• UN Security Council Special Notice: Targets individuals or
entities under UN sanctions.
87International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India signed Riyadh Design Law Treaty
India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reaffirming
its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and strengthening
its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.
Key Highlights
• The
benefiting design applicants, including relaxed time limits and the reinstatement of lost rights, the option to correct or add priority claims, and the option to file multiple designs in a single application.
•
The treaty encourages contracting parties to work towards
implementing electronic industrial design systems and facilitating the electronic exchange of priority documents.
•
The treaty has been adopted after almost two decades
of negotiations under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
•
It ensures that the benefits of streamlined design protection
are accessible to all stakeholders, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers.
India signed Supply Chain Resilience
Agreement (Pillar-II)
India has signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-
II) under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF).
Key Highlights
• India
Prosperity (IPEF) partners have established Supply Chain Council [SCC], Crisis Response Network [CRN], and Labor Rights Advisory Board [LRAB] for cooperation among partner countries for strengthening supply chain resilience in the region.
•
The Supply Chain council was set up to pursue targeted,
action-oriented work to strengthen the supply chains for those sectors and goods most critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being.
•
It has USA as Chair and India as Vice-Chair.
About I
Prosperity (IPEF)
•
IPEF
are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S.
•
IPEF partners represent approximately 40 percent of
the global GDP, and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.
•
The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement
and cooperation among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, economic stability and prosperity in the region.
World Maritime Conference 2024 held
The 2024 edition of WMTC
was hosted in Chennai, from
December 4-6, by the Chennai
Branch of Institute of Marine
Engineers (India).
Key Highlights
•
The World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) is
a premier global event held every three years under the auspices of the World Maritime Technology Congress.
•
This conference brings together industry leaders,
professionals, and experts in maritime technology and allied sectors from across the globe.
•
World Maritime Technology Conference held once every
three years.
• Participants: 21 member organizations from 17 countries
representing professionals in maritime technology and related sectors.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India signed Riyadh Design Law Treaty
India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reaffirming
its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and strengthening
its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.
Key Highlights
• The
benefiting design applicants, including relaxed time limits and the reinstatement of lost rights, the option to correct or add priority claims, and the option to file multiple designs in a single application.
•
The treaty encourages contracting parties to work towards
implementing electronic industrial design systems and facilitating the electronic exchange of priority documents.
•
The treaty has been adopted after almost two decades
of negotiations under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
•
It ensures that the benefits of streamlined design protection
are accessible to all stakeholders, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers.
India signed Supply Chain Resilience
Agreement (Pillar-II)
India has signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-
II) under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF).
Key Highlights
• India
Prosperity (IPEF) partners have established Supply Chain Council [SCC], Crisis Response Network [CRN], and Labor Rights Advisory Board [LRAB] for cooperation among partner countries for strengthening supply chain resilience in the region.
•
The Supply Chain council was set up to pursue targeted,
action-oriented work to strengthen the supply chains for those sectors and goods most critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being.
•
It has USA as Chair and India as Vice-Chair.
About I
Prosperity (IPEF)
•
IPEF
are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S.
•
IPEF partners represent approximately 40 percent of
the global GDP, and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.
•
The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement
and cooperation among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, economic stability and prosperity in the region.
World Maritime Conference 2024 held
The 2024 edition of WMTC
was hosted in Chennai, from
December 4-6, by the Chennai
Branch of Institute of Marine
Engineers (India).
Key Highlights
•
The World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) is
a premier global event held every three years under the auspices of the World Maritime Technology Congress.
•
This conference brings together industry leaders,
professionals, and experts in maritime technology and allied sectors from across the globe.
•
World Maritime Technology Conference held once every
three years.
• Participants: 21 member organizations from 17 countries
representing professionals in maritime technology and related sectors.
88ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
United States Agency of International
Development (USAID)
The US President Donald Trump has imposed a 90-day freeze
on foreign aid, temporarily halting US Agency for International
Development programs worldwide.
Key Highlights
•
FProvides famine relief and manages an
advanced food shortage prediction system.
• Healthcare: Funds vaccination programs, pandemic
prevention, and global disease control efforts.
• Infrastructure & Development: Supports clean water
initiatives, disaster relief, and economic development
programs.
• Humanitarian Aid: Plays a critical role in war-affected regions,
including Ukraine and sub-Saharan Africa.
USAID and India
•
India's association with USAID began in 1951 with the India
Emergency Food Aid Act, later evolving into infrastructure development, capacity building, and economic reforms.
•
USAID has supported initiatives in education, immunization,
polio eradication, and HIV/TB prevention.
• Over the past decade, India has received approximately
$1.5 billion from USAID, accounting for 0.2% to 0.4% of its total global funding.
Global Plastics Treaty held
Global Plastics Treaty was held in Busan, South Korea, from
November 25 to December 1.
Key Facts
•
United Nations experts stressed the necessity of
accountability in the plastic lifecycle. They advocated for a
“polluter-pays” principle to fund waste management.
• The treaty integrated human rights principles.
• Experts warned against shifting the burden to developing
nations. These countries often lack the resources to manage plastic waste effectively.
•
The treaty addressed production, usage, and disposal.
Effective solutions require a comprehensive approach to plastic management. This includes designing products for recycling and reducing unnecessary plastic use.
•
Developing nations face unique challenges in managing
plastic waste. Many rely on imported plastics and lack recycling infrastructure.
•
The treaty provided support for building local recycling
systems.
• Experts call for remedies for communities impacted by
plastic pollution. A human rights-based approach is crucial
for effective solutions.
• The treaty prioritised the needs of those most affected.
This includes addressing health and environmental impacts.
Britain became the latest member of CPTPP
Britain became the 12th member of the CPTPP (formerly known as Trans-Pacific Partnership), marking its most significant trade deal since Brexit.
Key Facts
• Br
nations in this trade pact.
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Pacific Partnership was originated as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a U.S.-led trade pact.
•
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was renamed the CPTPP
after the U.S. withdrew from this in 2017 under the then President Donald Trump.
•
This agreement now includes 12 members and aims to foster
economic cooperation across the Pacific. These countries were – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
•
CPTPP requires countries to eliminate or significantly reduce
tariffs and make strong commitments to opening services and investment markets.
•
It also has rules addressing competition, intellectual property
rights and protections for foreign companies.
• This grouping accounts for about 15% of global GDP and
provides trade access to a market of more than 500 million people.
United States Agency of International
Development (USAID)
The US President Donald Trump has imposed a 90-day freeze
on foreign aid, temporarily halting US Agency for International
Development programs worldwide.
Key Highlights
•
FProvides famine relief and manages an
advanced food shortage prediction system.
• Healthcare: Funds vaccination programs, pandemic
prevention, and global disease control efforts.
• Infrastructure & Development: Supports clean water
initiatives, disaster relief, and economic development
programs.
• Humanitarian Aid: Plays a critical role in war-affected regions,
including Ukraine and sub-Saharan Africa.
USAID and India
•
India's association with USAID began in 1951 with the India
Emergency Food Aid Act, later evolving into infrastructure development, capacity building, and economic reforms.
•
USAID has supported initiatives in education, immunization,
polio eradication, and HIV/TB prevention.
• Over the past decade, India has received approximately
$1.5 billion from USAID, accounting for 0.2% to 0.4% of its total global funding.
Global Plastics Treaty held
Global Plastics Treaty was held in Busan, South Korea, from
November 25 to December 1.
Key Facts
•
United Nations experts stressed the necessity of
accountability in the plastic lifecycle. They advocated for a
“polluter-pays” principle to fund waste management.
• The treaty integrated human rights principles.
• Experts warned against shifting the burden to developing
nations. These countries often lack the resources to manage plastic waste effectively.
•
The treaty addressed production, usage, and disposal.
Effective solutions require a comprehensive approach to plastic management. This includes designing products for recycling and reducing unnecessary plastic use.
•
Developing nations face unique challenges in managing
plastic waste. Many rely on imported plastics and lack recycling infrastructure.
•
The treaty provided support for building local recycling
systems.
• Experts call for remedies for communities impacted by
plastic pollution. A human rights-based approach is crucial
for effective solutions.
• The treaty prioritised the needs of those most affected.
This includes addressing health and environmental impacts.
Britain became the latest member of CPTPP
Britain became the 12th member of the CPTPP (formerly known as Trans-Pacific Partnership), marking its most significant trade deal since Brexit.
Key Facts
• Br
nations in this trade pact.
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Pacific Partnership was originated as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a U.S.-led trade pact.
•
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was renamed the CPTPP
after the U.S. withdrew from this in 2017 under the then President Donald Trump.
•
This agreement now includes 12 members and aims to foster
economic cooperation across the Pacific. These countries were – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
•
CPTPP requires countries to eliminate or significantly reduce
tariffs and make strong commitments to opening services and investment markets.
•
It also has rules addressing competition, intellectual property
rights and protections for foreign companies.
• This grouping accounts for about 15% of global GDP and
provides trade access to a market of more than 500 million people.
89International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Australia to ban social media for children
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce
legislation restricting social media access for children under
16, aiming to mitigate potential harms associated with online
platforms.
Social Media Regulation in India
In India, social media regulation is governed by the Information
Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics
Code) Rules, 2021 and Digital Personal Data Protection Act
(DPDPA) 2023.
About IT Rules 2021
• A
established, allowing users to report concerns. Each platform must respond to complaints within a specified time frame.
•
Social media platforms are required to reveal the first
originator of a controversial or harmful message when requested by a court or authorized government agency. This rule helps track the spread of misinformation or harmful content.
•
All social media intermediaries must appoint a Chief
Compliance Officer (CCO), a resident of India, to ensure the platform’s adherence to local laws and respond to legal requirements.
•
Significant social media platforms must provide an option
for users to voluntarily verify their accounts, promoting trustworthiness on the platform.
India joined Asset Recovery Interagency
Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP)
India, through its Directorate of Enforcement
(ED), has joined the Steering Committee of
the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-
Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP).
Key Facts
•
A
enables cross-border collaboration for asset tracing, freezing, and confiscation through a network of contact points.
•
It is part of the Global CARIN Network dedicated to
combating the proceeds of crime across Asia-Pacific.
• It facilitates intelligence-sharing, helping agencies trace and
recover assets linked to crimes across borders.
• India is set to assume the ARIN-AP presidency and host its
Annual General Meet-ing in 2026, reinforcing its leadership in asset recovery
• This r
decision-making and ad-ministrative processes, supporting global asset recovery efforts.
US-Japan-South Korea launched DiGi
Framework
The US, Japan, and South Korea launched the DiGi Framework
to bolster digital infrastructure in India, focusing on 5G, data
centers, AI, and smart cities.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
•
It encompasses the foundational digital systems and
services that enable efficient, inclusive, and transparent
public service delivery. It refers to the shared digital sys-
tems and services that support public service delivery at
scale.
•
It includes digital identity systems, payment platforms, data
exchange frame-works, and other foundational technologies, and characterised by its interoperabil-ity, open standards, societal scale, and robust governance frameworks.
•
India has become the first country to establish all three
foundational Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs), collectively known as the India Stack. This comprehensive digital framework includes:
Digital Identification (Aadhaar): Providing a unique digital
identity for citi-zens.
Real-time Rapid Payment System (UPI): Enabling fast and
seamless digital payments.
Data Sharing Architecture (Data Empowerment and
Protection Architecture, DEPA): Facilitating secure and
consent-based data sharing.
About D
• The DiGi Framework will support projects across
India’s information and commu-nications technology
(ICT) sector, targeting critical areas like 5G, Open
RAN, sub-marine cables, optical fiber networks, data
centers, smart cities, e-commerce, AI, and quantum
technology.
•
This collaboration between the U.S., Japan, and South
Korea and Indian private sector partners aims to boost connectivity, enhance digital infrastructure, and ad- vance technological innovation across these sectors in India.
•
It further reflects the shared commitment to advance
digital transformation and sustainable development in India and the Indo-Pacific region.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Australia to ban social media for children
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce
legislation restricting social media access for children under
16, aiming to mitigate potential harms associated with online
platforms.
Social Media Regulation in India
In India, social media regulation is governed by the Information
Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics
Code) Rules, 2021 and Digital Personal Data Protection Act
(DPDPA) 2023.
About IT Rules 2021
• A
established, allowing users to report concerns. Each platform must respond to complaints within a specified time frame.
•
Social media platforms are required to reveal the first
originator of a controversial or harmful message when requested by a court or authorized government agency. This rule helps track the spread of misinformation or harmful content.
•
All social media intermediaries must appoint a Chief
Compliance Officer (CCO), a resident of India, to ensure the platform’s adherence to local laws and respond to legal requirements.
•
Significant social media platforms must provide an option
for users to voluntarily verify their accounts, promoting trustworthiness on the platform.
India joined Asset Recovery Interagency
Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP)
India, through its Directorate of Enforcement
(ED), has joined the Steering Committee of
the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-
Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP).
Key Facts
•
A
enables cross-border collaboration for asset tracing, freezing, and confiscation through a network of contact points.
•
It is part of the Global CARIN Network dedicated to
combating the proceeds of crime across Asia-Pacific.
• It facilitates intelligence-sharing, helping agencies trace and
recover assets linked to crimes across borders.
• India is set to assume the ARIN-AP presidency and host its
Annual General Meet-ing in 2026, reinforcing its leadership in asset recovery
• This r
decision-making and ad-ministrative processes, supporting global asset recovery efforts.
US-Japan-South Korea launched DiGi
Framework
The US, Japan, and South Korea launched the DiGi Framework
to bolster digital infrastructure in India, focusing on 5G, data
centers, AI, and smart cities.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
•
It encompasses the foundational digital systems and
services that enable efficient, inclusive, and transparent
public service delivery. It refers to the shared digital sys-
tems and services that support public service delivery at
scale.
•
It includes digital identity systems, payment platforms, data
exchange frame-works, and other foundational technologies, and characterised by its interoperabil-ity, open standards, societal scale, and robust governance frameworks.
•
India has become the first country to establish all three
foundational Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs), collectively known as the India Stack. This comprehensive digital framework includes:
Digital Identification (Aadhaar): Providing a unique digital
identity for citi-zens.
Real-time Rapid Payment System (UPI): Enabling fast and
seamless digital payments.
Data Sharing Architecture (Data Empowerment and
Protection Architecture, DEPA): Facilitating secure and
consent-based data sharing.
About D
• The DiGi Framework will support projects across
India’s information and commu-nications technology
(ICT) sector, targeting critical areas like 5G, Open
RAN, sub-marine cables, optical fiber networks, data
centers, smart cities, e-commerce, AI, and quantum
technology.
•
This collaboration between the U.S., Japan, and South
Korea and Indian private sector partners aims to boost connectivity, enhance digital infrastructure, and ad- vance technological innovation across these sectors in India.
•
It further reflects the shared commitment to advance
digital transformation and sustainable development in India and the Indo-Pacific region.
90ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly 2024 held
Recently the International Telecommunications Union – World
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (ITU-WTSA
2024) concluded in New Delhi.
Key Highlights of the Event
•
Bhar Key MoUs were signed with international
stakeholders, a step towards the promise of India’s contribution to 10% of global 6G patents.
•
Academic Engagement: The 15th ITU Kaleidoscope
Conference saw record paper submissions, reflecting global interest in the future of digital infrastructure.
•
Championing Gender Balance: The event celebrated
unprecedented female partic-ipation, advancing gender equity in telecommunications with the highest female participation of 26% for the WTSAs held outside Geneva (in Geneva 2022, it was 32%).
About W
• WTSA is the governing
conference for the standardization work of the Internation-al Telecommunication Union, organized every four years.
•
It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being hosted
in India and the Asia-Pacific.
• It is a pivotal global event that has brought together
more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing tel- ecom, digital, and ICT sectors.
About
I
(ITU)
•
It
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
• Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity
in communications net-works.
• India has been a member of ITU since 1869.
• It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
• It develops the technical standards that ensure
networks and technologies seam-lessly interconnect,
and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved
communi-ties worldwide.
Australia launched MATES Scheme
Australia has come up with a new scheme for Indians called Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES).
Key Highlights
• In 2023, Australia and India entered into a Migration and
Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA).
• MMPA is a bilateral framework that supports migration and
mobility between the two countries, while addressing issues pertaining to illegal and irregular migration.
•
MATES has been established under the MMPA.
About M
• M
early career professionals a chance to work in Australia for two years.
•
3,000 spots are available for primary applicants annually
during the first pilot period.
• The scheme will be available to graduates from the
top 100 Indian universities according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for 2024.
•
MATES participants are not eligible to take part in the
Scheme more than once.
75 Years of Establishment of NATO
NATO has completed its 75 years of establishment in 2024.
Key Highlights:
• NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, is a military alliance of countries.
• It was founded in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic
Treaty, more popularly known as the Washington Treaty.
• To ensure the security and defense of its member countries
through collective defense.
• The original members of NATO were Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
•
The cornerstone of NATO is Article 5 of the North Atlantic
Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one or more of its members is considered an attack against all members.
•
Decisions within NATO are made on the basis of consensus
among member countries.
• The North Atlantic Council, which includes the ambassadors
of all member countries, is the principal political decision- making body.
•
It has 32 member countries, Finland and Sweden became
the 31st and 32nd members respectively.
• On signing the Treaty, countries voluntarily commit
themselves to participating in the political consultations and
military activities of the Organization.
World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly 2024 held
Recently the International Telecommunications Union – World
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (ITU-WTSA
2024) concluded in New Delhi.
Key Highlights of the Event
•
Bhar Key MoUs were signed with international
stakeholders, a step towards the promise of India’s contribution to 10% of global 6G patents.
•
Academic Engagement: The 15th ITU Kaleidoscope
Conference saw record paper submissions, reflecting global interest in the future of digital infrastructure.
•
Championing Gender Balance: The event celebrated
unprecedented female partic-ipation, advancing gender equity in telecommunications with the highest female participation of 26% for the WTSAs held outside Geneva (in Geneva 2022, it was 32%).
About W
• WTSA is the governing
conference for the standardization work of the Internation-al Telecommunication Union, organized every four years.
•
It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being hosted
in India and the Asia-Pacific.
• It is a pivotal global event that has brought together
more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing tel- ecom, digital, and ICT sectors.
About
I
(ITU)
•
It
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
• Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity
in communications net-works.
• India has been a member of ITU since 1869.
• It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
• It develops the technical standards that ensure
networks and technologies seam-lessly interconnect,
and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved
communi-ties worldwide.
Australia launched MATES Scheme
Australia has come up with a new scheme for Indians called Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES).
Key Highlights
• In 2023, Australia and India entered into a Migration and
Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA).
• MMPA is a bilateral framework that supports migration and
mobility between the two countries, while addressing issues pertaining to illegal and irregular migration.
•
MATES has been established under the MMPA.
About M
• M
early career professionals a chance to work in Australia for two years.
•
3,000 spots are available for primary applicants annually
during the first pilot period.
• The scheme will be available to graduates from the
top 100 Indian universities according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for 2024.
•
MATES participants are not eligible to take part in the
Scheme more than once.
75 Years of Establishment of NATO
NATO has completed its 75 years of establishment in 2024.
Key Highlights:
• NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, is a military alliance of countries.
• It was founded in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic
Treaty, more popularly known as the Washington Treaty.
• To ensure the security and defense of its member countries
through collective defense.
• The original members of NATO were Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
•
The cornerstone of NATO is Article 5 of the North Atlantic
Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one or more of its members is considered an attack against all members.
•
Decisions within NATO are made on the basis of consensus
among member countries.
• The North Atlantic Council, which includes the ambassadors
of all member countries, is the principal political decision- making body.
•
It has 32 member countries, Finland and Sweden became
the 31st and 32nd members respectively.
• On signing the Treaty, countries voluntarily commit
themselves to participating in the political consultations and
military activities of the Organization.
91International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
19th East Asia Summit held
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the 19th East
Asia Summit (EAS) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Key Highlights
•
The PM emphasized that a free, open, inclusive, prosperous
and rule-based Indo-Pacific is important for the peace and progress of the entire region.
•
India stressed that maritime activities should be
conducted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) to ensure freedom of navigation and air space. Also, a strong and effective Code of Conduct should be created.
About East Asia Summit (EAS)
• The or
proposal for an East Asian Economic Grouping (EAEG).
• The project was later revived through the ASEAN Plus
Three or APT (China, Japan, and South Korea) Summit of Heads of State and Government that first met in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997. It eventually found expression through the creation of the EAS in 2005, with 16 members. The United States and Russia joined in 2011.
•
There are 18 members:
The 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
8 non-ASEAN members: Australia, China, India,
Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
Australia to implement Right to Disconnect
Recently, Australia has implemented a regulation known as the “right to disconnect,” which permits employees to disregard communications from their employers after hours.
About R
• It allows employees to ignore communications from
their employers after regular working hours.
• The primary goal of this policy is to alleviate the
stress associated with being constantly available and
responsive outside of work hours.
• It recognises that employees need dedicated
downtime to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
•
The Australian government joins more than 20 other
countries in adopting similar rules, mostly in Europe and Latin America.
Ukraine votes to join ICC
Ukraine’s parliament voted to join the International Criminal
Court, as it seeks to bring Russia on charges over war crimes.
About I
• ICC
tries individuals charged with the
gravest crimes of concern to the
international community: genocide,
war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of
aggression.
•
As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not
replace, national Courts.
• Impetus for the court came from the ad hoc international
tribunals set up in the 1990s to address the atrocity crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
•
The Rome Statute laid the foundation for the establishment
of the International Criminal Court in 2002.
• The Rome Statute was adopted in 1998 by the United
Nations. It gives legal authority to investigate alleged crimes on the territory of its members or by their nationals, when domestic authorities are “unwilling or unable” to do so.
•
124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court. However, many countries never signed the treaty, including China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
•
In February 2024, Armenia became the latest country
to join the ICC after ratifying the Rome Statute in 2023.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
19th East Asia Summit held
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the 19th East
Asia Summit (EAS) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Key Highlights
•
The PM emphasized that a free, open, inclusive, prosperous
and rule-based Indo-Pacific is important for the peace and progress of the entire region.
•
India stressed that maritime activities should be
conducted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) to ensure freedom of navigation and air space. Also, a strong and effective Code of Conduct should be created.
About East Asia Summit (EAS)
• The or
proposal for an East Asian Economic Grouping (EAEG).
• The project was later revived through the ASEAN Plus
Three or APT (China, Japan, and South Korea) Summit of Heads of State and Government that first met in Kuala Lumpur in December 1997. It eventually found expression through the creation of the EAS in 2005, with 16 members. The United States and Russia joined in 2011.
•
There are 18 members:
The 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
8 non-ASEAN members: Australia, China, India,
Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
Australia to implement Right to Disconnect
Recently, Australia has implemented a regulation known as the “right to disconnect,” which permits employees to disregard communications from their employers after hours.
About R
• It allows employees to ignore communications from
their employers after regular working hours.
• The primary goal of this policy is to alleviate the
stress associated with being constantly available and
responsive outside of work hours.
• It recognises that employees need dedicated
downtime to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
•
The Australian government joins more than 20 other
countries in adopting similar rules, mostly in Europe and Latin America.
Ukraine votes to join ICC
Ukraine’s parliament voted to join the International Criminal
Court, as it seeks to bring Russia on charges over war crimes.
About I
• ICC
tries individuals charged with the
gravest crimes of concern to the
international community: genocide,
war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of
aggression.
•
As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not
replace, national Courts.
• Impetus for the court came from the ad hoc international
tribunals set up in the 1990s to address the atrocity crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
•
The Rome Statute laid the foundation for the establishment
of the International Criminal Court in 2002.
• The Rome Statute was adopted in 1998 by the United
Nations. It gives legal authority to investigate alleged crimes on the territory of its members or by their nationals, when domestic authorities are “unwilling or unable” to do so.
•
124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court. However, many countries never signed the treaty, including China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
•
In February 2024, Armenia became the latest country
to join the ICC after ratifying the Rome Statute in 2023.
92ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
US Withdrawal from International Forums
The United States has recently announced its withdrawal
from several key international organizations, including the
UNHRC, the WHO, and other international forums.
Key Facts
• Unit US cited
the UNHRC’s ‘chronic bias against Israel’ and its failure to address genuine human rights concerns.
It was part of a broader pattern of the Trump
administration stepping back from international agreements and organizations under its ’America First’ policy.
It accused the UNHRC of ‘obsessively demonizing
the one democracy in the Middle East’ and propagating antisemitism.
The US prohibits any future funding for the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides aid to millions of Palestinians.
It is important to note that the UNHRC has passed
over 100 condemnatory resolutions against Israel, which amounts to more than 20% of all resolutions passed by the council.
•
World Health Organization (WHO): Reasons behind
withdrawal are WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its perceived bias towards China.
The US, being the largest financial contributor to
the WHO, argued that the organization needed to be reformed to better serve its member states.
It could cost WHO $130 million in annual funds and
hinder global public health response.
• The US has reviewed its involvement in other
international organizations, such as UNESCO and the Paris Climate Accord, citing ‘wild disparities’ in financial contributions among member countries.
Earlier, US left UNESCO in 2017, citing an alleged
anti-Israel bias within the organization. It echoed a similar withdrawal in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, which was reversed in 2003.
•
The US withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) in 2017, citing the need to protect American jobs and industries.
The remaining countries proceeded with a revised
version called the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Gulf of Mexico
Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump announced
plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”.
Key Facts
•
Tr
trade and immigration is-sues. He claimed that the United States does most of the work in the region and suggested the name change was appropriate.
•
In response, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum
proposed renaming North America to “Mexican America”, referencing historical maps.
Historical Facts
•
The name “America” originates from the Italian explorer
Amerigo Vespucci. His letters described the existence
of a “New World”.
• In 1507, cartographer Martin Waldseemüller created
a map that labelled the new continent as “America”, inspired by Vespucci’s first name. This map repre- sented advancement in geographical knowledge, clearly distinguishing the Western Hemisphere.
•
The term “Mexico” derives from the Nahuatl language
of the Aztecs. It com-bines three words – “metztli” (moon), “xictli” (belly button), and “-co” (place). This refers to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital located on an island in Lake Tex-coco, also known as the Moon Lake. The official name “United Mexican States” was first used in 1824, inspired by the United States.
•
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico would not be a unilateral
action by the US. The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) oversees the naming of maritime areas and requires consensus among member states. There is no formal protocol for renaming such bodies of water.
US Withdrawal from International Forums
The United States has recently announced its withdrawal
from several key international organizations, including the
UNHRC, the WHO, and other international forums.
Key Facts
• Unit US cited
the UNHRC’s ‘chronic bias against Israel’ and its failure to address genuine human rights concerns.
It was part of a broader pattern of the Trump
administration stepping back from international agreements and organizations under its ’America First’ policy.
It accused the UNHRC of ‘obsessively demonizing
the one democracy in the Middle East’ and propagating antisemitism.
The US prohibits any future funding for the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides aid to millions of Palestinians.
It is important to note that the UNHRC has passed
over 100 condemnatory resolutions against Israel, which amounts to more than 20% of all resolutions passed by the council.
•
World Health Organization (WHO): Reasons behind
withdrawal are WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its perceived bias towards China.
The US, being the largest financial contributor to
the WHO, argued that the organization needed to be reformed to better serve its member states.
It could cost WHO $130 million in annual funds and
hinder global public health response.
• The US has reviewed its involvement in other
international organizations, such as UNESCO and the Paris Climate Accord, citing ‘wild disparities’ in financial contributions among member countries.
Earlier, US left UNESCO in 2017, citing an alleged
anti-Israel bias within the organization. It echoed a similar withdrawal in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, which was reversed in 2003.
•
The US withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) in 2017, citing the need to protect American jobs and industries.
The remaining countries proceeded with a revised
version called the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Gulf of Mexico
Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump announced
plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”.
Key Facts
•
Tr
trade and immigration is-sues. He claimed that the United States does most of the work in the region and suggested the name change was appropriate.
•
In response, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum
proposed renaming North America to “Mexican America”, referencing historical maps.
Historical Facts
•
The name “America” originates from the Italian explorer
Amerigo Vespucci. His letters described the existence
of a “New World”.
• In 1507, cartographer Martin Waldseemüller created
a map that labelled the new continent as “America”, inspired by Vespucci’s first name. This map repre- sented advancement in geographical knowledge, clearly distinguishing the Western Hemisphere.
•
The term “Mexico” derives from the Nahuatl language
of the Aztecs. It com-bines three words – “metztli” (moon), “xictli” (belly button), and “-co” (place). This refers to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital located on an island in Lake Tex-coco, also known as the Moon Lake. The official name “United Mexican States” was first used in 1824, inspired by the United States.
•
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico would not be a unilateral
action by the US. The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) oversees the naming of maritime areas and requires consensus among member states. There is no formal protocol for renaming such bodies of water.
93International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Birthright Citizenship of USA
On his first day in office, US
President Donald Trump signed
several executive orders, including
a controversial one aimed at ending
birthright citizenship for children of
parents without legal status.
Key Highlights
•
This
lawsuits from immigrant and civil rights groups, such
as the American Civil Liberties Union.
• According to Trump’s executive order, individuals not
subject to the jurisdiction of the US Constitution fall into two main categories:
•
Unlawful Presence:
When the mother was unlawfully present in the US
at the time of birth.
The father was neither a US citizen nor a lawful
permanent resident.
• Lawful but Temporary Presence:
When the mother was lawfully in the US temporarily
(e.g., under a visa or the Visa Waiver Program).
The father was neither a US citizen nor a lawful
permanent resident.
About Bir
• Bir
citizenship at birth.
• In the US, it exists in two forms: jus soli
(citizenship based on birthplace) and jus
sanguinis (citizenship based on ancestry, for
children born abroad to US citizens).
•
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US
Constitution, adopted in 1868 after the Civil War, guarantees birthright citizenship.
•
It states that “all persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”
•
This was originally intended to ensure citizenship
for America-born children of formerly enslaved people.
Bald Eagle : National Bird of the USA
The bald eagle is officially
declared as the National
Bird of the United States.
Key Facts
• The bald eagle is
indigenous to North America.
•
The Bald Eagle has a
distinctive white head and tail with dark brown body and wings. Its yellow beak is large and hooked, and it has powerful talons.
•
They are carnivorous birds, mainly feeding on fish, but
will also hunt waterfowl or scavenge carrion.
• The Great Seal of the United States is a national
symbol used in official documents such as treaties and commissions since 1782.
•
The Bald Eagle symbolizes strength, freedom, and
independence.
• It breeds in Canada, USA, Mexico, and the French island
territories of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• The bald eagle is also protected under the National
Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.
•
It is listed as Least Concern species in IUCN Red List
status.
White House: Trump-Zelenskyy Heated Talk
•
A White House meeting between President Donald
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at securing a deal that would allow the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare mineral rights turned into a heated exchange with the two leaders talking over each other.
•
The heated exchange, witnessed by dozens of
American and Ukrainian reporters in the Oval Office, took a combative tone about 40 minutes into the meeting when Zelenskyy raised Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.
•
Vice-President of USA V.D. Vance and Trump accused
the Ukrainian leader of not being thankful for the assistance his country has received from Washington.
•
Zelenskyy left the White House early, and a scheduled
joint press conference was canceled.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Birthright Citizenship of USA
On his first day in office, US
President Donald Trump signed
several executive orders, including
a controversial one aimed at ending
birthright citizenship for children of
parents without legal status.
Key Highlights
•
This
lawsuits from immigrant and civil rights groups, such
as the American Civil Liberties Union.
• According to Trump’s executive order, individuals not
subject to the jurisdiction of the US Constitution fall into two main categories:
•
Unlawful Presence:
When the mother was unlawfully present in the US
at the time of birth.
The father was neither a US citizen nor a lawful
permanent resident.
• Lawful but Temporary Presence:
When the mother was lawfully in the US temporarily
(e.g., under a visa or the Visa Waiver Program).
The father was neither a US citizen nor a lawful
permanent resident.
About Bir
• Bir
citizenship at birth.
• In the US, it exists in two forms: jus soli
(citizenship based on birthplace) and jus
sanguinis (citizenship based on ancestry, for
children born abroad to US citizens).
•
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US
Constitution, adopted in 1868 after the Civil War, guarantees birthright citizenship.
•
It states that “all persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”
•
This was originally intended to ensure citizenship
for America-born children of formerly enslaved people.
Bald Eagle : National Bird of the USA
The bald eagle is officially
declared as the National
Bird of the United States.
Key Facts
• The bald eagle is
indigenous to North America.
•
The Bald Eagle has a
distinctive white head and tail with dark brown body and wings. Its yellow beak is large and hooked, and it has powerful talons.
•
They are carnivorous birds, mainly feeding on fish, but
will also hunt waterfowl or scavenge carrion.
• The Great Seal of the United States is a national
symbol used in official documents such as treaties and commissions since 1782.
•
The Bald Eagle symbolizes strength, freedom, and
independence.
• It breeds in Canada, USA, Mexico, and the French island
territories of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• The bald eagle is also protected under the National
Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.
•
It is listed as Least Concern species in IUCN Red List
status.
White House: Trump-Zelenskyy Heated Talk
•
A White House meeting between President Donald
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at securing a deal that would allow the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare mineral rights turned into a heated exchange with the two leaders talking over each other.
•
The heated exchange, witnessed by dozens of
American and Ukrainian reporters in the Oval Office, took a combative tone about 40 minutes into the meeting when Zelenskyy raised Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.
•
Vice-President of USA V.D. Vance and Trump accused
the Ukrainian leader of not being thankful for the assistance his country has received from Washington.
•
Zelenskyy left the White House early, and a scheduled
joint press conference was canceled.
94ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
REPORTS
& INDICES
RECENTLY RELEASED
World Happiness Report, 2025
The Wellbeing Research Centre has
released the World Happiness Report
2025.
Key Facts
• P University of Oxford’s
Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
•
Parameters: Social support, GDP per capita, health, life
expectancy, freedom, generosity and perception of corruption.
• Ranking: Finland emerged as the ‘happiest’ country again,
followed by Denmark and Iceland.
Afghanistan ranked the lowest followed by Sierra Leone
and Lebanon.
India ranked 118 out of 147 countries, India’s lowest
ranking was 144 on the list in 2012, while its scores
peaked in 2022 at 94.
Note
• The UN declared March 20 as the International Day of
Happiness in 2012.
• The concept of World Happiness Day was first proposed
by Bhutan in the 1970s, a country known for prioritizing Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product.
UN World Water Development Report, 2025
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers was released by UNESCO.
Key Highlights
•
Glacier
with a significant loss of mass in the last few years.
Since 1975, glaciers have lost
over 9,000 billion tonnes of mass, equivalent to an ice
block the size of Germany.
Impur
storms are accelerating the melting by increasing the absorption of solar radiation.
•
Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to melt, releasing
organic carbon into the atmosphere and exacerbating climate change. The thaw also destabilizes slopes, increasing the risk of landslides and other hazards.
•
Snow cover has decreased in mountain regions, especially
in spring and summer, with further declines expected. A global mean decline of 7.79% in snow cover between 1979 and 2022.
•
The impacts of glacier melting and permafrost thaw include
erratic water flow, increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and rising sea levels.
GLOFs have caused over 12,000 deaths in the past 200
years.
The melting of glaciers contributes to 25-30% of global
sea level rise, posing risks to millions of people.
Technology and Innovation Report, 2025
The 2025 Technology and Innovation Report, entitled: Inclusive artificial intelligence for development, has been issued by United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Key Highlights
•
It aim
the complex AI landscape and support them in designing science, technology and innovation policies that foster inclusive and equitable technological progress.
•
The US leads the world in terms of private investment in AI,
at 67 billion US dollars in 2023, or 70 percent of global AI private investment.
•
China was in second position, with 7.8 billion US dollars, and
India in tenth position, with 1.4 billion dollars.
• India has been ranked 10th in the world with significant
private investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2023.
• According to the Report India ranked 36th in 2024 on the
Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index, improving its position from 48th in 2022.
REPORTS
& INDICES
RECENTLY RELEASED
World Happiness Report, 2025
The Wellbeing Research Centre has
released the World Happiness Report
2025.
Key Facts
• P University of Oxford’s
Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
•
Parameters: Social support, GDP per capita, health, life
expectancy, freedom, generosity and perception of corruption.
• Ranking: Finland emerged as the ‘happiest’ country again,
followed by Denmark and Iceland.
Afghanistan ranked the lowest followed by Sierra Leone
and Lebanon.
India ranked 118 out of 147 countries, India’s lowest
ranking was 144 on the list in 2012, while its scores
peaked in 2022 at 94.
Note
• The UN declared March 20 as the International Day of
Happiness in 2012.
• The concept of World Happiness Day was first proposed
by Bhutan in the 1970s, a country known for prioritizing Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product.
UN World Water Development Report, 2025
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers was released by UNESCO.
Key Highlights
•
Glacier
with a significant loss of mass in the last few years.
Since 1975, glaciers have lost
over 9,000 billion tonnes of mass, equivalent to an ice
block the size of Germany.
Impur
storms are accelerating the melting by increasing the absorption of solar radiation.
•
Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to melt, releasing
organic carbon into the atmosphere and exacerbating climate change. The thaw also destabilizes slopes, increasing the risk of landslides and other hazards.
•
Snow cover has decreased in mountain regions, especially
in spring and summer, with further declines expected. A global mean decline of 7.79% in snow cover between 1979 and 2022.
•
The impacts of glacier melting and permafrost thaw include
erratic water flow, increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and rising sea levels.
GLOFs have caused over 12,000 deaths in the past 200
years.
The melting of glaciers contributes to 25-30% of global
sea level rise, posing risks to millions of people.
Technology and Innovation Report, 2025
The 2025 Technology and Innovation Report, entitled: Inclusive artificial intelligence for development, has been issued by United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Key Highlights
•
It aim
the complex AI landscape and support them in designing science, technology and innovation policies that foster inclusive and equitable technological progress.
•
The US leads the world in terms of private investment in AI,
at 67 billion US dollars in 2023, or 70 percent of global AI private investment.
•
China was in second position, with 7.8 billion US dollars, and
India in tenth position, with 1.4 billion dollars.
• India has been ranked 10th in the world with significant
private investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2023.
• According to the Report India ranked 36th in 2024 on the
Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index, improving its position from 48th in 2022.
95International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Global Economic Prospects (GEP) Report, 2025
The World Bank has released the 2025
Global Economic Prospects (GEP)
Re-port 2025, a flagship biannual
publication of the World Bank Group
that examines trends and projections
in the global economy.
Major Highlights
•
GIt is projected to
expand by 2.7% in both 2025 and 2026, the same pace as in 2024.
•
Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) have
undergone signifi-cant transformation since 2000, now contributing about 45% of global GDP, compared to 25% at the start of the century.
India, China, and Brazil, the three largest EMDEs, have
collectively driv-en approximately 60% of annual global
growth since the start of the century.
• Trade Restrictions: New global trade restrictions in 2024 were
five times the 2010-19 average. As a result, overall economic growth dropped—from 5.9% in the 2000s to 3.5% in the 2020s.
•
Challenges and Recommendations:
Rising trade tensions could reduce global growth.
Persistent inflation could delay expected cuts in interest rates.
With the right policies, these economies can even
transform some chal-lenges into significant opportunities.
All countries, meanwhile, should work together to
strengthen global trade governance, with the support of multilateral institutions.
India Specific Highlights
•
G India is projected to remain the fastest-growing
large economy for FY26 and FY27 (growth rate – 6.7%), reaffirming its dominance in the global economic landscape.
Growth in India’s services sector is expected to
remain robust, while manufacturing activity will
strengthen.
• Investments: India’s Investment growth is expected to remain
steady, supported by rising private investments, improved corporate balance sheets, and favourable financing conditions.
World Economic Situation and Prospects
Report, 2025
The Indian economy is projected to
grow by 6.6 per cent in 2025, according
to the United Nations’ World Economic
Situation and Prospects report.
Key Highlights
• The r
growth forecast, reflecting confidence in In-dia’s economic resilience. The public sector plays important role in funding in-frastructure projects. These projects enhance physical and digital connectivity and improve social infrastructure, including sanitation and water supply.
•
The UN report emphasises the importance of capital
expenditure on infrastruc-ture. Such investment is expected to yield strong multiplier effects on econom-ic growth. Infrastructure development is crucial for enhancing productivity across various sectors.
•
The manufacturing and services sectors are anticipated to
expand, contrib-uting to overall economic activity.
• Strong export growth in service industries and specific
goods categories, such as pharmaceuticals and electronics, will further stimulate the economy.
•
Agricultural growth will contribute to the overall economic
performance of In-dia. Enhanced agricultural productivity can support rural incomes and con-sumption.
Regional Economic Outlook
•
The economic growth forecast for South Asia remains robust,
primarily driven by India. The region is projected to grow at 5.7 per cent in 2025 and 6 per cent in 2026. India’s performance is crucial for the region’s overall economic health.
•
The interconnected nature of economies in South
Asia amplifies the impact of India’s growth on its
neighbours.
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), 2024
India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in
the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
for 2024.
Key Highlights
•
The Corruption Perceptions
Index (CPI) 2024 highlights how corruption is hindering global efforts to combat climate change.
REPORTS & INDICES
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Global Economic Prospects (GEP) Report, 2025
The World Bank has released the 2025
Global Economic Prospects (GEP)
Re-port 2025, a flagship biannual
publication of the World Bank Group
that examines trends and projections
in the global economy.
Major Highlights
•
GIt is projected to
expand by 2.7% in both 2025 and 2026, the same pace as in 2024.
•
Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) have
undergone signifi-cant transformation since 2000, now contributing about 45% of global GDP, compared to 25% at the start of the century.
India, China, and Brazil, the three largest EMDEs, have
collectively driv-en approximately 60% of annual global
growth since the start of the century.
• Trade Restrictions: New global trade restrictions in 2024 were
five times the 2010-19 average. As a result, overall economic growth dropped—from 5.9% in the 2000s to 3.5% in the 2020s.
•
Challenges and Recommendations:
Rising trade tensions could reduce global growth.
Persistent inflation could delay expected cuts in interest rates.
With the right policies, these economies can even
transform some chal-lenges into significant opportunities.
All countries, meanwhile, should work together to
strengthen global trade governance, with the support of multilateral institutions.
India Specific Highlights
•
G India is projected to remain the fastest-growing
large economy for FY26 and FY27 (growth rate – 6.7%), reaffirming its dominance in the global economic landscape.
Growth in India’s services sector is expected to
remain robust, while manufacturing activity will
strengthen.
• Investments: India’s Investment growth is expected to remain
steady, supported by rising private investments, improved corporate balance sheets, and favourable financing conditions.
World Economic Situation and Prospects
Report, 2025
The Indian economy is projected to
grow by 6.6 per cent in 2025, according
to the United Nations’ World Economic
Situation and Prospects report.
Key Highlights
• The r
growth forecast, reflecting confidence in In-dia’s economic resilience. The public sector plays important role in funding in-frastructure projects. These projects enhance physical and digital connectivity and improve social infrastructure, including sanitation and water supply.
•
The UN report emphasises the importance of capital
expenditure on infrastruc-ture. Such investment is expected to yield strong multiplier effects on econom-ic growth. Infrastructure development is crucial for enhancing productivity across various sectors.
•
The manufacturing and services sectors are anticipated to
expand, contrib-uting to overall economic activity.
• Strong export growth in service industries and specific
goods categories, such as pharmaceuticals and electronics, will further stimulate the economy.
•
Agricultural growth will contribute to the overall economic
performance of In-dia. Enhanced agricultural productivity can support rural incomes and con-sumption.
Regional Economic Outlook
•
The economic growth forecast for South Asia remains robust,
primarily driven by India. The region is projected to grow at 5.7 per cent in 2025 and 6 per cent in 2026. India’s performance is crucial for the region’s overall economic health.
•
The interconnected nature of economies in South
Asia amplifies the impact of India’s growth on its
neighbours.
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), 2024
India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in
the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
for 2024.
Key Highlights
•
The Corruption Perceptions
Index (CPI) 2024 highlights how corruption is hindering global efforts to combat climate change.
REPORTS & INDICES
96ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their
perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• It uses a scale of zero to 100, where “zero” is highly corrupt
and “100” is very clean.
• The report has been compiled by Transparency
International.
• 85% of the world’s population lives in countries with CPI
scores below 50.
• India scored 38 out of 100, dropping one point from 2023,
and ranked 96th.
• Least Corrupt Countries: Denmark, Finland, Singapore.
• Most Corrupt Countries: South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela.
Global Wage Report, 2024-25
The International Labour Organization
(ILO) has released the Global Wage
Report 2024-25.
Key Highlights
•
The wage inequality has decreased at
an average rate of 11.1% per annum in about two-thirds of all countries around the world since 2000.
•
Global wages have grown faster
than inflation in recent times. The global real wages grew by 1.8% last year, while the projections have reached 2.7% growth in 2024, the highest increase in over 15 years.
•
Africa, Northern America and parts of Europe recorded
stagnant or negative real wage growth.
• Low-income countries suffer from significantly higher wage
inequality compared to high-income nations, with nearly 22% of workers earning less than half the median hourly wage.
•
Despite a 29% rise in productivity in high-income countries
between 1999 and 2024, real wages have only risen by 15%, highlighting a failure to share productivity gains equitably with workers.
•
Women, especially in lower-middle-income countries,
remain disproportionately affected by wage inequality due to overrepresentation in informal, precarious and low-paid work.
About G
• The Global Wage Report is an annual publication
released by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The first edition was published in 2008.
•
It provides a detailed look at wage trends around the
world and in different regions, highlighting changes in wage inequality and real wage growth.
State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, 2024
Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has released ‘The State of Food and Agriculture 2024’ (SOFA 2024).
