Current affairs

Restoring Fiscal Space for the States

Context The GST (2017) unified India’s indirect tax system but also centralised taxation powers, limiting States’ fiscal flexibility. The abolition of GST compensation cess (2025) has reignited debates over fiscal autonomy and cooperative federalism. Background: Fiscal Federalism and the GST...

Diwali 2025 Calendar: Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj Dates, Puja Muhurat & Significance

Diwali 2025, also known as Deepawali, is India’s grandest and most vibrant festival, celebrated across the country with immense joy, devotion, and enthusiasm. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Homes are illuminated with earthen...

Significance and History of Diwali Festival

Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in India. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The word...

The New Power of Rare Earths: How China Is Shaping the Future of Global Trade

The global trade war between China and the United States has entered a new and decisive phase — one defined not by oil or semiconductors, but by rare earth elements (REEs). These 17 metallic elements are the invisible foundation of...

Why is the Fiscal Architecture of Municipalities Flawed?

Urban India is the engine of the nation’s economy, contributing nearly two-thirds of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Yet, paradoxically, Indian municipalities — the governing bodies responsible for managing cities — control less than 1% of the country’s total tax...

Light Weight Modular Missile (LMM) — India’s New Short-Range Air-Defence Addition

The Indian Army has signed a major contract with UK defence firm Thales to procure the Light Weight Modular Missile (LMM) system — a compact, man-portable multirole missile built to counter modern aerial threats such as high-value drones, loitering munitions...

Species Survival Commission (SSC) – IUCN: Role, Structure, Functions, and Significance

The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is one of the six expert commissions under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It serves as a global network of more than 9,000 scientists, wildlife experts, and conservationists who provide technical and...

Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025: India Ranks 102nd, Global Progress Stagnates Toward Zero Hunger

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025 titled “20 Years of Tracking Progress: Time to Recommit to Zero Hunger” has been released, highlighting the world’s slow progress toward ending hunger. Despite early advancements, global hunger levels have barely improved since 2016,...

National Red List Assessment (NRLA): India’s Vision 2025–2030 for Biodiversity Conservation

In a landmark step towards strengthening India’s biodiversity conservation efforts, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has presented India’s Vision 2025–2030 for the National Red List Assessment (NRLA) at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu...

India–Australia Defence Agreement 2025: Strengthening Strategic Ties in the Indo-Pacific

In a major milestone for bilateral defence cooperation, India and Australia have signed three key defence agreements during the inaugural Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue (AIDMD) held on October 9, 2025. The meeting between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia’s...