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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on June 06, 2025
Daily Insights and Initiatives for UPSC Exam Notes: Comprehensive explanations and high-quality material provided regularly for students
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS III: Disaster and disaster management
Context:
Behind Wednesday’s stampede in Bengaluru, which occurred as thousands gathered to celebrate the IPL victory of Royal Challengers Bangalore, lies an apparent lack of planning, an underestimation of the number of fans who would gather, and confusion over the free passes available to allow entry to the Chinnaswamy Stadium
Read about:
What is stampede?
What are the primary causes of stampedes?
Key takeaways:
- Wenguo Weng and colleagues describe a stampede as a sudden, uncoordinated surge of a crowd that can lead to serious injuries or loss of life (Review of Analyses on Crowd-Gathering Risk and Its Evaluation Methods, 2023).
- Illiyas and his team characterize a stampede as a breakdown in the organized movement of people, typically triggered by a perceived threat, a loss of personal space, or a strong desire to reach something deemed valuable. This disruption often results in harm or fatalities.
- The primary cause of death during stampedes is traumatic asphyxia, which occurs when breathing is partially or completely stopped due to external pressure on the chest or abdomen. Interestingly, even relatively small crowds—just six or seven individuals pressing in one direction—can create forces strong enough to cause fatal injuries.
- Other medical causes of death during such events include heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) due to reduced or halted blood flow to the heart, severe crush injuries to internal organs, trauma to the head, and compression of the neck.
- Stampedes usually occur in the context of large gatherings, which can either be unplanned—like rush hour crowds in metro stations—or organized events. A tragic example of the latter is the Hathras satsang stampede in July 2024, where over 116 people lost their lives.
- Panic is almost always a contributing factor in stampedes. Psychologist Alexander Mintz, in a landmark 1952 paper titled Non-Adaptive Group Behavior, argued that in high-stress situations, cooperation is essential for individual and collective safety. However, once the collective sense of cooperation breaks down, individuals tend to act in self-interest, worsening the situation.
- On a recent Wednesday morning, a public announcement was made that a victory parade would take place in an open-top bus carrying the team from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, a distance of about 1 kilometer. This would precede a stadium event where a limited number of free passes were made available online.
- However, by 11:56 am, traffic authorities announced the cancellation of the parade. At around 1:30 pm, the team arrived at HAL Airport, transferred to a hotel, and then moved towards Vidhana Soudha, where the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, was scheduled to honor them. By this time, a large crowd had already assembled at the Vidhana Soudha.
- People in the crowd climbed trees and even scaled the Karnataka High Court building for a better view. At the same time, the crowd near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium began to grow rapidly. The Namma Metro soon announced that its trains would not halt at Cubbon Park and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stations due to overwhelming foot traffic.
- Officials investigating the situation noted that many people were unaware that the parade had been called off. Expecting the bus to proceed to the stadium after the felicitation ceremony, and lacking event passes, they had gathered in hopes of at least catching a glimpse of their favorite cricket players
Follow Up Question
1.Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)
Post-Retirement Appointments for Judges
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international Significance
For Mains Examination: General Studies IV: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration
Context:
Making clear he has decided not to accept any post-retirement role or position from the government, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has said that judges taking up government appointments “immediately after retirement” or resigning to contest elections “raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny”.
Read about:
Code of Conduct for Judges
Doctrine of separation of powers
Key takeaways:
- The practice of appointing retired judges to political or administrative roles dates back to the era of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. However, it is increasingly important to confront a challenging question: Should former judges refrain from accepting government positions for a certain period after retirement, given that such appointments might cast doubt on the judiciary’s independence?
- In contrast to federal judges in the United States, who serve lifetime terms, Indian judges have a fixed tenure. Supreme Court judges retire at 65, while those in high courts retire at 62.
- Their tenure is constitutionally protected, meaning they do not serve at the discretion of the President and cannot be removed at will. The only way to remove them is through impeachment by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, based on proven misconduct or incapacity.
- This process is extremely rare and has never been successfully carried out, although there have been attempts. As a result, judges enjoy significant job security during their time in office — a safeguard designed to uphold judicial independence.
