Love story of popular IAS officer who cracked UPSC exam with AIR..., Tina Dabi is …
Ria Dabi, an IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, married an IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, Manish Kumar, two months ago. It became common knowledge when the Ministry of Home Affairs published a note regarding Manish Kumar's transfer of cadre from Maharashtra to Rajasthan. The note specifically mentioned that the reason for the transfer cadre was his marriage to IAS officer Ria Dabi, who is stationed in Rajasthan.
IAS officer Ria Dabi and IPS officer Manish Kumar, who are both from the UPSC 2021 batch, met as friends. According to reports, the two met during training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, and their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship and the two married through a court marriage in April this year with family blessings. After their wedding, Manish Kumar applied for a cadre transfer, which was subsequently approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The official announcement about their cadre transfer was released on June 16.
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Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Global Report on Food Crises 2025 — what you must-know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on Global Report on Food Crises 2025. More than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories experienced acute levels of hunger in 2024, according to the Global Report on Food Crises 2025 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In this context, it becomes essential to know the key highlights of this report. 2. Out of the 65 countries/territories selected for the GRFC 2025, 53 had data meeting GRFC technical requirements. The report reveals that in 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger. This is an increase of almost 14 million people compared to 2023, while the number of people facing catastrophic levels of hunger reached a record high. 3. Furthermore, acute food insecurity and child malnutrition rose for the sixth consecutive year in 2024, pushing millions of people to the brink, in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. 4. Notably, the list of the ten countries with the highest number of people facing acute food insecurity has remained unchanged since 2023. Each had over nine million people affected last year and collectively accounted for more than 196 million people –– 66 per cent of the global total. Top 10 countries with the largest number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity Source: IPC TWGs, 2024; Myanmar pre-analysis conducted under the HNRP; CH, 2024; FEWS NET (Ethiopia); WFP (CARI). 5. Nigeria, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone represented more than a quarter (28%) of the 295.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of acute hunger. 6. Countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen have consistently appeared on this list since 2016. According to GRFC 2025, 'Acute food insecurity is rarely driven by a single shock or hazard, but rather by the interaction between shocks and underlying poverty, structural weaknesses, and other vulnerability factors. Still, it is possible to identify a primary driver for each country/territory.' 1. Conflict remained the leading driver, impacting over 140 million people in areas such as the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, and others. 2. Economic shocks, including inflation and currency devaluation, triggered hunger in 15 countries, affecting 59.4 million people—most notably in Afghanistan and Yemen. 3. Extreme weather events impacted over 96 million people globally, with Southern Africa, Southern Asia, and the Horn of Africa among the worst-affected regions. These drivers continue to worsen food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in already fragile areas. 1. The GHI is published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe annually to measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The purpose of the report is to create awareness and understanding of the struggle against hunger and call attention to those areas of the world where hunger levels are highest and there is a need for additional efforts. 2. GHI is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger: (The source of the following definitions is 📍Undernourishment: the share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient; 📍Child stunting: the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition; 📍Child wasting: the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and 📍Child mortality: the share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments. 3. According to the Global Hunger Index released on 10th October 2024, the hunger levels in 42 countries are at alarming levels, making the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 unattainable. At this pace of progress, the world will not even attain a low hunger level until 2160. The world's GHI score is 18.3, which is considered moderate in the severity of hunger scale. What is Hunger? 4. The 2024 GHI reflects that multiple factors are posing challenges in attaining Zero Hunger. The challenges include large-scale armed conflicts, climate change indicators that are worsening faster than expected, high food prices, market disruptions, economic downturns, and debt crises in many low- and middle-income countries. 5. Six countries – Somalia, Yemen, Chad, Madagascar, Burundi, and South Sudan- have levels of hunger considered alarming. This is the result of widespread human misery, undernourishment, and malnutrition. 6. India is ranked 105th among 127 countries in the GHI 2024, indicating a 'serious' level of hunger, along with Afghanistan and Pakistan, which also face hunger challenges. Child wasting is particularly high in India. Child undernutrition in India goes hand in hand with the poor nutritional status of mothers, suggesting an intergenerational pattern of undernutrition and underscoring the need for attention to maternal health nutrition and infant feeding. 7. India's GHI score of 27.3 is a cause for concern, especially when compared to its South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which fall into the 'moderate' category. 8. The performance of India on various parameters of GHI: 📍13.7 per cent of India's population suffers from undernourishment, 📍35.5 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted 📍18.7 per cent experience child wasting and 📍2.9 per cent of children do not reach their fifth birthday. (1) Consider the following statements with reference to the Global Report on Food Crises 2025: 1. Conflicts, economic shocks, and extreme weather events are the key drivers of acute food insecurity. 2. The list of the ten countries with the highest number of people facing acute food insecurity has remained unchanged since 2023. 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 (2) Which of the following is not a dimension for calculating the score of the Global Hunger Index? (a) Undernourishment (b) Child Wasting (c) Child Stunting (d) Birth Rate (Sources: Top 10 countries facing severe food insecurity in 2024–25, Top 10 countries worst hit by the global hunger crisis) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
India.com
12 hours ago
- India.com
THIS state is known as UPSC factory, produced highest number of IAS officers, Bihar is at No 2; not Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, the name is…
(File) Highest IAS officers: Millions of aspirants from across the length and breadth of India sit in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)– one of the toughest recruitment exams in the country– each year in hopes of fulfilling their dream of joining civil services by becoming IAS, IFS, or IPS officers. But have you ever wondered which Indian state churns out the highest number of IAS officers? Let us find out. Which Indian state has most IAS officers? Interestingly, southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, known for their high literacy rate, do not produce the maximum number of IAS officers, but the northern state of Uttar Pradesh earns this distinction, followed by neighboring Bihar and Rajasthan. A major reason why Uttar Pradesh has essentially become a UPSC factory is its massive population and the presence of reputed coaching institutes in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and other major UP cities, that offer UPSC coaching to aspirants at a reasonable price. Why UP, Bihar produce more IAS officers? Additionally, the youth of northern states like UP and Bihar, both in urban as well as rural regions, are more inclined towards joining administrative services, while their counterparts in the south gravitate more towards tech jobs and corporate sector. Similarly, Bihar, which shares a lot of cultural similarities with Uttar Pradesh, also has a long legacy of producing IAS officers. Akin to UP, joining civil services is considered prestigious in Bihar, and the state has a strong network of UPSC coaching centers in capital Patna, and other major cities. What are the top IAS states? As per data, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar churn out the highest number of IAS officers, followed by Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Punjab. Here is the percentage-wise breakdown: Uttar Pradesh: 20-25% Bihar: 15-18% Rajasthan: 5-8% Tamil Nadu: 5-7% Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: 5-6% Maharashtra: 4-5% Punjab: 3-5%
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Piprahwa Gems, POSH Act, and Arya Samaj marriages
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 2, 2025. If you missed the August 1, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: The Piprahwa Gems, Buddhist relics which in 1898 were taken by an Englishman from their resting place in India, have been brought back to the country, the Ministry of Culture announced on Wednesday. This return was made possible by 'an exemplary case of public-private partnership,' Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday. Key Points to Ponder: • What are Piprahwa gems, and what is their cultural significance? • Where did Buddha attain Nirvana? • What are the famous Buddhist stupas in India? • What are stupas? • What is the significance of Buddhism? • What is the Buddhist circuit? Key Takeaways: • In May, a collection of 349 gemstones came up for auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong. These were a part of a larger collection of antiquities unearthed in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager, at a Buddhist stupa in Piprahwa, a village in UP's Siddharthnagar district, near the border of Nepal. • Viceroy Elgin donated the sacred bones and ashes in the collection, believed to be of Lord Buddha himself, to Siamese King Rama V. Much of the remaining collection, including caskets, a coffer, and various jewels, were sent to the Imperial Museum (now Indian Museum) in Kolkata, where they remain till date. • But a part of the collection was passed down for generations in the Peppé family. In 2013, they came in possession of Chris Peppé who decided to put the antiquities up for auction. Sotheby's listed an estimated selling price of over $100 million. • On May 5, the Ministry of Culture served a legal notice to Sotheby's and the Peppé family, demanding the 'immediate cessation' of the auction, and repatriation of the relics to India. The Archaeological Survey of India too requested the Consulate General of Hong Kong to immediately stop the auction. • Pressure from New Delhi prompted Sotheby's to halt the auction, originally slated for May 7. But India's legal claim over the Piprawaha gems fell in a grey area. This is because the relics were excavated by Peppé on land allocated to him by the British government, and privately held for 127 years by his family, making it difficult to