MHA Designates Shahzad Bhatti Network as Terrorist Group Under UAPA
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued an official notification declaring the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Operating remotely from the United Arab Emirates, leader Shahzad Bhatti evolved from organized gangster activities into facilitating violent cross-border terrorist operations targeting India.
National security agencies linked the syndicate to over 200 counter-terror detentions executed across multiple Indian states during coordinated operations ahead of Independence Day.
The MHA assessment emphasized that the outfit's activities pose grave threats to India's democratic structure, internal security stability, and communal harmony.
The UAPA designation grants law enforcement agencies enhanced legal capabilities to confiscate proceeds of crime, intercept communications, and prosecute domestic network operatives.
Prelims Facts
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs notifies terrorist organizations under Schedule I of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The 2019 amendment to UAPA empowered the Central Government to designate both individuals and organizations as terrorists.
Transnational syndicates operating from foreign jurisdictions can be designated under UAPA to facilitate asset freezing and Interpol red notices.
Mains Framework
The designation of the Shahzad Bhatti Network under UAPA highlights the increasing operational convergence between cross-border organized crime syndicates and state-sponsored proxy terror networks.
Dimensions
Statutory Powers and Asset Freezing
Empowers national agencies to freeze domestic financial assets, conduct preemptive arrests, and initiate international extradition proceedings.
Cyber Recruitment and Hybrid Threats
Exploitation of social media platforms by foreign handlers to radicalize local youth and execute targeted violent disruptions.
Transnational Legal Challenges
Operational reliance on foreign safe havens necessitates robust bilateral legal assistance treaties and FATF compliance enforcement.
Way forward
Strengthen real-time financial intelligence units, mandate proactive social media monitoring, and expand bilateral extradition agreements with Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
Key terms
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) ActOrganized Crime-Terror NexusMinistry of Home AffairsCross-Border TerrorismFinancial Action Task Force
Acts & articles
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002Section 15 of UAPA (Definition of Terrorist Act)
02
GS PAPER II - POLITY & GOVERNANCE
Federalism and Constitutional Governance: Statehood Demands and Election Commission Mandates
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Advocates Statehood Restoration
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah publicly reiterated his government's formal request for the immediate restoration of full statehood status to the region.
Speaking in Srinagar, Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized that solemn commitments regarding statehood were officially presented before Parliament and the Supreme Court of India.
The Chief Minister also backed central regulatory directives on Unified Payments Interface fees, affirming that consumer transactions must remain exempt from merchant processing surcharges.
The statehood demand highlights public expectations for political empowerment and executive autonomy following the democratic election of the legislative assembly.
Restoring full statehood remains vital for reinforcing asymmetric federal principles and ensuring constitutional parity for Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian polity.
ECI Bars Both Trinamool Factions from Symbol Usage for West Bengal Bypolls
The Election Commission of India promulgated an interim order restraining both rival factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the official party name and symbol.
The regulatory restriction applies directly to upcoming Assembly byelections scheduled across West Bengal, including key constituencies such as Nandigram and Rejinagar.
The ECI instructed both competing groups to choose alternative party names and select free symbols from the approved list for upcoming nominations.
The temporary freeze aims to prevent voter confusion while the quasi-judicial body formally adjudicates long-term claims of organizational majority.
The order demonstrates statutory enforcement under the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order of 1968 to preserve impartial electoral procedures during internal disputes.
Prelims Facts
Article 3 empowers Parliament to form new States, alter boundaries, or diminish the area of any existing State by ordinary legislative procedures.
Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Order, 1968 grants the ECI exclusive authority to adjudicate symbol disputes among rival political factions.
Interim freeze orders issued by the ECI prevent competing factions from utilizing the registered party name and reserved election symbol.
Mains Framework
Recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal reflect ongoing structural dynamics in central administrative authority, state autonomy, and election management mechanisms.
Dimensions
Constitutional Promise of Statehood
Restoring full statehood to Union Territories with elected assemblies reaffirms federal trust and democratic accountability.
Electoral Neutrality in Factional Disputes
Statutory principles guiding ECI adjudications protect voter clarity and maintain level playing fields during splits.
Cooperative Federal Relations
Mitigating friction between central administrative mandates and state-level political representation is essential for administrative stability.
