UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

• Weather Events: A severe winter storm struck California on December 24, 2025, leading to heavy rainfall, mudslides, and snow in mountainous areas. Southern California could experience its wettest Christmas in years, with rain accumulation expected between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm).

• Evacuations and Warnings:

  • Evacuation warnings were issued for areas vulnerable to mudslides, par

Key Facts and Highlights: Aravalli Hills Mining Regulations

1. Supreme Court Directive:

   • On November 20, the Supreme Court ordered a halt on granting new mining leases in the Aravalli Hills until the Management Plan on Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized.
   • Established a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills: landforms at 100 meters or more above local relief.

Summary of Key Points on Mining in the Aravallis

Supreme Court Ruling

• Date of Judgment: November 20, 2025
• Order: A prohibition on fresh mining leases in the Aravallis until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is established under central supervision.

Environmental Concerns

• Impacts of Mining: Rampant mining has resulted in:
  • Groundwater depletion

Summary Notes on the Article

Environmental and Ecological Insights

• Predation and Ecosystem Balance: The article discusses the critical role of predation in maintaining ecological balance. Without predators, populations of prey species can explode, leading to ecological collapse within days.
• Insect Population Explosion: An estimated 10 quintillion insects exist at any moment.

Summary of Key Facts and Developments: Granting "Holy City" Status to Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo

1. Government Notification: The Punjab government has officially granted “Holy City” status to Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo through a recent notification.

2. Legislative Action: This decision was preceded by a unanimous resolution passed by the Punjab Legis

Summary of Key Highlights: Victoria Public Hall Restoration

1. Inauguration Details:

   • Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the restored Victoria Public Hall in Chennai.
   • The inauguration took place on a formal occasion with traditional performances.

2. Restoration Project:

   • Initiated under the Singara Chennai 2.0 initiative, aimed at improving urban infrastructure a

Economic Data & FDI Trends:

• Net FDI Outflow: India experienced a net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) outflow of $1.55 billion in October, following a outflow of $1.66 billion in September.
• Gross FDI Inflow: October saw a gross FDI inflow of $6.54 billion, lower than $7 billion in September and $7.17 billion in October 2024.
• First 7 Months of 2025-26 FDI:

Summary of Key Points on Rhinoceros Conservation

Current Status:

• Global rhinoceros population is fewer than 28,000 across all five species as of 2024.
• Southern African reserves, particularly the Greater Kruger region, lost 1,985 rhinos between 2017 and 2023, where annual poaching rates are around 6.5%.

Poaching Threats:

• Poaching driven by a multi-hundred-million-dol

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Liquidity Injection Plan

1. Liquidity Injection Amount: The RBI plans to inject Rs 290,000 crore (approximately $32 billion) into the banking system over the next month.

2. Mechanisms:

   • Open Market Operations (OMO):
     • RBI will conduct purchase auctions of Government of India securities totaling Rs 200,000 crore in four tranches of Rs 50,00

Electoral Roll Revision in Tamil Nadu - Key Highlights

Overview:

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu resulted in the deletion of 97.4 lakh names.
• The total strength of electors after deletions is approximately 5.44 crore.

Concerns Raised:

• Claims by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) regarding **100% distribution of 6.41 crore enumeration

Key Points on Forest Economy and Environmental Concerns in Himachal Pradesh

Economic Valuation of Forests:

• Total forest wealth of Himachal Pradesh: ₹9.95 lakh crore.
• Annual economic value of forests: ₹3.20 lakh crore, breakdown includes:
  • Carbon sequestration: ₹1.65 lakh crore.
  • Ecosystem services: ₹68,941 crore.
  • Biodiversity value: ₹32,901 crore.
  • Wat

India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Summary:

Bilateral Trade Goals:

• Aim to double bilateral trade from $1.3 billion (2024-25) in the next five years.
• Concluded negotiations on the FTA expected to be signed within 2-3 months after legal reviews.

Key Highlights of the FTA:

• India will reduce tariffs on 95% of products exported from New Zealand.
• New Zealand will eliminat

Summary of Research on Nanoinjection Drug Delivery for Breast Cancer

Research Institutions Involved:

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)
• Monash University, Australia
• Deakin University, Australia

Key Developments:

• Development of a nanoinjection drug delivery platform aimed at breast cancer treatment, focusing on minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
• The platfo

Summary of the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), 2025 Act

Constitutional References

• Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to livelihood (Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, 1985).
• 73rd Constitutional Amendment: MGNREGA reinforced panchayat raj institut

Exam-Focused Notes on India-Russia Relations

Key Events:

• India-Russia Annual Summit: Held on December 4-5, 2025, marking a significant engagement in the context of strained West-Russia relations.
• First Visit Post-Western Embargo: Vladimir Putin's visit is noted as significant, being his first to India since the Western embargo following the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

His

Historical Context and Significance of Diu

1. Strategic Importance:

   • Diu served as a vital coastal town in medieval India, critical for mercantile activities due to its location.

2. Conflict and Power Struggles:

   • In 1509, the town became the center of conflict when Portuguese forces attempted to seize it from a coalition of Ottomans, Mamluks, and the Sultan of Gujarat.

Summary of Key Points from U.S.-Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations

International Negotiations and Peace Proposal

• The U.S. has drafted proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, addressing many of Ukraine’s demands as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Zelenskyy reported that "nearly 90%" of Ukraine's requests have been integrated into the proposal which consists of

Exam-Focused Notes on Air Pollution Management: China vs. India

Key Statistics

• Beijing PM2.5 Reduction: Over 50% drop from average levels of 102 µg/m³ in 2013 to 31 µg/m³ in 2024.
• Delhi Pollution Levels: Continues to rank among the most polluted cities globally, with significant air quality issues.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• India's Environmental Laws:

Summary of CAG Report on Signalling Failures in South Western Railway (SWR)

1. Background Information:
   • CAG Report Overview: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India highlighted ongoing signalling equipment failures in the South Western Railway (SWR), demonstrating a need for improved maintenance mechanisms.
   • SWR Structure: SWR comprises three divisions: Bangalor

Summary of Key Points on MGNREGA and its Impact:

1. Constitutional Basis:

   • MGNREGA was inspired by Article 41 of the Constitution of India, which ensures the right to work for citizens.

2. Historical Context:

   • Enacted on September 5, 2005, during Dr. Manmohan Singh's tenure, it aimed at providing assured employment in rural areas.
   • The Act is deemed to be the **wo

Summary of Key Points on India’s New Atomic Energy Law

Legislative Framework

• Title: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India.
• Passed: End of 2025, but faced opposition.
• Debate: Lasted 11 hours with 64 MPs participating before passage.

Historical Context

• US Legislation: In 1946, the US Congress established the framework

Overview of Zilla Parishad School, Hiwali

1. School Profile:

   • Location: Hiwali, Tryambakeshwar, Nashik district, Maharashtra
   • Enrollment: 60 children, with an emphasis on children from tribal backgrounds
   • Operational Schedule: 365 days/year, 12 hours/day
   • Facilities: Provides two meals daily, activity-based, experiential learning, and vocational training

2. **Education

India-Africa Economic Relations: Strategic Overview

1. Context of Prime Minister Modi's Tour:

   • A five-nation tour in July 2025 included Namibia, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil.
   • Reflects ongoing efforts to bolster economic ties with Africa.

2. Historical and Diplomatic Background:

   • India-Africa relations have deep cultural and political roots, recently

Summary of Key Points on Aravalli Hills Definition and Mining Policy

1. Context and Constitutional Reference: The discussion around the Aravalli hills definition relates to environmental protection concerning mining operations, consistent with Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, which mandates the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife.