UPSC Key: First Advance Estimates, Mahakumbh Mela and Bharatpol

Growth estimate at 4-year low of 6.4% on weak manufacturing and investment

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.

What’s the ongoing story: India’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is seen growing at a four-year low of 6.4 per cent in the current financial year 2024-25, primarily due to weak industrial and investment growth, the first advance estimates for FY25 released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Tuesday showed.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know the key terms and Organisation— Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), first advance estimates, National Statistics Office (NSO), Gross Value Added (GVA) , Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE), Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF)

• What you understand by the term ‘first advance estimates’ or say ‘advance estimates’?

• What is the role of first advance estimates in a Financial Year?

• The first advance estimates for FY25 released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) says what?

• What is the highlight in the first advance estimates for FY25?

• ‘Nominal’ GDP and ‘Real’ GDP-What is the difference?

• What is contributing to India’s growth?

• According to the first advance estimates for FY25, what are the key factors contributing to a slowdown in GDP growth?

• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) reflects investment levels in an economy—True or False?

• Examine the link between weak manufacturing growth and unemployment in India.

• How can investments in infrastructure help address weak manufacturing growth and unemployment in India?

Key Takeaways:

• The first advance estimates of GDP, obtained by extrapolation of data of the first seven-eight months of the ongoing financial year (FY25), are released early to help officers in the Union Ministry of Finance and other departments in framing the broad contours of Union Budget for the next financial year, which is to be presented in Parliament on February 1.

• The GDP growth for FY25 is seen lower than both the growth estimate of the Reserve Bank of India (6.6 per cent) as well as the government (6.5-7 per cent growth in the Economic Survey 2023-24).

• As per the first advance estimates for FY25, there is a marked slowdown in primary and secondary sectors of the economy, barring agriculture.

• Economists said that the slowdown in growth is a result of the Indian economy entering the phase of cyclical slowdown.

• Manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) growth is estimated to slow to 5.3 per cent in 2024-25 from 9.9 per cent in 2023-24, while mining and quarrying growth is seen at 2.9 per cent in FY25, much lower than 7.1 per cent in the previous year.

• While consumption demand is set to grow at 7.3 per cent this year (4 per cent last year), investment (particularly, corporate) has not quite picked pace. This year, it is seen growing at 6.4 per cent compared with 9 per cent in FY24.

• Real GVA growth of agriculture and allied sector, however, is seen rising to 3.8 per cent in FY25 from 1.4 per cent growth in FY24.

• Services sector is seen performing better, with growth estimated at 7.2 per cent in FY25 compared with 7.6 per cent in FY24. The growth in services is primarily led by ‘Public administration, defence & other services’ that is seen growing at 9.1 per cent in FY25 as against 7.8 per cent in FY24.

• Other services are seen growing at a slower pace, with ‘Trade, hotels, transport, communication & broadcasting services’ seen growing at 5.8 per cent in 2024-25 as against 6.4 per cent growth in 2023-24, while ‘Financial, real estate & professional services’ are seen growing at 7.3 per cent as against 8.4 per cent in the previous year. While consumption is seen higher than last year, investments are seen subdued.

• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) — an indicator for consumption demand — is seen growing at 7.3 per cent in FY25 compared with 4.0 per cent growth in the previous financial year. Investments — as reflected in Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) — are expected to grow by 6.4 per cent in FY25 as against 9.0 per cent in FY24, reflecting a moderation in capex by both states and Centre as well as private investment.

• The overall economic growth has also gained support from higher government expenditure. Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) is seen growing at 4.1 per cent compared with just 2.5 per cent growth in the previous financial year.

• Growth in GVA (gross value added) terms, which reflects national income from the output side, is seen at 6.4 per cent in FY25 as against 7.2 per cent in FY24.

• GDP is GVA plus net taxes on products (taxes less subsidies). Per capita net national income is seen rising 5.3 per cent to Rs 1,12,358 in FY25.

• Nominal GDP, which also takes into account the inflation estimate, is estimated to grow 9.7 per cent in FY25 as against 9.6 per cent in FY24. The nominal GDP growth estimate is lower than 10.5 per cent growth estimated in the Budget 2024-25, but it is unlikely to impact the government’s fiscal math as it is anyway expected to undershoot the fiscal deficit target.

