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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for February 6, 2025. If you missed the February 5, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here
FRONT PAGE
Working on law for safe migration: MEA to panel
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
What’s the ongoing story: At a time when the first batch of illegal Indian immigrants were deported from the US under the Trump 2.0 administration, the Indian government is “seriously considering” enacting a new law, tentatively titled ‘Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024’, to establish an enabling framework which will promote “safe, orderly and regular migration for overseas employment”.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024-Know key highlights of the bill
• Discuss the role of the Ministry of External Affairs in safeguarding the rights and welfare of Indian citizens abroad.
• Examine the ethical considerations and human rights aspects involved in the deportation process of illegal immigrants.
• How should countries balance their immigration enforcement with the humane treatment of deportees?
• Assess the potential impact of introducing new legislation on safe migration by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Key Takeaways:
• This has emerged from a report presented in Lok Sabha by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
• On the committee’s specific query about the proposed Emigration Bill 2023, its current status and objectives, the report says, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has submitted that the proposed legislation on Emigration [Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024] seeks to replace the Emigration Act of 1983 with a view to facilitate the circular mobility of people intending to emigrate for overseas employment.
• “It aims to establish an enabling framework which will promote safe, orderly and regular migration for overseas employment. The proposed draft is under consultation with line Ministries. After the internal consultations draft will be put up for public Consultation for 15/30 days thereafter it will be followed up by Inter Ministerial Consultations along with the Draft Cabinet Note on revised draft,” the report quotes the MEA as submitting.
• Keeping in view the “contemporary global migration dynamics and the needs of Indian citizens”, it says that the committee has over the years underscored the pressing need for a comprehensive legislative overhaul to replace the outdated provisions of the Emigration Act 1983.
• “After much delay, the Ministry is seriously considering enacting a new law tentatively titled ‘Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024’.
• The Ministry has further informed the Committee that the proposed draft is under consultation with line Ministries and will, thereafter, be put up for public consultations.
• The Committee desires that it should be consulted on the salient features of the Bill and the enactment of a revised act reflecting changed global migration realities should be done in a time bound manner i.e. not later than one year,” the report says.
Do You Know:
• The MEA has also told the parliamentary panel that the Protector of Emigrants collaborates closely with Indian embassies and consulates to support Indian emigrants in multiple ways, ensuring their welfare and wellbeing, grievances redressal, and addressing issues related to overseas employment, the report says.
• In cases of exploitation or distress, the embassies work for the rescue and repatriation of affected emigrants. It also assists the family members, relatives by informing them about the emigrant’s safe return and any required follow-up actions in India.
• The House panel report is especially relevant at a time when the Trump administration has identified about 20,000 Indian illegal immigrants as part of its mass deportation plan. Indians comprise about 725,000 illegal migrants — the biggest group outside of Central and Latin America.
• These collaborative efforts help in safe and legal mobility of Indian migrant workers, especially in countries where high migration is taking place and where Indian workers are more vulnerable to exploitation, the MEA has told the parliamentary panel.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍First under Trump 2.0: US deports 205 ‘illegal’ Indian migrants, flown back in military plane
Wide gap between ‘street maths’ and ‘school maths’, shows study
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What’s the ongoing story: Child vendors can mentally calculate complex market transactions in seconds but struggle with simpler abstract maths taught in schools, while their school-going peers excel at academic maths but fail at basic real-world calculations, reveals a new study by a team of researchers including Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee that exposes a stark disconnect in India’s mathematics education.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the primary focus of the study discussed in the article?
• New study by a team of researchers including Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee reveals what?
• The term “street mathematics” refers to what?
• Discuss the implications of the disparity between ‘street mathematics’ and ‘school mathematics’ on students’ overall cognitive development?
• How can educational institutions bridge the gap to foster better mathematical understanding?
Key Takeaways:
• The team set out to investigate whether mathematics skills acquired by children in real-world settings transfer to the classroom and vice versa.