Way forward
Pass parliamentary legislation to fulfill commitments on statehood restoration in J&K and ensure time-bound, transparent dispute resolution processes by the Election Commission.
Key terms
Article 3 of ConstitutionElection Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968Representation of the People Act 1951Asymmetric FederalismInterim Symbol Freeze
Acts & articles
Article 3 of Constitution of IndiaJammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968
03
GS PAPER II - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIASPORA
Global Migration Dynamics and Student Visa Policies: Immigration Overhauls in Developed Nations
Australia Tightens Student and Backpacker Visa Rules to Curb Migration
The Australian government unveiled major visa reforms barring international students from bringing partners and children as accompanying dependents during their academic programs.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that international students can renew student visas only if they demonstrate advancement up the educational qualification scale.
The policy overhaul aims to reduce annual net migration significantly to manage national housing shortages and public infrastructure pressures across major metropolitan areas.
Australian officials emphasized that the regulatory changes are essential structural measures to uphold academic integrity within the international higher education sector.
The new restrictions significantly alter post-study employment prospects and family reunification options for foreign students pursuing higher education in Australia.
Australian Visa Overhaul Restricts Dependent Visas and Course Switching
Australia implemented strict new visa directives impacting Indian applicants, explicitly banning course-switching strategies known as 'visa hopping' among temporary visa holders.
The updated regulations establish that new international students will no longer be permitted to attach spouses or children to their student visas.
The Department of Home Affairs aims to lower net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2027-28 from 292,000 recorded in the year ending March 2026.
While direct university enrolment quotas were untouched, the restrictions eliminate secondary long-term stay pathways previously utilized by foreign graduates.
Educational consultants advise prospective Indian students to undertake comprehensive career planning and financial evaluation before applying for Australian study permits.
US ICE Detains F-1 Student Following OPT Application Denial
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested an F-1 visa holder in Atlanta following an administrative denial of her Optional Practical Training application.
The student was taken into custody despite having no criminal background, no prior deportation order, and remaining within a university-recognized 60-day grace period.
An immigration attorney had submitted a formal legal challenge against the OPT denial prior to the unexpected detention by federal officers.
The incident occurred while the US Department of Homeland Security considers structural revisions to post-graduation grace period frameworks for foreign students.
The case highlights increasing procedural risks and administrative enforcement vulnerabilities faced by foreign graduates navigating complex United States immigration regulations.
Prelims Facts
Australia's migration strategy targets lowering annual net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2027-28 from 292,000 in early 2026.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) enables F-1 student visa holders in the United States to secure temporary employment related to their field of study.
Course switching or 'visa hopping' refers to temporary visa holders extending stay by enrolling continuously in lower-tier qualification courses.
Mains Framework
Structural policy shifts in major destination nations targeting student visas and dependent rights directly alter global mobility patterns and higher education investments for Indian youth.
Dimensions
Socio-Economic Strain on Foreign Students
Ban on accompanying family members and restrictions on course transfers raise financial costs and emotional stress.
Impact on Bilateral Educational Agreements
Restrictive immigration measures challenge the spirit of bilateral mobility and trade frameworks like the India-Australia ECTA.
Enforcement and Legal Protections
Sudden detentions during administrative grace periods emphasize the need for enhanced consular protection and legal awareness.
Way forward
Strengthen bilateral diplomatic dialogues to secure transitional protections for existing students and build high-quality domestic educational capacity.
Poland Warns of Planned Russian Hybrid Drone Attacks on NATO Territory
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk alerted Parliament that Russia is preparing hybrid strikes using drones or missiles against European nations supporting Ukraine.
Prime Minister Tusk warned that Moscow intends to dismiss incoming projectile incidents as technical accidents to erode collective response motivation among NATO allies.
The statement followed a near-miss incident where European political leaders narrowly escaped a drone strike while traveling near the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Polish authorities cautioned that drone incursions pose real risks of infrastructure destruction on NATO's eastern flank, calling for heightened allied radar surveillance.
The warning illustrates evolving gray-zone conflict methods where hostile actions are structured to stay just below statutory thresholds for collective military defense.
US Moves Toward Establishing Permanent Army Base in Poland
US President Donald Trump reported notable progress toward constructing a permanent American Army base in Poland following high-level bilateral consultations.