- According to the Indian Constitution, a retired judge of the Supreme Court is barred from practicing law in any court or before any authority within the country. During the Constituent Assembly debates, economist and legal expert K.T. Shah proposed that judges from the higher judiciary should also be prohibited from accepting government positions post-retirement, to eliminate any lure of higher salary or prestige that could potentially compromise their impartiality.
- However, B.R. Ambedkar rejected this suggestion, arguing that the judiciary typically handles cases where the government's involvement is minimal or nonexistent.
- Ambedkar's viewpoint reflected the reality of his time, when the judiciary mainly dealt with private legal matters, and government-related litigation was infrequent.
- However, this is no longer true in modern India, where the government is now one of the most frequent parties involved in court cases. Therefore, the concern about possible government influence over judges is far more relevant today.
- The Law Commission, in its 14th report published in 1958, observed that retired Supreme Court judges generally pursued two types of post-retirement roles: first, private advisory work, such as giving legal opinions and serving as arbitrators (what we might now call "chamber practice"), and second, taking up prominent posts in the government.
- Although the Commission disapproved of chamber practice, it did not call for a ban on it. However, it strongly recommended that former Supreme Court judges should not take up government jobs after retirement, considering the government’s extensive presence as a litigant in courtrooms. Despite the Commission’s clear stance, these recommendations were never adopted
Follow Up Question
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Answer (C)
Statement 1: True Statement 2: True |
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and technology
Context:
Shell scatters, deposits, middens, stone tools. Researchers have found rare evidence of human settlement in Kutch. As they dug deeper, they found that Kutch was home to prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities way before the Harappan era. A recent study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has offered new insights into Kutch’s cultural evolution.
Read about:
What is the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)?
Why is C14 used in carbon dating?
Key takeaways:
- Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a scientific technique used to determine the age of organic materials up to about 60,000 years old. Developed in the late 1940s by Willard Libby at the University of Chicago, this method relies on measuring the decay of the radioactive carbon-14 isotope. The introduction of radiocarbon dating brought significant changes to archaeology and has also been valuable in atmospheric research.
- Carbon dating is extensively used to date materials that were once part of living organisms. All living beings contain carbon in various forms. The technique takes advantage of the fact that carbon-14 (C-14) is a radioactive isotope of carbon, unlike the more common carbon-12 (C-12), and decays at a predictable rate.
- While C-12 is the most prevalent carbon isotope in the atmosphere, a trace amount of C-14 is also present. The proportion between C-12 and C-14 in the atmosphere remains relatively constant and is well-established.
- Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon directly from the atmosphere, incorporating both C-12 and C-14. Animals then ingest this carbon by consuming plants or other animals. Thus, the carbon isotope ratio in living organisms reflects that of the atmosphere.
- A recent archaeological investigation led by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi, and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, has revealed human activity in the region that predates the Harappan civilization by at least 5,000 years.
- The evidence suggests these early inhabitants lived in a coastal landscape dominated by mangroves and relied on marine life, including oysters and other shellfish, for food. Their way of life appears to be shaped by the unique environmental conditions of the area.
- The newly discovered sites are the first in Kutch to be recorded with a defined cultural and chronological context. According to the researchers, the artifacts and environmental patterns bear resemblance to archaeological findings from the Las Bela and Makran coastal areas of Pakistan, as well as the Oman Peninsula. This indicates that early coastal populations across these regions may have developed similar subsistence strategies.
- To date these archaeological remains, the team used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), a highly sensitive technique for measuring C-14 levels in biological materials such as shells, which absorb atmospheric carbon while the organism is alive.
- After death, the C-14 in an organism begins to decay at a rate known as its half-life — about 5,730 years. By analyzing the remaining C-14 in the shell samples, scientists can estimate when the organisms died.
- Since C-14 levels in the atmosphere have fluctuated over time, the results were adjusted using data from tree ring chronologies, which provide a year-by-year record extending thousands of years into the past.
- Researchers believe that these shell deposits, also known as shell middens, will be vital for reconstructing past climates. Because climate change occurs gradually over long periods, natural materials like shells preserve chemical signatures that can provide insights into environmental conditions of the distant past.