Key Findings
• The report highlights the
importance of true cost accounting in agrifood systems. It helps to uncover the hidden costs and benefits associated with food production and consumption, including environmental degradation, health impacts, and social inequalities.
•
Overall, the hidden costs of agrifood systems amounted to
approximately $12 trillion annually, the analysis involving 156 countries found.
•
In fact, globally, the dominant quantified hidden costs were
those arising from unhealthy dietary patterns that lead to diseases and lower labour productivity.
•
India’s hidden costs are the third largest globally, following
China and the United States, which have hidden costs of $1.8 trillion and $1.4 trillion, respectively.
•
Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to global hidden costs,
accounting for approximately 70% ($8.1 trillion) of these costs.
• The report emphasises the critical role of both consumers
and producers in transforming agrifood systems.
• It calls for greater consumer awareness and engagement, as
well as equitable roles for producers in the supply chain.
About S
• It
of the United Nations that provides in-depth analysis and insights into key issues affecting global food and agriculture systems.
•
SOFA 2024 delves into the true cost of food, emphasising
the need for agrifood systems to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
World Press Freedom Index, 2024
Recently, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its latest edition of World Press Freedom Index.
Key Highlights:
• It is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
that ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level
of freedom available to journalists.
REPORTS & INDICES
• The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their
perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• It uses a scale of zero to 100, where “zero” is highly corrupt
and “100” is very clean.
• The report has been compiled by Transparency
International.
• 85% of the world’s population lives in countries with CPI
scores below 50.
• India scored 38 out of 100, dropping one point from 2023,
and ranked 96th.
• Least Corrupt Countries: Denmark, Finland, Singapore.
• Most Corrupt Countries: South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela.
Global Wage Report, 2024-25
The International Labour Organization
(ILO) has released the Global Wage
Report 2024-25.
Key Highlights
•
The wage inequality has decreased at
an average rate of 11.1% per annum in about two-thirds of all countries around the world since 2000.
•
Global wages have grown faster
than inflation in recent times. The global real wages grew by 1.8% last year, while the projections have reached 2.7% growth in 2024, the highest increase in over 15 years.
•
Africa, Northern America and parts of Europe recorded
stagnant or negative real wage growth.
• Low-income countries suffer from significantly higher wage
inequality compared to high-income nations, with nearly 22% of workers earning less than half the median hourly wage.
•
Despite a 29% rise in productivity in high-income countries
between 1999 and 2024, real wages have only risen by 15%, highlighting a failure to share productivity gains equitably with workers.
•
Women, especially in lower-middle-income countries,
remain disproportionately affected by wage inequality due to overrepresentation in informal, precarious and low-paid work.
About G
• The Global Wage Report is an annual publication
released by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The first edition was published in 2008.
•
It provides a detailed look at wage trends around the
world and in different regions, highlighting changes in wage inequality and real wage growth.
State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, 2024
Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has released ‘The State of Food and Agriculture 2024’ (SOFA 2024).
Key Findings
• The report highlights the
importance of true cost accounting in agrifood systems. It helps to uncover the hidden costs and benefits associated with food production and consumption, including environmental degradation, health impacts, and social inequalities.
•
Overall, the hidden costs of agrifood systems amounted to
approximately $12 trillion annually, the analysis involving 156 countries found.
•
In fact, globally, the dominant quantified hidden costs were
those arising from unhealthy dietary patterns that lead to diseases and lower labour productivity.
•
India’s hidden costs are the third largest globally, following
China and the United States, which have hidden costs of $1.8 trillion and $1.4 trillion, respectively.
•
Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to global hidden costs,
accounting for approximately 70% ($8.1 trillion) of these costs.
• The report emphasises the critical role of both consumers
and producers in transforming agrifood systems.
• It calls for greater consumer awareness and engagement, as
well as equitable roles for producers in the supply chain.
About S
• It
of the United Nations that provides in-depth analysis and insights into key issues affecting global food and agriculture systems.
•
SOFA 2024 delves into the true cost of food, emphasising
the need for agrifood systems to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
World Press Freedom Index, 2024
Recently, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its latest edition of World Press Freedom Index.
Key Highlights:
• It is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
that ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level
of freedom available to journalists.
REPORTS & INDICES
97International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• It has been published every year since 2002.
• It provides a snapshot of the media freedom situation based
on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media,
quality of legislative framework, and safety of journalists in
each country and region.
•
The press freedom questionnaire covers five categories —
political context, legal framework, economic context, socio- cultural context and security.
•
India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has seen a
decline over the years.
• In 2022, India was ranked 150th out of 180 countries.
• However, in 2023, India’s ranking slipped further to 161st.
• In 2024, India’s score in the World Press Freedom Index fell from
36.62 to 31.28, but its rank improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024. It was due to other countries slipping in their rankings.
India Employment Report, 2024
Recently, India, a founding
member of the International Labour
Organization (ILO), raised concerns
about the ILO’s India Employment
Report 2024.
Key Findings
•
The India Employment Report
2024, jointly prepared by the
ILO and the Institute of Human
Development (IHD), paints a vivid
picture of the labour market.
•
The report sheds light on the employment scenario in India,
but the Indian government contends that the model used by the ILO does not accurately reflect the Indian context.
•
Youth Unemployment: The report highlights that India’s youth
constitute nearly 83% of the unemployed workforce.
Moreover, the share of young people with secondary or
higher education among the total unemployed youth has
nearly doubled from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022.
• Changing Employment Landscape: The concept of
employment in India has been evolving. On one hand, more people are venturing into entrepreneurship, while on the other, formal employment is gaining momentum.
Subscriptions to schemes like the Employees Provident
Fund Organization and the Employees State Insurance
Corporation reflect this trend.
• Data Discrepancies: The crux of the issue lies in data
disparities. The ILO’s data diverges from the data used within India.
The Union Labour Ministry contends that the Periodic
Labour Force Surveys provide a more accurate picture of the employment situation in the country.
Global Hunger Index, 2024
India has been ranked 105th out of 127
countries in the Global Hunger Index
(GHI) 2024, placing it in the “serious”
category for hunger levels.
Key Highlights of the GHI 2024
• The 2024 Global Hunger Index
score for the world is 18.3,
considered moderate, down only
slightly from the 2016 score of
18.8.
Little progress has been made on reducing hunger
since 2016, and the prospects for achieving Zero
Hunger by the target date of 2030 are grim, with
42 countries still experiencing alarming or serious
hunger.
•
The wars in Gaza and Sudan have led to exceptional
food crises.
• Somalia, Yemen, Chad, and Madagascar are the
countries with the highest 2024 GHI scores; Burundi and South Sudan are also provisionally designated as alarming.
•
Progress has been notable for example in Bangladesh,
Mozambique, Nepal, Somalia, and Togo, although challenges remain.
•
India’s performance remains concerning, in comparison to
the South Asian neighbours such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which fall into the “moderate” category.
India is listed alongside countries like Pakistan
and Afghanistan, which also face severe hunger
challenges.
• The report reveals alarming statistics: 13.7 percent of
India’s population is undernourished, 35.5 percent of children under five are stunted, 18.7 percent suffer from wasting, and 2.9 percent of children die before their fifth birthday.
About G
• GHI is a tool for comprehensively measuring and
tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
• The index is published by Concern Worldwide, an
Irish humanitarian organisation, and Welthungerhilfe, a German aid agency.
2024
GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
HOW GENDER JUSTICE CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE
AND ZERO HUNGER
2 0 24 G L O B A L HUN G E R IN D E X
2024
GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
HOW GENDER JUSTICE CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE
AND ZERO HUNGER
2 0 24 G L O B A L HUN G E R IN D E X
REPORTS & INDICES
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• It has been published every year since 2002.
• It provides a snapshot of the media freedom situation based
on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media,
quality of legislative framework, and safety of journalists in
each country and region.
•
The press freedom questionnaire covers five categories —
political context, legal framework, economic context, socio- cultural context and security.
•
India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has seen a
decline over the years.
• In 2022, India was ranked 150th out of 180 countries.
• However, in 2023, India’s ranking slipped further to 161st.
• In 2024, India’s score in the World Press Freedom Index fell from
36.62 to 31.28, but its rank improved from 161 in 2023 to 159 in 2024. It was due to other countries slipping in their rankings.
India Employment Report, 2024
Recently, India, a founding
member of the International Labour
Organization (ILO), raised concerns
about the ILO’s India Employment
Report 2024.
Key Findings
•
The India Employment Report
2024, jointly prepared by the
ILO and the Institute of Human
Development (IHD), paints a vivid
picture of the labour market.
•
The report sheds light on the employment scenario in India,
but the Indian government contends that the model used by the ILO does not accurately reflect the Indian context.
•
Youth Unemployment: The report highlights that India’s youth
constitute nearly 83% of the unemployed workforce.
Moreover, the share of young people with secondary or
higher education among the total unemployed youth has
nearly doubled from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022.
• Changing Employment Landscape: The concept of
employment in India has been evolving. On one hand, more people are venturing into entrepreneurship, while on the other, formal employment is gaining momentum.
Subscriptions to schemes like the Employees Provident
Fund Organization and the Employees State Insurance
Corporation reflect this trend.
• Data Discrepancies: The crux of the issue lies in data
disparities. The ILO’s data diverges from the data used within India.
The Union Labour Ministry contends that the Periodic
Labour Force Surveys provide a more accurate picture of the employment situation in the country.
Global Hunger Index, 2024
India has been ranked 105th out of 127
countries in the Global Hunger Index
(GHI) 2024, placing it in the “serious”
category for hunger levels.
Key Highlights of the GHI 2024
• The 2024 Global Hunger Index
score for the world is 18.3,
considered moderate, down only
slightly from the 2016 score of
18.8.
Little progress has been made on reducing hunger
since 2016, and the prospects for achieving Zero
Hunger by the target date of 2030 are grim, with
42 countries still experiencing alarming or serious
hunger.
•
The wars in Gaza and Sudan have led to exceptional
food crises.
• Somalia, Yemen, Chad, and Madagascar are the
countries with the highest 2024 GHI scores; Burundi and South Sudan are also provisionally designated as alarming.
•
Progress has been notable for example in Bangladesh,
Mozambique, Nepal, Somalia, and Togo, although challenges remain.
•
India’s performance remains concerning, in comparison to
the South Asian neighbours such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which fall into the “moderate” category.
India is listed alongside countries like Pakistan
and Afghanistan, which also face severe hunger
challenges.
• The report reveals alarming statistics: 13.7 percent of
India’s population is undernourished, 35.5 percent of children under five are stunted, 18.7 percent suffer from wasting, and 2.9 percent of children die before their fifth birthday.
About G
• GHI is a tool for comprehensively measuring and
tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
• The index is published by Concern Worldwide, an
Irish humanitarian organisation, and Welthungerhilfe, a German aid agency.
2024
GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
HOW GENDER JUSTICE CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE
AND ZERO HUNGER
2 0 24 G L O B A L HUN G E R IN D E X
2024
GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
HOW GENDER JUSTICE CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE
AND ZERO HUNGER
2 0 24 G L O B A L HUN G E R IN D E X
REPORTS & INDICES
98ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI),
2024
India is ranked 39th among 119
countries in the 2024 Travel and
Tourism Development Index (TTDI)
report by the World Economic Forum
(WEF).
Key Highlights
•
Introduced in 2022, TTDI is an
evolution of the Travel & Tourism
Competitiveness Index (TTCI),
which has been published biennially since 2007.
•
It serves as a strategic benchmarking tool for businesses,
governments, and organizations to develop the Travel & Tourism (T&T) sector.
•
It allows for cross-country comparison and benchmarking
on T&T development, informing policies and investment decisions for the sector.
Adaptation Gap Report, 2024
The “Adaptation Gap Report 2024: Come Hell and High Water” was recently released by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Key Highlights
•
Although international public
adaptation finance for developing
countries increased to $28 billion
in 2022, the overall gap remains substantial. Even doubling
adaptation finance from 2019 levels, as targeted by 2025
under the Glasgow Climate Pact, would only reduce the
finance gap by about 5%.
•
87% of countries now have at least one national adaptation
planning instrument. Of these, 51 per cent have a second, and 20 per cent have a third. Aligning National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is crucial for strategic implementation.
•
Progress towards UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience
(FGCR) targets, agreed at COP 28, is mixed, with thematic areas like poverty reduction and cultural heritage protection needing more focus. Many NAPs reference UAE FGCR targets but lack comprehensive data and planning for all sectors.
• Enhancing capacity and technology transfer in developing
countries is vital but currently lacks effectiveness due to uncoordinated, short-term efforts.
About A
• Adaptation Gap Report is an annual publication by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Its purpose is to assess global progress on climate
change adaptation, i.e. the efforts made by countries
to adjust and prepare for current and future climate
impacts.
•
Adaptation gap refers to the difference between the
actual adaptation efforts being implemented and the adaptation needs required to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.
Global Gender Gap Report, 2024
The World Economic Forum (WEF)
report of 2024 on global gender
gaps ranked India at 129 out of
146 economies, with a decline in
the education sector being one of
the reasons for India’s poor rank.
Key Highlights
•
The r
despite high enrolment rates for women in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, progress has been sluggish.
•
The literacy gap between men and women remains
substantial at 17.2 percentage points. Consequently, India ranks 124th in this indicator, scoring 0.964 in education, a decline from the score of 1.000 achieved in 2023.
•
In higher education, the AISHE report for 2021-22
indicates that the gross enrolment ratio (GER) for women is marginally higher than that for men, with women achieving a GER of 28.5 compared to 28.3 for men. This marks a 32 per cent increase in female enrolment since 2014-15. However, women students make up only 42.5% of those enrolled in STEM subjects from undergraduate to PhD levels.
•
According to the Census data from 2011, adult literacy is
a matter of concern, with only 64.63% of women who are literate, in comparison to 80.88% of men.
REPORTS & INDICES
Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI),
2024
India is ranked 39th among 119
countries in the 2024 Travel and
Tourism Development Index (TTDI)
report by the World Economic Forum
(WEF).
Key Highlights
•
Introduced in 2022, TTDI is an
evolution of the Travel & Tourism
Competitiveness Index (TTCI),
which has been published biennially since 2007.
•
It serves as a strategic benchmarking tool for businesses,
governments, and organizations to develop the Travel & Tourism (T&T) sector.
•
It allows for cross-country comparison and benchmarking
on T&T development, informing policies and investment decisions for the sector.
Adaptation Gap Report, 2024
The “Adaptation Gap Report 2024: Come Hell and High Water” was recently released by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Key Highlights
•
Although international public
adaptation finance for developing
countries increased to $28 billion
in 2022, the overall gap remains substantial. Even doubling
adaptation finance from 2019 levels, as targeted by 2025
under the Glasgow Climate Pact, would only reduce the
finance gap by about 5%.
•
87% of countries now have at least one national adaptation
planning instrument. Of these, 51 per cent have a second, and 20 per cent have a third. Aligning National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is crucial for strategic implementation.
•
Progress towards UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience
(FGCR) targets, agreed at COP 28, is mixed, with thematic areas like poverty reduction and cultural heritage protection needing more focus. Many NAPs reference UAE FGCR targets but lack comprehensive data and planning for all sectors.
• Enhancing capacity and technology transfer in developing
countries is vital but currently lacks effectiveness due to uncoordinated, short-term efforts.
About A
• Adaptation Gap Report is an annual publication by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Its purpose is to assess global progress on climate
change adaptation, i.e. the efforts made by countries
to adjust and prepare for current and future climate
impacts.
•
Adaptation gap refers to the difference between the
actual adaptation efforts being implemented and the adaptation needs required to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.
Global Gender Gap Report, 2024
The World Economic Forum (WEF)
report of 2024 on global gender
gaps ranked India at 129 out of
146 economies, with a decline in
the education sector being one of
the reasons for India’s poor rank.
Key Highlights
•
The r
despite high enrolment rates for women in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, progress has been sluggish.
•
The literacy gap between men and women remains
substantial at 17.2 percentage points. Consequently, India ranks 124th in this indicator, scoring 0.964 in education, a decline from the score of 1.000 achieved in 2023.
•
In higher education, the AISHE report for 2021-22
indicates that the gross enrolment ratio (GER) for women is marginally higher than that for men, with women achieving a GER of 28.5 compared to 28.3 for men. This marks a 32 per cent increase in female enrolment since 2014-15. However, women students make up only 42.5% of those enrolled in STEM subjects from undergraduate to PhD levels.
•
According to the Census data from 2011, adult literacy is
a matter of concern, with only 64.63% of women who are literate, in comparison to 80.88% of men.
REPORTS & INDICES
99International Affairs
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
World Investment Report, 2024
The World Investment Report 2024
has recently been released by
the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD).
Key Highlights
•
Envir
The global environment for
international investment remains
challenging in 2024. Weakening
growth prospects, economic
fracturing trends, trade and
geopolitical tensions, industrial policies and supply chain
diversification are reshaping FDI patterns, causing some
multinational enterprises (MNEs) to adopt a cautious
approach to overseas expansion.
•
International project finance and cross-border mergers and
acquisitions (M&As) were especially weak in 2023 mergers and acquisitions, which mostly affect FDI in developed countries, fell by 46 percent in value.
•
Greenfield Investment Projects: Project numbers increased by
2 percent, growth was concentrated in developing countries, where the number of projects was up by 15 percent.
•
FDI in developing Asia fell by 8 percent. China, the second
largest FDI recipient in the world, saw a rare decline in inflows. Sizeable declines were recorded in India and in West and Central Asia.
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2024
The 2024 Global Multidimensional
Poverty Index, is published with the
theme of Poverty Amid Conflict.
Key Findings
•
Acr
billion people, 1.1 billion people (18.3 percent) live in acute multidimensional poverty.
•
Poor people live in rural areas: 962
million (83.7 percent) live in rural areas.
Around 70.7 percent of all poor people live in rural areas
of Sub- Saharan Africa (463 million) and South Asia (350
million).
• The five countries with the largest number of people living in
poverty are India (234 million), Pakistan (93 million), Ethiopia
(86 million), Nigeria (74 million) and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (66 million).
Together, these five countries account for nearly half
(48.1 percent) of the 1.1 billion poor people.
• Approximately 584 million people under 18 are living in
extreme poverty, making up 27.9% of all children globally, compared to 13.5% of adults.
•
Poverty in conflicted regions: The report noted that 2023
witnessed more conflicts than at any time since World War II causing displacement of over 117 million people.
•
Nearly 40% of the 1.1 billion people live in poverty,
approximately 455 million, are situated in countries experiencing conflict.
About G
• Global Multidimensional Poverty Index is published
annually by the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative.
•
The index utilizes 10 indicators across these three
dimensions.
• If a household is deprived in one-third or more of these
indicators, it is considered multidimensionally poor.
State of Global Air Report, 2024
As per the State of Global Air Report
2024, Air pollution has caused 8.1
million deaths around the world in
2021.
Key Highlights of the Report:
•
Dea
Pollution:
High Mortality Rate: Air
pollution is a critical global
health issue, with over 90
percent of related deaths—totaling 7.8 million people—
attributed to fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.
Types of PM2.5 Pollution: PM2.5 pollution includes both
ambient (outdoor) air pollution and household air pollution.
These tiny particles, less than 2.5 micrometers in
diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and
bloodstream, causing severe health problems such as
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
•
Country-Specific Impact:
China and India: The two most populous countries, China
and India, together account for more than half of the
global deaths due to PM2.5 pollution.
REPORTS & INDICES
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
World Investment Report, 2024
The World Investment Report 2024
has recently been released by
the UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD).
Key Highlights
•
Envir
The global environment for
international investment remains
challenging in 2024. Weakening
growth prospects, economic
fracturing trends, trade and
geopolitical tensions, industrial policies and supply chain
diversification are reshaping FDI patterns, causing some
multinational enterprises (MNEs) to adopt a cautious
approach to overseas expansion.
•
International project finance and cross-border mergers and
acquisitions (M&As) were especially weak in 2023 mergers and acquisitions, which mostly affect FDI in developed countries, fell by 46 percent in value.
•
Greenfield Investment Projects: Project numbers increased by
2 percent, growth was concentrated in developing countries, where the number of projects was up by 15 percent.
•
FDI in developing Asia fell by 8 percent. China, the second
largest FDI recipient in the world, saw a rare decline in inflows. Sizeable declines were recorded in India and in West and Central Asia.
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2024
The 2024 Global Multidimensional
Poverty Index, is published with the
theme of Poverty Amid Conflict.
Key Findings
•
Acr
billion people, 1.1 billion people (18.3 percent) live in acute multidimensional poverty.
•
Poor people live in rural areas: 962
million (83.7 percent) live in rural areas.
Around 70.7 percent of all poor people live in rural areas
of Sub- Saharan Africa (463 million) and South Asia (350
million).
• The five countries with the largest number of people living in
poverty are India (234 million), Pakistan (93 million), Ethiopia
(86 million), Nigeria (74 million) and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (66 million).
Together, these five countries account for nearly half
(48.1 percent) of the 1.1 billion poor people.
• Approximately 584 million people under 18 are living in
extreme poverty, making up 27.9% of all children globally, compared to 13.5% of adults.
•
Poverty in conflicted regions: The report noted that 2023
witnessed more conflicts than at any time since World War II causing displacement of over 117 million people.
•
Nearly 40% of the 1.1 billion people live in poverty,
approximately 455 million, are situated in countries experiencing conflict.
About G
• Global Multidimensional Poverty Index is published
annually by the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative.
•
The index utilizes 10 indicators across these three
dimensions.
• If a household is deprived in one-third or more of these
indicators, it is considered multidimensionally poor.
State of Global Air Report, 2024
As per the State of Global Air Report
2024, Air pollution has caused 8.1
million deaths around the world in
2021.
Key Highlights of the Report:
•
Dea
Pollution:
High Mortality Rate: Air
pollution is a critical global
health issue, with over 90
percent of related deaths—totaling 7.8 million people—
attributed to fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.
Types of PM2.5 Pollution: PM2.5 pollution includes both
ambient (outdoor) air pollution and household air pollution.
These tiny particles, less than 2.5 micrometers in
diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and
bloodstream, causing severe health problems such as
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
•
Country-Specific Impact:
China and India: The two most populous countries, China
and India, together account for more than half of the
global deaths due to PM2.5 pollution.
REPORTS & INDICES
100ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
C Air pollution in China leads to approximately
2.3 million deaths annually. Rapid industrialization,
urbanization, and coal usage are significant contributors
to the high levels of air pollution.
India: In India, around 2.1 million deaths each year are
attributed to PM2.5 pollution. Factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and burning of biomass for cooking contribute to the high pollution levels.
•
Impact on Children:
Risk Factor for Children: Air pollution poses a significant
risk to children, especially those under the age of 5. In 2021, it was the second leading cause of death for this age group, only behind malnutrition.
Exposure to air pollution can lead to severe respiratory
infections, impaired lung development, and other critical health issues in young children.
•
Ozone Exposure:
Ozone-Related Deaths: In addition to PM2.5, ozone
pollution is a serious health hazard.
The report states that in 2021, 489,000 deaths globally
were attributable to ozone exposure.
Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, can
cause respiratory problems, exacerbate asthma, and reduce lung function.
•
Global Prevalence of PM2.5 Pollution:
A staggering 99% of the world’s population lives in
areas where PM2.5 levels exceed the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines.
This widespread exposure means that almost
everyone on the planet is breathing air that is detrimental to their
SIPRI Annual Report, 2024
Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) yearbook
2024 has been published by Oxford
University Press.
Major Findings
•
Nuclear Arsenal: In 2024, nine
states—the United States, the
Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom, France, China, India,
Pakistan, the North Korea and
Israel—together possessed
approximately 12121 nuclear weapons, of which 9585 were
considered to be potentially operationally available.
• Decline in Nuclear Warheads: The number of nuclear warheads
in the world continues to decline.
However, this is only due to the USA and Russia
dismantling retired warheads.
• Operational Warheads: Global reductions of operational
warheads appear to have stalled, and their numbers are
rising again.
The USA and Russia, which together possess almost
90 percent of all nuclear weapons, have extensive
programmes under way to replace and modernize their
nuclear warheads.
•
China is in the middle of a significant modernization and
expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
China has tripled the number with 500 warheads, some
of which are believed to be on high operational alert for
the first time.
Some projections suggest that China could potentially
deploy at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as either Russia or the USA in near future.
•
India and Pakistan also appear to be increasing the size
of their nuclear weapon inventories, and the UK plans to increase its stockpile.
•
North Korea’s military nuclear programme remains central to
its national security strategy and it may have assembled up to 50 nuclear weapons and could produce more.
•
Israel continues to maintain its long-standing policy of
nuclear ambiguity, leaving significant uncertainty about the number of its nuclear weapons.
About SIPRI
• SIPRI is an independent international
institute dedicated to research into
conflict, armaments, arms control and
disarmament. It is based in Stockholm.
•
It was established in 1966, SIPRI provides data,
analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.
•
Funding: It was established on the basis of a decision
by the Swedish Parliament and receives a substantial part of its funding in the form of an annual grant from the Swedish Government.
•
The Institute also seeks financial support from other
organizations in order to carry out its research.
REPORTS & INDICES
C Air pollution in China leads to approximately
2.3 million deaths annually. Rapid industrialization,
urbanization, and coal usage are significant contributors
to the high levels of air pollution.
India: In India, around 2.1 million deaths each year are
attributed to PM2.5 pollution. Factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and burning of biomass for cooking contribute to the high pollution levels.
•
Impact on Children:
Risk Factor for Children: Air pollution poses a significant
risk to children, especially those under the age of 5. In 2021, it was the second leading cause of death for this age group, only behind malnutrition.
Exposure to air pollution can lead to severe respiratory
infections, impaired lung development, and other critical health issues in young children.
•
Ozone Exposure:
Ozone-Related Deaths: In addition to PM2.5, ozone
pollution is a serious health hazard.
The report states that in 2021, 489,000 deaths globally
were attributable to ozone exposure.
Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, can
cause respiratory problems, exacerbate asthma, and reduce lung function.
•
Global Prevalence of PM2.5 Pollution:
A staggering 99% of the world’s population lives in
areas where PM2.5 levels exceed the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines.
This widespread exposure means that almost
everyone on the planet is breathing air that is detrimental to their
SIPRI Annual Report, 2024
Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) yearbook
2024 has been published by Oxford
University Press.
Major Findings
•
Nuclear Arsenal: In 2024, nine
states—the United States, the
Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom, France, China, India,
Pakistan, the North Korea and
Israel—together possessed
approximately 12121 nuclear weapons, of which 9585 were
considered to be potentially operationally available.
• Decline in Nuclear Warheads: The number of nuclear warheads
in the world continues to decline.
However, this is only due to the USA and Russia
dismantling retired warheads.
• Operational Warheads: Global reductions of operational
warheads appear to have stalled, and their numbers are
rising again.
The USA and Russia, which together possess almost
90 percent of all nuclear weapons, have extensive
programmes under way to replace and modernize their
nuclear warheads.
•
China is in the middle of a significant modernization and
expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
China has tripled the number with 500 warheads, some
of which are believed to be on high operational alert for
the first time.
Some projections suggest that China could potentially
deploy at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as either Russia or the USA in near future.
•
India and Pakistan also appear to be increasing the size
of their nuclear weapon inventories, and the UK plans to increase its stockpile.
•
North Korea’s military nuclear programme remains central to
its national security strategy and it may have assembled up to 50 nuclear weapons and could produce more.
•
Israel continues to maintain its long-standing policy of
nuclear ambiguity, leaving significant uncertainty about the number of its nuclear weapons.
About SIPRI
• SIPRI is an independent international
institute dedicated to research into
conflict, armaments, arms control and
disarmament. It is based in Stockholm.
•
It was established in 1966, SIPRI provides data,
analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.
•
Funding: It was established on the basis of a decision
by the Swedish Parliament and receives a substantial part of its funding in the form of an annual grant from the Swedish Government.
•
The Institute also seeks financial support from other
organizations in order to carry out its research.
REPORTS & INDICES
101Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, developed by ISRO, marks a significant step in advancing India’s space
exploration capabilities.
ISRO launched SpaDex Mission
Key Points:
•
SpaDeX is designed to test and demonstrate the technology required for docking two spacecraft in orbit.
• The mission involves two spacecraft – a “chaser” (SDX01) that will actively pursue and dock with a “target”
(SDX02) spacecraft.
• This makes India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to demonstrate space docking and
undocking capabilities.
• To demonstrate this capability, ISRO launched the experimental SpaDex mission on December 30, 2024.
Objectives:
•
To demonstrate the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
• To test technologies like inter-satellite power transfer and composite spacecraft control, which are
crucial for future robotic and human spaceflight missions.
• SpaDeX will utilize a low-impact androgynous docking system, enabling a safe and secure connection
between the two spacecraft.
• Advanced sensors, including a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS), will ensure precise and
controlled docking.
• An autonomous inter-satellite link will enable real-time communication and data sharing between the spacecraft.
Space Docking
•
Space
joining them together.
• This is a highly complex maneuver requiring precise navigation, automated control, and real-time adjustments.
• Benefits:
Enabling Heavy Space Missions: Large spacecraft cannot be launched in one go due to weight limitations.
Docking allows modular spacecraft assembly in orbit, similar to the International Space Station (ISS).
Critical for Future Human Spaceflight: Essential for transporting astronauts & supplies to India’s planned space station by 2035.
Key to India’s crewed lunar missions (by 2040) under Gaganyaan & future Moon missions.
Supports Lunar Sample Return Missions: Chandrayaan-4, India’s future mission to bring back lunar soil and rock samples, will
rely on docking technology.
Advancing In-Space Servicing & Robotics: Enables repairing, upgrading, and refueling satellites
in orbit without launching new ones.
India’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX)
•
Objec To demonstrate in-space docking, rendezvous, and undocking capabilities.
• Satellites Used:
SDX01 (Chaser Satellite): Actively approached and docked with the
target.
SDX02 (Target Satellite): Served as the docking module.
• Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C60
• Orbit: 470 km circular orbit
• Developed by: UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru, with support from other ISRO centers.
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, developed by ISRO, marks a significant step in advancing India’s space
exploration capabilities.
ISRO launched SpaDex Mission
Key Points:
•
SpaDeX is designed to test and demonstrate the technology required for docking two spacecraft in orbit.
• The mission involves two spacecraft – a “chaser” (SDX01) that will actively pursue and dock with a “target”
(SDX02) spacecraft.
• This makes India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to demonstrate space docking and
undocking capabilities.
• To demonstrate this capability, ISRO launched the experimental SpaDex mission on December 30, 2024.
Objectives:
•
To demonstrate the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
• To test technologies like inter-satellite power transfer and composite spacecraft control, which are
crucial for future robotic and human spaceflight missions.
• SpaDeX will utilize a low-impact androgynous docking system, enabling a safe and secure connection
between the two spacecraft.
• Advanced sensors, including a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS), will ensure precise and
controlled docking.
• An autonomous inter-satellite link will enable real-time communication and data sharing between the spacecraft.
Space Docking
•
Space
joining them together.
• This is a highly complex maneuver requiring precise navigation, automated control, and real-time adjustments.
• Benefits:
Enabling Heavy Space Missions: Large spacecraft cannot be launched in one go due to weight limitations.
Docking allows modular spacecraft assembly in orbit, similar to the International Space Station (ISS).
Critical for Future Human Spaceflight: Essential for transporting astronauts & supplies to India’s planned space station by 2035.
Key to India’s crewed lunar missions (by 2040) under Gaganyaan & future Moon missions.
Supports Lunar Sample Return Missions: Chandrayaan-4, India’s future mission to bring back lunar soil and rock samples, will
rely on docking technology.
Advancing In-Space Servicing & Robotics: Enables repairing, upgrading, and refueling satellites
in orbit without launching new ones.
India’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX)
•
Objec To demonstrate in-space docking, rendezvous, and undocking capabilities.
• Satellites Used:
SDX01 (Chaser Satellite): Actively approached and docked with the
target.
SDX02 (Target Satellite): Served as the docking module.
• Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C60
• Orbit: 470 km circular orbit
• Developed by: UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru, with support from other ISRO centers.
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
102ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Union Cabinet approved Shukrayaan
The Union Government has
approved ISRO’s Venus
Orbiting Satellite mission,
named Shukrayaan.
Key Facts
•
Launch Details:
Set to launch in March 2028.
Estimated cost of the mission is Rs 1,236 crore.
LVM-3 launch vehicle has been identified to place the
spacecraft in an Elliptical Parking Orbit (EPO)
• Objectives:
To Analyze the composition of Venus’s thick, carbon
dioxide-rich atmosphere.
To study the extreme greenhouse effect and its impact
on the planet’s climate.
To utilize advanced radar technology to map the planet’s
surface, revealing hidden geological features.
To explore the upper atmosphere of Venus, including
the ionosphere, to understand its interaction with solar radiation and the solar wind.
Venus
•
Venus is often called Earth’s Twin.
• Venus’s atmosphere is incredibly dense, composed primarily
of carbon dioxide. This dense atmosphere traps heat from the Sun, creating a runaway greenhouse effect.
•
Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system and is named
after the goddess of love.
• Venus rotates on its axis in the opposite direction to most
other planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. This means that the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus.
•
Several space missions, including Mariner 2, Venera, and
Magellan, have studied Venus, providing valuable insights into its atmosphere, surface, and geology.
•
Future missions, such as NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI+,
aim to further explore Venus.
Starlink Satellite: SpaceX agreements with Jio
& Airtel
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX
has secured agreements with
Airtel and Jio to distribute
Starlink, its satellite internet
service.
Key point :
•
Satellite internet is a wireless communication technology
that provides broadband services using satellites orbiting
the Earth. Unlike fiber-optic or mobile networks, which rely on ground infrastructure, satellite internet beams data from space-based satellites to user terminals on Earth.
•
Types: Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Satellites (e.g., VSAT
services), Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb).
•
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet service that operates using
a constellation of LEO satellites (over 7,000 satellites in orbit).
NASA launched PUNCH Mission
NASA has launched the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) Mission, aligning with the solar maximum phase of the Sun’s cycle.
About S
• The
with north and south poles.
• This magnetic field is generated by the movement of
electrically charged particles within the Sun.
• Approximately every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field
completely flips, switching its north and south poles—a phenomenon known as the solar cycle.
About
S
• Solar
cycle, characterized by heightened solar activity.
• During this period, the Sun emits more energy, radiation,
and light and experiences an increased number of sunspots. The transition occurs when the Sun’s magnetic field undergoes a complete flip.
•
Solar Maximum lasts between one and two years. The time
between two solar maxima can vary from 9 to 13 years.
Impacts of Solar Maximum on Earth
• S The release
of magnetic energy leads to massive solar storms that send
bursts of radiation and particles into space.
Union Cabinet approved Shukrayaan
The Union Government has
approved ISRO’s Venus
Orbiting Satellite mission,
named Shukrayaan.
Key Facts
•
Launch Details:
Set to launch in March 2028.
Estimated cost of the mission is Rs 1,236 crore.
LVM-3 launch vehicle has been identified to place the
spacecraft in an Elliptical Parking Orbit (EPO)
• Objectives:
To Analyze the composition of Venus’s thick, carbon
dioxide-rich atmosphere.
To study the extreme greenhouse effect and its impact
on the planet’s climate.
To utilize advanced radar technology to map the planet’s
surface, revealing hidden geological features.
To explore the upper atmosphere of Venus, including
the ionosphere, to understand its interaction with solar radiation and the solar wind.
Venus
•
Venus is often called Earth’s Twin.
• Venus’s atmosphere is incredibly dense, composed primarily
of carbon dioxide. This dense atmosphere traps heat from the Sun, creating a runaway greenhouse effect.
•
Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system and is named
after the goddess of love.
• Venus rotates on its axis in the opposite direction to most
other planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. This means that the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus.
•
Several space missions, including Mariner 2, Venera, and
Magellan, have studied Venus, providing valuable insights into its atmosphere, surface, and geology.
•
Future missions, such as NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI+,
aim to further explore Venus.
Starlink Satellite: SpaceX agreements with Jio
& Airtel
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX
has secured agreements with
Airtel and Jio to distribute
Starlink, its satellite internet
service.
Key point :
•
Satellite internet is a wireless communication technology
that provides broadband services using satellites orbiting
the Earth. Unlike fiber-optic or mobile networks, which rely on ground infrastructure, satellite internet beams data from space-based satellites to user terminals on Earth.
•
Types: Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Satellites (e.g., VSAT
services), Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb).
•
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet service that operates using
a constellation of LEO satellites (over 7,000 satellites in orbit).
NASA launched PUNCH Mission
NASA has launched the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) Mission, aligning with the solar maximum phase of the Sun’s cycle.
About S
• The
with north and south poles.
• This magnetic field is generated by the movement of
electrically charged particles within the Sun.
• Approximately every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field
completely flips, switching its north and south poles—a phenomenon known as the solar cycle.
About
S
• Solar
cycle, characterized by heightened solar activity.
• During this period, the Sun emits more energy, radiation,
and light and experiences an increased number of sunspots. The transition occurs when the Sun’s magnetic field undergoes a complete flip.
•
Solar Maximum lasts between one and two years. The time
between two solar maxima can vary from 9 to 13 years.
Impacts of Solar Maximum on Earth
• S The release
of magnetic energy leads to massive solar storms that send
bursts of radiation and particles into space.
103Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Damage to Power Grids: Intense geomagnetic storms can
disrupt electrical infrastructure, leading to power outages.
• Satellite Malfunctions: Increased solar radiation affects
satellite operations, potentially causing communication and
navigation failures.
About PUNCH Mission
• PUNCH is a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission to
better understand how the mass and energy of the
Sun’s corona become the solar wind that fills the solar
system.
•
The mission consists of a constellation of four small
satellites in Sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit that together will produce deep-field, continuous, 3D images of the solar corona.
Govt. to implemnet Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) toll system
The government is planning to implement a Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection system starting
April 2025.
About G
Collection System
•
GNSS-
to be implemented by April 2025,
aiming to replace the existing
FASTag system.
•
Vehicles with GNSS equipment will
be able to travel up to 20 km for free each day on national highways and expressways. Unlike the fixed tolls of the FASTag system, GNSS will charge based on the actual distance traveled.
•
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
has amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008 to incorporate GNSS-based toll collection, including the creation of dedicated GNSS lanes. Currently, both GNSS and FASTag systems will operate simultaneously, but over time, all lanes will transition to GNSS. Vehicles not equipped with GNSS that use these lanes will face double the toll as a penalty.
•
GNSS lanes will allow vehicles to pass through tolls
without stopping, reducing congestion at toll plazas. To use GNSS, vehicles will need a special on-board unit (OBU), which may eventually come factory-installed in new vehicles.
Union Cabinet approved Bharatiya Antariksh
Station (BAS)
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has approved the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya
Antariksh Station (BAS) by extending the scope of Gaganyaan
program.
Key Highlights
•
The
2035 the fully operational indigenous space station will be
created.
• The BAS will be placed in low earth orbit, at 400 km above
the earth’s surface.
• The revised Gaganyaan Programme to include the scope of
development and precursor missions for BAS, and factoring one additional uncrewed mission and additional hardware requirement for the developments of ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Now the human spaceflight program of technology development and demonstration is through eight missions to be completed by December 2028 by launching the first unit of BAS-1.
•
The 52-tonne space station will serve as a research platform
for Indian astronauts and scientists to conduct experiments in microgravity, astronomy and Earth observation, and will allow astronauts to stay in orbit for 15-20 days.
C
operational space stations – the
International Space Station (ISS),
developed in cooperation by the
United States, Russia, Japan, Europe
& Canada; and China’s Tiangong
Space Station (TSS)
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Damage to Power Grids: Intense geomagnetic storms can
disrupt electrical infrastructure, leading to power outages.
• Satellite Malfunctions: Increased solar radiation affects
satellite operations, potentially causing communication and
navigation failures.
About PUNCH Mission
• PUNCH is a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission to
better understand how the mass and energy of the
Sun’s corona become the solar wind that fills the solar
system.
•
The mission consists of a constellation of four small
satellites in Sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit that together will produce deep-field, continuous, 3D images of the solar corona.
Govt. to implemnet Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) toll system
The government is planning to implement a Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection system starting
April 2025.
About G
Collection System
•
GNSS-
to be implemented by April 2025,
aiming to replace the existing
FASTag system.
•
Vehicles with GNSS equipment will
be able to travel up to 20 km for free each day on national highways and expressways. Unlike the fixed tolls of the FASTag system, GNSS will charge based on the actual distance traveled.
•
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
has amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008 to incorporate GNSS-based toll collection, including the creation of dedicated GNSS lanes. Currently, both GNSS and FASTag systems will operate simultaneously, but over time, all lanes will transition to GNSS. Vehicles not equipped with GNSS that use these lanes will face double the toll as a penalty.
•
GNSS lanes will allow vehicles to pass through tolls
without stopping, reducing congestion at toll plazas. To use GNSS, vehicles will need a special on-board unit (OBU), which may eventually come factory-installed in new vehicles.
Union Cabinet approved Bharatiya Antariksh
Station (BAS)
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has approved the building of the first unit of the Bharatiya
Antariksh Station (BAS) by extending the scope of Gaganyaan
program.
Key Highlights
•
The
2035 the fully operational indigenous space station will be
created.
• The BAS will be placed in low earth orbit, at 400 km above
the earth’s surface.
• The revised Gaganyaan Programme to include the scope of
development and precursor missions for BAS, and factoring one additional uncrewed mission and additional hardware requirement for the developments of ongoing Gaganyaan Programme. Now the human spaceflight program of technology development and demonstration is through eight missions to be completed by December 2028 by launching the first unit of BAS-1.
•
The 52-tonne space station will serve as a research platform
for Indian astronauts and scientists to conduct experiments in microgravity, astronomy and Earth observation, and will allow astronauts to stay in orbit for 15-20 days.
C
operational space stations – the
International Space Station (ISS),
developed in cooperation by the
United States, Russia, Japan, Europe
& Canada; and China’s Tiangong
Space Station (TSS)
104ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
India to launch Deep Sea Mission
The Government of India is preparing to
send a human into the deep sea as part
of its ambitious ‘Deep Sea Mission,’
aligned with the country’s first
human space mission scheduled
for early 2026.
•
DOM is implemented by the
Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES) and was approved in
2021 at a cost of nearly Rs 4,077
crore over a five-year period in a
phased manner.
•
The mission has six pillars:
Development of technologies for deep-sea mining and a
manned submersible to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean;
Development of ocean climate change advisory services,
involving an array of ocean observations and models to understand and provide future climate projections;
Technological innovations for the exploration and
conservation of deep-sea biodiversity;
Deep-ocean survey and exploration aimed at identifying
potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges;
Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean; and
Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean
Biology, as a hub for nurturing talent and driving new opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.
Matsya6000
•
The
submersible that aims to reach the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 m.
•
Accompanied by three crew members, called “aquanauts”, the
submersible carries a suite of scientific tools and equipment designed to facilitate observations, sample collection, basic video and audio recording, and experimentation.
•
Matsya6000 combines the best and most feasible features
of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote vehicles (AUVs).
DeepSeek : A Breakthorough AI Model
China has developed DeepSeek AI models, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1.
•
DeepSeek is the name of a free AI-powered chatbot,
developed by the Chinese AI company founded by
entrepreneur Liang Wenfeng.
• This
landscape, performing on par with ChatGPT and other leading AI systems.
•
How is it Different?
It was built at a fraction of the cost
of industry-leading models like OpenAI – because it uses fewer advanced chips.
Its base m odel DeepSeek-R1
appears to have been trained via accurate sources while introducing a layer of censorship.
It surpasses models developed by tech giants
Google, Meta, and Anthropic in terms of overall quality.
DeepSeek is also faster than GPT 4, more practical and,
according to many experts, even understands regional idioms and cultural contexts better than its Western counterparts.
About Lar
• A
to understand and generate human language.
• These models are built on deep learning techniques
allowing them to process and generate text in a coherent, contextually appropriate manner.
•
LLMs are used for various tasks, including text
generation, language translation, and summarization.
IndiaAI Mission
The Indian government has decided to build a domestic large language model of its own as part of the Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission.
Key Highlights
• It
India’s unique culture, languages, and needs.
• The foundational model could take anywhere between 4-8
months.
• The government’s AI compute facility would be “the most
affordable” in the world.
Infrastructure:
•
The government has selected 10 companies that will supply
18,693 graphics processing units or GPUs.
• GPUs are high end chips needed to develop machine learning
tools that can go into developing a foundational model. GPUs have become essential for more complex tasks, such as large- scale data processing and cryptocurrency mining.
India to launch Deep Sea Mission
The Government of India is preparing to
send a human into the deep sea as part
of its ambitious ‘Deep Sea Mission,’
aligned with the country’s first
human space mission scheduled
for early 2026.
•
DOM is implemented by the
Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES) and was approved in
2021 at a cost of nearly Rs 4,077
crore over a five-year period in a
phased manner.
•
The mission has six pillars:
Development of technologies for deep-sea mining and a
manned submersible to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean;
Development of ocean climate change advisory services,
involving an array of ocean observations and models to understand and provide future climate projections;
Technological innovations for the exploration and
conservation of deep-sea biodiversity;
Deep-ocean survey and exploration aimed at identifying
potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges;
Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean; and
Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean
Biology, as a hub for nurturing talent and driving new opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.
Matsya6000
•
The
submersible that aims to reach the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 m.
•
Accompanied by three crew members, called “aquanauts”, the
submersible carries a suite of scientific tools and equipment designed to facilitate observations, sample collection, basic video and audio recording, and experimentation.
•
Matsya6000 combines the best and most feasible features
of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote vehicles (AUVs).
DeepSeek : A Breakthorough AI Model
China has developed DeepSeek AI models, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1.
•
DeepSeek is the name of a free AI-powered chatbot,
developed by the Chinese AI company founded by
entrepreneur Liang Wenfeng.
