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Cash reserve ratio (CRR) and Jal Jeevan Mission and its significance for the UPSC Exam? Why are topics like India’s Defence Sector , Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) important for both preliminary and main exams? Discover more insights in the UPSC Exam Notes for June 07, 2025 |
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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on June 07, 2025
Daily Insights and Initiatives for UPSC Exam Notes: Comprehensive explanations and high-quality material provided regularly for students
RBI cuts repo to 5.5%, also reduces CRR
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Economy
Context:
In a bid to spur growth at a time when inflation has come under control, the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee on Friday voted 5:1 to slash the policy repo rate by a bigger-than-expected 50 basis points to 5.50% with immediate effect. This is the RBI’s third repo rate cut since February
Read about:
Cash reserve ratio (CRR)
Consumer price index (CPI)
Monetary policy statement (MPC)
Key takeaways:
- The reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is expected to inject approximately ₹2.5 lakh crore of core liquidity into the banking sector by December 2025. This move is designed not only to provide lasting liquidity but also to lower banks’ funding costs, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of monetary policy in influencing credit markets.
- The CRR will be gradually lowered to 3% of Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) through four successive 25 basis point cuts, which will be implemented starting from the fortnights beginning on September 6, October 4, November 1, and November 29. (Note: One basis point equals 0.01%).
- According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), this step aligns with its aim to bring consumer price index (CPI) inflation to its medium-term target of 4%, within a tolerance range of ±2%, while still supporting economic expansion.
- Factoring in several economic variables, the projected real GDP growth for the fiscal year 2025–26 remains steady at 6.5%.
- Despite uncertainties in the global economic environment, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) expects India’s economy to remain resilient through 2025–26, backed by solid private consumption and robust investments in fixed assets.
- The central bank noted that ongoing strength in rural areas should bolster rural demand, while the continued growth of the services sector is likely to aid in reviving urban consumption.
- Investment activity is projected to pick up, supported by increased capacity usage, healthier balance sheets of both financial and non-financial firms, and enhanced government capital spending.
- With inflation staying within the RBI’s tolerance threshold and assuming normal monsoon conditions, CPI inflation for 2025–26 has been revised downward from 4% to 3.7%. The quarterly breakdown is as follows: 2.9% in Q1, 3.4% in Q2, 3.9% in Q3, and 4.4% in Q4.
- The MPC has also shifted its policy stance from "accommodative" to "neutral," allowing flexibility to adjust the repo rate if inflationary conditions evolve. After a cumulative reduction of 100 basis points in the repo rate since February 2025, the committee acknowledged that further rate cuts may not be feasible under current conditions, prompting the shift in stance.
- Additionally, banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) operating in the affected segments are already adjusting their business strategies. This includes enhancing credit assessment processes and intensifying collection efforts to prevent the accumulation of high-risk assets going forward
Cash reserve ratio(CRR)
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is a regulation set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that requires commercial banks to keep a certain percentage of their total deposits (called Net Demand and Time Liabilities or NDTL) in cash with the RBI
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Purpose:
To ensure that banks always have some cash available and to help the RBI control the money supply, liquidity, and inflation in the economy. -
No Interest Paid:
The RBI does not pay interest to banks on the CRR amount. -
Current Status:
The CRR rate is decided by the RBI and is reviewed regularly in its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings
| CRR Impact | What It Means |
|---|
| 🔺 CRR is Increased | Banks have less money to lend → reduces liquidity → helps control inflation |
| 🔻 CRR is Decreased | Banks have more money to lend → boosts lending → supports economic growth |
Follow Up Question
- Bank rate
- Open Market Operations
- Public debt
- Public revenue
Which of the above is/are component(s) of Monetary Policy?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1, 3 and 4
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Answer (c)
Monetary Policy refers to the policy measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to control the money supply, interest rates, and liquidity in the economy. The main tools of monetary policy include:
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For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
Context:
In a boost to defence and aerospace manufacturing in India, the country is set to become the first nation other than France where the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft will be manufactured
Read about:
India’s Defence Sector
What are the key issues and challenges with India’s Defence Sector?
Key takeaways:
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Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have entered into four production transfer agreements to begin manufacturing the Rafale fighter jet fuselage in India. This initiative is seen as a major boost to India’s aerospace manufacturing sector and global defence supply chain integration. In a joint statement, the companies emphasized the facility's role as a strategic investment in India's aerospace capabilities, designed for precision manufacturing. However, they did not disclose the financial terms or further details of the project.
