UPSC Key—2nd January, 2024: XPoSat mission, Free Trade Agreement, Earthquake and Tsunami

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- THE INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began the new year with the successful launch of its first X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), which will study X-ray polarisation and its cosmic sources such as black holes and neutron stars.

• What is India’s first polarimetry mission?

• What is the XPoSat mission?

• For Your Information-X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is India’s maiden mission dedicated to analysing the polarisation of X-rays emanating from bright celestial sources in the medium frequency band. XPoSat comprises two payloads, including Indian X-ray Polarimeter (POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT). They have been built by Raman Research Institute and UR Rao Satellite Centre, both located in Bengaluru. The spacecraft is designated for observation from low earth orbit (~ 650 km, low inclination of ~ 6 degree). It has an estimated mission life of about five years during which XPoSat will observe sources that emit polarised X-rays. The observations will be done when the magnetars or neutron stars (they are highly magnetic and display a wide array of X-ray activity) are in transit through the Earth’s shadow, for instance, during the eclipse period.

• What are the two scientific payloads onboard XPoSat?

• How are X-Rays witnessed in space?

• What is the polarisation of X-rays and why study it?

• Why is the XPoSat mission significant?

• How does XPoSat compare with X-ray experiments or missions globally?

• Do You Know-Till now, astronomers have largely used and depended on spectroscopic, imaging and timing–based data obtained from either ground-based telescopes or satellite-based missions from the optical to the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Polarisation of celestial sources was done either in the optical or radio bands. XPoSat, however, will be a game-changer and facilitate X-ray polarisation measurements possible from bright sources, that too, in the medium energy band (8-30 keV) energy range – which has never been attempted ever before. The XPoSat team has identified several tens of sources radiating X-rays. XPoSat will observe two kinds of sources — persistent sources (targeted and known sources) and transient sources (pulsars, active galactic nuclei, magnetars). Out in space, X-rays get polarised due to multiple causes. For example, X-rays when subject to strong magnetic fields or due to the interactions with material present around black holes. So, by studying the polarised X-rays emanating from excellent sources like magnetars, black holes and their surrounding environments, and neutron stars, scientists can probe the nature of the radiations and the multitudes of processes involved in the generation of these radiations.

POLIX will undertake important measurements like the degree and angle of polarisation of X-ray photons from the environment surrounding black holes, neutron stars, and other such cosmic entities. These two additional parameters, along with the spectrographic, timing and imaging data, will aid researchers to overall improve the present understanding of the celestial bodies and ultimately unravel some of the unknown mysteries of the Universe.

Missions on X-ray polarisation measurements have been a handful, the world over. Some like HX-POL and XL-Calibur have been balloon-based and short-duration experiments by NASA and collaborators. Indian astronomers, using AstroSat – India’s first astronomy-based space missions launched in September 2015 — performed timing and broadband spectroscopy of X-ray sources but no polarisation studies were performed. The lack of development of highly sensitive and precise instruments makes missions for polarisation measurements of X-rays extremely challenging, thus fewer missions have been attempted so far. In 2021, NASA launched Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). It has been designed to operate and perform X-ray polarisation measurements within the soft X-ray band (2 to 8 keV energy band). Besides complementing IXPE, XPoSat’s payload POLIX will offer an expanded observational energy band, as it is designated to perform X-ray polarisation in the medium X-ray band (8 to 30keV).

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-About the Organisation

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-Background, Achievements and upcoming Missions

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍ISRO launches XPoSat: What is the mission and its significance?

📍X-ray eye in the sky

THE IDEAS PAGE

The temples of justice

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-Kapil Sibal writes: There are not enough judges at all levels of the judicial hierarchy to deal with the increased workload. The result is that there is little time to reflect on issues which can change the course of the nation’s march forward.

• First of all, what is your understanding about the collegium system?

• For Your Information-The collegium system is the way by which judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed and transferred. The collegium system is not rooted in the Constitution or a specific law promulgated by Parliament; it has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Collegium is a five-member body, which is headed by the incumbent CJI and comprises the four other senior most judges of the court at that time. A High Court collegium is led by the incumbent Chief Justice and two other senior most judges of that court. By its very nature, the composition of the collegium keeps changing. Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system, and the government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegium. Names recommended for appointment by a High Court collegium reach the government only after approval by the CJI and the Supreme Court collegium.

