UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Economic Overview of India (Q2 FY 2025-26)

GDP Growth

• Real GDP Growth: 8.2% year-on-year, the highest growth in six quarters.
• Nominal GDP Growth: 8.7%, indicating moderate price pressures.
• Absolute Real GDP: ₹48.63 lakh crore, up from ₹44.94 lakh crore in the same quarter of the previous year.

Sector Contributions

• Services Sector: Strong growth led by financ

Summary of Key Facts and Data: Unemployment in India

Unemployment Rate:

• November 2023 unemployment rate: 4.7% (lowest since the launch of monthly PLFS in April 2023).
• Decrease from 5.2% in October 2023.

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):

• LFPR for November 2023: 55.8% (highest recorded in available monthly data).
• Male LFPR: 77.4% (unchanged).
• Female LF

Exam-Focused Notes on PSU Joint Ventures for Solar Power Projects

Key Facts & Data

• Land Requirement: Utility-scale solar installations require approximately 4-7 acres of land per megawatt (MW).
• Potential Land Requirement: To harness India’s full solar potential, an estimated 1.4-2 million hectares of land will be needed.
• Joint Ventures (JVs): Public Sector Under

Summary of Court Proceedings and Air Quality Initiatives in Mumbai

Court Order and Concerns:

• The Bombay High Court initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) due to deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, expressing the necessity for immediate solutions.
• Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad are overseeing the case, focusing on public health impacts, par

NIA Charges in Pahalgam Terror Attack Case (2025)

1. Overview:
   • The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged seven individuals in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local civilian.
   • The charges include involvement of a Pakistani national, Sajid Jatt, associated with terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and

Exam-Focused Notes on SHANTI Bill, 2025:

1. Legislation Overview:

• Bill Title: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025.
• Purpose: To facilitate private sector participation in India’s nuclear power sector, replacing and modernizing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.

Summary of Key Facts and Data

Air Quality in Delhi

• Current Pollutant Levels: Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached alarmingly high levels, recording 498 in the morning and settling at 427 by evening, categorized under 'severe' for three consecutive days.
• Pollution Monitoring: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors air quality; on the reported day, 27 monitorin

Summary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Visit to Oman

1. Diplomatic Context:

• PM Modi's visit on December 17, 2025, coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman.
• Modi's previous visit was in 2018; Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visited India on December 16, 2023.

2. Strategic Partnership:

• Oman maintains a foreign policy of moderation a

Summary of USTR Delegation's Visit to India

Trade Relations and Agreements

• Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA): Ongoing negotiations to resolve differences between the US and India regarding a long-pending BTA.
• USTR Team: Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer and Brendan Lynch led the delegation to India, encouraging American companies to prioritize investments in the US, p

Summary of Key Points Regarding Air Quality Management in Delhi and NCR

Institutional Oversight

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Responsible for air quality management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and surrounding areas.

Findings from Inspections

• Inspections Conducted: Flying squads inspected 136 road stretches maintained by the Delhi Developmen

Commemorative Postage Stamp for Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II

1. Release of Stamp:

   • A commemorative postage stamp honoring Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar II (also known as Suvaran Maran) was released by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.
   • Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the release on social media, emphasizing the king’s qualities as an administrator and a visionary.

2. **Historic

Exam-focused Notes on Tamil Nadu's Community-based Environmental Monitoring Reporting and Verification (CbMRV) Initiative:

1. Global Context:
   • Climate Transparency Mandate: Under the Paris Agreement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems are crucial for tracking emissions, adaptation, and financial commitments towards Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Summary of Air Pollution Issues in India

Overview

• Air Quality Crisis: India has been grappling with severe air quality issues for over a decade, with cities in the Gangetic plains showing some of the worst pollution levels globally.
• Global Context: India consistently ranks among countries with the most polluted cities, contributing significantly to global air quality problem

Summary of Income Inequality in India - World Inequality Report 2026

1. Income Inequality Statistics:

   • Top 10% of earners in India capture 58% of the national income.
   • Bottom 50% receive only 15% of national income.
   • Wealth inequality: Top 10% hold 65% of total wealth; top 1% possess 40%.

2. Comparison to Previous Reports:

   • 2022 Report: Top 10% held **

Economic Overview - Inflation and CPI Data

1. Inflation Rate:
   • Current Rate: As of November, India’s headline retail inflation rate rose to 0.71%, up from 0.25% in October.
   • Food Prices: Year-on-year food prices decreased by 3.91% in November, marking the sixth consecutive month of deflation in the food category.
   • Deflation in Specific Items: Major drop

India-Ethiopia Relations: Key Highlights

Demographics and Economic Landscape

• Population: Ethiopia has a population of approximately 109 million (2024).
• Economic Growth: Recognized as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with a substantial manufacturing base and large domestic market.
• Strategic Location: Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia serves as a p

Notes on Atomic Energy Bill 2025 and India's Nuclear Energy Policies

Overview

• Atomic Energy Bill, 2025: Aims to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 to allow private companies to operate nuclear power plants in India.
• Private Equity Participation: Up to 49% equity from private players permitted in upcoming nuclear projects, enabling collaborations with foreign companies and so

Summary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Upcoming Foreign Tour: Key Points

1. Countries to Visit:

   • Jordan: December 15-16, 2025
   • Ethiopia: December 16-17, 2025
   • Oman: December 17-18, 2025

2. Key Objectives of the Visits:

   • Strengthening business and political ties.
   • Signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements to bolster bilateral rel

Summary Notes on the UN’s Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7)

Overview of GEO Report:

• GEO Report Frequency: Issued every five to seven years.
• Purpose: Provides a comprehensive assessment of the world’s ecological health, linking climate, pollution, and the global economy.

Key Findings of GEO-7:

• Climate Crisis: Recognized as a multifaceted issue deeply affecting hum

Summary of Research on Cyclones and Flooding in Southeast Asia

Key Facts & Figures

• Causative Events:
  • Cyclones Ditwah and Senyar impacted Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in late November.
  • Resulted in at least 1,600 fatalities across the affected countries.
  • Economic losses: Indonesia - $4.13 billion; Sri Lanka - $6 to $7 billion.
  • Destruction i

Exam-Focused Notes on Mangrove Research and Salt Tolerance

Mangrove Adaptations:

• Mangroves possess unique cell traits that allow them to survive in high-salinity environments due to rising sea levels from climate change.
• The study identifies key characteristics in mangrove species’ cells that are critical for salt tolerance.

Key Findings:

• Research analyzed **34 mangrove species

Summary of Key Facts and Events Regarding the Repatriation of Buddhist Relics

• Background of the Relics: Sacred Buddhist relics from Piprahwa, taken about 130 years ago by William Peppé, were successfully returned to India after initial plans to auction them at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

• Legal and Diplomatic Efforts:

  • The Union Culture Secretary initiated efforts shortly after assumi

Summary of Key Points on India-Russia Defense Relations and Strategic Assessments

Defense Systems and Strategic Risks

• S-400 Missile Defense System:
  • Acquired by India primarily for defense against China, with a secondary consideration of Pakistan.
  • Concerns raised about the resilience of Russian systems, particularly the reliance on Chinese and Western components, which may

Chinese-Japanese Diplomatic Tensions and Historical Context

1. Current Diplomatic Issues:
   • Diplomatic tensions have escalated between China and Japan, particularly following remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding military responses to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.
   • Chinese officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, have criticized