All posts tagged: upsc history

Corporate ethics, Infiltration and Bauxite mining

Corporate ethics, Infiltration and Bauxite mining

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies IV: Corporate Governance. What’s the ongoing story: When Atanu Chakraborty abruptly resigned on March 18 as chairman of HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private bank, citing “certain happenings and practices within the bank” that were not in “congruence” with his personal values and ethics, it didn’t ring many alarm bells across the banking establishment. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Atanu Chakraborty? • What is corporate ethics? • What are the five codes of ethics? • There are generally certain business or Corporate ethics principles-What are they? • Why is corporate ethics Important? • Corporate governance and corporate ethics-Connect the dot • Is corporate governance the same as corporate ethics? • What is the role of corporate governance in maintaining financial-system stability? • Know the significance of internal control and vigilance systems in banking institutions. • What are the challenges associated with ensuring ethical governance in banking institutions? Key Takeaways: Story continues below this ad • The bank’s newly appointed interim chairman, Keki Mistry, was quick …

Import duty on gold, Storm and Withholding tax

Import duty on gold, Storm and Withholding tax

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.   Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What’s the ongoing story: AFTER HIKING import duty on gold, the government and the Reserve Bank of India are learnt to be considering multiple measures to attract foreign investment inflows including a cut in the withholding tax rate on government bonds, if not completely eliminating it. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Withholding tax? • What is foreign portfolio investment (FPI)? • What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) • What is the difference between FDI and FPI? • What is the primary objective behind reducing withholding tax? • Why does Government wants greater foreign participation in the financial and debt market? • What are the benefits and risks of increased foreign portfolio investment in India? Key Takeaways: • Withholding tax is akin to a tax deducted at source and is paid by foreign investors on interest income they receive on their holding of Indian bonds. At present, …

India’s informal sector, Agni missile with MIRV system, and Labour Codes rules notified

India’s informal sector, Agni missile with MIRV system, and Labour Codes rules notified

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social development. Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.  What’s the ongoing story: India’s informal sector is becoming less indebted, with the interest they paid as well as the amount of loans they need to repay falling sharply, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) full report on its Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) conducted in 2025.  Key Points to Ponder: — What is the informal sector?  — What is the difference between the formal and informal sectors?  — What are the structural constraints of India’s unincorporated sector and their implications for employment quality and productivity? — How declining indebtedness in the informal sector does not necessarily indicate economic strength.  Story continues below this ad — What are the vulnerabilities of small, informal enterprises to input cost shocks, and what measures should be taken to enhance their resilience? — What is the significance of unincorporated enterprises in India’s economy? — What are the government initiatives …

Global ocean conveyor belt, White-bellied Heron and Compensatory afforestation

Global ocean conveyor belt, White-bellied Heron and Compensatory afforestation

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. 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 Key Points to Ponder: • What is the role of Governor after completion of assembly elections and results? • What is the difference between ‘majority’ and the ‘single largest’ party in the elections? Story continues below this ad • Who makes the government-‘ a majority party ‘ or the ‘single largest’ party? • How governor is important in this scenario? • Can Governor delay the swearing-in of leader of a ‘single largest’ party as Chief Minister? • Can Governor ask to submit proof of support from the majority mark MLAs for the government formation in a state? • What is the precedence set? • Article 164 of the Constitution says what? • What is floor test and why it is required especially for the government formation? • What …

Internationalisation of the Rupee, Panchayat Advancement Index and E-PRAAPTI

Internationalisation of the Rupee, Panchayat Advancement Index and E-PRAAPTI

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What’s the ongoing story: The war in West Asia has exacerbated a key pain point for the country’s economy: the rupee’s value. • What has been India’s strategy of settling international trade in Indian Rupees (INR)? • How India saved ₹14,000 crore in foreign exchange in February 2026? • Why Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a framework for rupee-based trade? • What is “internationalisation of the rupee”? • What is “depreciation of Rupee”? • Devaluation of Rupee and depreciation of Rupee-compare and contrast • Why settling trade in domestic currency particularly useful during periods of rupee depreciation? • What is Vostro accounts in rupee trade settlement? • What is the difference between Vostro and Nostro account? • What are the key limitations of rupee-based trade settlement? Story continues below this ad • How rupee trade settlement can help reduce external sector vulnerabilities? Key Takeaways: • After closing around 91-per-dollar on February 27, the rupee fell by …