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India has been advocating for the indigenization of defence and aerospace production, with TASL emerging as a major private player in this space. The company is active across key areas such as aerostructures, aero-engines, airborne systems, defence platforms, and land-based mobility solutions.
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TASL also maintains a wide range of partnerships and joint ventures with global aerospace leaders. Notable among its projects is the final assembly line for the Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft, being built domestically for the Indian Air Force.
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As part of its collaboration with France’s Dassault Aviation, TASL will construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hyderabad. This facility will produce core structural components of the Rafale, including the rear fuselage lateral shells, central fuselage, front section, and the complete rear section.
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The facility is expected to begin delivering fuselage components by FY 2027–28, with a production capacity of up to two full fuselage units per month. It will serve both domestic and international markets for the Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft. The fuselage, being the main body of the aircraft, connects and holds all critical parts together.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates 36 Rafale jets, while the Indian Navy is set to acquire 26 Rafale Marine variants by 2030 under a ₹63,000 crore agreement signed with France in April this year.
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The agreement includes provisions for technology transfer and setting up production and maintenance infrastructure in India. Beyond India and France, the 4.5-generation Rafale aircraft is either in service or on order in several countries including Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, and Serbia
1.Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE Prelims 2023)
- Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
- Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer (d)
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For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important aspects of governance
Context:
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is conducting an extensive performance audit of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the government’s flagship scheme aimed at providing tap water connections to all rural households
Read about:
What is the Jal Jeevan Mission?
What are the issue highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?
Key takeaways:
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Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aimed to provide piped water connections to around 16 crore rural households by the end of December 2024. However, only 75% of the goal has been achieved in five years. To cover the remaining 4 crore households, the government now plans to extend the mission until December 31, 2028.
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This marks the first major audit of the Jal Jeevan Mission since its inception. Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had evaluated the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)—JJM’s predecessor—in a 2018 report covering the years 2012 to 2017. The NRDWP was replaced by JJM in 2019.
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In a recent initiative, the Central government dispatched over 100 Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) to carry out field inspections of JJM projects nationwide. This decision came after a review meeting led by the Cabinet Secretary on May 8.
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Since 2019, states have approved approximately 6.4 lakh water supply projects under JJM, with a total estimated cost of ₹8.29 lakh crore—more than double the initial plan of ₹3.6 lakh crore (Centre: ₹2.08 lakh crore; States: ₹1.52 lakh crore).
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To bridge the funding gap, the Ministry of Jal Shakti requested an additional ₹2.79 lakh crore from the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC). However, the EFC approved only ₹1.51 lakh crore, which is 46% less than the requested amount, according to a report by The Indian Express dated April 21, 2023.
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The CAG has also started horizontal audits of several other centrally funded schemes, including Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Smart Cities Mission, Green India Mission, and the Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers. The audit of JJM is part of this broader exercise.
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Sources say the JJM audit is in its final stages, having been launched around 18 months ago after being included in the CAG’s annual audit plan. The audit covers the program’s implementation from FY 2019–20 to 2023–24 across states.
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The audit work is being conducted by the CAG’s regional field offices, led by Principal Accountants General (PAGs) or Accountants General (AGs). While the audit fieldwork is complete in most states, some are currently in the report drafting phase. Reports from two states have already reached the CAG’s headquarters.
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Once finalized, these reports will be presented to the respective State Legislative Assemblies, as the program’s implementation lies primarily with the state governments. The audit will review all aspects, including planning, expenditure, progress, and reasons for cost overruns.
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According to sources, the CAG typically initiates audits of major programs once 70–80% of the allocated funds are utilized. Since JJM saw low expenditure during its initial phase starting in 2019-20, the audit was scheduled after the completion of its first implementation phase in 2023-24.
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In parallel with the JJM audit, the CAG is also reviewing the implementation of MGNREGS across states. The last national audit of MGNREGS was conducted in 2013, and updated audit reports are expected soon
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS II - Government schemes
Context:
The promise of Ayushman Bharat seems to be unravelling in Jharkhand. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
Read about:
What are the key features of the AB PM-JAY?
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Central scheme or Centrally sponsored scheme?
Key takeaways:
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As per Jharkhand government officials, nearly 28 lakh families (approximately 1.5 crore individuals) are covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in the state. Additionally, about 38 lakh families (around 2 crore people) are beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, a state-sponsored scheme fully funded by the Jharkhand government.
