✅Gs-3 : Economic growth- Resource Mobilization- Minerals
✅Gs-1 : Geography--Mines and Minerals- Rare Earths- Why are they called critical minerals?- Ex: Read this
🔰Why Critical Minerals Are No Longer Optional-Two structural shifts have redefined global geopolitics:
🅾️1. The green transition=highly mineral-intensive-An EV needs six times more minerals than a conventional vehicle.
🅾️2. The fourth industrial revolution — involving AI, 5G, data centers — is copper and rare earth intensive.
⚠️We Should Create a National Critical Mineral Strategic Reserve, akin to oil reserves, for high-risk imports like lithium and cobalt.
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✅Gs-1 : Geography--Mines and Minerals- Rare Earths- Why are they called critical minerals?- Ex: Read this
🔰Why Critical Minerals Are No Longer Optional-Two structural shifts have redefined global geopolitics:
🅾️1. The green transition=highly mineral-intensive-An EV needs six times more minerals than a conventional vehicle.
🅾️2. The fourth industrial revolution — involving AI, 5G, data centers — is copper and rare earth intensive.
⚠️We Should Create a National Critical Mineral Strategic Reserve, akin to oil reserves, for high-risk imports like lithium and cobalt.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Subscribe to VK IAS's YouTube channel : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
Gs-3 : Cyber Bullying || VK IAS current affairs mains 2025
https://youtu.be/BkPdKdCM7Xg
https://youtu.be/BkPdKdCM7Xg
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Gs-3 : Cyber Bullying || VK IAS current affairs mains 2025
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Cyber bullying is a contemporary national security and public order issue. It intersects education, law, mental health, gender justice, technology policy with direct relevance to GS‑3 and ethics. Respond with…
Cyber bullying is a contemporary national security and public order issue. It intersects education, law, mental health, gender justice, technology policy with direct relevance to GS‑3 and ethics. Respond with…
Mains 2025 series
Upsc 2025 mains- Can you critically analyse judicial overreach concept? Learn how!
https://youtu.be/D8vf3ZsH_qY
Upsc 2025 mains- Can you critically analyse judicial overreach concept? Learn how!
https://youtu.be/D8vf3ZsH_qY
UPSC GS -3 Agriculture CA issue for mains 2025 -1
https://youtu.be/5CtfXpDOlyQ
https://youtu.be/5CtfXpDOlyQ
✅Gs-3- Science and technology- DNA profiling
🅾️Fear of caste based profiling-Issues with DNA technology bill = Click here
🔰Advantages:
⚜️High specificity and accuracy in identifying remains.
⚜️Applicable even with partial remains: nails, bones, teeth, tissue.
⚜️Uses PCR amplification for STR targeting.
🔰Challenges:
⚜️Sample Integrity: The integrity of the DNA sample dictates the accuracy of the result.
⚜️Environmental Degradation: Heat, humidity, and time damage DNA.
⚜️Contamination Risks: Mishandling, mixed samples, non-sterile collection.
⚜️Limited Sample Availability: In disasters, usable biological material may be minimal.
⚜️Interpretation Challenges: Requires trained experts; risk of misinterpretation in mixed DNA samples.
⚜️Ethical Concerns: Privacy, consent, especially with use of familial DNA.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Subscribe to VK IAS's YouTube channel : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Fear of caste based profiling-Issues with DNA technology bill = Click here
🔰Advantages:
⚜️High specificity and accuracy in identifying remains.
⚜️Applicable even with partial remains: nails, bones, teeth, tissue.
⚜️Uses PCR amplification for STR targeting.
🔰Challenges:
⚜️Sample Integrity: The integrity of the DNA sample dictates the accuracy of the result.
⚜️Environmental Degradation: Heat, humidity, and time damage DNA.
⚜️Contamination Risks: Mishandling, mixed samples, non-sterile collection.
⚜️Limited Sample Availability: In disasters, usable biological material may be minimal.
⚜️Interpretation Challenges: Requires trained experts; risk of misinterpretation in mixed DNA samples.
