Global wildlife populations decline by 73% while India records conservation gains
What happened: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released the Living Planet Report 2026, highlighting a severe average decline in monitored global wildlife populations over the last five decades.
Who/WhereThe report was produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and monitored 5,790 vertebrate species globally, while noting specific conservation successes in India.
Key numbersMonitored global wildlife populations declined by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2022, with freshwater populations experiencing the steepest average decline at 85%.
Context/background: Habitat loss, degradation, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and disease are the primary drivers of this decline, largely propelled by unsustainable global food and energy systems.
Static link: This connects to India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to protect critical habitats and manage human-wildlife conflict.
Food systems identified as leading driver of global biodiversity loss
What happened: The Living Planet Index (LPI) tracked changes in the relative abundance of vertebrate species, warning that the global food and agriculture system is the single largest driver of biodiversity loss.
Who/WhereThe assessment, covering mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish globally, was published by the WWF to highlight how production and consumption patterns destroy natural ecosystems.
Key numbersThe index analyzed 35,803 population trends of 5,790 vertebrate species over a 52-year period from 1970 to 2022, showing a 73% average decline in population sizes.
Context/background: The report emphasizes that the LPI measures relative abundance rather than absolute numbers of individual animals lost, pointing to systemic pressures from agriculture, habitat destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Static link: This relates to Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
Key definitions
Living Planet Index: A measure of the state of the world's biological diversity based on population trends of vertebrate species from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats.
Relative Abundance: The proportional representation of a species within a given ecosystem, tracking variations over time rather than absolute population counts.
Prelims Facts
The Living Planet Report 2026 recorded an average 73% decline in monitored global wildlife populations between 1970 and 2022.
Freshwater wildlife populations experienced the steepest average decline at 85% over the 52-year assessment period.
India has recorded population increases in major species like tigers, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, and Asiatic lions.
Mains Framework
The WWF's Living Planet Report 2026 highlights a catastrophic 73% average decline in global wildlife populations, emphasizing the severe impact of human activities on biodiversity.
Dimensions
Drivers of Biodiversity Loss
Habitat destruction driven by global food and agricultural systems, climate change, and overexploitation.
Government approves Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority for coordinated planning
What happened: The Government of India approved the setting up of the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to serve as a specialized apex institution for research, planning, and monitoring.
Who/WhereThe authority was approved by the Union Cabinet in New Delhi to complement existing initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy.
Key numbersITLA is mandated to prepare a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a long-term planning horizon of 10 years or more, covering roads, railways, ports, and aviation.
Context/background: The authority will provide policy support, data analytics, and post-implementation impact assessments to ensure transport networks are well-connected and planned as an integrated, multimodal system.
Static link: This aligns with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan launched in 2021, which aims to break departmental silos and integrate infrastructure planning across ministries.
Special Purpose Vehicle approved to resolve fragmented transport infrastructure planning
What happened: The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of ITLA as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and multimodal integration of India's transport infrastructure.
Who/WhereThe SPV will operate across India to address long-standing challenges arising from fragmented planning and implementation across multiple transport-related ministries and agencies.
Key numbersThe authority will oversee integrated planning across key sectors including roads, railways, ports, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility, and logistics.
Context/background: Fragmented planning has historically led to delays and high logistics costs in India; the new SPV aims to foster greater coordination, project appraisal, and rigorous impact assessment.
Static link: This relates to the National Logistics Policy (NLP) of 2022, which targets reducing logistics costs in India from double digits to global benchmarks of around 8% of GDP.
Key definitions
Multimodal Integration: The seamless coordination and connectivity of different modes of transport, such as road, rail, air, and water, to optimize logistics.
Special Purpose Vehicle: A legal entity created to fulfill narrow, specific, or temporary objectives, often used to isolate financial risk and streamline project execution.
Prelims Facts
The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) on October 6, 2026.
ITLA is mandated to prepare a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 10 years or more.
The authority will serve as a specialized apex institution for research, planning, project appraisal, and monitoring across transportation and logistics.