Do You Know:
India’s GDP is calculated by adding up all kinds of spending in the economy — the demand side of the economy. Following are the main “engines” of GDP growth:

• Spending by people in their individual capacity: Technically this is called Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE). It accounts for almost 60% of India’s GDP.
—Spending towards investments in boosting the productive capacity of the economy: This could be the building of a factory, companies buying computers for their offices, or governments building roads. This is called Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), and is the second-largest engine of growth that typically accounts for 30% of the GDP.
—Spending by governments to meet daily expenditures such as salaries: This is Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE). It is the smallest engine, accounting for around 10% of GDP.
Net exports or net spending as a result of Indians spending on imports and foreigners spending on Indian exports: Since India typically imports more than it exports, this engine drags down GDP calculations, and shows up with a minus sign.

• INVESTMENT SPENDING: A high rate of investment spending is considered a salutary signal for the prospects of an economy because it shows businesses are optimistic about future consumption demand. There are two lingering concerns: one, a large part of the investment spending is still coming from the government and, two, private consumption is still muted.

• NET EXPORTS: When data for any particular year shows up with a negative sign, it suggests Indians are importing more than they are exporting. As such, negative growth rates here are a good development.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍GROWTH PANGS

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
1. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements: (UPSC GS1, 2015)
1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
2. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP? (UPSC GS3, 2020)

ISRO to BARC, agencies pitch in for the big clean-up at Maha Kumbh

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: As visitors settle into their tents and luxury domes at the Maha Kumbh that will be held on a sprawling 10,000 acres along the Ganga at Prayagraj, authorities are bracing themselves for a huge challenge: the management and treatment of waste generated each day during the 45-day religious event.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Mahakumbh Mela-Know in detail

• Discuss the historical, cultural, and religious significance of the Mahakumbh Mela in India.

• How does Mahakumbh Mela reflect the ethos of Indian civilization?

• What is Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)?

• The Mahakumbh Mela has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—how such recognition impacts the preservation of traditional festivals and their global significance.

• What are the challenges of organizing the Mahakumbh Mela?

• Evaluate the impact of large-scale gatherings like the Maha Kumbh on river ecosystems.

• “Crowd management in religious gatherings like the Mahakumbh Mela is not just a logistical challenge but also a socio-cultural one.”-How far you agree?

• How administration is gearing up to prevent stampede at the Kumbh Mela?

• “Technology and tradition must go hand in hand for sustainable religious tourism.” Analyse this statement in the context of the Maha Kumbh Mela.

• How AI technology and digital platforms can play significant role in enhancing the management and outreach of the Mahakumbh Mela in the 21st century?

• Examine the role of government agencies and scientific institutions like ISRO and BARC in ensuring sustainable management of large-scale public events like the Maha Kumbh.

Key Takeaways:

• The Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years, starts on January 13 and ends on February 26. One of the biggest such religious congregations in the country, nearly 40 crore visitors are expected to be at the mela this year, besides the 50 lakh pilgrims and sadhus, who plan to stay in camps for the entire duration.

• A gathering this size means authorities will have to find ways to tackle the gargantuan waste generated each day.

• Sources said authorities are using technology developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to deal with human waste, especially faecal, and greywater (waste water generated from cooking, washing and bathing).

• Of the Rs 7,000 crore being spent by the Yogi Adityanath-led government on the Kumbh Mela this year, Rs 1,600 crore has been earmarked for water and waste management alone, say officials.

• Of the Rs 1,600 crore, Rs 316 crore will be spent on making the mela area open defecation free (ODF), which includes installation of toilets and urinals, and their monitoring.

• On major bath days, like the January 29 Mauni Amavasya, officials estimate a footfall of 50 lakh visitors. These visitors, the authorities say, are expected to generate nearly 16 million litres of fecal sludge and about 240 million litres of greywater per day.

• To ensure that the grand event is managed well, the state government had in December 2024 notified the mela area as Uttar Pradesh’s 76th district for four months. The mela ground has been divided into 25 sectors, each of which will function like a city ward with its own water supply, drainage system and waste management infrastructure, say officials.

