INTEGRATED MAINS AND PRELIMS MENTORSHIP (IMPM) 2025 Daily KEY
| Exclusive for Subscribers Daily:
Unemployment and Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and its significance for the UPSC Exam? Why are topics like National Critical Mineral Mission, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOFs), instruments of monetary policy important for both preliminary and main exams? Discover more insights in the UPSC Exam Notes for August 19, 2025 |
- According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the unemployment rate in India dropped to 5.2% in July, down from 5.6% in June.
- The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women registered a slight improvement, rising from 24.5% in June to 25.5% in July. Among men, it stood at 57.4%, while the overall LFPR was 41.4%.
- In rural regions, the LFPR for men aged 15 and above was 78.1%, whereas for women it was 36.9%. In contrast, urban areas recorded an LFPR of 25.8% for women and 75.1% for men in the same age bracket.
- The survey further reported that the unemployment rate (UR) among people aged 15 and above was 5.2% nationwide — 4.4% in rural areas and 7.2% in urban areas. Within rural areas, the UR was 3.9% for women and 4.6% for men. In urban centres, the unemployment rate was 8.7% for women and 6.6% for men.
- The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) — which reflects the share of employed individuals in the total population — improved as well. For persons aged 15 and above in rural areas, the WPR rose from 53.3% in June to 54.4% in July.
- In urban areas, it stood at 47%, while the all-India average reached 52%, marking a 0.8 percentage point increase over June.
- For the survey, the Labour Bureau covered 89,505 households (49,355 rural and 40,150 urban), encompassing 3,79,222 individuals — of which 2,16,832 were from rural areas and 1,62,390 from urban regions
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is India’s primary mechanism for collecting and publishing official employment and unemployment statistics. It was launched in 2017 by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) with the aim of producing more regular and timely labour market data than earlier surveys.
- Unlike the older Employment-Unemployment Surveys that were conducted once every five years, the PLFS provides both annual estimates and quarterly estimates. The annual reports cover both rural and urban areas and provide state-level and all-India data for the period from July to June.
- In contrast, the quarterly bulletins focus only on urban areas and are restricted to individuals aged 15 years and above. This dual system ensures that policymakers have continuous insights into the labour market situation.
- The PLFS generates information on several important indicators. Among them, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) measures the proportion of the working-age population either working or seeking work.
- The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) reflects the share of the population that is actually employed. The Unemployment Rate (UR) represents the proportion of unemployed persons in the labour force.
- These three indicators together give a comprehensive picture of labour market dynamics across rural and urban India, as well as across different social and gender groups.
- The survey is significant because it provides large-scale, nationally representative data. For instance, the PLFS usually covers lakhs of individuals across tens of thousands of households, ensuring that the findings are robust and reliable.
- Such data plays a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of government employment schemes, identifying gaps in labour absorption, and understanding the challenges of informal and underemployment in India.
- The results of PLFS often highlight important trends. For example, it consistently shows that the female LFPR in India is much lower than that of men, reflecting both social and economic barriers.
- It also indicates that urban unemployment rates are generally higher than rural rates, partly because of rural underemployment and disguised employment in agriculture. The data underscores India’s reliance on the informal sector, where most workers lack job security and social protection.
- From a policy perspective, PLFS data helps in designing targeted interventions. It points to the need for improving skill development, vocational training, and education to align the workforce with emerging opportunities in manufacturing and services.
- It also stresses the importance of measures to increase women’s participation in the labour market, such as better childcare facilities, workplace safety, and flexible work options
|
Answer (C)
|
The Union Home Ministry, in an affidavit before the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, has argued that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir can exercise the authority to nominate five members to the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly independently, without requiring the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
What does the Constitution provide?
- The Indian Constitution allows for nominated members in both Parliament and State legislatures. Earlier, the President could nominate two members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha and Governors could nominate one Anglo-Indian member to State Assemblies, but this provision was abolished in 2020.
- The Rajya Sabha, however, continues to have 12 nominated members, appointed by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers. In the case of States with a Legislative Council, nearly one-sixth of the members are nominated by the Governor, again on the advice of the respective State’s Council of Ministers.
What about Union Territories?