⚜️Ethical Concerns: Privacy, consent, especially with use of familial DNA.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Subscribe to VK IAS's YouTube channel : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
Gs-2 : Digital Access as a Right | UPSC GS-2 Mains Issue | VK IAS
https://youtu.be/6phddRmwR6M
https://youtu.be/6phddRmwR6M
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Gs-2 : Digital Access as a Right | UPSC GS-2 Mains Issue | VK IAS
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Is Digital Access a fundamental right in India? In this crisp UPSC GS-2 explainer, we decode the evolving debate around digital rights, constitutional logic under Articles 14, 19, 21, and the policy…
Is Digital Access a fundamental right in India? In this crisp UPSC GS-2 explainer, we decode the evolving debate around digital rights, constitutional logic under Articles 14, 19, 21, and the policy…
Forwarded from UPSC - International relations by Vikas Kanukollu
✅Gs-2 : IR- Israel- Iran- Yemen - This is very important for mains 2025
🅾️Previously we read about the Axis of resistance?- Ideological and military alliance led by Iran- Iran + Hezbollah + Hamas + Houthis + Shia militias (Iraq, Syria)- Click here
🅾️Axis of Upheaval- Iran bloc + Russia + China (and often loosely-linked Global South states)- to Challenge the Western-led global order across military, diplomatic, economic domains
🅾️Axis of Resistance is a subset of the broader Axis of Upheaval- The Axis of Upheaval reflects a paradigm shift: where regional wars (like Gaza-Yemen) have global economic and diplomatic consequences.
🔰What is the impact of this whole conflict on India?- Click here
⚠️Gs2-IR/PSIR channel link : https://www.tg-me.com/UPSC_PSIR_IR
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🅾️Previously we read about the Axis of resistance?- Ideological and military alliance led by Iran- Iran + Hezbollah + Hamas + Houthis + Shia militias (Iraq, Syria)- Click here
🅾️Axis of Upheaval- Iran bloc + Russia + China (and often loosely-linked Global South states)- to Challenge the Western-led global order across military, diplomatic, economic domains
🅾️Axis of Resistance is a subset of the broader Axis of Upheaval- The Axis of Upheaval reflects a paradigm shift: where regional wars (like Gaza-Yemen) have global economic and diplomatic consequences.
🔰What is the impact of this whole conflict on India?- Click here
⚠️Gs2-IR/PSIR channel link : https://www.tg-me.com/UPSC_PSIR_IR
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
✅Gs-2 : Centre - state relations- Finance commission - Fiscal federalism- Click here
🅾️India’s federal fiscal structure places heavy expenditure responsibility on states-from health and education to infrastructure - but revenue generation capacity is often limited. Many states carry high debt-to-GSDP ratios. To nudge states toward fiscal discipline, the Union government is proposing to introduce fiscal rankings, similar to Ease of Doing Business rankings.
🅾️Why Now?- Rising state debts after COVID-19, combined with large welfare outlays in election-bound states, have raised concern
🔰updated CPI and CES = more realistic economic denominator → better fiscal rankings and debt sustainability analysis.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️India’s federal fiscal structure places heavy expenditure responsibility on states-from health and education to infrastructure - but revenue generation capacity is often limited. Many states carry high debt-to-GSDP ratios. To nudge states toward fiscal discipline, the Union government is proposing to introduce fiscal rankings, similar to Ease of Doing Business rankings.
🅾️Why Now?- Rising state debts after COVID-19, combined with large welfare outlays in election-bound states, have raised concern
🔰updated CPI and CES = more realistic economic denominator → better fiscal rankings and debt sustainability analysis.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Economic growth
🎖MUST READ ARTICLE- What is it about?- What kind of strategy should India deploy for improving per capita - Read this article
⚠️GDP formula G= C+I+G+(X-M)
This infographic is about how C is changing.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🎖MUST READ ARTICLE- What is it about?- What kind of strategy should India deploy for improving per capita - Read this article
⚠️GDP formula G= C+I+G+(X-M)
This infographic is about how C is changing.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Poverty and unemployment studies
🅾️This article explains a new World Bank estimate: only 5.75% of Indians live in "abject poverty" in 2022-23. This seems like great news, but there's confusion about what exactly this number means.
⚠️How this number was calculated- classic example of "methodology shaping narrative"
1. If someone earns less than rs. 62/day, they are said to live in abject poverty by World Bank’s latest global poverty line for India.
2. This adjusts for different price levels across countries - rs. 62/day in India may buy what $2.15/day buys in the US. This lets us compare poverty across nations.
🚫World Bank uses PPP-adjusted rates, not forex rates
3. Earlier methods used higher poverty lines or different years for comparison (like rs. 33/day in cities). New data uses updated income benchmarks, 2022 prices, and global definitions.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️This article explains a new World Bank estimate: only 5.75% of Indians live in "abject poverty" in 2022-23. This seems like great news, but there's confusion about what exactly this number means.
⚠️How this number was calculated- classic example of "methodology shaping narrative"
1. If someone earns less than rs. 62/day, they are said to live in abject poverty by World Bank’s latest global poverty line for India.