• This
landscape, performing on par with ChatGPT and other leading AI systems.
•
How is it Different?
It was built at a fraction of the cost
of industry-leading models like OpenAI – because it uses fewer advanced chips.
Its base m odel DeepSeek-R1
appears to have been trained via accurate sources while introducing a layer of censorship.
It surpasses models developed by tech giants
Google, Meta, and Anthropic in terms of overall quality.
DeepSeek is also faster than GPT 4, more practical and,
according to many experts, even understands regional idioms and cultural contexts better than its Western counterparts.
About Lar
• A
to understand and generate human language.
• These models are built on deep learning techniques
allowing them to process and generate text in a coherent, contextually appropriate manner.
•
LLMs are used for various tasks, including text
generation, language translation, and summarization.
IndiaAI Mission
The Indian government has decided to build a domestic large language model of its own as part of the Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission.
Key Highlights
• It
India’s unique culture, languages, and needs.
• The foundational model could take anywhere between 4-8
months.
• The government’s AI compute facility would be “the most
affordable” in the world.
Infrastructure:
•
The government has selected 10 companies that will supply
18,693 graphics processing units or GPUs.
• GPUs are high end chips needed to develop machine learning
tools that can go into developing a foundational model. GPUs have become essential for more complex tasks, such as large- scale data processing and cryptocurrency mining.
105Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The project also includes plans for AI data centres in Odisha.
• The idea is that institutions and researchers use GPUs and
bring in innovations.
Since these GPUs are available now, students and
researchers can make models on a large-scale instead
of working in an ad hoc manner.
About I
• Launched in March 2024, it is a comprehensive
initiative aimed at fostering AI research, development,
and innovation in India.
• Funding: 5-year public-private partnership model.
• Implementing Agency: ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business
Division under Digital India Corporation.
• Objectives: Strengthening public-private partnerships
to accelerate AI research & development.
Deployment of over 10,000 GPUs to enable high-
performance AI computing.
Establishing AI supercomputing facilities like
AIRAWAT at C-DAC, Pune.
Ensuring ethical AI practices, data transparency,
and accessibility.
• The launch of AIKosha, the AI Compute Portal, and other
IndiaAI initiatives marks a major step in democratizing
AI access, fostering research-driven innovation, and
strengthening India’s global AI leadership.
•
The event brought together government officials,
researchers, industry leaders, and startups, fostering collaboration to build an AI-powered future for India.
Shiv Shakti Point: 3.7 Billion years old
The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s
landing site, known as Shiv
Shakti point, is estimated to
be around 3.7 billion years
old. This age coincides with
the emergence of primitive
microbial life on Earth.
Age Estimation of the
Landing Site
•
Scientists from ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory
conducted a detailed analysis of the landing site.
• They used high-resolution imaging techniques to study the
crater and rock distribution.
• The age of the region was established by examining 25
craters, revealing an age of approximately 3.7 billion years.
• This was corroborated by studying additional craters in the vicinity.
Geological Features of the Landing Site
• The Shiv Shakti point is characterised by diverse terrain
types. Researchers identified three distinct terrain types –
high-relief rugged terrain, high-relief smooth plains, and low-
relief smooth plains.
•
The landing site itself is situated in the low-relief smooth
plains, which were determined to be the oldest among the studied terrains.
•
The Pragyan rover’s exploration revealed a diverse range of
rock samples.
• Among the 5,764 rocks examined, 525 measured over 5
metres in length.
• Notably, the largest rocks were found near a fresh crater,
indicating that this area had experienced less space weathering.
•
This fresh crater, located 14 km south of the landing site,
provides vital information about the geological processes at play.
About C
• Chandrayaan-3 was India’s third lunar exploration
mission, launched by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO).
• The mission aimed to explore the moon’s surface,
particularly the south pole region.
• The Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover were key
components of this mission. They provided crucial data about the lunar surface and its geological history.
Reimei : World’s 1st Hybrid Quantum
Supercomputer
Engineers in Japan have successfully activated Reimei, the world’s first hybrid quantum supercomputer.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The project also includes plans for AI data centres in Odisha.
• The idea is that institutions and researchers use GPUs and
bring in innovations.
Since these GPUs are available now, students and
researchers can make models on a large-scale instead
of working in an ad hoc manner.
About I
• Launched in March 2024, it is a comprehensive
initiative aimed at fostering AI research, development,
and innovation in India.
• Funding: 5-year public-private partnership model.
• Implementing Agency: ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business
Division under Digital India Corporation.
• Objectives: Strengthening public-private partnerships
to accelerate AI research & development.
Deployment of over 10,000 GPUs to enable high-
performance AI computing.
Establishing AI supercomputing facilities like
AIRAWAT at C-DAC, Pune.
Ensuring ethical AI practices, data transparency,
and accessibility.
• The launch of AIKosha, the AI Compute Portal, and other
IndiaAI initiatives marks a major step in democratizing
AI access, fostering research-driven innovation, and
strengthening India’s global AI leadership.
•
The event brought together government officials,
researchers, industry leaders, and startups, fostering collaboration to build an AI-powered future for India.
Shiv Shakti Point: 3.7 Billion years old
The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s
landing site, known as Shiv
Shakti point, is estimated to
be around 3.7 billion years
old. This age coincides with
the emergence of primitive
microbial life on Earth.
Age Estimation of the
Landing Site
•
Scientists from ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory
conducted a detailed analysis of the landing site.
• They used high-resolution imaging techniques to study the
crater and rock distribution.
• The age of the region was established by examining 25
craters, revealing an age of approximately 3.7 billion years.
• This was corroborated by studying additional craters in the vicinity.
Geological Features of the Landing Site
• The Shiv Shakti point is characterised by diverse terrain
types. Researchers identified three distinct terrain types –
high-relief rugged terrain, high-relief smooth plains, and low-
relief smooth plains.
•
The landing site itself is situated in the low-relief smooth
plains, which were determined to be the oldest among the studied terrains.
•
The Pragyan rover’s exploration revealed a diverse range of
rock samples.
• Among the 5,764 rocks examined, 525 measured over 5
metres in length.
• Notably, the largest rocks were found near a fresh crater,
indicating that this area had experienced less space weathering.
•
This fresh crater, located 14 km south of the landing site,
provides vital information about the geological processes at play.
About C
• Chandrayaan-3 was India’s third lunar exploration
mission, launched by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO).
• The mission aimed to explore the moon’s surface,
particularly the south pole region.
• The Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover were key
components of this mission. They provided crucial data about the lunar surface and its geological history.
Reimei : World’s 1st Hybrid Quantum
Supercomputer
Engineers in Japan have successfully activated Reimei, the world’s first hybrid quantum supercomputer.
106ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Facts
• The 20-qubit quantum computer has been seamlessly
integrated into Fugaku, the world’s sixth-fastest
supercomputer, marking a significant milestone in high-
performance computing.
•
Unlike most quantum computers that rely on superconducting
qubits, Reimei utilizes trapped-ion qubits—a technology that isolates charged atoms (ions) in an electromagnetic ion trap and uses lasers to precisely manipulate their quantum states.
•
The integration of Reimei into Fugaku aims to tackle complex
calculations that traditional supercomputers struggle with, particularly in physics and chemistry research.
USA launched Stargate Project
The United States has launched a significant initiative under the “Stargate Project” to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Stargate
•
Stargate is a $500 billion initiative designed to establish a
comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States over the next four years.
It is a collaborative effort between OpenAI, SoftBank,
and Oracle, with an in-itial $100 billion investment.
• The project involves constructing massive data centers and
campuses across the country to support the development
and deployment of AI technologies at scale.
• Stargate is envisioned as a critical step toward re-
industrializing the United States and enhancing its technological capabilities.
Satish Dhawan Space Center: TLP to be
established
The Union Cabinet,
chaired by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, approved
the establishment of the
Third Launch Pad (TLP) at
the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre.
Key Facts
•
Launch Pad refers to a platform or area used to launch
rockets or other vehicles into space.
• Currently, India relies on two launch pads: First Launch Pad
(FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP).
• FLP has been operational for 30 years, supporting PSLV
and SSLV. SLP, operational for 20 years, primarily supports
GSLV and LVM3, and is preparing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
•
Third Launch Pad (TLP) will be designed to support Next
Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV), LVM3 vehicles with Semi-cryogenic stages, and scaled-up NGLV configurations.
•
It will involve significant industry participation and utilize
ISRO’s experience from earlier launch pad establishments. The facilities at the existing launch complex will be shared to maximize efficiency.
•
The project is targeted to be completed within 48 months (4 years).
• The total fund requirement is Rs. 3984.86 Crore for the
establishment of the TLP and associated facilities.
About S
• SDSC SHAR is located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,
on a spindle-shaped island between the Pulicat Lake and the Bay of Bengal.
•
It is the Spaceport of India, a leading centre of ISRO,
and provides world-class launch infrastructure for satellite and launch vehicle missions for national and international customers.
•
The centre, originally known as SHAR (Sriharikota
Range), was renamed in 2002 to honor Prof. Satish Dhawan, former ISRO Chairman.
•
SDSC SHAR became operational on October 9, 1971,
with the launch of ‘Rohini-125’, a small sounding rocket.
First Detailed Map of Moon’s South Pole
Researchers from Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL)
Ahmedabad, Panjab University
Chandigarh, and ISRO’s
Laboratory for Electro-Optics
Systems in Bengaluru created
the first detailed map of the
Moon’s south pole. They used
data from the Pragyan rover.
Key Facts
•
Chandrayaan-3‘s Vikram lander deployed the Pragyan rover
for a nine-day mission. The rover analysed the chemical composition of the lunar regolith.
•
This mission marked the first landing in a high-latitude polar
region, providing unique vital information about the moon’s geological history.
Key Facts
• The 20-qubit quantum computer has been seamlessly
integrated into Fugaku, the world’s sixth-fastest
supercomputer, marking a significant milestone in high-
performance computing.
•
Unlike most quantum computers that rely on superconducting
qubits, Reimei utilizes trapped-ion qubits—a technology that isolates charged atoms (ions) in an electromagnetic ion trap and uses lasers to precisely manipulate their quantum states.
•
The integration of Reimei into Fugaku aims to tackle complex
calculations that traditional supercomputers struggle with, particularly in physics and chemistry research.
USA launched Stargate Project
The United States has launched a significant initiative under the “Stargate Project” to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Stargate
•
Stargate is a $500 billion initiative designed to establish a
comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States over the next four years.
It is a collaborative effort between OpenAI, SoftBank,
and Oracle, with an in-itial $100 billion investment.
• The project involves constructing massive data centers and
campuses across the country to support the development
and deployment of AI technologies at scale.
• Stargate is envisioned as a critical step toward re-
industrializing the United States and enhancing its technological capabilities.
Satish Dhawan Space Center: TLP to be
established
The Union Cabinet,
chaired by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, approved
the establishment of the
Third Launch Pad (TLP) at
the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre.
Key Facts
•
Launch Pad refers to a platform or area used to launch
rockets or other vehicles into space.
• Currently, India relies on two launch pads: First Launch Pad
(FLP) and Second Launch Pad (SLP).
• FLP has been operational for 30 years, supporting PSLV
and SSLV. SLP, operational for 20 years, primarily supports
GSLV and LVM3, and is preparing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
•
Third Launch Pad (TLP) will be designed to support Next
Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV), LVM3 vehicles with Semi-cryogenic stages, and scaled-up NGLV configurations.
•
It will involve significant industry participation and utilize
ISRO’s experience from earlier launch pad establishments. The facilities at the existing launch complex will be shared to maximize efficiency.
•
The project is targeted to be completed within 48 months (4 years).
• The total fund requirement is Rs. 3984.86 Crore for the
establishment of the TLP and associated facilities.
About S
• SDSC SHAR is located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,
on a spindle-shaped island between the Pulicat Lake and the Bay of Bengal.
•
It is the Spaceport of India, a leading centre of ISRO,
and provides world-class launch infrastructure for satellite and launch vehicle missions for national and international customers.
•
The centre, originally known as SHAR (Sriharikota
Range), was renamed in 2002 to honor Prof. Satish Dhawan, former ISRO Chairman.
•
SDSC SHAR became operational on October 9, 1971,
with the launch of ‘Rohini-125’, a small sounding rocket.
First Detailed Map of Moon’s South Pole
Researchers from Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL)
Ahmedabad, Panjab University
Chandigarh, and ISRO’s
Laboratory for Electro-Optics
Systems in Bengaluru created
the first detailed map of the
Moon’s south pole. They used
data from the Pragyan rover.
Key Facts
•
Chandrayaan-3‘s Vikram lander deployed the Pragyan rover
for a nine-day mission. The rover analysed the chemical composition of the lunar regolith.
•
This mission marked the first landing in a high-latitude polar
region, providing unique vital information about the moon’s geological history.
107Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Data collected by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
confirmed the presence of primordial magma beneath the
lunar surface. This discovery supports earlier theories about
an underground ocean of molten rock. Previous missions
had indicated magma’s existence but lacked detailed data
from polar regions.
•
The new geological map reveals a landscape of highlands
and flat plains. Researchers traced secondary craters to determine the primary impact source, Schomberger.
•
The region’s age is estimated at around 3.7 billion years,
coinciding with early microbial life on Earth. This suggests parallel evolutionary paths for both Earth and the moon.
LingoSat : World's first wooden satellite
Japan recently launched LingoSat, a
wooden satellite, that marks milestone
in space exploration.
Key Highlights
•
This unique wooden satellite is the
first of its kind to be sent into Earth’s
orbit. It was delivered by the International
Space Station, diverging from traditional
rocket launches.
•
Built as a collaborative effort between Kyoto University and
Sumitomo Forestry in Japan, LingoSat aims to assess the viability of wood as a material for satellites.
•
The primary aim of LingoSat is to evaluate how wood behaves
in the harsh conditions of space. Its sensors will monitor the wood’s reaction to extreme temperature fluctuations and radiation exposure.
•
The satellite will orbit Earth for six months, providing valuable
data on wood’s durability and performance in space.
Construction and Design
•
LingoSat measures
just
10 cm and weighs
900 grams. It is crafted
from Honeki Magnolia
wood panels.
•
The construction
process utilised a traditional Japanese wood joinery method, eliminating the need for metal screws or adhesives. This innovative design enhances the satellite’s environmental credentials.
India’s First Hyperloop Test Track completed
IIT Madras has completed a 410-meter Hyperloop test track,
marking a milestone in futuristic transportation. The Mumbai-
Pune corridor will be the first full-scale Hyperloop project in
India.
Key Features:
•
Hyper
operational speed of around 360 km/h.
• It operates within a vacuum-sealed environment, minimizing
resistance and energy consumption.
• It provides direct, point-to-point travel without intermediate stops.
• Due to reduced air resistance and friction, Hyperloop
systems are expected to be highly energy-efficient.
• Hyperloop could drastically reduce travel times between
cities, making long-distance commutes more feasible.
About H
A Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system where pods, functioning as pressurized vehicles, move at extraordinary speeds through low-pressure tubes.
Nano Bubble Technology launched for water
purification
Union Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change
launched Nano Bubble Technology at the National Zoological
Park, Delhi, offering a groundbreaking approach to water
purification.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• Data collected by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
confirmed the presence of primordial magma beneath the
lunar surface. This discovery supports earlier theories about
an underground ocean of molten rock. Previous missions
had indicated magma’s existence but lacked detailed data
from polar regions.
•
The new geological map reveals a landscape of highlands
and flat plains. Researchers traced secondary craters to determine the primary impact source, Schomberger.
•
The region’s age is estimated at around 3.7 billion years,
coinciding with early microbial life on Earth. This suggests parallel evolutionary paths for both Earth and the moon.
LingoSat : World's first wooden satellite
Japan recently launched LingoSat, a
wooden satellite, that marks milestone
in space exploration.
Key Highlights
•
This unique wooden satellite is the
first of its kind to be sent into Earth’s
orbit. It was delivered by the International
Space Station, diverging from traditional
rocket launches.
•
Built as a collaborative effort between Kyoto University and
Sumitomo Forestry in Japan, LingoSat aims to assess the viability of wood as a material for satellites.
•
The primary aim of LingoSat is to evaluate how wood behaves
in the harsh conditions of space. Its sensors will monitor the wood’s reaction to extreme temperature fluctuations and radiation exposure.
•
The satellite will orbit Earth for six months, providing valuable
data on wood’s durability and performance in space.
Construction and Design
•
LingoSat measures
just
10 cm and weighs
900 grams. It is crafted
from Honeki Magnolia
wood panels.
•
The construction
process utilised a traditional Japanese wood joinery method, eliminating the need for metal screws or adhesives. This innovative design enhances the satellite’s environmental credentials.
India’s First Hyperloop Test Track completed
IIT Madras has completed a 410-meter Hyperloop test track,
marking a milestone in futuristic transportation. The Mumbai-
Pune corridor will be the first full-scale Hyperloop project in
India.
Key Features:
•
Hyper
operational speed of around 360 km/h.
• It operates within a vacuum-sealed environment, minimizing
resistance and energy consumption.
• It provides direct, point-to-point travel without intermediate stops.
• Due to reduced air resistance and friction, Hyperloop
systems are expected to be highly energy-efficient.
• Hyperloop could drastically reduce travel times between
cities, making long-distance commutes more feasible.
About H
A Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system where pods, functioning as pressurized vehicles, move at extraordinary speeds through low-pressure tubes.
Nano Bubble Technology launched for water
purification
Union Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change
launched Nano Bubble Technology at the National Zoological
Park, Delhi, offering a groundbreaking approach to water
purification.
108ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
About Nano Bubble Technology
• It
by using incredibly tiny bubbles, called nanobubbles.
These bubbles are so small (less than 200 nanometers
in diameter) that they are invisible to the naked eye.
•
Unlike regular bubbles that rise to the surface and
pop, nanobubbles remain suspended in the water for a long time. This allows them to interact with pollutants and break them down.
•
Nanobubbles have a strong negative charge, which
helps them attract and break down impurities in the water. They can remove algae, organic waste, and even oil and grease.
•
Nanobubbles can also increase the amount of oxygen
dissolved in the water.
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) launched
The Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS) has
developed a newer version of its own
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT).
Key Facts about SARAT
•
SARAT was first launched in 2016.
• SARAT 2.0 improves accuracy and usability
based on feedback from extensive Coast Guard operations.
• Significance:
Enhances efficiency in search and rescue operations.
Supports the Coast Guard and other agencies in saving
lives by reducing search areas.
Incorporates feedback from real-life operations for
improved reliability.
About INC
• INCOIS operates as an autonom ous organization
under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in India.
• It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It monitors the Indian Ocean using a network of buoys,
tide gauges, and satellites. This data is used to provide
a range of oceanographic information and forecasts.
Nafithromycin: India’s first indigenous
antibiotic launched
India has launched Nafithromycin, the
country’s first indigenously developed
antibiotic targeting antimicrobial
resistance (AMR).
Key highlights:
• It is Developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and brought to market
by Wockhardt under the name Miqnaf.
• The development of Nafithromycin took 14 years of research
and an investment of ₹500 crore, with clinical trials conducted in the U.S., Europe, and India.
•
It is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial
Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and immune-compromised patients.
•
The antibiotic is ten times more effective than azithromycin,
with a three-day treatment regimen that is safer, faster, and better tolerated by patients.
•
Nafithromycin is the first new antibiotic in its class to be
developed globally in over 30 years and is poised to tackle the global AMR crisis.
Willow: Google launched Quantum Processor
Google launched its latest
quantum processor named
‘Willow,’ which created
significant achievement in the
potential of quantum computers
to tackle practical problems.
Key Facts
•
Willow has 105 physical
qubits and operates at extremely low temperatures.
• It boasts better error correction and faster performance than
other quantum computers.
• It can operate at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15°
C) for maximum stability.
• The coherence time of Willow’s data qubits is about 100
microseconds, improved by error correction protocols.
• Willow’s architecture allows for lower error rates with more
qubits.
• Google tested Willow using Random Circuit Sampling (RCS),
a computationally hard task, which Willow completed in a few minutes, outperforming classical computers by a massive margin.
Ministry of Science and Technology launched
Operation Dronagiri
Recently, Operation Dronagiri was launched by the Ministry of
Science and Technology.
About Nano Bubble Technology
• It
by using incredibly tiny bubbles, called nanobubbles.
These bubbles are so small (less than 200 nanometers
in diameter) that they are invisible to the naked eye.
•
Unlike regular bubbles that rise to the surface and
pop, nanobubbles remain suspended in the water for a long time. This allows them to interact with pollutants and break them down.
•
Nanobubbles have a strong negative charge, which
helps them attract and break down impurities in the water. They can remove algae, organic waste, and even oil and grease.
•
Nanobubbles can also increase the amount of oxygen
dissolved in the water.
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) launched
The Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS) has
developed a newer version of its own
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT).
Key Facts about SARAT
•
SARAT was first launched in 2016.
• SARAT 2.0 improves accuracy and usability
based on feedback from extensive Coast Guard operations.
• Significance:
Enhances efficiency in search and rescue operations.
Supports the Coast Guard and other agencies in saving
lives by reducing search areas.
Incorporates feedback from real-life operations for
improved reliability.
About INC
• INCOIS operates as an autonom ous organization
under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in India.
• It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It monitors the Indian Ocean using a network of buoys,
tide gauges, and satellites. This data is used to provide
a range of oceanographic information and forecasts.
Nafithromycin: India’s first indigenous
antibiotic launched
India has launched Nafithromycin, the
country’s first indigenously developed
antibiotic targeting antimicrobial
resistance (AMR).
Key highlights:
• It is Developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and brought to market
by Wockhardt under the name Miqnaf.
• The development of Nafithromycin took 14 years of research
and an investment of ₹500 crore, with clinical trials conducted in the U.S., Europe, and India.
•
It is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial
Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and immune-compromised patients.
•
The antibiotic is ten times more effective than azithromycin,
with a three-day treatment regimen that is safer, faster, and better tolerated by patients.
•
Nafithromycin is the first new antibiotic in its class to be
developed globally in over 30 years and is poised to tackle the global AMR crisis.
Willow: Google launched Quantum Processor
Google launched its latest
quantum processor named
‘Willow,’ which created
significant achievement in the
potential of quantum computers
to tackle practical problems.
Key Facts
•
Willow has 105 physical
qubits and operates at extremely low temperatures.
• It boasts better error correction and faster performance than
other quantum computers.
• It can operate at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15°
C) for maximum stability.
• The coherence time of Willow’s data qubits is about 100
microseconds, improved by error correction protocols.
• Willow’s architecture allows for lower error rates with more
qubits.
• Google tested Willow using Random Circuit Sampling (RCS),
a computationally hard task, which Willow completed in a few minutes, outperforming classical computers by a massive margin.
Ministry of Science and Technology launched
Operation Dronagiri
Recently, Operation Dronagiri was launched by the Ministry of
Science and Technology.
109Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• Operation Dronagiri is a pilot project under National
Geospatial Policy 2022 to demonstrate the potential
applications of geospatial technologies and innovations in
improving the quality of life of citizens.
•
In the first phase, Operation Dronagiri will be implemented
in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Andhra
Pradesh & Maharashtra.
• The pilot projects will be demonstrated to showcase the
potential applications of integration of geospatial data and technology in 3 sectors –Agriculture, Livelihoods, Logistics and Transport.
Meningitis : Nigeria becomes first country to
develop vaccine
Nigeria has become the first country in the
world to introduce a new,
highly effective vaccine against
meningitis.
Key highlights:
•
M
inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and
spinal cord.
• It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites and
can lead to serious complications, including brain damage,
hearing loss and learning disabilities.
• Bacterial meningitis, specifically caused by the
meningococcus bacteria, is a particular concern in Africa. A region of 26 countries known as the “African meningitis belt” stretches across the continent, including Nigeria.
•
The vaccine, called Men5CV, is recommended by the World
Health Organization (WHO) and offers protection against five
strains of the meningococcus bacteria in a single shot.
World’s first CO₂ to Methanol Plant
inaugurated
At its Vindhyachal plant, NTPC
achieved the first-ever synthesis of
CO
2
(captured from flue gas) and
hydrogen (from a PEM electrolyzer)
into methanol.
Key Highlights
•
CO
2
is captured from industrial
sources like power plants or directly from the atmosphere.
• Renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, are
used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis of water.
• The captured CO
2
is combined with hydrogen in the
presence of a catalyst to produce methanol. This process typically occurs at high pressure and temperature.
Benefits of CO
2
-to-Methanol Conversion
•
It pr
2
, reducing its impact on the
atmosphere.
• Methanol can be used as a fuel for transportation, power
generation, or as a feedstock for chemicals.
• Methanol can be stored and transported more easily than
hydrogen, making it a potential energy storage solution and supporting a transition to hydrogen-based energy systems.
•
Methanol is widely used in producing chemicals, solvents,
and plastics, supporting diverse industrial applications.
About M
• M
alcohol, is the simplest alcohol. It’s a clear, colorless, and flammable liquid with a distinctive odor.
•
Key Properties: Colorless, Miscibility (mixes completely
with water), Toxic if ingested, Flammability.
Indian-named Structures in Indian Ocean
Three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean have been awarded names proposed by India. All three names were proposed by India and approved by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)and UNESCO’s IOC.
Key facts
• L The structures are located along the
Southwest Indian Ridge in the Indian Ocean.
Discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre
for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
Discovery occurred during an international survey
exploration programme.
• Names: Ashoka Seamount (named after rulers of the
Mauryan dynasty): Discovered in 2012 by the Russian vessel
Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, covering 180 sq km.
Chandragupt Ridge (named after rulers of the Mauryan
dynasty): Discovered in 2020 by the Indian vessel MGS
Sagar, covering 675 sq km.
Kalpataru Ridge (third structure.: Also discovered in 2012
by the same Russian vessel, covering 430 sq km.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Highlights
• Operation Dronagiri is a pilot project under National
Geospatial Policy 2022 to demonstrate the potential
applications of geospatial technologies and innovations in
improving the quality of life of citizens.
•
In the first phase, Operation Dronagiri will be implemented
in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Andhra
Pradesh & Maharashtra.
• The pilot projects will be demonstrated to showcase the
potential applications of integration of geospatial data and technology in 3 sectors –Agriculture, Livelihoods, Logistics and Transport.
Meningitis : Nigeria becomes first country to
develop vaccine
Nigeria has become the first country in the
world to introduce a new,
highly effective vaccine against
meningitis.
Key highlights:
•
M
inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and
spinal cord.
• It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites and
can lead to serious complications, including brain damage,
hearing loss and learning disabilities.
• Bacterial meningitis, specifically caused by the
meningococcus bacteria, is a particular concern in Africa. A region of 26 countries known as the “African meningitis belt” stretches across the continent, including Nigeria.
•
The vaccine, called Men5CV, is recommended by the World
Health Organization (WHO) and offers protection against five
strains of the meningococcus bacteria in a single shot.
World’s first CO₂ to Methanol Plant
inaugurated
At its Vindhyachal plant, NTPC
achieved the first-ever synthesis of
CO
2
(captured from flue gas) and
hydrogen (from a PEM electrolyzer)
into methanol.
Key Highlights
•
CO
2
is captured from industrial
sources like power plants or directly from the atmosphere.
• Renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, are
used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis of water.
• The captured CO
2
is combined with hydrogen in the
presence of a catalyst to produce methanol. This process typically occurs at high pressure and temperature.
Benefits of CO
2
-to-Methanol Conversion
•
It pr
2
, reducing its impact on the
atmosphere.
• Methanol can be used as a fuel for transportation, power
generation, or as a feedstock for chemicals.
• Methanol can be stored and transported more easily than
hydrogen, making it a potential energy storage solution and supporting a transition to hydrogen-based energy systems.
•
Methanol is widely used in producing chemicals, solvents,
and plastics, supporting diverse industrial applications.
About M
• M
alcohol, is the simplest alcohol. It’s a clear, colorless, and flammable liquid with a distinctive odor.
•
Key Properties: Colorless, Miscibility (mixes completely
with water), Toxic if ingested, Flammability.
Indian-named Structures in Indian Ocean
Three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean have been awarded names proposed by India. All three names were proposed by India and approved by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)and UNESCO’s IOC.
Key facts
• L The structures are located along the
Southwest Indian Ridge in the Indian Ocean.
Discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre
for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
Discovery occurred during an international survey
exploration programme.
• Names: Ashoka Seamount (named after rulers of the
Mauryan dynasty): Discovered in 2012 by the Russian vessel
Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, covering 180 sq km.
Chandragupt Ridge (named after rulers of the Mauryan
dynasty): Discovered in 2020 by the Indian vessel MGS
Sagar, covering 675 sq km.
Kalpataru Ridge (third structure.: Also discovered in 2012
by the same Russian vessel, covering 430 sq km.
110ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Srijan: IndiaAI and Meta launched the Center
for Generative AI
IndiaAI and Meta have launched the Center for Generative
AI, Srijan, at IIT Jodhpur, alongside the “YuvAI initiative” in
partnership with AICTE.
Center for Generative AI, Srijan
•
The GenAI CoE aims to advance research and development
in AI while fostering the growth of responsible and ethical AI technologies in India.
•
It will support and enhance open science innovation across
the AI technology landscape.
About Y
• M
with MeitY and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), launched the “YuvAi initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building”.
•
The program aims to bridge the AI talent gap in the
country by empowering 100,000 students and young developers aged 18-30 to leverage open-source large language models (LLMs) to address real-world challenges.
•
This will include:
The establishment of a Gen AI Resource Hub with
courses, case studies, and open datasets.
An LLM for Young Developers Course designed by
Meta.
Master Training Activation Workshops to introduce
participants to foundational AI concepts.
NASA launched Tanager-1 Satellite
NASA has recently launched the Tanager-1 satellite to track
methane emissions.
Key Facts
•
The satellite will use imaging spectrometer technology to
track methane and carbon dioxide emissions.
• It will do so by measuring hundreds of wavelengths of light
that are reflected by Earth’s surface.
Different compounds in the planet’s atmosphere —
including methane and carbon dioxide — absorb different
wavelengths of light, leaving spectral “fingerprints” that
the imaging spectrometer can identify.
These infrared fingerprints can enable researchers to
pinpoint and quantify strong greenhouse gas emissions.
NASA discovered Cheyava Falls on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover found a rock named Cheyava Falls on Mars.
About C
• Cheyava Falls measures 3.2 feet
by 2 feet (1 metre by 0.6 metres).
• It is named after a waterfall in the
Grand Canyon.
• It is situated at the northern edge
of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley that is 400 metres
wide, formed by ancient water flow into Jezero Crater. It
shows signs of organic material and evidence of past
water flow.
•
It contains organic compounds, which are the building
blocks of life, though these can also form through non- biological processes.
•
It has large white veins of calcium phosphate and reddish
bands of haematite.
Agnibaan–SOrTeD : World's first 3D printed
rocket engine
Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian Space
Technology start-up launched “Agnibaan –
SOrTeD,” the world’s first rocket powered
by a fully 3D-printed engine.
Key highlights
• I
India’s first privately built launchpad,
called “Dhanush.” The launch is not
only a big step forward in technology,
but it also makes India a leader in the
aerospace industry when it comes to
using new production methods like 3D printing.
•
Agnikul Cosmos’ use of 3D printing technology to make rocket
motors makes the manufacturing process a lot easier. This new idea cuts costs, shortens wait times, and makes the rocket more reliable and efficient. India has also developed and built a semi-cryogenic engine from scratch for the first time.
•
The launch also showed how well government organizations
like IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) could work together and help each other.
•
Developing “Agnibaan – SOrTeD” meant overcoming many
difficulties linked to putting the launch vehicle together and making it work.
Srijan: IndiaAI and Meta launched the Center
for Generative AI
IndiaAI and Meta have launched the Center for Generative
AI, Srijan, at IIT Jodhpur, alongside the “YuvAI initiative” in
partnership with AICTE.
Center for Generative AI, Srijan
•
The GenAI CoE aims to advance research and development
in AI while fostering the growth of responsible and ethical AI technologies in India.
•
It will support and enhance open science innovation across
the AI technology landscape.
About Y
• M
with MeitY and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), launched the “YuvAi initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building”.
•
The program aims to bridge the AI talent gap in the
country by empowering 100,000 students and young developers aged 18-30 to leverage open-source large language models (LLMs) to address real-world challenges.
•
This will include:
The establishment of a Gen AI Resource Hub with
courses, case studies, and open datasets.
An LLM for Young Developers Course designed by
Meta.
Master Training Activation Workshops to introduce
participants to foundational AI concepts.
NASA launched Tanager-1 Satellite
NASA has recently launched the Tanager-1 satellite to track
methane emissions.
Key Facts
•
The satellite will use imaging spectrometer technology to
track methane and carbon dioxide emissions.
• It will do so by measuring hundreds of wavelengths of light
that are reflected by Earth’s surface.
Different compounds in the planet’s atmosphere —
including methane and carbon dioxide — absorb different
wavelengths of light, leaving spectral “fingerprints” that
the imaging spectrometer can identify.
These infrared fingerprints can enable researchers to
pinpoint and quantify strong greenhouse gas emissions.
NASA discovered Cheyava Falls on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover found a rock named Cheyava Falls on Mars.
About C
• Cheyava Falls measures 3.2 feet
by 2 feet (1 metre by 0.6 metres).
• It is named after a waterfall in the
Grand Canyon.
• It is situated at the northern edge
of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley that is 400 metres
wide, formed by ancient water flow into Jezero Crater. It
shows signs of organic material and evidence of past
water flow.
•
It contains organic compounds, which are the building
blocks of life, though these can also form through non- biological processes.
•
It has large white veins of calcium phosphate and reddish
bands of haematite.
Agnibaan–SOrTeD : World's first 3D printed
rocket engine
Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian Space
Technology start-up launched “Agnibaan –
SOrTeD,” the world’s first rocket powered
by a fully 3D-printed engine.
Key highlights
• I
India’s first privately built launchpad,
called “Dhanush.” The launch is not
only a big step forward in technology,
but it also makes India a leader in the
aerospace industry when it comes to
using new production methods like 3D printing.
•
Agnikul Cosmos’ use of 3D printing technology to make rocket
motors makes the manufacturing process a lot easier. This new idea cuts costs, shortens wait times, and makes the rocket more reliable and efficient. India has also developed and built a semi-cryogenic engine from scratch for the first time.
•
The launch also showed how well government organizations
like IN-SPACe and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) could work together and help each other.
•
Developing “Agnibaan – SOrTeD” meant overcoming many
difficulties linked to putting the launch vehicle together and making it work.
111Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Chandrayaan-5 Mission
The Union Government
has approved the
Chandrayaan-5 mission to
study the Moon.
Chandrayaan Missions
•
C
Made chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geological maps of the Moon in
•
Chandrayaan-2 (2019):
Its lander crashed, but the orbiter sent hundreds of images of the Moon’s surface.
•
Chandrayaan-3 (2023): It was a follow-on mission to
Chandrayaan-2, to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It was able to have the Vikram lander successfully soft-land on the moon’s south pole region on August 23, 2023.
•
Chandrayaan-4 Mission: It is expected to be launched
in 2027. It will aim to collect samples of the lunar soil from the moon and bring the back to the earth for further study.
•
Chandrayaan-5 Collaboration with Japan: The mission
will be conducted in association with Japan. Unlike the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which carried a 25-kg rover, Chandrayaan-5 will carry a 250-kg rover to study the Moon’s surface.
ISRO’s 100th Launch
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its historic 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Key Highlights
•
GSLV F15 carried the NVS-02 navigation satellite placing
it into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
The NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS
series, and part of India’s Navigation with Indian
Constellation (NavIC).
It is designed to provide accurate positioning
services across India.
• GSLV-
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight with Indigenous Cryo stage.
•
Over these 100 launches ISRO has lifted 548 satellites to
orbit.
NavIC
•
It is a regional navigation
satellite system established by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
•
NavIC was erstwhile known
as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
•
NavIC is designed with a
constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24 x 7.
Three satellites of the
constellation are placed
in geostationary orbit
and four satellites are
placed in inclined
geosynchronous orbit.
•
The ground network consists of a control centre, precise
timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, two- way ranging stations, etc.
•
NavIC offers two services: Standard Position Service (SPS)
for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users.
It provides location accuracy better than 20 meters
and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds
across the core service area.
• The NavIC coverage area includes India and a region up
to 1,500 kmbeyond the Indian boundary.
NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other
global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals
namely GPS, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.
About G
• The
geostationary orbits, where they can maintain a fixed position relative to the Earth’s surface.
•
This is crucial for communication and weather
satellites that need to monitor specific areas continuously.
in News
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Chandrayaan-5 Mission
The Union Government
has approved the
Chandrayaan-5 mission to
study the Moon.
Chandrayaan Missions
•
C
Made chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geological maps of the Moon in
•
Chandrayaan-2 (2019):
Its lander crashed, but the orbiter sent hundreds of images of the Moon’s surface.
•
Chandrayaan-3 (2023): It was a follow-on mission to
Chandrayaan-2, to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It was able to have the Vikram lander successfully soft-land on the moon’s south pole region on August 23, 2023.
•
Chandrayaan-4 Mission: It is expected to be launched
in 2027. It will aim to collect samples of the lunar soil from the moon and bring the back to the earth for further study.
•
Chandrayaan-5 Collaboration with Japan: The mission
will be conducted in association with Japan. Unlike the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which carried a 25-kg rover, Chandrayaan-5 will carry a 250-kg rover to study the Moon’s surface.
ISRO’s 100th Launch
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its historic 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Key Highlights
•
GSLV F15 carried the NVS-02 navigation satellite placing
it into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
The NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS
series, and part of India’s Navigation with Indian
Constellation (NavIC).
It is designed to provide accurate positioning
services across India.
• GSLV-
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight with Indigenous Cryo stage.
•
Over these 100 launches ISRO has lifted 548 satellites to
orbit.
NavIC
•
It is a regional navigation
satellite system established by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
•
NavIC was erstwhile known
as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
•
NavIC is designed with a
constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24 x 7.
Three satellites of the
constellation are placed
in geostationary orbit
and four satellites are
placed in inclined
geosynchronous orbit.
•
The ground network consists of a control centre, precise
timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, two- way ranging stations, etc.
•
NavIC offers two services: Standard Position Service (SPS)
for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users.
It provides location accuracy better than 20 meters
and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds
across the core service area.
• The NavIC coverage area includes India and a region up
to 1,500 kmbeyond the Indian boundary.
NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other
global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals
namely GPS, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.
About G
• The
geostationary orbits, where they can maintain a fixed position relative to the Earth’s surface.
•
This is crucial for communication and weather
satellites that need to monitor specific areas continuously.
in News
112ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Chandrayaan-4
India will launch the Chandrayaan-4
mission to bring back samples of
moon rocks to the Earth in 2027.
Key Highlights
• C It was
launched in 2008 and was India’s first lunar mission. It made India the fifth country to reach the Moon.
The mission’s most significant discovery was the
presence of water molecules on the lunar surface,
a finding confirmed by NASA.
• Chandrayaan-2: It was launched in 2019 with an orbiter,
a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan).
The mission aimed to achieve a soft landing on the
lunar surface, but ISRO lost contact with the lander just before touchdown, resulting in a crash landing.
Despite this setback, the orbiter continued
functioning and provided crucial data on the Moon’s surface and atmosphere.
•
Chandrayaan-3: A follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2,
successfully achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023.
Lander payloads: Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature; Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site etc.
Rover payloads: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
(APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of landing site.
ISRO successfully sprouts cowpea seeds in
Space
The Indian
Space Research
Organisation
(ISRO)
announced
the successful
sprouting of
cowpea seeds in
space, marking a major milestone in agricultural research
beyond Earth.
Key Highlights
• The
Plant Studies) experiment, developed by the Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), successfully sprouted
cowpea seeds in just four days. This experiment aims to
understand plant growth in microgravity, crucial for future
long-duration space missions.
•
The setup involves growing eight seeds in a controlled,
closed-box environment with active thermal management.
• The experiment is fully automated and designed to last
between five to seven days, focusing on demonstrating seed germination and sustaining growth until the two-leaf stage.
•
This achievement occurred shortly after the PSLV-C60
SpaDeX mission, which launched on December 30, 2024, carrying 24 payloads, including the innovative PS4- Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4).
About POEM
• The PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) serves
as a stabilised platform for conducting various experiments in space.
•
It is equipped with solar panels and a Li-Ion battery,
enabling it to power multiple payloads.
• POEM’s advanced navigation system includes sun
sensors, gyros, and a magnetometer, ensuring precise attitude control.
•
This stabilised platform represents upgrade over
previous orbital platforms, enhancing the scientific capabilities of the experiments onboard.
Aditya-L1
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released
images of the Sun, captured by the Aditya L1 satellite during
a major geomagnetic storm.
in News
Chandrayaan-4
India will launch the Chandrayaan-4
mission to bring back samples of
moon rocks to the Earth in 2027.
Key Highlights
• C It was
launched in 2008 and was India’s first lunar mission. It made India the fifth country to reach the Moon.
The mission’s most significant discovery was the
presence of water molecules on the lunar surface,
a finding confirmed by NASA.
• Chandrayaan-2: It was launched in 2019 with an orbiter,
a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan).
The mission aimed to achieve a soft landing on the
lunar surface, but ISRO lost contact with the lander just before touchdown, resulting in a crash landing.
Despite this setback, the orbiter continued
functioning and provided crucial data on the Moon’s surface and atmosphere.
•
Chandrayaan-3: A follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2,
successfully achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023.
Lander payloads: Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature; Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site etc.
Rover payloads: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
(APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of landing site.
ISRO successfully sprouts cowpea seeds in
Space
The Indian
Space Research
Organisation
(ISRO)
announced
the successful
sprouting of
cowpea seeds in
space, marking a major milestone in agricultural research
beyond Earth.
Key Highlights
• The
Plant Studies) experiment, developed by the Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), successfully sprouted
cowpea seeds in just four days. This experiment aims to
understand plant growth in microgravity, crucial for future
long-duration space missions.
•
The setup involves growing eight seeds in a controlled,
closed-box environment with active thermal management.
• The experiment is fully automated and designed to last
between five to seven days, focusing on demonstrating seed germination and sustaining growth until the two-leaf stage.
•
This achievement occurred shortly after the PSLV-C60
SpaDeX mission, which launched on December 30, 2024, carrying 24 payloads, including the innovative PS4- Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4).
About POEM
• The PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) serves
as a stabilised platform for conducting various experiments in space.
•
It is equipped with solar panels and a Li-Ion battery,
enabling it to power multiple payloads.
• POEM’s advanced navigation system includes sun
sensors, gyros, and a magnetometer, ensuring precise attitude control.
•
This stabilised platform represents upgrade over
previous orbital platforms, enhancing the scientific capabilities of the experiments onboard.
Aditya-L1
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released
images of the Sun, captured by the Aditya L1 satellite during
a major geomagnetic storm.
in News
113Science & Technology
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Facts
• The
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) and the Visible
Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), along with other
payloads, captured images from the Lagrange point in
space.
•
The images clearly show magnetically active regions with
large solar flares on the Sun’s surface
• The solar emissions depict the relative brightness of
sunspots, umbra, penumbra, and plages.
Lagrangian Points
•
These are specific locations in space where the
gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the
Earth and the Moon or the Earth and the Sun, balance the
centrifugal force experienced by a smaller object, such
as a satellite.
•
There are five Lagrangian points, labelled L1 through L5,
in the three-dimensional space surrounding two large bodies in orbit around each other.
•
L1, L2, and L3 are located on a line that connects the
two large bodies and are unstable equilibrium points, meaning an object placed there will not stay in that position without continuous propulsion.
•
L4 and L5, on the other hand, are located at the third
corners of a tetrahedron formed by the two large bodies and their barycenter, and are stable equilibrium points, meaning an object placed there will remain in that position without propulsion.
Power Head Test Article (PHTA)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully conducted the Power Head Test Article (PHTA) on a semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000).
Key points:
•
PValidates
the integrated performance of
critical subsystems, including:
Gas generator, Turbo pumps, Pre-
burner, Control components.
• Sig Essential for the development of
ISRO’s semi-cryogenic engine.
Cryogenic Stage in Launch Vehicles
•
A
space launch vehicles which makes use of cryogenics to
store its fuel and oxidiser as liquids instead of gas.
• In space, there is a lack of air, including oxygen, which
means it is impossible to burn anything.
• To fix this, rockets carry their own oxygen, known as an
oxidiser, mixed with fuel to burn it in space.
About Cryogenics
•
Cr
extremely low temperatures, typically below -150°C.
• It primarily involves the use of cryogenic fluids such as
liquid nitrogen (LN2), liquid oxygen (LOX), and liquid
hydrogen (LH2).
• Applications in Various Fields: Space, Medical, Food
Preservation, Industrial gases, Superconductivity etc.
CE20 Cryogenic Engine
The Indian Space
Research Organisation
(ISRO) successfully
conducted an ignition trial
of the CE20 cryogenic
engine.
Key Highlights
This engine powers the
upper stage of the Launch
Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).
The test took place at the
High-Altitude Test Facility
in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
Significance of the CE20 Engine
•
The
• It is designed to operate under vacuum conditions and
can generate thrust levels between 19 tonnes to 22
tonnes.
• The engine’s successful ignition is milestone in India’s
space exploration efforts.
in News
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Key Facts
• The
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) and the Visible
Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), along with other
payloads, captured images from the Lagrange point in
space.
•
The images clearly show magnetically active regions with
large solar flares on the Sun’s surface
• The solar emissions depict the relative brightness of
sunspots, umbra, penumbra, and plages.
Lagrangian Points
•
These are specific locations in space where the
gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the
Earth and the Moon or the Earth and the Sun, balance the
centrifugal force experienced by a smaller object, such
as a satellite.