- The study’s findings were shared in 2025 at several academic platforms, including the 17th Annual Workshop on South Asian Archaeology (hosted by Hartwick College and the University of Chicago), the Seminar Series on the Archaeology of the Indo-Iranian Borderlands (Sorbonne University, Paris), and the 50th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies (ISPQS) in Raipur
Follow Up Question
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Answer (A)
Statement (a): Statement (b): So, statement (a) explains why Carbon-14 is useful in dating — its ratio with Carbon-12 changes predictably after death |
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international Significance.
For Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions
Context:
India had raised “deep concerns” about the possibility of misuse of funds by Pakistan to Asian Development Bank (ADB) as it extended a $800 million tranche to the neighbouring country
Read about:
What is Asian Development Bank (ADB)?
Why was the Asian Development Bank (ADB) formed?
Key takeaways:
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. Its core objective is to encourage economic advancement and regional cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific.
- The institution supports its member nations and development partners by offering a range of financial tools such as loans, grants, technical aid, and equity investments, all aimed at fostering both economic and social progress.
- To fund its operations, the ADB secures capital primarily through global bond markets. It also relies on financial contributions from member countries, earnings retained from previous loans, and repayments from borrowers.
- ADB extends support to developing member countries, the private sector, and public-private ventures using its comprehensive mix of financial assistance. In addition to financial support, ADB promotes policy discussions, delivers consultative services, and engages in co-financing arrangements with various stakeholders including commercial lenders, official agencies, and export credit institutions.
- Recently, ADB approved an $800 million programme aimed at improving fiscal stability and public financial management in Pakistan. On the same day, the Indian National Congress posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa on June 1, and just three days later, the loan to Pakistan was sanctioned.
- The Congress party’s post questioned the timing, stating: “ADB sanctioned ₹6,861 crore for Pakistan just three days after PM Modi’s meeting with ADB’s president. In the past, India’s influence couldn’t stop the IMF loan to Pakistan either — despite ongoing tensions between the two nations.”
- Government insiders in India commented that they expect ADB leadership to put strong safeguards in place to ensure that the funds are not misused. The same sources expressed concerns about Pakistan’s history of mismanaging such support, blaming the military’s overwhelming role in economic governance. This, they warned, increases the risk of policy instability and failure to follow through on reforms.
- Even under a civilian administration, the Pakistani military continues to wield significant power, influencing both political and economic landscapes. These officials noted that Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policies have destabilized regional security, which not only affects geopolitical stability but also increases the ADB’s financial and strategic risks in the country
Follow Up Question
1.The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as (2016)
(a) G20
(b) ASEAN
(c) SCO
(d) SAARC
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Answer (b)
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) that was initiated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its six FTA partners — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India (although India later opted out). So, the RCEP is closely associated with ASEAN and aims to promote trade and investment among member countries by reducing tariffs and improving market access |
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and technology
Context:
On June 3rd, Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), a Government of India undertaking, signed an MoU with Norwegian firm Kongsberg to co-design and build India’s first-ever polar research vehicle (PRV) indigenously. GRSE, which has built warships, survey and research vessels, will build the PRV in its yard in Kolkata.
Read about:
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)
India’s first-ever polar research vehicle (PRV)
Key takeaways:
A Polar Research Vehicle (PRV) is a specialized scientific ship designed for conducting research in polar regions — the Arctic and Antarctic. It is equipped with advanced technology to support multidisciplinary studies including climate science, oceanography, glaciology, marine biology, and atmospheric research.
Key Features of a Polar Research Vehicle (PRV):
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Ice-breaking capability: Allows it to navigate through thick sea ice.
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Scientific laboratories: Onboard facilities for real-time analysis of samples.
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Oceanographic equipment: Tools like sonar, CTD profilers, and underwater drones.
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Satellite communication: For live data transmission and remote operations.
-
Helipads and small boats: For coastal surveys and reaching remote areas
India's Research Stations in Polar Regions
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India became a signatory to the Svalbard Treaty in 1920 in Paris. As noted by Arctic Portal, this treaty grants Norway full and exclusive sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago. Although part of the Kingdom of Norway, the laws and regulations enforced on the islands are determined and implemented solely by the Norwegian government.