prove the illegality of their possession. Also, the gemstones were taken out of India long before India's Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 came into being. • In the end, the collection of 349 gemstones was acquired by Indian industrialist Pirojsha Godrej for an undisclosed amount. While unconventional, this allowed the government to not have to make a commercial transaction for the antiquities, which would have raised ethical issues. • Godrej has agreed to loan a 'large portion' of the collection to the National Museum for a period of five years, and display the entire collection for three months upon its arrival, Shekhawat said. Do You Know: • Buddhism is a significant world religion today, influencing many with its teachings. Originating in the 6th century BCE in the Indian subcontinent, Buddhism, along with other Śramanic sects emerged as a result of growing discontent towards ritualistic and hierarchical aspects of the Brahmanical tradition. • The date of the Buddha's life and death has long been a subject of debate among scholars. The canonical texts in Pali, especially the Pitakas (Sutta and Vinaya), contain his hagiography (writing about the lives of saints). One can also find information about Buddha and his life in texts like Mahavastu, Buddhacharita, and others. • Buddhism was founded by the Buddha, who was born as Siddhartha. He was the son of king Suddhodana, a leader of the Sakya clan of Kapilavastu (located in modern day Nepal). According to various narrations, Maya gave birth to Siddhartha in a grove at Lumbini while en route to her natal home. • The Piprahwa relics were discovered during the excavation of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Uttar Pradesh's Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border. They hold immense religious and cultural importance for the Buddhist community. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍How Buddhism shows the path to nirvana 📍Seven Buddhist practices for cultivating inner peace and better living Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) Which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC CSE 2021) (a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora River. (b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal River. (c) Pandu-lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada River. (d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari River. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India and Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues What's the ongoing story: The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate how 'fake Arya Samaj Societies' that solemnise marriages without verifying the age of the bride and the groom, and in violation of the state's anti-conversion law, 'have flourished throughout the State'. Key Points to Ponder: • Who founded the Arya Samaj? • What is Arya Samaj Mission? • What is the Arya Samaj Marriage? • What is the Special Marriage Act? • What are the Arya Samaj's contributions to Indian society? • Why is Dayanand Saraswati called the maker of modern India? Key Takeaways: • While hearing a case in which a Muslim man is accused of kidnapping, forcibly marrying, and committing statutory rape on a minor Hindu girl, Justice Prashant Kumar said that many marriages in the state, including those officiated by the Arya Samaj, bypass mandatory procedures under the UP anti-conversion law and marriage registration rules. The accused had claimed to have got married at an Arya Samaj temple. • The Arya Samaj was formally established by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 as a Hindu revivalist movement. It gained prominence in northern India, especially Punjab (including present-day Pakistan), in the late 19th century. • Among other things, the Arya Samaj made the very first attempts to convert persons from other faiths or ideologies to its version of Vedic, monotheistic Hinduism through a process it called 'shuddhi' (purification). • One of the ways it facilitated this was by having a progressive view of inter-caste and even interfaith marriages. In effect, till the Special Marriage Act, 1954 came into force, the Arya Samaj provided the only way for a Hindu to marry out of caste or religion and to still retain their caste. • The Arya Samaj was formally established by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 as a Hindu revivalist movement. It gained prominence in northern India, especially Punjab (including present-day Pakistan), in the late 19th century. • Among other things, the Arya Samaj made the very first attempts to convert persons from other faiths or ideologies to its version of Vedic, monotheistic Hinduism through a process it called 'shuddhi' (purification). • One of the ways it facilitated this was by having a progressive view of inter-caste and even interfaith marriages. In effect, till the Special Marriage Act, 1954 came into force, the Arya Samaj provided the only way for a Hindu to marry out of caste or religion and to still retain their caste. • The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 — which covers not just Hindus but also Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs — recognises Arya Samaj marriages. Those belonging to other religions simply need to convert to Hinduism before the wedding. • However, several Arya Samaj organisations complete this conversion ritual expeditiously. This means that Arya Samaj weddings are fast, often not taking more than a couple of hours. This, along with the ease of paperwork and relaxed requirements, make Arya Samaj weddings popular among eloping or runaway couples, who often belong to different castes or religions. • A petition on whether Arya Samaj marriages must comply with the requirements of the Special Marriage Act has been pending before the Supreme Court since 2022. • In 2022, the Supreme Court orally observed that the Arya Samaj has 'no business' issuing marriage certificates, while the Delhi High Court last year directed an Arya Samaj temple to use verified witnesses to ensure that marriages performed by the temple were genuine. Do You Know: • Dayanand Saraswati was born on February 12, 1824, in Morbi, Kathiawar, Gujarat. In 1875, he founded the Arya Samaj to counter social inequities. Arya Samaj is said to have played a crucial role in social awakening through its emphasis on social reforms and education. This was a monotheistic Hindu order that rejected the ritualistic excesses and social dogmas of orthodox Hinduism and promoted a united Hindu society on the basis of Vedic teachings. • Among his various beliefs included a rejection of idolatry and the overly ritualistic traditions of Hinduism, support for women's education, denunciation of child marriage, and an opposition to untouchability. 