GS PAPER 1
International Relations
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has embarked on a week-long visit (June 8–14) to France and Belgium as part of India’s post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic offensive aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships and gathering international support in its fight against terrorism. This is his third Europe visit in recent months.
Significance of the Visit:
- Strengthening Strategic Partnerships:
- The visit reinforces India’s deepening engagement with France, a key strategic partner in defense, space, and nuclear energy.
- France is also part of the trilateral cooperation initiatives like the India-France-UAE and India-France-Australia frameworks, enhancing India’s Indo-Pacific outreach.
- Reviving EU Ties and Trade Negotiations:
- India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks are a key highlight. With negotiations revived in 2022, both sides have committed to finalizing the FTA by the end of 2025.
- The visit aligns with India’s goal of enhancing market access, technology exchange, and regulatory cooperation with the EU — India’s third-largest trading partner.
- Counter-Terror Diplomacy Post-Operation Sindoor:
- Jaishankar is expected to seek stronger global cooperation against terrorism, referencing the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory actions during Operation Sindoor.
- He will seek support in multilateral platforms like the UN, FATF, and the UN Security Council to put pressure on cross-border terror networks and their state sponsors.
- Focus on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC):
- While the Israel-Gaza conflict has disrupted IMEC momentum, India is keen to keep the initiative alive.
- Jaishankar’s visit to Marseille — a potential IMEC port — reflects India’s intention to shape future connectivity and trade architecture linking Europe, West Asia, and South Asia.
- Extradition Diplomacy and Bilateral Legal Cooperation:
- The issue of Mehul Choksi’s extradition will be raised in Belgium, showcasing India’s assertiveness in pursuing economic fugitives through diplomatic and legal channels.
- Strategic Dialogue with EU and Belgium:
- His engagements with EU leaders, including VP Kaja Kallas, aim to reinforce shared values of democracy, rule of law, and multilateralism.
- Belgium, hosting key EU institutions, becomes crucial in shaping pro-India consensus within the bloc.
- Broader Diplomatic Context:
- The visit forms part of India’s proactive foreign policy under “Viksit Bharat” diplomacy, aiming to position India as a responsible global actor.
- It also lays the groundwork for PM Modi’s participation in the upcoming G-7 summit in Canada, where counter-terrorism and global governance reforms will likely be key discussion points.
Way Forward:
- India must continue leveraging strategic dialogues to push its security and economic interests, especially in Europe, where shared concerns over global security and trade give India ample diplomatic space. Proactive engagement with the EU and NATO-aligned countries also helps counterbalance China’s growing influence.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques : Discuss the significance of India’s diplomatic engagement with Europe in the context of recent geopolitical developments. (150 words)
GS PAPER 2
Indian Polity &Internal security
A recent controversy has emerged in West Bengal where an individual, Newton Das, reportedly involved in student protests in Bangladesh in 2024, has been found registered as a voter in the Kakdwip Assembly constituency of West Bengal. While Mr. Das claims Indian citizenship, his cousin and available evidence suggest that he holds dual voter registration — both in India and Bangladesh.
Key Issues Highlighted:
- Electoral Integrity and Voter List Irregularities:
- The incident brings into question the authenticity and integrity of the voter list in West Bengal.
- If a foreign national is registered and has voted in Indian elections, it reflects systemic loopholes in voter verification processes.
- Allegations of Political Complicity:
- BJP has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of enrolling Bangladeshi nationals to influence electoral outcomes.
- In defense, Trinamool blames the Union Government and BSF for failing to secure the borders, stating that voter verification is contingent upon identification at the point of entry.
- Constitutional and Legal Aspects:
- Under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, only citizens of India are entitled to vote.
- Representation of the People Act, 1950 & 1951 prohibits enrollment of non-citizens and prescribes disqualification if detected.
- Dual voting is not just illegal but undermines the foundations of democratic legitimacy.
- Border Management and Infiltration Concerns:
- Kakdwip, being close to the Bangladesh border and the Sundarbans, is vulnerable to illegal migration.
- The issue raises broader concerns of infiltration, porous borders, and demographic shifts in border states.
- Administrative Gaps and Lack of Coordination:
- The case highlights coordination failures between the Election Commission, local administration, and border security forces.
- It also reveals the lack of robust mechanisms for cross-verification of documents and misuse of political influence in issuing voter IDs.
- Political Polarisation:
- The incident has intensified the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal, with each party blaming the other for manipulation of the electoral process.
- The episode has become a flashpoint for debates over national security vs. state autonomy, and citizenship verification vs. human rights.
Broader Implications for Governance and Policy:
- Need for Electoral Reforms:
- The episode underscores the urgent need for the clean-up of electoral rolls, greater use of technology like Aadhaar linkage (while maintaining privacy concerns), and more effective cross-border intelligence sharing.
