Indian Polity
‘Model Youth Gram Sabha’ Initiative:
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- Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), in collaboration with Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, will jointly launch the initiative called “Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)” on 30 October 2025 in New Delhi.
- During the event, a training module on MYGS and the MYGS Portal will be unveiled, digital tools meant to facilitate teacher capacity building and student engagement in grassroots democratic processes.
- The initiative will be rolled out in over 1,000 schools nationwide, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and state government schools.
- Students will participate in simulated Gram Sabha sessions to promote participatory local governance, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to instil democratic values, civic responsibility and leadership among youth.
(TH)
Economy
Koyla Shakti Dashboard:
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- Ministry of Commerce & Industry, through National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) under directions of Ministry of Coal, has launched “Koyla Shakti – Smart Coal Analytics Dashboard (SCAD)”.
- The dashboard is powered by Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and enables real-time monitoring of coal production, transportation and consumption in India’s coal-logistics value-chain.
- It integrates data from multiple logistics nodes such as railways, ports, customs, coal producers, power plants, and includes over 48 APIs and data from 15 ports, enabling a “One Nation, One Dashboard” model.
- The platform supports efficiency, transparency and sustainability in coal logistics by using predictive analytics, sustainability monitoring tools and data-driven intelligence.
- NICDC is extending its technological leadership from industrial-corridor development to national digital infrastructure and e-governance through this initiative.
(PIB)
Geography, Mapping, Ecology & Environment
Eyewall replacement cycle:
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- Context: Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with record-tying 296 kmph winds on October 28.
- It achieved what’s called extreme rapid intensification — gaining at least 92 kmph over 24 hours.
- Usually when major hurricanes brew, they get so strong that the wind twirling in the centre of the storm gets so intense and warm in places that the eyewall needs to grow, so a small one collapses and a bigger one forms. That’s called an eyewall replacement cycle, and it usually weakens the storm at least temporarily.
(TH)
Terms in news
Dropsonde:
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- A dropsonde is an expendable weather reconnaissance device dropped from an aircraft or balloon to collect atmospheric data as it falls.
- It measures temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction, which is transmitted back to the aircraft before the sonde hits the ground or ocean.
- This data is used to provide vertical profiles of the atmosphere, which is especially useful for studying and forecasting severe weather like hurricanes.
(TH)
Important data/facts
Geography & Environment
Funds needed to fight climate crisis:
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- According to Running on Empty, an annual report, To adapt to climate change, developing countries will require anywhere from $310-365 billion (at least ₹27 lakh crore) annually by 2035.
- This is nearly 12 times more than the money that currently flows from the developed to the developing world for this purpose.
(TH)
Delhi’s wetlands have shrunk:
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- A study conducted by Delhi University along with HCL Tech and Terna Global Business School has found that some districts, including South Delhi, have seen a drop of almost 97% per cent in their wetland area, due to increasing construction and pollution in the national capital.
(TH)
Economy
Indian maritime sector:
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- Cargo movement has increased 700% in inland areas.
- Maritime Leaders’ Conclave held at the NESCO Ground to mark ‘India Maritime Week’.
- The Vizhinjam deep water transit hub has been operational.
- The JNPT’s handling capability has doubled, making it India’s biggest container port.
- In the Logistics Performance Index of the World Bank, India had performed better.
(TH)
Power Sector:
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- As of 30 September 2025, India’s total installed electricity capacity reached 89 GW.
- Of this, non-fossil fuel sources (renewables, hydro, nuclear) accounted for 09 GW, which is over 51% of the total.
- Fossil fuel-based sources amounted to 80 GW, about 49% of the total.
- Within the non-fossil (renewable) category:
1. Solar power: 127.33 GW
2. Wind power: 53.12 GW
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- In FY 2025–26 (April–Sept), additions were:
1. Non-fossil capacity: 28 GW
2. Fossil-fuel capacity: 5.1 GW
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- On 29 July 2025, for the first time, renewables met 51.5% of India’s electricity demand (on a day when demand was 203 GW).
- The achievement implies that India has already met its COP26 “Panchamrit” target of having 50% of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, five years ahead of schedule.
(PIB)
Miscellaneous
Logistics Performance Index:
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- The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is released by the World Bank.
- It measures the efficiency of international supply chains and logistics performance of countries.
- The index is based on six key indicators: Customs, Infrastructure, International Shipments, Logistics Competence, Tracking & Tracing, and Timeliness.
- It helps assess how easily and efficiently goods can be moved across borders.
- Latest LPI (2023): India ranked 38th among 139 countries, showing significant improvement.
- The LPI is published every two years (biennially).
(TH)
PRACTICE MCQ’S
Q1. With reference to the Eyewall Replacement Cycle in tropical cyclones, consider the following statements:
1. It occurs when a new eyewall forms around the original eyewall, eventually replacing it.
2. The process usually leads to a temporary weakening of the cyclone’s intensity before it strengthens again.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
The eyewall replacement cycle occurs in intense tropical cyclones when a secondary outer eyewall forms around the original inner one. Over time, the outer eyewall contracts inward, replacing the inner eyewall. During this process, the cyclone’s intensity temporarily weakens, but once the new eyewall becomes established, the storm often re-intensifies.
Q2. Which of the following statements regarding the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is correct?
a) The LPI is released annually by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
b) The LPI measures the agricultural productivity of countries.
c) The LPI assesses countries based on six indicators including customs and infrastructure.
d) The index is based only on trade volume and export data.
Answer: C
Explanation:
The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is released by the World Bank. It measures the efficiency of international supply chains and logistics performance of countries. The index is based on six key indicators: Customs, Infrastructure, International Shipments, Logistics Competence, Tracking & Tracing, and Timeliness.
Q3. With reference to the recently launched “Koyla Shakti – Smart Coal Analytics Dashboard (SCAD)”, consider the following statements:
1. It has been developed by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
2. The dashboard enables real-time monitoring of coal production, transportation, and consumption across India.
3. It functions independently of the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
Koyla Shakti, developed by NICDC under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is powered by ULIP and provides real-time monitoring of India’s coal logistics network. It integrates multiple data sources to enhance efficiency and transparency in coal movement.
Q4. With reference to the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative, consider the following statements:
1. The initiative has been launched jointly by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Rural developments.
2. It aims to promote participatory local governance among youth through simulated Gram Sabha sessions in schools.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS), launched in 2025, involves multiple ministries such as Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Tribal Affairs and aims to instill democratic values and civic responsibility among students through mock Gram Sabha activities in over 1,000 schools across India.
Q5. With reference to Tropical Cyclones, consider the following statements:
1. Tropical cyclones form only over warm ocean waters with surface temperatures above 26°C.
2. In the Northern Hemisphere, tropical cyclones rotate clockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere they rotate counterclockwise.
3. The energy of a tropical cyclone comes primarily from the latent heat released during condensation of moist air.
How many of the above statements are correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Answer: B
Explanation:
Statement 1 and 3 are correct, Tropical cyclones require warm ocean water (≥26°C) and moisture for formation. They rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect. Their energy is derived from the latent heat released during condensation.
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