GS PAPER 1
Prelims Fact
RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6%.
- This is the second consecutive cut, and the policy stance has been changed from neutral to accommodative.
- GDP growth forecast revised down from 6.7% to 6.5% due to global trade tensions.
Prelims Key Facts:
| Term/Concept | Explanation |
| Repo Rate | The rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks. Current: 6% |
| Basis Point (bps) | 1 bps = 0.01%. So, 25 bps = 0.25% |
| MPC | 6-member Monetary Policy Committee, chaired by RBI Governor |
| Accommodative Stance | RBI is open to further rate cuts to support economic growth |
| Impact of Rate Cut | Loans (home, auto, etc.) become cheaper, savings returns may reduce |
| Growth Forecast | Revised down to 6.5% for the current fiscal |
Implications for India:
- Boosts liquidity and lowers borrowing costs.
- May stimulate demand, especially in sectors like real estate, auto, MSMEs.
- But may also reduce returns on fixed deposits and small savings.
- Reflects RBI’s concern about growth slowdown over inflation.
Some Fact
- The MPC was constituted under the RBI Act, 1934 (amended in 2016).
- It meets bi-monthly to decide interest rates.
- Inflation targeting framework: 4% ± 2% CPI inflation as the goal.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques :With reference to the Monetary Policy in India, consider the following statements:
- A change in repo rate directly influences the lending rates of commercial banks.
- An accommodative policy stance indicates the RBI may raise interest rates in the future.
- The Monetary Policy Committee consists of members solely from the RBI.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Ans : A
GS PAPER 2
Prelims fact
Kerala and Tamil Nadu to jointly conduct a synchronized Nilgiri tahr census from April 24–27, 2025.
- Part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Eravikulam National Park.
Key Facts for Prelims:
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Significance of the Census:
- First synchronised effort across states to ensure accurate estimation.
- Helps monitor population trends, habitat condition, and genetic diversity.
- Useful for conservation planning and interstate coordination in biodiversity protection.
About Nilgiri Tahr :
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UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques :Consider the following statements regarding Nilgiri Tahr:
- It is endemic to the Eastern Ghats.
- It is classified as ‘Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List.
- It is the state animal of Kerala.
- It inhabits montane grasslands of the Western Ghats.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 2 and 4 only
- 1, 2, and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3, and 4 only
Ans: A
GS PAPER 3
Prelims Fact
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved a ₹63,000 crore government-to-government deal with France for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
- The formal signing is expected during the French Defence Minister’s visit to India.
Key Facts:
| Feature | Details |
| Number of Aircraft | 26 (22 single-seater carrier-capable + 4 twin-seater trainer jets) |
| Deal Type | Government-to-Government (G2G) |
| Total Cost | ₹63,000 crore |
| Delivery Timeline | Starts 3.5 years after signing; completed in 6.5 years |
| Carrier Compatibility | Single-seaters are carrier-compatible; trainers are not |
| Aircraft Carriers in Use | INS Vikramaditya (Russia), INS Vikrant (India) |
| Current Carrier Fighters | MIG-29K |
| Indigenous Jet Under Development | Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) |
| Related Exercise | Varuna Exercise – Rafale-M demonstrated on French carrier Charles de Gaulle |
| Lift Compatibility | Rafale-M jets need minor modifications to fit Indian carrier lifts |
| Previous IAF Deal | 36 Rafales for IAF (₹60,000 crore in 2016) |
| Scorpene Submarine Deal | Awaiting CCS nod for 3 more under Project-75 |
Terms & Concepts for Prelims:
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UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Ques :Consider the following statements about the Rafale-M fighter jets:
- They are twin-engine carrier-based fighter jets.
- The Rafale-M jets are already in service with the Indian Air Force.
- They can operate from ski-jump type aircraft carriers used by India.
- Rafale-M is being indigenously developed by HAL under Project-75.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 3, and 4 only
- 1 only
Ans: A
GS PAPER 4
Enviroment
Wildfires have become more frequent and intense globally — from the Eaton Fire in California (Jan 2025) to fires in Ofunato, Japan (Feb 2025).
- New research in Nature Climate Change reveals that the Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ), once a carbon sink, is now a net carbon source.
Key Global Events Cited:
- Eastern Siberia Fire (2003) and Timmins Fire, Canada (2012): Massive COâ‚‚
- Eaton & Palisades Fire, California (2025): 28+ lives lost, 14,000+ structures destroyed, 16,000 ha burned.
- Ofunato City Fire, Japan (2025): Largest in 50 years; 2,900 ha affected.
- CAMS Report (Jan 2025): 800,000 tonnes carbon released from wildfires — 4x more than Jan 2015.
- India State of Forest Report (2024): Hotspots decreasing, but fires in Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh still high.
The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ):
- Covers parts of Alaska, Siberia, Northern Europe.
- World’s largest land-based biome, previously a major carbon sink.
- Permafrost + coniferous forests + tundra + wetlands stored centuries’ worth of carbon.
Key Findings of the Study (Nature Climate Change):
- ABZ has become a carbon source.
- Before 1990, the transformation began.
- Wildfires + non-summer emissions have overtaken carbon absorbed in summer.
- Thawing permafrost, plant changes, and microbial decomposition driving emissions.
- Alaska (44%), Northern Europe (25%), and Siberia (13%) are top new emission zones.
Feedback Loop Identified:
- Wildfires → CO₂ Emissions → Global Warming → Drier soil → More fires.
- Natural carbon sinks become net emitters, worsening climate change.
Indian Context:
- Heatwaves are more intense, occur earlier, and last longer.
- Northwest, Northeast, Central India warming by 0.1º–0.4ºC per decade.
- Forest fires in India emit 69 million tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually (Chase India).
- Reducing fire hotspots but Uttarakhand still vulnerable.
Linked Reports:
- India State of Forest Report 2024
- CAMS (Copernicus Air Monitoring Service)
- 2024 Arctic Report Card (NOAA)
- NASA’s Terra & Aqua Satellite Data
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques :Recent studies suggest that natural carbon sinks such as the Arctic are turning into carbon sources. Discuss the causes, implications, and potential strategies to address this reversal.(250 words)
In News :Â Matter and Anti-Matter
Recently, physicists at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment reported confirmed evidence of Charge-Parity (CP) violation in a class of particles called baryons.
Matter
- Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space, composed of atoms and molecules.
- Primary States:
- Solid: Fixed shape and volume.
- Liquid: Fixed volume, no fixed shape.
- Gas: No fixed shape or volume.
- Fourth State – Plasma:
- Consists of ionized particles.
- Found in stars and high-energy environments.
- State Changes: Driven by temperature and pressure, e.g., melting, evaporation, condensation.
Antimatter
- Antimatter consists of particles that are mirror counterparts of matter, with opposite electric charge.
- Electron → Positron, Proton → Antiproton, Neutron → Antineutron
- Creation: Both matter and antimatter were created during the Big Bang in equal amounts.
- Interaction: When matter and antimatter collide, they annihilate each other, producing gamma rays.
- Sources:
- Natural: Cosmic rays and radioactive decay.
- Artificial: Particle accelerators like the LHC simulate conditions similar to the Big Bang, producing antiparticles.
Key Concepts and Definitions
- CP Violation (Charge-Parity Violation): CP violation refers to a discrepancy in the behavior of matter and antimatter counterparts under a combination of charge conjugation (C) and parity transformation (P).
- Charge conjugation (C) changes a particle into its antiparticle, while parity (P) flips the spatial coordinates (like a mirror reflection).
- Ideally, CP symmetry implies that matter and antimatter should behave identically in physical processes. Violation of this principle hints at an inherent asymmetry.
- Baryons and Antibaryons: Baryons are subatomic particles made of three quarks. The most common examples are protons and neutrons.
- Their antimatter counterparts, called antibaryons, are composed of three antiquarks.
Latest Discovery: What Did the LHCb Find?
- Physicists studied a baryon called the lambda-b (Λb) particle, composed of up (u), down (d), and bottom (b) quarks.
- The lambda-b baryon was observed decaying into a proton, a kaon, and two pions.
- A small but statistically significant difference was found in the decay rate between the lambda-b baryon and its antimatter counterpart, indicating CP violation.
- This is the first discovery of CP violation in baryons to surpass the five-sigma statistical threshold, a standard benchmark for declaring a scientific discovery.
GS PAPER 5
Editorial Analysis
Context :
- The trajectory of China’s geopolitical and military posture has undergone a significant transformation under President Xi Jinping, marking a sharp departure from the era of Deng Xiaoping and the more measured diplomacy of Hu Jintao.
- Contemporary China is increasingly drawing from its imperial past, nurturing a narrative of historical victimhood, and projecting an assertive vision for its future.
- This evolution has direct implications for its neighbours, particularly India, as both nations continue to navigate a complex relationship characterised by intermittent cooperation and recurring confrontation.
Historical Legacy and Modern Ambitions
- Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has increasingly invoked its historical legacy, especially that of the Qing Dynasty, to justify contemporary territorial claims.