•
There are five Lagrangian points, labelled L1 through L5,
in the three-dimensional space surrounding two large bodies in orbit around each other.
•
L1, L2, and L3 are located on a line that connects the
two large bodies and are unstable equilibrium points, meaning an object placed there will not stay in that position without continuous propulsion.
•
L4 and L5, on the other hand, are located at the third
corners of a tetrahedron formed by the two large bodies and their barycenter, and are stable equilibrium points, meaning an object placed there will remain in that position without propulsion.
Power Head Test Article (PHTA)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully conducted the Power Head Test Article (PHTA) on a semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000).
Key points:
•
PValidates
the integrated performance of
critical subsystems, including:
Gas generator, Turbo pumps, Pre-
burner, Control components.
• Sig Essential for the development of
ISRO’s semi-cryogenic engine.
Cryogenic Stage in Launch Vehicles
•
A
space launch vehicles which makes use of cryogenics to
store its fuel and oxidiser as liquids instead of gas.
• In space, there is a lack of air, including oxygen, which
means it is impossible to burn anything.
• To fix this, rockets carry their own oxygen, known as an
oxidiser, mixed with fuel to burn it in space.
About Cryogenics
•
Cr
extremely low temperatures, typically below -150°C.
• It primarily involves the use of cryogenic fluids such as
liquid nitrogen (LN2), liquid oxygen (LOX), and liquid
hydrogen (LH2).
• Applications in Various Fields: Space, Medical, Food
Preservation, Industrial gases, Superconductivity etc.
CE20 Cryogenic Engine
The Indian Space
Research Organisation
(ISRO) successfully
conducted an ignition trial
of the CE20 cryogenic
engine.
Key Highlights
This engine powers the
upper stage of the Launch
Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).
The test took place at the
High-Altitude Test Facility
in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
Significance of the CE20 Engine
•
The
• It is designed to operate under vacuum conditions and
can generate thrust levels between 19 tonnes to 22
tonnes.
• The engine’s successful ignition is milestone in India’s
space exploration efforts.
in News
114ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
in News
Gaganyaan Mission
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) for
ground tracking support for India’s Gaganyaan mission.
Key Facts
•
The TIP enables ESA to provide ground station support, ensuring
continuous data flow and communication with the Orbital Module
for monitoring and orbital operations during the Gaganyaan
mission.
Gaganyaan Mission
•
KDemonstrate human spaceflight capability to a 400
km orbit for a 3-day mission and safely return them to Earth.
Conduct scientific experiments in microgravity.
• Timeline:
Uncrewed Flights: 2024-2025.
Crewed Mission: Targeted for 2025.
• Components:
GSLV Mk III (LVM3): Modified as a Human-Rated Launch
Vehicle.
Crew Module (CM): Houses astronauts with life-support
systems.
Service Module (SM): Provides propulsion and power.
Crew Escape System (CES): Ensures astronaut safety during
emergencies.
• Technological Innovations:
Life-support systems
Radiation protection
Parachute-assisted Sea recovery
Strategic Implications
•
A
Cooperation strengthens both ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission
and ESA’s human spaceflight initiatives.
The ISRO-ESA agreement
is a landmark step in fostering
international collaboration in human
spaceflight and research.
With shared missions like Axiom-4
and India’s ambitious Bharatiya
Antariksh Station, the partnership is
set to accelerate advancements in
space exploration while inspiring
future generations of scientists and
astronauts.
Shar
cost-effective research and development.
• Technological Exchange:
Mutual benefits in technology demonstration
and physiological studies.
Opportunities to advance biomedical research
critical for long-duration space missions.
• Future-Ready Collaboration:
Joint efforts on BAS could position both agencies
as leaders in space station interoperability.
Educational and outreach programs enhance
global interest and participation in space
exploration.
in News
Gaganyaan Mission
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) for
ground tracking support for India’s Gaganyaan mission.
Key Facts
•
The TIP enables ESA to provide ground station support, ensuring
continuous data flow and communication with the Orbital Module
for monitoring and orbital operations during the Gaganyaan
mission.
Gaganyaan Mission
•
KDemonstrate human spaceflight capability to a 400
km orbit for a 3-day mission and safely return them to Earth.
Conduct scientific experiments in microgravity.
• Timeline:
Uncrewed Flights: 2024-2025.
Crewed Mission: Targeted for 2025.
• Components:
GSLV Mk III (LVM3): Modified as a Human-Rated Launch
Vehicle.
Crew Module (CM): Houses astronauts with life-support
systems.
Service Module (SM): Provides propulsion and power.
Crew Escape System (CES): Ensures astronaut safety during
emergencies.
• Technological Innovations:
Life-support systems
Radiation protection
Parachute-assisted Sea recovery
Strategic Implications
•
A
Cooperation strengthens both ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission
and ESA’s human spaceflight initiatives.
The ISRO-ESA agreement
is a landmark step in fostering
international collaboration in human
spaceflight and research.
With shared missions like Axiom-4
and India’s ambitious Bharatiya
Antariksh Station, the partnership is
set to accelerate advancements in
space exploration while inspiring
future generations of scientists and
astronauts.
Shar
cost-effective research and development.
• Technological Exchange:
Mutual benefits in technology demonstration
and physiological studies.
Opportunities to advance biomedical research
critical for long-duration space missions.
• Future-Ready Collaboration:
Joint efforts on BAS could position both agencies
as leaders in space station interoperability.
Educational and outreach programs enhance
global interest and participation in space
exploration.
Defence in News 115ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
DEFENCE IN
NEWS
Key Highlights
•
T Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
These five countries accounted for 35 percent of global arms imports.
• Top five arms exporters: The USA, France, Russia, China and Germany.
These exporters contributed 72 percent of total global arms exports.
• The US increased its share of global arms exports to 43 percent, whereas Russia’s arms exports declined by 64 percent.
• China accounted for 5.9 percent of global arms exports in 2020–24, a slight decline from its share in 2015–19.
India’s Initiatives to Reduce Arms Imports
•
Budget: Rs 6.21 lakh crore allocated for defence in Budget 2024-25, with 75% of capital procurement reserved for domestic
manufacturers.
Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN) portal launched to facilitate procurement from Indian vendors.
• Production: India’s defence production reached a record value of Rs 1. 27 lakh crore in 2023-24, a 174% rise from 2014-15.
The top three destinations for India's defence exports in 2023-24 were the US, France, and Armenia.
• Positive Indigenization Lists: Five ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ comprising defence items have been released. These lists place
an embargo on the import of these items, ensuring they are produced within India.
• Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: Prioritizes domestic procurement over foreign purchases.
Introduced categories like "Buy (Indian-IDDM)" (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured).
Promotes Make-I and Make-II projects to encourage private-sector participation in defence manufacturing.
• Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs): Two corridors established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to boost defence manufacturing.
• Private Sector & FDI Participation: 74% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) via the Automatic Route and 100% via the Government
Route in defence manufacturing. 21% of India's total defence production now comes from the private sector.
•
Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs): India has 16 DPSUs, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd
(BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. Major indigenization projects led by DPSUs include INS Vikrant (India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier), LCA Tejas (advanced
fighter jet developed by HAL).
•
R&D & Innovation: iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative promotes startups and MSMEs in developing cutting-edge
military technology.
• Future Goals: India is aiming for Rs 1.75 lakh crore worth of defence production in 2025, with a target of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.
According to the Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI), Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major arms in the
period 2020–24.
SIPRI Report : 2020-24
DEFENCE IN
NEWS
Key Highlights
•
T Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
These five countries accounted for 35 percent of global arms imports.
• Top five arms exporters: The USA, France, Russia, China and Germany.
These exporters contributed 72 percent of total global arms exports.
• The US increased its share of global arms exports to 43 percent, whereas Russia’s arms exports declined by 64 percent.
• China accounted for 5.9 percent of global arms exports in 2020–24, a slight decline from its share in 2015–19.
India’s Initiatives to Reduce Arms Imports
•
Budget: Rs 6.21 lakh crore allocated for defence in Budget 2024-25, with 75% of capital procurement reserved for domestic
manufacturers.
Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN) portal launched to facilitate procurement from Indian vendors.
• Production: India’s defence production reached a record value of Rs 1. 27 lakh crore in 2023-24, a 174% rise from 2014-15.
The top three destinations for India's defence exports in 2023-24 were the US, France, and Armenia.
• Positive Indigenization Lists: Five ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ comprising defence items have been released. These lists place
an embargo on the import of these items, ensuring they are produced within India.
• Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: Prioritizes domestic procurement over foreign purchases.
Introduced categories like "Buy (Indian-IDDM)" (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured).
Promotes Make-I and Make-II projects to encourage private-sector participation in defence manufacturing.
• Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs): Two corridors established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to boost defence manufacturing.
• Private Sector & FDI Participation: 74% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) via the Automatic Route and 100% via the Government
Route in defence manufacturing. 21% of India's total defence production now comes from the private sector.
•
Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs): India has 16 DPSUs, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd
(BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. Major indigenization projects led by DPSUs include INS Vikrant (India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier), LCA Tejas (advanced
fighter jet developed by HAL).
•
R&D & Innovation: iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative promotes startups and MSMEs in developing cutting-edge
military technology.
• Future Goals: India is aiming for Rs 1.75 lakh crore worth of defence production in 2025, with a target of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.
According to the Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI), Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major arms in the
period 2020–24.
SIPRI Report : 2020-24
116ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Fort William renamed as Vijay Durg
Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army
Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg.
Key points:
•
The
Company in 1696 along the eastern banks of the Hooghly River. It was named after King William III of England.
•
The fort is known for its irregular octagonal structure and
arched windows.
There are six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta,
Water Gate, St Georges and the Treasury Gate. The
Maidan, the largest park in India, is located in front of the
fort.
•
In 1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal attacked and
captured the fort, leading to the infamous ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ incident.
•
After the British regained control following the Battle of
Plassey (1757), a new and more fortified structure was built between 1758 and 1781 under the command of Robert Clive.
Antariksha Abhyas: First-ever space exercise
conducted
The first-ever space exercise, ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024,’ was
hosted by the Defence Space Agency (DSA), in New Delhi.
Key Facts
•
Exer
being conducted and is expected to help secure national
strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space
capability in military operations.
• Space assets are essential in modern defense but
increasingly vulnerable to threats like anti-satellite weapons, cyber-attacks, and space debris.
•
As space is becoming increasingly congested, contested,
and competitive, the space exercise intends to identify vulnerabilities in conduct of operations in the event of denial or disruptions of space-based services.
Mission Shakti
•
On M
and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, successfully neutralised a satellite in space with its anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’, a part of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.
•
Test objective: Mission Shakti aimed to demonstrate India's
ASAT capabilities by destroying a defunct Indian satellite in a low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 283 kilometres. The entire effort was indigenous, which demonstrated the Nation’s capability to develop such complex and critical missions.
•
The weapon used: The Prithvi Delivery Vehicle Mark-II (PDV
MK-II), developed by India's DRDO, collided with and destroyed an Indian Microsat-R satellite in flight. It was the country's first ASAT missile test.
•
With this test, India joined an exclusive group of space faring
nations consisting of the USA, Russia and China.
Defence Space Agency (DSA)
•
The Defence Space Agency (DSA)
is a specialized agency of the
Government of India responsible
for enhancing the country’s
capabilities in space and ensuring
the security of India’s space
assets.
•
DSA plays a crucial role in
safeguarding national security, supporting defense operations, and promoting India’s interests in outer space.
•
Created in 2018, it is an integrated tri-services agency of
the Indian Armed Forces headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
•
It is tasked with operating the space-warfare and Satellite
Intelligence assets of India.
Fort William renamed as Vijay Durg
Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army
Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg.
Key points:
•
The
Company in 1696 along the eastern banks of the Hooghly River. It was named after King William III of England.
•
The fort is known for its irregular octagonal structure and
arched windows.
There are six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta,
Water Gate, St Georges and the Treasury Gate. The
Maidan, the largest park in India, is located in front of the
fort.
•
In 1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal attacked and
captured the fort, leading to the infamous ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ incident.
•
After the British regained control following the Battle of
Plassey (1757), a new and more fortified structure was built between 1758 and 1781 under the command of Robert Clive.
Antariksha Abhyas: First-ever space exercise
conducted
The first-ever space exercise, ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024,’ was
hosted by the Defence Space Agency (DSA), in New Delhi.
Key Facts
•
Exer
being conducted and is expected to help secure national
strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space
capability in military operations.
• Space assets are essential in modern defense but
increasingly vulnerable to threats like anti-satellite weapons, cyber-attacks, and space debris.
•
As space is becoming increasingly congested, contested,
and competitive, the space exercise intends to identify vulnerabilities in conduct of operations in the event of denial or disruptions of space-based services.
Mission Shakti
•
On M
and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, successfully neutralised a satellite in space with its anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’, a part of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.
•
Test objective: Mission Shakti aimed to demonstrate India's
ASAT capabilities by destroying a defunct Indian satellite in a low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 283 kilometres. The entire effort was indigenous, which demonstrated the Nation’s capability to develop such complex and critical missions.
•
The weapon used: The Prithvi Delivery Vehicle Mark-II (PDV
MK-II), developed by India's DRDO, collided with and destroyed an Indian Microsat-R satellite in flight. It was the country's first ASAT missile test.
•
With this test, India joined an exclusive group of space faring
nations consisting of the USA, Russia and China.
Defence Space Agency (DSA)
•
The Defence Space Agency (DSA)
is a specialized agency of the
Government of India responsible
for enhancing the country’s
capabilities in space and ensuring
the security of India’s space
assets.
•
DSA plays a crucial role in
safeguarding national security, supporting defense operations, and promoting India’s interests in outer space.
•
Created in 2018, it is an integrated tri-services agency of
the Indian Armed Forces headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
•
It is tasked with operating the space-warfare and Satellite
Intelligence assets of India.
Defence in News 117ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Indian Army unveiled Eklavya Digital Platform
The Indian Army’s Eklavya platform is a significant step towards
modernizing military education and training.
Key Facts
•
Eklavya platform aligns perfectly with the Indian Army’s
“Decade of Transformation” initiative and Indian Army’s theme for 2024 as the “Year of Technology Absorption.”
•
It has been developed by Bhaskaracharya National Institute of
Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N).
• Key Features of Eklavya:
The platform is accessible to Army officers across the country, eliminating the need for physical attendance at training
institutions.
Officers can access a wide range of courses and resources tailored to their specific needs and career goals.
The platform promotes continuous learning by providing regular updates on the latest military doctrines, technologies, and
best practices.
Eklavya fosters collaboration among officers through discussion forums, webinars, and other interactive features.
2025: Year of Defence Reforms
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Defense Reforms,” signifying a commitment to modernizing and strengthening its armed forces.
Key Facts
• A str
• It ensures readiness to address multi-domain conflicts, including cyber, space, and traditional warfare.
• It will enhance tri-services synergy by integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified commands.
Each command will address specific geographical challenges using shared resources.
Optimizes resource utilization and ensures joint operations across domains.
• Technological Advancements: Emphasis on cybersecurity, space operations, and emerging technologies like:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Machine Learning (ML)
Hypersonic systems Robotics
Focus on multi-domain integrated operations.
• Streamlined Procurement: Simplification of acquisition processes for faster capability development.
Promotion of indigenous manufacturing and global competitiveness.
Collaboration and Integration: Breaking silos across defense stakeholders.
Encouraging public-private partnerships and technology transfers.
Collaboration between defense and civil industries.
Indian Army unveiled Eklavya Digital Platform
The Indian Army’s Eklavya platform is a significant step towards
modernizing military education and training.
Key Facts
•
Eklavya platform aligns perfectly with the Indian Army’s
“Decade of Transformation” initiative and Indian Army’s theme for 2024 as the “Year of Technology Absorption.”
•
It has been developed by Bhaskaracharya National Institute of
Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N).
• Key Features of Eklavya:
The platform is accessible to Army officers across the country, eliminating the need for physical attendance at training
institutions.
Officers can access a wide range of courses and resources tailored to their specific needs and career goals.
The platform promotes continuous learning by providing regular updates on the latest military doctrines, technologies, and
best practices.
Eklavya fosters collaboration among officers through discussion forums, webinars, and other interactive features.
2025: Year of Defence Reforms
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Defense Reforms,” signifying a commitment to modernizing and strengthening its armed forces.
Key Facts
• A str
• It ensures readiness to address multi-domain conflicts, including cyber, space, and traditional warfare.
• It will enhance tri-services synergy by integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified commands.
Each command will address specific geographical challenges using shared resources.
Optimizes resource utilization and ensures joint operations across domains.
• Technological Advancements: Emphasis on cybersecurity, space operations, and emerging technologies like:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Machine Learning (ML)
Hypersonic systems Robotics
Focus on multi-domain integrated operations.
• Streamlined Procurement: Simplification of acquisition processes for faster capability development.
Promotion of indigenous manufacturing and global competitiveness.
Collaboration and Integration: Breaking silos across defense stakeholders.
Encouraging public-private partnerships and technology transfers.
Collaboration between defense and civil industries.
118ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Winged Raider • The
Winged Raider focused on special airborne operations and brought into light the importance
of inter-service collaboration.
• Conducted in the Eastern Theatre, the exercise showcased the Indian Army’s and Indian
Air Force’s (IAF) commitment to enhancing their operational readiness and synergy.
• Airborne operations play a vital role in modern military strategy. They enable swift and
decisive action, essential for responding to evolving security challenges.
• The exercise allowed troops to refine their skills, ensuring they are prepared for any
contingency. Ex Winged Raider aimed to improve the capabilities of both the Indian Army and the IAF.
•
It involved rehearsing various airborne insertion techniques using both fixed-wing and
rotary-wing aircraft. This training is crucial for ensuring troops can be rapidly deployed in diverse operational environments.
Komodo
• The Indian Navy, represented by INS Shardul and P8I Long Range Maritime Surveillance
aircraft, participated in Exercise Komodo 2025.
• First launched in 2014, it is a non-combat military exercise aimed at fostering maritime
cooperation among friendly nations.
• It is a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indonesian Navy in Bali, Indonesia.
• This aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision,
strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
• It enhanced interoperability with ASEAN Navies and QUAD partners.
Sanyukt Vimochan • The Indian Army successfully conducted the Sanyukt Vimochan 2024 in Gujarat. It is a
Multilateral Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
• It showcased India’s disaster response readiness and involved various Indian armed
forces, disaster management agencies, and foreign delegations.
• The exercise began with a Table Top Exercise (TTX), simulating a cyclone scenario in
Gujarat’s coastal region.
• The second day featured a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration at Porbandar’s
Chowpatty Beach, where coordinated logistics, rapid response, and disaster management operations were practiced by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and other agencies.
•
The demonstration included rescue operations, casualty evacuation, and the rehabilitation
of affected citizens.
Surya Kiran • The 18th edition of Exercise SURYA KIRAN took place in Saljhandi, Nepal from 31st
December 2024 to 13th January 2025.
• It is an annual joint military exercise conducted alternately between India and Nepal.
• It aims to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under the United Nations Charter.
• It focuses on operational preparedness, aviation aspects, medical training, and environment
conservation.
• It aims to improve combat skills, coordination, and operational capabilities of troops to
function effectively in challenging situations.
Defence Exercises in News
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Winged Raider • The
Winged Raider focused on special airborne operations and brought into light the importance
of inter-service collaboration.
• Conducted in the Eastern Theatre, the exercise showcased the Indian Army’s and Indian
Air Force’s (IAF) commitment to enhancing their operational readiness and synergy.
• Airborne operations play a vital role in modern military strategy. They enable swift and
decisive action, essential for responding to evolving security challenges.
• The exercise allowed troops to refine their skills, ensuring they are prepared for any
contingency. Ex Winged Raider aimed to improve the capabilities of both the Indian Army and the IAF.
•
It involved rehearsing various airborne insertion techniques using both fixed-wing and
rotary-wing aircraft. This training is crucial for ensuring troops can be rapidly deployed in diverse operational environments.
Komodo
• The Indian Navy, represented by INS Shardul and P8I Long Range Maritime Surveillance
aircraft, participated in Exercise Komodo 2025.
• First launched in 2014, it is a non-combat military exercise aimed at fostering maritime
cooperation among friendly nations.
• It is a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indonesian Navy in Bali, Indonesia.
• This aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision,
strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
• It enhanced interoperability with ASEAN Navies and QUAD partners.
Sanyukt Vimochan • The Indian Army successfully conducted the Sanyukt Vimochan 2024 in Gujarat. It is a
Multilateral Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
• It showcased India’s disaster response readiness and involved various Indian armed
forces, disaster management agencies, and foreign delegations.
• The exercise began with a Table Top Exercise (TTX), simulating a cyclone scenario in
Gujarat’s coastal region.
• The second day featured a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration at Porbandar’s
Chowpatty Beach, where coordinated logistics, rapid response, and disaster management operations were practiced by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and other agencies.
•
The demonstration included rescue operations, casualty evacuation, and the rehabilitation
of affected citizens.
Surya Kiran • The 18th edition of Exercise SURYA KIRAN took place in Saljhandi, Nepal from 31st
December 2024 to 13th January 2025.
• It is an annual joint military exercise conducted alternately between India and Nepal.
• It aims to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under the United Nations Charter.
• It focuses on operational preparedness, aviation aspects, medical training, and environment
conservation.
• It aims to improve combat skills, coordination, and operational capabilities of troops to
function effectively in challenging situations.
Defence Exercises in News
Defence in News 119ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Desert Knight• India, France, and the UAE have conducted “Desert Knight, defence exercise.
• Nations Involved: India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Location: Conducted over the Arabian Sea, approximately 350-400 km southwest of
Karachi.
• Objectives: Strengthen trilateral defence cooperation and enhance combat skills and
interoperability among the air forces of the three nations.
• Desert Knight aligns with India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasizes
cooperation with like-minded nations to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific
region.
Agni Warrior • The Indian Army and the Singapore Army concluded the 13th edition of Exercise Agni
Warrior (XAW), in Maharashtra.
• Held in India since 2004, XAW is conducted under the ambit of the Army Bilateral
Agreement, and highlights the warm and long-standing defence relationship between
Singapore and India.
• The aim of XAW-2024 was to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to
achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter.
CINBAX • The 1st edition of joint table top exercise CINBAX, between the Indian Army and the
Cambodian Army held at Foreign Training Node, Pune (India).
• Exercise CINBAX is a planning exercise designed to simulate joint Counter Terrorism (CT)
operations conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• The exercise will be carried out in three phases and will include discussions on information
operations, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, logistics and casualty management, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations etc.
Harimau Shakti
• The 4th edition of the India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise, HARIMAU SHAKTI, held
recently at Bentong Camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
• This exercise, held till December 15, 2024, is an annual event designed to enhance the
military cooperation between the two nations.
• It aims to improve joint military capabilities in conducting counterinsurgency operations in
jungle terrain and to enhance defense cooperation between India and Malaysia, thereby
fostering stronger bilateral relations.
• It also improves the bilateral military relations between India and Malaysia.
• This is the 4th edition of the joint exercise, with the previous edition conducted in November
2023 at Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya, India.
Garud Shakti • The 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUD SHAKTI held
at Jakarta, Indonesia.
• The first edition was conducted in the year 2012 in India.
• Aim: To acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures, enhance
mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of
both armies.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Desert Knight• India, France, and the UAE have conducted “Desert Knight, defence exercise.
• Nations Involved: India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Location: Conducted over the Arabian Sea, approximately 350-400 km southwest of
Karachi.
• Objectives: Strengthen trilateral defence cooperation and enhance combat skills and
interoperability among the air forces of the three nations.
• Desert Knight aligns with India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasizes
cooperation with like-minded nations to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific
region.
Agni Warrior • The Indian Army and the Singapore Army concluded the 13th edition of Exercise Agni
Warrior (XAW), in Maharashtra.
• Held in India since 2004, XAW is conducted under the ambit of the Army Bilateral
Agreement, and highlights the warm and long-standing defence relationship between
Singapore and India.
• The aim of XAW-2024 was to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to
achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter.
CINBAX • The 1st edition of joint table top exercise CINBAX, between the Indian Army and the
Cambodian Army held at Foreign Training Node, Pune (India).
• Exercise CINBAX is a planning exercise designed to simulate joint Counter Terrorism (CT)
operations conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• The exercise will be carried out in three phases and will include discussions on information
operations, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, logistics and casualty management, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations etc.
Harimau Shakti
• The 4th edition of the India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise, HARIMAU SHAKTI, held
recently at Bentong Camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
• This exercise, held till December 15, 2024, is an annual event designed to enhance the
military cooperation between the two nations.
• It aims to improve joint military capabilities in conducting counterinsurgency operations in
jungle terrain and to enhance defense cooperation between India and Malaysia, thereby
fostering stronger bilateral relations.
• It also improves the bilateral military relations between India and Malaysia.
• This is the 4th edition of the joint exercise, with the previous edition conducted in November
2023 at Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya, India.
Garud Shakti • The 9th edition of India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUD SHAKTI held
at Jakarta, Indonesia.
• The first edition was conducted in the year 2012 in India.
• Aim: To acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures, enhance
mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of
both armies.
120ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Austrahind • The
Maharashtra (India).
• Started in 2022, is an annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
• Aim of Exercise AUSTRAHIND is to promote military cooperation between India and Australia
through enhancement of interoperability in conduct of joint sub conventional operations in
semi-urban environments in semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the UN mandate.
VINBAX • The 5th Edition of Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX-2024” commenced at
Ambala, India.
• Instituted in 2018, exercise VINBAX is an annual training event conducted alternatively in
India and Vietnam.
• Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter-operability and
share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations.
•
This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi Service level participation for
the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.
Poorvi Prahar • The
forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
• To hone the combat effectiveness of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in executing
Integrated Joint Operations in the challenging mountainous terrain of the region.
• It aims to utilization of advanced fighter aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, helicopters,
and M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers and employment of innovative technologies like Swarm Drones and Loitering Munitions.
Vajra Prahar
• The 15th edition of India-US joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar held at Orchard
Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA.
• Initiated in 2010, the exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special
Forces Operations in desert/ semi desert environment.
• Aim of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is to promote military cooperation between India and the
US through enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics.
•
Bilateral Military Exercises: Yudh Abhyas (Army), Cope India (Air Force), Tiger Triumph (Tri-
Service) and Sangam (Naval Special Forces).
• Multilateral Military Exercises: Malabar (Navy), Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC, Navy), Milan
(Navy), La Perouse (Navy), Pitch Black (Air Force), and Red Flag (Air Force).
SIMBEX • The 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) held in the
Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
• SIMBEX, which began as ‘Exercise Lion King’ in 1994, holds the distinction of being the
longest continuous naval exercise that the Indian Navy has with any other country.
• SIMBEX 2024 will be conducted in two phases – the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam and
the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal.
• This year’s edition aims to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and
Singapore by enhancing interoperability, improving maritime domain awareness, and fostering cooperation to address common maritime challenges.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Austrahind • The
Maharashtra (India).
• Started in 2022, is an annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
• Aim of Exercise AUSTRAHIND is to promote military cooperation between India and Australia
through enhancement of interoperability in conduct of joint sub conventional operations in
semi-urban environments in semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the UN mandate.
VINBAX • The 5th Edition of Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX-2024” commenced at
Ambala, India.
• Instituted in 2018, exercise VINBAX is an annual training event conducted alternatively in
India and Vietnam.
• Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter-operability and
share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations.
•
This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi Service level participation for
the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.
Poorvi Prahar • The
forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
• To hone the combat effectiveness of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in executing
Integrated Joint Operations in the challenging mountainous terrain of the region.
• It aims to utilization of advanced fighter aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, helicopters,
and M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers and employment of innovative technologies like Swarm Drones and Loitering Munitions.
Vajra Prahar
• The 15th edition of India-US joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar held at Orchard
Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA.
• Initiated in 2010, the exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing joint Special
Forces Operations in desert/ semi desert environment.
• Aim of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is to promote military cooperation between India and the
US through enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics.
•
Bilateral Military Exercises: Yudh Abhyas (Army), Cope India (Air Force), Tiger Triumph (Tri-
Service) and Sangam (Naval Special Forces).
• Multilateral Military Exercises: Malabar (Navy), Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC, Navy), Milan
(Navy), La Perouse (Navy), Pitch Black (Air Force), and Red Flag (Air Force).
SIMBEX • The 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) held in the
Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
• SIMBEX, which began as ‘Exercise Lion King’ in 1994, holds the distinction of being the
longest continuous naval exercise that the Indian Navy has with any other country.
• SIMBEX 2024 will be conducted in two phases – the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam and
the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal.
• This year’s edition aims to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and
Singapore by enhancing interoperability, improving maritime domain awareness, and fostering cooperation to address common maritime challenges.
Defence in News 121ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Naseem-Al-Bahr • The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman recently concluded a bilateral naval exercise,
‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ off the coast of Goa.
• Initiated in 1993, the exercise was conducted in two phases: the harbour phase and the
sea phase.
• The exercise reaffirms India’s commitment to constructive collaboration and mutual growth
with like-minded nations in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner.
• Also, Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defense forces
hold joint exercises.
• The exercise Eastern Bridge is conducted between the Air Force of the two countries, while
the exercise Al–Najah is conducted between the Army of the two countries.
Malabar • The m
held at Visakhapatnam, India.
• The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India
and the United States in 1992.
• However, it has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability,
fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian
Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.
• Japan joined the naval exercises in 2015 and Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020 after
having last participated in 2007.
Vishanu Yudh Abhyas • The
National One Health Mission (NOHM).
• It aims to assess pandemic preparedness and response to zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Zoonotic Diseases include infections spread between people and animals, such as avian
influenza, Nipah, and Zika, caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.
• Outcome: The drill provided valuable insights to improve India’s preparedness and response
to zoonotic disease outbreaks and promoted a coordinated and efficient approach across relevant
Eastern Bridge VII
• The 7th edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge, between the Royal Oman Air Force and the
Indian Air Force, held at Air Force base Masirah, Oman.
• The 1st edition of bilateral exercise Eastern Bridge was also held at Oman in 2009.
• Exercise Eastern Bridge VII aims to improve tactical and operational skills, foster mutual
understanding and bolster the ability of both air forces to collaborate effectively in diverse scenarios.
•
The exercise included complex aerial maneuvering, air to air and air to ground operations,
and logistical coordination, reflecting the evolving defense needs and strategic interests of both nations.
AL NAJAH
• The 5th edition of India-Oman joint military Exercise AL NAJAH held in Salalah, Oman.
• Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and
Oman. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
• Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake
counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• Exercise AL NAJAH allowed both sides to exchange best practices in tactics, techniques
and procedures for joint operations.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Naseem-Al-Bahr • The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman recently concluded a bilateral naval exercise,
‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ off the coast of Goa.
• Initiated in 1993, the exercise was conducted in two phases: the harbour phase and the
sea phase.
• The exercise reaffirms India’s commitment to constructive collaboration and mutual growth
with like-minded nations in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner.
• Also, Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defense forces
hold joint exercises.
• The exercise Eastern Bridge is conducted between the Air Force of the two countries, while
the exercise Al–Najah is conducted between the Army of the two countries.
Malabar • The m
held at Visakhapatnam, India.
• The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India
and the United States in 1992.
• However, it has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability,
fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian
Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.
• Japan joined the naval exercises in 2015 and Australia rejoined the exercise in 2020 after
having last participated in 2007.
Vishanu Yudh Abhyas • The
National One Health Mission (NOHM).
• It aims to assess pandemic preparedness and response to zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Zoonotic Diseases include infections spread between people and animals, such as avian
influenza, Nipah, and Zika, caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.
• Outcome: The drill provided valuable insights to improve India’s preparedness and response
to zoonotic disease outbreaks and promoted a coordinated and efficient approach across relevant
Eastern Bridge VII
• The 7th edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge, between the Royal Oman Air Force and the
Indian Air Force, held at Air Force base Masirah, Oman.
• The 1st edition of bilateral exercise Eastern Bridge was also held at Oman in 2009.
• Exercise Eastern Bridge VII aims to improve tactical and operational skills, foster mutual
understanding and bolster the ability of both air forces to collaborate effectively in diverse scenarios.
•
The exercise included complex aerial maneuvering, air to air and air to ground operations,
and logistical coordination, reflecting the evolving defense needs and strategic interests of both nations.
AL NAJAH
• The 5th edition of India-Oman joint military Exercise AL NAJAH held in Salalah, Oman.
• Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and
Oman. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
• Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake
counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• Exercise AL NAJAH allowed both sides to exchange best practices in tactics, techniques
and procedures for joint operations.
122ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Pitch Black • Exer
exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
• The name ‘Pitch Black’ was derived from the emphasis on night time flying over large un-
populated areas.
• The 2024 edition is the largest in the 43-year long history of Ex Pitch Black, which includes
participation by 20 countries, with over 140 aircraft and 4400 military personnel of various
air forces. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also participated in the exercise.
Khaan Quest 2024 • Indian Army contingent participated in the Multinational Military Exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ at
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces
in the year 2003.
• Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational
Peacekeeping Exercise with the current year being the 21st iteration.
• Exercise KHAAN QUEST enabled the participating countries to share their best practices
in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations.
• The exercise also facilitated developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie
between soldiers of the participating countries.
Tarang Shakti • Tarang Shakti is the IAF’s largest multilateral exercise. It aims to showcase India’s defence
capabilities and enhance cooperation among the participating militaries.
• In this exercise, 11 countries were participated. These countries include Australia, France,
Germany, Greece, Japan, Spain, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Singapore. Eighteen other countries were attended as observers.
•
It featured flying and ground training, defence exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs.
Defence personnel from the participating countries will also visit Indian tech companies.
• India displayed its indigenous fighter aircraft and equipment, including the Tejas, Rafale,
Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MIG 29.
RIMPAC
(Rim of the Pacific)
• Recently, the Indian Navy deployed the indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik for Ex
RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) was held in Hawaii. Theme of RIMPAC 2024: ‘Partners:
Integrated and Prepared’.
• It is a biennial event, hosted by the United States, that brings together naval forces from
various countries to foster cooperative relationships and enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
•
Approximately 29 nations, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and
India, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel participated in the Ex RIMPAC.
JIMEX
• The bilateral Japan – India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) held at Yokosuka in Japan.
It is the eighth edition of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
• The Indian Navy (IN) was represented by INS Shivalik and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force (JMSDF) was represented by the Guided Missile Destroyer JS Yugiri.
• It provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and facilitates
operational interactions between India and Japan.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Pitch Black • Exer
exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
• The name ‘Pitch Black’ was derived from the emphasis on night time flying over large un-
populated areas.
• The 2024 edition is the largest in the 43-year long history of Ex Pitch Black, which includes
participation by 20 countries, with over 140 aircraft and 4400 military personnel of various
air forces. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also participated in the exercise.
Khaan Quest 2024 • Indian Army contingent participated in the Multinational Military Exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ at
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces
in the year 2003.
• Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational
Peacekeeping Exercise with the current year being the 21st iteration.
• Exercise KHAAN QUEST enabled the participating countries to share their best practices
in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations.
• The exercise also facilitated developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie
between soldiers of the participating countries.
Tarang Shakti • Tarang Shakti is the IAF’s largest multilateral exercise. It aims to showcase India’s defence
capabilities and enhance cooperation among the participating militaries.
• In this exercise, 11 countries were participated. These countries include Australia, France,
Germany, Greece, Japan, Spain, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Singapore. Eighteen other countries were attended as observers.
•
It featured flying and ground training, defence exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs.
Defence personnel from the participating countries will also visit Indian tech companies.
• India displayed its indigenous fighter aircraft and equipment, including the Tejas, Rafale,
Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MIG 29.
RIMPAC
(Rim of the Pacific)
• Recently, the Indian Navy deployed the indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik for Ex
RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) was held in Hawaii. Theme of RIMPAC 2024: ‘Partners:
Integrated and Prepared’.
• It is a biennial event, hosted by the United States, that brings together naval forces from
various countries to foster cooperative relationships and enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
•
Approximately 29 nations, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and
India, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel participated in the Ex RIMPAC.
JIMEX
• The bilateral Japan – India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) held at Yokosuka in Japan.
It is the eighth edition of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
• The Indian Navy (IN) was represented by INS Shivalik and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force (JMSDF) was represented by the Guided Missile Destroyer JS Yugiri.
• It provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and facilitates
operational interactions between India and Japan.
Defence in News 123ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
HOPEX• The
Flag’ exercise ay Alaska.
• Exercise HOPEX is a joint military exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian
Air Force.
• The aim of this exercise is to promote bilateral and regional cooperation, which is a symbol
of the long-standing relations between the two countries.
• The C-17 Globemaster and IL-78 tankers were participated in the exercise. .
DUSTLIK Military • The
recently. Exercise DUSTLIK is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India
and Uzbekistan.
• The Exercise was conducted from 15th to 28th April 2024 at Termez, the Republic
of Uzbekistan. The last edition was conducted at Pithoragarh (India) in February 2023.
•
The aim of Exercise Dustlik is to foster military cooperation and enhance combined
capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi-urban terrain.
SHAKTI • The 7th edition of India- France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI held at Umroi, in
Meghalaya. Exercise “Shakti” is a biennial event conducted alternatively in India and
France.
• The last edition took place in France in 2021.
• The joint exercise focuses on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
Gagan Shakti • Indian
Shakti-2024.
• It was last held in 2018, during which the IAF completed over 11,000 sorties during the
two-phase air manoeuvres. It seeks to showcase IAF’s capability to carry out high-tempo
operations and involves all air bases and assets scattered across the country,
• Gagan Shakti-2024 was conducted at various locations across the country, including the
Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.
• The Indian Army provided logistics support for the mega exercise, facilitating a
comprehensive pan-India movement of IAF personnel and ammunition in order to validate the Operational Rail Mobilisation Plan (ORMP) aspects of the IAF.
AUSTRAHIND-23
• The Indian Armed Forces contingent took part in the second edition of Joint Military
Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 held in Perth, Australia.
• It is a joint military exercise between India and Australia.
• The exercise promoted exchange of ideas and jointly rehearse tactics, technique and
procedures for conducting tactical operations.
• It aimed to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two
sides
• Other Exercises between India and Australia: Exercise AUSINDEX, Exercise Pitch
Black.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
HOPEX• The
Flag’ exercise ay Alaska.
• Exercise HOPEX is a joint military exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian
Air Force.
• The aim of this exercise is to promote bilateral and regional cooperation, which is a symbol
of the long-standing relations between the two countries.
• The C-17 Globemaster and IL-78 tankers were participated in the exercise. .
DUSTLIK Military • The
recently. Exercise DUSTLIK is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India
and Uzbekistan.
• The Exercise was conducted from 15th to 28th April 2024 at Termez, the Republic
of Uzbekistan. The last edition was conducted at Pithoragarh (India) in February 2023.
•
The aim of Exercise Dustlik is to foster military cooperation and enhance combined
capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi-urban terrain.
SHAKTI • The 7th edition of India- France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI held at Umroi, in
Meghalaya. Exercise “Shakti” is a biennial event conducted alternatively in India and
France.
• The last edition took place in France in 2021.
• The joint exercise focuses on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
Gagan Shakti • Indian
Shakti-2024.
• It was last held in 2018, during which the IAF completed over 11,000 sorties during the
two-phase air manoeuvres. It seeks to showcase IAF’s capability to carry out high-tempo
operations and involves all air bases and assets scattered across the country,
• Gagan Shakti-2024 was conducted at various locations across the country, including the
Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.
• The Indian Army provided logistics support for the mega exercise, facilitating a
comprehensive pan-India movement of IAF personnel and ammunition in order to validate the Operational Rail Mobilisation Plan (ORMP) aspects of the IAF.
AUSTRAHIND-23
• The Indian Armed Forces contingent took part in the second edition of Joint Military
Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 held in Perth, Australia.
• It is a joint military exercise between India and Australia.
• The exercise promoted exchange of ideas and jointly rehearse tactics, technique and
procedures for conducting tactical operations.
• It aimed to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two
sides
• Other Exercises between India and Australia: Exercise AUSINDEX, Exercise Pitch
Black.
124ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Exercise VARUNA 2025 • The 23rd edition of the annual naval ‘Exercise VARUNA’ between India and France has
been concluded in the Arabian Sea.
• It was started in 2001 to enhance interoperability and operational synergy between India
and France.
• VARUNA 2025 features a series of drills and manoeuvres involving underwater, surface,
and air operations.
• Other India-France Exercises : Exercise Shakti: Indian and French Armies; Exercise Garuda:
Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF).
BONGOSAGAR • The 4th edition of Exercise BONGOSAGAR was conducted between India and
Bangladesh navies in the Northern Bay of Bengal.
• It aims to develop a high degree of interoperability and joint operational skills through
the conduct of a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations between the two
navies.
• Indian Navy Ships Kuthar, Kiltan and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Dornier participated
in the exercise.
SAMPRITI • India
SAMPRITI in Umroi, Meghalaya.
• This exercise, which alternates between the two nations, highlights the strong bilateral
defense cooperation between them. SAMPRITI, initiated in 2009, aims to boost interoperability, share tactical expertise, and promote best practices between the Indian and Bangladeshi armies.
•
The exercise focuses on enhancing cooperation and interoperability while conducting
Sub-Conventional Operations as per Chapter VII of the UN mandate.
MILAN–24 • The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise – 2024)
was hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
• MILAN is Biennial multilateral naval exercise. It was started by Indian Navy in 1995.
• The exercise began with the participation of just four countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand.
• Over the years, it has grown in terms of both the number of participants and the complexity
of exercises. In 2022, 39 countries participated in Milan exercise.
• The exercise originally aligned with India’s ‘Look East Policy’. It later expanded to include
more countries as part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the Security and Growth for All in
the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
• This expansion involved nations from both the western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and
the countries along the IOR coast.
KAZIND-2023 • Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent took part in 7th edition of Joint Military
‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’ held in Kazakhstan.
• The Joint Exercise between India and Kazakhstan was instituted as ‘Exercise PRABAL
DOSTYK’ in 2016. After the second edition, the Exercise was upgraded to a company- level exercise and renamed as ‘Exercise KAZIND’.
•
The Exercise has been further upgraded as a Bi-service Exercise this year by including
the Air Force component.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Exercise VARUNA 2025 • The 23rd edition of the annual naval ‘Exercise VARUNA’ between India and France has
been concluded in the Arabian Sea.
• It was started in 2001 to enhance interoperability and operational synergy between India
and France.
• VARUNA 2025 features a series of drills and manoeuvres involving underwater, surface,
and air operations.
• Other India-France Exercises : Exercise Shakti: Indian and French Armies; Exercise Garuda:
Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF).
BONGOSAGAR • The 4th edition of Exercise BONGOSAGAR was conducted between India and
Bangladesh navies in the Northern Bay of Bengal.
• It aims to develop a high degree of interoperability and joint operational skills through
the conduct of a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations between the two
navies.
• Indian Navy Ships Kuthar, Kiltan and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Dornier participated
in the exercise.
SAMPRITI • India
SAMPRITI in Umroi, Meghalaya.
• This exercise, which alternates between the two nations, highlights the strong bilateral
defense cooperation between them. SAMPRITI, initiated in 2009, aims to boost interoperability, share tactical expertise, and promote best practices between the Indian and Bangladeshi armies.
•
The exercise focuses on enhancing cooperation and interoperability while conducting
Sub-Conventional Operations as per Chapter VII of the UN mandate.
MILAN–24 • The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise – 2024)
was hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
• MILAN is Biennial multilateral naval exercise. It was started by Indian Navy in 1995.
• The exercise began with the participation of just four countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand.
• Over the years, it has grown in terms of both the number of participants and the complexity
of exercises. In 2022, 39 countries participated in Milan exercise.
• The exercise originally aligned with India’s ‘Look East Policy’. It later expanded to include
more countries as part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the Security and Growth for All in
the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
• This expansion involved nations from both the western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and
the countries along the IOR coast.
KAZIND-2023 • Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent took part in 7th edition of Joint Military
‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’ held in Kazakhstan.
• The Joint Exercise between India and Kazakhstan was instituted as ‘Exercise PRABAL
DOSTYK’ in 2016. After the second edition, the Exercise was upgraded to a company- level exercise and renamed as ‘Exercise KAZIND’.
•
The Exercise has been further upgraded as a Bi-service Exercise this year by including
the Air Force component.
Defence in News 125ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Exercise Prachand Prahar • The Indian Armed Forces recently conducted a high-level tri-service integrated multi-
domain exercise, Prachand Prahar, in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The exercise showcased the seamless integration of advanced surveillance, strike
capabilities, and multi-domain operational planning.
• Cutting-edge platforms such as long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, armed
helicopters, UAVs, loitering munitions, and space-based assets were employed to
achieve total situational awareness and rapid target engagement.
• Prachand Prahar follows Exercise Poorvi Prahar, conducted in November 2024, which
focused on the integrated application of aviation assets.
Air Defender-23 • The
deployment exercise conducted by NATO.
• This joint endeavor involved 25 nations coming together to train in the airspace above
Europe in a display of transatlantic solidarity.
• Air Defender 23 witnessed the participation of approximately 10,000 servicemen and
women from 25 nations.
• Participating Nations: A total of 25 nations actively participated in Air Defender 23. These
include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
India-France-UAE Partnership
• The
Gulf of Oman.
• This exercise marked a significant milestone in strengthening trilateral cooperation
among the navies of India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• With the objective of improving joint strategies and ensuring maritime security, the
exercise witnessed the participation of several naval assets and the execution of various operations.
•
The exercise unfolded in the Gulf of Oman, a strategic maritime region known for its
crucial trade routes and geopolitical significance.
