Daily Articles & Editorials

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science & Technology, Topic: Intellectual Property Rights, Issue: Basmati varieties Context: Illegal cultivation of IARI’s improved basmati rice varieties in Pakistan. Key issues: Pakistan’s Super Basmati variety, similar to IARI’s PB-1, has helped it gain a significant share in the EU-UK market. Poses a threat to India’s market dominance. India faces challenges […]

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighbourhood, Issue: India-Bhutan relation Context: Prime Minister’s recent visit to Bhutan. Growing presence of China in India’s neighbourhood: China’s economic rise has enabled it to contest India’s primacy in South Asia, posing challenges to India’s influence in the region. Bhutan is strategically vital for India due

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: International institutions, agencies and fora, Issue: World Trade Organization(WTO) Context: 13th biennial ministerial meeting of WTO ended without significant accomplishment. Issues in WTO: WTO rules challenge countries’ right to implement Public Stockholding (PSH) programs for food distribution. Outdated criteria for price support assessment hinder effective PSH programs. Industrialised nations’

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Growth and Development, Inclusion, Issue: Inequality Context: A new working paper “Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj”released by the World Inequality Lab. Key findings: In 2022-23,6% of national income went to the top 1%, highest since 1922. India’s top 1% income share ranks

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Election System District Election Management Plan (DEMP): Prepared at least six months before the tentative poll day. Involves collaborative efforts from election officials, administrative authorities, law enforcement agencies, and engagement with political parties and media. Elements of DEMP include: A district profile, strategies for polling station

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Election Process Context: Political parties filed complaint regarding use of religion during campaign Provisions to restrict use of religion in politics: Section 123(3) of the RP Act bans appeals based on religion, race, caste, community, or language in elections. Section 123(3A) condemns attempts by candidates to

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Right issues, Issue: Fundamental Rights Context: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act-2019 has been challenged in Supreme Court on the grounds of violation of Article 14. Reasonable classification test: It is a legal concept used to assess the fairness and validity of laws or government actions that differentiate between groups of people.

Syllabus: GS II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: Global Issues, Issue: Increasing global presence of China Context: First anniversary of China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Steps taken by China to project itself as global mediator: Establishing an international mediation organisation in Hong Kong. Intends to connect this mediation initiative with its Belt and Road

Syllabus: GS-III Subject: Internal Security Topic: Money Laundering and prevention Issue: PMLA Context: Arrest of a Chief Minister accused of money laundering. Predicate Offense: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) criminalizes money laundering. Money laundering involves any process or activity related to proceeds of crime, including concealment, possession, acquisition, or use of such proceeds.