• On treatment of waste, officials said experiments are on with various technologies like the hybrid granular Sequencing Batch Reactor (hgSBR), which has been developed in partnership with BARC and ISRO, and Geotube technology.
• While hgSBR technology will be used to treat sewage at three FSTPs that are prefabricated among the five, the greywater collected in nearly 75 large ponds — at least two in each sector — will be handled using the “bioremediation technique”.

Do You Know:

• The Mahakumbh, the largest gathering of people in the world, is going to be held in Prayagraj this year from January 13 and will continue till February 26. An estimated 40 crore people are expected to participate in the religious conglomeration.

• The Maha Kumbh, spread across 4,000 hectares along the river bank, is expected to have a footfall of at least 40 crore people. The event is being conducted on an estimated budget of nearly Rs 6,382 crore, of which over Rs 5,600 crore has already been set aside for the event and related projects. The last Maha Kumbh, which was organised in 2012 during the Samajwadi Party government regime, was held on a budget of Rs 1,152 crore and saw nearly 12 crore visitors.

• According to Ministry of Culture, Special cyber security arrangements have been initiated to safeguard devotees from across the globe like deployment of 56 dedicated cyber warriors, experts for cyber patrolling, establishment of a Maha Kumbh cyber police station to counter cyber threats, 40 Variable Messaging Displays (VMDs) and a dedicated helpline number.

• To help with crowd control, crowd density analysis, incident reporting and monitoring of cleanliness through control rooms, 2,300 CCTV cameras will be installed across both the Maha Kumbh venue and parts of Prayagraj. Authorities also plan to set up 99 temporary parking areas, spread over 1,850 hectares, and over 1.45 lakh toilets in the mela area.

• Officials said their biggest challenge, besides crowd management, is water channelisation due to the delayed rainfall this year and the higher-than-normal levels of the Ganga. Officials said that while IIT Kanpur has been roped in to help with crowd management and security plans, experts from IIT Guwahati are helping with channelising and controlling the river flow.

• The state has also requested the railway ministry to double the number of trains to Prayagraj, especially around the time of the Mauni Amavasya snan, “since most visitors are expected to visit the mela then”. A source said, “Around 500 special trains were operational in 2019 (for the Ardh Kumbh). The number is likely to be increased to about 1,000. Nearly 300 trains are expected to be pressed into service around the time of the Mauni Amavasya snan.”

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge nugget of the day: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

📍Maha Kumbh 2025: A Seamless and Spiritually Enriching Journey Awaits Devotees (PIB)

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. Consider the following statements about the Mahakumbh Mela:
1. It is celebrated every 6 years at the same location.
2. It is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
3. The festival is celebrated in four different locations in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3
UPSC Previous year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2018)

GOVT & POLITICS

Tech interventions like Bharatpol will help bring fugitives from abroad: Shah

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

What’s the ongoing story: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday said modern systems introduced under the three new criminal laws and technological interventions like Bharatpol portal will enable law agencies to bring fugitives who have escaped abroad after committing crimes in India to justice.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Bharatpol and why has the CBI developed it?

• What are the key features of Bharatpol portal?

• What are the key modules of Bharatpol?

• Evaluate the role of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, in addressing financial crimes.

• “Technology, along with robust legal frameworks, is essential for combating transnational crimes.” Analyse this statement with a focus on India’s current initiatives.

Key Takeaways:

• Speaking at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Shah said it was time for Indian investigation agencies to use modern technology and techniques to nab fugitives.

• The CBI, as National Central Bureau for Interpol (NCB-New Delhi) in India, connects all law enforcement agencies in India to law enforcement agencies in 195 other countries through Interpol.

• Currently, all central agencies and the police forces of various states and Union Territories coordinate with the CBI, Interpol liaison officers (ILOs), and unit officers concerned through letters, emails, and faxes, due to which they often face delays in their investigation.

• The decision to develop this portal was taken amid the rise in transnational crimes, including cyber-crime, financial crimes, online radicalisation, organised crimes, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. In such cases, real-time international assistance is needed for criminal investigations.

Do You Know:

• Bharatpol — broadcast hub for assistance and real-time action against transnational crimes via international police cooperation — was developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It will allow central and state agencies to easily connect with the Interpol and speed up their investigations.