Mains Framework
The establishment of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) marks a structural shift towards unified, long-term planning in India's infrastructure sector.
Dimensions
Addressing Fragmented Planning
Overcoming the traditional silos of separate ministries (Roads, Railways, Ports, Aviation) through a single SPV.
Enhancing Logistics Efficiency
Reducing India's high logistics costs to make domestic manufacturing globally competitive.
Data-Driven Governance
Utilizing advanced data analytics and post-implementation impact assessments to optimize public spending.
Way forward
Ensuring active coordination between ITLA, state governments, and the private sector while leveraging the PM GatiShakti digital platform.
Alternative Investment Fund cleared to bridge growth-stage equity gap for SMEs
What happened: The Union Cabinet cleared the SME Growth Fund as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) to provide direct equity investments to small and medium enterprises, focusing on manufacturing.
Who/WhereThe fund will focus on SMEs seeking to expand capacity, adopt technology, and enter international markets, including those operating in industrial clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
Key numbersThe government committed ₹10,000 crore to this fund, which was originally announced as part of the 2026-27 Union Budget to address the growth-stage equity financing gap.
Context/background: Existing equity funds largely focus on early-stage startups and micro enterprises, leaving a critical funding gap for established SMEs that have demonstrated business viability and need capital to scale.
Static link: This relates to SEBI's Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) Regulations, 2012, which govern privately pooled investment vehicles that collect funds from investors for investing in accordance with a defined policy.
Key definitions
Alternative Investment Fund: A privately pooled investment vehicle established in India that collects funds from sophisticated investors for investing in accordance with a defined policy.
Patient Capital: Long-term capital where the investor is willing to make a financial investment with no expectation of turning a quick profit.
Prelims Facts
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000 crore commitment to establish the SME Growth Fund (SGF) as an Alternative Investment Fund.
Under the April 2025 criteria, small enterprises have investments up to ₹25 crore and turnover up to ₹100 crore.
MSMEs contribute 31.1% of India's GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output, and 48.58% of exports.
Mains Framework
The ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund addresses a critical gap in growth-stage equity financing for India's small and medium enterprises, enabling them to scale and integrate into global value chains.
Dimensions
Bridging the Equity Gap
Moving beyond early-stage venture capital to provide long-term patient capital for established SMEs.
Boosting Manufacturing and Exports
Enabling SMEs to expand capacity, adopt advanced technologies, and enter international markets.
Fostering Regional Development
Targeting SMEs in industrial clusters located in Tier-II and Tier-III cities to promote balanced regional growth.
Way forward
Streamlining fund disbursement, ensuring professional management of the AIF, and linking equity support with capacity-building programs.
Key terms
SME Growth FundAlternative Investment FundMSME ClassificationPatient CapitalUdyam Registration
Acts & articles
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012
04
GS-2 · POLITY & GOVERNANCE
Modernisation of Banking Evidence: Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026
Bankers Books Evidence Act 2026 modernises legal framework for financial records
What happened: The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, came into force to modernize India's legal system governing the admissibility of physical, electronic, and digital banking records as evidence.
Who/WhereThe Act applies to court cases, inquiries, arbitrations, and investigations across India where banking records are required to be produced as legal evidence.
Context/background: The legislation introduces a technology-neutral framework with standardized provisions for authentication, protecting bank officials from routine court appearances solely to testify or prove records when the bank is not a party.
Static link: This modernization aligns with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, which recognize digital and electronic records as primary evidence.
Key definitions
Technology-Neutral Framework: A legal or regulatory approach that does not favor any specific technology, ensuring laws remain applicable as technology evolves.
Admissibility of Evidence: The legal standard determining whether a piece of evidence can be officially received and considered by a court of law.
Prelims Facts
The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, came into force on October 1, 2026, replacing the colonial-era Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891.
The Act introduces standardized provisions for the authentication and certification of physical, electronic, and digital banking records.
It protects bank officials from routine court appearances solely to testify or prove records in cases where the bank is not a party.
Mains Framework
The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, modernizes India's judicial process by aligning the admissibility of banking records with the realities of a digital financial ecosystem.
