rchives


(PRELIMS  Focus)


Golden jackals

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context:  Golden jackals in Kerala have shown remarkable adaptability to human-dominated landscapes, thriving beyond traditional forests in areas like agricultural lands, village edges, and peri-urban zones

They exploit food sources from human activities, such as waste and livestock carrion, demonstrating a flexible diet and strong scavenging ability. This ecological plasticity allows them to survive habitat fragmentation and loss. However, their growing presence near human settlements raises concerns about potential conflicts and disease transmission, highlighting the need for effective management of human-wildlife interactions.

Learning Corner:

Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)

IUCN Status:

Distribution:

Habitats:
Golden jackals occupy a diverse range of habitats, including:

Key Features:

Conservation Concerns:

Source: THE HINDU


Private Test Facility for Heavy Water Upgrade

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: India has inaugurated its first private test facility for upgrading depleted heavy water (D₂O), a critical component for nuclear reactors. Located in Palghar, Maharashtra

Key highlights:

Learning Corner:

Heavy Water (D₂O) 

Definition:
Heavy water is a form of water in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium (²H or D), a stable isotope of hydrogen that has one neutron in addition to the proton.

Key Features:

Uses:

Importance in Nuclear Power:

Purity Requirement:

India’s Context:

Safety:

Source:  THE INDIAN EXPRESS


Monsoon

Category: GEOGRAPHY

Context : Monsoon at Mid-Season – India Records 8% Above-Normal Rainfall

As of July 28, 2025, India’s southwest monsoon has performed well, with 8% above-normal rainfall (440.1 mm) from June 1 to July 28. Most regions recorded normal or above-normal rainfall, except east and northeast India, which saw a deficit of 23%.

Regional Rainfall (June 1–July 28):

Key Points:

Learning Corner:

Monsoon 

Definition:
Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal of winds accompanied by changes in precipitation. In South Asia, it primarily denotes the Southwest Monsoon, which brings the majority of India’s annual rainfall.

Types of Monsoon in India:

  1. Southwest Monsoon (June–September):
    • Brings ~75% of India’s annual rainfall
    • Caused by differential heating of land and ocean
    • Divided into two branches: Arabian Sea Branch and Bay of Bengal Branch
  2. Northeast Monsoon (October–December):
    • Affects mainly southeastern India (Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh)

Importance of Monsoon:

Factors Influencing Monsoon:

Challenges:

Source :  THE INDIAN EXPRESS


National Education Policy (NEP)

Category: POLITY

Context Five Years of NEP

What Has Worked

What’s In Progress

What’s Stuck and Why

Learning Corner:

 History of the National Education Policy (NEP) in India

The National Education Policy (NEP) is India’s vision document for guiding the development of the education system. Since independence, India has had three major NEPs:

National Education Policy 1968

National Education Policy 1986 (Modified in 1992)

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS


Textile sector

Category: ECONOMICS

Context: Govt working on ‘living wage’

Key Points:

Learning Corner:

Types of Wages in India

  1. Minimum Wage
    • The lowest remuneration legally payable to workers.
    • Fixed by the Central or State Government under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
    • Varies across states, skill levels (skilled/unskilled), and industries.
    • Ensures basic sustenance (food, shelter, clothing).
  2. Fair Wage
    • Higher than minimum wage, but lower than living wage.
    • Considers the industry’s capacity to pay and standard of living.
    • Aims to strike a balance between workers’ needs and employers’ financial health.
  3. Living Wage
    • The ideal wage, which covers not only basic necessities but also education, health, insurance, transportation, and some comfort.
    • Not legally enforced in India yet, but under consideration for implementation.
    • Designed to improve quality of life and encourage women’s workforce participation.
  4. Need-Based Minimum Wage
    • Recommended by the 15th Indian Labour Conference (1957) and accepted by the Supreme Court in 1992 (Reptakos Brett case).
    • Based on calorie intake, clothing, housing rent, education, and other essentials.
    • A more realistic and humane version of minimum wage.
  5. Statutory Wage vs. Market Wage
    • Statutory wage: Mandated by law (e.g., minimum wage).
    • Market wage: Determined by demand and supply in the labor market (often higher for skilled sectors).

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS


(MAINS Focus)


Pendency of Cases and Access to Justice (GS paper II - Polity and Governance)

Introduction (Context)

India’s judicial system is facing a severe backlog, with over 5 crore pending cases across the Supreme Court, High Courts, and subordinate courts, raising concerns over timely justice delivery.

Despite reforms, structural bottlenecks, human resource shortages, and inefficient case management continue to delay justice, undermining public trust and access to speedy justice.

Litigation Pendency In India

Data:

Reasons for Delay in Deciding Cases in India

India’s judicial system is plagued by massive pendency due to multiple structural, procedural, and administrative factors. The major causes are as follows:

Shortage of Judges and Court Infrastructure

Administrative and Procedural Inefficiencies

High Volume of Cases and Low Disposal Rates

Frequent Adjournments and Litigation Misuse

Legal and Social Factors

Lack of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Promotion

What is the Impact of Pendency of cases on the Judicial System?

Suggested Reforms to Reduce Pendency of Cases

1. Expanding Court Capacity

2. Filling Vacancies and Appointing Ad-Hoc Judges

3. Strengthening Court Administration

4. Effective Case and Time Management

5. Leveraging Technology

6. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Conclusion

Judicial reforms are imperative to ensure timely, affordable, and accessible justice in India. Persistent pendency and delays have eroded public trust in the legal system and undermined the principle of speedy justice enshrined in the Constitution. 

A multi-pronged approach—strengthening court infrastructure, appointing adequate judges, enforcing strict timelines, integrating technology, and institutionalizing case management—can drastically improve judicial efficiency. 

Mains Practice Question

Q “Despite several reforms, judicial pendency continues to hamper access to timely justice in India.” Critically analyse the causes and suggest measures to overcome the delays in India’s judicial system. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/reader?utm_source=Hindu&utm_medium=Menu&utm_campaign=Header&_gl=1*a9fyy3*_gcl_au*NTM5MTIxNzU2LjE3NTI0MjkwMzQuMTkzOTM3NzM4LjE3NTM3NjA1MTEuMTc1Mzc2MDUxMQ..


Financial Inclusion (GS paper III – Economy)

Introduction (Context)

As per the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) released by the RBI, financial inclusion across the country improved to 67 in March 2025, up from 64.2 in March 2024.

Hence, in this article we are analysing the concepts associated with financial inclusion.

What is Financial Inclusion?

Role of Financial Inclusion in Sustainable Development

What is Financial Inclusion Index?

Financial inclusion index 2025: Data

Government flagship initiatives for financial inclusion

Financial inclusion has been a key tool used by policymakers and governments globally to reduce inequalities, strengthen livelihoods of people at the bottom of the pyramid, and spur growth. 

Some of the important schemes are:

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): 

Digital India Programme

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): 

Aadhar inclusion: 

Atal Pension Yojna: 

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): 

Key Challenges to Financial Inclusion in India

These barriers highlight the need for holistic solutions—combining better infrastructure, education, trust-building, gender inclusion, and simpler digital tools—to make financial inclusion truly meaningful across India.

Mains Practice Question

Q “Financial Inclusion is not just about opening bank accounts but about meaningful participation in the economy.” Elaborate. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/knowledge-nugget-rbi-financial-inclusion-index-economy-upsc-10144929/

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