- The structure of Union Territory legislatures is defined by Parliamentary Acts. For instance, the Delhi Legislative Assembly, as per the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, has 70 elected members and no nominated members.
- In Puducherry, under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Assembly has 30 elected members, along with a provision for the Union Government to nominate up to three members.
- For Jammu & Kashmir, Section 14 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 (amended in 2023) fixes the strength of the Assembly at 90 elected seats. Additionally, Sections 15, 15A, and 15B authorize the LG to nominate five members in total: two women, two Kashmiri migrants, and one displaced person from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
What have the courts said?
- The issue of nominations was addressed in the K. Lakshminarayanan vs. Union of India (2018) case before the Madras High Court, which upheld the Union Government’s right to nominate three members to the Puducherry Assembly without consulting the local Council of Ministers.
- While the Court suggested that Parliament should consider amending the law to clearly spell out the procedure for such nominations, the Supreme Court later set aside these recommendations.
- In a separate matter, the Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Union of India (2023) case, the Supreme Court introduced the concept of a “triple chain of accountability”: civil servants answerable to ministers, ministers accountable to the legislature, and the legislature accountable to the people.
- Based on this principle, the Court ruled that the LG of Delhi is generally bound by the advice of the elected government, except in areas where the Assembly has no legislative authority.
- Although this judgment dealt with the power to appoint officers in Delhi, its reasoning could be applied to the question of nominating members to the Assembly in other Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir
|
Answer (B)
Statement 1: consists of not more than 25 members of the Lok Sabha. Statement 2: scrutinizes appropriation and finance accounts of the Government. Statement 3: examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). |
- In 2024-25, India’s import bill for energy resources stood at $137 billion for crude oil, $24 billion for petroleum products, and $15 billion for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- Together, these accounted for 22.3% of total imports, slightly lower than the 23% share recorded in 2023-24, as per data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- Speaking on India’s resource strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that critical minerals have emerged as globally important, forming the foundation for technologies in energy, industry, and defence.
- The Ministry of Mines has so far auctioned 24 critical mineral blocks—some already development-ready and others requiring further exploration. It has also set a target of auctioning 100 such blocks by 2030.
- However, experts caution that bringing these mines into operation will take years. To address delays, the ministry has established a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) to streamline approvals and speed up regulatory clearances. Alongside domestic efforts, the government is also intensifying efforts to secure mineral assets abroad.
- On the energy front, PM Modi announced that ten nuclear reactors are presently functional, and the country has resolved to increase nuclear capacity tenfold by 2047. As of June 30, India’s nuclear generation capacity was about 8.8 GW, which contributes just under 2% of total electricity capacity.
- The Union Budget for 2024-25 proposed collaboration with the private sector to finance and construct Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) for captive consumption, which would be commissioned and operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).
- However, for large-scale private participation, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act would be necessary—issues currently under consideration.
- The Prime Minister further highlighted that India achieved one of its climate commitments five years ahead of schedule, with non-fossil fuel sources contributing 50% of installed electricity capacity by June 30.
- The renewable energy sector has witnessed rapid expansion, crossing the 200 GW mark by October 2024, a 13.5% year-on-year growth. This includes 92 GW of solar power, 52 GW of hydro, 48 GW of wind, and 11 GW of bio-energy.
- Nuclear energy plays a key role in this energy mix, offering stable base-load power with minimal carbon emissions and independence from seasonal fluctuations. India aims to raise its nuclear capacity to 22,800 MW by 2031-32 and to an ambitious 100 GW by 2047.
- The diversification of India’s energy portfolio is seen as essential for long-term development and energy security. Nuclear science, which harnesses atomic fission and fusion, remains one of the most transformative—and debated—technological advances of the modern era.
- To further boost self-reliance in critical resources, the government approved a ₹16,300-crore National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) on 29th January 2025. The mission is designed to strengthen domestic and overseas exploration of critical minerals and spans the entire value chain—from prospecting and mining to beneficiation, processing, and recycling from end-of-life products
|
Answer (C)
Statement 1: China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export. Statement 2: Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country. Statement 3: Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements. |
- Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) occur when a glacial lake — formed in front of, beneath, or on top of a retreating glacier — suddenly releases its stored water. As glaciers recede, they leave depressions that gradually fill with meltwater, giving rise to these potentially hazardous lakes.