• For this, the researchers worked with 1,436 child vendors in Delhi and Kolkata markets and 471 schoolchildren, and found that the first cohort could do complex mental maths for sales but struggled with the same problems in textbook format, while the latter was good at textbook maths but failed at practical market calculations.
• All children covered in the study were under the age of 17 years, with most in the age group of 13 to 15 years. Further, the working children considered for the study were either currently enrolled in school or had been in school earlier.
• Only 1% of schoolchildren could solve practical market problems that over one-third of working children managed easily. The study showed that working children use efficient mental shortcuts while schoolchildren rely on slow, written calculations.
Do You Know:
• The study has been carried out by a team at The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, comprising economists Duflo and Banerjee, Swati Bhattacharjee, Raghabendra Chattopadhyay, Alejandro J Ganimian, Kailash Rajah and Elizabeth S Spelke.
• The key problem here is that kids are taught an algorithm to solve a problem. They are taught that this is how you are supposed to solve a problem. Then they half understand the algorithm, so when they try to apply it, it doesn’t quite work out.”
• Speaking to The Indian Express on the findings, Duflo said: “The school system is too narrowly siloed. There is home knowledge and then there is school knowledge and the two are not talking to each other, which is bad for school learning and also bad for recognising a lot of talent that’s already out there and we’re missing… a way to rethink the curriculum is to link the two. In the early grades, that can be through games, activities in groups. The key problem here is that kids are taught an algorithm to solve a problem. They are taught that this is how you are supposed to solve a problem. Then they half understand the algorithm, so when they try to apply it, it doesn’t quite work out.”
• In contrast, when they were given problems that are used for NGO Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), only 32% could solve division of a three-digit number by a one-digit number, and only 54% could solve two subtractions of one two-digit number from another. Almost all these children had attended second grade when subtraction is taught.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍In Our Opinion: Education reforms need to give teachers their due
UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (2012)
1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
8,000 candidates join PM internship scheme in 4 months since its launch
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development
Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What’s the ongoing story: JUST ABOUT 8,000 candidates have taken up offers in the pilot project of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme till the middle of January, sources involved in the process said. The pilot phase was launched in October, while the scheme itself was announced in the Union Budget for 2024-25 last July.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Prime Minister Internship Scheme-know key details
• What is the primary objective of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme launched in 2024?
• Which government ministry is responsible for implementing the PM Internship Scheme?
• Discuss the significance of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme in enhancing the employability of Indian youth.
• How does practical industry exposure complement formal education in bridging the skill gap?
• Analyse the role of public-private partnerships in the successful implementation of large-scale internship programs like the PM Internship Scheme.
Key Takeaways:
• Of the 1.27 lakh internship opportunities listed by 280 companies in the first phase, partner companies made 82,077 internship offers to 60,866 candidates. Of these, 28,141 candidates accepted offers to join the internship as on January 29, 2025, according to a Lok Sabha reply by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on February 3.
• Sources told The Indian Express that only about 8,000 candidates have joined the internship programme in the first phase.
• The second round of the scheme started less than a month ago — on January 9. Partner companies are posting new as well as editing unfilled internship opportunities.
• To improve the acceptability of the scheme, sources said the government is now planning to give details of the company, the internship opportunity and the exact location (along with geotagging) so that candidates know a priori how far they have to travel.
• Earlier, such details were not provided upfront to candidates. These changes may be introduced in the next phase of the scheme. Earlier, these details were kept anonymous, with only the internship’s description made visible to the candidate, without specifying the company’s name at the application stage.
• Further, the age limit is also likely to be relaxed (at present, youth in the 21-24 age group are eligible) at both ends. Further around 49 companies from sectors such as hospitality, tourism, healthcare have also been added to the list as they were considered to be labour intensive.
Do You Know:
• The scheme aims to provide internships to one crore youth in top 500 companies over five years. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 4,500 will be provided per month by the Government of India through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) with an additional Rs 500 offset to be provided by the company’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds.
• The government will also provide a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 per annum for incidentals to cover miscellaneous expenses incurred by the selected candidate during the internship.
• The internship scheme was a part of the Prime Minister’s Package for Employment and Skilling announced in FY25 Budget with an overall outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore.