'Gandhi himself gave the highest importance to Swamiji's campaign of abolishing untouchability,' said Murmu. • He also emerged as an early proponent of cow protection, who first published Gokarun·aˉnidhi , a pamphlet in 1881, which circulated his concerns against cattle slaughter. He later on went to establish a committee for the protection of cows called Gaurakshini Sabha in 1882. He has given economic reason for cow protection arguing that a cow was more beneficial to people alive, as opposed to it being dead, since it gave milk and eased agricultural labour. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Who was Dayanand Saraswati 📍Knowledge Nugget: Why is Dayanand Saraswati, the 'maker of modern India', important for UPSC? UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Which among the following events happened earliest? (UPSC CSE 2018) (a) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj. (b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan. (c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath. (d) Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: OVER 30 remarks crediting himself for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, referring to India as a 'dead economy,' dropping the 25% tariff bombshell and a Russia penalty even as talks are on — US President Donald Trump's diatribe was met Friday by diplomatic pragmatism from the Ministry of External Affairs. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the status of the India-USA trade deal? • Why has America imposed tariffs on India? • What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US? • Know about the recent trade deals that India has signed with other countries • What are the products exported and imported by India from America? • What is the rationale behind imposing tariffs on other countries? • What are the challenges faced by the Indian economy? • 'The bulk of India's population is still engaged in the rural and farm sectors is the failure to boost manufacturing'. Analyse. Key Takeaways: • Underlining that the India-US partnership has 'weathered several transitions and challenges,' the MEA said that New Delhi will remain 'focused on the substantive agenda' even as it flagged that its friendship with Russia was 'time-tested.' • This response came the day Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on dozens of countries including 25 per cent for goods from India. • Asked about India-US defence ties in the wake of reports of India refusing to consider F-35 fighter jets, the MEA spokesperson said, 'We have a strong defence partnership with the U.S. which has been strengthening over the last several years. There is potential for this partnership to grow further under the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century.' • Responding to Trump's talk of a penalty on India for buying energy from Russia, Jaiswal said: 'In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances.' • On Trump's tirade against India-Russia ties and that they are both 'dead economies', the MEA spokesperson said: 'Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.' • On Trump's anger at India buying Russian defence equipment, he said, 'The sourcing of our defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments.' • There are two possible impulses that guide Trump's responses, according to Delhi's analysis. • First, his negotiating style to browbeat and bully the adversary by imposing high tariffs and try and get the deal on his own terms. This has been seen with China, where he imposed 145 per cent tariffs and then dialled down to 35 – after talks in Geneva. • Second, some in the Indian establishment feel that the US President has not taken very kindly to Delhi fact-checking Trump's claims on brokering a ceasefire. Not only has PM Narendra Modi conveyed this in the phone call with Trump on June 17, but Indian ministers and officials have repeatedly denied the claim. • While India does depend on Russia for the defence supplies, much of it is because of the legacy from the Soviet Union era. Although the dependency is about 60 to 70 per cent, India has, in the past few years, steadily diversified its defence purchases from countries including the US. • The diplomatic challenge is three-fold, sources said: how long can Delhi stand its ground against the US; whether India can engage with Trump's inner circle; and whether they can overcome the distrust fuelled by the Trump's comments in the long term. Do You Know: Explained: Health of India's economy • On July 30, United States President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on India, as well as an unspecified 'penalty' for buying military equipment and energy from Russia. A day later, Trump posted on social media that he did not care if India and Russia 'take their dead economies down together'. • So, is India's economy 'dead'? While Trump, who seems annoyed with India's hard bargaining in the talks for a trade deal, need not be taken literally, it stands to reason that one absolutely necessary attribute of a dead economy must be an absence of economic growth. • The Table alongside contains data for gross domestic product (GDP) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a selection of countries over the past 30 years from 1995. • They have been selected in the context of Trump's comments, and the recent trade pacts signed between his administration and countries such as Pakistan, the UK, and the EU (of which Germany is the biggest economy). Japan has been included because it is one of the world's biggest economies. • The data throw up a picture that is obviously contrary to Trump's contention that India, or even Russia, are 'dead' economies. • Column 3 shows the number of times the GDP of each country has grown over the past 30 years. The top three countries are China, India, and Russia in that order. • While the US has now become four times its 1995 size, its closest trade partners like the United Kingdom have grown by less than 3 times, and Germany has failed to even double its economy. • Japan's GDP in 2025 is lower than what it was in 1995, which would, by this metric, qualify it to be not just a 'dead' but perhaps a decaying economy. • In contrast, India's economy is today almost 12 times its size in 1995. • Columns 4 and 5 show there are only three economies that have grown in size relative to the US: China, India, and Russia. India was less than 5% the size of the US economy in 1995, but in 2025 it is almost 14%. • By contrast, all of America's friends and trading partners have shrunk in size relative to the US. • Do the above numbers mean India's economy has no problems? While India is by no means a 'dead' economy — far from it — it does have several ailments. • While India's overall GDP has grown, its growth rate has lost a step since 2011-12, and failed to replicate the spurt of fast growth — averaging 8%-9% — that was witnessed before the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09. Since 2014, India's growth rate has hovered around 6%. • One sign of weakness in the economy is the fact that there are many sectors that India wants to protect when it comes to international trade. India's farm economy is plagued with distress, with the bulk of the farmers living at subsistence levels. • The reason why the bulk of India's population is still engaged in the rural and farm sectors is the failure to boost manufacturing. Official data show that since 2019-20, manufacturing has registered a slower growth rate (CAGR of 4.04%) than even agriculture and allied activities (4.72%). • A stark skills mismatch means that unemployment in India rises to very high levels with rising educational attainment. And female participation in the economy is among the lowest in the world — even when it is rising, the quality of work is of the poorest quality with low and stagnant wages. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India's economic growth is not inclusive. It is a concentrated accumulation of wealth Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. Worker productivity (Rs per worker at 2004 – 05 prices) increased in urban areas while it decreased in rural areas. 2. The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce steadily increased. 3. In rural areas, the growth in non-farm economy increased. The growth rate in rural employment decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 4 only Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2023) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies What's the ongoing story: The Election Commission (EC) on Friday announced that the election for the post of Vice President, which fell vacant with the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, would be held on September 9. Key Points to Ponder: • Who conducts the election of the Vice-President (VP)? • What is the eligibility for being elected as VP? • What are the role and responsibilities of the VP? • Who constitutes the electoral college for the election of the VP? • How is it different from the electoral college in the election of the President? • Know about the constitutional provisions related to the VP • What does the constitution say about the mid-term vacancy of the position of the VP? Key Takeaways: • As per the schedule announced by the EC, the notification would be issued on August 7, starting the period for filing nominations. The last date for filing nominations is August 21. The polling and counting would be held on September 9. • The electoral college for the election will comprise 782 members of Parliament – 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha (five seats are currently vacant), 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha and 542 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat is vacant), the EC said. • Voting is held by secret ballot, using the system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote. Each MP casts a vote by ranking candidates in order of preference. All votes carry equal value. • To be declared elected, a candidate must reach a required minimum number of votes — called the quota. This is calculated by dividing the total number of valid votes by two and adding one (fractions, if any, are ignored). • If no candidate crosses the quota in the first round, the one with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the remaining candidates based on second preferences. The process continues until one candidate crosses the quota. • Dhankhar's surprise resignation came just hours after he presided over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. He submitted his letter to resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, citing health reasons. Do You Know: • Jagdeep Dhankhar assumed office as the 14th Vice President in August 2022. He is only the third Vice-President in India's history to resign before completing his term, after V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman —both of whom stepped down to contest presidential elections and were succeeded by Gopal Swarup Pathak and Shankar Dayal Sharma, respectively. • There is no direct provision in the Constitution