Jal Rahat • The Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps, in collaboration with various disaster management
groups, recently conducted a joint flood relief drill called ‘Exercise Jal Rahat’ in Assam.
• The drill took place at Hagrama Bridge on the Manas River in Assam, aiming to enhance
flood relief preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
• The exercise emphasized coordination among multiple agencies and focused on efficient
rescue operations and the utilization of innovative strategies.
• Exercise Jal Rahat aimed to strengthen the preparedness of flood relief efforts.
Samudra Shakti • India and Indonesia recently conducted bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti-23.
• The primary purpose of the Samudra Shakti exercise is to enhance interoperability and
mutual cooperation between the naval forces of India and Indonesia.
• By conducting joint exercises and sharing best practices, the navies aim to strengthen
their operational capabilities and foster regional peace and stability.
• The indigenously built anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kavaratti, Dornier Maritime
Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter took part in this exercise from Indian side.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Exercise Prachand Prahar • The Indian Armed Forces recently conducted a high-level tri-service integrated multi-
domain exercise, Prachand Prahar, in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The exercise showcased the seamless integration of advanced surveillance, strike
capabilities, and multi-domain operational planning.
• Cutting-edge platforms such as long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, armed
helicopters, UAVs, loitering munitions, and space-based assets were employed to
achieve total situational awareness and rapid target engagement.
• Prachand Prahar follows Exercise Poorvi Prahar, conducted in November 2024, which
focused on the integrated application of aviation assets.
Air Defender-23 • The
deployment exercise conducted by NATO.
• This joint endeavor involved 25 nations coming together to train in the airspace above
Europe in a display of transatlantic solidarity.
• Air Defender 23 witnessed the participation of approximately 10,000 servicemen and
women from 25 nations.
• Participating Nations: A total of 25 nations actively participated in Air Defender 23. These
include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
India-France-UAE Partnership
• The
Gulf of Oman.
• This exercise marked a significant milestone in strengthening trilateral cooperation
among the navies of India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• With the objective of improving joint strategies and ensuring maritime security, the
exercise witnessed the participation of several naval assets and the execution of various operations.
•
The exercise unfolded in the Gulf of Oman, a strategic maritime region known for its
crucial trade routes and geopolitical significance.
Jal Rahat • The Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps, in collaboration with various disaster management
groups, recently conducted a joint flood relief drill called ‘Exercise Jal Rahat’ in Assam.
• The drill took place at Hagrama Bridge on the Manas River in Assam, aiming to enhance
flood relief preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
• The exercise emphasized coordination among multiple agencies and focused on efficient
rescue operations and the utilization of innovative strategies.
• Exercise Jal Rahat aimed to strengthen the preparedness of flood relief efforts.
Samudra Shakti • India and Indonesia recently conducted bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti-23.
• The primary purpose of the Samudra Shakti exercise is to enhance interoperability and
mutual cooperation between the naval forces of India and Indonesia.
• By conducting joint exercises and sharing best practices, the navies aim to strengthen
their operational capabilities and foster regional peace and stability.
• The indigenously built anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kavaratti, Dornier Maritime
Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter took part in this exercise from Indian side.
126ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
35th CORPAT• The
Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted.
• The 35th Indo-Thai CORPAT is another step towards enhancing Indian Navy’s efforts
to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship between India and
Thailand.
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, an indigenously built LST (L) and His Thai Majesty’s Ship
(HTMS) Saiburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate, along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the CORPAT along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.
ASEAN-India Maritime (AIME)
• Two Indian Naval Ship (INS) Satpura and Delhi participated in the inaugural ASEAN-India
Maritime Exercise (AIME) in Singapore.
• AIME is a maritime exercise between India and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
• Its aim is to provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely and
conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
• The exercise was held in two phases: ‘Harbour Phase’ of the exercise is scheduled to be
held at Changi Naval Base and ‘Sea Phase’ in the South China Sea.
SLINEX-2023 • The 10th annual SLINEX-2023 bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka
held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• The exercise was divided into two phases, the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase, each
lasting three days.
• The Indian Navy was represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lanka Navy
was represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.
• In addition, the exercise also included participation from the Indian Navy’s Chetak
helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as Sri Lanka Air Force’s Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters. The exercise also featured the Special Forces of both navies working together.
Sea Dragon
• Exer
for Long Range MR ASW aircraft, conducted by the US Navy.
• The Exercise aims to achieve high levels of synergy and coordination between the
friendly navies, which is based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
•
The exercise, scheduled from March 15 to March 30, 2023, focused on coordinated ASW
tactics among the participating countries and will involve advanced ASW drills.
• Exercise Sea Dragon 23 tested the capabilities of participating aircraft in tracking
simulated and live underwater targets, whilst also sharing mutual expertise.
Dharma Guardian • The
India and Japan at Belgaum, Karnataka.
• The exercise was held to share experiences gained during operations, in order to
enhance interoperability in the planning and execution of various operations in jungle & semi-urban/ urban terrain.
•
The Year 2022 also marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques
and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN Mandate, It will also help develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
35th CORPAT• The
Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted.
• The 35th Indo-Thai CORPAT is another step towards enhancing Indian Navy’s efforts
to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship between India and
Thailand.
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, an indigenously built LST (L) and His Thai Majesty’s Ship
(HTMS) Saiburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate, along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies participated in the CORPAT along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.
ASEAN-India Maritime (AIME)
• Two Indian Naval Ship (INS) Satpura and Delhi participated in the inaugural ASEAN-India
Maritime Exercise (AIME) in Singapore.
• AIME is a maritime exercise between India and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
• Its aim is to provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely and
conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
• The exercise was held in two phases: ‘Harbour Phase’ of the exercise is scheduled to be
held at Changi Naval Base and ‘Sea Phase’ in the South China Sea.
SLINEX-2023 • The 10th annual SLINEX-2023 bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka
held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• The exercise was divided into two phases, the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase, each
lasting three days.
• The Indian Navy was represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lanka Navy
was represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.
• In addition, the exercise also included participation from the Indian Navy’s Chetak
helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as Sri Lanka Air Force’s Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters. The exercise also featured the Special Forces of both navies working together.
Sea Dragon
• Exer
for Long Range MR ASW aircraft, conducted by the US Navy.
• The Exercise aims to achieve high levels of synergy and coordination between the
friendly navies, which is based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
•
The exercise, scheduled from March 15 to March 30, 2023, focused on coordinated ASW
tactics among the participating countries and will involve advanced ASW drills.
• Exercise Sea Dragon 23 tested the capabilities of participating aircraft in tracking
simulated and live underwater targets, whilst also sharing mutual expertise.
Dharma Guardian • The
India and Japan at Belgaum, Karnataka.
• The exercise was held to share experiences gained during operations, in order to
enhance interoperability in the planning and execution of various operations in jungle & semi-urban/ urban terrain.
•
The Year 2022 also marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques
and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN Mandate, It will also help develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
Defence in News 127ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Operation Bold Kurukshetra• Recently, Joint India- Singapore exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra’ concluded at Jodhpur.
• The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold
Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
• For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post
Exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer
wargaming.
• The ten-day long joint training fostered common understanding of mechanised warfare
in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post.
TROPEX-2025
• TROPEX 25 recently conducted over a period of three months from January to March 25.
• It is the largest biennial maritime exercise organized by the Indian Navy, featuring
substantial participation from Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard assets.
• It is executed in multiple phases—both in Harbour and at Sea—integrating various facets
of combat operations, including cyber and electronic warfare, live weapon firings during the Joint Work Up Phase, and the Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX).
Exercise INDRA 2025
• The 14th edition of the India-Russia bilateral naval exercise, INDRA 2025, was recently
concluded.
• The exercise included a wide range of activities and structured drills designed to enhance
interoperability towards countering common maritime threats.
• The INDRA series of exercises have been a cornerstone of India-Russia Defence
relations since its inception in 2003 and both countries recognise the importance of maritime security and the need for a collaborative approach to counter common threats and concerns.
Defence Equipment in News
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Sanjay - Battlefield Surveillance
System (BSS)
• BSS
Limited (BEL).
• These systems will be inducted to the Indian Army in three phases in 2025. Year 2025 has
been declared as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• SANJAY is an automated system which integrates the inputs from all ground and aerial
battlefield sensors. The BSS is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and cutting-edge
analytics.
• It will monitor the vast land borders, prevent intrusions, assess situations with unparalleled
accuracy and prove to be a force multiplier in Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance. It will enhance battlefield transparency and transform the future battlefield through a Centralised Web Application.
•
It will provide inputs to Command & Army Headquarters, and the Indian Army Decision
Support System.
Defence Exercises Descriptions
Operation Bold Kurukshetra• Recently, Joint India- Singapore exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra’ concluded at Jodhpur.
• The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold
Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
• For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post
Exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer
wargaming.
• The ten-day long joint training fostered common understanding of mechanised warfare
in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post.
TROPEX-2025
• TROPEX 25 recently conducted over a period of three months from January to March 25.
• It is the largest biennial maritime exercise organized by the Indian Navy, featuring
substantial participation from Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard assets.
• It is executed in multiple phases—both in Harbour and at Sea—integrating various facets
of combat operations, including cyber and electronic warfare, live weapon firings during the Joint Work Up Phase, and the Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX).
Exercise INDRA 2025
• The 14th edition of the India-Russia bilateral naval exercise, INDRA 2025, was recently
concluded.
• The exercise included a wide range of activities and structured drills designed to enhance
interoperability towards countering common maritime threats.
• The INDRA series of exercises have been a cornerstone of India-Russia Defence
relations since its inception in 2003 and both countries recognise the importance of maritime security and the need for a collaborative approach to counter common threats and concerns.
Defence Equipment in News
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Sanjay - Battlefield Surveillance
System (BSS)
• BSS
Limited (BEL).
• These systems will be inducted to the Indian Army in three phases in 2025. Year 2025 has
been declared as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• SANJAY is an automated system which integrates the inputs from all ground and aerial
battlefield sensors. The BSS is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and cutting-edge
analytics.
• It will monitor the vast land borders, prevent intrusions, assess situations with unparalleled
accuracy and prove to be a force multiplier in Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance. It will enhance battlefield transparency and transform the future battlefield through a Centralised Web Application.
•
It will provide inputs to Command & Army Headquarters, and the Indian Army Decision
Support System.
128ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Bhargavastra • India
counter swarm drones.
• The Bhargavastra system successfully hit designated virtual targets over 2.5 kilometres
away, demonstrating high precision and effectiveness.
• It can detect medium to large UAVs up to 10 kilometres and small drones up to 6 kilometres
away, making it effective against a wide range of aerial threats.
• Bhargavastra can be mounted on mobile platforms, enabling rapid deployment and
adaptability to diverse operational terrains, including high-altitude regions.
Nag Mark 2 Missile • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently conducted
successful field evaluation trials of the Nag Mark 2 missile.
• This third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile was tested at the Pokhran field
range in Rajasthan. The trials demonstrated exceptional precision and reliability, effectively
destroying all designated targets.
• The Defence Ministry confirmed that the trials validated the missile’s firing range capabilities.
• Nag Mark 2 is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile developed in India. It features
fire-and-forget technology, allowing operators to lock onto targets before launch.
• This technology ensures precision strikes without requiring further guidance after launch.
• The missile is designed to neutralise modern armoured threats, making it a vital addition to
India’s defence arsenal.
Nirdeshak • The
Visakhapatnam.
• Nirdeshak is the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) Project and is built at GRSE
Kolkata.
• It is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid in navigation, and support maritime
operations.
• This 110-meter-long vessel, with a displacement of approximately 3800 tons, is
powered by two diesel engines and is equipped with state-of-the-art Hydrographic and
Oceanographic Survey Equipment.
• The ship has an endurance of over 25 days at sea and a top speed exceeding 18
knots.
K-4 Ballistic Missile • The
submarine, enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
• K-4 or Kalam-4, code-named after former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is a solid-fuelled
nuclear capable ballistic missile developed by DRDO.
• Its range is extended to 3,500 km.
• K-4 will strengthen India’s weakest leg of the nuclear triad. The land and air vectors, with
the Agni ballistic missiles and fighter jets with nuclear gravity bombs, are relatively more
robust.
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Bhargavastra • India
counter swarm drones.
• The Bhargavastra system successfully hit designated virtual targets over 2.5 kilometres
away, demonstrating high precision and effectiveness.
• It can detect medium to large UAVs up to 10 kilometres and small drones up to 6 kilometres
away, making it effective against a wide range of aerial threats.
• Bhargavastra can be mounted on mobile platforms, enabling rapid deployment and
adaptability to diverse operational terrains, including high-altitude regions.
Nag Mark 2 Missile • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently conducted
successful field evaluation trials of the Nag Mark 2 missile.
• This third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile was tested at the Pokhran field
range in Rajasthan. The trials demonstrated exceptional precision and reliability, effectively
destroying all designated targets.
• The Defence Ministry confirmed that the trials validated the missile’s firing range capabilities.
• Nag Mark 2 is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile developed in India. It features
fire-and-forget technology, allowing operators to lock onto targets before launch.
• This technology ensures precision strikes without requiring further guidance after launch.
• The missile is designed to neutralise modern armoured threats, making it a vital addition to
India’s defence arsenal.
Nirdeshak • The
Visakhapatnam.
• Nirdeshak is the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) Project and is built at GRSE
Kolkata.
• It is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid in navigation, and support maritime
operations.
• This 110-meter-long vessel, with a displacement of approximately 3800 tons, is
powered by two diesel engines and is equipped with state-of-the-art Hydrographic and
Oceanographic Survey Equipment.
• The ship has an endurance of over 25 days at sea and a top speed exceeding 18
knots.
K-4 Ballistic Missile • The
submarine, enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
• K-4 or Kalam-4, code-named after former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is a solid-fuelled
nuclear capable ballistic missile developed by DRDO.
• Its range is extended to 3,500 km.
• K-4 will strengthen India’s weakest leg of the nuclear triad. The land and air vectors, with
the Agni ballistic missiles and fighter jets with nuclear gravity bombs, are relatively more
robust.
Defence in News 129ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket
Launch (MBRL) System
• Fr
requirements and is soon going to carry out a detailed evaluation of the system.
• The Pinaka MBRL system was developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO). The system is named after “Pinaka,” a mythical weapon used by
Lord Shiva.
• It has the capability to hit targets at 75 kilometers and beyond. The Pinaka MBRL is capable
of launching a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds, which makes it an effective weapon for quickly overwhelming enemy defenses.
•
Armenia became the first export customer for the indigenously developed Pinaka with
interest expressed by several countries in the system.
INS Samarthak • The Indian Navy celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of Samarthak.
• It is designed for various roles, including towing, launching and recovering targets,
operating unmanned vehicles, and testing indigenous weapons.
• It is the first vessel under the Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli.
• The launch, aligned with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India
initiatives. This launch underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and self-reliance in maritime defense.
Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted
three flight tests of the 4th Generation Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
•
It is an indigenously developed Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System developed by the Research Centre
Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
• It aimed at high-speed targets, demonstrated critical capabilities in maximum range and
altitude interception.
Akashteer Systems • In
its air defence capabilities by acquiring 100 Akashteer Air Defence Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS).
•
Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• These systems will play a vital role in protecting India from aerial threats, including missile and
rocket attacks.
• Akashteer integrates radars, sensors, and communication technologies to provide a real-time
battlefield view, allowing the military to swiftly detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats.
INS Arighaat • It featur
• Both submarines share the same reactor and dimensions but Arighaat incorporates
advanced design and manufacturing technology.
• The submarine involved advanced technology, special materials, and skilled workmanship.
It includes indigenous systems and equipment developed by Indian scientists and industry.
• INS Arighaat enhances India’s nuclear triad, which includes land-based missiles, aircraft,
and nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs) with ballistic missiles. It strengthens India’s
nuclear deterrence and contributes to maintaining regional strategic balance.
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket
Launch (MBRL) System
• Fr
requirements and is soon going to carry out a detailed evaluation of the system.
• The Pinaka MBRL system was developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO). The system is named after “Pinaka,” a mythical weapon used by
Lord Shiva.
• It has the capability to hit targets at 75 kilometers and beyond. The Pinaka MBRL is capable
of launching a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds, which makes it an effective weapon for quickly overwhelming enemy defenses.
•
Armenia became the first export customer for the indigenously developed Pinaka with
interest expressed by several countries in the system.
INS Samarthak • The Indian Navy celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of Samarthak.
• It is designed for various roles, including towing, launching and recovering targets,
operating unmanned vehicles, and testing indigenous weapons.
• It is the first vessel under the Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli.
• The launch, aligned with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India
initiatives. This launch underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and self-reliance in maritime defense.
Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted
three flight tests of the 4th Generation Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
•
It is an indigenously developed Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System developed by the Research Centre
Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
• It aimed at high-speed targets, demonstrated critical capabilities in maximum range and
altitude interception.
Akashteer Systems • In
its air defence capabilities by acquiring 100 Akashteer Air Defence Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS).
•
Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• These systems will play a vital role in protecting India from aerial threats, including missile and
rocket attacks.
• Akashteer integrates radars, sensors, and communication technologies to provide a real-time
battlefield view, allowing the military to swiftly detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats.
INS Arighaat • It featur
• Both submarines share the same reactor and dimensions but Arighaat incorporates
advanced design and manufacturing technology.
• The submarine involved advanced technology, special materials, and skilled workmanship.
It includes indigenous systems and equipment developed by Indian scientists and industry.
• INS Arighaat enhances India’s nuclear triad, which includes land-based missiles, aircraft,
and nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs) with ballistic missiles. It strengthens India’s
nuclear deterrence and contributes to maintaining regional strategic balance.
130ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Rudram-1 • India successfully test-fires new generation anti-radiation missile ‘Rudram-1’
• Rudram-1 allows the IAF to conduct Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations
deep within enemy territory, neutralizing critical air defense installations and paving the
way for other aircraft to operate safely.
• The missile acts as a force multiplier by enhancing the survivability and effectiveness of
air operations.
Zorawar • India
‘Zorawar‘, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas.
• Zorawar has been developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development
Establishment (CVRDE), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
•
It is named after the 19th century Dogra General Zorawar Singh, who led military expeditions
to Ladakh and Western Tibet.
• The tank will be able to navigate steep mountains and cross water bodies like rivers far
more easily than its forerunners such as the heavy-weight T-72 and T-90 tanks.
Gaurav
Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB)
• The
test of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), named GAURAV.
• The test was carried out from a Su-30 MK-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of
Odisha.
• GAURAV is a 1,000 kg class air-launched glide bomb. It is designed for long-distance targeting.
• It uses a hybrid navigation system combining Inertial Navigation System (INS) and GPS for
accurate targeting.
Agni-Prime Ballistic Missile • Recently, the new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested by the
Strategic Forces Command (SFC) along with the DRDO from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island
off the coast of Odisha.
• It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface, canister-launched, road-mobile, and solid-fueled medium-
range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-Prime is equipped with a dual redundant navigation and guidance system. It has a
range between 1000 to 2000 km. The missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
• It features significant upgrades to the composite motor casing, a Manoeuvrable Reentry Vehicle
(MaRV), along with improved propellants, navigation, and guidance systems.
RudraM-II Missile • Rudr
The test, which was run by the Indian Air Force (IAF) with help from the Defence Research
and Development Organization (DRDO), met all of its goals and confirmed the accuracy of
the missile’s control, tracking, and propulsion systems. Along the flying path, instruments
like radar, telemetry, and electro-optical systems checked the data.
•
Rudram is the first anti-radiation weapon. It uses passive homing head technology to
destroy enemy radar and communication systems. It does a good job of locking on to targets even if the source of radiation stops working during the attack phase.
•
The RudraM-II is part of a line that includes the RudraM-1, which is mostly used for
Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), and the RudraM-3, which will have a longer range. These developments are the result of work done together by DRDO, IAF, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Rudram-1 • India successfully test-fires new generation anti-radiation missile ‘Rudram-1’
• Rudram-1 allows the IAF to conduct Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) operations
deep within enemy territory, neutralizing critical air defense installations and paving the
way for other aircraft to operate safely.
• The missile acts as a force multiplier by enhancing the survivability and effectiveness of
air operations.
Zorawar • India
‘Zorawar‘, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas.
• Zorawar has been developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development
Establishment (CVRDE), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
•
It is named after the 19th century Dogra General Zorawar Singh, who led military expeditions
to Ladakh and Western Tibet.
• The tank will be able to navigate steep mountains and cross water bodies like rivers far
more easily than its forerunners such as the heavy-weight T-72 and T-90 tanks.
Gaurav
Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB)
• The
test of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), named GAURAV.
• The test was carried out from a Su-30 MK-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of
Odisha.
• GAURAV is a 1,000 kg class air-launched glide bomb. It is designed for long-distance targeting.
• It uses a hybrid navigation system combining Inertial Navigation System (INS) and GPS for
accurate targeting.
Agni-Prime Ballistic Missile • Recently, the new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested by the
Strategic Forces Command (SFC) along with the DRDO from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island
off the coast of Odisha.
• It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface, canister-launched, road-mobile, and solid-fueled medium-
range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-Prime is equipped with a dual redundant navigation and guidance system. It has a
range between 1000 to 2000 km. The missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
• It features significant upgrades to the composite motor casing, a Manoeuvrable Reentry Vehicle
(MaRV), along with improved propellants, navigation, and guidance systems.
RudraM-II Missile • Rudr
The test, which was run by the Indian Air Force (IAF) with help from the Defence Research
and Development Organization (DRDO), met all of its goals and confirmed the accuracy of
the missile’s control, tracking, and propulsion systems. Along the flying path, instruments
like radar, telemetry, and electro-optical systems checked the data.
•
Rudram is the first anti-radiation weapon. It uses passive homing head technology to
destroy enemy radar and communication systems. It does a good job of locking on to targets even if the source of radiation stops working during the attack phase.
•
The RudraM-II is part of a line that includes the RudraM-1, which is mostly used for
Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), and the RudraM-3, which will have a longer range. These developments are the result of work done together by DRDO, IAF, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Defence in News 131ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Rampage Missile• Indian
the Rampage missile. It is a long-range, supersonic, air-to-ground missile capable of hitting
targets up to 250 kilometres away.
• Known as the High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2 Missile in the Indian Air Force, it was extensively
used by the Israeli Air Force in recent operations against Iranian targets.
• The Rampage missile has been integrated into the Russianorigin aircraft fleet of the Indian
Air Force, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar fighters.
• The Indian Navy has inducted the missile into its MiG-29K naval fighter jets.
Mahendragiri • India’s latest warship, Mahendragiri launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in
Mumbai.
• Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A.
• Mahendragiri is named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in the state of
Odisha.
• It was developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
• It has been incorporated with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors
and platform management systems.
C-295 Tactical Transport Aircraft
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) proudly inducted its first C-295 medium tactical transport
aircraft
• The C-295, hailing from the Airbus family, represents the latest generation of highly
versatile tactical transport aircraft.
• It is purpose-built to handle a wide spectrum of missions, ranging from troop and
cargo transport to maritime patrol, signals intelligence, and medical evacuation.
• One of the standout features of the C-295 aircraft is its remarkable payload
capacity. Capable of carrying up to nine tonnes of cargo or accommodating as
many as 71 troops, this aircraft is engineered to excel in a variety of operational
scenarios. It boasts a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots, ensuring swift and
efficient transportation.
INS Mormugao
• The
destroyer INS Mormugao successfully conducted its maiden firing of a Brahmos Supersonic cruise missile.
•
The successful Brahmos firing marked a significant achievement for INS Mormugao.
The destroyer, equipped with advanced weaponry and sensors, demonstrated its capability to engage targets with precision and effectiveness.
•
The successful Brahmos firing by INS Mormugao holds a special place in the Indian
Navy’s pursuit of self-reliance.
• It represents the country’s commitment to enhance its indigenous defense capabilities
and reduce dependency on external sources.
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Rampage Missile• Indian
the Rampage missile. It is a long-range, supersonic, air-to-ground missile capable of hitting
targets up to 250 kilometres away.
• Known as the High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2 Missile in the Indian Air Force, it was extensively
used by the Israeli Air Force in recent operations against Iranian targets.
• The Rampage missile has been integrated into the Russianorigin aircraft fleet of the Indian
Air Force, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar fighters.
• The Indian Navy has inducted the missile into its MiG-29K naval fighter jets.
Mahendragiri • India’s latest warship, Mahendragiri launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in
Mumbai.
• Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A.
• Mahendragiri is named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in the state of
Odisha.
• It was developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
• It has been incorporated with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors
and platform management systems.
C-295 Tactical Transport Aircraft
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) proudly inducted its first C-295 medium tactical transport
aircraft
• The C-295, hailing from the Airbus family, represents the latest generation of highly
versatile tactical transport aircraft.
• It is purpose-built to handle a wide spectrum of missions, ranging from troop and
cargo transport to maritime patrol, signals intelligence, and medical evacuation.
• One of the standout features of the C-295 aircraft is its remarkable payload
capacity. Capable of carrying up to nine tonnes of cargo or accommodating as
many as 71 troops, this aircraft is engineered to excel in a variety of operational
scenarios. It boasts a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots, ensuring swift and
efficient transportation.
INS Mormugao
• The
destroyer INS Mormugao successfully conducted its maiden firing of a Brahmos Supersonic cruise missile.
•
The successful Brahmos firing marked a significant achievement for INS Mormugao.
The destroyer, equipped with advanced weaponry and sensors, demonstrated its capability to engage targets with precision and effectiveness.
•
The successful Brahmos firing by INS Mormugao holds a special place in the Indian
Navy’s pursuit of self-reliance.
• It represents the country’s commitment to enhance its indigenous defense capabilities
and reduce dependency on external sources.
132ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
INS Vaghsheer
• Indian Navy has commenced sea trials for INS Vaghsheer, the sixth Scorpene
Submarine, developed under Project-75.
• Vaghsheer, the sixth submarine of the Kalvari class under Project-75, initiated its sea
trialsi.e. a crucial step brings the submarine closer to its delivery to the Indian Navy
• The sea trials are a comprehensive assessment of the submarine’s systems, including
propulsion, weapons, and sensors, ensuring their functionality and effectiveness.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has been playing a significant role in the
nation’s submarine-building program, and the launch of Vaghsheer marks another
successful achievement for them.
Sukhoi 30 MKI
• The
aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
• The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for
approximately 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of Himalayas before returning to the Air Force Station.
•
The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of the
106 Squadron. President Murmu is the third President and second woman President to undertake such a sortie.
Agni-I Ballistic Missile
• The
Kalam Island in Odisha.
• The launch verified and confirmed the operational and technical aspects of the missile.
• With the ability to strike targets with a remarkable degree of precision, the Agni-I missile
showcased its effectiveness and showcased India’s dedication to enhancing its strategic deterrent capability.
•
The medium-range Agni-I ballistic missile has a strike range from 700-1200 kilometres
and weighs around 12,000 kilograms.
• It is also capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 kg.
• Agni-I was first tested in 1989 at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur, but they were
Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM). Agni-I is used by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Indian Army.
MH60R
• The
MH-60R, also known as Romeo, successfully carried out its maiden landing and take-off
from INS Kolkata, an indigenously designed and constructed destroyer.
• The acquisition of the MH-60R helicopters is part of the Indian Navy’s strategy to
modernize its ageing naval helicopter fleet.
• The MH-60R helicopters offer advanced features and cutting-edge technologies that will
enhance the navy’s effectiveness in maritime operations.
• These helicopters significantly enhance the navy’s ability to counter underwater threats,
monitor maritime activities, and conduct surveillance operations.
Defence Equipment Descriptions
INS Vaghsheer
• Indian Navy has commenced sea trials for INS Vaghsheer, the sixth Scorpene
Submarine, developed under Project-75.
• Vaghsheer, the sixth submarine of the Kalvari class under Project-75, initiated its sea
trialsi.e. a crucial step brings the submarine closer to its delivery to the Indian Navy
• The sea trials are a comprehensive assessment of the submarine’s systems, including
propulsion, weapons, and sensors, ensuring their functionality and effectiveness.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has been playing a significant role in the
nation’s submarine-building program, and the launch of Vaghsheer marks another
successful achievement for them.
Sukhoi 30 MKI
• The
aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
• The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for
approximately 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of Himalayas before returning to the Air Force Station.
•
The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of the
106 Squadron. President Murmu is the third President and second woman President to undertake such a sortie.
Agni-I Ballistic Missile
• The
Kalam Island in Odisha.
• The launch verified and confirmed the operational and technical aspects of the missile.
• With the ability to strike targets with a remarkable degree of precision, the Agni-I missile
showcased its effectiveness and showcased India’s dedication to enhancing its strategic deterrent capability.
•
The medium-range Agni-I ballistic missile has a strike range from 700-1200 kilometres
and weighs around 12,000 kilograms.
• It is also capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 kg.
• Agni-I was first tested in 1989 at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur, but they were
Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM). Agni-I is used by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Indian Army.
MH60R
• The
MH-60R, also known as Romeo, successfully carried out its maiden landing and take-off
from INS Kolkata, an indigenously designed and constructed destroyer.
• The acquisition of the MH-60R helicopters is part of the Indian Navy’s strategy to
modernize its ageing naval helicopter fleet.
• The MH-60R helicopters offer advanced features and cutting-edge technologies that will
enhance the navy’s effectiveness in maritime operations.
• These helicopters significantly enhance the navy’s ability to counter underwater threats,
monitor maritime activities, and conduct surveillance operations.
Defence in News 133ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Pralay Missile• The Indian armed forces are prepared to place orders for two more Pralay ballistic
missiles, at a cost of more than Rs 7,500 crore.
• Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
• The missile has been developed to defeat interceptor missiles as it has the ability to
change its path midair.
• The missile is designed to destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command
centres and airfields.
• It is developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
• The Indian Air Force would be the first to receive the missile, and then the Indian Army.
• Its features are that it can hit targets 150-500 kms away.
• The missile guidance system has integrated avionics and cutting-edge navigation.
• The missile is powered by a solid propellant rocket motor. The composite propellant is
highly efficient and generates more energy compared to the propellant used in Agni
missile series.
INS Vagir • INS
the Indian Navy.
• Indian Navy’s fifth stealth Scorpene class Submarine INS Vagir was commissioned into
the Indian Navy.
• The Navy has commissioned four Scorpenes, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj and
INS Vela, till now. INS Vagir is the fifth one.
• Six Scorpene Class submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
KAZIND Military India and Kazakhstan
Malabar Exercise Navy Japan, US and India
Tiger Triumph Exercise Tri-services India and United States
Nomadic Elephant Military India and Mongolia
Him Vijay Exercise Military India
Defence Equipment Descriptions
Pralay Missile• The Indian armed forces are prepared to place orders for two more Pralay ballistic
missiles, at a cost of more than Rs 7,500 crore.
• Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
• The missile has been developed to defeat interceptor missiles as it has the ability to
change its path midair.
• The missile is designed to destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command
centres and airfields.
• It is developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
• The Indian Air Force would be the first to receive the missile, and then the Indian Army.
• Its features are that it can hit targets 150-500 kms away.
• The missile guidance system has integrated avionics and cutting-edge navigation.
• The missile is powered by a solid propellant rocket motor. The composite propellant is
highly efficient and generates more energy compared to the propellant used in Agni
missile series.
INS Vagir • INS
the Indian Navy.
• Indian Navy’s fifth stealth Scorpene class Submarine INS Vagir was commissioned into
the Indian Navy.
• The Navy has commissioned four Scorpenes, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj and
INS Vela, till now. INS Vagir is the fifth one.
• Six Scorpene Class submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
KAZIND Military India and Kazakhstan
Malabar Exercise Navy Japan, US and India
Tiger Triumph Exercise Tri-services India and United States
Nomadic Elephant Military India and Mongolia
Him Vijay Exercise Military India
134ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
Dharma Guardian Military India and Japan
Vajra Prahar Military India and US
Shinyuu Maitri Military India and Japan
Ex-Eastern Bridge-V Air Force India and Oman
DANX Exercise Tri-services Indian Army, Coastal Guard, Air force, Indian Navy
Sary-Arka-Antiterror Military Shanghai Cooperation Organization Members
Ausindex Navy India and Australia
Mitra Shakti VI Military India and Sri Lanka
Sampriti Military India and Bangladesh
Exercise Topchi Military India
IND-INDO-CORPAT Navy India and Indonesia
Operation Sunrise Military India and Myanmar
AFINDEX Military Africa and India
Mainamati Maitree Exercise Military India and Bangladesh
Exercise Vayu Shakti Air Force India
Cobra Gold Military Multi-national
IMBEX Military India and Myanmar
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
Dharma Guardian Military India and Japan
Vajra Prahar Military India and US
Shinyuu Maitri Military India and Japan
Ex-Eastern Bridge-V Air Force India and Oman
DANX Exercise Tri-services Indian Army, Coastal Guard, Air force, Indian Navy
Sary-Arka-Antiterror Military Shanghai Cooperation Organization Members
Ausindex Navy India and Australia
Mitra Shakti VI Military India and Sri Lanka
Sampriti Military India and Bangladesh
Exercise Topchi Military India
IND-INDO-CORPAT Navy India and Indonesia
Operation Sunrise Military India and Myanmar
AFINDEX Military Africa and India
Mainamati Maitree Exercise Military India and Bangladesh
Exercise Vayu Shakti Air Force India
Cobra Gold Military Multi-national
IMBEX Military India and Myanmar
Defence in News 135ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
Sea-Vigil Navy India
Operation Sankalp Navy India
Operation Sunrise-2 Military India and Myanmar
Kharga Prahar Military India
IMCOR Navy India and Myanmar
Varuna Navy India and France
SIMBEX Navy India and Singapore
ADMM-PLUS Navy Singapore and South Korea
Bold Kurukshetra Navy India and Singapore
Group Sail Exercise Navy US, India, Japan and Philippines
Maitree Military India and Thailand
SLINEX Navy India and Sri Lanka
Samudra Lakshmana Navy India and Malaysia
Yudh Abhyas Military India and US
Indo-Thai CORPAT Navy India and Thailand
AMUX Navy ASEAN Countries and US
Hand in Hand Military India and China
LIST OF DEFENCE EXERCISES
Name of Exercise Type of Exercise Participating Country / Countries
Sea-Vigil Navy India
Operation Sankalp Navy India
Operation Sunrise-2 Military India and Myanmar
Kharga Prahar Military India
IMCOR Navy India and Myanmar
Varuna Navy India and France
SIMBEX Navy India and Singapore
ADMM-PLUS Navy Singapore and South Korea
Bold Kurukshetra Navy India and Singapore
Group Sail Exercise Navy US, India, Japan and Philippines
Maitree Military India and Thailand
SLINEX Navy India and Sri Lanka
Samudra Lakshmana Navy India and Malaysia
Yudh Abhyas Military India and US
Indo-Thai CORPAT Navy India and Thailand
AMUX Navy ASEAN Countries and US
Hand in Hand Military India and China
136ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
MISCELLANEOUS
National Sports Awards, 2024
The President of India recently presented the National Sports
Awards 2024, honoring exceptional contributions to sports and
adventure in India.
Award Categories
• M
India’s highest sporting honor, established
in 1991-92. It was earlier known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Recognizes outstanding performance
over a period of four years.
Named After: Major Dhyan Chand
(1905–79), an iconic hockey legend who led India to three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936).
First Recipient : Vishwanathan Anand (Chess)
2024 Awardees:
Gukesh D (Chess)
Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)
Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
• Arjuna Award:
Instituted in 1961, it was India’s highest
sporting honor before the Khel Ratna
came into being. Named after the
Mahabharata character Arjuna.
Awarded for consistent good
performance over 4 years.
Winners receive a statuette of Arjuna,
a certificate, and a cash prize.
Named After: Arjuna, the legendary
warrior from the Indian epic Mahabharata.
First Recipient: P.K. Banerjee (Football).
• Dronacharya Award:
Instituted in 1985, this is India’s highest
honor for coaches.
Awarded for producing medal winners
at prestigious international events.
Named After: Dronacharya, the guru of
Arjuna in Mahabharata.
First Female Recipient: Renu Kohli
(Athletics).
• M
Instituted in 2002 for lifetime contributions to sports.
First Recipients:
Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing)
Ashok Diwan (Hockey).
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy:
The oldest National Sports Award,
instituted in 1956–57.
Named in honor of Shri Abul Kalam
Azad, India’s first Education
Minister and a freedom fighter.
First Recipient: Bombay University.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar:
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
introduced by the government in 2009 is given to corporate entities (both private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, NGOs, including sports bodies at the State and National level, who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
•
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award:
It has been presented since 1993-1994
and is named after Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953.
The recipients are honored for their "outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air" over the last three years.
Booker Prize, 2024
England's novelist Samantha Harvey has won the prestigious Booker Prize 2024 for her novel “Orbital”.
Key Highlights:
•
Harvey’s book is a unique exploration of
life aboard the International Space Station. It reflects on human connections and the beauty of Earth.
MISCELLANEOUS
National Sports Awards, 2024
The President of India recently presented the National Sports
Awards 2024, honoring exceptional contributions to sports and
adventure in India.
Award Categories
• M
India’s highest sporting honor, established
in 1991-92. It was earlier known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Recognizes outstanding performance
over a period of four years.
Named After: Major Dhyan Chand
(1905–79), an iconic hockey legend who led India to three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936).
First Recipient : Vishwanathan Anand (Chess)
2024 Awardees:
Gukesh D (Chess)
Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)
Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
• Arjuna Award:
Instituted in 1961, it was India’s highest
sporting honor before the Khel Ratna
came into being. Named after the
Mahabharata character Arjuna.
Awarded for consistent good
performance over 4 years.
Winners receive a statuette of Arjuna,
a certificate, and a cash prize.
Named After: Arjuna, the legendary
warrior from the Indian epic Mahabharata.
First Recipient: P.K. Banerjee (Football).
• Dronacharya Award:
Instituted in 1985, this is India’s highest
honor for coaches.
Awarded for producing medal winners
at prestigious international events.
Named After: Dronacharya, the guru of
Arjuna in Mahabharata.
First Female Recipient: Renu Kohli
(Athletics).
• M
Instituted in 2002 for lifetime contributions to sports.
First Recipients:
Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing)
Ashok Diwan (Hockey).
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy:
The oldest National Sports Award,
instituted in 1956–57.
Named in honor of Shri Abul Kalam
Azad, India’s first Education
Minister and a freedom fighter.
First Recipient: Bombay University.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar:
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
introduced by the government in 2009 is given to corporate entities (both private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, NGOs, including sports bodies at the State and National level, who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
•
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award:
It has been presented since 1993-1994
and is named after Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953.
The recipients are honored for their "outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air" over the last three years.
Booker Prize, 2024
England's novelist Samantha Harvey has won the prestigious Booker Prize 2024 for her novel “Orbital”.
Key Highlights:
•
Harvey’s book is a unique exploration of
life aboard the International Space Station. It reflects on human connections and the beauty of Earth.
137Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The novel was inspired by the isolation experienced during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
• “Orbital” is described as a space pastoral. It features six
astronauts orbiting Earth. The narrative unfolds over 16
sunrises and sunsets. The confined setting amplifies the
characters’ interactions.
•
Harvey’s writing captures the fragile beauty of the planet.
About B
• The Booker Prize carries a £50,000 award.
• It is open to English-language novels published in the
UK or Ireland.
• Winning the prize often transforms an author’s career.
• This year’s prize was important for various reasons. It
marked the first Booker win for a British author since 2020.
70th National Film Awards
President Droupadi Murmu gave away the 70th National Film Awards to the winners in various categories.
Key Facts
• National Film Awards are the most
prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country.
•
It aims at encouraging the production
of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
•
The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-
Features and Best Writing on Cinema.
About Na
• The
known as the ‘State Awards’. At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded.
•
Separate awards for artists and technicians were
instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967.
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and
actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.
Key Recipient of the National Film Awards, 2024
• BAattam (The Play)
• Best Non-feature film: Ayena (Mirror)
• Best Actor: Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
• B Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrambalam) and Manasi
Parekh (Kutch Express)
• Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the
Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2022.
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, 2024
Former President of Chile, Veronica
Michelle Bachelet Jeria was awarded
the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development 2024.
Key Highlights:
•
Instituted in 1986, the award is
given annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
•
The award is named after Indira Gandhi, the first and only
woman Prime Minister of independent India.
• It aims to honor women, men and institutions that have done
exemplary work in the service of humanity and the planet Earth.
• Recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international
nominees.
• In 2023, it was presented to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 2022
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty has
been honored with the Dadasaheb
Phalke Award, which is the highest
recognition in Indian cinema. This
prestigious award celebrates a
person’s lifetime contribution to the film
industry.
The announcement was made by
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and
the award was officially presented on
October 8, 2024, at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony. This
comes soon after Chakraborty received another major honor, the
Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards He is the
54th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Mithun Chakraborty:
•
M
started his acting career in 1977. He made
a strong debut with the movie ‘Mrigayaa’,
which earned him a National Award.
•
His popularity skyrocketed in 1982 with
the film ‘Disco Dancer’, a huge success that made him a household name across India.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The novel was inspired by the isolation experienced during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
• “Orbital” is described as a space pastoral. It features six
astronauts orbiting Earth. The narrative unfolds over 16
sunrises and sunsets. The confined setting amplifies the
characters’ interactions.
•
Harvey’s writing captures the fragile beauty of the planet.
About B
• The Booker Prize carries a £50,000 award.
• It is open to English-language novels published in the
UK or Ireland.
• Winning the prize often transforms an author’s career.
• This year’s prize was important for various reasons. It
marked the first Booker win for a British author since 2020.
70th National Film Awards
President Droupadi Murmu gave away the 70th National Film Awards to the winners in various categories.
Key Facts
• National Film Awards are the most
prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country.
•
It aims at encouraging the production
of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
•
The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-
Features and Best Writing on Cinema.
About Na
• The
known as the ‘State Awards’. At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded.
•
Separate awards for artists and technicians were
instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967.
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and
actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.
Key Recipient of the National Film Awards, 2024
• BAattam (The Play)
• Best Non-feature film: Ayena (Mirror)
• Best Actor: Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
• B Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrambalam) and Manasi
Parekh (Kutch Express)
• Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the
Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2022.
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, 2024
Former President of Chile, Veronica
Michelle Bachelet Jeria was awarded
the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development 2024.
Key Highlights:
•
Instituted in 1986, the award is
given annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
•
The award is named after Indira Gandhi, the first and only
woman Prime Minister of independent India.
• It aims to honor women, men and institutions that have done
exemplary work in the service of humanity and the planet Earth.
• Recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international
nominees.
• In 2023, it was presented to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 2022
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty has
been honored with the Dadasaheb
Phalke Award, which is the highest
recognition in Indian cinema. This
prestigious award celebrates a
person’s lifetime contribution to the film
industry.
The announcement was made by
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and
the award was officially presented on
October 8, 2024, at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony. This
comes soon after Chakraborty received another major honor, the
Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards He is the
54th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Mithun Chakraborty:
•
M
started his acting career in 1977. He made
a strong debut with the movie ‘Mrigayaa’,
which earned him a National Award.
•
His popularity skyrocketed in 1982 with
the film ‘Disco Dancer’, a huge success that made him a household name across India.
138ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
• It
conferred for “Outstanding contribution for the growth and
development of Indian cinema”.
• It was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady
of Indian cinema”.
• This award includes a 'Swarna Kamal,' a cash prize of
`15 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl. It is presented
by the President of India.
Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2024
Recently, the 66th Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024 was awarded to four individuals and an organisation.
Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2024
•
K is being
honoured for bridging Bhutan’s rich heritage with modern challenges, inspiring young Bhutanese to embrace their past while confidently moving forward.
•
Miyazaki Hayao (Japan), co-founder of Studio Ghibli, is
being honoured for using animation to illustrate the human condition, especially inspiring children as torchbearers of imagination.
•
Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand) is being recognized for
improving public health and empowering rural citizens, ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s progress.
•
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (Vietnam) is being honoured for
her research on Agent Orange’s/Dioxin’s impact and her dedication to supporting its victims, highlighting the long- term consequences of war.
•
Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia) is being recognized for her
emergent leadership in protecting endangered natural resources, promoting social justice, and advocating for responsible stewardship of nature.
About Ramon Magsaysay Award
•
The
established in 1958 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund based in New York City.
•
It is Asia’s premier prize and highest honour. It recognizes
the greatness of spirit shown in selfless service to the peoples of Asia.
International Booker Prize 2024
The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the
literary world, has recently come under fire for the historical links
to slavery of its original sponsor, Booker Group. “Kairos” written
by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann) has won
the 2024 International Booker Prize.
About International Booker Prize:
• The
prestigious literary award that recognizes
the best translated work of fiction from around
the world. It was established in 2005.
•
The prize aims to encourage more publishing
and reading of quality fiction from all over the globe, and to promote the work of translators who bring these stories to an English-speaking audience.
•
Books eligible for the International Booker
Prize must be translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
•
Both the author and the translator share the prize money
equally, highlighting the essential role of translation in bringing diverse voices to the English-speaking world.
•
In 2022, Geetanjali Shree for her Hindi novel 'Tomb of Sand'
received the prize.
Jnanpith Award, 2024
•
Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla
has been selected for the 59th
Jnanpith Award, India's highest
literary honor.
•
Established in 1961, the Jnanpith
Award recognizes exceptional contributions to Indian literature.
•
Shukla becomes the 12th Hindi writer to receive this
prestigious accolade, joining the ranks of literary giants like Mahadevi Verma and Kunwar Narayan.
•
Vinod Kumar Shukla is renowned for transforming everyday
moments into extraordinary tales. Among his most celebrated works are Naukar Ki Kameez and Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi. These novels exemplify his unique ability to find profound meaning in simple, mundane experiences.