• There are five key features:
—Unified Platform: This portal integrates the CBI as the Interpol (NCB-New Delhi) with all law enforcement authorities in India, down to Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs).
—Simplified Request Mechanism: This portal allows front-line police officers to easily and promptly request international assistance from 195 Interpol member countries using standardised templates.
—Rapid Information Dissemination: This portal enables the CBI as the NCB to rapidly share criminal intelligence and inputs from 195 countries with all law enforcement agencies in India.
—Increase utilisation of Interpol notices: This portal will enable easy drafting of Red Corner Notice requests and other colour coded notices of Interpol. This will lead to effective tracking of crime, criminals and proceeds of crime globally.
—Capacity Building and Training: This portal also provides access to relevant documents, templates, and training resources, enhancing the capability of frontline officers to conduct investigations abroad and seek foreign assistance effectively through Interpol.

• There are five key modules — Connect, INTERPOL Notices, References, Broadcast, and Resources.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Amit Shah launches Bharatpol: how this portal aims to help probe transnational crimes

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. Which international organization provides assistance in tracking fugitives globally?
(a) INTERPOL
(b) UNHRC
(c) WTO
(d) ILO

EXPRESS NETWORK

States have money for freebies, but claim crunch while paying judges: SC

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

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

What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said while states have money to give freebies, they claim financial crunch when it comes to paying salaries and pensions to judges. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih cited the Ladli Behna Yojana and promises being made ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls.

Key Points to Ponder:

• The salaries of the High Court and Supreme Court judges in India-Know in detail

• The salaries of the Supreme Court judges in India are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India or made from consolidated fund of India?

• What is the difference between charged to the Consolidated Fund of India or made from consolidated fund of India?

• Analyse the implications of states’ focus on populist schemes, such as freebies, over critical areas like judiciary funding.

• Highlight the constitutional provisions ensuring the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.

Key Takeaways:

• The court was hearing a pending plea on the question of salaries and pensions of judicial officers.

• “The state’s have all the money for the people who don’t do any work. When we talk about financial constraints, we also have to look at this. Come elections, you declare Ladli Behna and other new schemes where you pay fixed amounts. In Delhi, we have announcements now from some party or the other saying they will pay `2,500 if they come to power,” Justice Gavai said.

• Justice Gavai’s reference to the freebies came after Attorney General R Venkataraman highlighted the rising pension bill of the government and said financial constraints need to be kept in mind while deciding the issue.

• Amicus Curiae in the matter and Senior Advocate K Parameshwar said that the judiciary may need to take proactive steps to achieve desired results in the matter. He said that judges need to be paid better to ensure a more diversified judiciary.

• The development comes even as the top court, which is seized of petitions challenging freebies being announced by political parties ahead of elections, is yet to start heading the matter in detail.

Do You Know:

• A two-judge bench of the SC had in the Subramaniam Balaji case in 2013 held that the “state distributing largesse in the form of distribution of colour TVs, laptops, etc. to eligible and deserving persons is directly related to the Directive Principles of State Policy” and warrants no interference by the court.

• On August 26, 2022, a three-judge bench, headed by then CJI, referred pleas seeking ban on freebies to a three-judge bench which it said will look into prayers for reconsidering the SC’s verdict in the case.

• The Salaries, Pension and Allowances of the Supreme Court Judges are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India, whereas the Salaries and Allowances of the High Court Judges are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the States and the Pension is charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.

• Salaries, gratuity, pension, allowances etc. in respect of Judges of Supreme Court are governed by the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. Salaries etc. of Judges of High Courts are governed by High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. An amendment in the Acts is required whenever there is any proposal for revision of salaries/pension gratuity, allowances etc. in respect of Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Cabinet may take up proposal to hike salaries of Supreme Court and High Court judges

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. What is the constitutional provision for the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive in India?
(a) Article 13
(b) Article 50
(c) Article 51A
(d) Article 356

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Let’s trust our universities

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

What’s the ongoing story: Faizan Mustafa Writes: Our universities need a versatile leader, not just a teacher. VCs, the most visible symbols of the system are to be appointed strictly per the UGC regulations. Not surprisingly, political expediency and not merit at times decide the choice

Key Points to Ponder:

• Vice Chancellor in State and Central Universities-About and Role

• Who appoints Vice Chancellor in Central Universities and in State Universities?

