Punjab Educational Infrastructure Expansion: Punjab set to expand educational infrastructure, says Higher Education Minister, ET Education
Chandigarh, The Punjab government is set to expand its educational infrastructure with plans to establish new government colleges in the state, having a special focus on border areas and underserved regions, Minister for Higher Education Harjot Singh Bains informed the assembly.While moving the Rayat Bahra Professional University, Hoshiarpur Bill -- 2025 and C.G.C. University, Mohali Bill -- 2025 in the Vidhan Sabha, Bains highlighted the state's remarkable progress in the field of education, citing an 85 per cent increase in enrolment in government colleges.The Education Minister said all the colleges in the state, government, private and aided, saw a significant rise in student enrolment, from 7 lakh in 2022 to 9 lakh in the last academic session.Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University in Bathinda witnessed a notable surge in enrolment, growing from 1,400 to 2,480 students.Furthermore, the state has expanded its ITI seats by approximately 35,000 in the past three years, with an impressive 99 per cent seat fill-up rate last year, and further, plans to add 5,000-7,000 more seats this year.He attributed this growth to the government's commitment to transform Punjab into a global education hub.Notably, the government has provided over 54,000 government jobs to the youth, which has significantly helped in curbing brain drain."The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the only party in the country's history to have made education a central plank of its agenda during the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls," Bains said, adding education is the topmost priority of the Punjab government.He highlighted that the state has introduced new-age courses in emerging fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, banking, financial services, digital marketing, hospitality and tourism, and event management.Furthermore, the government has also ensured the timely disbursement of Scheduled Caste scholarships so that no student should be deprived of quality education due to financial constraints.
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Kila Raipur's heart begins to race
Ludhiana: The thunder of hooves, the creak of wood, returns to Punjab. Bullock cart races are set to gallop back into state's sporting culture, with the assembly on Friday passing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025. The move paves the way for legal bullock cart races, reviving a decades-old tradition central to the famed Kila Raipur "Rural Olympics". The legislation has been welcomed by race organisers, farmers, and diaspora supporters, who had long decried the 2014 Supreme Court ban. The Kila Raipur Sports Society, which oversees the iconic games held each January and February, said it is already preparing for a major comeback in 2026. "We are on top of the world," said Colonel (Retd) Surinder Singh Grewal, president of the society. "Bullock cart races are the soul of the Kila Raipur Games. We expect between 150 and 200 bull pairs, with participants from across Punjab and neighbouring states." Grewal said the lifting of the ban would not only boost rural pride but also tourism, with interest from Punjabi diaspora communities in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. "We've seen foreign visitors come in the past. With the races back, the crowd will only grow," he said. Cultural Clash Revived The races were outlawed after animal rights petitions alleged cruelty to bulls during competitions. Organisers have pushed back against those claims, insisting animals are well-treated and the events are a matter of honour, not profit. "These bulls are like our children," said Gurinder Singh, a bull owner from Samrala, who maintains six racing bulls. "We feed them special diets, ensure regular vet checkups, and train them for stamina and strength. " Gurinder said races continued discreetly during the ban, often held in villages across the state on nearly 300 days each year—except during the monsoon. "The police used to shut them down, but now we can run them with pride," he said. Race insiders claim that small village events — known as 'Chhoti Daud' — carry cash prizes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000. But most owners say it's the prestige that matters. Decade-long Legal Battle The Kila Raipur Sports Society said that following the ban, various regional bull race associations from Malwa, Majha and Doaba challenged the decision in court. While similar traditional sports such as Jallikattu were reinstated in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra via state legislation, Punjab lagged behind. In 2019, the then Congress-led govt introduced a similar bill, but it stalled due to legal technicalities. It wasn't until March 2024 that the bill — corrected and backed by the current govt — received presidential assent. Final rules and bylaws were drawn up with the animal husbandry department and passed by the Vidhan Sabha on July 11. Sports, Spectacle, Safety The upcoming 2026 Kila Raipur Games will feature not just bullock cart races, but also dog races, tractor pulls, kabaddi, tug-of-war, and traditional Sikh martial arts like Gatka. Cultural performances such as bhangra and giddha will be held over the three-day festival. Officials have promised veterinary oversight and medical facilities for animals to address welfare concerns. "Specialist teams and ambulances will be stationed during races," said a society member. The Bullock Cart Races Association of Punjab, which claims over 50,000 members, also hailed the legislation. Its general secretary, Nirmal Singh — a US-based non-resident Indian — said he owns three bulls in Jargari village and has long awaited the races' formal return. "This is more than sport — it's our identity," he said. MSID:: 122406565 413 |
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Why Maharashtra ‘urban Naxal' Bill's smooth sailing has put MVA in the dock