Mitra Vibhushana Award
•
Recently, Prime Minister of India Narendra
Modi received this award during his state
visit to Sri Lanka.
• The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana is the
highest civilian honour awarded by Sri Lanka. It recognises foreign leaders who have encouraged strong ties with the nation.
•
The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana was established in 2008 by
then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
• It aims to honour Heads of State and government officials
who have shown solidarity with Sri Lanka.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
• It
conferred for “Outstanding contribution for the growth and
development of Indian cinema”.
• It was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady
of Indian cinema”.
• This award includes a 'Swarna Kamal,' a cash prize of
`15 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl. It is presented
by the President of India.
Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2024
Recently, the 66th Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024 was awarded to four individuals and an organisation.
Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2024
•
K is being
honoured for bridging Bhutan’s rich heritage with modern challenges, inspiring young Bhutanese to embrace their past while confidently moving forward.
•
Miyazaki Hayao (Japan), co-founder of Studio Ghibli, is
being honoured for using animation to illustrate the human condition, especially inspiring children as torchbearers of imagination.
•
Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand) is being recognized for
improving public health and empowering rural citizens, ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s progress.
•
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (Vietnam) is being honoured for
her research on Agent Orange’s/Dioxin’s impact and her dedication to supporting its victims, highlighting the long- term consequences of war.
•
Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia) is being recognized for her
emergent leadership in protecting endangered natural resources, promoting social justice, and advocating for responsible stewardship of nature.
About Ramon Magsaysay Award
•
The
established in 1958 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund based in New York City.
•
It is Asia’s premier prize and highest honour. It recognizes
the greatness of spirit shown in selfless service to the peoples of Asia.
International Booker Prize 2024
The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the
literary world, has recently come under fire for the historical links
to slavery of its original sponsor, Booker Group. “Kairos” written
by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann) has won
the 2024 International Booker Prize.
About International Booker Prize:
• The
prestigious literary award that recognizes
the best translated work of fiction from around
the world. It was established in 2005.
•
The prize aims to encourage more publishing
and reading of quality fiction from all over the globe, and to promote the work of translators who bring these stories to an English-speaking audience.
•
Books eligible for the International Booker
Prize must be translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
•
Both the author and the translator share the prize money
equally, highlighting the essential role of translation in bringing diverse voices to the English-speaking world.
•
In 2022, Geetanjali Shree for her Hindi novel 'Tomb of Sand'
received the prize.
Jnanpith Award, 2024
•
Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla
has been selected for the 59th
Jnanpith Award, India's highest
literary honor.
•
Established in 1961, the Jnanpith
Award recognizes exceptional contributions to Indian literature.
•
Shukla becomes the 12th Hindi writer to receive this
prestigious accolade, joining the ranks of literary giants like Mahadevi Verma and Kunwar Narayan.
•
Vinod Kumar Shukla is renowned for transforming everyday
moments into extraordinary tales. Among his most celebrated works are Naukar Ki Kameez and Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi. These novels exemplify his unique ability to find profound meaning in simple, mundane experiences.
Mitra Vibhushana Award
•
Recently, Prime Minister of India Narendra
Modi received this award during his state
visit to Sri Lanka.
• The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana is the
highest civilian honour awarded by Sri Lanka. It recognises foreign leaders who have encouraged strong ties with the nation.
•
The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana was established in 2008 by
then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
• It aims to honour Heads of State and government officials
who have shown solidarity with Sri Lanka.
139Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The
honours in Sri Lanka.
• It signifies the importance of international relationships in the
context of Sri Lankan diplomacy.
Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
awarded Kuwait’s highest honour
‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’.
Key Highlights
•
It is the 20th international award
bestowed upon him by a country.
• ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’
or the Order of Mubarak the Great,
is a knighthood order of Kuwait.
• The award was instituted in 1974,
in the memory of Mubarak Al Sabah — also known as Mubarak al-Kabeer or Mubarak the Great — who ruled Kuwait from 1896 to 1915. Under his reign, Kuwait got more autonomy from the Ottoman Empire.
•
It is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and
members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship.
• It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill
Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.
Olympic Order
Abhinav Bindra has been honoured with the Olympic Order for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement. He is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award.
Key points:
•
It
Committee (IOC).
• Established in 1975, it is awarded to individuals who have
rendered distinguished service to the Olympic Movement.
• It can be bestowed upon IOC members, athletes, and other
individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of the Olympic Games and its ideals.
•
The award comes in three grades: gold, silver, and bronze,
with the gold medal being the most prestigious.
• The recipients of the Olympic Order are chosen by the IOC’s
Executive Board.
• The award symbolizes the recipient’s dedication to the
Olympic spirit and their contributions to promoting the values of excellence, friendship, and respect in sports.
UN Champions of the Earth Award, 2024
The United Nations recognised ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the annual Champions of the Earth award for his seminal work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
Key Facts
• UN Champions of the Earth Award was
launched in 2005 by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The award recognizes outstanding figures from the public
and private sector as well as civil society, whose actions have brought about a positive impact and a transformation on the environment.
•
The award is presented – Lifetime Achievement, Policy
Leadership, Action and Inspiration, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science & Innovation categories.
•
Madhav Gadgil has been honoured in the “lifetime
achievement” category.
• Past Indian recipients: Narendra Modi (2018), Cochin
International Airport (2018) and Afroz Shah (2016).
OPCW-The Hague Award 2024
Indian Chemical Council (ICC) has won the 2024
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) The Hague Award.
Key Facts
•
This
a chemical industry body.
• In 2013, OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its
extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
• To preserve the legacy of this achievement, the OPCW
established the ‘OPCW-The Hague Award’ in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014.
•
The Award recognizes individuals and organizations that
play a significant role in advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Abel Prize
Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded this year’s Abel Prize. He was honored with the Abel Prize for his groundbreaking work in algebraic analysis, representation theory, the development of D-modules, and the discovery of crystal bases.
•
Named after legendary Norwegian
mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–
1829), the prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament
in 2002 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abel’s birth.
•
First awarded in 2003, the Abel Prize is often regarded as the
Nobel Prize equivalent in mathematics.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• The
honours in Sri Lanka.
• It signifies the importance of international relationships in the
context of Sri Lankan diplomacy.
Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
awarded Kuwait’s highest honour
‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’.
Key Highlights
•
It is the 20th international award
bestowed upon him by a country.
• ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’
or the Order of Mubarak the Great,
is a knighthood order of Kuwait.
• The award was instituted in 1974,
in the memory of Mubarak Al Sabah — also known as Mubarak al-Kabeer or Mubarak the Great — who ruled Kuwait from 1896 to 1915. Under his reign, Kuwait got more autonomy from the Ottoman Empire.
•
It is awarded to Heads of State and foreign Sovereigns and
members of foreign royal families in sign of friendship.
• It has been previously awarded to foreign leaders like Bill
Clinton, Prince Charles and George Bush.
Olympic Order
Abhinav Bindra has been honoured with the Olympic Order for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement. He is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award.
Key points:
•
It
Committee (IOC).
• Established in 1975, it is awarded to individuals who have
rendered distinguished service to the Olympic Movement.
• It can be bestowed upon IOC members, athletes, and other
individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of the Olympic Games and its ideals.
•
The award comes in three grades: gold, silver, and bronze,
with the gold medal being the most prestigious.
• The recipients of the Olympic Order are chosen by the IOC’s
Executive Board.
• The award symbolizes the recipient’s dedication to the
Olympic spirit and their contributions to promoting the values of excellence, friendship, and respect in sports.
UN Champions of the Earth Award, 2024
The United Nations recognised ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the annual Champions of the Earth award for his seminal work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
Key Facts
• UN Champions of the Earth Award was
launched in 2005 by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The award recognizes outstanding figures from the public
and private sector as well as civil society, whose actions have brought about a positive impact and a transformation on the environment.
•
The award is presented – Lifetime Achievement, Policy
Leadership, Action and Inspiration, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science & Innovation categories.
•
Madhav Gadgil has been honoured in the “lifetime
achievement” category.
• Past Indian recipients: Narendra Modi (2018), Cochin
International Airport (2018) and Afroz Shah (2016).
OPCW-The Hague Award 2024
Indian Chemical Council (ICC) has won the 2024
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) The Hague Award.
Key Facts
•
This
a chemical industry body.
• In 2013, OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its
extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
• To preserve the legacy of this achievement, the OPCW
established the ‘OPCW-The Hague Award’ in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014.
•
The Award recognizes individuals and organizations that
play a significant role in advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Abel Prize
Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded this year’s Abel Prize. He was honored with the Abel Prize for his groundbreaking work in algebraic analysis, representation theory, the development of D-modules, and the discovery of crystal bases.
•
Named after legendary Norwegian
mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–
1829), the prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament
in 2002 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abel’s birth.
•
First awarded in 2003, the Abel Prize is often regarded as the
Nobel Prize equivalent in mathematics.
140ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
John Hopfield, a
professor at Princeton
University, developed
the Hopfield network,
a type of recurrent
neural network that
processes information
based on Hebbian
learning. It enables the
storage and reconstruction of images
and patterns.
The Hopfield network is inspired by the
physics of magnetic atoms, with neurons
mimicking atoms’ energy-minimizing
behavior to complete patterns or
denoise images. His 1982 paper laid the
foundation for using statistical physics in
modeling neural circuits.
Alfred Bernhard Nobel
Physics
Chemistry
Peace
Economics
Physiology
Literature
On 27 November 1895, Alfred
Nobel signed his last will and
testament, giving the largest
share of his fortune to a series
of prizes in physics, chemistry,
physiology or medicine,
literature and peace the
Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges
Riksbank (Sweden’s central
bank) established The Sveriges
Riksbank Prize in Economic
Sciences in Memory of Alfred
Nobel. Alfred Bernhard Nobel,
died on December 10, 1896.
Nobel Prize in Physics, 2024
John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics
for their foundational contributions to machine learning using artificial neural networks
(ANNs). Artificial neural networks (ANNs), which process data through interconnected
nodes, have become well-known due to the popularity of AI apps like ChatGPT.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2024
The Nobel Prize for 2024 in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker “for computational
protein design” along with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure
prediction”. Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the
body. They are made up of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked together
in long chains. There are 20 different types of amino acids, and the specific sequence
in which they are arranged determines the protein’s structure and function.
In 2020, Demis Hassabis and
John Jumper developed an
AI model called AlphaFold2,
as part of Google’s DeepMind
project, that was able to
predict the structure of
virtually all the 200 million
proteins that researchers
have identified. It allows us
to better understand how
life functions, including why
some diseases develop, how
antibiotic resistance occurs
or why some microbes can
decompose plastic.
In 2003,
David Baker,
a professor at
the University
of Washington,
succeeded
in using
these blocks
to design a
new protein that was unlike any
other protein. Since then, his
research group has produced
one imaginative protein creation
after another.
Geoffrey Hinton,
a professor at the
University of Toronto,
adapted the Boltzmann
machine for cognitive
tasks and created the
restricted Boltzmann
machine (RBM).
It uses statistical
physics to recognize features in data
and learns by recognizing patterns and
generating new examples of the data on
which it was trained, playing a significant
role in machine learning’s current growth
His work led to the development of deep
learning ANNs, with layers of neurons
capable of complex tasks.
NOBEL PRIZE 2024
John Hopfield
David Baker Demis Hassabis
John Jumper
Geoffrey Hinton
John Hopfield, a
professor at Princeton
University, developed
the Hopfield network,
a type of recurrent
neural network that
processes information
based on Hebbian
learning. It enables the
storage and reconstruction of images
and patterns.
The Hopfield network is inspired by the
physics of magnetic atoms, with neurons
mimicking atoms’ energy-minimizing
behavior to complete patterns or
denoise images. His 1982 paper laid the
foundation for using statistical physics in
modeling neural circuits.
Alfred Bernhard Nobel
Physics
Chemistry
Peace
Economics
Physiology
Literature
On 27 November 1895, Alfred
Nobel signed his last will and
testament, giving the largest
share of his fortune to a series
of prizes in physics, chemistry,
physiology or medicine,
literature and peace the
Nobel Prizes. In 1968, Sveriges
Riksbank (Sweden’s central
bank) established The Sveriges
Riksbank Prize in Economic
Sciences in Memory of Alfred
Nobel. Alfred Bernhard Nobel,
died on December 10, 1896.
Nobel Prize in Physics, 2024
John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics
for their foundational contributions to machine learning using artificial neural networks
(ANNs). Artificial neural networks (ANNs), which process data through interconnected
nodes, have become well-known due to the popularity of AI apps like ChatGPT.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2024
The Nobel Prize for 2024 in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker “for computational
protein design” along with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure
prediction”. Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the
body. They are made up of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked together
in long chains. There are 20 different types of amino acids, and the specific sequence
in which they are arranged determines the protein’s structure and function.
In 2020, Demis Hassabis and
John Jumper developed an
AI model called AlphaFold2,
as part of Google’s DeepMind
project, that was able to
predict the structure of
virtually all the 200 million
proteins that researchers
have identified. It allows us
to better understand how
life functions, including why
some diseases develop, how
antibiotic resistance occurs
or why some microbes can
decompose plastic.
In 2003,
David Baker,
a professor at
the University
of Washington,
succeeded
in using
these blocks
to design a
new protein that was unlike any
other protein. Since then, his
research group has produced
one imaginative protein creation
after another.
Geoffrey Hinton,
a professor at the
University of Toronto,
adapted the Boltzmann
machine for cognitive
tasks and created the
restricted Boltzmann
machine (RBM).
It uses statistical
physics to recognize features in data
and learns by recognizing patterns and
generating new examples of the data on
which it was trained, playing a significant
role in machine learning’s current growth
His work led to the development of deep
learning ANNs, with layers of neurons
capable of complex tasks.
NOBEL PRIZE 2024
John Hopfield
David Baker Demis Hassabis
John Jumper
Geoffrey Hinton
141Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Nobel Prize in Economics, 2024
The Nobel Memorial Prize in economics was awarded to Daron
Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A Robinson for their research
into differences in prosperity between nations.
•
The three awardees “have demonstrated the importance of societal
institutions for a country’s prosperity”, the Nobel committee of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said, adding, “Societies with
a poor rule of law and institutions that exploit the population do not
generate growth or change for the better. The laureates’ research
helps us understand why.”
•
Formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the economics prize was
established by the central bank in 1968 as a memorial to the 19th-century Swedish businessman and chemist who invented dynamite.
•
He had established five Nobel Prizes — medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace.
James A Robinson Daron Acemoglu Simon Johnson
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2024
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 was awarded jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun "for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation".
•
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA, a new class of tiny RNA
molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation. Their groundbreaking discovery
revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential
for multicellular organisms, including humans.
•
MicroRNAs are proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and
function.
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Victor Ambros Gary Ruvkun
Nobel Prize in Literature, 2024
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 is awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang, “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
•
It was announced by the Swedish
Academy in Stockholm, Sweden.
• She is the first South Korean and the first
Asian female Nobel laureate in literature.
• In 2016, Han Kang’s The Vegetarian became the first
Korean language novel to win the Man Booker International
Prize.
Nobel Prize in Peace, 2024
The 2024 Nobel Prize for Peace has been awarded to Nihon
Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation of survivors of the
Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings for its “efforts to
achieve a world free of nuclear
weapons”.
•
Founded on 10th August 1956,
it is composed of survivors from the
atomic bombings in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki conducted by the United States in 1945.
•
The survivors, referred to as “Hibakusha” or “bomb-affected
people,” played a pivotal role in leading the global movement aimed at abolishing nuclear weapons.
Han Kang
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Nobel Prize in Economics, 2024
The Nobel Memorial Prize in economics was awarded to Daron
Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A Robinson for their research
into differences in prosperity between nations.
•
The three awardees “have demonstrated the importance of societal
institutions for a country’s prosperity”, the Nobel committee of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said, adding, “Societies with
a poor rule of law and institutions that exploit the population do not
generate growth or change for the better. The laureates’ research
helps us understand why.”
•
Formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the economics prize was
established by the central bank in 1968 as a memorial to the 19th-century Swedish businessman and chemist who invented dynamite.
•
He had established five Nobel Prizes — medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace.
James A Robinson Daron Acemoglu Simon Johnson
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2024
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 was awarded jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun "for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation".
•
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA, a new class of tiny RNA
molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation. Their groundbreaking discovery
revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential
for multicellular organisms, including humans.
•
MicroRNAs are proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and
function.
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Victor Ambros Gary Ruvkun
Nobel Prize in Literature, 2024
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 is awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang, “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
•
It was announced by the Swedish
Academy in Stockholm, Sweden.
• She is the first South Korean and the first
Asian female Nobel laureate in literature.
• In 2016, Han Kang’s The Vegetarian became the first
Korean language novel to win the Man Booker International
Prize.
Nobel Prize in Peace, 2024
The 2024 Nobel Prize for Peace has been awarded to Nihon
Hidankyo, a Japanese organisation of survivors of the
Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings for its “efforts to
achieve a world free of nuclear
weapons”.
•
Founded on 10th August 1956,
it is composed of survivors from the
atomic bombings in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki conducted by the United States in 1945.
•
The survivors, referred to as “Hibakusha” or “bomb-affected
people,” played a pivotal role in leading the global movement aimed at abolishing nuclear weapons.
Han Kang
142ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Gyanesh Kumar
• Form
has been appointed as the Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) of India,
succeeding Rajiv Kumar.
•
The appointment was made by a
Selection Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
•
The process has sparked controversy due to opposition
objections and pending Supreme Court cases.
• Previous system of appointment:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) comprises a CEC
and two Election Commissioners (ECs).
Earlier, there was no law passed by Parliament for
the appointment of the CEC and ECs. The President appointed the CEC on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Traditionally, the senior-most Election Commissioner was
elevated to CEC.
Seniority was determined based on the order of
appointment notification.
• The new appointment process:
The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election
Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023 governs appointments now.
The process involves two stages:
The Search Committee (headed by the Law Minister)
shortlists five names.
The Selection Committee (PM, Leader of the
Opposition [LoP], and a Union Minister) chooses the final candidate.
The President officially appoints the CEC based on this
recommendation.
Sanjay Malhotra
IAS officer Sanjay Malhotra has been appointment as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
Key Facts
•
Sanjay M alhotra succeeded
Shaktikanta Das as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
• The RBI Governor is appointed under the provisions of the
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• The Governor shall hold office for such term not exceeding
five years as the Central Government may fix when appointing them, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
•
The RBI Act, of 1934 does not mention any specific
qualification for the governor and people with different educational backgrounds were selected to head the institution.
•
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC): It is headed by the
RBI governor, and is entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy interest rate (Repo Rate) to contain inflation within the specified target level.
K. Sanjay Murthy
The President of India appointed K Sanjay Murthy as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
Key facts
•
A
Himachal Pradesh cadre, Murthy succeeded Girish Chandra Murmu.
•
He last served as the Secretary of the Department of Higher
Education.
Key highlights
•
CAG
India.
• He is the head of the Indian audit & account department and
chief Guardian of public purse.
• It is the institution through which the accountability of the
government and other public authorities (all those who spend public funds) to Parliament and State Legislatures and through them to the people is ensured.
•
Constitutional Provisions
Article 148 broadly deals with the CAG appointment,
oath and conditions of service.
Article 149 deals with Duties and Powers of the
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
Article 150 says that the accounts of the Union and of the
States shall be kept in such form as the President may, on the advice of the CAG, prescribe.
Gyanesh Kumar
• Form
has been appointed as the Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) of India,
succeeding Rajiv Kumar.
•
The appointment was made by a
Selection Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
•
The process has sparked controversy due to opposition
objections and pending Supreme Court cases.
• Previous system of appointment:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) comprises a CEC
and two Election Commissioners (ECs).
Earlier, there was no law passed by Parliament for
the appointment of the CEC and ECs. The President appointed the CEC on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Traditionally, the senior-most Election Commissioner was
elevated to CEC.
Seniority was determined based on the order of
appointment notification.
• The new appointment process:
The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election
Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023 governs appointments now.
The process involves two stages:
The Search Committee (headed by the Law Minister)
shortlists five names.
The Selection Committee (PM, Leader of the
Opposition [LoP], and a Union Minister) chooses the final candidate.
The President officially appoints the CEC based on this
recommendation.
Sanjay Malhotra
IAS officer Sanjay Malhotra has been appointment as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
Key Facts
•
Sanjay M alhotra succeeded
Shaktikanta Das as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
• The RBI Governor is appointed under the provisions of the
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• The Governor shall hold office for such term not exceeding
five years as the Central Government may fix when appointing them, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
•
The RBI Act, of 1934 does not mention any specific
qualification for the governor and people with different educational backgrounds were selected to head the institution.
•
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC): It is headed by the
RBI governor, and is entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy interest rate (Repo Rate) to contain inflation within the specified target level.
K. Sanjay Murthy
The President of India appointed K Sanjay Murthy as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
Key facts
•
A
Himachal Pradesh cadre, Murthy succeeded Girish Chandra Murmu.
•
He last served as the Secretary of the Department of Higher
Education.
Key highlights
•
CAG
India.
• He is the head of the Indian audit & account department and
chief Guardian of public purse.
• It is the institution through which the accountability of the
government and other public authorities (all those who spend public funds) to Parliament and State Legislatures and through them to the people is ensured.
•
Constitutional Provisions
Article 148 broadly deals with the CAG appointment,
oath and conditions of service.
Article 149 deals with Duties and Powers of the
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
Article 150 says that the accounts of the Union and of the
States shall be kept in such form as the President may, on the advice of the CAG, prescribe.
143Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ar
and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts
of the Union shall be submitted to the president, who
shall cause them to be laid before each House of
Parliament.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Sanjiv
Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief
Justice of India (CJI), and his term will
last until May 13, 2025. He succeeded CJI
D.Y. Chandrachud.
Key Facts
•
The Constitution of India does not mention any procedure for
appointment of the CJI.
• Article 124 (1) of the Constitution merely says, “there shall
be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India.”
•
Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution says that every
Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President. Thus, in the absence of a constitutional provision, the procedure to appoint CJI relies on convention.
Landmark Judgements by CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Khanna has been part of several landmark Supreme Court judgements such as upholding the sanctity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the granting of interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh passed away recently at the age of
92.
Key Facts
•
Bor
undivided Punjab, India.
• He served as Prime Minister of the country for two consecutive
terms 2004-09 and 2009-14.
His Major Contributions
•
GJoined the Government of India in 1971
as Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry.
Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of
Finance in 1972.
Held
the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Chairman of the Planning
Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India,
Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the
University Grants Commission.
•
Economic Reforms: As Finance Minister in the 1990s,
played a key role in liberalizing India’s economy, reducing trade barriers, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and implementing reforms that fostered rapid growth.
•
India’s GDP Growth: India experienced robust economic
growth, with the economy expanding at an average rate of 7-8% per year during his tenure as Prime Minister.
•
Fiscal and Banking Reforms: He contributed to
strengthening India’s banking sector and addressing inflation, while maintaining fiscal discipline.
•
Nuclear Deal (2008): He was instrumental in the landmark
U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, which strengthened India’s global standing and secured access to nuclear technology and fuel.
•
Social Welfare Programs: His government introduced key
social welfare programs, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act (RTI).
•
Literary Work: He also authored the book “India’s Export
Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth” (1964), critiquing India’s inward-oriented trade policy.
•
Awards and Honors: Received the Padma Vibhushan
(1987), India’s second-highest civilian honor.
Awarded the Asia Money Award and Euro Money
Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993, 1994).
Honored with the Adam Smith Prize (1956) and Wright’s
Prize (1955).
Shaktikanta Das
•
Form
Governor Shaktikanta Das was
appointed the Principal Secretary to
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
•
He is only the second RBI Governor
to have a six-year tenure, apart from Bimal Jalan (1997-2003).
•
The Principal Secretary is the administrative head of the
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and is considered the most important aide to the PM.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Ar
and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts
of the Union shall be submitted to the president, who
shall cause them to be laid before each House of
Parliament.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Sanjiv
Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief
Justice of India (CJI), and his term will
last until May 13, 2025. He succeeded CJI
D.Y. Chandrachud.
Key Facts
•
The Constitution of India does not mention any procedure for
appointment of the CJI.
• Article 124 (1) of the Constitution merely says, “there shall
be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India.”
•
Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution says that every
Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President. Thus, in the absence of a constitutional provision, the procedure to appoint CJI relies on convention.
Landmark Judgements by CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Khanna has been part of several landmark Supreme Court judgements such as upholding the sanctity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the granting of interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh passed away recently at the age of
92.
Key Facts
•
Bor
undivided Punjab, India.
• He served as Prime Minister of the country for two consecutive
terms 2004-09 and 2009-14.
His Major Contributions
•
GJoined the Government of India in 1971
as Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry.
Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of
Finance in 1972.
Held
the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Chairman of the Planning
Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India,
Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the
University Grants Commission.
•
Economic Reforms: As Finance Minister in the 1990s,
played a key role in liberalizing India’s economy, reducing trade barriers, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and implementing reforms that fostered rapid growth.
•
India’s GDP Growth: India experienced robust economic
growth, with the economy expanding at an average rate of 7-8% per year during his tenure as Prime Minister.
•
Fiscal and Banking Reforms: He contributed to
strengthening India’s banking sector and addressing inflation, while maintaining fiscal discipline.
•
Nuclear Deal (2008): He was instrumental in the landmark
U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, which strengthened India’s global standing and secured access to nuclear technology and fuel.
•
Social Welfare Programs: His government introduced key
social welfare programs, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act (RTI).
•
Literary Work: He also authored the book “India’s Export
Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth” (1964), critiquing India’s inward-oriented trade policy.
•
Awards and Honors: Received the Padma Vibhushan
(1987), India’s second-highest civilian honor.
Awarded the Asia Money Award and Euro Money
Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993, 1994).
Honored with the Adam Smith Prize (1956) and Wright’s
Prize (1955).
Shaktikanta Das
•
Form
Governor Shaktikanta Das was
appointed the Principal Secretary to
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
•
He is only the second RBI Governor
to have a six-year tenure, apart from Bimal Jalan (1997-2003).
•
The Principal Secretary is the administrative head of the
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and is considered the most important aide to the PM.
144ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• He is tasked with preparing notes on matters to be
discussed between the PM and foreign dignitaries, ensuring
coordination among various ministries and departments,
sharing important orders before the PM, and so on.
•
The PMO also includes the National Security Advisor,
Advisor to PM, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries and other senior bureaucrats.
Bibek Debroy
Economist and Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council Bibek Debroy has passed away.
Key Facts
•
Bibek Debroy was a full-time Member
of NITI Aayog from its constitution in 2015 until June 2019.
•
He was also a Sanskrit scholar who had translated
the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata into English.
•
Bibek Debroy Committee: Chaired by Debroy from 2014
to 2015, this committee was tasked with restructuring the Railway Ministry and Railway Board, and mobilizing resources for major railway projects.
•
He was the Chairman of the Finance Ministry’s ‘Expert
Committee for Infrastructure Classification and Financing
Framework for Amrit Kaal.
• Debroy was awarded a Padma Shri in 2015 and the Lifetime
Achievement Award by the US-India Business Summit in 2016.
V. Narayanan
•
Renowned Indian rocket propulsion
expert and aerospace engineer Dr.
V. Narayanan has been appointed
the next chairman of the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO).
•
Dr. Narayanan holds experience in
cryogenic propulsion systems and is mostly recognised for his noteworthy contributions to Indian space missions.
•
He will be succeeding the current ISRO Chairman S.
Somanath. This change in leadership comes at an important time as ISRO continues to ramp up its efforts in satellite technology development, advanced space exploration missions, and global collaborations.
•
In January 2018, he was appointed Director of the Liquid
Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). He helped create the
Solid Propulsion Systems for the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and the Rohini Sounding Rockets early in his ISRO career.
•
Additionally, Dr. Narayanan was the Project Director for the
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV
Mk III) C25 Cryogenic Project. He oversaw the group that
created the C25 Cryogenic Stage, which uses liquid oxygen
and liquid hydrogen to power a 20-ton thrust engine. The
GSLV Mk III vehicle was successfully launched on this stage
for the first time.
V. Ramasubramanian
The President of India appointed
retired Supreme Court Justice V.
Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of
the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC).
Key facts
•
It was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection
of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. The Act was amended
by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act,
2006.
•
NHRC is in conformity with the Paris Principles, which were
adopted at the first international workshop on national human rights institutions in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Regulation 48/134 of 20 December 1993.
•
The Commission consists of a Chairperson, five full-time
Members and seven deemed Members.
• The Chairperson and Members of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) are appointed by the President
of India based on recommendations from a Committee. This
Committee includes the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the
Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Home Minister, the leaders of
the opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
•
NHRC is responsible for promoting human rights awareness
at both national and international levels, encouraging stakeholders in human rights literacy.
T.V. Somanathan
•
Recently, Dr. T.V. Somanathan
assumed as the Cabinet Secretary after the superannuation of his predecessor, Rajiv Gauba.
• He is tasked with preparing notes on matters to be
discussed between the PM and foreign dignitaries, ensuring
coordination among various ministries and departments,
sharing important orders before the PM, and so on.
•
The PMO also includes the National Security Advisor,
Advisor to PM, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries and other senior bureaucrats.
Bibek Debroy
Economist and Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council Bibek Debroy has passed away.
Key Facts
•
Bibek Debroy was a full-time Member
of NITI Aayog from its constitution in 2015 until June 2019.
•
He was also a Sanskrit scholar who had translated
the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata into English.
•
Bibek Debroy Committee: Chaired by Debroy from 2014
to 2015, this committee was tasked with restructuring the Railway Ministry and Railway Board, and mobilizing resources for major railway projects.
•
He was the Chairman of the Finance Ministry’s ‘Expert
Committee for Infrastructure Classification and Financing
Framework for Amrit Kaal.
• Debroy was awarded a Padma Shri in 2015 and the Lifetime
Achievement Award by the US-India Business Summit in 2016.
V. Narayanan
•
Renowned Indian rocket propulsion
expert and aerospace engineer Dr.
V. Narayanan has been appointed
the next chairman of the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO).
•
Dr. Narayanan holds experience in
cryogenic propulsion systems and is mostly recognised for his noteworthy contributions to Indian space missions.
•
He will be succeeding the current ISRO Chairman S.
Somanath. This change in leadership comes at an important time as ISRO continues to ramp up its efforts in satellite technology development, advanced space exploration missions, and global collaborations.
•
In January 2018, he was appointed Director of the Liquid
Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). He helped create the
Solid Propulsion Systems for the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and the Rohini Sounding Rockets early in his ISRO career.
•
Additionally, Dr. Narayanan was the Project Director for the
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV
Mk III) C25 Cryogenic Project. He oversaw the group that
created the C25 Cryogenic Stage, which uses liquid oxygen
and liquid hydrogen to power a 20-ton thrust engine. The
GSLV Mk III vehicle was successfully launched on this stage
for the first time.
V. Ramasubramanian
The President of India appointed
retired Supreme Court Justice V.
Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of
the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC).
Key facts
•
It was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection
of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. The Act was amended
by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act,
2006.
•
NHRC is in conformity with the Paris Principles, which were
adopted at the first international workshop on national human rights institutions in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Regulation 48/134 of 20 December 1993.
•
The Commission consists of a Chairperson, five full-time
Members and seven deemed Members.
• The Chairperson and Members of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) are appointed by the President
of India based on recommendations from a Committee. This
Committee includes the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the
Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Home Minister, the leaders of
the opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
•
NHRC is responsible for promoting human rights awareness
at both national and international levels, encouraging stakeholders in human rights literacy.
T.V. Somanathan
•
Recently, Dr. T.V. Somanathan
assumed as the Cabinet Secretary after the superannuation of his predecessor, Rajiv Gauba.
145Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
About the Cabinet Secretary
• He is the administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat who
is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board,
and serves as the head of the Indian Administrative Service
(IAS).
•
He plays a critical role in coordinating policy implementation,
inter-ministerial communication, and administrative matters at the highest level.
Roles and Functions
•
CIt ensures smooth functioning
of Cabinet meetings, where crucial decisions are made. These meetings involve discussions on policy matters, legislative proposals, and administrative issues.
•
Inter-Ministerial Coordination: It acts as a bridge between various
ministries and departments by facilitating communication, resolves conflicts, and ensures effective implementation of government policies.
•
Advising the Prime Minister: It provides expert advice to the
Prime Minister on administrative matters, policy formulation, and governance. Its insights are invaluable in shaping the country’s direction.
•
Administrative Leadership: As the senior-most civil servant,
the Cabinet Secretary leads the bureaucracy. His decisions impact the functioning of the entire administrative machinery.
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig
21-year-old Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark won the Miss Universe 2024 crown.
Key Highlights
•
This
Universe.
• In 2022, Kjær Theilvig represented Denmark at Miss
Grand International in Indonesia, placing in the top twenty
contestants.
• Kjær Theilvig is only the second Danish
woman to win a title in the Big Four international beauty pageants, following Catharina Svensson's Miss Earth 2001 victory.
•
India’s Rhea Singha could
not make it to the top 12.
• The last time an Indian won
Miss Universe was in 2021, when Harnaaz Sandhu clinched the crown.
Manoj Kumar
• Veteran actor and director Manoj
Kumar passed away in Mumbai at the
age of 87.
• Widely known as ‘Bharat Kum ar’
for his iconic patriotic roles, he was honored with the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.
•
Born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami, he redefined patriotism
in Bollywood through classics like Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981).
•
His powerful screen presence and memorable performances
made him a legend. Other popular films include Patthar Ke Sanam, Shor, Sanyasi, and Roti Kapda Aur Makan.
Jimmy Carter
•
Jim
the United States, served from 20 January 1977 to 20 January 1981, passed away.
•
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains,
Georgia, Carter grew up on a peanut farm. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and later managed his family’s farm.
•
He served as the Governor of Georgia before winning the
Democratic nomination for president in 1976.
• Carter’s presidency began with a commitment to honesty
and ethical leadership. His administration was marked by high inflation and energy crises.
•
The Iran hostage crisis, which lasted 444 days, impacted
his presidency.
• He successfully brokered the Camp David Accords,
leading to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979.
•
After leaving office, Carter continued to promote peace
and humanitarian causes. He founded the Carter Center, which monitors elections and advocates for human rights globally. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his lifelong commitment to peace and humanitarian work.
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Recently, the Financial Services
Institution Bureau (FSIB) has selected
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the next
chairman of State Bank of India (SBI).
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
About the Cabinet Secretary
• He is the administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat who
is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board,
and serves as the head of the Indian Administrative Service
(IAS).
•
He plays a critical role in coordinating policy implementation,
inter-ministerial communication, and administrative matters at the highest level.
Roles and Functions
•
CIt ensures smooth functioning
of Cabinet meetings, where crucial decisions are made. These meetings involve discussions on policy matters, legislative proposals, and administrative issues.
•
Inter-Ministerial Coordination: It acts as a bridge between various
ministries and departments by facilitating communication, resolves conflicts, and ensures effective implementation of government policies.
•
Advising the Prime Minister: It provides expert advice to the
Prime Minister on administrative matters, policy formulation, and governance. Its insights are invaluable in shaping the country’s direction.
•
Administrative Leadership: As the senior-most civil servant,
the Cabinet Secretary leads the bureaucracy. His decisions impact the functioning of the entire administrative machinery.
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig
21-year-old Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark won the Miss Universe 2024 crown.
Key Highlights
•
This
Universe.
• In 2022, Kjær Theilvig represented Denmark at Miss
Grand International in Indonesia, placing in the top twenty
contestants.
• Kjær Theilvig is only the second Danish
woman to win a title in the Big Four international beauty pageants, following Catharina Svensson's Miss Earth 2001 victory.
•
India’s Rhea Singha could
not make it to the top 12.
• The last time an Indian won
Miss Universe was in 2021, when Harnaaz Sandhu clinched the crown.
Manoj Kumar
• Veteran actor and director Manoj
Kumar passed away in Mumbai at the
age of 87.
• Widely known as ‘Bharat Kum ar’
for his iconic patriotic roles, he was honored with the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.
•
Born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami, he redefined patriotism
in Bollywood through classics like Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981).
•
His powerful screen presence and memorable performances
made him a legend. Other popular films include Patthar Ke Sanam, Shor, Sanyasi, and Roti Kapda Aur Makan.
Jimmy Carter
•
Jim
the United States, served from 20 January 1977 to 20 January 1981, passed away.
•
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains,
Georgia, Carter grew up on a peanut farm. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and later managed his family’s farm.
•
He served as the Governor of Georgia before winning the
Democratic nomination for president in 1976.
• Carter’s presidency began with a commitment to honesty
and ethical leadership. His administration was marked by high inflation and energy crises.
•
The Iran hostage crisis, which lasted 444 days, impacted
his presidency.
• He successfully brokered the Camp David Accords,
leading to a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979.
•
After leaving office, Carter continued to promote peace
and humanitarian causes. He founded the Carter Center, which monitors elections and advocates for human rights globally. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his lifelong commitment to peace and humanitarian work.
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Recently, the Financial Services
Institution Bureau (FSIB) has selected
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the next
chairman of State Bank of India (SBI).
146ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
• It is
developing and implementing appropriate methodologies
for making recommendations for appointments, extension
and termination of members of the Boards in the institutions
specified in the Government of India gazette notification.
•
It was established to replace the Banks Board Bureau (BBB).
• Its primary mandate is to recommend candidates for
appointment as whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons on the boards of financial services institutions.
•
Additionally, the FSIB aims to advise on personnel
management matters within these institutions.
Satish Kumar
•
The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) approved the
appointment of Satish Kumar as the
Chairman and CEO of Railway Board.
•
The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) is a high-level committee headed by the PM responsible for appointing senior officials to key positions in the central government and public sector undertakings.
•
The Railway Board was established in 1905 as a part of the
British Indian government’s efforts to better manage the
expanding railway network.
• It serves as the apex body responsible for the administration,
operation, and policy formulation of Indian Railways.
Upendra Dwivedi
•
Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi has been
appointed as the new Chief of the Army Staff by the President of India.
•
He succeeded Gen. Manoj Pande,
General Pande was given an extra
month to leave before his original
planned date.
Mark Rutte
•
The NATO appointed former Dutch
Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its new
Secretary-General. This comes as
the conflict in Ukraine continues and
the US’s future relationship with the
alliance is being talked about.
•
Rutte took over the job from Jens
Stoltenberg of Norway.
Kaamya Karthikeyan
Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 17-year-old
student from Mumbai, has made history
by becoming the youngest female in the
world to conquer highest peaks of all
seven continent.
Climbed Peaks
•
A Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
• Europe: Mount Elbrus (Russia)
• Australia: Mount Kosciuszko (Australia)
• South America: Mount Aconcagua (Argentina)
• North America: Mount Denali (USA)
• Asia: Mount Everest (Nepal)
• Antarctica: Mount Vinson (Antarctica)
Purnima Devi Barman
•
A biologist from Assam, Purnima Devi
Barman, was featured on the Time’s
Women of The Year 2025 list.
• Purnima Devi Barman is the only
Indian woman on Time’s 2025 Women of the Year list.
The list includes notable women such as actress Nicole
Kidman and Gisele Pelicot, a survivor of sexual violence
who became an advocate for the cause.
• In 2007, Barman’s intervened to save a tree home to greater
adjutant storks in Assam, inspired by the birds’ vulnerability.
She found the Hargila Army, a group of 20,000 women
who protect the storks’ nests and educate about their
conservation.
The population of greater adjutant storks in Assam grew
from 450 in 2007 to over 1,800 in 2023, with the bird’s conservation status improved from “endangered” to “near threatened.”
•
Time’s Women of the Year is an annual recognition by Time
magazine that highlights women making significant changes in the face of challenges like gender violence, climate issues, and women’s rights.
• It is
developing and implementing appropriate methodologies
for making recommendations for appointments, extension
and termination of members of the Boards in the institutions
specified in the Government of India gazette notification.
•
It was established to replace the Banks Board Bureau (BBB).
• Its primary mandate is to recommend candidates for
appointment as whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons on the boards of financial services institutions.
•
Additionally, the FSIB aims to advise on personnel
management matters within these institutions.
Satish Kumar
•
The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) approved the
appointment of Satish Kumar as the
Chairman and CEO of Railway Board.
•
The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) is a high-level committee headed by the PM responsible for appointing senior officials to key positions in the central government and public sector undertakings.
•
The Railway Board was established in 1905 as a part of the
British Indian government’s efforts to better manage the
expanding railway network.
• It serves as the apex body responsible for the administration,
operation, and policy formulation of Indian Railways.
Upendra Dwivedi
•
Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi has been
appointed as the new Chief of the Army Staff by the President of India.
•
He succeeded Gen. Manoj Pande,
General Pande was given an extra
month to leave before his original
planned date.
Mark Rutte
•
The NATO appointed former Dutch
Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its new
Secretary-General. This comes as
the conflict in Ukraine continues and
the US’s future relationship with the
alliance is being talked about.
•
Rutte took over the job from Jens
Stoltenberg of Norway.
Kaamya Karthikeyan
Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 17-year-old
student from Mumbai, has made history
by becoming the youngest female in the
world to conquer highest peaks of all
seven continent.
Climbed Peaks
•
A Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
• Europe: Mount Elbrus (Russia)
• Australia: Mount Kosciuszko (Australia)
• South America: Mount Aconcagua (Argentina)
• North America: Mount Denali (USA)
• Asia: Mount Everest (Nepal)
• Antarctica: Mount Vinson (Antarctica)
Purnima Devi Barman
•
A biologist from Assam, Purnima Devi
Barman, was featured on the Time’s
Women of The Year 2025 list.
• Purnima Devi Barman is the only
Indian woman on Time’s 2025 Women of the Year list.
The list includes notable women such as actress Nicole
Kidman and Gisele Pelicot, a survivor of sexual violence
who became an advocate for the cause.
• In 2007, Barman’s intervened to save a tree home to greater
adjutant storks in Assam, inspired by the birds’ vulnerability.
She found the Hargila Army, a group of 20,000 women
who protect the storks’ nests and educate about their
conservation.
The population of greater adjutant storks in Assam grew
from 450 in 2007 to over 1,800 in 2023, with the bird’s conservation status improved from “endangered” to “near threatened.”
•
Time’s Women of the Year is an annual recognition by Time
magazine that highlights women making significant changes in the face of challenges like gender violence, climate issues, and women’s rights.
147Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India ended a 12-year wait to clinch a record-extending third Champions Trophy title, beating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the
Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
ICC Champions Trophy
•
The ICC Champions Trophy is a premier One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament featuring the world's top eight teams.
• The tournament was originally called the ICC Knockout when it began in 1998 in Dhaka (Bangladesh). It was renamed the ICC
Champions Trophy in 2002. It was held every two years until 2009. After that, the event transitioned to a four-year cycle.
• Tournament Format:
The format of the competition has endured since 2006. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four teams each.
Each team plays once against every other team in the group.
And then, the top-two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, determining the two that feature in the summit clash.
Previously the top-eight ranked ODI sides would feature in the Champions Trophy. But for the 2025 edition, the qualification
used the results of the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The teams that occupied the top-eight spots in the 10-team points table, including the hosts Pakistan,
sealed their place for the Champions Trophy.
• Teams in 2025: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand were in Group A while the remaining four
teams — Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa — were in group B.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
•
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. Representing
108 members, the ICC governs and administrates the game and works with our members to grow the sport.
•
The ICC is also responsible for the staging of all ICC Events. The ICC presides over the
ICC Code of Conduct, playing conditions, the Decision Review System and other ICC regulations.
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India ended a 12-year wait to clinch a record-extending third Champions Trophy title, beating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the
Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
ICC Champions Trophy
•
The ICC Champions Trophy is a premier One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament featuring the world's top eight teams.
• The tournament was originally called the ICC Knockout when it began in 1998 in Dhaka (Bangladesh). It was renamed the ICC
Champions Trophy in 2002. It was held every two years until 2009. After that, the event transitioned to a four-year cycle.
• Tournament Format:
The format of the competition has endured since 2006. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four teams each.
Each team plays once against every other team in the group.
And then, the top-two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, determining the two that feature in the summit clash.
Previously the top-eight ranked ODI sides would feature in the Champions Trophy. But for the 2025 edition, the qualification
used the results of the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The teams that occupied the top-eight spots in the 10-team points table, including the hosts Pakistan,
sealed their place for the Champions Trophy.
• Teams in 2025: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand were in Group A while the remaining four
teams — Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa — were in group B.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
•
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. Representing
108 members, the ICC governs and administrates the game and works with our members to grow the sport.
•
The ICC is also responsible for the staging of all ICC Events. The ICC presides over the
ICC Code of Conduct, playing conditions, the Decision Review System and other ICC regulations.
148ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
T20 Cricket World Cup, 2024
Recently, India secured their first ICC title
since the 2013 Champions Trophy by winning
the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in Barbados.
India defeated South Africa in the final.
Key Highlights
•
P Virat Kohli
• Player of the Tournament: Jasprit Bumrah
• Most Runs in Tournament: Rahmanullah
Gurbaz (281, Afganistan)
• Most wickets: Arshdeep Singh (17),
Fazalhaq Farooqi (17, Afghanistan)
• Lowest Economy Rate: Jasprit Bumrah (4.17)
• India became the first team to win a T20 World Cup by
being unbeaten through the tournament.
• Post World Cup win, three Indian players namely, Virat
Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja have announced
their retirement from T20 internationals.
• BCCI, the cricket governing body of India has announced
Rs 125 crore prize money for Team India after the T20 World Cup win.
T20 Cricket World Cup
•
The
cricket championship, usually held once every two years.
• While the T20 World Cup began as a 12-team competition
in 2007, it was expanded to 16 teams from the 2014 edition.
