GS PAPER 1
Environment
India’s urgent efforts to reduce air pollution and aerosol emissions, particularly from coal-based power generation, may unintentionally accelerate warming in the short term due to the removal of aerosols that currently mask greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced warming.
- This trade-off highlights the complexity of climate science and policy, especially in regions like India where air quality and climate goals intersect.
Key Takeaways & Analysis
- Aerosols vs Greenhouse Gases: Contrasting Roles
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like CO₂ trap heat and cause global warming.
- Aerosols (e.g., sulphates, nitrates, black carbon):
- Scatter sunlight – cooling effect
- Short-lived (days to weeks)
- Regionally concentrated
- Affect cloud formation and monsoon rainfall
- India’s Dilemma
- India generates – 70% of its electricity from coal, a major aerosol source.
- Sulphate aerosols formed from sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions account for 50–60% of India’s aerosol load.
- If India rapidly reduces aerosol emissions without also reducing GHGs, it risks:
- Sudden warming
- Increased heat stress
- Disrupted rainfall patterns
- Warming Trends & Aerosol Masking
- Between 1906–2005, India warmed 0.54°C, but GHG warming was ~2°C.
- Aerosol masking offset ~1.5°C of that warming.
- Removal of aerosols would likely:
- Worsen heat waves
- Possibly increase rainfall but also affect monsoon timing
- Impact on Rainfall & Monsoons
- Aerosols have regional climate effects, especially on the Indian monsoon.
- Aerosol cooling is stronger in the northern hemisphere (0.9°C) than the south (0.3°C), which can shift monsoon circulation.
- High aerosol loading in the Indo-Gangetic plain may reduce rainfall and disturb hydrological cycles.
- Implications for Policy
- Removing pollution improves health but may cause climate stress in short term.
- Need for:
- Long-term adaptation strategies
- Heat action plans (currently lacking in most Indian cities)
- Better modelling of aerosol effects
- Synchronised reduction of both aerosols and GHGs
Quote: “Achieving net-zero carbon emissions would not be the end of the story…” – Aditya Sengupta
Prelims Pointers
|
Conclusion
India stands at a critical juncture where air quality improvements, though essential, may expose its population to greater climate risks unless accompanied by GHG reductions and robust adaptation strategies. Policymakers must balance short-term public health with long-term climate resilience, particularly in urban and densely populated regions.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques : While air pollution reduction is crucial for public health, it may accelerate warming. Discuss this paradox in the Indian context with reference to aerosol emissions.
GS PAPER 2
Science and Technology
On August 23, 2023, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 made history by successfully landing near the moon’s south pole. Aboard the Vikram lander was ChaSTE — Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment, a first-of-its-kind instrument designed to measure in-situ thermal profiles of lunar soil.
- ChaSTE became the first probe in space exploration to successfully penetrate and collect subsurface thermal data from a celestial body, outperforming earlier missions from ESA and NASA that had similar objectives but failed due to deployment issues.
What is ChaSTE?
|
Scientific & Technological Significance
- Understanding Moon’s Thermal Properties
- Provides key data on thermal conductivity, temperature gradients, and regolith structure.
- Supports theories about presence of water ice near the lunar south pole.
- Engineering Innovation
- Previous missions (ESA’s MUPUS on Philae & NASA’s HP3 on InSight) failed to deploy properly due to poor landings or insufficient soil friction.
- ChaSTE’s success credited to its rotation-based deployment instead of hammering — more effective in loose lunar soil.
- Global Recognition
- Demonstrates India’s ability to design cutting-edge, reliable scientific payloads for interplanetary missions.
- Strengthens India’s position in space research and planetary science.
Prelims Pointers
|
Conclusion
ChaSTE’s successful deployment and operation on the moon’s south pole marks a milestone for ISRO and global lunar science. By achieving what other space agencies could not, India has once again proven its prowess in cost-effective, high-precision space exploration, setting the stage for future missions in planetary science and interplanetary resource exploration.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :Discuss the significance of the ChaSTE instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3 in advancing lunar science and technology.