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These health insurance programs function by providing beneficiaries with insurance cards, enabling them to access medical services at empanelled hospitals. The government later reimburses these hospitals based on the treatment costs, using the allocated funds under the respective schemes.
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Officials told The Indian Express that there is no shortage of funds for the AB PM-JAY in Jharkhand, with ₹2,284 crore disbursed to hospitals over the last seven years. However, fund distribution has been delayed since last year, affecting hospital operations.
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Dr. Sinha highlighted that due to non-payment of dues under Ayushman Bharat, he has been unable to pay his staff since March. He warned that unless payments are released soon, he may have to stop accepting Ayushman Bharat patients, emphasizing that the ultimate sufferers would be the government and the public. According to the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA), 60 out of 212 hospitals flagged under the NAFU list have already shut down, and more closures could follow if the issue persists.
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Unpaid dues amounting to roughly ₹190 crore are now threatening the viability of the scheme in the state. A total of 212 hospitals have reportedly not received payments since June of the previous year, and 538 other hospitals have been awaiting their dues since February.
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Several hospitals located in Hazaribagh, Koderma, Palamu, and Deoghar districts have withdrawn from the scheme, citing delayed payments. This trend could potentially expand across more regions.
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Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY holds the distinction of being the largest government-funded health insurance program globally. It provides an annual health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family for hospitalization in government and listed private hospitals. In Jharkhand, around 750 hospitals are currently affiliated with the scheme, as per data from AHPI and IMA.
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At present, the scheme is aimed at the bottom 40% of the population, determined using data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011. Last year, the Prime Minister announced plans to extend the coverage to all citizens aged 70 and above.
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The financial burden of implementing AB PM-JAY is shared by the Central and State governments in a 60:40 ratio
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Answer (B)
Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
⌠Incorrect. Participation in the ABDM is voluntary for both public and private healthcare facilities. It is not mandatory. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
⌠Incorrect. While the mission intends to create a digital health ecosystem for all citizens, there is no compulsion for every individual to be part of it. Participation is voluntary. It has seamless portability across the country.
✅ Correct. The ABDM is designed to provide seamless access and portability of digital health records and services across India, regardless of location |
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international Significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and Technology, Security
Context:
Israeli company NSO Group’s controversial spyware Pegasus was used to target 1,223 individuals using WhatsApp across 51 countries in 2019, with 100 Indians being impacted by use of the hacking software — the second highest count globally, court documents showed. The revelation has come as part of a lawsuit filed by WhatsApp against the NSO Group in October 2019, accusing the surveillance company of exploiting a vulnerability in the messaging platform to target users including journalists, lawyers, politicians and human rights activists. In this context, let’s know about the Pegasus
Read about:
Commercial Spyware
Pegasus
Key takeaways:
Pegasus
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Spyware, by design, monitors individuals through their smartphones. Pegasus operates by sending a malicious link, and once the recipient clicks on it, surveillance software is covertly installed on their device. Some newer variants of Pegasus can infect a device without any user interaction. Once installed, the spyware grants full control of the phone to the attacker.
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Pegasus has been linked to surveillance activities by authoritarian regimes. The NSO Group, its developer, claims the spyware is sold exclusively to government entities.
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The spyware first came into the spotlight in 2016 when Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights defender in the UAE, received a suspicious SMS on his iPhone 6, leading to the exposure of Pegasus
Hermit
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In 2022, the Hermit spyware targeted both iOS and Android devices in countries like Italy and Kazakhstan. Developed by the Italian firm RCS Lab, its activities were first reported by Lookout, a cybersecurity company based in San Francisco. Google’s Threat Analysis Group later provided an in-depth analysis of how Hermit functioned.
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Hermit functions similarly to Pegasus, granting attackers the ability to record audio, make unauthorized calls, and execute other illicit activities once it’s embedded in a device.
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As per Lookout’s findings, Hermit can extract email account data, contacts, web history, calendar entries, and even take photographs. It also harvests device information, including software versions, hardware details, phone number, and more. Furthermore, it can install Android Package Kits (APKs) without user consent.
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These types of sophisticated spyware systems, such as Hermit and Pegasus, require substantial financial investment and complex infrastructure. Google’s TAG revealed that Hermit’s infections began via unique links sent to victims, which triggered app installation when clicked
Snowblind
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The banking malware Snowblind recently gained attention for targeting Android users to capture sensitive financial credentials. It exploits a built-in Android security feature to bypass app protections.
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Unlike conventional malware, Snowblind abuses a system tool known as ‘seccomp’ (secure computing), which is integrated into the Linux kernel and Android OS to detect unauthorized program alterations.