The 2024 edition had 20 sides competing in four groups.
• India won the first men’s Twenty20 World Cup in South
Africa, defeating Pakistan in the final led by MS Dhoni.
Gukesh won World Chess Championship 2024
India’s D. Gukesh achieved a
historic milestone by winning the
2024 World Chess Championship
by defeating China’s Ding Liren,
becoming the youngest World
Chess Champion at just 18 years
old. The final match was intense, showcasing both players’
strategic prowess.
Earlier in 2024, Gukesh earned his place in the World
Championship by triumphing in the Candidates tournament.
This tournament serves as the qualification stage for aspiring
champions. Gukesh’s performance throughout the Candidates
tournament brought into light his exceptional talent and
determination.
FIDE Women’s World Rapid Chess
Championship 2024
Koneru Humpy has recently
claimed her second women’s
title at the World Rapid and
Blitz Championship held
in New York, marking a
milestone in her chess career,
showcasing her exceptional
talent and determination.
Key Facts
•
Humpy scored an impressive 8.5 points over 11 rounds,
defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukander in the final match.
• At 37 years old, she stands as the top-ranked Indian player
and is only the second woman to achieve this title more than once.
•
Humpy’s win is historic as it establishes her as a leading
figure in women’s chess.
• She previously won the championship in 2019 in Georgia,
making her a two-time champion.
Scotland to host 2026 Commonwealth Games
•
Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 after
Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to rising costs. Glasgow,
which hosted the Games in 2014, will once again welcome
athletes from around the world, but the event will be on a
smaller scale this time.
•
Victoria, Australia, decided not to host the 2026 Games
because the costs were becoming too high. A later investigation found that their cost predictions had been overstated, leading to their decision to withdraw.
•
The Commonwealth Games, established in 1930, bring
together athletes from 72 member nations. The Games originally started as the British Empire Games and focused on promoting friendship and peace.
Paris Olympics 2024
The Paris Olympics 2024 was concluded with India finishing 71st in the medal tally, a decline from its 48th place in Tokyo 2020. Despite winning six medals, including one silver and five bronze, the nation experienced several near misses and disheartening outcomes that have sparked discussions about the future of Indian sports.
T20 Cricket World Cup, 2024
Recently, India secured their first ICC title
since the 2013 Champions Trophy by winning
the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in Barbados.
India defeated South Africa in the final.
Key Highlights
•
P Virat Kohli
• Player of the Tournament: Jasprit Bumrah
• Most Runs in Tournament: Rahmanullah
Gurbaz (281, Afganistan)
• Most wickets: Arshdeep Singh (17),
Fazalhaq Farooqi (17, Afghanistan)
• Lowest Economy Rate: Jasprit Bumrah (4.17)
• India became the first team to win a T20 World Cup by
being unbeaten through the tournament.
• Post World Cup win, three Indian players namely, Virat
Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja have announced
their retirement from T20 internationals.
• BCCI, the cricket governing body of India has announced
Rs 125 crore prize money for Team India after the T20 World Cup win.
T20 Cricket World Cup
•
The
cricket championship, usually held once every two years.
• While the T20 World Cup began as a 12-team competition
in 2007, it was expanded to 16 teams from the 2014 edition.
The 2024 edition had 20 sides competing in four groups.
• India won the first men’s Twenty20 World Cup in South
Africa, defeating Pakistan in the final led by MS Dhoni.
Gukesh won World Chess Championship 2024
India’s D. Gukesh achieved a
historic milestone by winning the
2024 World Chess Championship
by defeating China’s Ding Liren,
becoming the youngest World
Chess Champion at just 18 years
old. The final match was intense, showcasing both players’
strategic prowess.
Earlier in 2024, Gukesh earned his place in the World
Championship by triumphing in the Candidates tournament.
This tournament serves as the qualification stage for aspiring
champions. Gukesh’s performance throughout the Candidates
tournament brought into light his exceptional talent and
determination.
FIDE Women’s World Rapid Chess
Championship 2024
Koneru Humpy has recently
claimed her second women’s
title at the World Rapid and
Blitz Championship held
in New York, marking a
milestone in her chess career,
showcasing her exceptional
talent and determination.
Key Facts
•
Humpy scored an impressive 8.5 points over 11 rounds,
defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukander in the final match.
• At 37 years old, she stands as the top-ranked Indian player
and is only the second woman to achieve this title more than once.
•
Humpy’s win is historic as it establishes her as a leading
figure in women’s chess.
• She previously won the championship in 2019 in Georgia,
making her a two-time champion.
Scotland to host 2026 Commonwealth Games
•
Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 after
Victoria, Australia, withdrew due to rising costs. Glasgow,
which hosted the Games in 2014, will once again welcome
athletes from around the world, but the event will be on a
smaller scale this time.
•
Victoria, Australia, decided not to host the 2026 Games
because the costs were becoming too high. A later investigation found that their cost predictions had been overstated, leading to their decision to withdraw.
•
The Commonwealth Games, established in 1930, bring
together athletes from 72 member nations. The Games originally started as the British Empire Games and focused on promoting friendship and peace.
Paris Olympics 2024
The Paris Olympics 2024 was concluded with India finishing 71st in the medal tally, a decline from its 48th place in Tokyo 2020. Despite winning six medals, including one silver and five bronze, the nation experienced several near misses and disheartening outcomes that have sparked discussions about the future of Indian sports.
149Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra, India's renowned javelin
thrower, secured a silver medal at the
Paris Olympics 2024.
Key Points
• Neeraj's throw of 89.45m placed
him second on the podium. While he couldn’t match his gold-medal performance from the Tokyo 2020 Games, winning silver solidified his position as one of the top javelin throwers globally
•
Gold medal was claimed by Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem with
a throw of 92.97m, setting a new Olympic record.
• Neeraj became only the third Indian athlete, and the first
in track and field, to win consecutive individual Olympic medals.
Manu Bhaker
Recently, Manu Bhaker won a bronze
medal in the women’s 10 m air pistol event
at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is the first
Indian woman shooter to win this medal.
Key Points
•
Y
She became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.
•
Commonwealth Games Success: At just 16, she won gold at
her maiden Commonwealth Games in the women’s 10m air pistol event in 2018.
•
Asian Games Victory: In 2022, she partnered with Esha Singh
and Rhythm Sangwan to win gold at the Asian Games.
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh
•
Recently, Manu Bhaker and
Sarabjot Singh wins bronze in the 10 m air pistol mixed team event, Manu Bhaker becomes the first multiple medallist at an Olympic Games. For Sarabjot Singh, this bronze marks his first Olympic medal, a significant milestone in his shooting career.
• Ear
World Cup in Munich, Germany, held from May 31 to June 8, 2024. He scored 242.7 points to win gold in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event.
Swapnil Kusale
•
Swapnil Kusale won a bronze medal in
the men’s 50m rifle 3 Positions event.
• This is India's third Olympic medal
in rifle shooting, following Abhinav
Bindra's gold in 2008 and Gagan
Narang's bronze in 2012. Liu Yukun of
China won gold, and Ukraine’s Serhiy
Kulish took silver.
•
The competition was held at the National Shooting Center in
Châteauroux, Paris.
Aman Sehrawat
•
Am
medal in the men's 57kg wrestling category, marking a proud moment in India's wrestling history.
•
Born in Haryana on July 16, 2003,
Sehrawat is known for his freestyle technique. He defeated Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 in the bronze medal match.
•
Aman first gained attention by winning a silver at the 2021
World Wrestling U23 Championships and gold at the 2022 Asian U23 Championships. His journey from local competitions to the Olympic podium highlights his dedication and talent.
Men’s Hockey Team
•
India’s men’s
hockey team
won the bronze
medal at the
Paris 2024
Olympics with a
2-1 victory over
Spain.
•
This is a significant achievement because it marks India’s
first time winning consecutive Olympic medals in hockey since the 1972 Munich Games.
Paris Olympics 2024 : Indian Medallist
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra, India's renowned javelin
thrower, secured a silver medal at the
Paris Olympics 2024.
Key Points
• Neeraj's throw of 89.45m placed
him second on the podium. While he couldn’t match his gold-medal performance from the Tokyo 2020 Games, winning silver solidified his position as one of the top javelin throwers globally
•
Gold medal was claimed by Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem with
a throw of 92.97m, setting a new Olympic record.
• Neeraj became only the third Indian athlete, and the first
in track and field, to win consecutive individual Olympic medals.
Manu Bhaker
Recently, Manu Bhaker won a bronze
medal in the women’s 10 m air pistol event
at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is the first
Indian woman shooter to win this medal.
Key Points
•
Y
She became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.
•
Commonwealth Games Success: At just 16, she won gold at
her maiden Commonwealth Games in the women’s 10m air pistol event in 2018.
•
Asian Games Victory: In 2022, she partnered with Esha Singh
and Rhythm Sangwan to win gold at the Asian Games.
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh
•
Recently, Manu Bhaker and
Sarabjot Singh wins bronze in the 10 m air pistol mixed team event, Manu Bhaker becomes the first multiple medallist at an Olympic Games. For Sarabjot Singh, this bronze marks his first Olympic medal, a significant milestone in his shooting career.
• Ear
World Cup in Munich, Germany, held from May 31 to June 8, 2024. He scored 242.7 points to win gold in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event.
Swapnil Kusale
•
Swapnil Kusale won a bronze medal in
the men’s 50m rifle 3 Positions event.
• This is India's third Olympic medal
in rifle shooting, following Abhinav
Bindra's gold in 2008 and Gagan
Narang's bronze in 2012. Liu Yukun of
China won gold, and Ukraine’s Serhiy
Kulish took silver.
•
The competition was held at the National Shooting Center in
Châteauroux, Paris.
Aman Sehrawat
•
Am
medal in the men's 57kg wrestling category, marking a proud moment in India's wrestling history.
•
Born in Haryana on July 16, 2003,
Sehrawat is known for his freestyle technique. He defeated Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 in the bronze medal match.
•
Aman first gained attention by winning a silver at the 2021
World Wrestling U23 Championships and gold at the 2022 Asian U23 Championships. His journey from local competitions to the Olympic podium highlights his dedication and talent.
Men’s Hockey Team
•
India’s men’s
hockey team
won the bronze
medal at the
Paris 2024
Olympics with a
2-1 victory over
Spain.
•
This is a significant achievement because it marks India’s
first time winning consecutive Olympic medals in hockey since the 1972 Munich Games.
Paris Olympics 2024 : Indian Medallist
150ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Paris Paralympics Games 2024
The largest ever international multi-sport parasports event known as the Paralympics Games 2024 held in Paris.
The 2024 Summer Paralympics took place from August 28 to September 8, 2024. Paralympics Games are a the
celebration of the talents and determination of athletes with disabilities.
S.No. Indian Medallist Event Medal
1 Avani Lekhara Women’s 10 m Air rifle Gold
2 Nitish Kumar Men’s singles Badminton Gold
3 Sumit Antil Men's Javelin throw Gold
4 Dharambir Men’s Club throw Gold
5 Praveen Kumar Men’s High jump Gold
6 Navdeep Singh Men’s Javelin throw Gold
7 Harvinder Singh Men’s Individual recurve open, Archer Gold
8 Manish Narwal Men’s 10 m air pistol Silver
9 Nishad Kumar Men’s high jump Silver
10 Yogesh Kathuniya Men’s discus throw Silver
11 Sharad Kumar Men’s high jump Silver
12 Ajeet Singh Men’s javelin throw Silver
13 Sachin Khilari Men’s shot put Silver
14 Parnav Soorma Men’s club throw Silver
15 Thulasimathi Murugesan Women’s singles Badminton Silver
16 Suhas Yathiraj Men’s singles Badminton Silver
17 Kapil Parmar Men’s 60kg Judo Bronze
18 Mona Agarwal Women’s 10m air rifle standing Bronze
19 Preethi Pal Women’s 100m Race Bronze
20 Rubina Francis Women’s 10m Air Pistol Bronze
21 Preethi Pal Women’s 200m Race Bronze
22 Deepthi Jeevanji Women’s 400m Race Bronze
23 Mariyappan Thangavelu Men’s high jump Bronze
24 Sundar Singh Gurjar Men’s javelin throw Bronze
25 Hokato Hotozhe Sema Men’s shot put Bronze
26 Simran Women’s 200m Race Bronze
27 Nithya Sre Sivan Women’s singles Badminton Bronze
28 & 29 Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi Mixed team compound open Bronze
Paris Paralympics Games 2024
The largest ever international multi-sport parasports event known as the Paralympics Games 2024 held in Paris.
The 2024 Summer Paralympics took place from August 28 to September 8, 2024. Paralympics Games are a the
celebration of the talents and determination of athletes with disabilities.
S.No. Indian Medallist Event Medal
1 Avani Lekhara Women’s 10 m Air rifle Gold
2 Nitish Kumar Men’s singles Badminton Gold
3 Sumit Antil Men's Javelin throw Gold
4 Dharambir Men’s Club throw Gold
5 Praveen Kumar Men’s High jump Gold
6 Navdeep Singh Men’s Javelin throw Gold
7 Harvinder Singh Men’s Individual recurve open, Archer Gold
8 Manish Narwal Men’s 10 m air pistol Silver
9 Nishad Kumar Men’s high jump Silver
10 Yogesh Kathuniya Men’s discus throw Silver
11 Sharad Kumar Men’s high jump Silver
12 Ajeet Singh Men’s javelin throw Silver
13 Sachin Khilari Men’s shot put Silver
14 Parnav Soorma Men’s club throw Silver
15 Thulasimathi Murugesan Women’s singles Badminton Silver
16 Suhas Yathiraj Men’s singles Badminton Silver
17 Kapil Parmar Men’s 60kg Judo Bronze
18 Mona Agarwal Women’s 10m air rifle standing Bronze
19 Preethi Pal Women’s 100m Race Bronze
20 Rubina Francis Women’s 10m Air Pistol Bronze
21 Preethi Pal Women’s 200m Race Bronze
22 Deepthi Jeevanji Women’s 400m Race Bronze
23 Mariyappan Thangavelu Men’s high jump Bronze
24 Sundar Singh Gurjar Men’s javelin throw Bronze
25 Hokato Hotozhe Sema Men’s shot put Bronze
26 Simran Women’s 200m Race Bronze
27 Nithya Sre Sivan Women’s singles Badminton Bronze
28 & 29 Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi Mixed team compound open Bronze
151Miscellaneous
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Name of the Book Name of the Author
Friends: India’s Closest Strategic Partners Prof. Sreeram Chaulia
Because of This: A History of the Indo-Pak Air War December 1971Air Marshal Vikram Singh (Retd)
Valour and Honour Major General Ian Cardozo & Major General Jagatbir Singh
Silent Weapons, Deadly Secrets Dr. Mrinmayee Bhushan
Maa-Mother Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodawat
MODIALOGUE: Conversations for a Viksit Bharat Dr. Ashwin Fernandes
Why Bharat Matters Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Why the Heck Not? Kushal Pal Singh and Aparna Jain
War Bob Woodward
LARA: The England Chronicles Brian Lara
Khaki Mein Sthitapragya Anil Raturi
From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy Kuldeep Gupta
Breaking Rocks and Barriers Sudipta Sengupta
Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat
The Prisoner of Bhopal Tim Walker
Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography Piyush Pandey
The Scientist Entrepreneur: Empowering Millions of Women Kalpana Sankar
SAVE AMERICA Donald J. Trump
75 Great Revolutionaries of India Bhim Singh
India@100: Envisioning Tomorrow’s Economic Powerhouse Prof. K V Subramanian
Power Within Dr. R Balasubramaniam
The Prisoner of Bhopal Tim Walker
Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography Piyush Pandey
Venkaiah Naidu - Life in Service S. Nagesh Kumar
Ed Finds a Home Alia Bhatt
I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story Ravichandran Ashwin
A Fly on the RBI Wall Alpana Killawala
Source Code: My Beginnings Bill Gates
The Winner’s Mindset Shane Watson
India's Nuclear Titans Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua
Heavenly Islands of Goa P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
India - The Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Agenda Bhimeswara Chall
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
Name of the Book Name of the Author
Friends: India’s Closest Strategic Partners Prof. Sreeram Chaulia
Because of This: A History of the Indo-Pak Air War December 1971Air Marshal Vikram Singh (Retd)
Valour and Honour Major General Ian Cardozo & Major General Jagatbir Singh
Silent Weapons, Deadly Secrets Dr. Mrinmayee Bhushan
Maa-Mother Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodawat
MODIALOGUE: Conversations for a Viksit Bharat Dr. Ashwin Fernandes
Why Bharat Matters Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Why the Heck Not? Kushal Pal Singh and Aparna Jain
War Bob Woodward
LARA: The England Chronicles Brian Lara
Khaki Mein Sthitapragya Anil Raturi
From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy Kuldeep Gupta
Breaking Rocks and Barriers Sudipta Sengupta
Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat
The Prisoner of Bhopal Tim Walker
Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography Piyush Pandey
The Scientist Entrepreneur: Empowering Millions of Women Kalpana Sankar
SAVE AMERICA Donald J. Trump
75 Great Revolutionaries of India Bhim Singh
India@100: Envisioning Tomorrow’s Economic Powerhouse Prof. K V Subramanian
Power Within Dr. R Balasubramaniam
The Prisoner of Bhopal Tim Walker
Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography Piyush Pandey
Venkaiah Naidu - Life in Service S. Nagesh Kumar
Ed Finds a Home Alia Bhatt
I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story Ravichandran Ashwin
A Fly on the RBI Wall Alpana Killawala
Source Code: My Beginnings Bill Gates
The Winner’s Mindset Shane Watson
India's Nuclear Titans Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua
Heavenly Islands of Goa P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
India - The Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Agenda Bhimeswara Chall
Father’s Name Subhash Dhondge
Department
Preferred
Central Engineering
Service (Roads)
College (B. Tech)
with address
IIT Hyderabad
Rohit Dhondge
Civil Engineering
AIR-1 : CE
Que.: It is possible to prepare exam while
working?
Rohit Dhondge : I think it is possible only when you
have a strong foundation, So that while working
you can devote your time for practicing questions
more as compare to building concepts.
Que.: What are the challenges of civil in
engineering services? What should be the
approach regarding prelims and mains?
Rohit Dhondge : Civil engineering is really vast and
diverse, the challenge is to how you plan revision.
Approach for prelims, like 2 months before there
should be daily revision of short notes, PYQs
practice, full length test papers, dedicated time for
GS (2 hrs daily) and 1hr for maths.
For mains practice, class notes once after class,
PYQ practice in time bound manner, test series
analysis and solving unsolved questions and
preparing notes for theory topics. While you
practice, everytime you revise numericals try it
by solving and not reading.
For Mains, speed, accuracy, choice of question,
handwriting and space utilisation are important.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Rohit Dhondge : Test series are really very
important. From my personal experience test
series and their analysis played a important role
in getting rank from not getting selected in ESE
23. They help you:
1.
To know different strategies to solve paper.
2. To identify silly mistakes and improve them.
3. To know the weak areas or the type of
questions you skip.
4. To help you improve speed and accuracy.
Que.: How did you prepare for general studies
subjects?
Rohit Dhondge : For general studies:
1.
Mathematics, I practiced repeatedly
from MADE EASY notes and workbook,
then solving ESE mathematics PYQs as
a part of revision
2.
For other subjects, I revised MADE EASY
class notes regularly and topics from theory books as suggested by faculty.
3.
Practiced questions for subjects like
Engineering Drawing, Standards & Quality etc., to get better understanding.
4.
Solved the MADE EASY test series and
highlighted and included new points there
itself so I can revise them whenever required
Que.: What was your rank in GATE? How did it
help you in ESE preparation?
Rohit Dhondge : My rank was 4 in GATE 2024,
for me the main focus was ESE so this year I
was dedicated for ESE, but the last year (2023)
when I got 185th rank. I did practice GATE
PYQs. They help you get better understanding
of a concept as whole as compare to ESE Pre
questions and they will play foundation for
ESE mains questions.
So I always suggest, GATE is a part of ESE
journey and not to consider it as a separate.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help student
in other exams?
Rohit Dhondge : ESE is nearly a complete
preparation of civil engineering. Once you
have prepared for ESE Pre and ESE Mains
exam, it will be easy for you to score decent
marks in GATE, BARC state objective
exams,and have decent scores in interviews.
Que.: How was your experience in UPSC ESE
interview?
Rohit Dhondge : It was a memorable
experience for me. Fortunately, I was able to
give it 2 times. This time the questions to me
were more practical field based rather than
theory from which I was able to answer few
and in others the panel guided me.
E.g. I was asked the height of the room, which
I answered incorrectly then they ask me my
height and ask to compare and tell. Then, I got
it correct.
From this I want to tell that the panel there is for
selecting you and not rejecting. So maintaining
calmness and a little smile will always add extra
points.
Que.: As we know that last year also you have
given interview of ESE but couldn't clear and this
year in 2024 got 1st Rank. What different thing
you have done this time?
Rohit Dhondge : From December onwards, I
practiced full length test series of Last 3 years of
MADE EASY and analysed them. Giving them in
exam like environment and analysing deeply to
improve helped score good.
Last time, I wasn't able to analyse mains test
series or wasn't able to solve unsolved questions.
This time I made it my first priority to analyse test
and include new questions of test series in notes.
I also restricted my material of preparation for
subjects so I can revise it multiple times.
Que.: What is the importance of previous year
ESE Prelims and Mains papers?
Rohit Dhondge : As everyone say, they are the
Bible for exam., there are the similar questions
which are going to appear in exam. They help
you mould yourself as per exam requirement.
They should be solved multiple times as a part
of revision.
Que.: What are the important qualities ESE
aspirants should possess?
Rohit Dhondge : I believe Discipline is the must
quality along with patience and hardwork. Smart
work is also required but that will come gradually
as you do hardwork. Smart work without hardwork
will have very little meaning.
Que.: What are your suggestions for the
students?
Rohit Dhondge : When you start your preparation,
it's the initial year of preparation that will build you.
Don't get distract in your first year of preparation
and give your best ,you might not get selected
in the same year but surely you will end up in
good institution (PSU, SSC JE etc) and may get
selected in ESE with continued efforts.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil services also?
Rohit Dhondge : Civil services examination is the
prestigious examination which I planned to gave
before but decided to go for ESE. Currently, I
don't have plans but I look forward to it.
ESE 2024
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 82.16 (82)
Prelims: Paper-II 166.67 (167)
Mains: Paper-I 181
Mains: Paper-II 240
Interview 125
Final Total Marks 795
Department
Preferred
Central Engineering
Service (Roads)
College (B. Tech)
with address
IIT Hyderabad
Rohit Dhondge
Civil Engineering
AIR-1 : CE
Que.: It is possible to prepare exam while
working?
Rohit Dhondge : I think it is possible only when you
have a strong foundation, So that while working
you can devote your time for practicing questions
more as compare to building concepts.
Que.: What are the challenges of civil in
engineering services? What should be the
approach regarding prelims and mains?
Rohit Dhondge : Civil engineering is really vast and
diverse, the challenge is to how you plan revision.
Approach for prelims, like 2 months before there
should be daily revision of short notes, PYQs
practice, full length test papers, dedicated time for
GS (2 hrs daily) and 1hr for maths.
For mains practice, class notes once after class,
PYQ practice in time bound manner, test series
analysis and solving unsolved questions and
preparing notes for theory topics. While you
practice, everytime you revise numericals try it
by solving and not reading.
For Mains, speed, accuracy, choice of question,
handwriting and space utilisation are important.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Rohit Dhondge : Test series are really very
important. From my personal experience test
series and their analysis played a important role
in getting rank from not getting selected in ESE
23. They help you:
1.
To know different strategies to solve paper.
2. To identify silly mistakes and improve them.
3. To know the weak areas or the type of
questions you skip.
4. To help you improve speed and accuracy.
Que.: How did you prepare for general studies
subjects?
Rohit Dhondge : For general studies:
1.
Mathematics, I practiced repeatedly
from MADE EASY notes and workbook,
then solving ESE mathematics PYQs as
a part of revision
2.
For other subjects, I revised MADE EASY
class notes regularly and topics from theory books as suggested by faculty.
3.
Practiced questions for subjects like
Engineering Drawing, Standards & Quality etc., to get better understanding.
4.
Solved the MADE EASY test series and
highlighted and included new points there
itself so I can revise them whenever required
Que.: What was your rank in GATE? How did it
help you in ESE preparation?
Rohit Dhondge : My rank was 4 in GATE 2024,
for me the main focus was ESE so this year I
was dedicated for ESE, but the last year (2023)
when I got 185th rank. I did practice GATE
PYQs. They help you get better understanding
of a concept as whole as compare to ESE Pre
questions and they will play foundation for
ESE mains questions.
So I always suggest, GATE is a part of ESE
journey and not to consider it as a separate.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help student
in other exams?
Rohit Dhondge : ESE is nearly a complete
preparation of civil engineering. Once you
have prepared for ESE Pre and ESE Mains
exam, it will be easy for you to score decent
marks in GATE, BARC state objective
exams,and have decent scores in interviews.
Que.: How was your experience in UPSC ESE
interview?
Rohit Dhondge : It was a memorable
experience for me. Fortunately, I was able to
give it 2 times. This time the questions to me
were more practical field based rather than
theory from which I was able to answer few
and in others the panel guided me.
E.g. I was asked the height of the room, which
I answered incorrectly then they ask me my
height and ask to compare and tell. Then, I got
it correct.
From this I want to tell that the panel there is for
selecting you and not rejecting. So maintaining
calmness and a little smile will always add extra
points.
Que.: As we know that last year also you have
given interview of ESE but couldn't clear and this
year in 2024 got 1st Rank. What different thing
you have done this time?
Rohit Dhondge : From December onwards, I
practiced full length test series of Last 3 years of
MADE EASY and analysed them. Giving them in
exam like environment and analysing deeply to
improve helped score good.
Last time, I wasn't able to analyse mains test
series or wasn't able to solve unsolved questions.
This time I made it my first priority to analyse test
and include new questions of test series in notes.
I also restricted my material of preparation for
subjects so I can revise it multiple times.
Que.: What is the importance of previous year
ESE Prelims and Mains papers?
Rohit Dhondge : As everyone say, they are the
Bible for exam., there are the similar questions
which are going to appear in exam. They help
you mould yourself as per exam requirement.
They should be solved multiple times as a part
of revision.
Que.: What are the important qualities ESE
aspirants should possess?
Rohit Dhondge : I believe Discipline is the must
quality along with patience and hardwork. Smart
work is also required but that will come gradually
as you do hardwork. Smart work without hardwork
will have very little meaning.
Que.: What are your suggestions for the
students?
Rohit Dhondge : When you start your preparation,
it's the initial year of preparation that will build you.
Don't get distract in your first year of preparation
and give your best ,you might not get selected
in the same year but surely you will end up in
good institution (PSU, SSC JE etc) and may get
selected in ESE with continued efforts.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil services also?
Rohit Dhondge : Civil services examination is the
prestigious examination which I planned to gave
before but decided to go for ESE. Currently, I
don't have plans but I look forward to it.
ESE 2024
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 82.16 (82)
Prelims: Paper-II 166.67 (167)
Mains: Paper-I 181
Mains: Paper-II 240
Interview 125
Final Total Marks 795
Que.: It is possible to prepare exam while
working?
Munish Kumar : Yes, it is possible to
Prepare for UPSC ESE or GATE Exam
along with Job. I have Secured AIR 1
in ESE 2024, AIR 15 in ESE 2021, AIR
3 in GATE 2021 and AIR 9 in GATE
2024 all this result was while working in
Private, PSU and Central Government
Departments.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Munish Kumar : Test series is very
important for any exam but when it
comes to UPSC ESE, it is even more
important because with Test series one
will get the idea of their preparation
level and their speed because ESE
mains exam is very lengthy and speed
plays an important role in succeeding this exam.
Que.: How did you prepare for general
studies subjects?
Munish Kumar : As of Now I never
prepared for UPSC ESE GS Paper-1,
that you can see from my marks in UPSC
ESE 2021 (GS Paper-1 marks 77/200)
and in UPSC ESE 2024 (GS Paper-1
Marks 54/200) But I recommend student
to Prepare for GS Paper-1 because it
plays an important role in such a difficult
competition. There is lot of strategy to
prepare for GS as shared by many other
toppers and faculties of MADE EASY,
so student can refer their approach and
suggestions for GS paper.
Que.: What was your rank in GATE? How
did it help you in ESE preparation?
Munish Kumar : Initially I started to
prepare for GATE exam only and after
Appearing in GATE 2021, I got an
interest in ESE 2021 Exams and I only
revised my GATE notes and got 180/300
in ESE Prelims Mechanical Paper-2.
This shows that GATE preparation helps
a lot in UPSC ESE , there are topics
which are extra as compare to GATE
exam, student can cover that portion in
just 1 or 1.5 month only.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help
student in other exams?
Munish Kumar : UPSC ESE Exam cover
almost all the basic and advance topic
of Mechanical Engineering so student
can appearing in similar Exams like
UPSC CSE (Mechanical Optional) and
UPSC IFoS (Mechanical Optional).
Que.: How was your experience in UPSC
ESE interview?
Munish Kumar : UPSC Interview is one of
the best interview that I have faced in
my entire period of struggle, As of now
I have appeared in 2 ESE interviews
and those are my best interviews along
the score was almost 55% of maximum
marks. Interview panel was very
supportive.
Que.: What is the importance of previous
year ESE Mains papers?
Munish Kumar : It is very important to
prepare at least previous 20-25 Years
of UPSC ESE, CSE, IFoS because for
UPSC ESE 2024, I just practiced these
PYQ and got 488/600 in Final Exam. So
you can see the importance of PYQ for
Mains Exam.
Que.: What are the important qualities
ESE aspirants should possess?
Munish Kumar : If you want to achieve an
decent rank in ESE exam, You should
study on daily basis and try to add
something new on everyday basis and
lot of practice.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil services
also?
Munish Kumar : As of now, I have NO
plans for Civil Services Exams.
Father’s Name Satpal
Department
Preferred
College (B. Tech)
with address
NIT, Kurukshetra
(Haryana)
Munish Kumar
Mechanical
Engineering
AIR-1 : ME
ESE 2024
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 54.55 (55)
Prelims: Paper-II 200.68 (201)
Mains: Paper-I 233
Mains: Paper-II 255
Interview 114
Final Total Marks 857
working?
Munish Kumar : Yes, it is possible to
Prepare for UPSC ESE or GATE Exam
along with Job. I have Secured AIR 1
in ESE 2024, AIR 15 in ESE 2021, AIR
3 in GATE 2021 and AIR 9 in GATE
2024 all this result was while working in
Private, PSU and Central Government
Departments.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Munish Kumar : Test series is very
important for any exam but when it
comes to UPSC ESE, it is even more
important because with Test series one
will get the idea of their preparation
level and their speed because ESE
mains exam is very lengthy and speed
plays an important role in succeeding this exam.
Que.: How did you prepare for general
studies subjects?
Munish Kumar : As of Now I never
prepared for UPSC ESE GS Paper-1,
that you can see from my marks in UPSC
ESE 2021 (GS Paper-1 marks 77/200)
and in UPSC ESE 2024 (GS Paper-1
Marks 54/200) But I recommend student
to Prepare for GS Paper-1 because it
plays an important role in such a difficult
competition. There is lot of strategy to
prepare for GS as shared by many other
toppers and faculties of MADE EASY,
so student can refer their approach and
suggestions for GS paper.
Que.: What was your rank in GATE? How
did it help you in ESE preparation?
Munish Kumar : Initially I started to
prepare for GATE exam only and after
Appearing in GATE 2021, I got an
interest in ESE 2021 Exams and I only
revised my GATE notes and got 180/300
in ESE Prelims Mechanical Paper-2.
This shows that GATE preparation helps
a lot in UPSC ESE , there are topics
which are extra as compare to GATE
exam, student can cover that portion in
just 1 or 1.5 month only.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help
student in other exams?
Munish Kumar : UPSC ESE Exam cover
almost all the basic and advance topic
of Mechanical Engineering so student
can appearing in similar Exams like
UPSC CSE (Mechanical Optional) and
UPSC IFoS (Mechanical Optional).
Que.: How was your experience in UPSC
ESE interview?
Munish Kumar : UPSC Interview is one of
the best interview that I have faced in
my entire period of struggle, As of now
I have appeared in 2 ESE interviews
and those are my best interviews along
the score was almost 55% of maximum
marks. Interview panel was very
supportive.
Que.: What is the importance of previous
year ESE Mains papers?
Munish Kumar : It is very important to
prepare at least previous 20-25 Years
of UPSC ESE, CSE, IFoS because for
UPSC ESE 2024, I just practiced these
PYQ and got 488/600 in Final Exam. So
you can see the importance of PYQ for
Mains Exam.
Que.: What are the important qualities
ESE aspirants should possess?
Munish Kumar : If you want to achieve an
decent rank in ESE exam, You should
study on daily basis and try to add
something new on everyday basis and
lot of practice.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil services
also?
Munish Kumar : As of now, I have NO
plans for Civil Services Exams.
Father’s Name Satpal
Department
Preferred
College (B. Tech)
with address
NIT, Kurukshetra
(Haryana)
Munish Kumar
Mechanical
Engineering
AIR-1 : ME
ESE 2024
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 54.55 (55)
Prelims: Paper-II 200.68 (201)
Mains: Paper-I 233
Mains: Paper-II 255
Interview 114
Final Total Marks 857
Father’s Name Sudama Singh
Department
Preferred
Central Power
Engineering Service
College (B. Tech)
with address
IIT, Roorkee
(Uttarakhand)
Rajan Kumar
Electrical
Engineering
AIR-1 : EE
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 90.24 (90)
Prelims: Paper-II 227.90 (228)
Mains: Paper-I 170
Mains: Paper-II 187
Interview 120
Final Total Marks 795
Que.: When did you start preparing for
the ESE exam?
Rajan Kumar : I started my ESE and GATE
preparation in 2022 after graduating from
IIT Roorkee in 2021. I cleared GATE in
my first attempt but failed to qualify ESE
prelims. That made me realize the need
for proper guidance, so I joined MADE
EASY.
Que.: What courses did you take at MADE
EASY?
Rajan Kumar : I enrolled in the ESE +
GATE classroom course in 2022, followed
by the Mains batch and then the Interview
Guidance Program and Test Series. So,
I almost did all key courses provided by
MADE EASY.
Que.: How many hours did you study
daily?
Rajan Kumar : During classroom coaching,
I managed 2–4 hours of self-study for
revision and practice. After coaching
ended, my daily study went up to 6–7
focused hours, which I believe is more
than sufficient.
Que.: What was your study strategy?
Rajan Kumar : I followed a revise–
practice–repeat cycle. I ensured timely
revision of class notes and practiced
extensively, especially through
previous year questions (PYQs), which
I consider extremely relevant for both
prelims and mains.
Que.: How did you tackle General
Studies (GS)?
Rajan Kumar : Many engineers find GS
tricky. I focused on areas of strength
like Maths, Aptitude, and Current
Affairs. I relied solely on MADE EASY
notes and scored 90+ marks in GS
without referring to additional books.
Que.: Which technical subjects
are most scoring in Electrical
Engineering?
Rajan Kumar : Machines, Power
Systems, and Power Electronics are
high-yield areas. Questions from these
subjects are direct and manageable
with good concept clarity. But it’s
better to study all subjects to avoid risk
in the exam.
Que.: Did you prepare for both GATE
and ESE simultaneously?
Rajan Kumar : While the syllabus
overlaps, ESE requires extra focus
on theory and non-technical subjects.
One must adapt their strategy slightly
for prelims, but yes, preparation can go
hand-in-hand with some adjustments.
Que.: Why did you choose offline
coaching despite being an IIT graduate?
Rajan Kumar : I prefer classroom
learning for better discipline and doubt
resolution. MADE EASY Saket Centre
offered a great learning environment,
experienced faculty, and well-structured
classes.
Que.: Was staying in Delhi challenging?
Rajan Kumar : Yes, Delhi has its issues
like cost of living and pollution, but I
accepted those as part of the journey.
Many aspirants thrive here, and so can
anyone with the right mindset.
Que.: Did you expect Rank 1?
Rajan Kumar : Not at all. I was genuinely
shocked and pleasantly surprised when
I saw my name at the top of the PDF.
Que.: Any regrets about Railways not
being in this year’s ESE vacancies?
Rajan Kumar : Yes, had Railways
been there, I could have joined it. But
I’m hopeful for future aspirants, as
vacancies have now returned under the
Indian Railway Management Service
(IRMS).
Que.: What is your final advice to
aspirants?
Rajan Kumar : Be consistent, stay calm,
focus on PYQs, revise regularly, and
most importantly — practice more than
you read. Every stage—Prelims, Mains,
Interview—requires solid practice and
not just passive study.
ESE 2024
Department
Preferred
Central Power
Engineering Service
College (B. Tech)
with address
IIT, Roorkee
(Uttarakhand)
Rajan Kumar
Electrical
Engineering
AIR-1 : EE
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 90.24 (90)
Prelims: Paper-II 227.90 (228)
Mains: Paper-I 170
Mains: Paper-II 187
Interview 120
Final Total Marks 795
Que.: When did you start preparing for
the ESE exam?
Rajan Kumar : I started my ESE and GATE
preparation in 2022 after graduating from
IIT Roorkee in 2021. I cleared GATE in
my first attempt but failed to qualify ESE
prelims. That made me realize the need
for proper guidance, so I joined MADE
EASY.
Que.: What courses did you take at MADE
EASY?
Rajan Kumar : I enrolled in the ESE +
GATE classroom course in 2022, followed
by the Mains batch and then the Interview
Guidance Program and Test Series. So,
I almost did all key courses provided by
MADE EASY.
Que.: How many hours did you study
daily?
Rajan Kumar : During classroom coaching,
I managed 2–4 hours of self-study for
revision and practice. After coaching
ended, my daily study went up to 6–7
focused hours, which I believe is more
than sufficient.
Que.: What was your study strategy?
Rajan Kumar : I followed a revise–
practice–repeat cycle. I ensured timely
revision of class notes and practiced
extensively, especially through
previous year questions (PYQs), which
I consider extremely relevant for both
prelims and mains.
Que.: How did you tackle General
Studies (GS)?
Rajan Kumar : Many engineers find GS
tricky. I focused on areas of strength
like Maths, Aptitude, and Current
Affairs. I relied solely on MADE EASY
notes and scored 90+ marks in GS
without referring to additional books.
Que.: Which technical subjects
are most scoring in Electrical
Engineering?
Rajan Kumar : Machines, Power
Systems, and Power Electronics are
high-yield areas. Questions from these
subjects are direct and manageable
with good concept clarity. But it’s
better to study all subjects to avoid risk
in the exam.
Que.: Did you prepare for both GATE
and ESE simultaneously?
Rajan Kumar : While the syllabus
overlaps, ESE requires extra focus
on theory and non-technical subjects.
One must adapt their strategy slightly
for prelims, but yes, preparation can go
hand-in-hand with some adjustments.
Que.: Why did you choose offline
coaching despite being an IIT graduate?
Rajan Kumar : I prefer classroom
learning for better discipline and doubt
resolution. MADE EASY Saket Centre
offered a great learning environment,
experienced faculty, and well-structured
classes.
Que.: Was staying in Delhi challenging?
Rajan Kumar : Yes, Delhi has its issues
like cost of living and pollution, but I
accepted those as part of the journey.
Many aspirants thrive here, and so can
anyone with the right mindset.
Que.: Did you expect Rank 1?
Rajan Kumar : Not at all. I was genuinely
shocked and pleasantly surprised when
I saw my name at the top of the PDF.
Que.: Any regrets about Railways not
being in this year’s ESE vacancies?
Rajan Kumar : Yes, had Railways
been there, I could have joined it. But
I’m hopeful for future aspirants, as
vacancies have now returned under the
Indian Railway Management Service
(IRMS).
Que.: What is your final advice to
aspirants?
Rajan Kumar : Be consistent, stay calm,
focus on PYQs, revise regularly, and
most importantly — practice more than
you read. Every stage—Prelims, Mains,
Interview—requires solid practice and
not just passive study.
ESE 2024
Father’s Name
Shambhoo Prasad
Thapliyal
Department
Preferred
Indian Telecommunication
Service
College (B. Tech)
with address
SIT, Pithoragarh
(Uttarakhand)
Himanshu
Thapliyal
AIR-1 : E&T
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 71.37 (71)
Prelims: Paper-II 130.83 (131)
Mains: Paper-I 173
Mains: Paper-II 151
Interview 136
Final Total Marks 662
Electronic &
Telecommunication
Engineering
Que.: It is possible to prepare exam while
working?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Yes, it is possible
but do not expect immediate outcomes.
In that case target atleast two attempts.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Himanshu Thapliyal : The test series
provided me with insights into my
progress, particularly MADE EASY
the full-length tests were helpful in
identifying my weaker subjects.
Que.: How did you prepare for general
studies subjects?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Initially, I finished
the MADE EASY lectures for each
subject, followed by studying the
subjects from the textbook. Finally, I would have discussions on various topics with my mentors, which greatly enhanced my understanding of the subject.
Que.: What was your rank in GATE?
How did it help you in ESE preparation?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I achieved an
All India Rank of 640 in the GATE
examination. The common subjects
are fundamental topics, and I began
my preparation with GATE itself,
which enhanced my understanding of
these core subjects and significantly
increased my confidence.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help
student in other exams?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Nearly all
technical subjects are thoroughly
covered in ESE preparation, and
the difficulty of the questions is
comparable to that of PSU exams.
So, if you're getting ready for the
ESE, you'll pretty much cover all the
papers; just tweak your strategies to
fit what the organization needs.
Que.: How was your experience in
UPSC ESE interview?
Himanshu Thapliyal : From my
interview experience, I learned that
honesty is crucial, and it's acceptable
not to answer every question.
Remaining calm and composed will
greatly assist you during this time.
Que.: What is the importance of
previous year ESE Prelims and Mains
papers?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I believe that
working on previous year questions
is crucial for both Prelims and Mains.
In my view, 40-50% of the questions
tend to repeat each year.
Que.: What are the important qualities
ESE aspirants should possess?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I encourage
you to maintain perseverance and
patience, as this process may take
some time before getting good
results.
Que.: What are your suggestions for
the students?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Continuously
assess your performance and seek
guidance from someone experienced.
Regularly consult your mentor for
suggestions on improvement and
diligently work on them.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil
services also?
Himanshu Thapliyal : No, I have
always had the aspiration to join the
telecom services, and this rank will
allow me to do so.
ESE 2024
Shambhoo Prasad
Thapliyal
Department
Preferred
Indian Telecommunication
Service
College (B. Tech)
with address
SIT, Pithoragarh
(Uttarakhand)
Himanshu
Thapliyal
AIR-1 : E&T
Subject Marks Obtained
Prelims: Paper-I 71.37 (71)
Prelims: Paper-II 130.83 (131)
Mains: Paper-I 173
Mains: Paper-II 151
Interview 136
Final Total Marks 662
Electronic &
Telecommunication
Engineering
Que.: It is possible to prepare exam while
working?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Yes, it is possible
but do not expect immediate outcomes.
In that case target atleast two attempts.
Que.: What is the role of test series in ESE
preparation?
Himanshu Thapliyal : The test series
provided me with insights into my
progress, particularly MADE EASY
the full-length tests were helpful in
identifying my weaker subjects.
Que.: How did you prepare for general
studies subjects?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Initially, I finished
the MADE EASY lectures for each
subject, followed by studying the
subjects from the textbook. Finally, I would have discussions on various topics with my mentors, which greatly enhanced my understanding of the subject.
Que.: What was your rank in GATE?
How did it help you in ESE preparation?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I achieved an
All India Rank of 640 in the GATE
examination. The common subjects
are fundamental topics, and I began
my preparation with GATE itself,
which enhanced my understanding of
these core subjects and significantly
increased my confidence.
Que.: How ESE preparation can help
student in other exams?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Nearly all
technical subjects are thoroughly
covered in ESE preparation, and
the difficulty of the questions is
comparable to that of PSU exams.
So, if you're getting ready for the
ESE, you'll pretty much cover all the
papers; just tweak your strategies to
fit what the organization needs.
Que.: How was your experience in
UPSC ESE interview?
Himanshu Thapliyal : From my
interview experience, I learned that
honesty is crucial, and it's acceptable
not to answer every question.
Remaining calm and composed will
greatly assist you during this time.
Que.: What is the importance of
previous year ESE Prelims and Mains
papers?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I believe that
working on previous year questions
is crucial for both Prelims and Mains.
In my view, 40-50% of the questions
tend to repeat each year.
Que.: What are the important qualities
ESE aspirants should possess?
Himanshu Thapliyal : I encourage
you to maintain perseverance and
patience, as this process may take
some time before getting good
results.
Que.: What are your suggestions for
the students?
Himanshu Thapliyal : Continuously
assess your performance and seek
guidance from someone experienced.
Regularly consult your mentor for
suggestions on improvement and
diligently work on them.
Que.: Do you have plans for civil
services also?
Himanshu Thapliyal : No, I have
always had the aspiration to join the
telecom services, and this rank will
allow me to do so.
ESE 2024
156ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
Current Affairs Questions
1. What type of naval vessel is “INS
Tarkash” that was recently seen in
news?
(a)
Aircraft Carrier
(b) Submarine
(c) Frigate
(d) Assault Ship
2. Vibrant Villages Programme is
implemented by which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Home Affairs
(b) Ministry of Rural Development
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Tourism
3. Which airport became the India’s
first zero-waste airport? (a)
Dabolim Airport, Goa
(b) Chaudhary Charan Singh
International Airport, Lucknow
(c) Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport,
Indore
(d) Kempegowda International
Airport, Bangalore
4. What is the primary objective of
NASA’s TESS mission? (a)
To study the moons of Jupiter
(b) To explore the asteroid belt
(c) To detect gravitational waves
(d) To discover exoplanets around
the brightest dwarf stars
5. Which Indian astronaut has been
selected for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)?
(a)
Ajit Krishnan
(b) Shubhanshu Shukla
(c) Angad Pratap
(d) Balakrishnan Nair
6. Shanan Hydropower Project, which
was seen in the news, is located in
which state?
(a)
Maharashtra
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Uttar Pradesh
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
honored with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment in which country? (a)
United States of America
(b) France
(c) United Kingom
(d) Russia
8. Which institution has developed
STRONG (STring Representation Of Nanopore Geometry), a novel language for nanopore research? (a)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bengaluru
(b) Indian Institute of Technology,
Delhi
(c) Banaras Hindu University
(d) Indian Institute of Technology,
Bombay
9. Which ministry recently launched
the People’s Plan Campaign (Jan Yojana Abhiyan)?
(a)
Ministry of Rural Development
(b) Ministry of Agriculture
(c) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
10. What is the purpose of the
“International Medical Device
Regulators Forum (IMDRF)”,
recently joined by India?
(a)
Promote medical tourism
(b) Harmonize medical device
regulations
(c) Manufacture medical devices
(d) None of the Above
11. Which organization released the
South Asian Development Update report? (a)
World Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) United Nations Development
Programme
(d) United Nations Environment
Programme
12. Which organization recently
released a report titled “Agriculture and Conservation”? (a)
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
(b) United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
(c) International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
(d) World Bank
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (c)
10. (b) 11. (a) 12. (c)
Recent
ANSWERS
Current Affairs Questions
1. What type of naval vessel is “INS
Tarkash” that was recently seen in
news?
(a)
Aircraft Carrier
(b) Submarine
(c) Frigate
(d) Assault Ship
2. Vibrant Villages Programme is
implemented by which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Home Affairs
(b) Ministry of Rural Development
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Tourism
3. Which airport became the India’s
first zero-waste airport? (a)
Dabolim Airport, Goa
(b) Chaudhary Charan Singh
International Airport, Lucknow
(c) Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport,
Indore
(d) Kempegowda International
Airport, Bangalore
4. What is the primary objective of
NASA’s TESS mission? (a)
To study the moons of Jupiter
(b) To explore the asteroid belt
(c) To detect gravitational waves
(d) To discover exoplanets around
the brightest dwarf stars
5. Which Indian astronaut has been
selected for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)?
(a)
Ajit Krishnan
(b) Shubhanshu Shukla
(c) Angad Pratap
(d) Balakrishnan Nair
6. Shanan Hydropower Project, which
was seen in the news, is located in
which state?
(a)
Maharashtra
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Uttar Pradesh
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
honored with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment in which country? (a)
United States of America
(b) France
(c) United Kingom
(d) Russia
8. Which institution has developed
STRONG (STring Representation Of Nanopore Geometry), a novel language for nanopore research? (a)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bengaluru
(b) Indian Institute of Technology,
Delhi
(c) Banaras Hindu University
(d) Indian Institute of Technology,
Bombay
9. Which ministry recently launched
the People’s Plan Campaign (Jan Yojana Abhiyan)?
(a)
Ministry of Rural Development
(b) Ministry of Agriculture
(c) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
10. What is the purpose of the
“International Medical Device
Regulators Forum (IMDRF)”,
recently joined by India?
(a)
Promote medical tourism
(b) Harmonize medical device
regulations
(c) Manufacture medical devices
(d) None of the Above
11. Which organization released the
South Asian Development Update report? (a)
World Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) United Nations Development
Programme
(d) United Nations Environment
Programme
12. Which organization recently
released a report titled “Agriculture and Conservation”? (a)
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
(b) United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
(c) International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
(d) World Bank
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (c)
10. (b) 11. (a) 12. (c)
Recent
157Recent Current Affairs Questions
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
13. Who
receive the Fred Darrington Sand
Master Award?
(a)
Ankon Mitra
(b) Mrinalini Mukherjee
(c) Sudarsan Pattnaik
(d) Ashwini Bhat
14. According to Trends in Maternal
Mortality 2000–2023 report, what was India’s global position in maternal deaths in 2023? (a)
First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fifth
15. What is the primary objective of the
One Nation, One Election initiative? (a)
To reduce the cost of holding
separate elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies
(b)
To allow political parties to
campaign for both national and state elections together
(c)
To hold elections only for the Lok
Sabha
(d) To make elections non-bailable
16. Which committee was formed
to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections? (a)
NITI Aayog Committee
(b) Ram Nath Kovind Committee
(c) High-Level Political Committee
(d) Parliamentary Committee
17. What is the main objective of
the SHe-Box Portal launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development? (a)
To help women find job
opportunities
(b) To track complaints related to
sexual harassment at workplaces
(c) To provide financial assistance
to women
(d) To raise awareness about
women's rights
18. What is the primary objective of the
European Space Agency’s Biomass
satellite mission?
(a)
To monitor ocean currents
(b) To study air pollution in urban
areas
(c) To map global forests and
measure carbon levels
(d) To track animal migration
patterns
19. Which state is the host of National
Tribal Youth Festival 2025? (a)
Assam
(b) Manipur
(c) Mizoram
(d) Nagaland
20. What is one of the key provisions of
the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024? (a)
Telecom companies must
reduce subscription charges
(b) Telecom companies must report
cybersecurity incidents within six hours
(c)
Telecom companies are
required to provide free internet services
(d)
Telecom companies can use
foreign security experts without restrictions
21.
What is the purpose of the eShram-
One Stop Solution launched by the Union Government? (a)
To provide job opportunities for
educated workers
(b) To help unorganized workers
access government schemes and programs
(c)
To create a database of all
organized labor unions in India
(d) To facilitate export activities for
laborers
22. Where was India's first demonstration
facility for biopolymers inaugurated? (a)
Pune (Maharashtra)
(b) New Delhi
(c) Bengaluru (Karnataka)
(d) Hyderabad (Telangana)
23. What was the significant outcome
of the Syrian Rebels' assault on
Damascus?
(a)
The creation of a new Syrian
government
(b) The end of Bashar al-Assad's
regime
(c) The establishment of peace
negotiations
(d) The withdrawal of Syrian forces
from the Levant region
24. What is the role of the UN
Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), of which India has been re-elected for 2025–2026? (a)
To facilitate trade agreements
between member countries
(b) To support peace efforts and
advise on post-conflict recovery and reconstruction
(c)
To provide humanitarian aid to
refugee camps
(d) To oversee elections in conflict
zones
25. What is the primary focus of Gelephu
Mindfulness City (GMC) in Bhutan? (a)
Rapid industrialization and
urbanization
(b) Blending economic growth with
mindfulness, holistic living, and sustainability
(c)
Promoting religious tourism and
historical preservation
(d) Establishing a military base to
enhance regional security
13. (c) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (c) 19. (c) 20. (b) 21. (b)
22. (a) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (b)
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
13. Who
receive the Fred Darrington Sand
Master Award?
(a)
Ankon Mitra
(b) Mrinalini Mukherjee
(c) Sudarsan Pattnaik
(d) Ashwini Bhat
14. According to Trends in Maternal
Mortality 2000–2023 report, what was India’s global position in maternal deaths in 2023? (a)
First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fifth
15. What is the primary objective of the
One Nation, One Election initiative? (a)
To reduce the cost of holding
separate elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies
(b)
To allow political parties to
campaign for both national and state elections together
(c)
To hold elections only for the Lok
Sabha
(d) To make elections non-bailable
16. Which committee was formed
to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections? (a)
NITI Aayog Committee
(b) Ram Nath Kovind Committee
(c) High-Level Political Committee
(d) Parliamentary Committee
17. What is the main objective of
the SHe-Box Portal launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development? (a)
To help women find job
opportunities
(b) To track complaints related to
sexual harassment at workplaces
(c) To provide financial assistance
to women
(d) To raise awareness about
women's rights
18. What is the primary objective of the
European Space Agency’s Biomass
satellite mission?
(a)
To monitor ocean currents
(b) To study air pollution in urban
areas
(c) To map global forests and
measure carbon levels
(d) To track animal migration
patterns
19. Which state is the host of National
Tribal Youth Festival 2025? (a)
Assam
(b) Manipur
(c) Mizoram
(d) Nagaland
20. What is one of the key provisions of
the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024? (a)
Telecom companies must
reduce subscription charges
(b) Telecom companies must report
cybersecurity incidents within six hours
(c)
Telecom companies are
required to provide free internet services
(d)
Telecom companies can use
foreign security experts without restrictions
21.
What is the purpose of the eShram-
One Stop Solution launched by the Union Government? (a)
To provide job opportunities for
educated workers
(b) To help unorganized workers
access government schemes and programs
(c)
To create a database of all
organized labor unions in India
(d) To facilitate export activities for
laborers
22. Where was India's first demonstration
facility for biopolymers inaugurated? (a)
Pune (Maharashtra)
(b) New Delhi
(c) Bengaluru (Karnataka)
(d) Hyderabad (Telangana)
23. What was the significant outcome
of the Syrian Rebels' assault on
Damascus?
(a)
The creation of a new Syrian
government
(b) The end of Bashar al-Assad's
regime
(c) The establishment of peace
negotiations
(d) The withdrawal of Syrian forces
from the Levant region
24. What is the role of the UN
Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), of which India has been re-elected for 2025–2026? (a)
To facilitate trade agreements
between member countries
(b) To support peace efforts and
advise on post-conflict recovery and reconstruction
(c)
To provide humanitarian aid to
refugee camps
(d) To oversee elections in conflict
zones
25. What is the primary focus of Gelephu
Mindfulness City (GMC) in Bhutan? (a)
Rapid industrialization and
urbanization
(b) Blending economic growth with
mindfulness, holistic living, and sustainability
(c)
Promoting religious tourism and
historical preservation
(d) Establishing a military base to
enhance regional security
13. (c) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (c) 19. (c) 20. (b) 21. (b)
22. (a) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (b)
158ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
26. Akash air defence m issile
system was developed by which
organization?
(a)
Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
(b)
Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
(c) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL)
(d) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
27. Which country did not participate in
the Malabar 2024 exercise, which commenced at Visakhapatnam, India? (a)
India (b) United States
(c) Japan (d) Russia
28. Who won the Nobel Pr ize in
Literature 2024 for her intense poetic prose? (a)
Haruki Murakami
(b) Kazuo Ishiguro
(c) Han Kang
(d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
29. The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was
awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of survivors of which historical event? (a)
The Korean War
(b) The Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings
(c)
The Vietnam War
(d) The Chernobyl disaster
30. Which state/UT has hosted the
Apricot Blossom Festival 2025 to boost ecotourism? (a)
Ladakh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Lakshadweep
31. Which institution has released the
Financial Stability Report (FSR) 2024?
(a)
Ministry of Finance
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
(d) NITI Aayog
32. The Rome Declaration on Water
Scarcity in Agriculture was launched to address water scarcity in agriculture exacerbated by which global issue? (a)
Population growth
(b) Urbanization
(c) Climate crisis
(d) Global trade disruptions
33. What is the primary aim of the
European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)? (a)
To establish a unified air and
missile defense system across Europe
(b)
To promote European space
exploration
(c) To create a common European
army
(d) To establish a financial
cooperation network
34. Which country recently deployed a
powerful Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) near the Myanmar border? (a)
China
(b) India
(c) Thailand
(d) Bangladesh
35. Which country has recently
discovered a massive 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve? (a)
India
(b) France
(c) Germany
(d) China
36. The Union government abolished
the windfall tax on which of the following items?
(a)
Coal
(b) Steel
(
c)
Crude oil and petroleum products
(d) Fertilizers
37. Recently, the Supreme Court of India
has ordered how much duration for
President of India to decide on Bills
referred to her by Governor of a
state?
(a)
14 days (b) 1 month
(c) 3 months (d) 6 months
38. Which of the following countries did
not participate in the Desert Knight defence exercise conducted over the Arabian Sea? (a)
India
(b) France
(c) United Arab Emirates (UAE)
(d) United States
39. The Harimau Shakti 2024 exercise,
which focuses on counterinsurgency operations in jungle terrain, is conducted between India and which country? (a)
Malaysia
(b) Singapore
(c) Thailand
(d) Bangladesh
40. The United Nations has declared
which day as the World Day for Glaciers? (a)
March 21
(b) March 22
(c) March 23
(d) March 24
41. Which country is India’s oldest
regional strategic partner in the Gulf region, with which it conducts joint exercises, including the Naseem- Al-Bahr naval exercise?
(a)
Saudi Arabia
(b) United Arab Emirates
(c) Oman
(d) Qatar
26. (a) 27. (d) 28. (c) 29. (b) 30. (a) 31. (b) 32. (c) 33. (a) 34. (a)
35. (b) 36. (c) 37. (c) 38. (d) 39. (a) 40. (a) 41. (c)
ANSWERS
26. Akash air defence m issile
system was developed by which
organization?
(a)
Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
(b)
Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
(c) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL)
(d) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
27. Which country did not participate in
the Malabar 2024 exercise, which commenced at Visakhapatnam, India? (a)
India (b) United States
(c) Japan (d) Russia
28. Who won the Nobel Pr ize in
Literature 2024 for her intense poetic prose? (a)
Haruki Murakami
(b) Kazuo Ishiguro
(c) Han Kang
(d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
29. The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was
awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of survivors of which historical event? (a)
The Korean War
(b) The Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings
(c)
The Vietnam War
(d) The Chernobyl disaster
30. Which state/UT has hosted the
Apricot Blossom Festival 2025 to boost ecotourism? (a)
Ladakh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Lakshadweep
31. Which institution has released the
Financial Stability Report (FSR) 2024?
(a)
Ministry of Finance
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
(d) NITI Aayog
32. The Rome Declaration on Water
Scarcity in Agriculture was launched to address water scarcity in agriculture exacerbated by which global issue? (a)
Population growth
(b) Urbanization
(c) Climate crisis
(d) Global trade disruptions
33. What is the primary aim of the
European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)? (a)
To establish a unified air and
missile defense system across Europe
(b)
To promote European space
exploration
(c) To create a common European
army
(d) To establish a financial
cooperation network
34. Which country recently deployed a
powerful Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) near the Myanmar border? (a)
China
(b) India
(c) Thailand
(d) Bangladesh
35. Which country has recently
discovered a massive 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve? (a)
India
(b) France
(c) Germany
(d) China
36. The Union government abolished
the windfall tax on which of the following items?
(a)
Coal
(b) Steel
(
c)
Crude oil and petroleum products
(d) Fertilizers
37. Recently, the Supreme Court of India
has ordered how much duration for
President of India to decide on Bills
referred to her by Governor of a
state?
(a)
14 days (b) 1 month
(c) 3 months (d) 6 months
38. Which of the following countries did
not participate in the Desert Knight defence exercise conducted over the Arabian Sea? (a)
India
(b) France
(c) United Arab Emirates (UAE)
(d) United States
39. The Harimau Shakti 2024 exercise,
which focuses on counterinsurgency operations in jungle terrain, is conducted between India and which country? (a)
Malaysia
(b) Singapore
(c) Thailand
(d) Bangladesh
40. The United Nations has declared
which day as the World Day for Glaciers? (a)
March 21
(b) March 22
(c) March 23
(d) March 24
41. Which country is India’s oldest
regional strategic partner in the Gulf region, with which it conducts joint exercises, including the Naseem- Al-Bahr naval exercise?
(a)
Saudi Arabia
(b) United Arab Emirates
(c) Oman
(d) Qatar
26. (a) 27. (d) 28. (c) 29. (b) 30. (a) 31. (b) 32. (c) 33. (a) 34. (a)
35. (b) 36. (c) 37. (c) 38. (d) 39. (a) 40. (a) 41. (c)
159Recent Current Affairs Questions
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
42. What is the theme of World
Meteorological Day 2025?
(a) At the Frontline of Climate Action
(b) Closing the early warning gap
together
(c) Early Warning and Early Action
(d) Climate and Water
43. The Malabar exercise began as a
bilateral naval exercise between India and which country in 1992? (a)
Japan
(b) United States
(c) Australia
(d) France
44. Which ministry has launched a
revamped e-auction portal named ‘BAANKNET’ to streamline the auction of banks assets? (a)
Ministry of Commerce and
Industry
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Ministry of Finance
(d) Ministry of Defence
45. New Zealand’s South Island, which
was seen in news, is separated from North Island by which strait? (a)
Cook Strait
(b) Torres Strait
(c) Foveaux Strait
(d) Tamaki Strait
46. Kasturirangan Committee Report,
recently in the news, concerns environmental protection in which region of India? (a)
Himalayas
(b) Thar Desert
(c) Western Ghats
(d) Sundarbans
47. Recently, which country has become
India’s second-largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplier? (a)
Iraq (b) Iran
(c) Australia (d) United States
48. ‘PM-KUSUM Scheme’, recently
seen in news, comes under which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Urban Development
(b) Ministry of Agriculture
(c) Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy
(d) Ministry of Finance
49. Which organization has launched
BHIM (BHarat Interface for Money) 3.0? (a)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(b) National Payments Corporation
of India (NPCI)
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) Ministry of Finance
50. What is ‘Captagon’, recently seen in
news? (a)
A synthetic drug
(b) A dengue vaccine
(c) A traditional irrigation method
(d) None of the Above
51. Hakki Pikki Tribe, recently seen in
the news, is a major tribal community of which state? (a)
Odisha (b) Bihar
(c) Karnataka (d) Jharkhand
52. Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman
Yojana is launched by which state government? (a)
Bihar
(b) Odisha
(c) Haryana
(d) Jharkhand
53. What is the rank of Uttar Pradesh
in the Startup Ecosystem Report 2025? (a)
First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fifth
54. The Sarhul Festival is mainly
celebrated in which state?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Karnataka
(d) Mizoram
55. What is the primary objective of the
Saubhagya Scheme, recently seen
in news?
(a)
Providing free healthcare to rural
households
(b) Achieving universal household
electrification
(c) Promoting agriculture in remote
areas
(d) Enhancing educational facilities
in urban areas
56. The Future Circular Collider (FCC)
is a proposed $30 billion project by which organization? (a)
European Organization for
Nuclear Research (CERN)
(b) Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA)
(c) China National Space
Administration (CNSA)
(d) Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
57. Which institution has launched
India’s largest metal 3D printing machine for rocket components? (a)
IIT Madras
(b) IIT Delhi
(c) IIT Kanpur
(d) IIT Hyderabad
58. Which organization has developed
the Search and Rescue Aid Tool
(SARAT)?
(a)
Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
(b) Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
(c)
Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS)
(d) National Institute of
Oceanography (NIO)
42. (b) 43. (b) 44. (c) 45. (a) 46. (c) 47. (d) 48. (c) 49. (b) 50. (a)
51. (c) 52. (d) 53. (c) 54. (b) 55. (b) 56. (a) 57. (d) 58. (c)
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
42. What is the theme of World
Meteorological Day 2025?
(a) At the Frontline of Climate Action
(b) Closing the early warning gap
together
(c) Early Warning and Early Action
(d) Climate and Water
43. The Malabar exercise began as a
bilateral naval exercise between India and which country in 1992? (a)
Japan
(b) United States
(c) Australia
(d) France
44. Which ministry has launched a
revamped e-auction portal named ‘BAANKNET’ to streamline the auction of banks assets? (a)
Ministry of Commerce and
Industry
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Ministry of Finance
(d) Ministry of Defence
45. New Zealand’s South Island, which
was seen in news, is separated from North Island by which strait? (a)
Cook Strait
(b) Torres Strait
(c) Foveaux Strait
(d) Tamaki Strait
46. Kasturirangan Committee Report,
recently in the news, concerns environmental protection in which region of India? (a)
Himalayas
(b) Thar Desert
(c) Western Ghats
(d) Sundarbans
47. Recently, which country has become
India’s second-largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplier? (a)
Iraq (b) Iran
(c) Australia (d) United States
48. ‘PM-KUSUM Scheme’, recently
seen in news, comes under which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Urban Development
(b) Ministry of Agriculture
(c) Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy
(d) Ministry of Finance
49. Which organization has launched
BHIM (BHarat Interface for Money) 3.0? (a)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(b) National Payments Corporation
of India (NPCI)
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) Ministry of Finance
50. What is ‘Captagon’, recently seen in
news? (a)
A synthetic drug
(b) A dengue vaccine
(c) A traditional irrigation method
(d) None of the Above
51. Hakki Pikki Tribe, recently seen in
the news, is a major tribal community of which state? (a)
Odisha (b) Bihar
(c) Karnataka (d) Jharkhand
52. Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman
Yojana is launched by which state government? (a)
Bihar
(b) Odisha
(c) Haryana
(d) Jharkhand
53. What is the rank of Uttar Pradesh
in the Startup Ecosystem Report 2025? (a)
First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fifth
54. The Sarhul Festival is mainly
celebrated in which state?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Karnataka
(d) Mizoram
55. What is the primary objective of the
Saubhagya Scheme, recently seen
in news?
(a)
Providing free healthcare to rural
households
(b) Achieving universal household
electrification
(c) Promoting agriculture in remote
areas
(d) Enhancing educational facilities
in urban areas
56. The Future Circular Collider (FCC)
is a proposed $30 billion project by which organization? (a)
European Organization for
Nuclear Research (CERN)
(b) Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA)
(c) China National Space
Administration (CNSA)
(d) Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
57. Which institution has launched
India’s largest metal 3D printing machine for rocket components? (a)
IIT Madras
(b) IIT Delhi
(c) IIT Kanpur
(d) IIT Hyderabad
58. Which organization has developed
the Search and Rescue Aid Tool
(SARAT)?
(a)
Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
(b) Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
(c)
Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS)
(d) National Institute of
Oceanography (NIO)
42. (b) 43. (b) 44. (c) 45. (a) 46. (c) 47. (d) 48. (c) 49. (b) 50. (a)
51. (c) 52. (d) 53. (c) 54. (b) 55. (b) 56. (a) 57. (d) 58. (c)
160ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
59. Recently, which shipyard has
launched the first indigenously-built
Talwar class frigate, ‘Triput’?
(a)
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
(b) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL)
(c) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
(d) Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)
60. Which institution has launched
a policy report titled Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities? (a)
Ministry of Education
(b) Reserve Bank of India
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) IIT Kanpur
61. C-DOT recently signed an
agreement with which institutions for “Development of ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points” to enhance connectivity? (a)
IIT Madras and IIT Kharagpur
(b) IIT Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi
(c) IIT Bombay and Kanpur
(d) IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi
62. Where was the Asia’s first hyper-
realistic life-sized animatronic elephant named Ellie unveiled? (a)
Bengaluru
(b) Kolkata
(c) Bhopal
(d) Chennai
63. Which institution has introduced a
new digital platform called MITRA? (a)
NITI Aayog
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) State Bank of India (SBI)
(d) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
64. ‘Ceres’ is recently classified as what
type of celestial body? (a)
Dwarf planet (b) Asteroid
(c) Comet (d) Moon
65. Who has been appointed as the
new Cabinet Secretary for the
Government of India?
(a)
Alok Banerjee
(b) T.V. Somanathan
(c) S.C. Majumdar
(d) Rinku Dugga
66. Digital Bus initiative, recently seen
in news, is launched by which two organizations? (a)
National Digital India Mission
and NIIT Foundation
(b) Ministry of Education and Infosys
Foundation
(c) NITI Aayog and Department of IT
(d) Digital India Mission and Tata
Consultancy Services
67. Recently, the oldest Jurassic bird
fossil has been found in which country? (a)
India
(b) China
(c) Japan
(d) Vietnam
68. NEOWISE Telescope, recently seen
in the news, was launched by which space agency? (a)
ISRO (b) CNSA
(c) JAXA (d) NASA
69. Which country is the host of 4th
No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference 2025? (a)
Germany
(b) Australia
(c) France
(d) Russia
70. What is ‘Silicosis’, recently seen in
news? (a)
A cardiovascular disease
(b) A respiratory disease
(c) A neurological disorder
(d) A digestive disorder
71. What is the primary focus of ‘Glide
Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project’,
recently in news?
(a)
Missile interception
(b) Ocean exploration
(c) Mineral exploration
(d) Space exploration
72. Which company has recently
unveiled ‘Sesame’, India’s first Large Language Model (LLM)?
(a)
Setu
(b) RazorPay
(c) Instamojo
(d) MobiKwik
73. Which ministry recently launched
the ‘Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE) program? (a)
Ministry of Education
(b) Ministry of Finance
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
74. Darfur region, recently seen in news
due to hunger crisis, is located in which country? (a)
Algeria (b) Sudan
(c) Libya (d) Egypt
75. Which institute recently introduced
a new high-yielding wheat seed variety, HD 3386? (a)
Indian Agricultural Research
Institute
(b) National sugar Research Institute
(c) Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research
(d) Central Scientific Industrial
Organisation
76. Which two countries launched the
TRUST initiative to boost cooperation in critical minerals 2025? (a)
India and Russia
(b) India and United States
(c) Russia and China
(d) India and Japan
59. (d) 60. (c) 61. (d) 62. (a) 63. (d) 64. (a) 65. (b) 66. (a) 67. (b)
68. (d) 69. (a) 70. (b) 71. (a) 72. (a) 73. (a) 74. (b) 75. (a) 76. (b)
ANSWERS
59. Recently, which shipyard has
launched the first indigenously-built
Talwar class frigate, ‘Triput’?
(a)
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
(b) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL)
(c) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
(d) Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)
60. Which institution has launched
a policy report titled Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities? (a)
Ministry of Education
(b) Reserve Bank of India
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) IIT Kanpur
61. C-DOT recently signed an
agreement with which institutions for “Development of ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points” to enhance connectivity? (a)
IIT Madras and IIT Kharagpur
(b) IIT Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi
(c) IIT Bombay and Kanpur
(d) IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi
62. Where was the Asia’s first hyper-
realistic life-sized animatronic elephant named Ellie unveiled? (a)
Bengaluru
(b) Kolkata
(c) Bhopal
(d) Chennai
63. Which institution has introduced a
new digital platform called MITRA? (a)
NITI Aayog
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) State Bank of India (SBI)
(d) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
64. ‘Ceres’ is recently classified as what
type of celestial body? (a)
Dwarf planet (b) Asteroid
(c) Comet (d) Moon
65. Who has been appointed as the
new Cabinet Secretary for the
Government of India?
(a)
Alok Banerjee
(b) T.V. Somanathan
(c) S.C. Majumdar
(d) Rinku Dugga
66. Digital Bus initiative, recently seen
in news, is launched by which two organizations? (a)
National Digital India Mission
and NIIT Foundation
(b) Ministry of Education and Infosys
Foundation
(c) NITI Aayog and Department of IT
(d) Digital India Mission and Tata
Consultancy Services
67. Recently, the oldest Jurassic bird
fossil has been found in which country? (a)
India
(b) China
(c) Japan
(d) Vietnam
68. NEOWISE Telescope, recently seen
in the news, was launched by which space agency? (a)
ISRO (b) CNSA
(c) JAXA (d) NASA
69. Which country is the host of 4th
No Money for Terror (NMFT) Conference 2025? (a)
Germany
(b) Australia
(c) France
(d) Russia
70. What is ‘Silicosis’, recently seen in
news? (a)
A cardiovascular disease
(b) A respiratory disease
(c) A neurological disorder
(d) A digestive disorder
71. What is the primary focus of ‘Glide
Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project’,
recently in news?
(a)
Missile interception
(b) Ocean exploration
(c) Mineral exploration
(d) Space exploration
72. Which company has recently
unveiled ‘Sesame’, India’s first Large Language Model (LLM)?
(a)
Setu
(b) RazorPay
(c) Instamojo
(d) MobiKwik
73. Which ministry recently launched
the ‘Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE) program? (a)
Ministry of Education
(b) Ministry of Finance
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
74. Darfur region, recently seen in news
due to hunger crisis, is located in which country? (a)
Algeria (b) Sudan
(c) Libya (d) Egypt
75. Which institute recently introduced
a new high-yielding wheat seed variety, HD 3386? (a)
Indian Agricultural Research
Institute
(b) National sugar Research Institute
(c) Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research
(d) Central Scientific Industrial
Organisation
76. Which two countries launched the
TRUST initiative to boost cooperation in critical minerals 2025? (a)
India and Russia
(b) India and United States
(c) Russia and China
(d) India and Japan
59. (d) 60. (c) 61. (d) 62. (a) 63. (d) 64. (a) 65. (b) 66. (a) 67. (b)
68. (d) 69. (a) 70. (b) 71. (a) 72. (a) 73. (a) 74. (b) 75. (a) 76. (b)
161Recent Current Affairs Questions
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
77. M
news, is associated with which
sports?
(a)
Table Tennis (b) Badminton
(c) Football (d) Chess
78. Truenat platform, recently seen
in news, is associated with which disease? (a)
Dengue (b) Cancer
(c) TB (d) Malaria
79. Where was the 8th edition of
Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) organized? (a)
Muscat, Oman
(b) Tamil Nadu, India
(c) Perth, Australia
(d) Jakarta, Indonesia
80. What is the aim of the National
Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES), recently approved by government of India? (a)
To improve healthcare
infrastructure
(b) To strengthen the criminal
forensic infrastructure
(c) To enhance educational facilities
(d) To develop transportation systems
81.
Which organization has released
the 2025 edition of the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD)?
(a)
World Health Organization
(b) International Red Cross
(c) United Nations
(d) United Nations Development
Programme
82. Which zoological park is home to
India’s first ‘bio bank’?
(a) Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park
(b) National Zoological Park
(c) Nandankanan Zoological Park
(d) Nehru Zoological Park
83. Juno probe, recently seen in
the news, is a NASA spacecraft designed to orbit which planet? (a)
Jupiter (b) Mars
(c) Saturn (d) Venus
84. Which state in India has recorded
the highest number of vultures in the recent census? (a)
Madhya Pradesh
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Odisha
(d) Bihar
85. Recently, for the first time, the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced its ‘Vision for Regional Security’ in which city of Saudi Arabia? (a)
Riyadh (b) Jeddah
(c) Medina (d) Dammam
86. Recently, a fresh batch of Igla-S air
defence system has arrived India from which country? (a)
France (b) China
(c) USA (d) Russia
87. Which institution has developed a
Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index? (a)
NITI Aayog
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
(d) Ministry of Finance
88. The first Adolescent Girls Club
under Mission Shakti was launched in which state? (a)
Manipur (b) Nagaland
(c) Assam (d) Mizoram
89. What was the primary objective
of ‘Operation Meghdoot’, recently mentioned in news?
(a)
To establish a military base in
Ladakh
(b) To capture strategic heights in
the Himalayas
(c) To engage in a peacekeeping
mission
(d) To secure the Siachen Glacier
90. Which state recently launched ‘Pirul
Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign to prevent
forest fires in state?
(a)
Himachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Haryana
(d) Punjab
91. According to a recent report, which
country is the most targeted nation for mobile malware attacks? (a)
Canada
(b) The Netherlands
(c) South Africa
(d) India
92. Which organization recently
launched the Business for Land (B4L) Initiative? (a)
World Health Organization (WHO)
(b) International Labour Organization (ILO)
(c)
United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
(d) International Monetary Fund
(IMF)
93. Which institute has developed an
open-source tool called “IMPART” to monitor lake water surface temperatures? (a)
IIT Kanpur (b) IIT Madras
(c) IIT Kanpur (d) IIT Bombay
94. Rural Technology Action Group
(RuTAG) is an initiative of which institution? (a)
Office of the Principal Scientific
Adviser (PSA)
(b) NITI Aayog
(c) All India Radio
(d) Central Vigilance Commission
77. (a) 78. (c) 79. (a) 80. (b) 81. (a) 82. (a) 83. (a) 84. (a) 85. (a)
86. (d) 87. (b) 88. (b) 89. (d) 90. (b) 91. (d) 92. (c) 93. (d) 94. (a)
ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
77. M
news, is associated with which
sports?
(a)
Table Tennis (b) Badminton
(c) Football (d) Chess
78. Truenat platform, recently seen
in news, is associated with which disease? (a)
Dengue (b) Cancer
(c) TB (d) Malaria
79. Where was the 8th edition of
Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) organized? (a)
Muscat, Oman
(b) Tamil Nadu, India
(c) Perth, Australia
(d) Jakarta, Indonesia
80. What is the aim of the National
Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES), recently approved by government of India? (a)
To improve healthcare
infrastructure
(b) To strengthen the criminal
forensic infrastructure
(c) To enhance educational facilities
(d) To develop transportation systems
81.
Which organization has released
the 2025 edition of the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD)?
(a)
World Health Organization
(b) International Red Cross
(c) United Nations
(d) United Nations Development
Programme
82. Which zoological park is home to
India’s first ‘bio bank’?
(a) Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park
(b) National Zoological Park
(c) Nandankanan Zoological Park
(d) Nehru Zoological Park
83. Juno probe, recently seen in
the news, is a NASA spacecraft designed to orbit which planet? (a)
Jupiter (b) Mars
(c) Saturn (d) Venus
84. Which state in India has recorded
the highest number of vultures in the recent census? (a)
Madhya Pradesh
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Odisha
(d) Bihar
85. Recently, for the first time, the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced its ‘Vision for Regional Security’ in which city of Saudi Arabia? (a)
Riyadh (b) Jeddah
(c) Medina (d) Dammam
86. Recently, a fresh batch of Igla-S air
defence system has arrived India from which country? (a)
France (b) China
(c) USA (d) Russia
87. Which institution has developed a
Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index? (a)
NITI Aayog
(b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
(c) Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)
(d) Ministry of Finance
88. The first Adolescent Girls Club
under Mission Shakti was launched in which state? (a)
Manipur (b) Nagaland
(c) Assam (d) Mizoram
89. What was the primary objective
of ‘Operation Meghdoot’, recently mentioned in news?
(a)
To establish a military base in
Ladakh
(b) To capture strategic heights in
the Himalayas
(c) To engage in a peacekeeping
mission
(d) To secure the Siachen Glacier
90. Which state recently launched ‘Pirul
Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign to prevent
forest fires in state?
(a)
Himachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Haryana
(d) Punjab
91. According to a recent report, which
country is the most targeted nation for mobile malware attacks? (a)
Canada
(b) The Netherlands
(c) South Africa
(d) India
92. Which organization recently
launched the Business for Land (B4L) Initiative? (a)
World Health Organization (WHO)
(b) International Labour Organization (ILO)
(c)
United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
(d) International Monetary Fund
(IMF)
93. Which institute has developed an
open-source tool called “IMPART” to monitor lake water surface temperatures? (a)
IIT Kanpur (b) IIT Madras
(c) IIT Kanpur (d) IIT Bombay
94. Rural Technology Action Group
(RuTAG) is an initiative of which institution? (a)
Office of the Principal Scientific
Adviser (PSA)
(b) NITI Aayog
(c) All India Radio
(d) Central Vigilance Commission
77. (a) 78. (c) 79. (a) 80. (b) 81. (a) 82. (a) 83. (a) 84. (a) 85. (a)
86. (d) 87. (b) 88. (b) 89. (d) 90. (b) 91. (d) 92. (c) 93. (d) 94. (a)
162ESE 2025 : Preliminary Exam
ANSWERS
95. What is the name of the Earth
observation satellite developed by
NASA and ISRO?
(a)
ADEOS
(b) NISAR
(c) CLOUDSAT
(d) GALILIEO
96. Which is the nodal ministry for the
IndiaAI Mission? (a)
Ministry of Finance
(b) Ministry of Science and
Technology
(c) Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology
(d) Ministry of Defence
97. What is the name of the distant
galaxy discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope? (a)
Firefly Sparkle
(b) Cosmic Glimmer
(c) Starburst Jewel
(d) None of the Above
98. Which organization released the
“Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils” report? (a)
Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)
(b) United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
(c) World Bank
(
d)
World Health Organization (WHO)
99. Science and Heritage Research
Initiative (SHRI) is associated with which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Science and
Technolgy
(b) Ministry of Culture
(c) Ministry of Tourism
(d) Ministry of Finance
100. Which country has joined the
International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework Agreement in December 2024?
(a)
Russia
(b) Moldova
(c) Ukraine
(d) Kenya
101. Which state has topped in installing
rooftop solar energy as of December
2024?
(a)
Maharashtra
(b) Bihar
(c) Gujarat
(d) Odisha
102. Sagar Island, which was seen in
the news, is located in which State/ UT? (a)
Tamil Nadu
(b) West Bengal
(c) Lakshadweep
(d) Goa
103. Ocean Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a),
that was recently seen in news, occurred during which period? (a)
Jurassic
(b) Triassic
(c) Permian
(d) Cretaceous
104. According to recent study,
which state reported the arsenic
contamination in staple foods?
(a)
Jharkhand
(b) Bihar
(c) Odisha
(d) Uttar Pradesh
105. Recently, who becom es the
youngest female to climb highest peaks in all 7 continents? (a)
Pragati Bisht
(b) Kaamya Karthikeyan
(c) Sanaya Gupta
(d) Kirti Rawat
106. Kavach 4.0, which was seen in
the news, is an automatic train
protection system introduced by
which organization?
(a)
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
(b)
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
(BHEL)
(c) Research Design and Standards
Organization (RDSO)
(d) Ministry of Transport
107. Which ministry is responsible for
conducting the census in India? (a)
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare
(b) Ministry of Tourism
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
108. Which tribe primarily inhabits Meluri,
newly declared district of Nagaland? (a)
Angami Naga
(b) Pochury Naga
(c) Sumi Naga
(d) Lotha Naga
109. Which state has become the first
state in India to adopt an airshed- based approach for clean air project? (a)
Bihar
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttar Pradesh
110. Which city is proposed for the
world’s first high-altitude para sports centre? (a)
Leh
(b) Darjeeling
(c) Mussoorie
(d) Dehradun
95. (b) 96. (c) 97. (a) 98. (a) 99. (a) 100. (b) 101. (c) 102. (b) 103. (d)
104. (b) 105. (b) 106. (c) 107. (d) 108. (b) 109. (d) 110. (a)
ANSWERS
95. What is the name of the Earth
observation satellite developed by
NASA and ISRO?
(a)
ADEOS
(b) NISAR
(c) CLOUDSAT
(d) GALILIEO
96. Which is the nodal ministry for the
IndiaAI Mission? (a)
Ministry of Finance
(b) Ministry of Science and
Technology
(c) Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology
(d) Ministry of Defence
97. What is the name of the distant
galaxy discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope? (a)
Firefly Sparkle
(b) Cosmic Glimmer
(c) Starburst Jewel
(d) None of the Above
98. Which organization released the
“Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils” report? (a)
Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO)
(b) United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
(c) World Bank
(
d)
World Health Organization (WHO)
99. Science and Heritage Research
Initiative (SHRI) is associated with which ministry? (a)
Ministry of Science and
Technolgy
(b) Ministry of Culture
(c) Ministry of Tourism
(d) Ministry of Finance
100. Which country has joined the
International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework Agreement in December 2024?
(a)
Russia
(b) Moldova
(c) Ukraine
(d) Kenya
101. Which state has topped in installing
rooftop solar energy as of December
2024?
(a)
Maharashtra
(b) Bihar
(c) Gujarat
(d) Odisha
102. Sagar Island, which was seen in
the news, is located in which State/ UT? (a)
Tamil Nadu
(b) West Bengal
(c) Lakshadweep
(d) Goa
103. Ocean Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a),
that was recently seen in news, occurred during which period? (a)
Jurassic
(b) Triassic
(c) Permian
(d) Cretaceous
104. According to recent study,
which state reported the arsenic
contamination in staple foods?
(a)
Jharkhand
(b) Bihar
(c) Odisha
(d) Uttar Pradesh
105. Recently, who becom es the
youngest female to climb highest peaks in all 7 continents? (a)
Pragati Bisht
(b) Kaamya Karthikeyan
(c) Sanaya Gupta
(d) Kirti Rawat
106. Kavach 4.0, which was seen in
the news, is an automatic train
protection system introduced by
which organization?
(a)
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
(b)
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
(BHEL)
(c) Research Design and Standards
Organization (RDSO)
(d) Ministry of Transport
107. Which ministry is responsible for
conducting the census in India? (a)
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare
(b) Ministry of Tourism
(c) Ministry of Defence
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs
108. Which tribe primarily inhabits Meluri,
newly declared district of Nagaland? (a)
Angami Naga
(b) Pochury Naga
(c) Sumi Naga
(d) Lotha Naga
109. Which state has become the first
state in India to adopt an airshed- based approach for clean air project? (a)
Bihar
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttar Pradesh
110. Which city is proposed for the
world’s first high-altitude para sports centre? (a)
Leh
(b) Darjeeling
(c) Mussoorie
(d) Dehradun
95. (b) 96. (c) 97. (a) 98. (a) 99. (a) 100. (b) 101. (c) 102. (b) 103. (d)
104. (b) 105. (b) 106. (c) 107. (d) 108. (b) 109. (d) 110. (a)
10 All India Rank 1 (CE, ME, IN, ES & EE )46 10 Selections in Top 401 100 Selections in Top
For complete results of ESE & GATE, visit : www.madeeasy.in
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4 4 4 Streams Toppers all MADE EASY Students 197 206 out of total Vacancies (95% Selections)40 40, 10 out of in Top
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5
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7
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5
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9
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ES+XE
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8
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ME
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9
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3
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4
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5
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4 4 4 Streams Toppers all MADE EASY Students 197 206 out of total Vacancies (95% Selections)40 40, 10 out of in Top
CE
10 in
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ME
10 in
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EE
10 in
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E&T
10 in
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students top in ESE 2024
students top in GATE 2025
5
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3
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CE
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3
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3
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ME
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ME
KULDEEP SINGH NARUKA
CLASSROOM COURSE
5
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PI
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10
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PI
JETTI GANATEJA
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10
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ME
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CLASSROOM COURSE
10
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ME
ABHINN
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7
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ME
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TEST SERIES
10
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6
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5
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IN
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EC
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IN
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7
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ES
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5
ES
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ES+XE
7 in
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8
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ME
Advt.
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Classes by experienced & renowned faculties.
Face to face interaction for doubts.
Systematic subject sequence & timely completion.
Concept practice through workbook solving.
Comprehensive & updated books.
Exam oriented learning ecosystem.
Efficient teaching with comprehensive coverage.
Proper notes making & study concentration in class.
Regular performance assessment through class tests. Regular assessment through tests & quizzes.
Interaction and doubt chat with subject experts.
Concept of problem solving through workbooks.
Comprehensive & updated theory & practice books.
Systematic subject sequence.
User-friendly and intuitive learner interface.
Convenience and exibility of 24*7 learning.
Teaching pedagogy similar to offline classes.
Time bound syllabus completion.
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES
• • • • • • • • GATE ESE PSUs UPPSC-AE CSE SSC-JE RRB-JE State Engineering Services Exams
In Postal Packages, books are provided to meet the needs of college-going students, working
professionals, and those who are unable to join classroom courses. The books are compact, yet
comprehensive, effective, and easy to understand. MADE EASY has made all efforts to provide
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We offer courses for CE, ME, EE, EC, IN, CS, PI and CH streams.
POSTAL PACKAGE
We offer online test series for GATE, ESE, RRB, SSC-JE, State Engineering Services, and various other
competitive examinations. Test Papers are designed by the highly qualified R&D wing of MADE EASY.
Step-by-step solutions and comprehensive test analysis are provided to improve accuracy, time
management, and overall performance. Using this platform students can build their concepts and
evaluate themselves at All India level.
ONLINE TEST SERIES
Corporate Office: 44-A/1, Kalu Sarai, Near Hauz Khas Metro Station, New Delhi-110016 Ph: 9021300500, 011-45124612•
MADE EASY Centres : www.madeeasy.inDelhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata |
Rs. 200/-
ISBN : 978-93-6202-079-6
Quality Teaching Well Planned Curriculum Professionally Managed Outstanding Results
FOUNDATION COURSE
• GATE • GATE + ESE
OFFLINE CLASSES
Classes by experienced & renowned faculties.
Face to face interaction for doubts.
Systematic subject sequence & timely completion.
Concept practice through workbook solving.
Comprehensive & updated books.
Exam oriented learning ecosystem.
Efficient teaching with comprehensive coverage.
Proper notes making & study concentration in class.
Regular performance assessment through class tests. Regular assessment through tests & quizzes.
Interaction and doubt chat with subject experts.
Concept of problem solving through workbooks.
Comprehensive & updated theory & practice books.
Systematic subject sequence.
User-friendly and intuitive learner interface.
Convenience and exibility of 24*7 learning.
Teaching pedagogy similar to offline classes.
Time bound syllabus completion.
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES
• • • • • • • • GATE ESE PSUs UPPSC-AE CSE SSC-JE RRB-JE State Engineering Services Exams
In Postal Packages, books are provided to meet the needs of college-going students, working
professionals, and those who are unable to join classroom courses. The books are compact, yet
comprehensive, effective, and easy to understand. MADE EASY has made all efforts to provide
error-free books loaded with smart and shortcut techniques for numerical problem-solving.
We offer courses for CE, ME, EE, EC, IN, CS, PI and CH streams.
POSTAL PACKAGE
We offer online test series for GATE, ESE, RRB, SSC-JE, State Engineering Services, and various other
competitive examinations. Test Papers are designed by the highly qualified R&D wing of MADE EASY.
Step-by-step solutions and comprehensive test analysis are provided to improve accuracy, time
management, and overall performance. Using this platform students can build their concepts and
evaluate themselves at All India level.
ONLINE TEST SERIES
Corporate Office: 44-A/1, Kalu Sarai, Near Hauz Khas Metro Station, New Delhi-110016 Ph: 9021300500, 011-45124612•
MADE EASY Centres : www.madeeasy.inDelhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata |
Rs. 200/-
ISBN : 978-93-6202-079-6
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