Simplifying UPSC Prelims preparation
The Government of India has approved the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island (HDGNI) project, a ₹72,000-crore mega infrastructure initiative led by NITI Aayog to develop a transshipment port, airport, township and defense facilities on Great Nicobar Island.The project has triggered concerns related to environmental clearance, tribal rights, biodiversity loss,…
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued a clarification in January 2026 regarding the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023. It is alleged that recent (January 2026) clarification on by (MoEFCC) allows non-government entities to participate in the ecological restoration of degraded forest lands (open and scrub forests)…
Context – The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has raised objections to the Draft Seeds Bill, 2024 (released by the Ministry of Agriculture in November 2024), arguing that it undermines the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001 and promotes corporate monopoly by weakening public institutions like…
The High Seas Treaty, formally the BBNJ Agreement, officially enters into force on 17 January 2026, 120 days after achieving the mandatory 60 ratifications¹. This historic agreement under the UNCLOS framework establishes the first centralized legal mechanism to conserve marine biodiversity in the High Seas, which cover nearly 50% of…
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has released its Annual Ground Water Quality Report (2025). The report flags widespread contamination in states like Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana, where Uranium, Fluoride, and Nitrate levels have exceeded safe limits.¹ “Ground water contamination of Andhra Pradesh” is also in news. UPSC has…
The recent discovery of new frog species in Arunachal Pradesh highlights the immense biological richness of the Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot. For UPSC Prelims, you must look beyond the news item. The exam often tests the criteria and locations of these hotspots rather than specific species names. The most exam-relevant aspect…
A groundbreaking study published in People and Nature (a journal by the British Ecological Society) has used ancient Marathi literature to prove that the savannas of Western Maharashtra are ancient natural ecosystems, not “degraded forests” as previously believed. Savannas vs. Degraded Forests The central debate is about Biome Identity: Is…
India is now the world’s largest producer of RIce. India’s rice production has reached 150.18 million tonnes compared to China’s 145.28 million tonnes. The recent focus on India becoming the world’s largest rice producer draws attention to a core agricultural geography concept: the physical and hydrological requirements of rice cultivation.…
Great Nicobar Island has been in the news due to the discovery of a new species of snake. The island is extremely rich in biodiversity, which is why discoveries of new species frequently keep it in the news. For the UPSC Prelims, you do not need to remember the complex…
The Government of India announced the annual licensing policy for opium poppy cultivation for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for crop year 2025-26. When the word opium comes to mind, illegal is another word that often follows. However, opium cultivation is not always illegal. The Central Bureau…