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India began its Arctic scientific journey in 2007, when a team of five researchers traveled to the International Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund. Their mission focused on initial studies in microbiology, atmospheric science, and geology. The country's first permanent Arctic research station, Himadri, became operational in July 2008.
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In 1983, India established its first Antarctic station, Dakshin Gangotri, two years after its maiden expedition to the continent. Over time, the station became buried beneath ice. However, Maitri and Bharati, India’s other Antarctic bases, continue to function and support research. These activities are carried out under the framework of the Antarctic Treaty.
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The Antarctic Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 nations — including Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, the USA, the Soviet Union, Belgium, Japan, and South Africa — was designed to promote peaceful collaboration and scientific exchange in Antarctica.
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As of now, the treaty has 56 member nations, out of which 29 are recognized as Consultative Parties with active roles in the decision-making process. India, which acceded to the treaty in 1983, holds the status of a Consultative Party
Maritime Development Fund (MDF)
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India is taking significant strides to strengthen its shipbuilding sector. The 2025 Union Budget introduced a comprehensive maritime revival plan, which includes the creation of large-scale shipbuilding hubs, a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, customs duty relief, and granting infrastructure status to major vessels.
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The Maritime Development Fund, with a corpus of ₹25,000 crore, aims to support diverse stakeholders and encourage competitive practices. The Indian government will provide 49% of the fund, while the remaining portion will come from port authorities and private sector participation.
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With the growth of exports, India's spending on transport services abroad has risen significantly. In 2022 alone, more than $109 billion was paid by Indian traders for transportation services, underscoring the need for domestic shipbuilding investment.
-
The MDF is expected to support ship acquisition financing, helping to increase the market share of Indian-flagged vessels in the global shipping trade to 20% by 2047. The initiative also targets an investment inflow of up to ₹1.5 lakh crore by 2030 in the shipping industry.
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Additionally, the budget has prolonged the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP) 2.0, allocating ₹18,090 crore for this phase. The policy offers direct financial incentives to Indian shipyards, aimed at boosting their global competitiveness
1.Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2014)
1. Denmark
2. Japan
3. Russian Federation
4. United Kingdom
5. United States of America
Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 3 and 5 only
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Answer (d)
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Going beyond AQI: study shows why toxicity matters in measuring air pollution
For Preliminary Examination: Air Quality Index (AQI), CAQM
For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment and ecology
Context:
The ability of PM2.5 air pollutants to cause damage to cells increases sharply after concentration levels cross a certain threshold value, new research has found
Read about:
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Particulate matter (PM)
Key takeaways:
- A recent study has revealed that the potential of PM2.5 air pollutants to harm human cells rises significantly once their concentration surpasses a specific threshold. In the case of Kolkata, where the research was conducted, this critical threshold is around 70 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³).
- Beyond this point, the toxicity—or the capacity of these particles to damage the human body—escalates quickly until it reaches about 130 µg/m³, after which the rate of damage tends to level off, even if concentrations increase further.
- This pattern can be explained by the body's initial ability to manage lower levels of pollutant exposure. Below the threshold, the body’s natural defense systems can mitigate harmful effects to some extent.
- However, once pollutant concentrations cross the critical level, these defense mechanisms become overwhelmed, leading to greater cellular damage—especially in the respiratory system, which is the first to be affected.
- When these fine particles are inhaled, the immune system responds by generating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), chemical agents that help neutralize foreign invaders. But in doing so, ROS can also harm the body’s own cells. To counteract this, the body produces antioxidants that neutralize ROS and prevent cell damage.
- Unfortunately, antioxidant levels are naturally limited and are slow to replenish. While they can effectively manage small amounts of ROS, they are insufficient to deal with the large volumes produced under high pollutant exposure.
- This research has important implications for policy-making. Current air quality regulations focus primarily on the concentration of pollutants rather than their toxic potential.
- For instance, in India, the annual average safe limit for PM2.5 is set at 40 µg/m³, and the daily average limit is 60 µg/m³. However, the actual risk to human health also depends on the toxicity of the pollutants, which can vary with factors such as their chemical makeup.
