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UPSC Key: One Nation One Election, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Kailash-Mansarovar yatra

UPSC Key: One Nation One Election, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Kailash-Mansarovar yatra

Indian Express17 hours ago
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 12, 2025. If you missed the July 11, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
What's the ongoing story: Former Chief Justices of India Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, who appeared Friday before the Joint Committee of Parliament on the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill, are learnt to have said that the Bill does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill?
• What are the challenges related to the simultaneous elections?
• What is the process of passing the Constitutional Amendment Bill?
• What is the role of the Election Commission of India in conducting simultaneous elections?
• What are the arguments in favour of conducting ONOE?
• The High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections was constituted under whose chairmanship?
• What were the recommendations of the High-Level Committee?
• Know about the role and functions of the Election Commission of India
• What are the Parliamentary Committees? What is their role?
• What are asynchronous elections?
• What is the significance of no-confidence motion in a parliamentary democracy?
Key Takeaways:
• However, they were said to have underlined that the Bill in its present form may not pass the Constitution muster, especially with regard to the sweeping powers given to the Election Commission of India.
• It is learnt that on Friday former CJIs J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud expressed doubts whether the power of EC to decide if simultaneous polls can be delayed for a state is constitutionally permissible. Both are learnt to have underlined that holding simultaneous polls itself is constitutional and would not violate the basic structure of the Constitution
• Earlier, former CJIs UU Lalit and Ranjan Gogoi, who too appeared before the panel, had raised the issue of possible legal challenges to the Bill.
• Parliamentary committee proceedings are privileged, and details of exchanges between members during meetings are not made public.
• In the context of the powers given to the ECI and the Bill being silent on many electoral situations, Justice Chandrachud flagged legal challenges and proposed some redrafting of the Bill.
• He was said to have told the committee that asynchronous (non-simultaneous) elections were not held as a criteria of a free and fair election and were not part of the basic structure. In fact, the constitutional scheme early in the history of the republic was to hold simultaneous elections, he pointed out.
• In Justice Chandrachud's view, the Constitution only provides for a maximum term, that is five years, and there is no minimum guaranteed term. He was said to have pointed out that in a parliamentary democracy, there was no guaranteed term at all, and a government had to prove its mandate throughout the five years, through the check of the no-confidence motion.
• The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce simultaneous polls, states that the EC will decide whether simultaneous polls are feasible.
• The proposed amendment to Article 82 of the Constitution stipulates that the 'if the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the
general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date.'
Do You Know:
• Simultaneous elections, popularly referred to as 'One Nation, One Election', means holding elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time.
• Currently, all these elections are held independently of one another, following timelines dictated by the terms of every individual elected body. Former President Ram Nath Kovind was the Chairman of the High-Level Committee (HLC) constituted on 'One Nation, One Election'.
• The constitution has not provided any special provisions on the composition, tenure, or functioning of the Parliamentary Committees. Parliamentary Committees draw their authority from Article 105, which deals with the privileges of MPs, and Article 118, which gives Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business.
• Broadly, Parliamentary Committees can be classified into Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees, Other Parliamentary Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees.
• The Financial Committees include the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings. These committees were constituted in 1950.
• Seventeen Departmentally Related Standing Committees came into being in 1993, when Shivraj Patil was Speaker of Lok Sabha, to examine budgetary proposals and crucial government policies.
• Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose. They cease to exist after they have completed the task assigned to them, and have submitted a report to the House.
• Parliament can also constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) with a special purpose, with members from both Houses, for detailed scrutiny of a subject or Bill.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Four ex-CJIs raise red flag: EC power to delay simultaneous elections may not pass muster
📍Knowledge Nugget: Why is Parliamentary Estimates Committee important for your UPSC exam?
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
(1) Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament? (UPSC CSE 2014)
(a) The Committee on Public Accounts
(b) The Committee on Estimates
(c) The Committee on Public Undertakings
(d) The Committee on Petition
(2) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017)
1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
What's the ongoing story: With an agitation pushing for ending reservations for 'backward tribes' on one side and a demand to increase the quantum of this quota on the other, Nagaland's nearly five-decade old reservation policy has become the centre of a debate in the state.
Key Points to Ponder:
• When was Nagaland formed as a state?
• Know about the Naga tribes- their culture and history
• Know about the major tribes residing in Nagaland
• What is the purpose of a reservation?
• What are the arguments in favour and against the reservation?
• What is the basis of reservation in India?
• What is the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CORRP) of Nagaland?
• Who are the backward tribes in Nagaland?
Key Takeaways:
• This week, the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CORRP), a grouping of five tribes in Nagaland, resumed its protest to push for a review of the reservation policy.
• It provides for an internal quota within the broader ST category for 'Indigenous Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland' in government jobs and reserves 37% of posts for tribes identified as 'backward tribes'.
• The CORRP comprises representatives from the apex bodies of five groups that have come to be called 'advanced tribes': Ao, Angami, Sumi, Lotha and Rengma.
• In response to pressure from the CORRP, which has been building up since September last year, the Nagaland government had in March convened a meeting with different stakeholders. Following this, Cabinet minister Neiba Kronu said the government has decided to review the policy.
• There are 14 recognized Naga tribes in Nagaland, and the Scheduled Tribes in the state also include 'Indigenous' Garo, Mikir, Kuki and Kachari groups.
• The Nagaland government had first introduced reservation for STs of the state in the Nagaland State Services in 1967. The quantum for this was fixed at 80% of vacancies in the Nagaland State Services and 100% of non-technical Grade-III and IV posts.
• The element of internal reservations within this reservation was introduced in 1977. Through an order then, 25% of these reserved vacancies were reserved for seven tribes – Konyak, Chakhesang, Sangtam, Phom, Chang, Yimchunger and Khiamunuingan – citing economic backwardness and 'insignificant representation in the services'.
• The 1977 order had laid down a timeline of 10 years for these additional reservations. However, in 1989, through another order, the Nagaland government directed that the reservation policy would continue 'until further orders'.
• Now, the other tribes are saying that the reservation policy for backward tribes be entirely scrapped or that the remaining posts be reserved exclusively for them.
• There is also a demand from another quarter: organisations representing tribes from Eastern Nagaland, which have for years been demanding that the backward tribes reservation for the seven tribes from the region be increased to 45%.
Do You Know:
• The British annexed Assam in 1826, and in 1881, the Naga Hills too became part of British India. The first sign of Naga resistance was seen in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, which told the Simon Commission in 1929 'to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times'.
• In 1946 came the Naga National Council (NNC), which, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, declared Nagaland an independent state on August 14, 1947. The NNC resolved to establish a 'sovereign Naga state' and conducted a 'referendum' in 1951, in which '99 per cent' supported an 'independent' Nagaland.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: Everything you need to know about Nagaland insurgency
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions
General Studies-III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
What's the ongoing story: Ruchi Gupta: As the US and China drive a new era of AI competition, and the EU asserts leadership on AI regulation, India has articulated its ambition to lead in technology and shape global AI governance. With its democratic legitimacy and digital capacity, India is positioned to represent the Global South in AI forums.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the role of India in shaping global AI governance?
• What are the initiatives taken by India to ensure AI governance?
• What is the IndiaAI Mission?
• What is the share of India's GDP on R&D?
• What is the significance of investing in R & D for a growing nation like India?
• What are the issues with the government AI policies? What are the recommendations suggested by the author?
• Learn about the application of AI in governance, health, education, judiciary and other sectors
Key Takeaways:
• The IndiaAI Mission, approved last year with a budget of over Rs 10,000 crore, is a welcome step. But it is a mission without a mandate. Housed as a division of a Section 8 company under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, it is led by a bureaucrat. Operating without a Cabinet-endorsed national strategy.
• The US, China, the UK and the EU anchor their AI efforts in formal, Cabinet-endorsed national strategies with clear roadmaps and timelines.
• This governance gap is critical because India faces structural deficits that impede its AI ecosystem, which cannot be overcome through incremental approaches. The Indian R&D base remains relatively shallow.