President Trump praised Polish President Karol Nawrocki's strategic leadership, indicating that specific location plans for the facility would be announced shortly.
Poland has persistently advocated for a permanent US military garrison on its territory to deter potential cross-border military escalation since 2022.
Establishing a permanent base marks a shift from temporary troop rotations, anchoring long-term United States military engagement on Europe's eastern perimeter.
The development comes amid broader reassessments of transatlantic burden-sharing and NATO forward defense capabilities in Eastern Europe.
Russia Begins First Parliamentary Elections Since Ukraine Conflict
Voting commenced across Russia for three-day parliamentary elections determining all 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower house of Parliament.
This election represents the first nationwide legislative polling conducted since Moscow launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Voting initiated in Far Eastern territories like Kamchatka and Chukotka, with the ruling United Russia party expected to maintain its legislative majority.
President Vladimir Putin urged citizens to vote, presenting electoral participation as a public demonstration of national unity and armed forces support.
The polling takes place against a backdrop of prolonged economic sanctions, strict legal limits on opposition political activity, and foreign drone strikes.
Prelims Facts
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty specifies that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all members.
The State Duma serves as the 450-member elected lower chamber of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
NATO's eastern flank covers member states bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, including Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Estonia.
Mains Framework
Escalating security warnings in Poland alongside proposed permanent military installations highlight the expanding containment architecture along Europe's eastern frontier.
Dimensions
Hybrid Threats and Plausible Deniability
Low-intensity drone incursions framed as accidental tests NATO's collective response thresholds without triggering Article 5.
Permanent vs. Rotational Posture
Transitioning from rotational troop presence to permanent military bases alters long-term European deterrence dynamics.
Domestic Political Consolidation in Conflict
Conducting parliamentary elections during ongoing military operations consolidates state control amidst sanctions.
Way forward
Strengthen integrated air defense networks along eastern borders, establish legal clarity for gray-zone threats, and promote conflict de-escalation channels.
Key terms
NATO Article 5Collective DefenseHybrid WarfareState DumaForward Defense Posture
Acts & articles
North Atlantic Treaty Article 5UN Charter Article 51 (Right to Self-Defense)NATO-Russia Founding Act 1997
05
GS PAPER III - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / HEALTH
Public Health Security and Epidemic Prevention: Ebola Threat in Central Africa
Ebola Outbreak Remains Serious Threat in Democratic Republic of Congo
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a serious public health concern.
Health authorities emphasized that active transmission risks persist in rural provinces, requiring reinforced medical monitoring and swift contact tracing.
Continental health bodies are deploying specialized response teams and emergency medical supplies to assist local health facilities treating infected patients.
Public health experts cautioned that regional population mobility and limited healthcare infrastructure exacerbate risks of cross-border viral transmission.
The situation underscores the necessity of sustained international health funding and community-based preventative education to contain dangerous zoonotic pathogens.
Prelims Facts
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans transmitted from wild animals and spread through human-to-human transmission.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union established to support health initiatives.
Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered natural hosts of the Ebola virus.
Mains Framework
Persistent viral outbreaks in Central Africa underscore the urgent necessity of robust epidemiological surveillance and regional public health infrastructure.
Civil instability complicates vaccine deployment, medical quarantine, and contact tracing operations.
Global Health Governance
Coordination between the WHO and Africa CDC ensures rapid medical supply allocation and border health screening.
Way forward
Strengthen local community health networks, fund rapid diagnostic vaccine stockpiles, and integrate One Health frameworks into environmental management.
Key terms
Ebola Virus DiseaseZoonotic SpilloverAfrica CDCPublic Health EmergencyContact Tracing
Acts & articles
International Health Regulations (2005)African Union Africa CDC StatuteNational Vector Borne Disease Control Program Guidelines
06
GS PAPER II - GOVERNANCE & HUMAN RIGHTS
Governance, Human Rights and Resource Exploitation: Custodial Deaths and Illegal Mining
Custodial Deaths of Illegal Mining Suspects Trigger Investigation in Nigeria
At least 33 individuals arrested on suspicion of illegal mining died while held in the custody of Nigerian security agencies in Niger state.