• What is the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) role in this?

• Examine the process of selecting Vice-Chancellors in Indian universities.

• Analyse the challenges associated with the selection process of Vice-Chancellors in India.

• Evaluate the role of search-cum-selection committees in ensuring transparency and fairness in the Vice-Chancellor appointment process.

Key Takeaways:

Faizan Mustafa Writes:

• “Today, Albert Einstein cannot be appointed as the Vice Chancellor [VC] of any University (at least in India) unless he fulfils the qualifications prescribed by University Grants Commission”, observed Madras High Court in Kalyani Mathivanan (2015).

• The Indian higher education sector is overregulated and grossly underfunded.

• The New Education Policy (NEP) and the draft regulations titled “University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025” at least promise to bring in flexibility though the tighter governmental control has still been retained.

• VCs, the heads and most visible symbols of the university system are to be appointed strictly in accordance with the UGC regulations.

• The VC as the head of the university is expected to function as a “bridge” between the administrative and the academic wings. The qualifications of VC for the first time were laid down by UGC in 2010.

• As per the 2018 UGC regulations, the VC should be a “distinguished academician, with a minimum of 10 years of experience as professor in a university system or 10 years of experience in an equivalent position in a reputed research and/or academic administrative organisation”.

• This is the welcome change that the new UGC regulations have proposed by making non-professors eligible for the coveted post. In addition to professors, any distinguished person at a senior level in industry, public administration, public policy and/or public sector undertakings with a proven track record of significant academic or scholarly contribution would now be eligible.

• While the idea of inviting applications for such senior positions through newspaper advertisement brings more transparency and to some extent reduces the role of godfathers, it allows all and sundry to apply. The better option is to invite nominations from the current and former VCs, public intellectuals, judges and leading professors.

Do You Know:

• Several commissions had made recommendations on this issue. The Kothari Commission (1964) said that “a vice-chancellor should be a person with vision and (have) qualities of academic leadership with ability for administration. He should command high respect among all sections of the society. The vice-chancellor should be a distinguished academic… (who) has commitment to the values for which the universities stand… He must have the ability to provide leadership to the university by his academic worth, administrative competence and moral stature.”

• The government plays a crucial role in the appointment of the VCs and the autonomy of the university is given scant regard. VCs in central universities are appointed by the President of India, the ex-officio visitor of all central universities, who generally acts on the advice of the Centre.

• However, according to the SC judgment in Dr Premachandran Keezhoth (2023), he acts purely as a statutory authority under a particular university Act and not as constitutional head of state. In state universities, appointments are made by the governor rarely on his own except in Opposition-ruled states.

• The 1996 Commonwealth Higher Education Management Service (CHEMS) found that in as many as 55 per cent of Asian universities, VCs were appointed by the government. Additionally, in 18 per cent, approval from the government was required after the university selected the VCs. In just one-fifth of cases — 27 per cent — universities had the right to pick their own VCs.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍States vs Centre on selection of Vice-Chancellors: rules, friction

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. In central universities, the appointment of Vice-Chancellors is overseen by:
(a) The Ministry of Education
(b) The Prime Minister’s Office
(c) The President of India as the Visitor of the university
(d) The Chief Justice of India

THE IDEAS PAGE

Atomic power equations

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: C. Raja Mohan writes: The enduring convergence of objective interests between Delhi and Washington and the long record of political commitment for deeper cooperation in advanced technologies does not mean it will automatically continue under Trump. Sustaining India-US high-tech cooperation demands continuing efforts

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the strategic significance of the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in strengthening bilateral relations.

• Examine the challenges faced by India in operationalizing nuclear agreements with the US.

• How can India balance nuclear energy expansion with safety and liability concerns?

• “Nuclear energy is a double-edged sword—providing solutions for energy security while posing risks of proliferation and environmental damage.” Critically analyse

• Discuss the impact of nuclear liability laws on foreign investment in India’s nuclear energy sector.