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This malware can disable biometric login and two-factor authentication, both of which are crucial defenses in banking apps. Like many Android threats, Snowblind often spreads through apps downloaded from unreliable sources
Spyware and Stalkerware Applications
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Spyware and stalkerware are malicious programs that compromise internet-connected devices, often remaining hidden from antivirus software while transmitting user data to remote servers.
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These apps typically pose as anti-theft tools intended to help recover lost or stolen phones, making them hard to detect.
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A spyware app, which can sometimes be installed remotely, can monitor user activity, access media files, and collect personal data, forwarding it silently to a central database.
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In contrast, stalkerware generally requires physical access to the target device. While it operates similarly to spyware, it also transmits real-time location data to another device controlled by the perpetrator
1.In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents? (UPSC CSE 2017)
1. Service providers
2. Data centres
3. Body corporate
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer (d)
Under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been designated as the national agency for incident response. As per the rules notified by the Government of India, it is legally mandatory for the following entities to report cybersecurity incidents:
They must report certain types of cybersecurity incidents (like unauthorized access, data breaches, malware attacks, etc.) to CERT-In in a timely manner. Hence, all three are legally required to report such incidents |
Impact of the Earthquakes
- The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, affecting the entire region, resulting in thousands of casualties and extensive damage to homes. The impact zone extended as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, nearly 1,000 km from the quake’s epicenter.
- In Bangkok, the destruction was minimal, except for the total collapse of a 33-story high-rise under construction and an overflow of water from a rooftop swimming pool of another building.
- Despite their limited impact, these incidents were widely reported due to the city's prominence in global tourism. The water overflow resulted from seismic seiches—water oscillations triggered by seismic waves passing through the area. Even at a significant distance from the epicenter, slower, long-period seismic waves can intensify movements in taller structures, as observed in this case.
- According to the U.S. Geological Survey's damage assessment models, the total death toll in the affected region was estimated to exceed 10,000. Mandalay, with a population of over 1.5 million, bore the brunt of the destruction.
- Many structures, including religious sites, bridges, and mosques, were either severely damaged or completely destroyed.
- Analysis of the destruction indicates that the southern part of the Sagaing fault experienced the most damage due to its thick deposits of alluvium from the Irrawaddy River, which amplified the seismic energy. In contrast, China’s Yunnan Province, located north of the fault, remained largely unaffected by the quake.
- The earthquake originated at a depth of just 10 km, significantly contributing to the widespread damage and the large area where tremors were felt. Eastern parts of India remained largely unscathed because the seismic energy dispersed predominantly in a north-south direction along the fault line.
Frequency of Earthquakes in South Asia
- South Asia, including Myanmar, is particularly susceptible to earthquakes due to its proximity to significant tectonic features such as the Himalayas, the Shillong Plateau, the Southern Indo-Burman Range, and the Andaman-Nicobar subduction zone.
- The collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, which began around 40 million years ago, has led to an active plate boundary in Southeast Asia.
- This boundary has generated some of the most powerful earthquakes in history, including the 9.2-magnitude earthquake in 2004, which triggered a devastating transcontinental tsunami.
- The accumulation of tectonic stress along these plate boundaries results in frequent seismic events. A major earthquake of magnitude 8.5 struck in 1792 along the Arakan coast of Myanmar, triggering a tsunami in the northern Bay of Bengal and causing extensive soil liquefaction in the Chittagong region of Bangladesh.
- This thrust fault extends further north into the Chittagong-Tripura fold belt, where moderate seismic activity continues to occur. However, the potential for another major earthquake in this region remains uncertain.
- Southeast Asia is home to a variety of geological structures capable of producing earthquakes with different faulting mechanisms, at depths ranging from 5 km to as deep as 400 km. Deeper earthquakes tend to occur in the southern regions near Indonesia or in the Indo-Burmese regions near the subduction front between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
- The 2025 Mandalay earthquake, however, originated within the continental part of the mountain range. In the process of mountain formation, sediments from the subducting Indian plate get pushed onto the overriding Asian plate, forming the tectonic setting from which such earthquakes emerge.
Geodynamics of the Sagaing Fault
- The eastern margin of the Indian Ocean is shaped by the intricate interactions of multiple tectonic plates. The Indian and Eurasian plates are converging in an oblique manner rather than directly colliding.