• The package was allocated Rs 12,000 crore for this financial year, out of which Rs 10,000 crore was allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for the three Employment Linked-Incentive schemes and Rs 2,000 crore was provided to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for the internship programme.
• In the revised estimates for 2024-25, the amount allocated for the internship scheme was scaled down to Rs 380 crore. For 2025-26, an amount of Rs 10,831 crore has been provided for the internship scheme in the Budget, including Rs 59.77 crore of capital outlay.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍PM Internship Scheme: Application process starts; steps to apply
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍“Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? (2016)
GOVT & POLITICS
Six Opp-ruled states demand roll back of UGC draft regulations
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Mains Examination: 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: Six states passed a joint resolution Tuesday seeking the withdrawal of the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025.
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?
• New UGC regulations-What are those?
• Evaluate the role of search-cum-selection committees in ensuring transparency and fairness in the Vice-Chancellor appointment process.
• Discuss the implications of the draft UGC guidelines 2025 on the federal structure of India’s higher education system
• Analyse the potential benefits and drawbacks of expanding the eligibility criteria for Vice-Chancellors to include professionals from industry, public administration, and public policy.
Key Takeaways:
• States including Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka convened for the conclave of State Higher Education Ministers-2025 in Bengaluru and adopted a 15-point resolution against the UGC draft regulations. Currently, the draft regulations are open for public consultation.
• The higher education ministers broadly agreed to legally fight and urge the University Grants Commission (UGC) to withdraw the regulations citing a threat to the federal structure.
• Ministers also alleged that the equation between the state government and the Governors has changed in recent times and Governors are resorting to political appointments of vice-chancellors across universities in the country.
• Of all the regulations, the state governments have largely expressed concerns over the appointment of vice-chancellors, wherein they alleged that UGC has centralised the process, leaving no say for the states to weigh-in during the appointment process.
• Additionally, they have also opposed the proposal of allowing individuals from the private sector to be appointed as vice-chancellors.
• The removal of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) system was also criticised, claiming that the new evaluation system grants too much discretion. Further concerns were raised about the eligibility criteria for assistant professors, particularly the provisions that allow for the appointment of faculty members without a basic degree in the core subject.
Do You Know:
• According to the Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 will give flexibility to universities in appointing & promoting teachers and academic staff in their institutions.
Key Highlights of the Regulations:
—Flexibility: Candidates can pursue teaching careers in subjects they qualify for with NET/SET, even if different from their previous degrees. Ph.D. specialisation will be prioritised.
—Promoting Indian Languages: The draft Regulations encourage the use of Indian languages in academic publications and degree programmes.
—Holistic Evaluation: It aims to eliminate score-based short-listing, focusing on a broader range of qualifications, including “Notable Contributions.”
—Diverse Talent Pool: Creates dedicated recruitment pathways for experts in arts, sports, and traditional disciplines.
—Inclusivity: Provides opportunities for accomplished sportspersons, including those with disabilities, to enter the teaching profession.
—Enhanced Governance: Revises the selection process for Vice-Chancellors with expanded eligibility criteria with transparency.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍What draft rules on VC appointments say, why states are upset
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍 Discuss the essential conditions for exercise of the legislative powers by the Governor. Discuss the legality of re-promulgation of ordinances by the Governor without placing them before the Legislature. (2022)
EXPRESS NETWORK
India may not ramp up climate targets for 2035, set to miss submission deadline
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
What’s the ongoing story: India is likely to skip the February deadline for submitting the next round of climate action plans under the Paris Agreement requirements, The Indian Express has learnt. These plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs, are supposed to provide details of the climate actions countries intend to take up to the year 2035.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What was the primary focus of COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan?
• What was the agreed-upon annual climate finance target by 2035 at COP29?
• Why did India express disappointment with the COP29 outcomes?
• Analyse the implications of the COP29 climate finance outcomes on India’s future climate commitments.
• How might the perceived inadequacy of financial support influence India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035?
• Discuss the challenges faced by developing countries, including India, in achieving their climate goals in the absence of sufficient climate finance.