- Citizenship and Identity Verification:
- There is a strong case for strengthening NPR-NRC frameworks, while ensuring that genuine citizens are not harassed and illegal infiltrators are identified in accordance with due process.
- Strengthening Border Governance:
- The case points to the need for a multi-agency approach — involving BSF, State Police, and intelligence — to monitor illegal crossings and settlement of undocumented individuals.
Way Forward:
- A time-bound audit of voter lists in border areas should be conducted by the Election Commission.
- There must be greater accountability and transparency in issuing EPICs and stringent penalties for political or administrative misuse.
- The government should consider establishing a National Voter Database Verification System integrated with secure identity mechanisms.
- Border area development schemes should include community awareness on electoral rights and consequences of fraudulent registration.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques:“The integrity of electoral rolls is fundamental to a functioning democracy.” In light of recent controversies in West Bengal, discuss the systemic loopholes and suggest measures to ensure clean and credible voter lists.(250 words)
GS PAPER 3
Prelims Fact
India and Mongolia are currently conducting the 17th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ from May 31 to June 13, 2025, at the Special Forces Training Centre in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Key Facts for UPSC Prelims:
- Exercise Name: Nomadic Elephant
- Participating Nations: India and Mongolia
- Edition: 17th
- Location (2025): Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- (The previous edition was held in Umroi, Meghalaya in July 2024.)
- Organising Forces: Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces
- Focus Areas:
- Counter-terrorism operations
- Precision sniping
- Non-conventional warfare in semi-urban and mountainous terrain
- Simulated United Nations peacekeeping operations
- Significance:
- Enhances interoperability between Indian and Mongolian troops.
- Strengthens defence cooperation and strategic partnership between India and Mongolia.
- Aims to build capacity for operating in real-world, complex scenarios.
- Promotes cultural exchange and mutual camaraderie.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques : Which of the following statements about Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is/are correct?
- It is a naval exercise conducted between India and Mongolia.
- Its focus includes counter-terrorism and peacekeeping under UN mandate.
- It is held annually in Mongolia only.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans : b)
GS PAPER 4
Science and Technology
A new study published in Earth’s Future explores a cost-effective and technically feasible method for Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) — a controversial form of solar geoengineering. The method mimics volcanic eruptions by injecting reflective aerosols into the stratosphere to reduce global warming.
Key Concepts:
- Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI):
- A proposed geoengineering method to cool the planet by spraying aerosols like sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere (~20 km altitude), reflecting sunlight away from Earth.
- Inspiration from Volcanoes:
- The 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption added massive SO₂ to the atmosphere, reducing global temperature by about 0.5°C for nearly two years.
- New Findings:
- Lower-altitude injections (~13 km) using existing aircraft (e.g., Boeing 777F) during spring and summer in polar and extratropical regions can cool the planet by ~0.6°C annually using 12 million tonnes of SO₂.
- Higher effectiveness can be achieved by injecting at higher altitudes in subtropics, requiring lesser SO₂.
Significance:
- Offers a more immediate and affordable route to planetary cooling.
- Reduces reliance on long-term, expensive aircraft development for high-altitude injection.
Concerns and Controversies:
- Environmental Risks:
- Ozone depletion
- Acid rain
- Disruption of monsoon and rainfall patterns
- Unequal regional cooling (more in polar areas, less in tropics)
- Governance Issues:
- Global impact from actions of a single country — raises issues of climate justice, sovereignty, and consent.
- No global legal or governance framework for solar geoengineering.
- Moral Hazard:
- Cooling might mask the urgency to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
- Risks policy complacency and public confusion.
- Technical Uncertainty:
- Long-term ecological effects are still not fully understood.
- Aerosols may wash out more quickly at lower altitudes, reducing effectiveness.
Way Forward:
- Need for global consensus and regulation under multilateral environmental platforms (like UNEP or UNFCCC).
- Strengthen climate mitigation efforts — SAI must not replace emission reductions.
- Promote transparency, ethical research, and inclusive debate around geoengineering.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques: Which of the following statements about Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is/are correct?
- It is a form of carbon capture technology.
- It aims to cool the Earth by injecting aerosols into the stratosphere.
- It is inspired by the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans : b)
GS PAPER 5
Indian Society
The Union Home Ministry has announced that the next decennial Census of India will be conducted in two phases, with March 1, 2027 as the reference date. This Census will be historic due to the inclusion of caste enumeration, its linkage with delimitation, and its role in implementing women’s reservation.
What is the Census and Why Is It Significant?
The Census is the largest administrative and statistical exercise undertaken by the Government of India. It is conducted under the Census Act, 1948 and is a Union List subject. Since 1881, it has been conducted every 10 years without interruption until the 2021 delay due to COVID-19. This upcoming Census is especially significant for the following reasons:
- Caste Enumeration:
- For the first time since 1931, caste details (beyond SC/ST) will be included.
- Post-Independence Censuses have not captured comprehensive caste data despite growing demands for it.