• In the private sector, India's IT industry remains oriented toward services. Research investments are modest relative to international companies, and to the extent that the Indian IT industry has engaged with AI, it has been largely in deployment — downstream of frontier innovation.
• India lacks AI-first national champions and the deep-tech industrial ecosystem seen in global leaders.
• Venture capital majors are frank: They see India as a consumer market, not a deep-tech innovator. Funding remains skewed towards consumer tech, not foundational research.
• India needs a Cabinet-endorsed National AI Strategy — presented to Parliament — that sets out a vision, an actionable roadmap, and mechanisms for democratic accountability. This strategy must establish an empowered coordinating authority with a whole-of-government mandate; align R&D, industrial policy, and security strategy, and create frameworks for public engagement and parliamentary oversight.
Do You Know:
• Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science which aims to make computer systems think, reason, learn, and act to solve a complex system like humans.
• The term artificial intelligence was coined by McCarthy. 'McCarthy later admitted that no one really liked the name — after all, the goal was genuine, not 'artificial', intelligence — but 'I had to call it something, so I called it 'Artificial Intelligence','' wrote Melanie Mitchell in her book, 'Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans'.
• AI can be classified into two types: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) also known as weak AI and Artificial General • Intelligence (AGI) also referred to as strong AI.
• ANI is designed for specific tasks and excels within a narrow domain. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri, recommendation systems on platforms like Netflix, and image recognition software. ANI systems are highly specialised and cannot transfer their expertise to unrelated tasks.
• In contrast, AGI aims to replicate human cognitive abilities, enabling it to perform any intellectual task a human can do. AGI would possess general reasoning skills, understand context, and adapt to new situations across various domains. It would be capable of autonomous learning and problem-solving without requiring task-specific programming.
• Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) are subsets of AI but differ in complexity and capabilities. ML involves training algorithms to learn from data and make predictions and often requires manual feature extraction.
• DL, a subset of ML, uses neural networks with many layers (hence 'deep') to automatically learn features from large datasets. While ML works well with smaller datasets, DL requires vast amounts of data and computational power.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍AI basics: What are artificial intelligence and machine learning?
📍What is Artificial Intelligence, how is it revolutionising healthcare
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(3) With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020)
1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
3. Disease diagnosis
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
What's the ongoing story: K J Alphons writes: Experts will propose dramatic changes in defence strategy, just as the art of war changed with the invention of gunpowder, machine guns, fighter planes, rockets, nuclear bombs, missiles etc. In light of recent developments, I have the following observations on future planning.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the Operation Spider's Web?
• What are the US B-2 stealth bombers?
• What are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)? How has it become significant in modern warfare?
• What are stealth fighters?
• Role of the private sector in the production of defense equipment
• How have wars evolved over time?
• What are the recommendations of the author for India's defence sector?
Key Takeaways:
• First, fighter planes are flying ducks, and horribly expensive, too. Earlier, fighters were lost in dogfights; now, they can be shot down in one's own air space from enemy territory. It is foolish to use them when a Rs 50,000 drone can do the job much better at a fraction of the cost.
• In any case, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be designed to carry payloads of any size. Besides, for precision delivery of large payloads, missiles are the best. Our Agni missiles can hit almost anywhere in the world accurately.
• Even stealth fighters have no place in future warfare — sooner rather than later, better radar technology or satellite-based observation techniques will be developed to detect them. The DRDO and HAL should stop wasting resources on fighters.
• Second, aircraft carriers are sitting ducks for UAVs. A torpedo can also sink even the most protected carrier. And protecting one requires a lot of paraphernalia — it's like an emperor who needs to be closely guarded.
• Third, tanks are expensive. They can be immobilised with drones, and there are a variety of shells that can destroy any battle tank. They can easily be replaced with more effective and less expensive equipment — don't waste money on them.
• Fourth, future wars will be satellite/UAV-driven conflicts. Not only will these track everything, they will deliver the munitions as well, including nuclear warheads. Spend lots of money on these.
• All over the world, the best defence equipment is manufactured by the private sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the development and production of defence equipment locally.