Key Takeaways:
• The Paris Agreement requires its member countries to refresh their NDCs in five-year cycles. The existing NDCs, submitted in 2020, pertain to the 2030 period.
• At a meeting of Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee last year, it was decided to ask countries to submit their 2035 NDCs by February 10 this year, about nine months ahead of the year-ending annual climate conference. Advance submissions allow for adequate time to compile, seek clarifications, and produce synthesis reports.
• India, however, is not yet ready with its 2035 action plan, and in no hurry to meet the deadline. In fact, the Indian NDC might be submitted only in the second half of the year, closer to the annual climate meeting, being held in Brazil in November this year, official sources said.
• There are no penalties for late submissions. Not many countries have submitted their 2035 NDCs. Even many developed country parties are yet to make their submissions. The United States, incidentally, is among those that have submitted. The Joe Biden administration had approved and submitted the 2035 submissions in December, well before Donald Trump assumed charge.
• India has also skipped the December 31, 2024 deadline for the submission of the first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), the new format in which a country has to report its detailed inventory of emissions. This report is expected to be submitted around the middle of the year.
Do You Know:
• India had made an uncharacteristically strong criticism of the Baku agreement, calling the final agreed amount “abysmally poor” and “paltry”. It has been saying that the lack of adequate finance was not just an abdication of responsibility by the developed countries, but also a major setback to global climate action.
• In the absence of international financial support, developing countries would be forced to lower the ambition of their climate actions, taking up only those that they can finance through their own resources, it said.
• The Economic Survey presented last week also made a similar argument, and clearly hinted at a readjustment of climate targets by India.
• For the 2030 period, India has made three commitments. It has said it would reduce the emissions intensity of its economy (emissions per unit of GDP) by 45 per cent from 2005 levels, and would ensure that at least 50 per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources.
• It has also promised to increase its forest and tree cover so that they can absorb an additional 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. India is on course to achieve all these three targets well ahead of 2030.
• The 2035 NDC has to be a progression over the 2030 targets. But the scale of this progression is to be decided by the countries themselves, in keeping with their capabilities and resources.
• There is another reason why India is unlikely to stretch itself right now while making commitments for 2035. It is planning to host the COP33 climate conference in 2028.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced this intention at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Host countries usually announce some new climate initiatives ahead of the conference to demonstrate their leadership and create a momentum for a more meaningful outcome. India would like to leave some room for enhancing its NDC commitments during that time.
• It had enhanced its 2030 NDCs also mid-way through the five-year cycle, having achieved two of its three initial targets well in advance of the 2030 deadline.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (2021)
THE IDEAS PAGE
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
What’s the ongoing story: Aditya Puri Writes: India’s GDP is expected to grow from $3.7 trillion in 2023-24 to $7 trillion in 2030-31, which will be fuelled by building on the strong foundation that has already been laid through sound fiscal and monetary policies and world-class physical and digital infrastructure.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the main criticism against excessive banking regulations in India?
• What are the key challenges posed by excessive banking regulations in India?
• Discuss how relaxing certain norms can improve credit flow and economic growth.
• Discuss the balance between financial stability and regulatory relaxation in the Indian banking sector.
• What role does the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) play in regulating Indian banks?
Key Takeaways:
• Financing India’s capex will require higher savings. The investment required for a $7-trillion economy will be approximately $2.5 trillion, which translates to an investment-to-GDP ratio of 34 per cent. Corporates and households are net savers with the government running deficits, limiting the amount of its investments.
• The private sector has not been investing its surplus. The share of investment to operating cash flow for listed firms is down to 56 per cent in 2023-24 from a peak of 114 per cent in 2008-09. This could be consequent to a lack of confidence in future demand and the uncertainty caused by geopolitics.
• With overseas flows muted, personal savings and investment, including overseas investments, will need to be incentivised.
• The large corporate sector is using its own surplus, equity markets, bond markets and bank credit, but MSMEs have not received their share of credit.