Dimensions
Legal Modernization
Replacing a 135-year-old colonial law to accommodate electronic and digital transactions.
Operational Efficiency for Banks
Reducing administrative burdens by shielding bank officials from unnecessary court appearances.
Judicial Streamlining
Providing clear, technology-neutral rules for authenticating digital records, thereby reducing litigation delays.
Way forward
Training judicial officers and bank staff on the new certification standards, and extending the Act's provisions to emerging fintech entities.
WHO prequalifies Serum Institute of India's indigenous HPV vaccine CERVAVAC
What happened: The Serum Institute of India's indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, CERVAVAC, received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Who/WhereDeveloped in India, the vaccine is licensed for girls and boys aged 9 to 26 years, enabling its procurement by United Nations agencies for global immunization programs.
Key numbersThe WHO prequalification became effective on September 25, 2026, targeting HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 to combat cervical cancer, which causes 604,000 new cases globally.
Context/background: Prequalification confirms that the vaccine meets stringent WHO standards for quality, safety, and efficacy, which is a major milestone for India's biotechnology sector and global cervical cancer prevention.
Static link: This supports India's National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) and aligns with the WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
Key definitions
WHO Prequalification: A service provided by the WHO to evaluate the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicinal products, making them eligible for procurement by UN agencies.
Quadrivalent Vaccine: A vaccine that stimulates an immune response against four different antigens, such as four distinct strains of a virus.
Prelims Facts
CERVAVAC is India's first indigenously developed gender-neutral quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified CERVAVAC effective September 25, 2026.
The vaccine targets HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, and is licensed in India for individuals aged 9 to 26 years.
Mains Framework
The WHO prequalification of CERVAVAC is a landmark achievement for India's biotechnology sector, opening avenues for global procurement and strengthening the fight against cervical cancer.
Dimensions
Global Health Impact
Enabling UN agencies to procure affordable Indian-made HPV vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.
Indigenous Biotech Capabilities
Demonstrating India's capacity to develop and manufacture high-quality, safe, and effective vaccines.
Gender-Neutral Immunization
Highlighting the importance of vaccinating both boys and girls to effectively disrupt HPV transmission.
Way forward
Integrating CERVAVAC into India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and scaling up manufacturing to meet global demand.
Finance Ministry mandates SLBCs to report SC beneficiary data for flagship schemes
What happened: The Finance Ministry directed State-level and UT-level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs/UTLBCs) to mandatorily report data on the percentage share of Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries availing flagship Central schemes.
Who/WhereThe directive applies to all SLBCs and UTLBCs across India, covering schemes like Mudra Yojana, Stand Up India, and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
Key numbersThe directive was issued following a formal intervention by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), which noted that a lack of data hindered its constitutional oversight duties.
Context/background: SLBCs are inter-institutional forums of banks operating at the state level, designed to coordinate banking activities, priority sector credit flow, and financial inclusion under RBI guidelines.
Static link: This relates to Article 338 of the Constitution of India, which establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and mandates it to monitor all safeguards provided for SCs.
NCSC intervention leads to mandatory scheme-wise reporting of SC beneficiaries
What happened: The Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued directions for mandatory scheme-wise and bank-wise reporting of financial assistance provided to Scheduled Caste beneficiaries.
Who/WhereThe directions were sent to SLBC and UTLBC convenors across all States and Union Territories, requiring them to regularly share this compiled data with the NCSC.
Key numbersThe NCSC Secretary wrote to the DFS on September 24, 2026, leading to the directive requiring an action-taken report to be submitted by October 9, 2026.
Context/background: The reporting will utilize existing data with banks and implementing agencies to ensure consistency in definitions and methodology without creating parallel, redundant reporting channels.
Static link: This strengthens the implementation of the Stand-Up India Scheme (launched in 2016), which specifically mandates banks to provide loans to at least one SC or ST borrower per branch.
Key definitions
State Level Bankers' Committee: An inter-institutional forum at the State level that coordinates the activities of financial institutions to ensure priority sector lending.
Financial Inclusion: The delivery of financial services at affordable costs to sections of disadvantaged and low-income segments of society.
