GS PAPER 1
Prelims Fact
- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently highlighted that India loses 3% of its GDP due to road accidents, which amount to nearly five lakh accidents annually. This issue not only causes economic losses but also results in significant social and human costs.
Key Issues Highlighted
- High Number of Road Accidents:
- India records 4,80,000 road accidents annually.
- 1,88,000 deaths, mainly among individuals aged 18-45 years.
- 10,000 deaths of children below 18 years.
- Economic Impact:
- The loss of 3% of GDP due to accidents signifies a major drain on resources.
- Reduced workforce productivity and healthcare costs add to the economic burden.
- Reasons for High Accident Rates:
- Poorly Designed Roads & Project Reports: Many road designs lack safety features, leading to accidents.
- Lack of Awareness & Poor Enforcement: Traffic rule violations, rash driving, and low adherence to safety norms.
- Deficient Emergency Response System: Delay in medical assistance leads to preventable fatalities.
Government Initiatives for Road Safety
- Good Samaritan Law & ₹25,000 Award: Encourages bystanders to help accident victims without fear of legal hassles.
- Advanced Road Infrastructure: Adoption of new technologies such as AI-based surveillance and smart traffic management.
- Stricter Road Safety Regulations: Enforcing stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
- Awareness Campaigns: Programs like Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha to educate citizens.
Way Forward
- Investment in Safe Road Designs: Ensuring proper planning and execution of road infrastructure projects.
- Technology Integration: AI-driven traffic monitoring, automatic braking systems, and better road signages.
- Swift Emergency Response: Expansion of the Golden Hour concept and improved ambulance services.
- Public Awareness & Education: Making road safety an integral part of school curricula.
Conclusion
- Road safety is a critical concern impacting India’s economy and human resources. Addressing it through policy reforms, technology, and awareness is essential for sustainable development. The government’s focus on safer infrastructure and incentivizing accident assistance is a step in the right direction, but further efforts are needed to minimize road fatalities.
 GS PAPER 2
Science & Technology
A recent study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that water, a key ingredient for life, may have formed much earlier in the universe than previously believed. This discovery could push back the timeline for the emergence of life, challenging existing astrophysical theories.
Key Findings of the Study
- Origin of Water in the Universe
- Water is the third most abundant molecule after hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
- The first massive stars (Population III) synthesized oxygen, which combined with hydrogen post-supernovae to form water.
- This process occurred 50 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
- Role of Supernovae
- The earliest stars, composed of hydrogen and helium, underwent nuclear fusion.
- When these stars exhausted their fuel, they exploded as supernovae, releasing oxygen, hydrogen, and other elements into space.
- These elements facilitated the formation of water molecules.
- Redefining the Timeline of Life’s Possibility
- Previously, scientists believed that only traces of water existed in the early universe, accumulating over billions of years.
- The study suggests that the first supernovae produced enough water to drench the early universe.
- This means planets could have formed before the first galaxies, providing an environment conducive to life much earlier than expected.
- Implications for Earth and Other Planets
- Water molecules remain chemically unchanged from their interstellar origins.
- Previous studies suggested that Earth’s water was partially delivered by comets.
- The new findings reinforce the idea that water has been a cosmic constant, appearing early in the universe and reaching planets unchanged.
Scientific and Philosophical Implications
- Cosmology and Astrophysics:
- Challenges the existing understanding of stellar evolution and element formation.
- Suggests a higher efficiency of water formation in early galaxies.
- Astrobiology & Search for Extraterrestrial Life:
- Expands the potential habitable zones across time and space.
- Raises the possibility that life could have emerged much earlier than thought.
- Impact on Theories of Planetary Formation:
- Implies that planets rich in water could have existed before galaxies were formed.
- Could reshape our understanding of exoplanet formation and habitability.
Challenges and Future Research
- Observational Limitations:
- Population III stars are extremely distant and cannot be directly observed, requiring indirect numerical simulations.
- Researchers rely on stellar atmosphere and evolution models to predict conditions.
- Further Studies Needed:
- Improved telescope technology (e.g., James Webb Space Telescope) may help confirm these findings.
- Future observations of ancient interstellar clouds may provide direct evidence of early water.
Conclusion
- The discovery of early water formation due to Population III supernovae challenges existing theories and extends the timeline for potential life in the universe. If confirmed, this finding reshapes our understanding of cosmic history, planetary evolution, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
 GS PAPER 3
Science & Technology
- Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) experience microgravity, which significantly reduces the effects of weight and friction. This lack of gravity leads to muscle atrophy and bone density loss, making exercise essential for maintaining health. Scientists have developed innovative workout solutions to simulate gravitational resistance.
Key Concepts: Gravity and Exercise in Space
- Microgravity and Its Effects
- In microgravity, astronauts experience weightlessness, which reduces the work needed to move objects.
- Bone loss (osteopenia) and muscle atrophy occur due to the absence of gravitational resistance.
- The heart and circulatory system undergo changes, leading to weaker cardiovascular function over time.
- Work and Force in Space
- On Earth, physical activities like walking or lifting weights involve overcoming gravity and friction.
- In space, gravitational force is minimal, and friction with the ground is absent, making traditional exercises ineffective.
- Exercise Solutions on the ISS
- To counteract muscle loss and maintain bone strength, astronauts use specialized equipment:
- Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED)
- Uses air-filled pistons to provide resistance.
- Simulates lifting weights up to 270 kg, maintaining muscle strength.
- Treadmill with Harness System
- Astronauts use elastic harnesses to simulate body weight.
- The tighter the harness, the closer it mimics Earth’s gravitational force.
- Cycling & Resistance Bands
- Stationary bicycles with foot straps help maintain cardiovascular health.
- Elastic bands offer resistance-based muscle workouts.
Implications for Space Exploration & Human Health
- Long-Term Space Missions
- Exercise technologies will be crucial for missions to Mars and beyond, where astronauts will spend months or years in space.
- Artificial gravity solutions, such as rotating habitats or centrifugal force-based workouts, could be developed.
- Medical & Physiological Insights
- Space-based muscle loss research helps in understanding age-related osteoporosis on Earth.
- Resistance exercise models could benefit rehabilitation therapy for bedridden patients.
- Relevance to Artificial Gravity Research
- Future deep-space missions may use centrifugal force-based artificial gravity systems to reduce health risks.
- Ongoing research in space medicine aims to enhance human adaptability to prolonged weightlessness.
Conclusion
- Simulating gravity for workouts is essential to preserve astronaut health in space. Advances in artificial gravity research and exercise technologies will be key to future deep-space missions, shaping the future of human space exploration and benefiting medical science on Earth.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :Â Discuss the physiological challenges faced by astronauts in prolonged space missions. How do current exercise technologies help mitigate these issues? (250 words)
GS PAPER 4
Indian Economy
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched BHIM 3.0, the latest version of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app. NPCI is responsible for developing digital payment infrastructure in India, and BHIM is one of its flagship UPI-based applications designed to promote cashless transactions in line with the Digital India initiative.
Key Features of BHIM 3.0
- Expense Tracking & Cost Splitting – Users can split bills and track shared expenses among friends and family, making financial management easier.
- Family Account Management – Users can onboard family members, assign payments, and maintain a consolidated expense overview.
- Business & Bank Integration – New features enhance usability for businesses and banking institutions.
- Enhanced Security & Inclusion – The app is designed to prioritize safety, convenience, and financial inclusion, ensuring ease of digital transactions for a larger section of society.
Significance & Analysis
- Boost to Digital Payments & Financial Inclusion
- This initiative strengthens UPI adoption and promotes cashless transactions, a major goal of Digital India.
- Encourages financial literacy and structured expense management for individuals and families.
- Helps in the formalization of the economy by promoting digital transactions over cash.
- Impact on Governance & Economy
- Reduces dependence on cash, thereby curbing black money and enhancing transparency.
- Helps in better economic planning, as digital transactions provide real-time financial data useful for policymaking.
- Supports government initiatives such as Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, which aims for direct benefit transfers (DBT) and financial inclusion.
Conclusion
- BHIM 3.0 represents a significant step toward a cashless, inclusive, and transparent financial ecosystem. While it enhances digital transactions and financial planning, ensuring security and accessibility remains crucial for its success.
 UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques : Discuss the role of fintech innovations such as UPI and BHIM 3.0 in transforming India’s financial sector. What challenges do they face, and how can they be addressed? (250 words)
 In News : Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Parties to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture recently gathered in Rome for their 20th meeting (CGRFA-20).
About Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- It was initially established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1983 to address plant genetic resources (PGR).
- It became the primary permanent international forum for governments to discuss, negotiate, and decide on matters specifically relevant to genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA).
- Over time, the mandate of the Commission expanded, and now it deals with all sectors of GRFA – plant, animal, forest, aquatic, and microbial and invertebrate genetic resources, covering the vast scope of biodiversity for food and agriculture.
- The Commission also considers a number of cross-cutting topics, including food security, nutrition and human health, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS), and digital sequence information (DSI) on GRFA and biotechnologies for the characterization, sustainable use, and conservation of GRFA.
- Member:
- It has 179 countries as its members.
- India is also a member of this commission.
- The work of the Commission on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) initiated in 1997 resulted in the preparation of the first-ever Report on the State of the World’s AnGR in 2007 and led to the negotiation and adoption of the Global Plan of Action for AnGR (GPA), also in 2007.
- Some of the Commission’s landmark achievements include: the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
- It was adopted by the Thirty-First Session of the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations on 3 November 2001. The Treaty aims at:
- Recognizing the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world.
- Establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders, and scientists with access to plant genetic materials.
- Ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have originated.
GS PAPER 5
Editorial Analysis
Context :
- The article highlights how Afghanistan has been abandoned by the international community, particularly the United States and Europe, after the Taliban takeover in 2021. It also examines India’s evolving policy toward the Taliban regime, weighing pragmatism against moral and strategic considerations.
Key Issues Discussed
- S. Withdrawal and Its Aftermath
- The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, following the Doha Agreement (2020), left Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
- The U.S. did not extract binding commitments on women’s rights, minority protections, or democratic governance, leading to a reversal of progress made between 2001-2021.
- Afghanistan is now more brutal towards women and has limited political freedoms, but the regime remains unrecognized globally.
- India’s Dilemma in Engaging with the Taliban
- India initially shut down its embassy in Kabul (2021) but later reopened a technical mission (2022) to maintain limited engagement.
- Reports suggest India is considering allowing a Taliban-appointed Ambassador in New Delhi, signaling a possible policy shift.
- India has historically supported anti-Taliban factions, like the Northern Alliance, and has had strong ties with the Afghan Republic (2001-2021).
- The challenge lies in balancing engagement with the Taliban while preserving goodwill among Afghan exiles and democratic forces.
- Challenges in Dealing with the Taliban
- Internal Taliban divisions: Conflicts between Haqqani factions and Kandahari clerics over issues like girls’ education and governance.
- Economic crisis: The Taliban’s mismanagement and declining foreign aid are making Afghanistan increasingly unstable.
- Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions: The Durand Line conflict and Pakistani deportation of Afghan refugees could create new security challenges.
- Why India Must Be Cautious
- The Taliban remains ideologically unchanged, posing risks to India’s security.
- Unlike past engagement with democratic Afghan governments, India cannot expect strategic partnerships with the Taliban.
- Ignoring Afghan exiles, women’s rights activists, and opposition groups may erode India’s long-term influence in Afghanistan.
Implications for India
- Geopolitical Strategy
- India must balance pragmatism (engaging with Taliban 2.0) with principles (supporting democracy, human rights, and strategic interests).
- A stronger Taliban could embolden Pakistan-based terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), increasing security risks for India.
- India needs to maintain relations with exiled Afghan leaders, ensuring a future stake if a political transition occurs.
- Security & Counterterrorism
- The Taliban’s links with terror groups (like Al-Qaeda) and potential ISKP (Islamic State – Khorasan Province) expansion pose a direct threat.
- India’s reluctance to offer refugee visas to fleeing Afghans (including those who helped India in the past) risks losing goodwill and local allies.
- Humanitarian & Cultural Engagement
- India must support Afghan women’s rights activists and provide platforms for their voices.
- India could play a role in education and development aid, even without full diplomatic ties.
Way Forward for India
- Balanced Engagement: Maintain official contact with the Taliban, but not at the cost of abandoning ties with exiled Afghan opposition.
- Selective Diplomacy: Avoid fully endorsing the Taliban government but continue humanitarian and infrastructure aid.
- Strategic Alliances: Strengthen partnerships with Iran, Russia, and Central Asia, ensuring regional stability in the absence of U.S. influence.
- Humanitarian Leadership: Offer scholarships, visas, and asylum to Afghan students, professionals, and dissidents, reinforcing India’s moral leadership.