- This oblique convergence results in a partitioning of strain—some deformation occurs perpendicular to the plate boundary, while the rest occurs parallel to it. The Sagaing fault, running north-south, forms a major tectonic boundary between the Central Myanmar Lowlands and the Indo-Burman Range.
- Between the Indian plate and the Sagaing fault lies an elongated micro-tectonic block known as the Burma plate or Burma sliver. This block has emerged due to strain partitioning at the subduction front.
- Studies indicate that the Sagaing fault accommodates a significant portion of the strike-slip component of the oblique convergence, moving at a rate of 15-25 mm per year, with a cumulative displacement of 100-700 km. The fault accounts for approximately 50-55% of the overall plate motion in the region.
- Unlike thrust faults, where vertical movements of fault blocks are common, the Sagaing fault primarily exhibits horizontal movements, with tectonic blocks sliding past each other. This makes it similar to the San Andreas Fault in the western United States. While thrust faults can generate both shallow and deep earthquakes, strike-slip faults, such as the Sagaing fault, typically produce shallower earthquakes at depths of 10-15 km.
- As a ridge-trench transform fault, the Sagaing fault spans approximately 1,400 km from the Andaman Sea’s spreading center in the south to the eastern Himalayan bend in the north.
- The fault has a history of strong earthquakes, with six major quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher occurring between 1930 and 1956 along this structure. Historical seismic activity suggests that nearly half of the fault has ruptured in the past few decades.
- The 2025 earthquake, therefore, was not an isolated event but rather part of an ongoing sequence of quakes that release built-up stress from active plate movements.
Implications of the Mandalay Earthquake
- Records indicate that in 1839, an earthquake known as the Ava earthquake struck central Myanmar, killing over 500 people. This event is believed to have originated along a segment of the Sagaing fault, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8.
- Another notable earthquake in 1927 was reported to have been strongly felt north of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, which currently has a population of over four million. Additionally, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred in 1946 on the Sagaing fault north of Mandalay, similar in magnitude to the 2025 earthquake.
- The historic city of Bagan, known for its dense collection of religious monuments, has also been impacted by multiple earthquakes over the centuries, with the most recent occurring in 2016.
- Scientific research helps us understand earthquake processes, identify potential locations for future earthquakes, and estimate their possible magnitudes. However, the Sagaing fault is more than just an area of scientific interest—it directly affects millions of people living along its length.
- The recent earthquake has compounded Myanmar’s struggles, with rising casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure, further exacerbated by the ongoing civil conflict in the region
1.Consider the following: (2013)
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Geothermal energy
- Gravitational force
- Plate movements
- Rotation of the earth
- Revolution of the earth
Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only
(c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
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Answer (d)
All the given factors contribute to dynamic changes on the Earth's surface:
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For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains Examination: GS II - Government Policies & Interventions, Transparency & Accountability
Context:
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jaipur II, has issued notices to Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff as well as Vimal Pan Masala manufacturers, J B Industries, over an alleged misleading advertisement for the pan masala.
Read about:
What is the Consumer Protection Act, 2019?
Central Consumer Protection Authority
Key takeaways:
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the earlier Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and introduces stricter provisions against unfair trade practices. It identifies offences such as providing inaccurate details about the quality or quantity of goods and services, as well as misleading advertisements. The Act also outlines measures to be taken when products or services are deemed hazardous, unsafe, or harmful.
Under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a "misleading advertisement" is defined in relation to any product or service if it:
(i) provides a false description of the product or service;
(ii) makes false promises or misleads consumers regarding the nature, substance, quantity, or quality of the product or service;
(iii) implies a representation that, if made by the manufacturer, seller, or service provider, would be considered an unfair trade practice; or
(iv) intentionally withholds crucial information
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is a regulatory body established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to promote, protect, and enforce consumer rights in India. It functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and aims to address unfair trade practices, false or misleading advertisements, and consumer grievances.
Key Functions of CCPA:
- Protect Consumer Rights – Ensure consumer interests are safeguarded against unfair trade practices and deceptive advertisements.
- Regulate Advertisements – Take action against misleading ads and impose penalties on endorsers, manufacturers, and advertisers.
- Product Safety Measures – Order product recalls, issue warnings, and impose restrictions if goods/services are found hazardous.
- Investigate Consumer Grievances – Conduct inquiries and investigations into violations of consumer rights.
- Impose Penalties – Levy fines and take legal action against manufacturers or service providers engaging in unfair practices
Follow Up Question
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Answer (D)
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 introduced several new provisions to strengthen consumer rights and dispute resolution mechanisms.
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