• In the last few years, banks have been incrementally getting 40 per cent or less of household savings as against 50 per cent a few years back, as consumers chase higher returns in pension fund schemes and MFs.
• There are preemptions. In the last two years, banks have bought Rs 13 trillion of G-Secs against a deposit inflow of Rs 40 trillion, driven by the need to maintain liquidity coverage (LCR) and statutory liquidity ratios (SLR) as mandated by the RBI on a daily basis rather than weekly average.
Do You Know:
• The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) refers to the proportion of highly liquid assets that financial institutions must hold to ensure that they can meet their short-term obligations and ride out any disruptions in the market. It is mandated by international banking agreements known as the Basel Accords.
• Priority Sector Lending (PSL) is a program that requires banks to allocate a portion of their lending to specific sectors of the economy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates PSL
• Banks maintain 115 per cent to avoid breach. Given the low supply of papers from manufacturing companies, which also qualify as assets for LCR, banks buy government bonds to meet LCR.
• Under the proposed LCR guidelines for digital deposits, banks would have to invest even more in liquid assets to meet LCR, which is estimated to be about 2- 2.5 per cent of deposits.
• Banks have a priority sector lending (PSL) requirement of 60 per cent plus (this is because on 40 per cent, we have “priority on priority”), a framework drafted ages back that needs to factor in changes in GDP composition and new priorities. We need to ensure PSL pricing reflects credit risk and not pressures to meet the target.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? (2020)
1. Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio
2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate
3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
THE WORLD
After US, Argentina withdraws from WHO
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
What’s the ongoing story: Argentina’s libertarian President, Milei, who considers Trump a close ally, ordered the country’s exit in response to what he described as “deep differences” regarding the WHO’s management of health issues.
Key Points to Ponder:
• World Health Organization (WHO)-Know in deatil
• What are the contributions of WHO?
• What was one of the main criticisms cited by Argentina for its withdrawal from the WHO?
• Analyse the implications of Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization on global health diplomacy and international cooperation.
• Discuss the potential consequences of a country’s withdrawal from international health organizations like the WHO on its domestic health policies and outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
• Argentina on Wednesday announced it will withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), following a similar move by the United States under President Donald Trump on his first day back in the White House in January.
• “President (Javier) Milei instructed (foreign minister) Gerardo Werthein to withdraw Argentina’s participation in the World Health Organization,” presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said at a news conference, as quoted by CNN.
• Argentina’s libertarian President, Milei, who considers Trump a close ally, ordered the country’s exit in response to what he described as “deep differences” regarding the WHO’s management of health issues, particularly its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, news agency Reuters reported.
• Adorni, referenced Argentina’s extended lockdown under the previous left-wing government as a key factor in the decision. He also highlighted concerns about the WHO’s perceived lack of independence from the political influence of other states.
• This mirrors Trump criticism of the organisation over mishandling the COVID-19 crisis and other international health challenges, while demanding “unfairly onerous” payments from the United States, its largest financial contributor.
Do You Know:
• Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to global health and safety. The Organization connects nations, partners and communities to promote health and serve the vulnerable. WHO works with its Member States to achieve the highest level of health for all people by pursuing universal health coverage.
• WHO headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO is governed by 194 Member States grouped into 6 regions.
• WHO receives funding through membership dues paid by Member States and voluntary contributions from Member States and other partners. Calculated as a percentage of each country’s gross domestic product, membership dues are assessed every 2 years at the World Health Assembly. Less than 20% of WHO’s total budget comes from membership dues, while the remainder comes from voluntary contributions, largely from Member States as well as from other United Nations organizations, intergovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, the private sector and other sources.
• The most significant concern raised by Argentina’s decision to withdraw from the WHO is the impact this could have on the organisation’s credibility and financial stability.
• The United States is by far the largest contributor to the WHO, providing around $950 million (£760 million) in 2024, making up nearly 15% of the total budget.
• The US pullout raises tough financial questions for the global health body, particularly in light of the growing health crises worldwide.
