| (Prelims: Current Events of National and International Importance) (Mains, General Studies Paper 2: Bilateral, regional, and global groups and agreements related to and/or affecting India's interests; important international institutions and forums—their structure, mandate) |
The Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat in Rajasthan has achieved a significant local milestone in the pursuit of chemical-free and sustainable agriculture. It is the first Panchayat in the state to be fully certified organic.
Indeed, this initiative by the Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat is emerging as an inspiring model for chemical-free and sustainable agriculture in Rajasthan.
Air pollution is a serious environmental and public health challenge in India. In many cities, the levels of pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ are found to be above prescribed standards. To effectively monitor air quality, automated monitoring stations, low-cost sensors, and smart city–based networks are being rapidly deployed.
However, there was a lack of a national-level standard laboratory to ensure the accuracy, standardization, and reliability of these instruments. To address this critical gap, the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has established the National Environmental Standards Laboratory (NESL).
The National Environmental Standards Laboratory (NESL) is a national reference laboratory aimed at testing, validating, and recalibrating air pollution monitoring systems and environmental sensors used in India. Its objective is to ensure accurate and comparable data under Indian environmental conditions.
Location: CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi
The National Clean Air Programme (2019) aims to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20–30% compared to 2017 levels.
Role of NESL:
CSIR–NPL is India’s National Metrology Institute, which—
The National Environmental Standards Laboratory (NESL) is an extension of NPL’s core measurement expertise into the environmental domain.
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is India’s largest and most prominent national Research and Development (R&D) organization. It plays a vital role in the country’s industrial, economic, and social development through science, technology, and innovation.
Establishment and Administration
The primary objective of CSIR is to promote scientific research in the country and link it with industrial and societal applications. Its key objectives include:
In recent years, the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has witnessed remarkable progress with the development of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, and others. These models are capable of understanding, analyzing, and generating human-like language. To understand how these models function effectively, the concept of the Context Window is extremely important, as it determines the model’s effective “memory limit.”
In AI, a Context Window refers to the maximum amount of text that an AI model can consider at one time while generating a response. In other words, it is the limit within which the model can “remember” and analyze the input to produce an appropriate output.
Thus, the context window determines how many tokens of information a model can consider simultaneously while generating a response.
The context window of a Large Language Model (LLM) can be compared to its working memory.
A larger context window significantly enhances the capabilities of an AI model:
In essence, the context window determines the maximum size of documents or code samples a model can process at once.
When a prompt, conversation, document, or codebase exceeds the model’s context window limit:
In such cases, loss of early context can negatively affect the quality and accuracy of the response.
Generally, increasing the size of an LLM’s context window leads to:
As the context window grows, AI models appear more “intelligent” and capable of deeper understanding.
Despite its advantages, a larger context window also presents challenges:-
Therefore, expanding the context window requires a careful balance between technical feasibility and economic efficiency.
| Prelims: (History + CA) Mains: (GS 1 – Indian Culture, Temple Architecture, Medieval History) |
The Bhadrakali inscription, a significant 12th-century epigraphic record, has drawn attention for confirming the historical continuity, reconstruction narrative, and royal patronage associated with the Somnath Temple, particularly under the Solanki dynasty.
The Bhadrakali inscription is a eulogistic Sanskrit inscription dating back to 1169 CE, offering valuable insights into medieval religious, political, and cultural history.
FAQs1. What is the Bhadrakali inscription ? It is a 12th-century Sanskrit inscription carved in 1169 CE that provides historical information about Somnath Temple and Solanki patronage. 2. Where is the Bhadrakali inscription located ? On the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. 3. Who is mentioned in the inscription ? Param Pashupata Acharya Shriman Bhavabrihaspati, the spiritual preceptor of Solanki ruler Kumarapala. 4. Why is the inscription important for Somnath Temple history ? It confirms the temple’s reconstruction narrative, religious continuity, and royal support during the Solanki period. 5. Which authority protects the Bhadrakali inscription ? The State Department of Archaeology, Gujarat. |
| Prelims: (Science & Technology + CA) Mains: (GS 3 – Defence Technology, Indigenisation, Internal Security) |
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Indian Army, conducted successful trials of the indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System (MPATGM), marking a major step forward in India’s anti-tank warfare capability.
What is the Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System ?The Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System is an indigenously designed and developed third-generation anti-tank missile system.
The complete MPATGM weapon system consists of:
These integrated components ensure rapid target detection, locking, launch, and engagement in diverse battlefield conditions.
The MPATGM incorporates several cutting-edge indigenous technologies:
FAQs1. What is the MPATGM Weapon System ? It is an indigenously developed third-generation man-portable anti-tank guided missile system. 2. Which organisation developed the MPATGM ? The system has been developed by DRDO. 3. What does “fire and forget” mean in missile systems ? After launch, the missile autonomously guides itself to the target without further operator input. 4. What type of warhead does the MPATGM use ? It uses a tandem warhead capable of defeating modern armoured protection. 5. Which PSUs are involved in production of the MPATGM ? Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). |
| Prelims: (Polity & Governance + CA) Mains: (GS 2 – Constitution, Governance, Accountability; GS 4 – Ethics in Public Administration) |
The Supreme Court of India delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, a provision introduced through the 2018 Amendment. Section 17A mandates prior approval/sanction before initiating any inquiry or investigation against public servants for decisions taken in the discharge of official duties.
The challenge was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), which argued that the provision shields corruption and undermines accountability. Owing to divergent judicial opinions, the matter has now been referred to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for constitution of a larger Bench.
The Prevention of Corruption Act is India’s principal anti-graft legislation, aimed at:
However, concerns over:
led to the insertion of Section 17A in 2018. The provision reflects an attempt to strike a balance between effective governance and vigorous anti-corruption enforcement, a balance that now lies at the heart of constitutional scrutiny.
Section 17A requires prior approval of the competent authority before conducting any inquiry or investigation against a public servant for actions taken in official capacity.
Government’s stated objectives:
The provision applies primarily to decision-making public servants, often at higher levels of bureaucracy.
Justice Nagarathna struck down Section 17A as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of constitutional principles.
Justice Viswanathan upheld the provision, emphasising institutional balance.
FAQs1. What is Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act ? It requires prior approval before initiating inquiry or investigation against public servants for official decisions. 2. Why is Section 17A controversial ? Critics argue it shields corruption and delays investigation, while supporters say it protects honest officials from harassment. 3. What did the Supreme Court decide ? The Court delivered a split verdict and referred the matter to the CJI for a larger Bench. 4. Which constitutional provisions are involved ? Article 14 (Equality before Law), Rule of Law, and principles of separation of powers. 5. What could be the way forward ? Independent screening by Lokpal/Lokayukta, time-bound sanctions, and legislative review to balance accountability and governance. |
| Prelims: (Social Issues + CA) Mains: (GS 1 – Urbanisation; GS 2 – Governance; GS 3 – Inclusive Growth, Infrastructure) |
Recent analysis indicates that India’s urban growth is increasingly being driven by small towns rather than large metropolitan cities, marking a significant shift in the country’s urbanisation pattern. While megacities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai continue to dominate policy discourse, it is smaller towns—often with populations below one lakh—that are emerging as key centres of economic activity, employment, and migration.
India has nearly 9,000 census and statutory towns, yet only about 500 qualify as large cities. The vast majority are small towns, many of which have historically received limited policy attention.
Traditionally, India’s urbanisation was viewed as:
However, a quieter transformation is underway. Small towns across different regions are increasingly absorbing population growth, economic activities, and migrant labour, indicating a structural shift in India’s economic geography.
The expansion of small towns is closely linked to changes in India’s development model.
From the 1970s to the 1990s, large cities functioned as hubs of:
Over time, these metros began experiencing over-accumulation, reflected in:
This reduced their ability to absorb new economic activity and labour.
As costs rose in large cities, economic activities increasingly moved to smaller towns, which offer:
Small towns are emerging as:
Small towns absorb:
These populations are integrated into urban economies, but often under precarious and informal conditions.
Urbanisation in small towns is not merely an extension of rural life but a deepening of urban processes under distinct conditions.
Key characteristics include:
Rather than inclusive growth, this pattern often results in the urbanisation of rural poverty.
At the same time, new local elites—such as:
gain control over land and labour, reinforcing socio-economic hierarchies while leaving workers vulnerable.
The rise of small towns exposes a growing mismatch between urban policy design and on-ground realities.
Small towns now represent the primary frontier of India’s urban expansion.
Their trajectory will shape:
If current trends continue unchecked, small towns risk reproducing the inequalities and ecological stresses of megacities, but without comparable institutional capacity.
At the same time, they offer an opportunity to reimagine urban development through:
A reoriented urban policy can transform small towns into engines of equitable and sustainable development, rather than sites of deepening inequality.
FAQs1. Why are small towns becoming important in India’s urbanisation ? Due to rising costs and congestion in metros, economic activities and migration are increasingly shifting to smaller towns. 2. How do small towns differ from megacities in their urbanisation pattern ? They rely heavily on informal employment, flexible labour markets, and weaker regulation, often leading to precarious livelihoods. 3. What challenges do small towns face ? Inadequate infrastructure, weak local governance, ecological stress, and limited policy attention. 4. Why is current urban policy inadequate for small towns ? Because most flagship programmes are metro-centric and do not address the specific needs of smaller urban centres. 5. What is the way forward for sustainable small-town growth ? Empowered municipalities, integrated planning, inclusive economic regulation, and political recognition of small towns’ importance. |
| Prelims: (Science & Technology + CA) Mains: (GS 3 – Environment, Pollution, Science & Technology) |
Recently, the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL) established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL), a specialised national facility to test and recalibrate air pollution monitoring instruments and environmental sensors under Indian conditions.
The National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) is a newly established national facility designed to test, validate, and recalibrate instruments used in air pollution monitoring systems and environmental sensing networks.
The CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL) functions as India’s premier institution for measurement science and standards.
FAQs1. What is the primary purpose of NESL ? To test, recalibrate, and standardise air pollution monitoring instruments under Indian conditions. 2. Which national programme does NESL support ? The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). 3. Where is the National Environmental Standard Laboratory located ? At CSIR–National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. 4. How does NESL help MSMEs and start-ups ? By providing affordable, domestic testing and validation facilities. 5. Why is calibration of pollution monitoring instruments important ? Because inaccurate instruments lead to unreliable data, flawed policy decisions, and weak enforcement. |
Our support team will be happy to assist you!
Contact Us 
New Batch : 9555124124/ 7428085757 
Tech Support : 9555124124/ 7428085757