Key Takeaways:
C. Raja Mohan writes:

• The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to India — the last of his foreign visits as the top official of President Joe Biden’s security establishment — highlights three important features of the bilateral relationship.
—First is the expansive commitment of the Biden Administration — including the special contribution of Sullivan and his team at the White House — to take the relationship with India to a higher level and the determination to prevent unanticipated crises from derailing the India-US strategic partnership.
—Second, is the special effort by the Biden Administration to deepen advanced technology cooperation between the two nations. The Biden Administration has gone beyond the phase of government-to-government engagement on tech issues and launched a new era of techno-industrial collaboration in sectors like AI, semiconductors, space, and biotechnology that are set to dominate the global economy this decade and beyond.
—The iCET has involved massive and detailed negotiations on a range of complicated issues and several difficult bureaucracies in Delhi and Washington. It will endure as an important legacy of the Biden years for India-US relations.

• Despite much progress, there have been lingering issues preventing the full realisation of the benefits of the excellent progress in tech cooperation over the last two decades.

• India too has work to do — especially in modifying the provisions of The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 that have prevented US and Indian companies from investing in the nuclear energy sector.

• Policymakers in Delhi and Washington know that nuclear energy is back in the reckoning, thanks to an entirely unexpected source of demand — the AI industry.

• Data centres for AI require massive amounts of clean energy, and most companies in the field are turning to nuclear energy.

Do You Know:

• Indo-US nuclear deal: While US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did not spell out the details, with sources suggesting that three entities may be taken off the blacklist, there are currently two key legal barriers to furthering Indo-US nuclear collaboration.

• On the American side, a significant impediment is the ‘10CFR810’ authorisation (Part 810 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (Part 810) of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954), which gives US nuclear vendors the ability to export equipment to countries such as India under some strict safeguards, but does not permit them to manufacture any nuclear equipment or perform any nuclear design work here.

• On the Indian side, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which sought to create a mechanism for compensating victims from damage caused by a nuclear accident, and allocating liability and specifying procedures for compensation, has been cited as an impediment by foreign players such as GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse and French nuclear company Areva (now called Orano).

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: Years after Indo-US nuclear deal, very little progress on n-deal projects

UPSC Practice Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
7. What is the significance of the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement?
(a) It brought India under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
(b) It allowed India access to civilian nuclear technology without being an NPT signatory.
(c) It mandated the dismantling of India’s nuclear arsenal.
(d) It restricted India’s use of nuclear technology to energy generation only.

THE WORLD

6.8 quake near Tibet’s Buddhist holy city kills 126, rattles Nepal, Bhutan

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.

What’s the ongoing story: At least 126 people were killed and 188 others were injured in earthquake which hit western China near Nepal with a magnitude of 7.1 on Tuesday morning, reports stated.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Map Work-Tibet

• Know about Tibet Earthquake

• Why is the Himalayan zone seismically active?

• 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?

• What exactly causes earthquakes?

• What is focus or seismic focus of Earthquake?

• What is epicentre of Earthquake?

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

• 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

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

• What is post-disaster management of earthquakes?

Key Takeaways:

• The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude was centered in the Tibet region at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). According to an AP report, China recorded the earthquake at 6.8 magnitude.

• The location of the epicenter was where the India and Eurasia plates clash and cause uplifts in the Himalayan mountains. According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the average altitude around the epicenter is 4,200 meters (13,800 feet).

• The epicenter of the earthquake is located 380 kilometers from Tibet’s capital Lhasa and only a handful of communities were there in the 5 kilometers radius of the epicenter, reported CCTV.

• The USGS further said that there have been at least 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday’s quake hit over the past century.

• The USGS, in its tectonic summary of the earthquake, stated “The January 7, 2025, M7.1 earthquake near Xizang, China, occurred as the result of normal faulting at shallow depth north of the boundary between the Eurasia and Indian plates.”

• USGS further added, “Focal mechanism solutions indicate that rupture occurred on a roughly north-south striking fault, dipping moderately to either to the east or to the west.”

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.

• As we know, the earth’s outermost surface, crust, is fragmented into tectonic plates. The edges of the plates are called plate boundaries, which are made up of faults. The tectonic plates constantly move at a slow pace, sliding past one another and bumping into each other. As the edges of the plates are quite rough, they get stuck with one another while the rest of the plate keeps moving. Earthquake occurs when the plate has moved far enough and the edges unstick on one of the faults.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India condoles loss of life, property in Tibet quake

📍Explained: Understanding the earthquake

📍The science of earthquakes

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
8. With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct?
1. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries.
2. Point of origin of the earthquake in the lithosphere is known as the focus/Hypocentre.