The role of the government in this entire process is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) if a lawyer is to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court. The government can also raise objections and seek clarifications regarding the collegium’s choices, but if the collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound to appoint them. Sometimes the government delays making the appointments, especially in cases where the government is perceived to be unhappy with one or more judges recommended for appointment by the collegium. Supreme Court judges have sometimes expressed anguish over such delays. The collegium system evolved out of a series of judgments of the Supreme Court that are called the “Judges Cases”. The collegium came into being through the interpretations of the relevant provisions of the Constitution that the Supreme Court made in these Judges Cases.

• On what grounds has the collegium system been criticised?

• “The collegium system has failed us”-Discuss

• “For the judiciary to regain its glory, it needs to do more than just decide on cases”-What is your take on this?

• Judiciary and Religion-How you see both? Are they interconnected?

• What is the role of the government in the decision-making process for the shortlisting of judges?

• Who appoints the Judges of the Supreme Court?

• What does the Collegium consider while making the recommendation?

• Supreme Court on NJAC Act 2014 (99th Constitutional Amendment Act)-know in detail

• First Judges Case (1982), Second Judges Case (1993) and Third Judges Case (1998)-Know in detail

• What was the Supreme court’s ruling in the Second Judges case (1993), with respect to the appointment of a judge?

• Third Judges case (1998) and Supreme Court’s ruling in case of the appointment-What was the Supreme Court’s ruling?

• The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act of 2014 and the Collegium System-Compare and Contrast

• The Constitution has made certain provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of a Judges-Know in detail

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Rijiju says Collegium system ‘opaque’: What is the Supreme Court Collegium, how does it work?

THE WORLD

7.6 quake rocks Japan, wreaks havoc

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-At least eight people have died in an earthquake that struck Japan on New Year’s Day as authorities Tuesday struggled to assess the full extent of the disaster that wrecked buildings, roads and left thousands without power in freezing temperatures, news agency Reuters reported.

• Is Japan the most earthquake prone country in the world?

• Why is Japan so prone to earthquakes?

• How devastating was earthquake in Japan?

• Where and when did the earthquake occur?

• What is called Ring of Fire?

• What does the Ring of Fire have to do with Japan?

• Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake?

• What are the Major and Minor Plates?

• The movement of the tectonic plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries-What are they?

• Why earthquakes remain unpredictable?

• What exactly causes earthquakes?

• Can earthquakes be predicted?

• What is focus or seismic focus of Earthquake?

• What is epicentre of Earthquake?

• The intensity of earthquake is highest in the epicentre and decreases as one moves away-True or False?

• What is continental drift and how does it differ from plate tectonics?

• Do You Know-Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s land masses are in constant motion. The realization that Earth’s land masses move was first proposed by Alfred Wegener, which he called continental drift.

• Earthquakes take place in the lithosphere-True or False?

• What is seismic waves or earthquake waves?

• What is Body waves and Surface waves?

• Know in detail-Primary waves (p-waves), Secondary waves (s-waves), L-waves and Rayleigh waves

• Map Work-Earthquake-prone areas in India and in the World

• Do shallow earthquakes cause greater damage?

• What are the pre disaster measures taken to manage earthquake disaster?

• What is post-disaster management of earthquakes?

• What is it about an earthquake that causes a tsunami?

• What is a tsunami?

• Do You Know-Tsunami (a Japanese word that means “harbour wave”) is a series of giant ocean waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the ocean. When an earthquake takes place under the ocean, a large chunk of the ocean floor can suddenly move upward or downward, leading to a sudden displacement of a large volume of water, thereby causing tsunami waves. A similar thing can happen when a volcano erupts in the ocean. The lava flowing out of the volcano displaces the water around it and that water can become a large wave. “Big tsunamis usually begin in the deep ocean, where a large volume of water can be displaced. As the wave moves closer to the shore, it grows taller as the ocean becomes shallower,” according to a report by NASA. Tsunami waves can be hundreds of feet tall and can travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters while slowing down when reaching shallow waters. However, not all earthquakes or volcanic eruptions lead to tsunamis. The formation of a tsunami can depend on a host of factors, including the shape of the ocean floor, and the earthquake’s distance and direction.