• The DRDO's wings should be clipped drastically and it should stick to its areas of core competence, such as missile technology. Let the private sector do the rest, without any supervision by the DRDO. They will produce world-class products. Give them a free hand and have a large PLI for the sector.
Do You Know:
• The nature of warfare has undergone an irreversible shift. From boots on the ground and dogfights in the air to remote strikes from unmanned platforms and AI-driven decision cycles, war is now a contest of networks, autonomy, and lethality at machine speed. Nations that adapt to this shift will dominate; those that lag will perish in obsolescence.
• Manoj K Channan writes: In this evolving paradigm, four key assertions emerge. One, artillery (rockets/missiles) will dominate offensive operations. Two, air defence (AD) will become the primary defensive shield.
• Three, sappers will rise in operational relevance beyond mobility and countermobility. And four, the infantry and the armoured corps will execute decisive manoeuvres, shaped by strategic fires and autonomous systems.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are military aircraft that is guided autonomously, by remote control, or both and that carries sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, or electronic transmitters designed to interfere with or destroy enemy targets.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Warfare is going autonomous — India must catch up
Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders. to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (UPSC CSE 2023)
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
General Studies III: Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
What's the ongoing story: The stringent Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, which seeks 'to provide for effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of left wing extremist organisations or similar organisations', was passed by the state Assembly by a voice vote on Thursday.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What do you understand by Maoism?
• Know about Naxalites and Left-wing Extremism, also understand the difference between them
• Know about the history of Naxalism in India
• What are cognizable offences?
• What are the concerns related to the Bill?
• What is the status of Naxalism in India?
• What are the steps taken by the government to curb Naxalism?
• What is Urban Maoism?
• Why is it a concern for internal security?
Key Takeaways:
• The Bill will now be introduced in the Legislative Council where it is expected to pass as well. It will then be sent to the Governor for his assent, following which it will become law.
• The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill says the 'menace of Naxalism is not only limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected states, but its presence is increasing in the urban areas also through the Naxal front organisations'.
• According to the government, these 'frontal organisations' provide logistics and safe refuge to armed Naxal cadres, and 'existing laws are ineffective and inadequate to tackle this menace of Naxalism'.
• To address this situation, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts and banned 48 Naxal frontal organisations, the Bill says.
• The Bill gives the government the power to declare any suspect 'organisation' as an 'unlawful organisation'. It prescribes four offences for which an individual can be punished:
(i) for being a member of an unlawful organisation,
(ii) when not a member, for raising funds for an unlawful organisation,
(iii) for managing or assisting in managing an unlawful organisation and,
(iv) for committing an 'unlawful activity'.
• These offences carry jail terms of two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The offence relating to committing an unlawful activity carries the toughest punishment: imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
• Offences under the proposed law are cognizable, which means arrests can be made without a warrant, and are non-bailable.
• The Bill was first brought at the fag end of the 2024 Monsoon Session of the Assembly. The day after the Bill was tabled, the Assembly was prorogued and the Bill was not passed.
Do You Know:
• While often conflated, Maoism, Naxalism, and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) have distinct origins. Maoism is based on Mao Zedong's doctrine of agrarian revolution and guerrilla warfare. Its Indian variant emerged with the 1967 Naxalbari uprising, leading to the broader Naxalite movement.
• Over decades, this transformed itself into factions, with the CPI (Maoist) becoming the dominant group in 2004 through the merger of the People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC). LWE is the term used by the Indian state to categorise such insurgencies within a national security framework.
• By contrast, 'Urban Naxal' is often used to refer to supporters of Naxalism, including intellectual and financial support.
• The Maoist insurgency traces its roots to the CPI(Marxist-Leninist) founded by Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The movement fractured during the 1970s–90s into numerous groups, many of which operated in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍What lies ahead as Centre mounts offensive against Maoists
📍This Word Means: Maoist
UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (UPSC CSE 2020)
📍The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements. With Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) doctrine that affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth. (UPSC CSE 2015)