Official statements blamed a sudden disease outbreak, but surviving detainees reported that 65 prisoners were crammed into an unventilated cell causing asphyxiation.
The arrests were conducted during security crackdowns aimed at curbing unregulated gold and mineral extraction across vulnerable rural regions.
Bodies of the deceased detainees were transferred to regional medical facilities for formal forensic examinations to establish the exact cause of death.
Human rights organizations called for immediate independent investigations into detention conditions, cell overcrowding, and law enforcement accountability.
Prelims Facts
Custodial deaths require mandatory judicial inquiry under standard international and national criminal procedure protocols.
Illegal mining degrades eco-sensitive zones and often correlates with informal labor exploitation and hazardous work environments.
Overcrowding in detention centers violates fundamental standards of human dignity and basic health rights.
Mains Framework
The tragic loss of life among suspects in security custody brings international focus to prison overcrowding, regulatory enforcement failures, and human rights safeguards.
Dimensions
Custodial Management and Human Rights
Failure to provide adequate ventilation, medical care, and humane space violates basic international human rights conventions.
Socio-Economic Drivers of Illicit Mining
Rural poverty and informal resource extraction demand structural economic alternatives alongside law enforcement.
Institutional Accountability
Independent forensic inquiries and judicial accountability are imperative to prevent systemic law enforcement abuses.
Way forward
Implement strict prison capacity caps, mandate independent medical inspections of detention centers, and formalize artisanal mining regulation.
Key terms
Custodial DeathsIllegal MiningHuman Rights ViolationsOvercrowding in PrisonsEnvironmental Governance
Acts & articles
Article 21 of Indian Constitution (Right to Life)UN Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules)Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act
07
GS PAPER II - JUDICIAL SCRUTINY & CIVIL LIBERTIES
Civil Liberties, Freedom of Movement and Public Protests: Legal Restraints on Activism
Bombay HC Seeks Reply on Petition Against Removing Tipu Sultan Portrait
The Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government for a formal response to a petition filed by Malegaon Deputy Mayor Shaan e Hind Nihal Ahmed.
The plea challenges police notices instructing the removal of a Tipu Sultan portrait installed inside the Deputy Mayor's official municipal office.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard the petition and granted time to state authorities to file their reply.
The petitioner argued that portraits of several national leaders were displayed alongside Tipu Sultan, maintaining historic respect without violating public order.
The case illustrates judicial review over executive police communications interfering with administrative office decorum and historical representation.
Canadian Court Denies Travel Request for Activist Tamara Lich
An Ontario court rejected a legal application from Canadian activist Tamara Lich seeking permission to travel internationally while serving a conditional sentence.
Lich became prominent as a lead organizer of the 2022 Canadian 'Freedom Convoy' protests that blockaded Ottawa streets against pandemic mandates.
The judicial decision mandates continued adherence to travel restrictions imposed under her conditional sentence following criminal trial convictions.
The ruling reinforces judicial precedents governing post-conviction travel constraints and law enforcement compliance for high-profile protest organizers.
The development demonstrates how international judicial systems handle conditional sentence terms and travel liberty petitions for prominent activists.
Prelims Facts
Freedom of movement and assembly are subject to reasonable restrictions imposed on grounds of public order, sovereignty, and integrity.
High Courts exercise judicial review over executive administrative directives under Article 226 of the Constitution.
Conditional sentence orders frequently restrict international travel for individuals convicted of public disturbance offenses.
Mains Framework
Judicial review of police directives in municipal offices and international bail travel bans reflect the ongoing legal debate over state authority, public symbols, and civil liberty bounds.
Dimensions
Judicial Scrutiny of Executive Orders
Assessing whether executive directives banning specific historical portraits satisfy legal tests of administrative propriety.
Proportionality in Judicial Restraints
Judicial enforcement of travel bans during sentences balances individual freedom against judicial compliance.
Symbolic Expression in Public Offices
Balancing political expression in administrative spaces with municipal decorum and secular public order.
Way forward
Ensure executive orders adhere strictly to statutory authorization and maintain proportional legal limits on post-conviction travel rights.