Japan is situated along the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, which is the most active earthquake tectonic belt in the world. The ‘ring’ refers to “an imaginary horseshoe-shaped zone that follows the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur,” according to a report by Live Science. Within the Ring of Fire, there are different tectonic belts, including the Pacific Plate, Eurasian Plate, and Indo-Australian Plate, which keep meshing and colliding with each other, causing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. In 2011, Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a resulting tsunami which devastated its northeastern coastal communities, killing around 18,000 people and displacing tens of thousands. Those tsunami waves led to a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, causing the most severe nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Japan earthquake triggers tsunami warning: What is a tsunami, why does it keep forming in the island country?

ECONOMY

‘No longer looking at import duties as revenue source in FTA negotiations’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interest

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-India is likely to lower tariffs on a range of items including high tariff products such as cars, whiskey and machinery items for the first time under the free trade agreements (FTAs) with developed economies and is moving away from looking at tariffs as a source of revenue during negotiations, a government official said.

• Why India is likely to lower tariffs on a range of items?

• What is Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

• Know about other types of trade agreements like Bilateral investment treaty (BIT), Preferential Trade Area, Single market, Customs Union etc.

• “India is currently negotiating FTAs with the UK, the European Union(EU), Australia and Oman, and India could lower duties on goods and services sharply”-Know in detail

• India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA)-Know in detail

• What are the contentious issues in the ongoing talks for the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

• What is Rules of origin?

• Do You Know-Rules of origin — the criteria that determine the national source of a product — have been among the most contentious issues for the FTA talks with the UK. These are important in trade negotiations since countries levy duties or impose restrictions on products based on the source of imports. In addition, India’s commerce and tax officials are negotiating on the crucial aspects of duty cuts for alcohol/whisky from the UK that could have an impact on the local bottling industry, the official said, adding that the pace of negotiations has been decidedly kept slow for this reason.

• What is preferential treatment in Free Trade Agreement?

• What is the most Favoured nation (MFN) principle?

• What are the benefits of MFN?

• For Your Information-The MFN concept requires countries that are part of the World Trade Organisation to accord the most favourable tariff and regulatory treatment given to the products or services of any one member at the time of import or export of “like products” to all other members. This is a bedrock principle of the WTO and would also be a factor for New Delhi as it negotiates multiple negotiations at the same time. Others are well within their rights to seek a concession extended by a WTO signatory to another member nation/ bloc.

• India and the UK are looking to close negotiations over five chapters dealing with contentious issues such as digital trade, environment and labour in the ongoing negotiations-Know more in detail

• Do You Know-In 2022-23, India-UK bilateral trade had increased 16 per cent to US $20.36 billion. India’s exports were $11.4 billion in 2022-23 compared with $10.5 billion the previous year; and its imports stood at US $8.96 billion during 2022-23 compared with US $7 billion in 2021-22.

• What is Definition of trade given by WTO?

• Enhanced Trade Partnership between India and UK

• India and UK trade-know in brief

• Significance of India-UK Trade Relations

• India and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)-Know in detail

• What is the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)?

• What is EFTA and how is it different from the EU?

• Do You Know-EFTA countries are not part of the European Union (EU). EFTA is an inter-governmental organisation for the promotion and intensification of free trade. It was founded as an alternative for states that did not wish to join the European Community. India’s exports to EFTA countries during April-February 2022-23 stood at USD 1.67 billion as against USD 1.74 billion in 2021-22. Imports aggregated at USD 15 billion during the 11-month period as compared to USD 25.5 billion in 2021-22. The trade gap is in favour of the EFTA group.

• Can the EFTA Member States also sign bilateral free trade agreements?

• What is the economic partnership agreement?

• What is an Interim Trade Agreement (ITA)?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India & UK look to close FTA talks on five chapters with contentious issues

Gross GST collections drop to three-month low of `1.64 lk cr in December

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development and Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections declined to a three-month low of Rs 1.64 lakh crore in December (for sales in November), data released by the Finance Ministry on Monday showed. Though year-on-year growth of 10.3 per cent was registered in December, the pace of growth in GST collections was also the slowest in three months.

• What do the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) numbers reveal?

• Why Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections declined to a three-month low?

• For Your Information-Overall, the total GST collections stood at Rs 1,64,882 crore in December, out of which Central GST — the tax levied on intra-state supplies of goods and services by the Centre — was Rs 30,443 crore, State GST — the tax levied on intra-state supplies of goods and services by the states — was Rs 37,935 crore, Integrated GST — the tax levied on all inter-state supplies of goods and services — was Rs 84,255 crore (including Rs 41,534 crore collected on import of goods) and cess was Rs 12,249 crore (including Rs 1,079 crore collected on import of goods). Revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) were 13 per cent higher than revenues from these sources during the same month last year, the ministry said in its statement.