Prelims Facts
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has mandated SLBCs and UTLBCs to report scheme-wise and bank-wise data on Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries.
This directive followed an intervention by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on September 24, 2026.
The reporting covers major central schemes including the Mudra Yojana, Stand Up India, and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
Mains Framework
The mandate for SLBCs to report SC beneficiary data under financial schemes strengthens constitutional oversight and ensures targeted financial inclusion for marginalized communities.
Dimensions
Constitutional Accountability
Enabling the NCSC to perform its Article 338 duties by providing empirical data on welfare schemes.
Evidence-Based Policy Making
Using precise bank-wise and scheme-wise data to identify gaps in credit flow to SC entrepreneurs.
Financial Inclusion of Marginalized Groups
Ensuring that flagship schemes like Stand Up India and Mudra Yojana effectively reach their intended beneficiaries.
Way forward
Developing automated dashboards for real-time tracking of beneficiary demographics and addressing credit delivery bottlenecks at the branch level.
Key terms
National Commission for Scheduled CastesState Level Bankers' CommitteeFinancial InclusionArticle 338Priority Sector Lending
Acts & articles
Article 338 of the Constitution of IndiaStand-Up India SchemePradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
07
GS-3 · ECONOMY
Overhaul of India's Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) Framework
India overhauls Bilateral Investment Treaty framework to attract foreign capital
What happened: India has initiated a major overhaul of its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) framework, moving away from the highly restrictive 2016 model to adopt a more investor-friendly template.
Who/WhereThe Ministry of Finance is finalizing the new BIT template, which has already guided recently signed pacts with countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
Key numbersThe overhaul comes a decade after India unilaterally terminated dozens of BITs signed between 2016 and 2017, and the government expects to seal 4 to 5 new agreements by the end of 2026.
Context/background: The revised framework shows greater flexibility on international arbitration, addressing a sharp slowdown in net foreign direct investment inflows by providing clearer rules and legal protection for foreign investors.
Static link: This relates to the concept of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and India's historical disputes (such as Vodafone and Cairn Energy) which prompted the restrictive 2016 Model BIT.
Key definitions
Bilateral Investment Treaty: An agreement between two countries establishing the terms and conditions for private investments by nationals and companies of one state in another.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement: A system through which individual foreign investors can sue host states in international arbitration tribunals for alleged treaty breaches.
Prelims Facts
India is overhauling its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) framework to replace the restrictive 2016 Model BIT.
The government has already signed new-generation BITs with countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
The review of the 2016 model was announced in the 2025-26 Union Budget to attract sustained foreign direct investment.
Mains Framework
India's decision to revise its 2016 Model BIT reflects a strategic shift toward balancing sovereign regulatory rights with the need to attract robust foreign direct investment.
Dimensions
The 2016 Policy Backlash
Understanding how the termination of dozens of BITs and the strict 'exhaustion of domestic remedies' clause deterred foreign investors.
Attracting Capital Amid Global Headwinds
Providing legal certainty and flexible arbitration mechanisms to reverse the slowdown in net FDI inflows.
Sovereign Protection vs. Investor Confidence
Designing a balanced framework that protects national interests without alienating global capital.
Way forward
Finalizing the new BIT template, fast-tracking negotiations with key trading partners, and establishing robust domestic dispute resolution mechanisms.
Key terms
Bilateral Investment TreatyInvestor-State Dispute SettlementForeign Direct InvestmentModel BIT 2016International Arbitration
Acts & articles
Model Bilateral Investment Treaty, 2016Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy
08
GS-3 · AGRICULTURE
Prevalence of Unapproved Genetically Modified Cotton Hybrids in India
Study reveals up to 30% of India's cotton area under illegal GM hybrids
What happened: A joint study by seed industry bodies revealed that a significant portion of India's cotton cultivation area is planted with illegal, unapproved genetically modified (GM) hybrids.
Who/WhereThe study was commissioned by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), focusing on cotton fields across major producing states.