GS PAPER 3
Geography and Disaster Management
On March 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, about 20 km from Mandalay, near the Sagaing Fault, one of Southeast Asia’s most active tectonic features. The earthquake was followed by strong aftershocks, notably a 6.4 magnitude tremor minutes later.
Key Details & Analysis
Why and How Did the Earthquake Occur?
- Originated along the Sagaing Fault, a strike-slip fault where tectonic blocks slide past each other
- The epicentre was shallow (10 km deep), amplifying ground shaking.
- The Sagaing Fault accommodates about 50–55% of the plate motion between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
- Oblique convergence (not head-on) between the Indian and Eurasian plates causes strain to be partitioned, leading to strike-slip motion along the fault.
Has the Sagaing Fault Had a History of Earthquakes?
- The Sagaing Fault has experienced numerous strong earthquakes:
- 1839 Ava Earthquake (magnitude – 7.8)
- 1927 and 1946 quakes (magnitude 7.7)
- Six major quakes between 1930–1956
- 2016 earthquake damaged Bagan, a UNESCO heritage site
Impact on Bangkok
- Although – 1,000 km from the epicentre, Bangkok experienced:
- Collapse of a 33-storey under-construction building
- Seismic seiches (oscillation of water due to seismic waves) in rooftop pools
- Minimal structural damage, but media hype due to Bangkok’s international prominence
Why Did Eastern India Escape Damage?
- The energy released traveled mostly in a north-south direction, aligned with the Sagaing fault’s orientation
- Eastern India lies to the west of the fault – Less seismic wave impact
- Contrast with Yunnan Province (China) which is north of the fault and also escaped heavy damage due to being on more stable geological formations
Tectonic Context of Southeast Asia
- Region is a tectonic hotspot, influenced by:
- Indian–Eurasian Plate collision
- Indo-Burman Range
- Andaman Subduction Zone
- Himalayas & Shillong Plateau
- Past massive events:
- 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami (Magnitude 9.2)
- 1792 Arakan Coast Earthquake (Magnitude 8.5)
Why Is This a Warning for India?
- India shares tectonic continuity with Myanmar and is highly earthquake-prone
- Need for:
- Strict enforcement of building codes
- Early warning systems
- Community preparedness programs
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :How do geological factors like soil type and depth of the earthquake affect the damage caused by seismic events? Illustrate your answer with reference to the 2025 Mandalay earthquake.
GS PAPER 4
Prelims Fact
India’s digital payments ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the forefront. As per the India Digital Payments Study by Worldline, UPI recorded a 42% year-on-year growth in transaction volume and 31% growth in value in the second half of FY24.
Key Highlights
|
Major Sectors Driving Usage:
- Grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and government services:
- Accounted for 68% of volume
- Accounted for 53% of transaction value
Analysis & Implications
- Deepening Financial Inclusion
- UPI’s growth reflects India’s digital public infrastructure success.
- Facilitates cashless economy and boosts formal financial inclusion.
- Support for Small Businesses
- High usage in everyday transactions (kirana stores, eateries) shows UPI’s penetration in informal sectors.
- Reduces reliance on cash, ensures better revenue tracking.
- Government Services on UPI
- Increasing use in paying utility bills, taxes, and public fees shows adoption in citizen-government interface.
- Aligns with the Digital India mission.
- India as Global Leader in Digital Payments
- UPI is being considered for international collaborations (e.g., Singapore, UAE, France).
- Could boost soft power and fintech exports.
Prelims Pointers
|
Conclusion
The 93.2 billion UPI transactions in H2FY24 highlight the growing adoption of secure, fast, and low-cost digital payments in India. As UPI continues to drive everyday commerce and public services, it cements India’s status as a global leader in digital innovation.
UPSC PrelimsPractice Question
Ques :”With reference to Unified Payments Interface (UPI), consider the following statements:
- UPI is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- UPI enables instant money transfer only between accounts of the same bank.
3.UPI is based on the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) platform.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Ans : b)
GS PAPER 5
International Relations
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to visit Sri Lanka soon, experts are urging India to seize the current geopolitical and economic climate to finalize a “stronger” Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka. This push comes at a time when Sri Lanka is stabilising post its 2022 economic crisis and is governed by a relatively India-friendly NPP-JVP coalition.
