Current affairs

Labour Laws in India: Four Labour Codes, Key Provisions and UPSC Relevance

India’s labour-law framework historically consisted of numerous central and state laws covering wages, industrial relations, social security, occupational safety and working conditions. To simplify this fragmented framework, Parliament enacted four Labour Codes between 2019 and 2020, consolidating 29 central labour...

US Defence Policy Under Trump: China, Russia and What It Means for India

The US defence policy under President Donald Trump is undergoing a significant shift, with greater emphasis on China, regional deterrence, burden-sharing by allies and US strategic priorities. A mid-term assessment by Elbridge A. Colby, the US Under Secretary of War...

Ramappa Temple: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kakatiya Architecture and Coal Mine Concerns

Context Heritage activists have opposed the proposed PVNR opencast coal mine in Telangana, warning of potential risks to the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple and nearby Ramappa Lake. About Ramappa Temple Nature: A 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as...

Nobel Prize in Medicine 2026: Optogenetics, Light-Gated Ion Channels and Its Applications

Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology 2026 The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 has been jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Their work has...

Financial Stability in India: RBI’s 5 Priorities and Emerging Risks

Financial stability refers to the ability of the financial system—including banks, NBFCs, financial markets, payment systems and supporting infrastructure—to absorb shocks while continuing to provide essential financial services. For India, maintaining financial stability is crucial for sustaining economic growth, investment...

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): 153rd Assembly, Members, Functions and Governance Structure

The Indian Parliamentary Delegation, led by the Hon’ble Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, has departed for Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, to participate in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The development is significant from the perspective...

GST 2.0 and Decriminalisation of Tax Offences: Key Changes Explained

More than nine years after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017, India is considering a significant reform of its tax-enforcement framework. The proposed GST 2.0 reform may seek to remove arrest powers under GST-specific...

Tuvalu and Rising Sea Levels: Climate Change Threat to Island Nation

Tuvalu, a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Its low-lying coral atolls and reef islands are highly exposed to coastal flooding, erosion,...

US Treasury Yields at 25-Year High: Impact on India

Context The yield on the 30-year US Treasury bond has reached its highest level in around 25 years, reflecting concerns over inflation, large fiscal deficits, heavy Treasury issuance and the future path of interest rates. Why are US Treasury yields...

National Coastal Mission 2.0 (NCM 2.0): Objectives, Features

Context The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the implementation guidelines for National Coastal Mission 2.0 (NCM 2.0) in New Delhi. About NCM 2.0 Nature: A Central Sector Scheme that subsumes NCM 1.0 (2021–22 to 2025–26) and...