- The inclusion is politically and socially significant, as it can impact affirmative action, welfare schemes, and reservation policies.
- Its findings may directly influence resource allocation and policy planning based on socio-economic backwardness.
- Delimitation and Representation:
- The first Census after 2026 will be relevant for delimitation – the redrawing of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies.
- This is sensitive because States with successful population control (especially southern and northeastern States) may lose political representation, while high-growth States may gain.
- Many southern States fear marginalisation despite their developmental achievements, calling for a freeze or a fair formula to balance representation with responsibility.
- Women’s Reservation Implementation:
- The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act reserves one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- The law mandates implementation only after the first Census post-2026 and delimitation thereafter.
- Therefore, the 2027 Census becomes the basis for gender justice in parliamentary representation starting 2029.
Concerns and Challenges:
- Data integrity and accuracy are paramount, especially in caste enumeration.
- The delay in Census could hamper planning, funding, and implementation of key national programs (health, education, rural development).
- The political and social tensions surrounding caste data and delimitation must be addressed via wider consensus and consultation with States.
- Technological and administrative preparedness must be ensured for a digitally enabled, transparent enumeration.
Way Forward:
- The Census must be executed with transparency, inclusivity, and scientific rigor.
- Caste data must be analyzed objectively, not politicised.
- The delimitation debate requires cooperative federalism to ensure fair representation without penalising population control efforts.
- Implementation of women’s reservation must be streamlined using this Census to strengthen democratic equity.
- The Centre should initiate dialogue with States to resolve regional concerns and ensure the 2027 Census becomes a milestone in inclusive governance.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques: “The upcoming Census 2027 will be a watershed moment in India’s democratic journey.”Discuss the political and governance implications of caste enumeration, delimitation, and women’s reservation linked to the Census.(250 words)
GS PAPER 6
Editorial Analysis
Context :
- In a critical commentary, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde argues that Indian courts are increasingly abandoning their constitutional role as defenders of free speech and are instead becoming arbiters of public sentiment and morality. He highlights several recent court observations and cases that reflect a retreat from principle-centric protection of Article 19(1)(a) and a shift towards managing emotions rather than upholding rights.
Core Constitutional Concern:
- Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the freedom of speech and expression. However, Article 19(2) provides reasonable restrictions — only on specific, legally justifiable grounds like public order, decency, morality, defamation, incitement to offence, etc.
- Hegde’s article warns that courts are increasingly treating hurt sentiments and perceived insults as valid reasons to curtail speech — without satisfying the constitutional tests for such restrictions.
Key Issues Raised:
- Sentiment Over Constitutionality:
- Courts are focusing on whether speech offends public figures, symbols, or institutional pride, rather than whether the citizen’s right to express was violated.
- Example: The Allahabad High Court refusing to quash an FIR against a man for a sarcastic comment on the PM post-Operation Sindoor — prioritizing “national emotion” over legal thresholds.
- Judicial Endorsement of Apology Culture:
- Courts advising public figures (e.g., Kamal Haasan) to apologize to public sentiment even in the absence of incitement or hate — creating a popularity test for free expression.
- This rewards outrage-mongering and punishes dissent.
- Process as Punishment:
- The refusal to quash FIRs early and letting investigations continue — even for speech not amounting to legal harm — acts as a tool of harassment.
- Speech is criminalized not by conviction, but by the process itself — time, legal fees, reputation loss.
- Moral and Cultural Policing by Judiciary:
- Instances where courts comment on “vulgarity” or “immodesty” in digital content — applying subjective, non-legal standards.
- Raises concerns about judicial overreach into culture and aesthetics, which should be private choices.
- Weaponisation of Nationalism and Public Order:
- Use of sedition-type clauses or new laws like Sections 152 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to punish satire or sarcasm — far beyond what is necessary for national security or public order.
Broader Implications:
- Chilling Effect on Dissent:
- The fear of prosecution or social backlash discourages not just celebrities but ordinary citizens from voicing criticism — undermining democratic dialogue.
- Judicial Drift from Counter-Majoritarian Role:
- The judiciary’s historic role is to protect rights even against popular sentiment or State pressure. That role is weakened when judges defer to emotion instead of law.
- Erosion of the Marketplace of Ideas:
- Democracies thrive on debate, disagreement, and provocation, not on imposed harmony. Sanitising speech flattens public discourse.
Way Forward:
- Re-affirmation of Constitutional Thresholds:Courts must strictly apply Article 19(2) and not invent new tests like “sentiment” or “decorum” to restrict speech.
- Decriminalisation of Expression:Satire, criticism, and dissent must be recognised as integral to a healthy republic, not threats to it.
- Proactive Protection by Courts:Courts must act swiftly to quash frivolous FIRs and discourage the trend of “hurt sentiment litigation” becoming a norm.
- Promotion of Judicial Restraint in Cultural Matters:Judges must resist the temptation to become custodians of public morality, and instead focus on rights adjudication.