on who performs the duties of the Vice-President if the office falls vacant before the expiry of his/her term or when the Vice-President is discharging the duties of the President. • However, the Constitution does have a provision on what happens if the chairperson of the Council of States falls vacant: the Deputy Chairman or any other member of the Rajya Sabha authorised by the President can perform the chairperson's duties. • Any citizen of India who is at least 35 years of age and a registered voter in a state or Union Territory can be a candidate for the post. At least 20 MPs need to propose the nomination and 20 other MPs need to second it. As per Article 66 (2), the Vice-President cannot be a member of either House of Parliament or of the Legislature of any state. • Article 67 says that the Vice-President will hold office for a term of five years from 'the date on which he enters upon his office'. However, according to the same provision, the Vice-President can continue to hold power 'notwithstanding the expiration of his term' until his 'successor enters upon his office'. • The Vice-President may leave mid-term by submitting a resignation letter to the President, and can also be removed from office by a resolution in the Rajya Sabha, passed by a majority of its members at that time and agreed by the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why is the election of the Vice-President important for your UPSC exam? 📍Vice-President: The post, the provisions, and the past UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2013) 1. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are not members of that House. 2. While the nominated members of the two Houses of the Parliament have no voting right in the presidential election, they have the right to vote in the election of the Vice-President. 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 UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Discuss the role of the Vice-President of India as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (UPSC CSE 2022) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition seeking application of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, known as the POSH Act, to political parties, saying it falls in the domain of the policymakers. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the POSH Act? • Why was it enacted? • Who comes under the purview of the POSH Act? • What constitutes 'workplace, employer, and employee' under the Act? • Do political parties fall under its purview? • What is the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)? Who are the members of this committee? • What is the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in this? • What are the challenges faced by women in the workplace? • What are the Vishaka guidelines? Key Takeaways: • 'The prayer made in the petition is exclusively within the competence of the legislature or within the domain of policy of the executive. As such, we are not inclined to entertain,' Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai, presiding over a two-judge bench, told senior advocate Rekha Gupta, who pressed for the court's intervention. • The counsel told the bench, also comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran, that 'an important issue like this, they (legislators) are not acting upon, the vacuum is still continuing'. • CJI Gavai suggested, 'There must be not less than 25-30 MPs who are women. Ask them to present a private bill.' • The counsel said that she was not seeking a direction to Parliament to legislate but only interpretation as to what constitutes 'workplace, employer and employee' under the Act because a Kerala High Court judgment says it will not apply to political parties. • The court said, in that case, she should challenge the high court order. The counsel said she would do so and sought permission to withdraw her petition. • The court allowed this and gave her 'further liberty to take such steps as are advisable in law'. • The POSH Act requires both public and private workplaces to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to hear complaints of sexual harassment. The plea contended that when it comes to political parties, 'the presence of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to address sexual harassment is inconsistent'. • Citing UN Women (2013) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2016) studies, it said psychological and sexual harassment in political spaces is not isolated but systemic. It added that political work is a form of employment or engagement and must be recognised as such under the Act to ensure protection and accountability. Do You Know: • The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act was passed in 2013. It defined sexual harassment, lay down the procedures for a complaint and inquiry, and the action to be taken. It broadened the Vishaka guidelines, which were already in place. • The Vishaka guidelines were laid down by the Supreme Court in a judgment in 1997. This was in a case filed by women's rights groups, one of which was Vishaka. They had filed a public interest litigation over the alleged gangrape of Bhanwari Devi, a social worker from Rajasthan. In 1992, she had prevented the marriage of a one-year-old girl, leading to the alleged gangrape in an act of revenge. • Section 3(1) of the POSH Act states that 'No woman shall be subjected to sexual harassment at any workplace'. This immediately tells us how the POSH Act will apply — at the workplace, and only when the aggrieved party is a woman. • The definition of 'workplace' in the POSH Act is expansive. It includes organisations, institutions, and so on in the public sector which are 'established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government', as well as organisations in the private sector, hospitals, nursing homes, sports venues, houses, and even covers locations visited by an employee 'during the course of employment'. • The Representation of People Act, 1951 (RP Act), governs how to register a political party. Under Section 29A 'Any association or body of individual citizens of India calling itself a political party' must make an application for registration with the ECI. This application must provide details including the name of the party, the State where its head office is situated, the names of office bearers, details of local units, and number of members. • The application must also contain a memorandum of rules and regulations, and must contain a provision stating that the party 'shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India'. However, the POSH Act hangs its hat on protecting women from sexual harassment in the 'workplace', which can be difficult to determine for a political party. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Could the POSH Act apply to political parties? 📍Explained: What is POSH, the law against sexual harassment in India? Mains Question Covering similar theme: What is the significance of the POSH Act? What is the role played by the judiciary in ensuring the protection of women from sexual harassment? Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment What's the ongoing story: 'The day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish,' said the Supreme Court Friday as it sounded the alarm on the deteriorating environmental situation in the Himalayan state that has frequently borne the brunt of natural disasters. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the challenges faced by the Himalayan states? • Why is it a matter of concern? • Look at the recent natural disasters that have occurred in the Himalayan states • How is unchecked tourism are cause of concern? • What is the debate around development and environmental conservation? • What are the important Supreme Court judgments on environmental protection? • What is the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)? Key Takeaways: • Flagging a range of issues in the ecologically sensitive region, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the registration of a case in the public interest and sought the Himachal Pradesh government's response within four weeks. • The bench was hearing a hotel group's challenge to a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that restricted constructions in an area declared as a green zone by the state's Town and Country Planning Department in June. • Refusing to interfere with the High Court's decision, the top court said it 'would like to say something in the larger interest of the state of Himachal Pradesh and its inhabitants'. • According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,539 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 20. So far, 94 people have died and 36 are missing in rain-related incidents while 1,352 houses have been fully or partially damaged. • The court went on to list a number of serious concerns in the Himalayan state — the 'visible' and 'alarming' impact of climate change; deforestation; hydropower projects reportedly causing water shortages and landslides; unchecked tourism affecting the ecological balance and straining resources; and relentless construction of four-lane roads, tunnels and multi-storey buildings to cater to the increasing footfall. • Communities living near hydro-electric projects frequently report water scarcity, landslides, and even structural cracks in their homes, the bench said. • The bench said all Himalayan states need to collate resources and expertise to ensure their development plans are cognisant of environmental challenges. • 'All that we want to convey today is that it is high time that the state pays attention to what we have observed and starts taking necessary action at the earliest in the right direction. The Union of India also owes an obligation to see that the ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur.' Do You Know: • Worried over frequent natural calamities, the Himachal Pradesh government would seek assistance from the Indian institutes of technology (IITs) in Mandi and Roorkee, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other expert agencies to study the causes of such repeated disasters in the hill state. • In the last decade, India's Himalayan states — Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan — have experienced increasingly extreme weather events. • This rising trend is not accidental. Scientists attribute it to global climate change, which fundamentally alters regional weather systems. The implications are profound: More intense storms, unpredictable rainfall, rapid glacier melting, and increased flooding. • One of the fundamental effects of global warming is increased atmospheric moisture. As the Earth's average temperature rises due to elevated greenhouse gases, the atmosphere can hold more water vapour, approximately 7 per cent more per degree Celsius increase. This extra moisture means that when conditions are right, rainfall becomes heavier and more intense. • In the Himalayas, this translates to more frequent and severe cloudbursts — sudden, localised heavy rainfalls that can dump hundreds of millimetres of water in hours. These events often result in flash floods, devastating downstream communities with little warning. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why is Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) important for UPSC exam 📍Himachal floods: How can Himalayan region safeguard its people, heritage, ecosystems from climate change? Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in (UPSC CSE 2013) (a) desert margins, liable to strong wind action (b) low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to flooding (c) scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth (d) None of the above Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 'Climate Change' is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC CSE 2017) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
