Front Page
Jaishankar ticks off Europe: Ukraine a wake-up call to look at problems in Asia
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Key Points to Ponder:
• India’s stand on Bucha Massacres
• What do Understand by expression “War Crime”?
• What do you understand by term “genocide”?
• Bucha Massacres-A genocide or war crimes?
• The massacres in Bucha and International reactions?
• Know about European Union (EU)
• European Union (EU)-Members (Locate on Map)
• European Union and ‘Copenhagen criteria’
• India and European Union-Historical Relations and Current Status
• India’s Geopolitical Stature and Changes in India’s Diplomacy-Elaborate in the current scenario
• The first major conflict amongst the great powers in the 21st century has presented India with challenges and opportunities – what are they?
• India’s Stand on Ukraine-Russia Conflict-a fine balance or Loyalty towards an age-old friend?
• USA’s Geopolitics be in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq-why it is problematic?
• The Term ‘Indo-Pacific’-What does it mean? Define this term in Geopolitical and in geographical context.
• Importance of Indo-Pacific region for India
• India’s Indo-Pacific strategy
• Ukraine-Russia War-Try to understand the changing dynamics in diplomatic relations and its impact on India
• The Ukraine crisis throws up many learnings-what are they?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 Autocrats and Oil
Drug regulator clears Covaxin for 6-12 yrs, Corbevax for 5-12 yrs
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)-Under which nodal Ministry or Independent body?
• Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin-Key Features
• What is Corbevax?
• How does Corbevax and Covaxin works?
• Corbevax and Covaxin-Compare and Contrast
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 Explained: What is Corbevax, the vaccine approved for your 5-year-old kid?
GOVT & POLITICS
PM CARES Fund can’t contract out of Constitution, HC told
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance
Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)?
• Who are the Trustees of the PM CARES Fund?
• What are the Objectives of the PM CARES Fund Trust?
• What is the legal framework of PM CARES Fund?
• Public Charitable Trust and Article 12 of the Indian Constitution-Connect the dots
• What type of domestic donations are accepted in PM CARES Fund?
• Are contributions towards the PM CARES Fund exempted from Income Tax?
• Who audits the PM CARES Fund?
• Contribution to PM – CARES Fund will Qualify as CSR Expenditure?
• Whether Foreign Donation is accepted in PM CARES Fund?
• PM CARES Fund-Controversy, Issues and Challenges
• Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES)-Compare and Contrast
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 PM-CARES Fund not a fund of Government of India, Delhi HC told
Puri king, temple servitors extend support to heritage corridor project
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: History of India
Main Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the Lingaraj Temple Ordinance, 2020?
• Why has the Center opposed the ordinance?
• Jagannath Temple one of the important Hindu temple- Significance (Hint: Char Dham)
• Vaishnava Traditions-Features and its impact on the Bhakti Movement
• Jagannath Temple-Know some facts like it was built by the Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 12th century CE.
• Jagannath Temple also as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’-Why?
• Jagannath Temple-Architectural features and Style of the temple (Is it Dravidian, Nagara, Vesara style or Different from these three Architectural Style?)
• Know more about Architectural features of Odisha temples classification like Rekhapida, Pidhadeul And Khakra
• Know more about-Paintings theme associated with lord Jagannath like Patachitra or Pattachitra
• What is the Puri heritage corridor?
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – Powers, Functions, Role and Mandate
• “Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) failed to act as guardian of India’s heritage” once observed by Supreme Court in the context of Taj Mahal-Do you think that ASI has failed to preserve other monuments and Heritage of India?
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Significance
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 Explained: What is the Puri heritage corridor, whose foundation will be laid soon in Odisha?
THE EDITORIAL PAGE
Facing a Common Threat
Syllabus
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interest
Key Points to Ponder:
• India-Australia Bilateral Relations-Background
• India-Australia and the new cyber framework between the two Nations-Key Highlights
• Cyber Security in India- Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN), Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative, National Cyber Security Coordination Center (NCCC), Cyber Swachhta Kendra, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), Cyberdome (Kerala)
• INDAUS ECTA (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement)-Key Proposals
• Early harvest trade agreement between India and Australia-Key highlights
• How has the Quad impacted trade relations between India and Australia?
• What other Free Trade Agreements is India currently negotiating?
• Map Work-Australia, Important Cities, Physiography
• Global Cyber Security Index (GCI)-Know the facts like who publishes and what are the components of this Index etc.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 India and Australia are finally acting like the natural partners they are
Whose VC?
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance
Main Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States
Key Points to Ponder:
• The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022-Key Highlights
• Chennai University (Amendment) Act, 2022-Key Highlights
• The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022 and Chennai University (Amendment) Act, 2022-Issues and controversies
• Are other states trying to curtail the Governor’s role in hiring VCs?
• Vice Chancellor in State and Central Universities-About and Role
• Who appoints Vice Chancellor in Central Universities and in State Universities?
• What is the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) role in this?
• What are the rules in Gujarat and Telangana?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 States vs Center on VC selection: rules, friction
THE IDEAS PAGE
Falling behind the curve
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development
Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Inflation and Various Types of Inflation
• Causes of Inflation
• Long term, Medium Term and Short-term impact of Inflation
• How Inflation is Measured in India?
• What is the Wholesale Price Index?
• The base year of Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?
• What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)
• Base Year for Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
• ‘CPI-based inflation’ or ‘Retail Inflation’-Different or Both are the same?
• National Statistical Office (NSO)-Role and Function
• What is the difference between CPI and WPI?
• How does the wholesale price index compare with CPI or retail inflation trend?
• What is the significance of wholesale and retail inflation rates diverting or converging?
• Wholesale and retail inflation rates diverting or Converging-What are the possible reasons for this?
• New Standard for Measuring Inflation in India and Old Standard for Measuring Inflation-Key Differences
• What Is Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)?
• Monetary Policy Committee MPC-Importance
• Know about these terms-Bank Rate, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
• Impact of Money Supply on an Economy-Inflation or Deflation?
• Steps or Measures Taken by GOI to Control Inflation
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 Explain Speaking: Why (gentle) policymakers prefer retail (over wholesale) inflation
EXPLAINED
Musk’s free speech idea
Sillabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance
Main Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution, Important aspects of Governance
Key Points to Ponder:
• Article 19 of the Indian Constitution (Free Speech and expression)
• What is India’s “reasonable restrictions” on free speech?
• Free Speech and Hate Speech- Where and what is that thin line drawn between the two?
• Free Speech and Social Media-Pros and Cons
• Do any restrictions apply specifically to content on social media?
• What are the implications for Musk’s maximalist ideas on free speech?
• In the context of Fundamental Rights, what do you understand by the term “Absolute” and “Reasonable Restrictions”?
• Absolute and Reasonable Restrictions-Where and what is that thin line drawn between the two?
• Laws restricting the freedom of expression
• Impact of Hate Speech on Freedom of Expression and Free speech
• International Legal Regime on Hate Speech
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍 What’s next now that Twitter agreed to Elon Musk bid?
Get an e-paper subscription via our special offer – click here
For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com
The UPSC KEY Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates.
.