• On the other hand, Argentina’s annual contribution of around $8 million is much smaller, and its exit is unlikely to make a material difference to the WHO’s financial position. However, the larger concern is whether other countries with leaders who share President Milei’s worldview will follow suit.
• If more nations, especially those with similar political ideologies, choose to leave the WHO, the organisation’s credibility as the primary global health body could be seriously undermined.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Under Trump, US withdraws from WHO: Impact, what this means for India
EXPLAINED
What does Rajasthan’s Bill against ‘unlawful’ religious conversions say
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: 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: On Tuesday (February 4), a Bill was tabled in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly to stop “unlawful” religious conversions. Though it is yet to be debated, the Bill is not expected to see major changes, if at all, and will likely be passed during the ongoing budget session.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Discuss the key provisions of the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill.
• How does the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill seek to address the issue of forced religious conversions?
• Analyze the legal and social implications of the Rajasthan Bill against unlawful religious conversions.
• What challenges might arise in its implementation?
• In your opinion, does the Rajasthan Bill strike a balance between protecting individuals from forced conversions and respecting religious freedom?
• What are the broader implications of the Rajasthan Bill for inter-religious relations in India? Do you think such a law will lead to further polarization?
Key Takeaways:
• The Bill, tabled by cabinet minister Gajendra Singh, states that those in violation can be punished for 1-5 years in jail with a minimum fine of Rs 15,000.
• In case of conversion of a minor, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST), the punishment will be 2-10 years with a fine of Rs 25,000.
• In case of mass conversions, the imprisonment would be between 3-10 years with a minimum fine of Rs 50,000, with repeat offenders facing not more than double the punishment provided under the law for each subsequent offence.
• Those willing to convert will have to fill up a prescribed declaration form and submit it to the District Magistrate (DM) or the
relevant authority 60 days in advance, and any violation of this would invite up to three years’ punishment and at least Rs 10,000 fine. Then, the “convertor” or the person performing the ceremony would give a month’s advance notice to the DM through a prescribed form, and violating this would invite up to five years’ imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.
Do You Know:
• Under the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, unlawful conversion mainly refers to religious conversion through coercion, force, allurement or fraud, with allurement including cash, material benefits, employment, free education, etc.
• The burden of proof – that a religious conversion was not effected through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or marriage – lies on the person who has “caused” the conversion, the Bill states. This is a reversal of the principle of assumption of innocence, which normally applies to the accused person in a criminal case.
• The Bill mainly empowers blood relatives to lodge an FIR in a suspected case. It says, “Any aggrieved person, his/her parents, brother, sister, or any other person who is related to him/her by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge a FIR”.
• It further states that those involved in unlawful conversion can be punished with one to five years in jail with a minimum fine of Rs 15,000. In case of an unlawful conversion targeting a minor, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST), the punishment can be between two to 10 years with a fine of Rs 25,000.
• For an unlawful mass conversion, the imprisonment would be three to 10 years with a minimum fine of Rs 50,000. Repeat offenders would face a punishment not exceeding double what is provided under the law for each subsequent offence.
All offences under the Bill are cognizable (where the police can make an arrest without a warrant) and non-bailable (where bail is not a matter of right and a magistrate determines if the accused is fit to be released on bail).
• Those converting voluntarily would undergo a seemingly exhaustive process over a few months. A prescribed declaration form should be filled and submitted to the District Magistrate (DM) or the relevant authority 60 days in advance, with violations inviting up to three years’ punishment and a minimum fine of Rs 10,000.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Rajasthan tables anti-conversion Bill: No bail for offences, jail term of up to 10 yrs
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.
What’s the ongoing story: In an extraordinary press conference that he addressed with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday made some major policy announcements on the Middle East.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What are the analytical takeaways from Trump’s proposals?
• Why are Egypt and Jordan resistant to accepting displaced Palestinians?
• What does the return of maximum pressure on Iran mean for the Arab world?
• Analyze the implications of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plans for Gaza on regional geopolitics.
• Discuss the role of Jordan and Egypt in the Palestinian refugee crisis.
• Why have Jordan and Egypt been reluctant to absorb displaced Palestinians?