Key terms
Freedom of AssemblyReasonable RestrictionsJudicial ReviewConditional SentencingPublic Order
Acts & articles
Article 19 of Indian ConstitutionArticle 226 of Indian ConstitutionCode of Criminal Procedure / BNSS Provisions
08
GS PAPER III - AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY
Sustainable Food Systems and Community Resilience: Youth-Led Waste Diversion
Youth Initiative Rescues 300,000 Pounds of Food Waste in Virginia
A student-led initiative named 'Nourishin Ninjas' successfully rescued over 300,000 pounds of quality surplus food from ending up in municipal landfills.
Founded by Virginia teenager Dhevesh Mahes, the volunteer effort evolved from a small dessert fundraiser into a structured regional food diversion organization.
The youth team works alongside Anna Sudha Community Kitchens to deliver rescued produce, bakery items, and meals directly to low-income families.
The organization raised nearly $52,000 to fund cold-storage and transportation logistics, earning national recognition from volunteer award platforms.
The project highlights how civil society food recovery models can simultaneously address municipal waste management challenges and urban food insecurity.
Prelims Facts
SDG Target 12.3 aims to halve per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030.
Decomposing food waste in municipal landfills generates significant quantities of methane, a potent short-lived climate pollutant.
Community food recovery networks divert edible commercial food surplus directly to vulnerable populations.
Mains Framework
Grassroots youth initiatives focused on food rescue demonstrate scalable decentralized models to eliminate landfill food waste and tackle urban hunger.
Dimensions
Environmental Landfill Diversion
Diverting organic waste prevents anaerobic decomposition and lowers localized urban greenhouse gas emissions.
Social Food Safety Nets
Partnering with community kitchens bridges structural gaps between commercial retail food surplus and underserved families.
Youth Mobilization and Philanthropic Logistics
Decentralized volunteer logistics complement formal government food security schemes efficiently.
Way forward
Incentivize commercial food donations through statutory protections, support cold-chain logistics for NGOs, and incorporate waste segregation into municipal planning.
Key terms
Food Waste DiversionSDG Target 12.3Community KitchensMethane MitigationCivil Society Models
West Bengal Launches PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Annapurna Divas
The West Bengal government officially launched the central PM Vishwakarma Scheme across the state, celebrating the occasion as 'Annapurna Divas'.
This marks the first formal administrative implementation of the flagship Union government artisan welfare scheme by the West Bengal state executive.
State officials announced expanded housing coverage under the PM Awas Yojana, targeting 50 lakh identified beneficiaries across rural and urban districts.
The program provides collateral-free credit, modern toolkits, and skill training incentives to traditional artisans and informal craftspeople throughout the state.
The launch demonstrates executive convergence between central social welfare schemes and state administrative implementation channels.
Prelims Facts
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme provides holistic credit and skill support to traditional artisans operating across 18 family-based trades.
The scheme offers collateral-free enterprise loans up to ₹3 lakh at a subsidized interest rate of 5%.
Beneficiaries receive a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000, basic and advanced skill training stipends, and digital transaction rewards.
Mains Framework
The rollout of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in West Bengal represents a pragmatic model of federal scheme execution supporting traditional informal craftspeople.
Dimensions
Modernization of Traditional Crafts
Upgrading traditional tools, offering quality certifications, and linking rural artisans directly to global supply chains.
Financial Inclusion without Collateral
Eliminating dependence on informal moneylenders through institutional micro-credit guarantees.
Cooperative Executive Federalism
Administrative cooperation between central policy architects and state execution machinery improves welfare targeting.
Way forward
Establish regional cluster hubs, simplify digital onboarding for rural artisans, and integrate local handicrafts with public procurement portals like GeM.
PM Modi Highlights India's Preparedness for Global Manufacturing Challenges
Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed that India is fully prepared and reliable to meet emerging global manufacturing challenges and supply chain shifts.
Addressing industrial forums, the Prime Minister highlighted domestic policy reforms designed to build competitive, resilient, and transparent industrial ecosystems.
Flagship initiatives such as Production Linked Incentives and PM Gati Shakti were cited as key drivers enhancing domestic manufacturing productivity.
International investors increasingly view India as a preferred hub for electronics assembly, high-tech manufacturing, and capital investment.
The statement reinforces India's strategic push to expand its footprint in global value chains and drive sustainable industrial growth.
