Category: Current Affairs
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Moplah Revolt (1921): Agrarian Struggle Beyond Religion
Explore the Moplah Revolt of 1921 in Malabar—agrarian roots, Khilafat link, leaders, British repression, communal fallout, and its lasting impact on India’s freedom struggle. Context: A new book release “Musaliar King” by Abbas Panakkal, sheds light on the Malabar Revolt, an important but often overlooked resistance movement in Kerala. It re-examines the Malabar Revolt’s significance,…
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Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in India
Explore why India’s out-of-pocket health spending remains high despite claims of decline, its impact on poverty, and reforms to reduce household burden. Context Healthcare in India has long been characterised by high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). Despite official claims that OOPE is declining, ground-level evidence suggests the opposite: households are increasingly bearing the brunt of healthcare…
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CAG’s AI & Remote Auditing: Digital Accountability
Explore how CAG’s AI, remote audits, and digital platforms enhance efficiency, transparency, and citizen accountability in India’s fiscal governance. Context India’s governance landscape is undergoing a rapid digital transformation. At the heart of this shift stands the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, the constitutional authority responsible for auditing public finances and ensuring accountability…
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UN Commissions of Inquiry: Role and Relevance
Explore how UN Commissions of Inquiry investigate crises, from Rwanda to Gaza, shaping accountability, evidence, and global justice under international law. Context The latest United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza has reignited debates on accountability under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The report, released in September 2025,…
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Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
Learn how the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) compares with NPS and OPS, why uptake is slow, and what it means for central govt. employees in India. The debate around pensions for government employees has always been contentious in India. With the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), the Central Government has sought to balance the assured security…
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Corruption in Bureaucracy
Explore cases from Assam to Telangana, flaws in sanction rules, the criminal nexus, and India’s institutional fight against bureaucratic corruption. Context Corruption in India’s bureaucracy is neither new nor marginal. It is a systemic, deeply entrenched problem, cutting across levels of seniority and state boundaries. Recent high-profile cases in Assam, Haryana, Telangana, and Odisha have…
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Judicial Experimentalism vs Right to Justice
Explore Section 85 BNS, key rulings from Lalita Kumari to Shivangi Bansal (2025), and how judicial experimentalism delays justice for matrimonial cruelty victims. The relationship between judicial innovations and the constitutional right to justice in India has always been complex. Courts frequently face the challenge of balancing competing interests—protecting women against systemic matrimonial violence while…
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Hyderabad Liberation Day: History & Unity
Explore Hyderabad Liberation Day’s history, Operation Polo, Razakar resistance, Telangana’s culture, and its role in today’s national unity. Context Hyderabad Liberation Day holds renewed relevance today as both the Union and state governments mark the occasion with cultural programmes, flag hoisting, and civic education, linking past struggles against Razakars to present-day national unity. Why is…
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Lesser Flamingos in Lake Natron
Context: Tanzania halts soda ash mining to save the world’s Lesser Flamingos, prioritising long-term ecological health over short-term industrial gains. Lesser Flamingos: Conservation Status: Near Threatened by IUCN due to habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance from industrial activities. Habitat: Prefers alkaline and saline lakes; Lake Natron is a globally significant breeding site due to its…
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India Braces for La Niña’s Return
Context: Weather experts have warned that India could face an intense cold wave during the winter of 2025-26 (December-January). This prediction is significant especially after the Triple Dip La Nina (2020-23). How Does La Niña Impact Indian Weather? La Niña’s influence on Indian weather is delivered through “teleconnections,” or long-distance atmospheric links. Stronger Winter Monsoon…
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Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India
Context: AMR poses a grave health threat in India, with superbugs resisting last-resort antibiotics. ICMR’s call to restrict new antibiotic sales to select hospitals underscores the urgent need for strict stewardship amid rising drug-resistant TB and hospital infections. What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and why is it a major public health threat globally and in…
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Tropical Forest Forever Facility: Brazil’s Bold Market-Led Climate Finance Innovation
Context: Brazil’s push for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) at the upcoming COP30 in Belém comes at a time when climate finance gaps remain stark—with forest protection needs estimated at $460 billion annually by 2030 but current flows far below this. What is a Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF)? The Tropical Forest Forever Facility…
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Supreme Court Stay on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
Context: The Supreme Court’s interim stay on key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 underscores ongoing concerns over the balance between religious autonomy and state oversight of minority charitable assets. What were the objectives of the Waqf Act? Ensure proper administration of Waqf estates through Central and State Waqf Boards. Protect Waqf lands from…
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Places in News: Kangla Fort
Context: Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Manipur on September 13, the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal has been turned into a high-security zone. About Kangla Fort: Kangla Fort, located in Imphal, Manipur, is one of the most historically and culturally significant sites in Northeast India. Often referred to as the “spiritual and political…
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Places in News: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
Context: In a landmark shift, Madhya Pradesh has ended the practice of keeping wild elephants in captivity, following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. This decision marks a turning point for Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), embracing a more ethical and ecologically sound approach to elephant management. About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve: Name Meaning: “Bandhavgarh”…
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INS Androth
NAVY GETS ANTI-SUBMARINE SHIP Context: The Indian Navy has inducted INS Androth, an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare ship, enhancing its maritime strength amid China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean. About INS Androth INS Androth is the second vessel in the series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) being built by Garden Reach…
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Why India’s Rates are Falling but Yields are Rising?
Context: The yield on India’s 10-year benchmark government bond has surged, climbing over 20 basis points since the last RBI rate cut in June. This divergence from the expected pattern points to deeper concerns in the market beyond just monetary policy. What is the relationship between central bank interest rates and government bond yields in…
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PLI Scheme for White Goods
Context: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently announced the re-opening of the application window for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights). What is the PLI Scheme for White Goods? The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods is a central government initiative designed to boost domestic manufacturing…
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ASEAN’s Middle-Income Trap and Lessons for India
Context: ASEAN’s struggle with the middle-income trap is highly relevant today as global supply chains shift under US–China tensions, protectionist tariffs, and technological disruptions. What is the middle-income trap? The middle-income trap refers to a situation where economies that have achieved middle-income status fail to transition into high-income economies, experiencing prolonged stagnation. According to the…
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India and Mexico: A 75-Year Partnership
Context: Marking 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, India and Mexico are reflecting on a partnership historically characterised by a “humanistic orientation” and are now aiming to elevate it to a Strategic Partnership. This relationship, built on shared values and mutual benefit, is gaining renewed significance in a rapidly shifting global order. How have…
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UN General Assembly Endorses New York Declaration on the Two-State Solution
Context: The overwhelming UN General Assembly endorsement of the New York Declaration (September 2025) comes at a time when the Gaza war continues to escalate and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ruled out a Palestinian state. What is the New York Declaration? The New York Declaration is a seven-page document adopted by the UN General…