2. This adjusts for different price levels across countries - rs. 62/day in India may buy what $2.15/day buys in the US. This lets us compare poverty across nations.
🚫World Bank uses PPP-adjusted rates, not forex rates
3. Earlier methods used higher poverty lines or different years for comparison (like rs. 33/day in cities). New data uses updated income benchmarks, 2022 prices, and global definitions.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
Gs-4- Ethics - Autonomous weapons- ethical arguments
https://youtu.be/M8K4H21ViHM
https://youtu.be/M8K4H21ViHM
YouTube
Gs-4- Ethics - Autonomous weapons- ethical arguments
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🔍 Ethics & Autonomous Weapons | GS-4 UPSC Mains 2025
In this video, we break down the ethical dilemma posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) — machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention.…
🔍 Ethics & Autonomous Weapons | GS-4 UPSC Mains 2025
In this video, we break down the ethical dilemma posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) — machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention.…
✅Gs-3 : Disaster Management- Stampede- Click here
☝️Whatever was discussed in this class- you will find it relevant for many years to come- Expecting some kind of a question on this topic- MUST WATCH for 2025 mains aspirants. Watch it at a speed that is comfortable to you. Explained it at a slow pace that is suitable for everyone's speed.
☝️Whatever was discussed in this class- you will find it relevant for many years to come- Expecting some kind of a question on this topic- MUST WATCH for 2025 mains aspirants. Watch it at a speed that is comfortable to you. Explained it at a slow pace that is suitable for everyone's speed.
✅Gs-3 : Science and Technology- GPS
🅾️Background on GPS technology- Click here and read
🅾️Present article focus : deliberate cyberattacks on GPS systems through jamming and spoofing -are becoming a serious global threat.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Background on GPS technology- Click here and read
🅾️Present article focus : deliberate cyberattacks on GPS systems through jamming and spoofing -are becoming a serious global threat.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
#Agriculture
✅Gs-3 : Agriculture- Fertilizer subsidy-
🅾️Background : Fertilizers provide six macronutrients and eight micronutrients to the plants for well-balanced growth- How fertilizer subsidy works?- All the other related issues regarding fertiliser subsidy- click here and read them
✅What looked like a door closing (China's export ban) actually opened several new doors:
⚜️More suppliers -Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, etc.
⚜️More fertiliser options -APS (Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate) and NPK complexes.
⚜️Better farm practices -move toward precision agriculture.
⚜️Stronger policy shifts -Push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Fertilisers
🎖Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights - Relevant hashtags for Prelims- Click here
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
✅Gs-3 : Agriculture- Fertilizer subsidy-
🅾️Background : Fertilizers provide six macronutrients and eight micronutrients to the plants for well-balanced growth- How fertilizer subsidy works?- All the other related issues regarding fertiliser subsidy- click here and read them
✅What looked like a door closing (China's export ban) actually opened several new doors:
⚜️More suppliers -Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, etc.
⚜️More fertiliser options -APS (Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate) and NPK complexes.
⚜️Better farm practices -move toward precision agriculture.
⚜️Stronger policy shifts -Push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Fertilisers
🎖Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights - Relevant hashtags for Prelims- Click here
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
✅Gs-3 : Environmental conservation- Case study- The Pachgaon Model – Local Governance and Positive Outcomes
🅾️Central issue here : Forest Survey of India (FSI) uses outdated data- Forest Department (FD) operates with a centralised, anti-nature and anti-people mindset.
🅾️Solution suggested : Pachgaon (Maharashtra) under Forest Rights Act (2006) enabled communities to claim Community Forest Rights (CFR)-
⚠️Also read : Threats to the Biodiversity of Western ghats- Lessons to learn from GOA floods
⚠️conflict between local autonomy and corporate/state interests- Kerala High court verdict in favor of Coca-Cola over a Panchayat that denied a license- Click here
🔰Take away : From top-down forestry to bottom-up ecological democracy. This is a replicable model across India.
🌟Prelims info : Rivers in kerala- as mentioned in the article - Click here
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Central issue here : Forest Survey of India (FSI) uses outdated data- Forest Department (FD) operates with a centralised, anti-nature and anti-people mindset.
🅾️Solution suggested : Pachgaon (Maharashtra) under Forest Rights Act (2006) enabled communities to claim Community Forest Rights (CFR)-
⚠️Also read : Threats to the Biodiversity of Western ghats- Lessons to learn from GOA floods
⚠️conflict between local autonomy and corporate/state interests- Kerala High court verdict in favor of Coca-Cola over a Panchayat that denied a license- Click here
🔰Take away : From top-down forestry to bottom-up ecological democracy. This is a replicable model across India.