Prelims Facts
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme provides financial incentives across 14 key manufacturing sectors to boost domestic production.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan integrates 16 ministries to streamline multimodal logistics infrastructure for industrial corridors.
Make in India focuses on 27 sectors to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, and protect intellectual property.
Mains Framework
Structural policy interventions and supply chain diversification position India as an attractive global manufacturing hub amid international market realignments.
Dimensions
Supply Chain Re-alignment
'China Plus One' corporate strategies offer opportunities to capture global market share in electronics and capital goods.
Logistical and Infrastructure Reforms
Reducing national logistics costs through integrated freight corridors and single-window industrial clearances.
Regulatory and Ease of Doing Business Enhancements
Streamlining labor codes, rationalizing corporate compliance, and encouraging foreign direct investment.
Way forward
Boost industrial R&D spending, accelerate vocational skill development, and simplify land acquisition processes for industrial parks.
Key terms
Supply Chain ResilienceMake in IndiaProduction Linked IncentivePM Gati ShaktiEase of Doing Business
Acts & articles
National Logistics Policy 2022Foreign Trade Policy 2023PLI Scheme Guidelines
Practice MCQs — Test Your Understanding
5 questions · UPSC Prelims pattern · Tap an option to check your answer
GS PAPER III - INTERNAL SECURITYInternal Security and Counter-Terrorism Framework: UAPA Designation of Shahzad Bhatti Network
MHA Designates Shahzad Bhatti Network as Terrorist Group Under UAPA
Q1With reference to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, consider the following statements:
1. The Central Government has statutory powers to designate both organizations and individuals as terrorists.
2. Entities designated as terrorist organizations are listed under Schedule I of the Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Option C
Both statements are correct. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (amended in 2019), the Central Government is empowered to designate both organizations and individuals as terrorists. Terrorist organizations are formally listed under Schedule I of the Act.
GS PAPER II - POLITY & GOVERNANCEFederalism and Constitutional Governance: Statehood Demands and Election Commission Mandates
ECI Bars Both Trinamool Factions from Symbol Usage for West Bengal Bypolls
Q2Under which statutory framework does the Election Commission of India exercise quasi-judicial authority to resolve disputes among rival factions of a recognized political party regarding election symbols?
Answer: Option B
Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the Election Commission of India to adjudicate disputes between splinter groups or rival factions of a recognized political party regarding party names and symbols.
GS PAPER II - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & DIASPORAGlobal Migration Dynamics and Student Visa Policies: Immigration Overhauls in Developed Nations
Australia Tightens Student and Backpacker Visa Rules to Curb Migration
Q3With reference to Australia's temporary visa reforms, consider the following statements:
1. International students are prohibited from attaching partners and children as accompanying dependents.
2. International students can renew student visas only if they move higher up the educational qualification scale.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Option C
Both statements are correct as per the official policy announcement. Australia announced that international students will no longer be allowed to bring family members as dependents, and visa renewals will strictly require students to progress upwards on the educational qualification scale to prevent 'visa hopping'.
GS PAPER II - GOVERNMENT POLICIES & INTERVENTIONSIndustrial Growth and Welfare Schemes: Implementation of PM Vishwakarma Scheme
West Bengal Launches PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Annapurna Divas
Q4With reference to the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, consider the following statements:
1. It provides collateral-free enterprise development loans up to ₹3 lakh at a concessional interest rate of 5%.
2. It offers toolkit incentives, basic and advanced skill training stipends, and digital transaction rewards for traditional artisans.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Option C
Both statements are correct. The PM Vishwakarma Scheme offers collateral-free credit support up to ₹3 lakh (in tranches) at 5% interest, alongside skill training, a ₹15,000 toolkit incentive, and digital transaction rewards for traditional craftspeople across 18 family-based trades.
GS PAPER III - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / HEALTHPublic Health Security and Epidemic Prevention: Ebola Threat in Central Africa
Ebola Outbreak Remains Serious Threat in Democratic Republic of Congo
Q5Which specialized technical health agency of the African Union is responsible for coordinating disease surveillance and public health emergency responses across African member states?
Answer: Option A
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the autonomous public health agency of the African Union mandated to support disease surveillance, emergency response, and public health capacity building across African nations.