Key numbersOut of 114.8 lakh hectares sown under cotton in 2025-26, an estimated 26.2 to 29 lakh hectares (24% to 30%) contained unauthorized herbicide-tolerant (HT) or Bt genes.
Context/background: India officially permits only Bt cotton hybrids containing cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes, but farmers are bypassing regulatory systems to plant unapproved hybrids containing cp4-epsps (glyphosate-tolerant) and Vip3A genes.
Static link: This relates to the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which is the apex statutory body responsible for approving commercial GM crops in India.
Key definitions
Herbicide-Tolerant Crops: Genetically modified crops engineered to survive the application of specific chemical herbicides that would otherwise kill them.
Vip3A Gene: A gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis that produces vegetative insecticidal proteins toxic to a broad spectrum of lepidopteran pests.
Prelims Facts
A study found that 24% to 30% of India's cotton area in 2025-26 was cultivated using illegal, unapproved GM hybrids.
India officially permits only Bt cotton hybrids containing the cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes.
The unapproved hybrids contain cp4-epsps (glyphosate-tolerant) and Vip3A genes, which have not received regulatory clearance.
Mains Framework
The widespread cultivation of unauthorized GM cotton hybrids in India highlights a growing disconnect between regulatory approvals and farmers' agronomic needs, posing biosafety risks.
Dimensions
Regulatory and Biosafety Risks
Bypassing the established biosafety assessment system, which can lead to uncontrolled environmental impacts and herbicide resistance.
Agronomic Drivers
Farmers adopting illegal seeds to reduce labor costs associated with weeding (via glyphosate) and to combat evolving pest pressures.
Enforcement Challenges
The proliferation of a sophisticated, unauthorized supply network that operates beyond the purview of state seed licensing authorities.
Way forward
Strengthening the regulatory capacity of the GEAC, accelerating the scientific evaluation of new GM traits, and strict enforcement against illegal seed networks.
Environment Protection Act, 1986Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989
Editorial of the day
Structural reforms in municipal property taxation
“Property taxation needs structural reform”
The author argues that India's municipal bodies suffer from poor property tax performance (0.15-0.2% of GDP), which severely limits urban investment and creditworthiness. To fix this, structural reforms across the three life stages of property tax—enumeration, valuation, and collection—are urgently needed.
Key arguments
Property tax is the most critical own revenue source for municipal bodies, directly impacting their creditworthiness and ability to attract urban investments.
India's cumulative property tax collection is extremely low at 0.15-0.2% of GDP, compared to 0.6% in middle-income countries and 0.3% in low-income countries.
Past technology and process-based reforms (like JNNURM and AMRUT) have failed to deliver expected tax outcomes because they did not address underlying structural weaknesses in enumeration, valuation, and billing.
The other side
Rapid digitization and GIS mapping of properties can sometimes create administrative overheads without immediate revenue gains if local staff are not trained.
High property tax rates or aggressive valuation might face political resistance from urban residents and local politicians, leading to poor compliance.
Way forward
Municipalities must implement comprehensive reforms that integrate property record maintenance, objective valuation standards, and efficient tax billing and collection mechanisms.
Use it inGS-2: Urban Local Bodies (74th Amendment); GS-3: Urban Infrastructure Financing.
Mains practice questionCritically analyze the structural challenges plaguing property tax collection in Indian municipalities and suggest measures to enhance their financial self-reliance. (250 words)
Places, schemes, species and terms from today’s news — quick facts to revise.
Report
Living Planet Report 2026
Published biennially by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Tracks the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures the relative abundance of 5,790 vertebrate species globally.
Scheme
Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)
Administered by the Department of Commerce to refund embedded, un-rebated Central, State, and local duties on exported products.
Extended until December 31, 2026, for DTAs, Advance Authorisation holders, SEZ units, and EOUs.
Organisation
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
A constitutional body established under Article 338 of the Constitution of India to safeguard the interests of Scheduled Castes.
Intervened to mandate State Level Bankers' Committees to report SC beneficiary data for major financial schemes.
Event
India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026
The 10th edition was inaugurated in New Delhi with the theme 'Scale Without Boundaries'.
