THE HINDU 02.05.2025 (Only UPSC syllabus topics)

The Hindu 02.05.2025:

🧭 General Studies Paper 1: Indian Society, Geography, Culture, and Modern History

1. India-Pakistan Cross-Border Migration & Social Impact (Attari-Wagah report)

• Theme: Partition legacy, cross-border people-to-people ties, displacement, and identity.
• Key Issues:
  • Closure of the Attari border after Pahalgam terror attack disrupts families with split citizenship.
  • Cultural integration across borders, emphasizing the social cost of diplomatic breakdowns.
  • Emotional, psychological, and economic impact on border communities (Amritsar, Gurdaspur).
• GS1 Relevance: Indian society (communalism, social issues), post-independence consolidation.

2. ‘Orange Economy’ & Cultural Diplomacy

• Theme: India’s creative economy and cultural soft power.
• Key Issues:
  • PM Modi’s pitch for “Create in India, Create for the World” during WAVES summit.
  • Emphasis on India’s historical respect for cultural diversity (Jews, Parsis as examples).
• GS1 Relevance: Indian culture and globalization, art & creative industries, Indian diaspora and cultural soft power.

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⚖️ General Studies Paper 2: Governance, International Relations, Polity, and Welfare

1. India-U.S. Strategic Relations & Counterterrorism Cooperation

• Theme: Strategic autonomy and multilateral support.
• Key Points:
  • U.S. Secretary of Defence supports India’s “right to defend itself” post-Pahalgam attack.
  • Emphasis on global condemnation of Pakistan’s terror sponsorship.
• GS2 Relevance: Bilateral relations, global terrorism, international support frameworks.

2. India-Pakistan Relations: Diplomacy and Tensions

• Theme: Escalation and De-escalation Tools.
• Key Issues:
  • Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire violations.
  • Naval exercises by both nations amid speculation of surgical strikes.
• GS2 Relevance: India’s foreign policy, neighborhood first, conflict resolution.

3. Water Dispute between Punjab and Haryana

• Theme: Inter-state water conflict and cooperative federalism.
• Key Issues:
  • Conflict over Bhakra Nangal dam water release.
  • Legal and constitutional issues around interstate river sharing.
• GS2 Relevance: Inter-state relations, federalism, water as a public good, NITI Aayog & BBMB roles.

4. Delhi’s Civic Crisis: Governance and Accountability

• Themes: Urban local bodies, service delivery, crisis management.
• Key Issues:
  • Delhi CM’s clean-up drive: accountability of DMs/DCPs.
  • Fire tragedies and administrative response (Ajmer, Kolkata).
• GS2 Relevance: Urban governance, disaster management, bureaucratic responsibility.

5. Court’s Intervention in School Bomb Threat Management

• Theme: Judiciary as a guardian of public security.
• Key Issues:
  • Court questions Delhi govt and police for failure to implement previous directives.
• GS2 Relevance: Role of judiciary in governance, public safety mechanisms, citizen rights.

6. Caste Census and Political Implications

• Theme: Social justice and affirmative action.
• Key Points:
  • RSS changes stance to support caste enumeration.
  • Veerashaiva-Lingayat demand for a separate religion code.
• GS2 Relevance: Caste and affirmative action, role of pressure groups, constitutional provisions (Articles 15, 16, 340).

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💹 General Studies Paper 3: Economy, Environment, Disaster Management, Internal Security

1. GST Collection at Record High

• Theme: Economic indicators and tax compliance.
• Key Data:
  • ₹2.37 lakh crore GST collection in April 2025.
  • Growth due to March-end reconciliations, improved domestic consumption.
• GS3 Relevance: Indian economy, fiscal policy, indirect taxation, cooperative federalism.

2. Vizhinjam Port: Infrastructure and Strategic Development

• Theme: Strategic maritime infrastructure.
• Key Highlights:
  • AI-powered, deep-water seaport; reduces reliance on transshipment via Colombo/Singapore.
  • Expected to save $200–220 million annually.
• GS3 Relevance: Infrastructure, strategic security, blue economy, port-led development.

3. Wildfires in Israel

• Theme: International environmental crisis management.
• Relevance for GS3: Disaster management, climate-induced disasters, international cooperation.

4. Delhi Summer Action Plan: Worker Welfare

• Theme: Occupational health under extreme weather.
• Key Points:
  • Mandatory rest period between 12–3 p.m. due to extreme heat.
• GS3 Relevance: Climate resilience, labor welfare, urban heat island effect.

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🧭 General Studies Paper 4: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

1. Narrative of Navy Officer’s Widow Promoting Peace

• Theme: Ethics in public discourse and grief.
• Key Points:
  • Widow of Pahalgam terror victim urges peace, rejects communal hatred.
• GS4 Relevance: Empathy, emotional intelligence, civic virtue, national integration.

2. Recognition of Civilian Heroism (Pony Ride Operator)

• Theme: Altruism and ethical recognition.
• Key Points:
  • Waqf Board provides job to kin of civilian killed saving tourists.
• GS4 Relevance: Public service values, moral courage, dignity of labor.

3. Administrative Ethics in Fire Safety Failures (Kolkata & Ajmer Fires)

• Theme: Public safety, institutional responsibility.
• Key Points:
  • CM Mamata demands accountability from hotel owners and officials.
• GS4 Relevance: Accountability, responsibility, leadership in crisis.