THE HINDU 07.05.2025
📘 General Studies Paper 1: Indian Society, Geography, and History
1. Human Development Index (HDI) 2023 – India’s Standing and Inequality
- India’s Rank: 134 out of 193 countries in the 2023 Human Development Report.
- HDI Score: 0.644 – categorized as “Medium Human Development.”
- GNI per capita (PPP): $6,951.
- Life Expectancy: ~67 years.
- Mean Years of Schooling: 6.5 years; Expected Years: 11.9 years.
- Inequality-adjusted HDI: Drops significantly due to:
- Income disparity: Top 10% earn over 50% of national income.
- Gender Inequality Index (GII): India ranks low, reflecting high maternal mortality (113/100,000), low female labor force participation (25%), and political underrepresentation.
- Relevance to UPSC: Use for analytical questions on regional disparities, inclusive growth, social indicators, and sustainable development.
📗 General Studies Paper 2: Governance, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
1. India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Progress
- Status: 13th round of negotiations completed; final agreement pending post UK elections.
- Benefits for India:
- Zero tariffs on 99% of exports: especially textiles, pharmaceuticals, and IT services.
- Easier visa norms: under negotiation, especially for Indian professionals.
- UK’s Demands:
- Tariff cuts on Scotch whisky, luxury cars.
- Intellectual property protections.
- Relevance: India’s strategic trade diversification post-Brexit; deepens ties with key G7 nation.
- UPSC Use: IR + Trade policy + Global South cooperation.
2. SYL Canal Dispute – Centre-State Federal Challenge
- Timeline: Rooted in 1966 Reorganization Act; escalated after Punjab’s 2004 Act to nullify canal.
- SC’s Intervention:
- Terms Punjab’s actions “high-handed.”
- Orders Centre to mediate between Punjab and Haryana.
- Federal Implication:
- Test case for Article 262 (inter-state water disputes).
- Need for cooperative federalism in resource sharing.
- UPSC Use: Case study for Centre-State relations, water resource governance, and judicial activism.
3. Triple Test for OBC Reservation – Maharashtra Local Bodies
- SC Guidelines (Vikas Kishanrao Gawali Case):
- Empirical data on backwardness.
- Dedicated commission to analyze data.
- Reservation ceiling to stay within the 50% limit (unless exceptional circumstances).
- Recent SC Approval:
- Based on fresh data submitted by Maharashtra.
- UPSC Use: Social justice, reservations, and judicial checks in democratic governance.
4. Delhi University Data Circular for J&K Students
- Directive: Asked colleges to submit detailed personal info of students from Jammu & Kashmir.
- Concerns:
- Violation of privacy, risk of profiling.
- No stated legal basis or emergency.
- Context: Issued after terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
- UPSC Use: Ethical governance, Right to Privacy (K.S. Puttaswamy case), and regional sensitivity.
5. Mock Drills for Emergency Preparedness
- Background: Post-Pahalgam attack, 244 districts included in pan-India civil defence drills.
- Features:
- Multi-agency coordination.
- Public involvement and trauma simulations.
- Focus on urban disaster response in high-risk zones.
- UPSC Use: Disaster management framework under NDMA guidelines.
📙 General Studies Paper 3: Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Internal Security
1. Illegal Mining Case – Gali Janardhan Reddy
- CBI Charges:
- Violations under Mines and Minerals Act.
- Loss to exchequer estimated at ₹884 crore.
- Context:
- Mining leases misused.
- Environmental degradation in Ballari (Karnataka) region.
- Judicial Status: Bail granted, limited access to Ballari district.
- UPSC Use: Combines environmental governance, economic corruption, and judicial oversight.
2. Delhi Air Pollution – Rooftop Sprinklers and Anti-Smog Guns
- Measures Introduced:
- 1,000 mobile water tankers.
- 140 anti-smog guns.
- Rooftop sprinklers in government buildings.
- Criticism:
- Short-term and reactive rather than preventive.
- Doesn’t address root causes (vehicular emissions, stubble burning).
- Relevance:
- Aligns with NCAP (National Clean Air Programme).
- Public health hazard with AQI regularly in “Severe” category.
- UPSC Use: Environment + Urban planning + Policy critique.
3. Supreme Court on Firecracker Ban
- Context: Rising pollution during Diwali and other festivals.
- SC Order:
- Complete ban on non-green firecrackers.
- Warned states of contempt action for non-compliance.
- Implementation:
- Monitoring via district magistrates.
- Crackdowns on illegal manufacturing hubs.
- UPSC Use: Environmental ethics, Article 21 (Right to Life), and judicial activism.
4. ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission (Target: 2027)
- Mission Details:
- India’s first human spaceflight program.
- Crew of 3 to Low Earth Orbit (~400 km altitude).
- Progress So Far:
- Test vehicle flights completed.
- Human-rated GSLV Mk-III under preparation.
- Training underway with Russian support.
- Budget: Approx ₹10,000 crore.
- UPSC Use: Strategic tech, Aatmanirbhar Bharat in space, and global space diplomacy.
📕 General Studies Paper 4: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
1. SC Judges’ Asset Disclosure – Transparency Debate
- Current Status: Only some judges voluntarily disclose assets.
- Concerns:
- No statutory obligation.
- Inconsistencies in disclosure formats.
- Civil Society View:
- Calls for institutional integrity.
- Suggests a formal Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill.
- UPSC Use: Ethics case study on transparency, accountability, and integrity in high offices.