• Evaluate the impact of international diplomatic pressures on the Palestinian situation. How have countries like the U.S., Jordan, and Egypt approached the Gaza issue in different ways?
Key Takeaways:
• The US has long supported a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine are two sovereign countries. On the ground, however, much of Palestine is occupied by Israel, which does not recognise a State of Palestine.
• At a joint news conference with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday (February 4), who is visiting the US, Trump said for Palestinians already living in Gaza, “…we can get a beautiful area to resettle people permanently in nice homes and where they can be happy and not be shot…”
• First, he said that Palestinians should leave Gaza, and insisted that Jordan and Egypt should take them in: “They (Jordanians and Egyptians) say they’re not going to accept, I say they will.” Any number of “alternate” sites could be identified for displaced Gazans to live in peace; “why would they want to return [to Gaza]? The place has been hell.”
• Second, he said that the US will “take over Gaza and…do a job with it too”. America will “own” Gaza, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, he said – an idea similar to the one floated by his son-in-law Jared Kushner last year about making Gaza a valuable “waterfront property”.
• Third, he announced the return of “maximum pressure” on Iran, after signing an executive order to that end, and re-designated the Yemeni Houthis a terrorist organisation.
Do You Know:
• The President’s new proposal for Gaza (and Palestine) risks violating long-standing UNSC and UNGA resolutions supporting the Palestinian right of self-determination (which India has proactively backed at the United Nations), and several peremptory norms of international law (jus cogens) including those that prohibit ethnic cleansing.
• Trump’s claim that Gazans do not want to return contrasts with abundant evidence from the enclave following the ceasefire, with thousands returning to North Gaza – even though Israeli bombardment has turned many homes to rubble.
• The proposal to identify “1, 2, 3, 4, or 8 or 12” alternative sites for Palestinians to live in peace while Gaza is turned into the “Riviera” effectively means the displacement and scattering of the existing Palestinian population – the fate that the Jews of Europe and elsewhere suffered until the World Zionist Congress and leaders such as Theodor Herzl sought to establish a Jewish state in Palestine in 1897.
• The radical shift in Trump’s vision for Palestine also contrasts his own “Peace to Prosperity” plan of 2020 which presented a comprehensive pathway to a Palestinian state, albeit with severely limited sovereignty and unprecedented concessions to Israel by legitimising its illegal settlements in occupied territory and the annexation of more Palestinian land.
• Trump’s new approach is more coloured with transactionalism than his first. When asked to clarify what the US “taking over” Gaza means, Trump said he sees “a long term ownership position”. This language is distinct from traditional framings of sovereignty or occupation, and closer to real-estate deals.
• Trump also expressly refused to clarify if the US has stopped supporting the two-state solution, saying that it would be clear in the coming weeks.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (2015)
(a) Syria
(b) Jordan
(c) Lebanon
(d) Israel
Why temperatures at North Pole reached 20° Celsius above average
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
What’s the ongoing story: Temperatures increased by more than 20 degrees Celsius above average at the north pole, crossing the threshold for ice to melt, on February 2.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Map Work-Mark North Pole
• Is North Pole part of any nation?
• What is the primary reason for the extreme temperature rise at the North Pole?
• Factors contributes to the melting of sea ice in the Arctic region-Know in detail
• The phenomenon of ‘Arctic amplification’ refers to what?
• Describe the role of atmospheric phenomena such as the polar vortex in triggering extreme temperature shifts at the North Pole.
Key Takeaways:
• Mika Rantanen, a scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (Finland), told The Guardian, “This was a very extreme winter warming event… Probably not the most extreme ever observed, but still at the upper edge of what can happen in the Arctic.”
• Since 1979, the Arctic has warmed four times faster than the global average. This is an issue because the region acts as a refrigerator for the rest of the world — it helps cool the planet. If temperatures continue to soar at this rate, it can lead to severe global impacts including rising sea levels and disruption of weather patterns.