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Salient features of the world's physical geography.
General Studies-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
What's the ongoing story: After a five-year hiatus triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and extended due to tensions between India and China, the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra has resumed in 2025.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Where is Nathu La pass located?
• Map work: Mount Kailash, Dirapuk, Dolma La, and Zutul Puk
• What is the cultural significance of the Kailash Mansarovar yatra?
• What is the significance of initiatives like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in improving bilateral ties between India and China?
• How does cultural diplomacy complement traditional diplomatic mechanisms?
Key Takeaways:
• This year, the Ministry of External Affairs chose 750 pilgrims who would be making the storied pilgrimage.
• With an elevation of 6,638 metres, Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche in Tibetan) is located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the tri-junction of India, Tibet and Nepal.
• To its south on the Tibetan plateau are two lakes: the freshwater Manasarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and saltwater Rakshastal (Lhanag Tso).
• Both lakes and the towering mountain in their background are significant in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Tibetan Bon traditions.
• Four major rivers — the Yarlung Tsangpo (which later becomes the Brahmaputra), the Indus, the Sutlej, and the Karnali (later known as Ghaghra, a major tributary of the Ganga) — trace their to origins 'the watershed of this iconic mass of rock,' Alice Albinia wrote in her award-winning book Empires of the Indus: The Story of a River (2008).
• Despite its age-old sacredness, however, the Kailash-Mansarovar complex was not a popular pilgrimage site till 'as recently as the early 1900s…,' wrote Tibetologist Alex McKay in his book Kailas Histories: Renunciate Traditions and the Construction of Himalayan Sacred Geography (2015).
• Pilgrims typically travel to and circumambulate Mansarovar, a 90-km walk that takes between three to five days to complete. Some then circumambulate Mount Kailash, a much more arduous 52-km trek that takes around three days to complete.
• The Kailash trek began on the southern side of the mountain, at Tarchen. Pilgrims typically travel clockwise around the mountain, always keeping Kailash to their right. The trek passes through Dirapuk, Dolma La, Zutul Puk, and finally culminates in Tarchen.
• On the Nathu La pass route, which first opened in 2015, the journey is even easier: pilgrims travel the entire 1,500 km from Nathu La to Mansarovar by car or bus.
Do You Know:
• There are two primary routes to reach Lake Mansarovar from India.
• LIPULEKH PASS ROUTE: Lipulekh pass lies at an altitude of 5,115 metres, on the border between Uttarakhand and TAR, near the trijunction with Nepal. It is an ancient passageway between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan Plateau, frequented by traders and pilgrims alike.
• While the Lipulekh pass route is the most direct way to get to Mansarovar from India — as the crow flies, the lake is roughly 50 km from the border — the terrain makes the journey very challenging. Currently, this route entails roughly 200 km of hard trekking. Before 2020, it had been operational since 1981.
• NATHU LA PASS ROUTE: Nathu La pass lies at an altitude of 4,310 metres on the border between Sikkim and TAR. It is one of two mountain passes in the region — the other being Jelep La — that have connected Sikkim and Tibet since ancient times.
• The route to Mansarovar from Nathu La is much longer in terms of distance — close to 1,500 km. But it is fully motorable, meaning pilgrims can make it all the way to the lake without any trekking. (They would only need to trekk 35-40 km for the circumambulation of Mount Kailash). This route became operational in 2015.
• NEPAL ROUTE: No private operators function on the two official routes. There is, however, a third route through Nepal in which private companies do operate. In theory, this route has been accessible to Indians since 2023, when China reopened its border with Nepal. But visa and permit requirements, as well as high costs due to China-imposed fees, have meant that few have likely availed this option.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume soon: Everything you need to know
📍India, China move to normalise ties, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume in June after 5 years
Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
(4) Consider the following pairs :
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) l and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
One, it uses a quick, easy-to-use tool, which helps a doctor determine whether a patient is severely ill and needs to be hospitalised soon after being diagnosed with TB. The tool does not require any laboratory-based investigations.
Two, the initiative follows a differentiated care model which offers a patient-centred approach instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment.
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Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: khushboo.kumari@indianexpress.com ... Read More
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Knowledge Nugget: Why are the Maratha Military Landscapes relevant for the UPSC exam?
Knowledge Nugget: Why are the Maratha Military Landscapes relevant for the UPSC exam?