- In Kolkata, for instance, the health risk from PM2.5 levels of 50 or 60 µg/m³ might not be significantly worse than those of 30–40 µg/m³. But once concentrations exceed 70 µg/m³, the threat increases sharply, necessitating urgent attention.
- It is important to note that this toxicity threshold may vary from one city to another, depending on local environmental and pollution characteristics
Follow Up Question
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
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Answer (B)
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in India is calculated based on the concentrations of the following eight pollutants:
Now, evaluate the gases in the question:
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A recent study has highlighted a notable slowdown in poverty reduction in India post-2011–12. According to the findings, while the poverty rate decreased from 37% in 2004–05 to 22% in 2011–12, the decline thereafter has been much more modest, reaching just 18% by 2022–23. These figures are derived from the authors’ independent estimates.
The paper, titled "Poverty Decline in India after 2011–12: Bigger Picture Evidence", is co-authored by Himanshu from Jawaharlal Nehru University, along with Peter Lanjouw and Philipp Schirmer of Vrije University, Amsterdam. The researchers point out that no official poverty statistics have been released since 2011–12, resulting in a series of unofficial, and often conflicting, estimates — this study being the most recent addition.
Three Main Approaches
The paper categorizes existing poverty estimates into three primary methodological approaches:
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Use of NSSO Socio-Economic Surveys:
Many analysts rely on data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), particularly because of the lack of comparability between the 2022–23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) and earlier datasets. The HCES for 2017–18 was discarded due to "methodological issues."
A simplified consumption metric, Usual Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (UMPCE), introduced in the 71st round of NSSO (2014), has since been used in all subsequent surveys and the Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFS). However, this measure is seen as problematic due to its vague structure, making it incompatible with earlier consumption estimates. This approach typically estimates poverty in 2019–20 at 26% to 30%. -
National Accounts Statistics (NAS)-Based Scaling:
A second method, employed by Surjit Bhalla and colleagues in 2022, uses data on Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) from the NAS. It scales the 2011–12 consumption data based on PFCE growth trends. This allows estimation of post-2011 consumption patterns in the absence of new official survey data. -
Survey-to-Survey Imputation:
The third method, which the authors of this paper use, is known as survey imputation. This involves filling data gaps by linking one survey with another — a technique also used by the World Bank to update its Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP). While outcomes may vary depending on the survey pairs used, the method is helpful for capturing overall trends. For instance, a previous estimate by Newhouse and Vyas combined the 2011–12 HCES with a 2014–15 survey on consumption of services and durables, estimating a drop in poverty from 22% to 15% during that period.
According to the current paper’s imputed estimates, poverty fell only slightly between 2011–12 and 2022–23 — from 22% to 18%, translating to a decrease in the number of poor people from 250 million to 225 million.
State-Level Variations
The study also observes that poverty reduction trends differ across states. For example, Uttar Pradesh appears to have made notable progress, whereas Jharkhand and Bihar have seen slower improvement. In states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, poverty levels seem to have plateaued.
The authors emphasize that a definitive resolution of these debates is not possible without new, consistent government data. Nonetheless, they support their findings using alternative indicators, which reinforce the observed trends.
Supporting Economic Indicators
-
Slower GDP Growth:
India’s average GDP growth declined from 6.9% (2004–05 to 2011–12) to 5.7% (2011–12 to 2022–23), aligning with the slower rate of poverty reduction. -
Decline in Real Wage Growth:
Data from the Wage Rates in Rural India (WRRI) show that real wages grew at 4.13% annually between 2004–05 and 2011–12, but slowed to 2.3% per year in the following decade. -
Reversal in Agricultural Workforce Trends:
From 2004–05 to 2017–18, the number of agricultural workers dropped by 66 million, but since 2017–18, it has risen by 68 million. This reverse shift is linked to falling agricultural productivity, which can depress wages and increase poverty.