Himalayan griffon vulture, Hydrofluorocarbons and Land inequality in India

Himalayan griffon vulture, Hydrofluorocarbons and Land inequality in India

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. • General Studies II: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issuesarising out of these. • 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: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the proposed Constitutional amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and a Delimitation Bill to fast-track 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas by using 2011 Census data, sources told The Indian Express. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the proposed Constitutional amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam? Story continues below this ad • What are the proposed Constitutional amendments to the Delimitation Bill? • What is delimitation? • Why delimitation is required for the implementation of women reservation? • How demographic shifts and variations in fertility rates among states influence political representation in India? • What are the impact of population-based representation on …

Jurisdiction over Strait of Hormuz, Childhood cancers and NCERT

Jurisdiction over Strait of Hormuz, Childhood cancers and NCERT

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. What’s the ongoing story: With the shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz impacting energy supplies to India, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri joined a meeting of more than 60 countries, convened Thursday by the UK, on reopening the crucial waterway where he underlined the principles of “freedom of navigation” and “unimpeded transit”. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work– Strait of Hormuz • Which country has jurisdiction over Strait of Hormuz? • Is it legal to blockade international waters? • How has Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz? • What is Exclusive Economic Zone? • What United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says? • With military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, what is the impact on India’s energy supplies likely to be? • Iran’s ‘toll-booth system’ in the Strait of Hormuz-why it is said so? Story continues below this ad • Is collecting formal tolls for the Strait of Hormuz legal? Key Takeaways: • Misri’s …

India-Seychelles relations, PMKVY, and NUDGE campaign

India-Seychelles relations, PMKVY, and NUDGE campaign

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.  What’s the ongoing story: While stressing that defence and maritime cooperation are important pillars in the relationship between India and Seychelles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that in the coming days, the two countries would also cooperate in renewable energy and climate solutions. He was addressing a joint press meet in New Delhi along with visiting Seychelles President Patrick Herminie. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the history of India-Seychelles relations? — What are the emerging areas of cooperation between India and Seychelles? — What is the Colombo Security Conclave? — What is India’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) Vision? — What is the strategic significance of Seychelles for India? — Map work: Locate Seychelles on world map.  Key Takeaways: — “In the areas of marine research, capacity-building and data-sharing, India will share its expertise with Seychelles. Defence cooperation and …

COP30, Trump-Xi ceasefire, and Indoor Air Quality

COP30, Trump-Xi ceasefire, and Indoor Air Quality

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Story continues below this ad What’s the ongoing story: The 30th edition of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), the annual two-week climate talks beginning in Belem, Brazil, on Monday, is as much about restoring the credibility of this UN-mandated negotiating process as it is about saving global climate. Key Points to Ponder: — What is Conference of the Parties or COP? — Read about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Agreement. — What were the major outcomes of the COP29? — What do you understand about Net-zero emissions? — What is climate finance? — What are Nationally-Determined Contributions? — What is the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities”? — How can India balance its development needs with its increasing global leadership on climate finance …

Oil Spill, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and Impeachment of Judges

Oil Spill, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and Impeachment of Judges

Cash at residence: Govt likely to bring motion to impeach Justice Varma Syllabus: ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Story continues below this ad Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. What’s the ongoing story: FOLLOWING his indictment by the Supreme Court in-house inquiry panel, the government is likely to bring an impeachment motion in the upcoming monsoon session against former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, The Indian Express has learnt. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Procedure for Removal of a Judge in India? • What is Impeachment? • What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High court judges? Story continues below this ad • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India-True or false? • What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? • What are the Grounds of Impeachment? …