The smooth passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill in the state Legislative Assembly as well as the Council seems to have exposed the lack of coordination and political will among the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance against the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. On Thursday, the MSPS Bill, which seeks 'effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations', was passed in the Assembly by a voice vote. The Bill sailed through the Lower House amid the Opposition's concerns over the definition and interpretation of some of its terms and clauses. The only dissenting note came from lone CPI(M) MLA Vinod Nikole. With 235 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly, the BJP-led Mahayuti holds an absolute majority in the House. Yet, the 53 MLAs representing the MVA missed the opportunity to put up a spirited fight, failing even to express their dissent in the Assembly during the passage of the Bill. Twenty-four hours later, the Bill was also passed by the state Legislative Council amid an Opposition walkout. In what appeared to be a course correction, the Opposition in the Upper House submitted a note of dissent against the Bill to Chairperson Ram Shinde. But this only exemplified the Opposition's lack of a uniform strategy on a crucial legislation like this, which has been dubbed a Bill against 'urban Naxalism'. Fadnavis put forth his views in favour of the Bill in the Assembly. 'The legislation is against those Left-wing extremist organisations, which are provoking people for armed revolt to demolish democracy, Parliament and institutions,' he said. 'There are six such organisations that have been banned in other states operating in Maharashtra. In total, there are 64 outfits, which are, under the guise of people's socio-economic uplift, engaged in destructive and dangerous unlawful activities.' With the Opposition failing to put the government under pressure over the MSPS Bill, what remains to be seen now is how the protest against the legislation would play out on the streets. To begin with, a delegation of the Opposition leaders is planning to head to the Raj Bhavan to convey their concerns to Governor C P Radhakrishnan next week. The MVA's constituents – including the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) – also plan to reach out to various Left organisations and launch a statewide campaign against the government. Whether the Opposition could successfully mobilise mass support remains to be seen. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said, 'We were members of the Joint Select Committee and strongly voiced our concerns. But its last meeting's date change took many of us off guard. We had our scheduled programmes… Yet, we brought to their notice our concern.' The Bill was referred to a Joint Select Committee comprising members of both the Mahayuti and MVA after it was introduced in the Assembly during last year's monsoon session. Although the panel received 12,000 suggestions and objections from various quarters, it finally recommended only three changes to the Bill. In a candid admission, a senior Congress leader and former minister lamented, 'There is no unity within the MVA. Each party is doing what it feels is right. In the Assembly, had we collectively registered our dissent, it would have given us the moral standing to question the government's intention behind such legislation.' However, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, who is an MLC, argued, 'The battle is far from over. We support the government in the fight against Naxalism and terrorism. But if the government, through this legislation, is going to abuse power to harass opponents, it is unacceptable.' Uddhav also said, 'If they (government) bulldoze a legislation through majority support on the floor of the House, we will exercise our rights to take the fight to the people.' Notably, it was under the Opposition's pressure, primarily by Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), that the Fadnavis government withdrew its controversial government resolutions (GRs) inducting Hindi in primary schools as part of the three-language policy. However, in the case of the GRs, it was the Thackerays' emotive pitch for the Marathi unity and pride that likely forced the government's hand. As regards the MSPS Bill, the Opposition reckons that the legislation, when enforced, could lead to a 'misuse of power against political rivals', and create a political environment in which anybody questioning the government could be tagged an 'urban Naxal' and face government action. To substantiate their apprehensions, Opposition leaders point to the absence of terms 'terror' or 'Naxal' in the legislation. Instead, it uses the terms 'Left-wing extremist' and 'frontal organisations'. Uddhav said, 'There is no mention of the words 'Naxal' or 'terror'… We are not against the fight against Naxal or terrorism, but if the government uses its majority rule to silence critics, we are not going to accept it.' In the past, legislation like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) were misused by those in power to arrest and imprison political opponents. 'Similarly, the Fadnavis government will misuse the MSPS legislation against its opponents,' the Sena (UBT) chief alleged. Fadnavis, however, said in the Assembly that the legislation is directed at tackling the Left-wing extremist organisations, assuring that it was not intended to target the Left or any other political opponents. After passage in the Assembly and Council, the MSPS Bill will be referred to the Governor for assent, following which it will come into effect as a law. Maharashtra would be the fifth state to pass such a public security Bill after Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: One Nation One Election, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Kailash-Mansarovar yatra
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. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress 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 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. 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