Indian Express

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  • Indian Express

Knowledge Nugget: Why are the Maratha Military Landscapes relevant for the UPSC exam?

Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC history, art and culture current affairs knowledge nugget on the Maratha military landscapes. (Relevance: UNESCO World Heritage sites are a crucial part of the UPSC syllabus. Additionally, the Maratha Empire is an important topic. In the past, UPSC has asked various questions related to the Maratha Empire. For example, in the Prelims exam of the Combined Geo-Scientist 2025, a question was asked on this topic. Therefore, it is essential to cover this topic from both the history and art & culture perspectives.) At the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), India's official nomination for the 2024-25 cycle, the Maratha Military Landscapes, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In this context, let's know about the Maratha Military Landscapes and Chhatrapati Shivaji. 1. The Maratha Military Landscapes include 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji, including forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijay Durg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. 2. The decision to include them was taken on Friday (July 11) during the 47th session of the WHC held in Paris. This is India's 44th property to receive the recognition. 3. Regarding the latest addition to the World Heritage List, the Culture Ministry said it reflects India's enduring cultural legacy and highlights the country's diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity. 1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) carved out an independent Maratha kingdom from various Deccan states in the 17th century. He was born to a general who served different Deccan Sultans throughout his life. 2. Shivaji was keen on expanding his father's fiefdom of modern-day Pune into an independent Maratha state. During that time several Sultanates like Bijapur, Golkonda and Ahmadnagar and the Mughals were competing for the control of the Deccan. 3. With the rise of Mughal power, these Sultanates would become tributaries to the Mughal Empire with the rulers and ruling clans being given positions in the Mughal court. However, they continued to quarrel among themselves. 4. Shivaji's conflict with the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur began when he was only 16. He would spend the rest of his life fighting various opponents. This is how he went on to lay the foundation for the Maratha Empire. This empire stretched across large parts of the Indian subcontinent and rule till the 19th Century. 5. His first direct encounter with the Mughals was during Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns of the 1650s. As Aurangzeb went North to fight for the Mughal throne, Shivaji was able to seize further territory. 6. In 1664 he attacked the port of Surat (now in Gujarat) and plundered one of the richest and busiest commercial towns of Mughal India while the local governor hid in a nearby fort. 7. Aurangzeb noticed that the legend of Shivaji and the physical sphere of his influence was growing. So he sent a 100,000-strong, well-equipped army under Raja Jai Singh I to subdue him in 1665. After putting up a valiant fight, Shivaji was besieged in the Purandar hill fort. 8. He was taken to Aurangzeb's court in Agra in 1666. He presented Aurangzeb with various gifts, but he felt slighted at the treatment he received in return, and made his displeasure clear in open court. Aurangzeb put him under house arrest in Agra. Far away from home and help, Shivaji realised he needed to escape to save himself and his territories. The story of Shivaji's subsequent escape is now part of common lore. 9. The popularly told story involves an elaborate plan, under which he began daily distribution of alms to brahmans. The alms would be sent from his home in Agra in large, covered baskets. 