3. The intensity of the earthquake decreases with distance from the epicentre.
4. The epicentre of the earthquake always remains over continents only.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1 and 4

Indonesia joins BRICS bloc as full member

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS as a full member, Brazil’s government announced on Monday. The group, which brings together major emerging economies, now consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and Indonesia.

Key Points to Ponder:

• BRICS-Know in detail

• Why BRICS Matters?

• Is the BRICS alliance no longer relevant and effective?

• The geopolitics of BRICS looks quite different today-how?

• Map Work-BRICS Countries

• How BRICS expansion makes it more stronger and effective?

• What BRICS expansion means for India?

• What are the implications of Indonesia’s inclusion in BRICS for regional and global geopolitics?

• “The inclusion of Indonesia in BRICS strengthens its position as a voice for the Global South.” Critically examine this statement.

Key Takeaways:

• Indonesia’s foreign ministry welcomed the news in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing BRICS membership as “a strategic way to increase collaboration and partnership with other developing nations.”

• As the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia had long expressed interest in joining BRICS to strengthen alliances among emerging nations and advance the goals of the Global South.

• Brazil, which holds the presidency of BRICS in 2025, said member states had unanimously approved Indonesia’s membership during the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

• However, Indonesia chose to finalise its membership after its presidential election in 2024, which saw President Prabowo Subianto take office in October.

• “Indonesia shares with other BRICS members a commitment to reforming global governance institutions and contributes positively to strengthening cooperation among nations in the Global South,” Brazil’s government stated.

• BRICS has been expanding its membership in recent years. Alongside Indonesia, the bloc also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting its growing influence among developing nations.

Do You Know:

• The acronym BRIC was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in their Global Economics Paper, ‘The World Needs Better Economic BRICs’. The paper projected that Brazil, Russia, India, and China would be among the world’s largest economies in the next 50 years or so.

• As a formal grouping, BRIC started after the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of the
G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of the UNGA in New York in 2006.

• The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. It was decided to include South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in 2010, and accordingly, South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya, China, in 2011.

• Indonesia’s candidacy was endorsed by BRICS leaders in August 2023, according to the foreign ministry of Brazil, which holds the group’s presidency for 2025. However, the world’s fourth most populous nation opted to formally join the bloc only after the formation of its newly elected government last year.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PM Modi attends BRICS Summit in Russia: What is the group, its significance for India

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Compare the significance of IBSA and BRICS in the context of India’s multilateral diplomacy. (UPSC CSE GS2, 2012)

EXPLAINED

What the latest GDP estimates tell about the state of India’s economy

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.

What’s the ongoing story: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released what are called the “First Advance Estimates” (FAEs) of India’s GDP growth in the current financial year that will end in March (2024-25 or FY25).

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the GDP forecast?

• Analyse the latest GDP estimates for India.

• What latest GDP estimates reveal about the current state of the Indian economy?

• What’s holding back India’s GDP growth?

• “The services sector remains the backbone of India’s GDP.” Discuss the performance of the services sector in contributing to India’s economic growth.

• Evaluate the impact of weak consumer demand and private investment on GDP growth.

• Discuss the role of government expenditure in mitigating economic slowdowns.

• How can fiscal policy balance growth and fiscal prudence?

• Examine the policy interventions needed to address the challenges highlighted by the latest GDP estimates, particularly in manufacturing and exports.

• Discuss the role of structural reforms in ensuring sustained GDP growth in India. Highlight key areas requiring policy attention.

• “Export stagnation is a major bottleneck to India’s economic recovery.” Analyse this statement

Key Takeaways:

• According to MoSPI, India’s nominal GDP is expected to be Rs 324 lakh crores by March-end. This is a growth of 9.7 percent over the last financial year (FY24). The nominal GDP is what is used to arrive at the US dollar equivalent figure for the size of the Indian economy. At an exchange rate of 85 rupees to a dollar, India’s GDP in FY25 will be $3.8 trillion.

• It is noteworthy that if India’s exchange rate had not fallen from around 61 rupees to a dollar in 2014 then today India could have boasted of becoming a $5 trillion economy ($5.3 trillion to be exact).