1.The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2012)
- Deprivation of education, health, assets and services at household level
- Purchasing power parity at national level
- Extent of budget deficit and GDP growth rate at national level
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
|
Answer (a)
The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) in collaboration with the UNDP measures deprivation at the household level across multiple dimensions of poverty. The MPI specifically includes:
It does not consider:
Analysis of options:
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For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance regarding general science
For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and technology
Context:
IN WHAT could set the stage for an unprecedented opening up of the civil nuclear sector, the government is likely to move two crucial amendments in the laws governing the country’s atomic energy sector in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, according to sources aware of the developments.
Read about:
What is Nuclear Energy?
What are the types of nuclear reactors?
Key takeaways:
- India has long faced regulatory hurdles in acquiring the necessary ‘10CFR810’ authorization under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which governs nuclear exports. This regulation, while allowing American companies like Holtec to export nuclear equipment under stringent safeguards, strictly prohibits them from carrying out manufacturing or nuclear design work within India.
- From New Delhi’s perspective, this restriction posed a significant obstacle, as India was keen on jointly producing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and manufacturing nuclear components domestically to support its own energy infrastructure.
- In a major policy shift, the Union Budget for 2025–26 signaled a strong commitment to expanding India’s nuclear energy program as a cornerstone of its long-term clean energy strategy.
- The government has announced a bold target of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). This move aims to ensure energy security while cutting reliance on fossil fuels. To make this vision a reality, the government is focusing on indigenous nuclear technology, infrastructure upgrades, and increased collaboration with the private sector.
- As part of this renewed push, a new initiative titled the Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat has been launched. This mission seeks to strengthen domestic capabilities in the nuclear sector, foster private participation, and speed up the adoption of advanced technologies like SMRs.
- To implement this mission, the government plans to amend key legislations, including the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. These changes are intended to attract private investment in nuclear energy by removing legal uncertainties.
- One proposed amendment aims to limit the liability of equipment suppliers in the event of a nuclear accident, potentially capping it at the original contract value and introducing a timeframe for claims.
- Another proposed reform would allow private firms, including foreign players with minority stakes, to operate nuclear power plants in India—an area traditionally reserved for state-owned entities like NPCIL and NTPC.
- India’s atomic energy sector has long remained closed to private and foreign investment. These twin amendments are being seen as a significant reform effort, potentially revitalizing the commercial potential of the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement signed nearly two decades ago.
- New Delhi also sees these developments as an opportunity to integrate nuclear cooperation into a broader trade and investment partnership with the United States, which could eventually lead to a comprehensive trade deal currently under discussion.
- The proposed legislative changes aim to resolve lingering legal concerns that have deterred foreign companies from entering India’s nuclear sector.
- The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which outlines compensation mechanisms for nuclear accidents and assigns liability, has been viewed by companies like GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse, and Areva (now Framatome) as a major barrier.
- Meanwhile, the government is also initiating amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to open up nuclear power generation to private companies—and eventually foreign operators. As of now, only government-owned corporations are allowed to manage such projects.
- The Union Budget reaffirmed the government’s commitment to getting both pieces of legislation passed, though the path to enacting them—particularly one of the two—is expected to be politically and procedurally complex.
- These policy shifts come shortly after a significant breakthrough: On March 26, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) granted a key regulatory clearance to Holtec International, based in Camden, New Jersey. This unprecedented approval allows the company to move forward with its business plans under the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear framework.
- Specifically, the authorization (SA IN2023-001) under 10CFR810 permits Holtec to conditionally transfer its unclassified Small Modular Reactor technology to its Indian affiliate, Holtec Asia, as well as to Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd and Larsen & Toubro Ltd, marking a crucial step forward in bilateral nuclear cooperation
Follow Up Question
1.To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on thorium as the future fuel of nuclear energy. In this on text, what advantage, does thorium hold over uranium? (UPSC 2012)
- Thorium is far more abundant in nature than uranium.
- On the basis of per unit mass of mined mineral, thorium can generate more energy compared to natural uranium.
- Thorium produces less harmful waste compared to uranium.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer (d)
All three statements about thorium are correct and reflect the advantages it holds over uranium in the context of nuclear energy: 1. Thorium is far more abundant in nature than uranium – Correct 2. On the basis of per unit mass of mined mineral, thorium can generate more energy compared to natural uranium – Correct 3. Thorium produces less harmful waste compared to uranium – Correct |