Seven states/union territories out of 38 states/UTs (including Centre’s jurisdiction) recorded single-digit growth in GST collections. There was a marked sequential slowdown in revenue collection in states such as Gujarat, which collected Rs 9,874 crore in December, up 7 per cent from Rs 9,238 crore in the year-ago period but lower than Rs 10,853 crore collected in November 2023. Earlier, a pickup in consumption and economic activity along with settlement of disputes by businesses following notices issued by GST authorities were seen to have contributed to the sharp rise in GST revenue, which has now moderated despite early-November having marked the festival season.

The impact of lower imports is likely to have contributed to the decline in GST revenues. GST collections had surged 15.1 per cent to Rs 1.67 lakh crore in November and 13.4 per cent in October at Rs 1.72 lakh crore, the second-highest level since the July 2017 rollout of the indirect tax regime.

With the latest print, GST revenue collections have averaged at Rs 1.66 lakh crore per month during April-December 2023, up 11.7 per cent from the monthly average of Rs 1.50 lakh crore seen during April-December 2022. “During the April-December 2023 period, gross GST collection witnessed a robust 12% y-o-y growth, reaching Rs 14.97 lakh crore, as against Rs 13.40 lakh crore collected in the same period of the previous year (April-December 2022),” the ministry said in its statement.

• What is the government view on low GST Collections?

• What do the low collections signify?

• What is the detailed break-up of recent GST collections?

• What are the different types of Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

• Know the differences between Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), Union territory GST (UTGST) and Integrated GST (IGST)

• How would a particular transaction of goods and services be taxed simultaneously under Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST)?

• What are the benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India?

• Goods and Services Tax (GST)-Issues and Challenges

• GST Council and Article 279A of the Constitution-Key Provisions

• GST Council and Members-Know in detail

• What is the role of GST Council?

• Several countries moved to the GST regime long before India did in 2017. But, the mechanism of the GST Council itself is unique to India-What is unique in India’s GST?

• What Supreme Court of India said on Federalism in India in Union of India and Anr versus M/s Mohit Minerals Through Director case?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: The SC ruling that GST Council decisions are not binding on Centre or states

📍12 Different Types of Federalism (with Examples and Pros & Cons)

📍The Paradox of ‘Centralised Federalism’: An Analysis of the Challenges to India’s Federal Design

EXPLAINED

Farm, food policy & Modi govts

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-The Narendra Modi government’s first term (Modi 1.0), from June 2014 to May 2019, was marked by low inflation. During this period, the general consumer price index (CPI) rose by an average of 4.3% per year. It was a full percentage point lower, at 3.3%, for the consumer food price index (CFPI).

• What are the important indicators of food inflation during June 2019 till November 2023?

• What is consumer food price index?

• Consumer food price index and Inflation-Connect the dots

• How Government responded to food inflation especially during June 2014 to May 2019 and June 2019 till November 2023?

• What is Inflation?

• Know the Types of Inflation like Moderate Inflation, Galloping Inflation, Hyper-Inflation, Stagflation, Deflation, Core Inflation etc.

• What are the causes of Inflation in the present situation

• How Inflation is Measured in India?

• What is the Long term, Medium Term and Short-term impact of Inflation?

• New Standard for Measuring Inflation in India and Old Standard for Measuring Inflation-Key Differences

• Steps or Measures Taken by GOI to Control Inflation

• What do you understand by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index? WPI and CPI is published by whom?

• What’s the RBI assessment on inflation recently?

• Food inflation being increasingly driven by two items-Which are those items?

• What happens when inflation goes up?

• Inflation and Purchasing power-connect the dots

• But food inflation is not new?

• Why food inflation appear to be hurting people’s pockets more this time?

• How does food inflation affect the average Indian consumer’s cost of living?

• How policy makers deal with this situation?

• What factor distinguishes Indian inflation from many other developed countries?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Ministries flagged MSP concerns: Low returns to rising oil imports

📍ExplainSpeaking: What is the link between rising food prices and central banks raising interest rates?

WHY MANY US ALLIES HAVE NOT JOINED ITS RED SEA SECURITY OP

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- As part of a maritime security initiative in the Red Sea named Operation Prosperity Guardian, the United States military said Sunday (December 31) that its forces opened fire on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

• Operation Prosperity Guardian-Know in brief

• Who are the Houthis?