Do You Know:
• The current unusually mild temperatures in the region during the depths of the polar winter (it is from November to February) were due to a deep low-pressure system — a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations — over Iceland. The system opened gates for the arrival of warmer air from lower latitudes, effectively bringing heat to the region.
• Another factor was really hot sea surface temperatures in the north-east Atlantic, which further intensified the wind-driven warming.
• As a result, the daily average temperatures at the north pole were more than 20 degrees Celsius above average on February 2, with absolute temperatures being more than -1 degrees Celsius.
• The global temperatures have increased by around 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 baseline. However, this rise in temperatures is not uniform across the planet. For instance, the Arctic has warmed 3.8 times faster than the global average since the late 1970s, according to a 2022 study.
• There are multiple factors behind the Arctic’s rapid warming. One of the most prominent factors is the albedo effect or how much sunlight a surface reflects.
• Sea ice keeps temperatures down in the polar regions, as its bright, white surface reflects more sunlight back to space than liquid water. As the ice cover in the Arctic is melting, more land or water is getting exposed to the Sun and more heat is getting absorbed, leading to a rise in temperatures.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍First ice-free day in the Arctic could come by 2030, says new study: Why does it matter?
UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? (2019)
1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
2. Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor.
3. Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(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:
What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences? (2015)
Story of NavIC: crucial indigenous SatNav system, hurdles in development path
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
What’s the ongoing story: India’s space agency on Sunday (February 2) reported the partial failure of its NVS-02 navigation satellite due to the non-firing of its engines in space. This was the latest in a series of setbacks suffered by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), operationally referred to as the Navigation with India Constellation (NavIC) system.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Discuss the significance of NavIC for India’s strategic autonomy in space.
• How does indigenous satellite navigation system enhance national security?
• What are the technological challenges faced by India in the development of NavIC?
• Compare NavIC with other global navigation systems like GPS and Galileo in terms of coverage and accuracy.
• Analyse the economic and strategic importance of indigenous technologies like NavIC for India’s future growth.
Key Takeaways:
• The IRNSS was conceived in 1999 following the war in Kargil, during which India’s military could not use the American Global Positioning System (GPS) in the conflict zone. (India and the US now cooperate in many fields, and Washington has approved the system.)
• An indigenous seven-satellite constellation serving both defence and civilian needs was proposed to be put in place by 2016, and the first satellite, IRNSS 1A, was launched on July 1, 2013.
• Eleven years later, however, only five of the 11 satellites launched in the Rs 2,250 crore NavIC program – including replacements for
failed satellites – are fully operational, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said.
• After IRNSS-1A in 2013, the IRNSS-1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and 1K were launched between April 4, 2014 and January 29, 2025. Following the launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh in the series on April 28, 2016, ISRO had said that “the successful launch… [of the satellite] signifies the completion of the IRNSS constellation”.
Do You Know:
• Mid-2016 onward, there were reports of failures of the rubidium atomic clocks used in several navigation satellites, including ISRO’s IRNSS and the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). There are three atomic clocks on each
IRNSS satellite.
• Then ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar announced in July 2016 that all the atomic clocks on IRNSS 1A had “stopped working”, even though the “overall performance of our navigation system” had not been affected, and the “rest of the satellite components [were] functioning perfectly”. A replacement satellite, IRNSS 1H, with modified clocks, would be launched in 2017, the space agency said.
• It is estimated that only four IRNSS satellites are fully operational currently – 1B, 1F, 1I (the replacement for 1A after the launch of 1H, the original replacement, failed), and 1J (the replacement for the partially failed 1G).
• ISRO’s 2023-24 annual report says that following the launch of NVS-01 on May 28, 2023, five NavIC satellites are operational – IRNSS-1B, 1C, 1F, and 1I, and NVS-01 (IRNSS-1J). However, according to some estimates, 1C is only partially operational due to the presence of the old series of atomic clocks that were reported to be malfunctioning.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: What is the new regional navigation satellite system or IRNSS?
UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: (2018)
1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. Km beyond its borders.
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) None
UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation? (2018)
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PRELIMS ANSWER KEY |
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1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4.(d) 5.(a) |
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