• Another noteworthy aspect is that this nominal GDP is lower than the budget estimates presented last February in the Interim Budget (Rs 328 lakh crore) as well as the full Union Budget presented in July (Rs 326 lakh crore).

• In everyday use, it is the “real” GDP that matters. According to MoSPI, India’s real GDP will be Rs 184.9 lakh crore in FY25 — that’s just 57% of the nominal GDP; the remaining bit is the effect of prices going up.
Do You Know:

• Advance Estimates are essentially a forecast of what MoSPI expects India’s economic output to be by the time the financial year comes to a close. MoSPI arrives at these estimates by using the available data and past trends to extrapolate the year-end values. In doing so, it sources data from various ministries/departments and private agencies.

• The GDP is essentially the monetary measure of all the goods and services produced within India’s borders in a year. It provides the size of the Indian economy.

• The real GDP is derived by removing the effect of inflation from nominal GDP. The nominal GDP of a country can go up either because the country produces more goods and services or because the prices of existing goods and services have gone up (read inflation). More often than not, both these factors lead to an increase in GDP.
The real GDP tells the extent to which India produced more goods and services and it does so by removing the prices at which goods and services are pegged.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍India’s GDP growth projected to fall short of RBI’s forecast

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
9. A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following? (UPSC GS1, 2015)
1. Slowing economic growth rate
2. Less equitable distribution of national income
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. (UPSC GS3, 2021)

Earth’s water cycle, and how climate change is impacting it

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Climate change has been “wreaking havoc” on Earth’s water cycle by disrupting how water circulates between the ground, oceans and atmosphere, according to a new report. This has led to extreme precipitation, ferocious floods and droughts, which affected billions of people across the world in 2024.

Key Points to Ponder:

• The report, ‘2024 Global Water Monitor Report’-Know the key highlights of the report

• What is the water cycle?

• How is climate change impacting the water cycle?

• What are the findings of the latest report?

• Analyse the regional disparities in the effects of climate change on the water cycle, with specific examples from India and other countries.

• Evaluate the role of climate change in exacerbating hydrological disasters like floods and droughts.

• Discuss the socio-economic impacts of extreme rainfall and flooding on vulnerable communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The report, ‘2024 Global Water Monitor Report’, was produced by an international team of researchers from universities in Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, and elsewhere. For their analysis, the researchers used data from ground stations and satellites to access water variables such as soil moisture, rainfall etc.

• The water cycle involves water evaporating from the ground and sea, and eventually returning to the Earth as rain snow. Climate change has intensified this cycle as air temperatures soar, more water evaporates into the air.

Do You Know:

• The water cycle is the constant movement of water in all its phases — solid, liquid and gas — on the ground, inside the ground and in the atmosphere.
—Most water cycles through the planet because of the energy from the Sun and changes in temperatures. For instance, water on the ground or in bodies of water escapes into the atmosphere as water vapour through a process called evaporation.
—Some water is taken up by plants from the soil and released as water vapour, a process known as transpiration.
—Water vapour eventually condenses into clouds, and later falls as precipitation in the form of rain or snow.
—Precipitation enters the ice caps, oceans, lakes, rivers, or glaciers, and can be absorbed by plants, or seep into soil or deeper into the ground. After this, the water cycle starts again.

• The report found that:
—In 2024, water-related disasters caused more than 8,700 fatalities, displaced 40 million people, and resulted in economic losses exceeding $550 billion globally.
—There were 38% more record-dry months in 2024 than for the baseline period (1995-2005).
—Rainfall records are being broken with increasing regularity. For instance, record highs for monthly rainfall were set 27% more often in 2024 than in the year 2000, and daily rainfall records were set 52% more frequently.
—Last year, most of the world’s dry regions experienced ongoing low values of the terrestrial water storage (TWS) — the sum of all water on the continents, including soil water, groundwater and surface water, as well as snow and ice. However, the values increased in western, Central and Eastern Africa.
—In 2025, droughts could worsen in northern South America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia. Wetter regions such as the Sahel and Europe may witness increased flood risks.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Warming up to climate change: Is Earth becoming warmer?

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)  2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9.(a)

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