• How are the Houthis linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict?

• Why Operation Prosperity Guardian?

• For Your Information-As part of a maritime security initiative in the Red Sea named Operation Prosperity Guardian, the United States military said Sunday (December 31) that its forces opened fire on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The USS Gravely destroyer first shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired at a Maersk ship passing through the southern Red Sea on Saturday, after the vessel reported getting hit by a missile earlier that evening, AP reported. The Houthis confirmed 10 casualties. The recent attacks on ships passing via the Red Sea, a crucial trade route that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, have prompted many businesses to pause the movement of cargo. Yemen-based Houthis, a clan belonging to an Islamic sect, have claimed responsibility for the attacks – launched to protest Israel’s ongoing military strikes on the Gaza Strip. A ship passing by near the coast of Gujarat was also targeted via a drone last week.

The US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin had announced the joint security initiative to aid the safe movement of ships in December 2023. However, a few days on, many US allies have yet to commit to the operation. Initially, it was reported that 9 countries were joining the operation – the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain. But missing from the list are other major US partners, such as Australia, Japan, and most Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia. But why? There are multiple factors at play here. Bahrain is the only Middle Eastern nation to have joined the operations. “But this is no surprise: the small nation is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet,” states a DW report. It adds that while other countries are losing money with the re-routing of ships away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, there is an apprehension towards taking a firm stance against the Houthis. For decades, ever since the creation of Israel in 1948, Arab countries have claimed a principled opposition to it and supported the cause of Palestine. Even as several countries have sought to normalise relations with Israel in recent years, its continuous military action against Gazans – mostly civilians, women and children – has now drawn condemnation globally from a human rights perspective.

In this regard, the cause of Palestine has again gained centre stage. In October, various Arab countries – United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco – condemned what they called Israel’s “flagrant violations of international law” in response to the October 7 attacks from Hamas. Joining a grouping that is decidedly against the Houthis’s purported protest action would potentially open these countries to criticism over their prior stand. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has played a role in supporting the anti-Houthi forces in the Yemen civil war. In around a decade since the war began, the Houthis seem to have seized and held onto power and Saudi Arabia now seems unwilling to invest further in the conflict. It is now participating in peace talks.

Simultaneously, it is pursuing closer ties with Iran, which is believed to be backing the Houthis. Thus, an explicit call against the Houthis would harm these efforts. Some of these concerns might be common to other countries, too. US officials have said that more than 20 countries have already joined the Operation, but it has been reported that they are not willing to publicly declare themselves as partners.

• Why other partners are reluctant?

• Map Work-Red Sea

• Why is the Red Sea significant and why are ships being attacked there?

• Could the Red Sea attacks impact the global economy?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Attacks on ships, costly rerouting and more: What is happening in Red Sea, as spillover of Gaza war

How the Northeast was ‘invented’ 52 years ago, the 2 laws that created it

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-On December 30, 1971, two laws — the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act and the North-Eastern Council Act — were enacted by Parliament. With these, Northeast India “emerged as a significant administrative concept replacing the hitherto more familiar unit of public imagination, Assam,” B P Singh, a former senior bureaucrat who served as the Governor of Sikkim from 2008-13, wrote in The Problem of Change: A Study of North-East India (1997).

Today, ‘Northeast India’, or just ‘the Northeast’, is commonly used by Indians to refer to the diverse region, with its inhabitants becoming ‘Northeasterners’, regardless of how they themselves self-identify. Yet the term took root only in the 1970s.

• The Northeast-what you know about this?

• Map Work- Northeast India

• For Your Information-Northeast India officially comprises eights states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — which are a part of the North-Eastern Council, a statutory advisory body that plays a role in development planning, and region-level policy making. Pre-Independence, five of these eight present-day states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram) were a part of colonial Assam. Manipur and Tripura were princely states, with resident British political officers answering to the governor of Assam. Sikkim, the most unique of the eight, was juridically independent but under British paramountcy. It became an independent country in 1947, before being annexed by India in 1975. In 2001 Sikkim was made a member of the North Eastern Council, and thus officially a part of the Northeast.

• How North-eastern states become part of the India?

• What are the National security concerns with respect to North-eastern states?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍There’s a lot in a name: Use of the term ‘northeast’ doesn’t do justice to the complex history of the region’s states

For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com
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