10. After some time, the Mughal guards became lax about checking the contents of the baskets that daily left his house. One day, Shivaji slipped into one of the baskets, and put his young son, Sambhaji, in another basket. It was in these covered baskets that Shivaji and his son left Agra, right under the noses of the Mughals. 11. Aurangzeb chose not to start an immediate conflict with Shivaji again. Instead, he offered Shivaji the title of Raja and guaranteed his authority in the Maratha lands as long as he acknowledged the supremacy of the Mughals and maintained truce. 12. By 1669, Shivaji had regrouped and raised an effective army. Using his old guerilla tactics, he would swiftly descend into static Mughal and Bijapuri strongholds, looting and pillaging the shocked Mughals. In 1674, he crowned himself Chhatrapati, officially creating an independent Maratha kingdom. 13. At the time of his death, he held around 300 forts over an area that stretched across the Konkan coast, from Surat to near Goa, and was overlooked by the strategic Western Ghats. 1. Crucial to Maratha military strategy were hill forts. Unlike the plains of Northern India, suited to conventional battle with large standing armies, the terrain of the Maratha country was different. With the Arabian Sea on one side, the Konkan plains in the centre and the Western Ghats overlooking the plains, in the 17th century much of the region was covered in thick jungles. 2. The Maratha icon was born and raised in the hill fort of Shivneri (around 100 km from Pune), given to Shivaji's grandfather by the Sultan of Ahmadnagar in lieu of his services as a military commander. Shivneri is a typical hill fort found in the Western Ghats – a small but strong fortification, atop a hill overlooking the surrounding terrain. 3. Growing up in the hills and valleys around Pune, Shivaji understood the salience of hill forts in controlling the land. Over his storied life, he captured multiple such forts, including Torna (when he was only 16), Rajgadh, Sinhagadh and Purandar. 4. Early in his life, Shivaji realised that the key to holding power in the Deccan (or for that matter, many places in India in that era) was to capture and hold important forts. Thus, his strategies would be centred around taking control of forts in strategic locations, often on hilltops. He also repaired and built new forts as his sphere of control increased. 5. Warfare in such terrain is qualitatively different, with large conventional armies prone to getting bogged down. Thus, as Shivaji began to consolidate and expand his influence in the region, his strategies evolved to be significantly different from the common military doctrine of the time. 6. Marathas forces would strike quickly and retreat to the many hill forts of the region. These forts were designed such that the approach to them was tricky, often treacherous, to large groups of men. Consequently, these were perfect defensive positions where either the bigger armies would not bother to attack or would have to sacrifice their strength in numbers if they did choose to attack. Hill forts also were constructed such that they were perfect vantage points to keep a lookout for any threat. Consider the following statements with reference to the Maratha Military Landscapes: 1. It includes 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 2. All forts part of Maratha military landscapes are located in Maharashtra. 3. It is India's 43rd property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: Knowledge Nugget: How is 'Chhaava' or Sambhaji Maharaj important for UPSC Exam?, Knowledge nugget of the day: Chhatrapati Shivaji) ALSO READ: How Shivaji became the voice of multiple social causes by Adrija Roychowdhury Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More

Trial delays forcing innocents to spend years in prison: Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai
Trial delays forcing innocents to spend years in prison: Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai

New Indian Express

time12 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Trial delays forcing innocents to spend years in prison: Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai

HYDERABAD: Stating that India and the legal system are facing unique challenges that require urgent attention, Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai on Saturday asserted that the country has the talent to find solutions. Speaking at the 22nd Annual Convocation of NALSAR University of Law, the CJI said: 'Delays in trials can sometimes last decades. There are cases where individuals have been declared innocent after spending years in jail as undertrials. Our best talent can help resolve such issues.' Justice Gavai noted the disparity in perceptions surrounding legal graduates, saying a student from a national law school in a metro city is often considered better placed than one from a smaller university. 'This is not necessarily because of skill, but perception. It is unfair, but real. We need to confront it, not accept it,' he said. The CJI stressed the importance of core legal subjects such as the Constitution, Contract Act, Code of Civil Procedure and Criminal Law, stating that there is no shortcut to legal knowledge and no alternative to knowing the basics. He also referred to the rapid changes in law due to emerging areas like artificial intelligence and data privacy. Addressing the growing trend of pursuing foreign degrees, the CJI said such qualifications have become symbols of validation. 'If you wish to go, go. It teaches you how the world thinks. But go with scholarship and funding. Go with purpose, not pressure. I see young lawyers taking loans of `50–70 lakh for this. Do not put yourself or your family under such a burden. A foreign degree alone is not a stamp of your worth.' Justice Gavai said the trend also reflects a deeper structural concern, that of a lack of confidence in India's postgraduate legal education and research. 'If we want to keep our best minds or bring them back, we must create nurturing academic environments, offer transparent and merit-based opportunities, and most importantly, restore dignity and purpose to legal research and teaching in India.' SC Judge Justice PS Narasimha, CM A Revanth Reddy, Acting CJ of the Telangana HC were present.

Who Is Harsh Shringla, Ex-Foreign Secretary Who Became President's Nominee To Rajya Sabha?
Who Is Harsh Shringla, Ex-Foreign Secretary Who Became President's Nominee To Rajya Sabha?

News18

time16 minutes ago

  • News18

Who Is Harsh Shringla, Ex-Foreign Secretary Who Became President's Nominee To Rajya Sabha?

Last Updated: Harsh Vardhan Shringla was among the four nominees by the President of India to Rajya Sabha. Other eminent name on the list was Ujjwal Nikam, who helped prosecute Ajmal Kasab. The President of India nominated four members to the Rajya Sabha, which includes an accomplished diplomat and former foreign secretary, Harsh Shringla. Others who were nominated to the Upper House of the Parliament include eminent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who led the prosecution case against 26/11 attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the sessions court and the Bombay High Court. 'In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that article, the President is pleased to nominate to the Council of States the following persons to fill the vacancies caused due to retirement of nominated members:- Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, C Sadanandan Master, Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Dr Meenakshi Jain," the MHA notification said on Saturday. Who Is Harsh Vardhan Shringla? Shringla is an ex-Foreign Secretary of India. He joined the IFS in 1984 and was the youngest in his batch. He has been described by his peers as 'no nonsense" and 'sharp". He graduated from Delhi University's St. Stephen's College. He published papers on economic diplomacy, Indian diaspora, conflict prevention, and India-Bangladesh relations. He has also published op-eds in outlets such as The New York Times. Before diplomatic service, he worked briefly in India's corporate and public sectors. He served as an Ambassador to Thailand (from 2014 to 2016), High Commissioner to Bangladesh (from 2016 to 2019), and then as Ambassador to the United States (from January 2019 to January 2020). He served as the 33rd Foreign Secretary from January 29, 2020, to April 30, 2022. He also served as the Chief Coordinator during India's Presidency of the G20 Summit in 2023. He oversaw the successful organisation and adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Day One of the summit in New Delhi. Shringla has held key roles at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, including Joint Secretary for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the Maldives. He also led the UN Political and SAARC divisions, and earlier handled Nepal, Bhutan, and Western Europe affairs. As Ambassador in the US, he was the man behind organising the biggest event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indian-Americans in the country – Howdy Modi – in which President Donald Trump had also participated. Though the event was organised by Texas India Forum, it had been in close coordination with the Indian Embassy in Washington, then led by Shringla. view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 10:11 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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