- The border provocations in the Himalayas, from Depsang (2013) and Demchok (2016) to Doklam (2017) and Galwan (2020), reflect a broader strategic calculus aimed at reclaiming perceived historical frontiers.
- While China’s actions are framed as defensive or restorative, they reveal a more ambitious agenda: to reshape regional dynamics and secure a hegemonic position in Asia.
- These skirmishes underscore the caution with which India must approach bilateral relations.
- Despite recent diplomatic gestures and exchanges of warmth between the two countries’ leaders, these efforts should not be misinterpreted as a return to the relatively stable era of Hu Jintao.
- Rather, they appear to be temporary pauses in a broader pattern of assertiveness and recalibration.
Signs of De-escalation: Substance or Symbolism?
- By late 2024, signs of a thaw in India-China relations began to emerge. Official announcements before the BRICS Summit in Kazan suggested an agreement on border patrolling mechanisms.
- Although the specifics remained vague, the initiative was welcomed as a potential step toward reducing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- However, the existence of a continued stand-off and the lack of transparent implementation mechanisms cast doubt on the durability of this détente.
- Statements from both Chinese and Indian leaders presented a facade of optimism.
- China’s invocation of a ‘harmonious dance’ between the Dragon and the Elephant and Prime Minister Modi’s public endorsement of restored normalcy painted a picture of progress.
- Nonetheless, these symbolic affirmations fell short of addressing the underlying issues, particularly China’s military build-up and strategic posturing in the region.
India’s Challenges Dealing with China
- The Strategic Imbalance: Military and Technological Gaps
- India faces a formidable challenge in matching China’s accelerating defence modernisation.
- China’s 7.2% increase in its defence budget in 2025, which significantly outpaces India’s own spending (under 2% of GDP), highlights this imbalance.
- The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to maintain a robust presence in contested regions like Ladakh, equipped with tanks, artillery, and missile systems.
- Meanwhile, China is also reportedly expanding its nuclear arsenal, a development that cannot be overlooked despite the lack of precise figures.
- China’s Lead in AI and Technological Advancements
- Equally concerning is China’s lead in the domains of Artificial Intelligence, cyber warfare, and quantum technology.
- These advancements provide it with critical advantages in the emerging landscape of ‘new age’ warfare, potentially undermining India’s strategic autonomy and preparedness.
- In contrast, India’s slower pace of digital military transformation could widen this technological divide and limit its ability to effectively respond in a future crisis.
- China’s Expanding Influence in India’s Neighbourhood
- Beyond military considerations, China’s diplomatic manoeuvres in South Asia further complicate India’s strategic calculus.
- The shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy orientation, particularly after the decline of the pro-India Sheikh Hasina government, illustrates China’s growing influence in what has traditionally been considered India’s sphere of influence.
- China’s outreach to Bangladesh, exemplified by high-level visits and deepening bilateral ties, introduces a new dimension of competition in the region.
- China’s Growing Influence in Africa
- This diplomatic encroachment is not limited to South Asia.
- China’s proactive engagement in Africa, particularly in securing nuclear energy resources, contrasts sharply with India’s relatively muted presence.
- As the global race for energy independence intensifies, China’s early investments and strategic partnerships may yield long-term dividends that enhance its leverage in both economic and geopolitical terms.
The Way Forward
- Preparing for the Unexpected
- Amidst this evolving landscape, India must prepare for scenarios that appear improbable but are within the realm of possibility.
- The potential for sudden shifts in global alliances, such as a surprise rapprochement between the United States and China, could upend existing power equations.
- India must, therefore, adopt a flexible and forward-looking strategy, one that balances immediate needs with long-term preparedness.
- Need for a Realpolitik Approach
- While both India and China are ancient civilizations capable of resilience and reinvention, their contemporary relations are shaped by modern power politics rather than shared heritage.
- The current environment, marked by a decline in pluralism and a weakening of the so-called ‘rules-based international order’, necessitates a realpolitik approach.
- For India, this means strengthening its military capabilities, safeguarding its neighbourhood from external encroachment, and diversifying its strategic partnerships beyond traditional allies.
Conclusion
- India and China’s relationship is one of paradox, rooted in ancient ties yet shaped by modern rivalry.
- While diplomacy and dialogue remain essential, they must be backed by vigilance, capability, and strategic clarity.
- The metaphor of the Elephant and the Dragon dancing together may hold symbolic appeal, but for the dance to be sustained, both partners must respect boundaries, share rhythms, and prepare for sudden turns.
- Until then, cautious engagement, not blind optimism, should guide India’s China policy.