PM Modi called for a global framework to tackle cyber frauds, deepfakes, and digital crimes during the event.
Term
Homochirality
Refers to the structural preference of biological molecules (like amino acids and DNA sugars) to exist in only one of two mirror-image forms.
The 2026 Chemistry Nobel was awarded to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai for demonstrating how this asymmetry emerges.
Practice MCQs — Test Your Understanding
7 questions · UPSC Prelims pattern · Answer all, then check your score
ENVIRONMENTGlobal Biodiversity Decline and India's Conservation Gains
Global wildlife populations decline by 73% while India records conservation gains
Q1With reference to the Living Planet Report 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It is a biennial report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London.
2. The Living Planet Index (LPI) measures the absolute number of individual animals lost globally.
3. Freshwater wildlife populations experienced the steepest average decline among all monitored ecosystems.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
INFRASTRUCTURE & ENERGYEstablishment of the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA)
Government approves Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority for coordinated planning
Q2Consider the following statements regarding the newly approved Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA):
1. It has been approved as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to strengthen research, planning, and monitoring in transportation and logistics.
2. It is mandated to prepare a comprehensive National Transport Master Plan with a planning horizon of 5 years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Bankers Books Evidence Act 2026 modernises legal framework for financial records
Q3The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, which came into force on October 1, 2026, replaced which of the following colonial-era legislations?
HEALTHWHO Prequalification of India's Cervical Cancer Vaccine CERVAVAC
WHO prequalifies Serum Institute of India's indigenous HPV vaccine CERVAVAC
Q4With reference to the vaccine 'CERVAVAC', which recently received WHO prequalification, consider the following statements:
1. It is India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
2. It is a gender-neutral vaccine licensed in India for both girls and boys aged 9 to 26 years.
3. It targets HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
SOCIAL ISSUESMandatory Reporting of SC Beneficiary Data under Financial Schemes
Finance Ministry mandates SLBCs to report SC beneficiary data for flagship schemes
Q5Consider the following statements regarding State Level Bankers' Committees (SLBCs):
1. They are inter-institutional forums of banks operating at the state level under the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India.
2. The Department of Financial Services has mandated SLBCs to report the percentage share of Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries under flagship schemes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
ECONOMYOverhaul of India's Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) Framework
India overhauls Bilateral Investment Treaty framework to attract foreign capital
Q6With reference to India's Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), consider the following statements:
1. India unilaterally terminated dozens of BITs signed between 2016 and 2017 to transition to a new model.
2. The 2016 Model BIT was highly investor-friendly and encouraged immediate international arbitration.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AGRICULTUREPrevalence of Unapproved Genetically Modified Cotton Hybrids in India
Study reveals up to 30% of India's cotton area under illegal GM hybrids
Q7Consider the following statements regarding genetically modified (GM) cotton in India:
1. India currently permits commercial cultivation of GM cotton hybrids containing only cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes.
2. The cp4-epsps gene, found in unapproved cotton hybrids, makes the plant tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
0 of 7 answered
UPSC Prelims PYQs on today’s topics
Real questions UPSC has asked on these issues — attempt them after reading the topics.
Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct ? 1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds. 2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites. 3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes. Select the answer using the code given below :
With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. 2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees. 3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers. Select the answer using the code given below :
In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India's maritime trade and logistics policy ? 1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations. 2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala's profile as a maritime heritage destination. 3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade. Select the answer using the code given below :
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
aIndia to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
bIndia to Central Asia via China
cIndia to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
1. With reference to investments, consider the following : I. Bonds II. Hedge Funds III. Stocks IV. Venture Capital How many of the above are treated as Alternative Investment Funds?
Consider the following statements with reference to India : 1. According to the ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006’, the ‘medium enterprises’ are those with investments in plant and machinery between ₹15 crore and ₹25 crore. 2. All bank loans to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises qualify under the priority sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following : 1. Foreign currency convertible bonds 2. Foreign institutional investment with certain conditions 3. Global depository receipts 4. Non-resident external deposits Which of the above can be included in Foreign Direct Investments?