- Reducing the risks from such disasters requires integrating local geological and hydrological knowledge into development planning. This helps ensure that critical infrastructure continues to function even during extreme events. Measures such as afforestation and slope stabilization can also minimize soil erosion and landslides that often accompany intense rainfall.
- To manage excess water, governments can build reservoirs in strategic locations and expand rainwater harvesting systems, which help regulate flow and lower flood peaks. At the same time, early warning systems powered by modern weather-forecasting technologies can give communities time to prepare, reducing both casualties and property losses.
- Community-level preparedness is another key strategy. Public awareness drives and disaster education campaigns can train local residents in response measures, ensuring they are not just victims but active participants in disaster management.
- Farmers too need support through climate-smart agriculture — shifting to flood-resistant crop varieties, adjusting sowing cycles, and adopting soil-conservation practices. Such steps mitigate economic losses and safeguard food security under unpredictable climate conditions.
- Experts stress that protecting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem demands coordinated action at local, national, and global levels. While a single extreme weather event cannot be attributed solely to climate change, rising global temperatures are making flash floods, wildfires, and other extreme phenomena more frequent and intense.
- In Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), average temperatures have been rising, and the state has seen an alarming increase in extreme weather events. A 2024 study published in Mausam, the India Meteorological Department’s journal, recorded 2,863 such events between 2010 and 2022, during which 552 lives were lost.
- The most common were flash floods (168 cases) and landslides (186 cases). Interestingly, though there were only 42 incidents of heavy snowfall (defined as over 30 cm in 24 hours), these accounted for the highest death toll — 182 people. The worst-affected districts included Kishtwar, Anantnag, Ganderbal, and Doda.
- Three factors largely explain the rise in extreme weather in J&K: increasing temperatures, changing western disturbances, and the region’s rugged topography. Located in the western Himalayas, J&K has warmed twice as fast as the rest of India since 2000.
- This accelerated warming has led to more intense precipitation events, as the atmosphere can retain about 7% more water vapour for every 1°C rise in temperature. It has also caused rapid glacier retreat, creating more glacial lakes that pose flooding risks downstream.
- Additionally, western disturbances—rain-bearing systems originating beyond Afghanistan and Iran that pick up moisture from the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, and Arabian seas—are no longer confined to winter months.
- Their altered patterns, influenced by global warming, are now bringing heavy rains and floods to Himalayan states even outside the traditional season. Combined with J&K’s mountainous terrain, these shifts make the region highly vulnerable to disasters
1.On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion (UPSC 2013)
(a) is found in the atmosphere as moisture and clouds
(b) is found in freshwater lakes and rivers
(c) exists as groundwater
(d) exists as soil moisture
|
Answer (c)
|
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
|
Answer (d)
|
How is India planning to localise EV manufacturing?
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS II & III - Governance and Science & Technology
Context:
More than a year since it was announced, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) notified guidelines of the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India.
Read about:
International Energy Association (IEA)
Electric Vehicles - Regenerative breaking
Key takeaways:
- The recently announced policy focuses on a key measure: reducing customs duties on fully assembled electric four-wheelers imported into India. The current import duty, which ranges from 70% to 100%, would be brought down to 15% for vehicles priced at $35,000 or more, and this benefit would remain in effect for five years.
- However, to qualify for this incentive, manufacturers must commit to investing at least ₹4,150 crore within three years. In addition, they are expected to set up local facilities such that 25% of the manufacturing process is carried out domestically within three years, and 50% within five years.
- According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), no more than 8,000 such vehicles can be imported annually at the reduced duty rate, with the total foregone duty capped at ₹6,484 crore.
- Given that countries today are increasingly reluctant to share advanced technology, it is crucial for India to avoid becoming merely a production site for vehicle components. The aim is to create conditions that encourage technology transfer and attract foreign firms to invest in the broader ecosystem.
- China dominated the global EV market in 2024, contributing approximately 70% of worldwide production. Meanwhile, there are concerns about the growing emphasis on electric four-wheelers.
- Data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) for FY 2025 shows that EVs made up 7.8% of all vehicles sold. This figure was driven largely by electric three-wheelers, which represented 57% of their segment, followed by two-wheelers (6.1%), passenger vehicles (2.6%), and commercial vehicles (0.9%). Notably, the International Energy Agency (IEA) identified India as the world’s leading market for electric three-wheelers in 2024.
