(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)
Prelim and Main
1. ‘Political’ offence to charges ‘not in good faith’: Extradition treaty leaves space for refusal READ MORE
2. Why growth of India’s overall green cover is not all good news READ MORE
3. Forest fires increased 1,339% in Himachal Pradesh, 2,822% in J&K: SOFR 2023 READ MORE
4. Rwanda declares end of Marburg outbreak: WHO Africa READ MORE
5. Dhankhar Proposed bridge on Odisha’s Chilika lake faces opposition over environmental concerns READ MORE
6. MFN status suspension not to delay EFTA trade pact with India: Switzerland READ MORE
7. Centre scraps ‘no detention’ policy for Classes 5, 8, lays stress on remedial measures READ MORE
8. Ecostani: Western Ghats, hill states lose forest; growth outside reserved forests READ MORE
Main
GS Paper- 1
1. Fight gender-based violence at the roots READ MORE
2. Manipur conflict not just a local crisis READ MORE
3. Forest survey misses the wood for the tree READ MORE
GS Paper- 2
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. India’s ‘steel frame’ does need a check READ MORE
2. Why municipal bonds haven’t gained traction READ MORE
3. Raucous debate, lost opportunity READ MORE
4. Blow to transparency: Tweaking of poll rule raises eyebrows READ MORE
5. Challenges in CSR accounting: Pathways to meaningful impact READ MORE
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Academic institutions must raise the bar to be future-ready READ MORE
2. Five principles integral to better schooling systems READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
1. The Indus Waters Treaty: Need to adapt, or perish READ MORE
2. Making friends in the Gulf region READ MORE
3. Outreach to Kuwait READ MORE
GS Paper- 3
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1. Selective indecision: on the GST Council’s 55th meeting, decisions READ MORE
2. Government has made welcome moves to create employment, challenge now is to improve quality of jobs READ MORE
3. Towards a simple and rational GST READ MORE
4. Slowdown in growth: Is it a temporary blip? READ MORE
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. The global warming fight has a challenge for India READ MORE
2. The key to tackling food security and climate change READ MORE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Exploring India’s potential in neuromorphic research READ MORE
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. Why has the MHA reimposed restrictions in three NE States? | Explained READ MORE
2. India needs long-term strategic assessments READ MORE
3. Navigating the intersection of technology, law and human rights READ MORE
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Safety compromised: Mohali building collapse exposes lapses READ MORE
GS Paper- 4
ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY
1. Whose life is it anyway? READ MORE
2. Cunning device READ MORE
3. Success Through Workplace Intelligence READ MORE
Questions for the MAIN exam
1. Persistent challenges within the IAS and the wider bureaucracy have highlighted the urgent need for administrative reforms to unlock India’s true economic potential. Suggest some measures to improve the efficiency of Civil Servants.
2. The country’s economic story is juxtaposed with enduring issues of income inequality and bureaucratic inefficiency. Comment.
3. Post-Independence, Civil Service has became the backbone of India’s administrative machinery, with officers occupying pivotal roles in governance. Examine.
4. The U.S.A proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) like similar advisory body in India could help identify inefficiencies within the civil service, promote data-driven decision-making, and develop metrics to assess bureaucratic performance. Examine.
5. How far do you agree with this view that protecting bureaucrats from politically motivated transfers and fostering specialisation in policymaking roles would enhance accountability and efficiency? Analyse your view.
6. Accountability for structural violence needs a greater collective effort than seen so far and the effort must involve NGOs and other civil society to make a real difference. Comment.
7. The strong presence of the Indian diaspora serves as a bridge, fostering deeper connections and mutual understanding. Comment.
QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS
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- A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.
- Persistent challenges within the Indian Administrative Service and the wider bureaucracy have highlighted the urgent need for administrative reforms.
- India’s development needs cannot be ignored; as it has to grow and diversify to clean energy sources, this would mean higher costs and a longer transition time.
- India’s governance challenges demand urgent reforms to modernise its bureaucracy.
- The country’s economic story, which is marked by significant strides in growth and innovation, is juxtaposed with enduring issues of income inequality, underinvestment in critical sectors, and bureaucratic inefficiency.
- Post-Independence, Civil Service has became the backbone of India’s administrative machinery, with officers occupying pivotal roles in governance.
- Measure of government effectiveness, India ranks only moderately, reflecting the poor quality of policy implementation and administrative independence.
- DOGE’s focus on cutting wasteful expenditures and introducing accountability mechanisms resonates with the challenges faced by the Indian bureaucracy and a similar advisory body in India could help identify inefficiencies within the civil service, promote data-driven decision-making, and develop metrics to assess bureaucratic performance.
- Reform in bureaucracy is essential for India’s economic aspirations and ensuring governance effectively serves its people.
- Protecting bureaucrats from politically motivated transfers and fostering specialisation in policymaking roles would enhance accountability and efficiency.
- The Employment Linked Incentive scheme could be made more holistic by incorporating skilling and training aspects of work. Emphasis should be laid on increasing awareness, as well as digitising and simplifying processes and payments linked with it.
- Violence against women is not just domestic and sexual violence, but also a symptom of the larger oppression of women and gender inequality.
- Accountability for structural violence needs a greater collective effort than seen so far and the effort must involve NGOs and other civil society and human rights groups to make a real difference.
- The need is to assess reafforestation efforts through the prism of preserving and furthering biodiversity and the imprint these have on the climate crisis through the long-term effects on the environment and the way the hydrological cycle is impacted.
- While India’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE are better than ever, it is sound policy to develop equally close ties with the other Arab States at a time when a lot of Indian interests are closely tied to developments in the region.
- A concerted effort to rationalise and simplify the tax regime, and an honest debate on fiscal federalism and the politics and economics of welfare (the first cannot happen without the second) are called for. Without these, belt up for more complexity.
- In a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies, the concept of ‘digital arrest’ has emerged as a controversial tool in cyberspace.
- Implementing CSR initiatives effectively presents significant challenges, ranging from a lack of clear objectives to complexities in measuring their impact.
- The strong presence of the Indian diaspora serves as a bridge, fostering deeper connections and mutual understanding.
ESSAY TOPIC
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- A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.
50-WORD TALK
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- The U.S.’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to streamline government operations, reduce inefficiency, and eliminate redundant agencies offers an intriguing model for reforming India’s administrative apparatus and focus on cutting wasteful expenditures and introducing accountability mechanisms resonates with the challenges faced by the Indian bureaucracy.
Things to Remember:
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- For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
- Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
- For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
- For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
- Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.