Key Takeaways from the Analysis
- Current Political & Economic Climate in Sri Lanka
- The NPP-JVP government is less defensive toward India, unlike the Rajapaksa regime.
- There is no strong opposition, and the current ruling party has no corruption charges so far.
- The IMF-backed stabilisation programme helped avert a collapse but hasn’t ensured long-term growth.
- Sri Lanka must go beyond IMF reforms to prevent another crisis post-2027 debt deadlines.
- Why This Is a Strategic Opportunity for India
- Pro-India sentiments in the current Sri Lankan government create a favourable negotiation climate.
- India’s timely assistance during the 2022 crisis improved goodwill.
- There’s growing regional recognition of India’s stabilising role in South Asia.
- What Should the FTA Encompass?
- Trade in services
- Freer movement of skilled workers
- Reduction of protectionist barriers, especially on Sri Lanka’s side
- Deeper economic integration with southern Indian States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu Factor
- Some political apprehensions in Sri Lanka stem from concerns over Tamil Nadu’s role, due to ethnic and political history.
- However, geography and economic logic favour integration between Sri Lanka and southern India.
- Sally highlights the role of civil society and business groups in driving cross-border cooperation.
- India’s Role and Strategic Interests
- India should not aim to provide endless aid, but rather focus on sustainable economic engagement.
- A strong FTA would reinforce India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies.
- Deepening ties with Sri Lanka helps counterbalance China’s influence, especially in infrastructure and ports.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques : What are the risks of relying solely on IMF-driven reforms for economic recovery? Examine in the context of Sri Lanka. (250 words)
GS PAPER 6
Editorial Analysis
Context :
The release of the International AI Safety Report 2025 by the U.K.’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in collaboration with the AI Security Institute, has flagged a new dimension of child sexual abuse — the use of AI tools to generate Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The U.K. is also preparing landmark legislation to combat this evolving threat, highlighting the need for India to adapt its legal and policy frameworks.
Key Highlights
- AI-generated CSAM: Artificial Intelligence can now generate lifelike images, including of children, which could be used for sexually exploitative purposes. These are difficult to trace and fall in legal grey areas, especially when no real child is involved.
- Tool-centric approach: The U.K. legislation will outlaw the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools that can generate CSAM — a shift from punishing just the actor to targeting the enabling technology.
- Mental health and ripple effects: The unchecked spread of CSAM severely impacts child victims and contributes to long-term psychological harm.
India’s Current Framework
- Section 67B, IT Act 2000: Penalizes publishing or transmitting sexually explicit content involving children.
- POCSO Act, 2012: Prohibits use, storage, or display of child pornography.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 294 & 295: Penalize obscene content and its sale to children.
- Cyber Tip-line Reports: As of March 2024, over 69 lakh reports received via MoU with NCMEC (USA), showing the magnitude of the crisis.
Gap Identified: No explicit provisions to deal with AI-generated CSAM, non-photographic depictions, or paedophile manuals using emerging technologies.
Recommendations for India
- Expand Terminology:
- Replace “child pornography” with CSAM in POCSO to broaden the scope and align with global standards.
- Clarify Legal Language:
- Define “sexually explicit” in Section 67B to include AI-generated, lifelike, or non-photographic imagery.
- Update Intermediary Liability:
- Amend the IT Act to explicitly include VPNs, VPS, and Cloud Services under the definition of intermediaries.
- Strengthen Enforcement:
- Enable pre-emptive policing by penalizing even the possession or use of tools that can potentially create CSAM.
- Incorporate in New Legislation:
- Ensure the upcoming Digital India Act 2023 incorporates specific clauses on AI-driven exploitation.
- Global Cooperation:
- Actively push for the UN Draft Convention on ICT misuse for criminal purposes, ensuring global consensus on AI and cyber exploitation.
Way Forward
The intersection of AI and child exploitation poses an unprecedented threat that requires a multi-stakeholder approach, involving legal reforms, technological safeguards, international cooperation, and public awareness. India must take proactive steps not only to address current cyber threats but also to future-proof its legal and institutional frameworks.