- Automakers have argued that the country’s EV sector, particularly in its early stages, requires stronger government backing. The IEA’s EV Outlook reported that domestic manufacturers like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra were responsible for over 80% of electric cars made in India in 2024.
- The report also noted that Chinese imports accounted for less than 15% of EV sales in the country, primarily due to steep import tariffs and the presence of low-cost domestic alternatives.
- This makes the proposed reduction in import duties a matter of concern, as it could potentially undermine local manufacturers
Follow Up Question
1.Which of the following Indian States/Union Territories launched Electric Vehicle Policy on 7th August 2020? (UPPSC 2020)
|
Answer (C)
The Delhi government officially notified its Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy on 7 August 2020, making it one of the most progressive in the country aimed at boosting EV adoption across various vehicle categories
This policy includes substantial incentives such as subsidies, waivers on road tax and registration fees, and a push for charging infrastructure—focusing primarily on two-/three-wheelers, public and shared transport, rather than private four-wheelers
None of the other options—Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu—launched their EV policies on that date
|
Instruments of monetary policy
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international significance
For Mains Examination: GS III - Economy
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to cut the repo rate – the key policy rate – by 25 basis points (bps) in the policy meeting scheduled from July 4 to 6, to support growth as inflation continues to remain below the 4 per cent target
Read about:
What are the instruments of monetary policy?
What happens to lending rates if repo rate is left steady?
Key takeaways:
Monetary Policy Overview and Tools
Monetary policy governs the availability and cost (interest rates) of money within the economy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), meets bi-monthly to review economic conditions and adjust the repo rate — the rate at which it lends to commercial banks — to manage inflation and stabilize price levels.
According to the RBI, the following are the key instruments used to implement monetary policy:
-
Repo Rate: This is the interest charged by the RBI when providing short-term liquidity to banks via the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), using approved securities as collateral.
-
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate: Introduced in April 2022, this is the rate at which the RBI accepts overnight, uncollateralised deposits from banks. It acts as both a liquidity tool and a financial stability mechanism, placed 25 basis points below the repo rate, replacing the fixed reverse repo as the LAF floor.
-
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate: This penal rate allows banks to borrow overnight from the RBI by tapping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) reserves within a capped limit (2%). It offers a buffer against unexpected liquidity crunches and is 25 basis points above the repo rate.
-
Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): A key monetary tool, LAF includes repo and reverse repo operations (both fixed and variable rate), SDF, and MSF. Additional instruments for liquidity management include open market operations (OMOs), forex swaps, and the Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS).
-
Reverse Repo Rate: This is the rate at which the RBI absorbs excess liquidity from banks using government securities. Since the SDF was introduced, the RBI now uses the fixed reverse repo selectively.
-
Bank Rate: This is the rate at which the RBI buys or rediscounts commercial paper. It also serves as the penalty rate for banks failing to meet reserve requirements. The bank rate is aligned with the MSF and changes in tandem with the policy rate.
-
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): A mandatory reserve that banks must maintain with the RBI as a percentage of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL).
-
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): Banks must maintain a specific portion of their liabilities in liquid assets (like cash, gold, or government securities), as notified by the RBI.
-
Open Market Operations (OMOs): These involve direct buying or selling of government securities by the RBI to regulate long-term liquidity
Current Policy Outlook
- With inflation easing, experts anticipate that the MPC may reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.75%. One basis point equals 0.01%.
- Headline inflation, measured via the Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped to 3.2% in April — the lowest since July 2019 — following a steady decline in food prices. CPI inflation has consistently stayed below the RBI’s 4% target (with a permitted ±2% range under the Flexible Inflation Targeting framework) for three consecutive months: February, March, and April.
- Given these developments, economists suggest CPI inflation may align with the 4% target over the next year. The RBI is also expected to revise its FY26 projections for real GDP and inflation.
- Its latest report cites improved global commodity trends, relaxed supply constraints, and likely strong agricultural output from an above-normal monsoon as positive indicators for inflation stability in FY26
Follow Up Question
|
Answer (C)
|