🌟Prelims info : Rivers in kerala- as mentioned in the article - Click here
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-2 : RPA- RUPP = Registered Unrecognised Political Party
🅾️Background : RPA- Role of political parties on Indian politics- click here
⚜️ Dynamics of Indian politics- Useful in Essay and ethics also- Click here
🔰Procedure : Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 – lays down the registration process- But 345 RUPPs haven’t contested elections since 2019 and have no traceable office- possibility of Ghost parties misusing tax benefits without actual electoral activity.
⚠️Does ECI Have Explicit Power to De-Register a Party?= Supreme Court in Indian National Congress vs Institute of Social Welfare (2002)- ECI cannot de-register a party unless: Registration was obtained fraudulently, or The party violates the Constitution or becomes unlawful- , ECI can only de-list for non-compliance, not cancel existence. Read Law Commission Reports quoted here in this article in this context.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Background : RPA- Role of political parties on Indian politics- click here
⚜️ Dynamics of Indian politics- Useful in Essay and ethics also- Click here
🔰Procedure : Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 – lays down the registration process- But 345 RUPPs haven’t contested elections since 2019 and have no traceable office- possibility of Ghost parties misusing tax benefits without actual electoral activity.
⚠️Does ECI Have Explicit Power to De-Register a Party?= Supreme Court in Indian National Congress vs Institute of Social Welfare (2002)- ECI cannot de-register a party unless: Registration was obtained fraudulently, or The party violates the Constitution or becomes unlawful- , ECI can only de-list for non-compliance, not cancel existence. Read Law Commission Reports quoted here in this article in this context.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅GS 3: PDS- public distribution system
⚜️Food subsidy as economic tool to fight poverty- India’s poverty measurement, particularly post the 2023–24 Household Consumption Survey, should consider the actual food consumption pattern of the population - using a metric like the Thali Index- subsidies must be rationalised, not eliminated, as access to a nutritious, affordable diet remains critical despite declining poverty numbers- Why?= Click here
🅾️Traditional poverty lines (e.g., Tendulkar, Rangarajan) used consumption expenditure.
But they: 1. Treat food as a residual expense 2. Do not account for nutritional quality 3. Overlook actual food inflation Thali Index fixes this by using food prices to reverse-engineer affordability → better poverty estimation. This works because Food inflation hits bottom 40% hardest, who also often live just above the poverty line.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
⚜️Food subsidy as economic tool to fight poverty- India’s poverty measurement, particularly post the 2023–24 Household Consumption Survey, should consider the actual food consumption pattern of the population - using a metric like the Thali Index- subsidies must be rationalised, not eliminated, as access to a nutritious, affordable diet remains critical despite declining poverty numbers- Why?= Click here
🅾️Traditional poverty lines (e.g., Tendulkar, Rangarajan) used consumption expenditure.
But they: 1. Treat food as a residual expense 2. Do not account for nutritional quality 3. Overlook actual food inflation Thali Index fixes this by using food prices to reverse-engineer affordability → better poverty estimation. This works because Food inflation hits bottom 40% hardest, who also often live just above the poverty line.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-2 : Fundamental rights- Secularism- Preamble
🅾️What is the reasoning Behind Including ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?- click here
⚠️The Core Debate – Is Secularism Inherent Even Without the Word?- Critics argue: The word “secular” was imposed during a politically coercive period (Emergency) and was not part of the Constitution as adopted in 1950. This article is saying that it is not- and shows reasons why secularism is not derived from one word in the Preamble but from the Constitution’s structure and values.
🅾️Judicial Position- Sanjiv Khanna Bench (2024):ismissed challenge to the 42nd Amendment’s wording. Held: These additions do not violate fundamental rights, and no constitutional violation occurs.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️What is the reasoning Behind Including ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?- click here
⚠️The Core Debate – Is Secularism Inherent Even Without the Word?- Critics argue: The word “secular” was imposed during a politically coercive period (Emergency) and was not part of the Constitution as adopted in 1950. This article is saying that it is not- and shows reasons why secularism is not derived from one word in the Preamble but from the Constitution’s structure and values.
🅾️Judicial Position- Sanjiv Khanna Bench (2024):ismissed challenge to the 42nd Amendment’s wording. Held: These additions do not violate fundamental rights, and no constitutional violation occurs.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel