July 2024 Issue

MRP: 399/-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets BJP MPs Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and others at the swearing-in ceremony of the
new Union government, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (PTI)
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

LETTER TO

INDEX
ASPIRANTS

Dear Aspirants,

‘W
e have no time to stand and
stare.' This line by William Henry
Davies in his poem Leisure holds COVER STORY UPSC SPECIALS
true for all UPSC aspirants. The Mains
season has begun and you should start Coalition Government
ge�ing ready for it. No ma�er how your last
ISSUE AT A GLANCE
exam was or if it is your first a�empt, Understanding Emergency
prelims and mains preparation goes
hand-in-hand. This magazine is a part of
EXPRESS EDGE THIS QUOTE MEANS
Indian Express' UPSC initiative which
believes in catering to your need for value ‘The whole of science is nothing
addition and knowledge enrichment in your HISTORY & CULTURE more than a refinement of
exam journey.
everyday thinking’
As part of our cover story, we take up one 1. Amaravathi: The rise and fall of
of the most important news of the last one of the greatest Buddhist sites UPSC ETHICS SIMPLIFIED
month -- the formation of a coalition
in India
government after the recently concluded Self-Awareness and Self-
Lok Sabha elections. This topic is relevant 2. July 4 and the story of the Management – The concept and
not only for the polity syllabus but also for
knowledge in general. The Express Edge
American Declaration of caselet
section, like always, presents a bouquet of Independence
some of the must-read articles wri�en by
EXPERTS TALK
experts that help you to know facts and POLITY
How to prepare Political Science
analyse.
Finally, in the UPSC Specials section find
What is sovereignty and how and International Relations
articles on Ethics, Current Affairs Pointers, philosophers define it (PSIR) optional?
Quizzes, and more. Aspirants, the UPSC
section of The Indian Express values its INTERNATIONAL UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS
readers and from time to time we try to RELATIONS POINTERS
come up with the series and articles you ask
for, and this issue's Expert Talk on PSIR 1. Conflicts in West Asia: Israel- Prelims Tidbits from the month
optional is one such example. We plan more Hamas war and the Yemen quagmire of June
such initiatives in the times to come. I hope
this magazine will help you understand that 2. As voice of Global South, India PRACTICE QUIZ
your preparation should be knowledge- pushes for change in global order
driven so that it can have a long-lasting Current Affairs Revision MCQs
effect, and not solely for the purpose of ECONOMY
cracking an exam.
How to read India’s Balance of
Payments
THINK SMART
WORK HARD ENVIRONMENT
CONQUER YOUR A murder of crows: How Kenya
GOAL! plans to get rid of the native Indian
species
Enjoy reading
Manas Srivastava SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Why the success of China’s sample
return lunar mission ma�ers

2
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

COVER STORY COALITION GOVERNMENT

Wri�en by Roshni Yadav

With the 18th Lok Sabha

election results and the
formation of the NDA
government at the centre, the
coalition government has
become a point of discussion
and is also an essential topic
for your exams.

Introduction

T
he 18th Lok Sabha
Election results
showed that no single
party had a majority in the Coalition government has been in the news, and aspirants must understand it from both factual
lower house of Parliament to and analytical perspectives. (courtesy: narendramodi/X)
form a government. �e
National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), returned to power for a historic third straight
term at the Centre. Unlike in the last two terms, the BJP this time does not have a majority on its own, implying that a
coalition government at the Centre could lead to a shi� in the national political discourse. In this context, it is important to
know about a coalition government and its various aspects from a broader perspective.

What is a coalition government?

It has o�en been di�cult for a single political party to obtain the majority required to form a national government. In
this context, a coalition government is formed that consists of multiple political parties or individuals working together,
sometimes with di�erent ideologies and viewpoints.
Coalitions can be either a) pre-poll and b) post-election. Generally, member political parties in a coalition form a
political alliance and adopt a common programme.
�e main aim of a coalition government is to ensure majority control of the parliament or legislative assembly and the
implementation of a common minimum programme.

Points to Ponder:
•• What are the features of a coalition government?
•• How is a coalition government di�erent from a majoritarian government?

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Post-Read Question:
What do you understand about the term ‘coalition government’? How does it strengthen the decentralisation of power
in a democracy?

What is the history of coalition governments in India?

Coalition governments are not a new phenomenon in India. India has had a coalition government at the central and state levels.
Chakshu Roy Writes— “Coalitions at the national level caught public attention in 1977 when Morarji Desai formed the �rst
non-Congress coalition government. His government, a testament to the evolving political landscape, included ministers like
Charan Singh, L K Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Biju Patnaik, Parkash Singh Badal, George Fernandes, and Shanti Bhushan.
Looking back, we �nd that 1977 was not the country’s �rst brush with a national coalition. �e 1946 interim government just
before Independence and the �rst government formed a�er Independence in 1947 were both coalitions.
�e 1946 interim government was responsible for steering India to Independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was at the helm of
this government. Nehru followed the coalition template in independent India’s �rst council of ministers. Historian Ramachandra
Guha wrote that in putting together this Cabinet, Nehru followed the advice of Mahatma Gandhi and reached beyond Congress
to include the best minds, regardless of political a�liations. As a result, not being a Congressman was not a bar to joining the
Cabinet. It led to additions like Dr B R Ambedkar (Law), businessman R K Shanmukham Chetty (Finance), and Dr Syama
Prasad Mukherjee (Industry and Supply)
of the Jan Sangh.
In his book �e Government and
Politics of India, Prof Morris Jones
highlighted, “�e chosen fortress-
holders of 1947 included many with
little or no connection with Congress. It
was a coalition government in two
senses. First and foremost, it contained a
strikingly careful selection of
representatives of communities and
regions … Secondly, it was a policy
coalition also, though not by virtue of
containing a balance of opinions: on the
contrary, the non-Congress opinions
represented were all (with the possible
exception of Ambedkar) in some sense Jawaharlal Nehru with members of the interim government in 1946. (Image source:
markedly conservative.” Wikipedia)
�e party system in India in the �rst
twenty-�ve years or so a�er DO YOU KNOW
Independence was dominated by the
Congress. Acting on its historical legacy, On September 2, 1946, the interim government of India led by Jawaharlal Nehru
the Congress party represented a broad- was formed. It was the only such cabinet in India’s history in which arch-rivals
based social coalition. But the period Congress and the Muslim League shared power at the Centre. �e interim
from the latter half of the 1980s onwards government functioned with a great degree of autonomy and remained in power
witnessed the decline of the Congress’s until the end of British rule, a�er which it was succeeded by the Dominions of
dominance. Simultaneously, the India and Pakistan.
emergence of new regional and social
groups paved the way for the growth of a new genre of parties, alignments and a multi-party system. �ese factors led to the
emergence of coalition governments in India. With the general elections of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in
Indian democracy.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Points to Ponder:
•• What is hung parliament?
•• What led to the formation of India’s interim government and what decisions did it take?
•• Who were the members of India’s interim government?

Post Read Question:

How has coalition politics shaped the dynamics of the Indian political system since independence?
(Source: History Headline: As Modi heads a coalition, which was India’s �rst such government?, Explained: When India’s
interim government was formed in 1946)

What factors led to the establishment of coalition governments in India?

�e decline of Congress dominance, the emergence of strong regional movements and various regional parties formed on
the basis of their regional interests all had an impact on the Indian party system which resulted in coalition governments in
states and at the Centre. Some of the factors that led to the coalition governments in India are:
1. DECLINE OF CONGRESS DOMINANCE: �e emergence of coalition politics in India can be seen as a result of the
decline of Congress dominance. In the �rst three general elections there was Congress dominance. �e legacy of the
National Freedom movement, national organisational presence and the charismatic leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru
contributed to the dominance of the Congress in Indian politics. However, Congress’s dominance was �rst challenged
during the 1960s. As political competition became intense, the Congress found it di�cult to retain its dominance. It also
faced challenges from the opposition. �e Congress also faced internal challenges, as the party could no longer
accommodate all kinds of di�erences. But the 1989 elections marked the downfall of the dominance of the Congress and
the beginning of coalition politics in India.
2. REGIONALISM: �e presence of several linguistic, cultural, ethnic, religious, and caste groupings in Indian society
contributes signi�cantly to regionalism and the formation and expansion of regional parties. Regionalism can be viewed as
a prominent factor that not only in�uences national politics but also moulds centre-state relations.
Regionalism is a feeling or idea shared by a group of people living in a certain geographic area and having a distinct
language, culture, etc. Regionalism has resulted in the creation of regional movements and political parties with agendas
tailored to their distinct communities.
3. RISE OF REGIONAL PARTIES: �e emergence of regional parties has greatly shaped the Indian political system and
has been a major factor leading to coalition governments. Most of the regional parties that are formed to achieve their
regional goals have cut into the vote banks of the national political parties in their respective regions. �ese parties have
formed governments in many states and have contributed to the formation of coalition governments at the centre. �e
Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United), All India Trinamool Congress, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(DMK), all have played a crucial role in the formation of coalition governments. �us, we can say that the regional parties’
assertions led to the federal approach to governance. �eir presence in the coalition government strengthens the
“periphery” while promoting federal governance at the centre.
Points to Ponder:
•• What do you understand about the multi-party system?
•• What are the causes of regionalism?
•• What can be the impacts of regionalism on Indian Polity?

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Post Read Question:

What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of bene�ts of development on a regional basis eventually
promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer. (UPSC CSE 2020)
Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (UPSC CSE 2020)

What are the implications of coalition government?

Some of the implications of coalition government are:
1. IMPACT ON ECONOMY: �e nature of government at the centre widely shapes the economic policies of the country
since the ideologies of the ruling party get re�ected in the macro- and microeconomic policies. When there is a single
majority ruling party in the centre, it can have a salutary e�ect on the trajectory of economic reforms in India. But, when
there is a coalition government at the centre, the impact of various viewpoints (regional parties) that are part of the
coalition plays a key role in the initiatives of the government and building consensus among the di�erent parties becomes
challenging, which greatly a�ects the policy decisions of the central government.
Udit Mishra Writes— “ Since 1991, when India was forced to open up its economy and give up on the planned economy
model, all governments were coalitions of the sort where even the lead party was quite far from the majority mark of 272.
�is obvious weakness of the leading party — be it the Congress or the BJP or the so-called third front — meant that India
always had — to borrow the words of Montek Singh Ahluwalia (former Deputy Chairman of the erstwhile Planning
Commission) — “a strong consensus for weak reforms”.
However, we also have examples of big economic reforms taken by the coalition government.
Udit Mishra Writes— “ If one looks back at India’s economic history since 1991, it becomes clear that coalition
governments have undertaken some of the boldest and most visionary reforms that laid the foundation for India’s resurgence.”

NOTABLE REFORMS BROUGHT BY THE PREVIOUS COALITION GOVERNMENTS

UDIT MISHRA WRITES� “�e biggest example is the whole host of reforms during the P V Narasimha Rao-led
government, which was essentially a minority government. It discarded centralised planning and opened the Indian economy to
global completion by removing the licence-permit raj. �e country also became a member of the World Trade Organisation.
2. Under the short-lived Deve Gowda government, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram came out with what is still referred
to as the “dream budget”. It placed faith in the Indian taxpayers and cut tax rates — both personal income tax, corporate taxes,
and customs duties.
3. Under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, India framed the Fiscal Responsibility
& Budget Management (FRBM) law for �scal rectitude and limited the government’s ability to borrow within prudential limits.
4. Under the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) India built on the Vajpayee era Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to
initiate the Right to Education Act. In the same light, the UPA brought in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA), which provided minimum employment to the rural poor. Singh’s government also deregulated
fuel prices before it le� o�ce and started work on direct bene�t transfers as well as Aadhaar and GST.

2. IMPACT ON CENTRE�STATE RELATIONS: �e coalition government at the centre impacts centre-state relations as
well. When multiple centres of power in the form of regional parties become part of the national coalition government,
they put e�orts into ful�lling their own interests; thus, shaping the federal dynamics of the country, sometimes in the form
of cooperative federalism, sometimes in the form of competitive federalism.
Louise Tillin Writes— “Regional parties in the national coalition government seek to advance the interests of their parties
(with negotiation over cabinet and ministerial positions) and of their states (such as the demands for special status being

6
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

asserted on behalf of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar)……Special-interest regional politics…may threaten a wider federal bargain
if it bolsters the impression that partisanship rather than principles determine the distribution of resources across regions
within India.”
3. IMPACT ON POLICIES: Coalition governments also a�ect policies. While some argue that national coalition
governments provide more inclusive policies, others believe that coalitions limit policymaking. It could also lead to policy
instability as getting everyone on board while formulating policies becomes a matter of great e�ort in the alliance.
4. IMPACT ON POLITICAL STABILITY: �e coalition government remains subject to pulls and pressures, as coalition
partners go for bargaining. As a result, some coalitions fail unless all partners are on board.
Despite various challenges associated with the coalition government and its functioning, it is true that a well-structured
and functioning coalition government provides a platform for diverse voices and strengthens federalism in the country
through the decentralisation of powers.
Points to Ponder:
Does the coalition government in the centre a�ect the foreign policy of the nation?
Post Read Question:
How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite
some recent examples to validate your answer. (UPSC CSE 2020)
(Source: No party wins majority: What does a coalition government mean for economic reforms in India?, �is is the
moment for a new federal compact, )

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Also In News
�e other newsmaker or rather the post which made the headline post election results were the Lok Sabha Leader of
Opposition. Let’s look at this important post.

What is the role of the Lok Sabha

Leader of Opposition?
Wri�en by Asad Rehman

Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi is

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, a
position that lay vacant for 10 years
because no party had numbers
equalling a tenth of the strength of the
House, which has been by practice a
requirement to lay claim to the post.
�e Congress, the largest opposition
party, won 44 and 52 seats in the
543-member House a�er the elections
of 2014 and 2019 respectively. �e
party has almost doubled its 2019 tally
to 99 seats in this election.
In 2014, Mallikarjun Kharge —
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of Constitution of India as he takes oath as a
who is now Congress president and
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha June 25, 2024. (PTI Photo)
— was recognised Leader of the
Congress party in Lok Sabha. In 2019, this position went to then Baharampur MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Both Congress leaders
were part of panels to select candidates for high positions that required the presence of the Leader of Opposition.

Who can serve as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
�e position of Leader of Opposition was o�cially described in �e Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in
Parliament Act, 1977.
�e Act describes the Leader of Opposition as a “member of the Council of States or the House of the People, as the case may be,
who is, for the time being, the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical
strength and recognised as such by the Chairman of the Council of States or the Speaker of the House of the People”.
In an article written for �e Indian Express in May 2017, former Lok Sabha Secretary General PDT Achary said: “�e law is clear
that the Speaker is required to recognise the leader of the numerically largest party in opposition as the leader of opposition. �e
option of not recognising him/ her is just not available.”
Achary, however, rejected the conventional understanding that to get the post of Leader of Opposition, a party must have at least
10% of MPs in the House. He wrote:
“A mysterious rule is o�en quoted by some self-styled experts, which requires a party to have at least 10 per cent of the members
of the House for the Speaker to recognise someone as the Leader of the Opposition. �ere is no such rule. Yes, there is direction 121
issued by the Speaker for recognising a party or group for the purpose of providing certain facilities in the House… �is direction
relates to the recognition of a party, not the Leader of Opposition.”

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Before the BJP in 2014 and 2019, the Congress, which had 415 members in
Lok Sabha in 1984, had denied the TDP, which had 30 MPs, the post of Leader of
Opposition.

What position does the Leader of Opposition have in

the House?
�e Leader of Opposition sits in the front row to the le� of the Chair, and
enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occasions like escorting the Speaker-elect
to the rostrum. �e Leader of Opposition is also entitled to a seat in the front row
during the Address by the President to both Houses of Parliament.
�e main duty of the Leader of Opposition is to serve as the voice of the
opposition in the House. An o�cial booklet on Parliament published in 2012
says the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha “is considered as a shadow Prime
Minister with a shadow Cabinet, ready to take over the administration if the
Government resigns or is defeated on the �oor of the House”.
Since the parliamentary system is based on “mutual forbearance”, the Leader
of Opposition lets the Prime Minister govern and is, in turn, permitted to
oppose. “His/ her proactive role in facilitating smooth functioning of the business
of the House is as important as that of the Government,” the booklet says.
Theory apart, what practical role and responsibility
does the Leader of Opposition have?
Most importantly, the Leader of Opposition is the opposition’s representative
in the high-powered committees headed by the Prime Minister for appointment
to key posts such as the Director of CBI, the Central Vigilance Commissioner and Chief Information Commissioner, the
Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission, and the Lokpal.
As the Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019, Kharge had alleged that the government repeatedly tried to keep
the opposition out of the selection of the Lokpal on the ground that there was no Leader of Opposition.
In order of precedence, the Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha come at No. 7, along with Union Cabinet
Ministers, the National Security Advisor, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog, former PMs,
and Chief Ministers.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE HISTORY & CULTURE

Amaravathi: The rise and fall of one of the

greatest Buddhist sites in India
Wri�en by Adrija Roychowdhury

Chandrababu Naidu’s return as Andhra Pradesh CM brings the spotlight back on Amaravati, a look at one of the
most important sites of Buddhism in South Asia and why it has never received the recognition it deserves.

Amaravathi Stupa is the largest Buddhist stupa in South Asia. (Wikimedia Commons)

R
aja Vessareddy Nayudu was searching for building materials for a new house in Andhra’s Dhanyakatakam village in
the late 1700s when he stumbled upon a mound with a large collection of extraordinary limestone pillars and panels.
Oblivious to the historical signi�cance of the ruins he had accidentally encountered, the local zamindar began using
the stones to build his new residence in the village he would soon rename Amaravathi. Other locals would then start
following his cue and use more of the stones for their houses and public buildings in the region.
�e systematic destruction of the mound of ruins continued up to 1816. �at is also when Colonel Colin Mackenzie, the
�rst surveyor general of India, decided to look at the site which he had �rst come across during a visit in 1798. During the
�rst visit, he had been unable to do much, apart from observing the few pieces of ruins unearthed by Nayudu. On his return,

10
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

a�er the death of Nayudu, he started an intensive survey which however led only to further destruction of the grand monument,
though it opened the doors to the rediscovery of the grandest Buddhist architectural feat in the region – the Amaravathi stupa.
In 2015, when then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu announced the making of a new capital in the
Vijayawada-Guntur region, he decided to name it a�er the long-lost Buddhist centre of Amaravathi, dismissing the ‘h’ from the
older name for numerological reasons. �e new capital, Amaravati, which is once again in the making a�er Naidu’s return to the
chief ministerial post this year, is about 20 km away from the ancient town. Although his vision is to create a modern city on the
lines of Singapore, its name carries the legacy of one of the grandest and most important sites of Buddhism in South Asia.
Amaravathi and the making of Andhra Buddhism
Buddhism emerged in the ��h century BCE in the ancient kingdom of Magadh, located in the eastern Ganges plain of Southern
Bihar. It appears to have reached the Andhra region in the Krishna River Valley fairly early on, mainly through trade. “We know that
some monks from Andhra were present at the very �rst Buddhist council (held in 483 BCE at Rajgir, Bihar),” says Anirudh
Kanisetti, historian and author of ‘Lords of the Deccan: Southern India From the Chalukyas to Cholas’ (2023). �e real impetus to
Andhra Buddhism though, came in the 3rd century BCE when the emperor Ashoka set up an inscription in the region. �erea�er,
Buddhism had thrived in the region for almost six centuries till about the 3rd century CE. Although, in isolated sites such as
Amaravathi, Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayapeta, Salihundam and Sankaram, the religion seems to have lingered on till as late as the 14th
century CE.
Historian Sree Padma, who along with Professor A W Barber has co-edited and authored the book Buddhism in the Krishna
River Valley of Andhra (2008), notes that “the presence of Buddhism in Andhra coincides with Andhra’s �rst urbanisation process”.
“Trade, especially oceanic trade, was one of the major features of this urbanising culture, activity which no doubt abetted the spread
of Buddhism,” she writes.
“Merchants in fact were important patrons of the Amaravathi Stupa,” says Kanisetti, explaining the role that commerce played in
the spread of Buddhism in Andhra. “If you look at Buddhism in North India, there are so many legends about Buddha talking to
king Bimbisara or Ajatashatru and then ofcourse you have emperor Ashoka actively advocating the spread of Buddhism,” he
explains. “In contrast, in Andhra we don’t have a lot of legends about royal patronage. At Amaravathi, patrons came from a broad
cross-section of society, especially traders, cra�smen and wandering monks who were involved in accepting and spreading
Buddhism.”
Sree Padma in her work notes that the success of traders and their religious association with Buddhism was not lost on the
political rulers of Andhra who would go on to issue several inscriptions announcing their donations and support to the Buddhist
sangha. “O�en the conversion of whole peoples is said to follow the conversion of their leaders. In Andhra of this era, perhaps the
reverse process occurred,” she writes.
Yet another distinctive feature of the way
Buddhism developed in this region was the easy
absorption of local practices into the Buddhist
doctrines. For instance, the whole concept of the
Buddhist stupa here seems to have been a natural
transition from the existing practice of venerating
the dead in megalithic burials. Megaliths were
massive stones set up over pits in which the dead
were buried, and are said to have been predecessors
of the Buddhist stupas which were commemorative
monuments housing the relics of Buddhist monks. The remains of the Amaravathi Stupa (J M Garg in Wikimedia Commons)
Other local forms of religious expression popular in the Andhra region such as Goddess and Naga (snake) worship were also
incorporated into the Buddhist corpus.
Within this broad landscape of Andhra Buddhism, there was a special place that Amaravathi held. It was the birthplace of
Mahayana Buddhism. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that Amaravathi is the most sacred site for him,” remarks Professor
Amareswar Galla, an international expert in sustainable heritage development, and the former chief curator of the Amaravathi
heritage town.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

He explains that Acharya Nagarjuna who propounded the Madhyamika philosophy which is the basis of Mahayana Buddhism,
lived in Amaravathi for a long time, and his teachings brought about a signi�cant shi� in the practice of Buddhism. “From
Amaravathi, Mahayana Buddhism spread across South Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. Before the cultural revolution
in China in 1969, Mahayana Buddhism was the largest faith in the world,” says Galla.
The Amaravathi school of art and its influence
�e signi�cance of Amaravathi though was hardly limited to the in�uence it had on religion. �e stupa gave rise to what came to
be known as the ‘Amaravathi school of art’ which is regarded as one of the three most important styles of ancient Indian art along
with Mathura and Gandhara. Scholar of Comparative Religions, Jacob Kinnard, in a book chapter titled Amaravati at Lens:
Envisioning Buddhism in the Ruins of the Great Stupa, writes, “�e ruined stupa at Amaravati has been one of the most analysed
structures in the history of Buddhism….celebrated by scholars as the high point of Buddhist art and architecture.” Indeed the stupa
is popularly known to be the “jewel in the crown of early Indian art”.
“What makes Amaravathi distinctive is that it has the largest quantity of
highly aesthetic sculpture which encased the drum of the stupa and their sheer
scale is quite unparalleled,” says archaeo-metallurgist Sharada Srinivasan. She
explains that the aesthetic of Amaravathi was further embellished by the fact
that they were sculpted on a special kind of limestone called Palnad marble,
which allowed very �ne and intricate carvings.
“One must also remember that there is yet no evidence that there was any
external in�uence on the art at Amaravathi, unlike what we �nd in Mathura and
Gandhara where there was a lot of Graeco-Roman in�uence,” says Galla.
Although the enquiry into the Amaravathi Stupa had begun as early as 1816
when Colonel Mackenzie �rst excavated some of the ruins, the interest at this
point was more around the dating and nature of the monument. It was only in
the 1860s when the orientalist James Fergusson published a detailed account of
the stupa in his book Tree and Serpent Worship that enquiry into the art of
Amaravathi began. As Kinnard notes, this book “proved to be tremendously
in�uential in the understanding of early Buddhist art and ritual practice”.
Srinivasan says that Amaravathi later got established as a speci�c style of art
through the writings of 20th century scholars such as C. Sivaramamurti, and
Douglas Barrett and because it spawned or was a benchmark for similar
regional sculpture at early historic Buddhist sites in Andhra,Telangana and
Karnataka (such as Phanigiri, Nagarjunakonda and Sannati).
�e appeal of Amaravathi art is evident from the fact that it went on to
in�uence Buddhist artistic productions in several other parts of India, such as
the Ajanta caves, as well as other parts of South and Southeast Asia. “�ere is a Buddha statue at Nagarjunakonda in the
Amaravathi style. (Wikimedia Commons)
particular kind of depiction of the Buddha in Amaravathi where he has the robe
on the le� shoulder and the other hand is in abhaya. �at becomes an iconic formulation which then can be found in Sri Lanka,
�ailand, Java and in several other parts of South East Asia,” says Srinivasan.
Further, as Kinnard writes, “�ese sculptures also presented a visual blueprint for a range of ritual performance that established a
model of Buddhist practice that would be replicated for centuries in India and elsewhere in the Buddhist world.”
�e decline of Amaravathi, and Buddhism, in Andhra
Scholars have for long pondered over the possible factors that led to the decline of Buddhism in this region, which in turn and
eventually led to the withering away of this once grand Buddhist site of Amaravathi. “One possible reason was the rise of Shaivism,”
explains Kanisetti. He points out that “Chinese travelers who came to Andhra in the seventh century CE found that the stupas were
on a decline but the Shiva temples were thriving, and receiving patronage from aristocrats and royals.”
Sree Padma in her work has suggested that the rise and decline of Buddhism in Andhra is directly linked to the kind of socio-
economic conditions prevalent in the region. Trade was the most important aspect of urbanisation in Andhra in the 3rd century

12
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

BCE. �e appeal of Buddhism among traders lay in its emphasis on a casteless society, which meant fewer barriers to conducting
commerce. �e religion underwent a decline six centuries later with the economic degradation of the region.
“Buddhist institutions rather suddenly found themselves without much patronage in the fourth century CE,” writes Sree Padma.
She reasons that by the time the economy recovered, Buddhism had changed so much that it lost resonance with the deeper
structures of religion in Andhra. It is possible, she suggests, that as a transformed religion it was a very poor competitor to other
forms of religion such as Shaivism which better catered to the needs of the next wave of urbanisation.
As far as the stupa at Amaravathi is concerned, veneration for it did linger on for several centuries a�er the decline of Buddhism, but
its aura had been diminishing gradually over the years. By the time Mackenzie took note of the stupa, much of it had already been lost.
With the colonial interest in the monument, its destruction and eventually the loot of the ruins reached new heights. Following
Mackenzie’s survey, a considerable number of sculptures were removed from the site and sent to places like Masulipatam, Calcutta,
London, and Madras. Art historian Akira Shimada in his book Early Buddhist Architecture in Context (1968) notes that about 37
sculptures sent to Masulipatam were in fact used for building a monument by Francis W. Robertson, the head assistant to the
collector there. He points out that a “major purpose of Mackenzie’s survey was in fact to collect sculptures for that monument”.
In 1845, when Walter Elliot, the commissioner of Guntur, undertook yet another round of excavation at Amaravathi, he sent
away a large number of sculptures to Madras. Reports suggest that during this period, two of the 79 sculptures collected by Elliot
were lost.
In 1859, a collection of the sculptures, now called Elliot marbles, was shipped across to London where they experienced further
deterioration. �ey reached London in the a�ermath of the 1857 revolt and the termination of the East India Company. �ey
moved around quite a bit in London and remained largely in a
condition of neglect till as late as 1880 when they �nally found
a home in the British Museum.
Shimada in his book explains that “the tragic story of
Amaravati exempli�es typical problems faced by archaeological
monuments during this period.” In the early 19th century when
Amaravathi was �rst surveyed, the conservation of ancient
monuments was hardly a priority among government circles.
“Indeed, the local people had regarded the old stupa as
convenient sources of building materials, while British o�cials
also used them for construction of canals and roads,” he writes.
“�e British made the �rst landscape drawings of the
Amaravathi Heritage Town, but never excavated Amaravathi
Stupa in a systematic way,” says Galla.
Today the sculptures from the Amaravathi stupa and other
sites in Andhra are scattered across the world. While the British
Museum has one of the largest collections, they can also be
found in the Art Institute of Chicago, Musee Guimet in Paris,
the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the
Government Museum, Chennai and National Museum in New
Delhi among others.
In recent years Australia remains to be the only country to
have returned a stolen Amaravathi style sculpture from
Chandavaram they had under the 1970 UNESCO Convention
on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import,
Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. �is,
says Galla, was done because he managed to identify the
Chandavaram sculpture in Australia. He studied it earlier while
working on it for his doctoral thesis in the 1970s while it was ��������������������������������������������������������������������
still in situ. (Wikimedia Commons)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

“�e reason why Australia

returned the sculpture was
because of their own policies on
provenance research and
repatriation,” says Galla. “India
basically services western
museums. �ey loan objects for
exhibitions in London, Paris,
Tokyo but rarely conduct
systematic provenance research
and seek proactive repatriation,”
he argues. He goes on to
emphasise upon the lack of
consciousness among Indians,
especially Andhra people about
their own heritage which he
believes is equally responsible
for the decline of the “largest
Buddhist stupa in South Asia.”
Sculptures from the Amaravati Stupa in the British Museum (Wikimedia Commons)
“Did you know that there is
not a single university in India that teaches a designated programme on the Amaravathi School of Art?” he asks before adding, “it is
only the Art Institute of Chicago that does the honours.”
Meanwhile, at Amaravathi, says Srinivasan, one can hardly �nd any trace of the legacy of the long and grand Buddhist past, apart
from the site museum. “But one can clearly see the interest of the global Buddhist community in the stupa as many pilgrims from
East Asia and South East Asia are frequent visitors there,” she says. “In fact, it is a Japanese publication, the Asahi Shimbun, which in
the 1990s funded the reconstruction and conservation of the gallery in the British Museum which holds many of the Amaravathi
sculptures today.”

14
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

July 4 and the story of the American

Declaration of Independence
Wri�en by Anagha Jayakumar

Why did the colonists want Independence from Britain? What happened in the lead up to American independence? How
was the Declaration of Independence formulated?

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Commons)

J
uly 4 marked the 248th Independence Day of the United States. It was the day when the Declaration of Independence, the
document which marked the foundation of the US as a union of states liberated from Britain, was signed.
Here is a brief history.
Colonists’ discontent with Britain
More than 150 years a�er the British �rst ventured into North America to build permanent colonies, the settlers on the
land, called colonists, had grown increasingly disgruntled with the British.
�e 13 British colonies were expected to operate as self-serving legislatures which would independently pass laws, levy
taxes, and gather troops. However, colonists did not have any manner of representation in the British Parliament in London.
Till 1763, the British followed a policy of ‘salutary neglect’ with its American colonies which were given free rein in their
trade processes. �ings changed a�er the end of the French and Indian War. �e British issued a proclamation forbidding
colonists from expanding their residences into indigenous territory, which the settlers considered an infringement of their
freedom.

15
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

�is directive was ignored, souring relations with London. What followed was a decade of strict sanctions. A series of
legislations like the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), the Tea Act (1773) and the Intolerable Acts (1774) were passed,
increasing British interference in the lives of Americans.
Add to this ideas regarding freedom and equality that arose during the Enlightenment, and the situation was ripe for a
revolution against the monarchy.

Leading up to the Declaration

On December 16, 1773, a group known as the Sons of Liberty destroyed a shipment of tea, sent to Boston by the British
East India Company. �e Boston Tea Party began a resistance movement across the colonies against the oppressive tea tax,
and the British Empire as a whole. �e colonists claimed that Britain had no right to tax colonists without giving them
representation in the British Parliament.
�e colonies got together and formed the Continental Congress to decide a further course of action against the British.
While they initially tried to enforce a boycott of British goods, and meet King George III to negotiate better terms, their
attempts were in vain.
By April 1775, the 13 colonies were �ghting a war to gain independence from the Empire.
Even as the �ghting continued, on July 2, 1776, 12 of the 13 member-states of the Congress “unanimously” observed that
the colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” �is essentially amounted to a formal vote of
independence.
As John Adams, who would go on to succeed George Washington as the second President of the US, said, “�e second day
of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by
succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” He was o� by 2 days — the formal document solemnising the
colonies’ independence would be signed on July 4.

Declaration of Independence
In June 1776, a committee comprising �omas Je�erson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R
Livingston was elected to dra� a statement justifying the assertion of independence, should the event arise.
�e text itself was largely written by Je�erson, who had previously written ‘A Summary View of the Rights of British
America’ in 1775. In this treatise, he wrote, “Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a
series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly
prove a deliberate and systematical plan of reducing us to slavery.” Ironically, Je�erson owned more than 600 slaves.
Nonetheless, the Declaration followed suit from this document. It was signed by 56 delegates, including the �ve-member
committee that framed it, and these signatories would forever be identi�ed as the United States’ founding fathers.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the Declaration read.
�e British would formally recognise American independence a�er its defeat in the Revolutionary War in 1783. �e US
won with the support of Britain’s European rivals — France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic.

16
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE POLITY

What is sovereignty and

how philosophers define it
Wri�en by Amir Ali

Amid problems of the 21st century such as climate change, cybercrime, and �nancial crises that crisscross borders,
can the idea of sovereignty remain �xated on territoriality?

Photo by WikiCommons on Wikimedia Commons

I
n many contemporary political crises and issues, the concepts of sovereignty and territorial integrity played out
clearly.
For instance, the two-state solution seen as o�ering a lasting end to the longstanding Israel-Palestine con�ict
entails territorial demarcation between the state of Israel and the proposed state of Palestine.
Also, back in 2016, when the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union – a process that has
been called Brexit – this was seen by many as the restoration of the sovereignty of the British parliament in
Westminster, London.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Such issues underline that not only are the concepts of sovereignty and territorial integrity central in terms of academic
concerns, but they also have a real-world impact on the everyday lives of people.
Hence, here an attempt is made to analyse the concept of sovereignty and present its central characteristics with examples
from contemporary politics.

What is sovereignty?
�e concept of sovereignty is one of the most central concepts in the discipline of political science. It is connected with
another, perhaps, the central concept in the discipline, the state.
One of the most important theorists associated with the concept of sovereignty is John Austin who in the 19th century can
be said to have laid its three broad characteristics.
First, sovereignty connotes supreme authority that must be identi�able in the form of an individual such as a monarch in
medieval times or, as we are more accustomed to in modern times, in the form of a body of individuals such as parliament
that represents the people.
Second, the people in a polity must render habitual obedience to the sovereign as a mark of the latter’s authority. �ird,
there is no authority higher than the sovereign to which it can become subservient.
�e United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union was seen as exemplifying
the third characteristic. �at is, the British parliament should not accept the The concept of
superiority of the European Parliament in Brussels. sovereignty is one
Leviathan of the most central
�e English philosopher �omas Hobbes and his classic work Leviathan (1651) can concepts in the
most immediately be identi�ed with the kind of sovereignty that the �rst point makes in discipline of political
terms of unmissable and unmistakable presence.
�e cover page of the original edition of Hobbes’s work depicts the Leviathan, which is science. It is connected
a monster that emerges from the sea as it looms over the English landscape. �e term with another, perhaps,
Leviathan leaves no doubt about where sovereign authority lies. the central concept in
At the same time, if one considers the second point about the habitual obedience that
individuals are obliged to render, then it becomes clear that there are harsh costs to be
the discipline, the state.
borne by those who do not do so.
�e more that individuals are in the habit of rendering habitual obedience, the more
that the conveniences of living in the polity are enhanced. Imagine the chaos if no one stopped when the tra�c lights went red.
At the same time, there is an element of fear when it comes to not rendering obedience to the sovereign, as punitive measures will
quickly follow.
Sovereignty and territorial integrity
Moreover, the authority of the sovereign must have a clear territorial demarcation. �is is usually understood to cover the full
territorial extent of the sovereign’s jurisdiction, including the air space over the territory and extending to some distance into the sea if
the territory has a coastline.
�is understanding of what can be called the territorial integrity of sovereignty encompasses the idea of safe and secure borders that
surround the territory. It would also incorporate the resources below the surface such as minerals.
�e prolonged Israel-Palestine dispute, for instance, entails problems over identifying the borders between the state of Israel and the
proposed state of Palestine and whether such a Palestinian state will have complete control over the air space that covers its territory.
Shifts in sovereignty
One of the great shi�s in the concept of sovereignty has been a movement away from identifying it with an individual such as a
monarch and associating it with the popular will of the people.
�is shi� from absolute to popular sovereignty over the centuries can perhaps best capture the
way in which the concept of sovereignty has been con�gured in modern times.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Also, in the concept of sovereignty, one can �nd an element of the mysti�cation of state power by placing it on an elevated pedestal.
However, in the 20th century, one can note a certain de-mysti�cation of sovereignty at the hands of many political theorists.
Pluralistic view of sovereignty
French Philosopher Michel Foucault, who died in June 1984, urged that there’s a need to cut o� the sovereign or the King’s head. For
he believed that power does not exist in a centralised form, but in far more di�use, peripheral, capillary and subtle forms.
Here there is the idea of sovereign power not outside of us, but all around us, disciplining us into docility and even acting inside us as
it regulates the very conditions of life in what has been called ‘bio-politics’. Such ideas have given the concept of sovereignty a di�erent
kind of meaning altogether.
Moreover, there’s a group of not-so-well-known theorists called the English pluralists who, at the beginning of the 20th century,
mooted a so�er, pluralist version of sovereignty in contrast to the severity that sovereignty is usually associated with when it is located in
a single monistic site of power.
English pluralists such as GDH Cole and, to some
extent, Harold Laski argued that associations and
groups that existed at an intermediate level between
the state and the individual such as trade guilds or
FRENCH PHILOSOPHER MICHEL
trade unions also retained aspects of sovereignty. In FOUCAULT, WHO DIED IN JUNE 1984,
this manner, the state rather than maintaining some URGED THAT THERE’S A NEED TO CUT
special pre-eminence was an association among OFF THE SOVEREIGN OR THE KING’S
many other associations.
In contrast to the so�ness of sovereignty
HEAD. FOR HE BELIEVED THAT
mentioned above, we have a very stark notion of POWER DOES NOT EXIST IN A
sovereignty in the writings of another 20th century CENTRALISED FORM, BUT IN FAR
theorist like Carl Schmitt.
In Schmitt’s conception of sovereignty, it is the
MORE DIFFUSE, PERIPHERAL,
authoritative political decision (whose only referent CAPILLARY AND SUBTLE FORMS
is the decision itself), and its ability to create a state of
exception. �e term ‘state of exception’ means the
point at which the judicial and legal system is overturned on account of an emergency or threat, and the sovereign’s will takes over in
the form of doing whatever is deemed �t for the polity.
Need to refashion the idea of sovereignty?
We can conclude by suggesting that most theories of sovereignty have tended to assume a sternness or starkness rather than any
so�ness. �is is done to underline the special status of the state as the supreme and most pre-eminent of human associations.
States have been loath to share or pool their sovereignty as this has been seen as undermining their special status of authority. �e
European Union is an example of pooled sovereignty.
But problems of the troubled, interconnected and globalised 21st century such as climate change, cybercrime, and �nancial crises
that crisscross borders demand further refashioning of the concept.
Hence, it will be interesting to see the ways in which the concept of sovereignty evolves.
Post Read Question
How has the concept of sovereignty evolved over time?
Critically evaluate the concept of sovereignty in relation to issues like climate change, cybercrime, and �nancial crises which are not
con�ned to national borders.
How does the renewed focus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor raise concerns for India regarding territorial integrity?
(Amir Ali is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Conflicts in West Asia: Israel-Hamas

war and the Yemen quagmire
Wri�en by Ashiya Parveen

How did the Israel-Hamas war lead to an escalation in West Asia and complicate the Yemen peace process? How
does it a�ect India’s interests in the region?

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REUTERS)

(�ere are areas in the world that remain beset by con�icts. West Asia is one such region that has been in the grip of
con�icts at least since the mid-20th century. �e escalation a�er the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war further upended
the political landscape of the region. What are the prospects for containing the con�icts? How does regional instability
a�ect India’s interests?.)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

T
he outbreak of the war between
Israel and Hamas last year put the
spotlight back on the Palestinian
cause. It also exacerbated a few existing
con�icts and complicated various other
developments in West Asia, such as the
Arab normalisation process with Israel.
�e Yemen con�ict is another case in
point. �e ongoing Israel-Hamas war
scuttled the progress being made on
resolving the con�ict which has been on for
more than a decade. �e prospect of peace
was further complicated by the country’s
Houthi rebels as they entangled themselves
in the war and began attacking shipping in
the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians.
Before delving into the prevalent
scenario, let’s trace the cause of the
Yemen con�ict.

The Yemeni uprising

�e prolonged con�ict in Yemen can be
traced back to the 2011 popular uprisings –
commonly known as the Arab Spring –
which broke out in various countries of
West Asia and North Africa against
prevalent socio-economic and political Credit: United Nations
conditions.
Like their fellow Arabs, Yemenis came on the streets to protest against their predicament summed up in their demands for
‘employment’, a ‘just state’, end to ‘patronage’, and, above all, the end of the over three-decade long rule of then president Ali
Abdullah Salih.
However, unlike in Tunisia or Egypt where the presidents were overthrown in a matter of few days following the outbreak of the
uprisings, Yemenis had to �ght hard to force Salih from o�ce.
As part of the Gulf Cooperation Council-led transition plan, Salih eventually stepped down in February 2012. His vice president
Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi took charge of the country a�er being elected as the new president unopposed.
Hadi was there to oversee a two-year transition process during which a national dialogue, constitutional amendment and a new
election were to be held.
However, the transition process was disrupted by the country’s Houthi rebels when they overthrew the Hadi government in
September 2014. �e Houthis’ move gradually dragged Yemen to a prolonged con�ict.

The ongoing conflict

In order to restore the legitimate transitional government/internationally recognised government (IRG), Saudi Arabia formed a
coalition of 10 countries including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan and the UAE to intervene militarily in Yemen.
�e coalition launched the military operations codenamed Operation Decisive Storm in March 2015, which was renamed
Operation Restoring Hope in April 2015. It managed to drive the Houthi rebels away from the southern port city of Aden and other
areas in the south.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Aden is a highly strategic province as it controls the Bab al-Mandeb strait – the choke point between the Arabian Sea and the Red
Sea through which nearly four million barrels of oil are shipped daily to Europe, the United States and Asia.
But the coalition couldn’t restore the IRG nor could it push back the rebels from the capital Sanaa. In the coming years, the
con�ict wreaked havoc on one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, exposing its 3o million population to what the United
Nations described as one of the “world’s worst humanitarian crises”.
According to the United Nations O�ce for the Coordination of Humanitarian A�airs, an estimated 2,33,000 people have been
killed in the con�ict, including 1,31,000 people who died from indirect causes such as lack of food, health services and
infrastructure.
As of 2024, 18.2 million people need humanitarian assistance, 17.6 million face food and nutritional insecurity, and 4.5 million
remain displaced.
In the meanwhile, Houthi rebels in the north Yemen and Southern Movement or al-Hirak al-Janoubi capitalised on the
prevailing uncertainties.
�e Houthis with links to Iran solidi�ed their hold in the north, while the southern forces, primarily the Southern Transitional
Council formed in 2017 and backed by the United Arab Emirates, pushed for the cessation of the south Yemen. Diplomatic e�orts
thus far couldn’t yield desired results.

Israel-Hamas war and the Yemen crisis

Following some rounds of inconclusive peace talks since 2016, the United Nations brokered a truce in April
2022 which formally expired in October 2022. Subsequently, the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, which
borders Yemen to the north, entered into negotiations.
�e negotiations made progress in the coming year. Alongside, China-mediated rapprochement between
Saudi Arabia and Iran in March 2023 apparently complemented the peace talks with some observers believing
it could help resolve the con�ict in Yemen.
However, the October 7 Hamas attack called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” complicated the progress. Israel
responded with “Operation Swords of Iron” and began attacking targets in the Gaza Strip. It has since intensi�ed its military
operations in nine months of war in which thousands of Palestinians were killed.
Sooner, Yemen’s Houthi rebels jumped into the war and began attacking ships passing through the Red Sea in solidarity with
Palestinians in Gaza. �e US and Britain responded with strikes against Houthi targets.
Moreover, in addition to the Israel-Hamas war and its spillover e�ects, the future prospect of peace in Yemen is complicated by
the US’s designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

Concerns for India

As far as West Asia is concerned, India has a huge stake in its stability and security. Above all, in an uncertain security situation,
safety of Indian nationals is India’s primary concern.
�erefore, as the situation in Yemen turned violent, India evacuated its 4,741 Indians and 1,947 foreign nationals belonging to 41
countries in April 2015 under Operation Rahat. Subsequently, it relocated its Embassy to Djibouti.
New Delhi also extended its support for the UN-mediated e�orts in Yemen. And in view of its “civilisational links and close
friendship with Yemen”, it joined Friends of Yemen Group “in order to assist the country in the transition phase”.
In addition, it extended humanitarian assistance and provided rice and wheat valued at $2 million each in August 2012 and March
2013, respectively.
In April 2015 it provided medical assistance and again at the request of the Yemeni government in December 2017 it extended
medical assistance worth $1 million. In March 2021, India provided 360,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Yemen under the COVAX
programme.
Nevertheless, the protracted con�ict has its bearing on India-Yemen ties. Bilateral trade between the two countries nosedived
with trade volume dropping from US$ 2,258.00 million in 2010-11 to US$ 716.52 million in 2017-18.
India’ energy imports from Yemen also su�ered a setback. Although Yemen has a very small share in India’s total energy imports

22
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

from the Gulf, it does add to the cumulative value.

Yemen’s share in India’s energy imports which stood at 2.80 percent of India’s total energy imports from the Gulf in 2009-10 were
reduced to nil in 2015-16.
�at apart, the persisting con�ict doesn’t augur well for India’s interests in the region at large. India’s economic growth is directly
linked to its energy needs, and the Gulf countries alone ful�l nearly 60 percent of its total energy needs.
In addition, India’s e�ort to promote regional connectivity, trade and commerce through initiatives like the India-Middle
East-Europe Economic Corridor, the International North South Transport Corridor, and the Chabahar port pivots on the
restoration of stability in the region.
�erefore, the escalation in the a�ermath of the Israel-Hamas war and the involvement of myriad local, regional and
international actors is a matter of grave concern for the region and the emerging powers like India.

INDIA’S EFFORT TO PROMOTE REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY, TRADE

AND COMMERCE THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE THE INDIA-MIDDLE
EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR, THE INTERNATIONAL
NORTH SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR, AND THE CHABAHAR
PORT PIVOTS ON THE RESTORATION OF STABILITY IN THE
REGION.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

As voice of Global South, India pushes

for change in global order
Resurgence of the ‘Global South’ re�ects the evolving geopolitical landscape and the growing in�uence of developing
nations in global a�airs. How does India's leadership exemplify this change?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Azali Assoumani as
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�������������������������������������������������

Dr. Mohmad Waseem Malla

(In the following article, Dr. Mohmad Waseem Malla, a Research Fellow with the International Centre for
Peace Studies, explicates the idea of the Global South and examines its origin, evolution and recent surge with
India staking claim of leadership for the bloc.)
On May 24, 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty was signed in Geneva to
safeguard the traditional knowledge systems of developing countries from ‘misappropriation’ by developed
countries and multinational �rms. India described it as a ‘historic’ and ‘signi�cant win’ for both the country
and the broader Global South.
But why did India describe the WIPO Treaty as a victory for the Global South? What is meant by the term
Global South and why has it gained currency in recent years?
Global South and Global North
In the simplest sense, Global South refers to the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. Most of these

24
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

countries, where 88 per cent of the world population lives, experienced colonial rule and historically lagged in
achieving substantial levels of industrialisation.
�e developed countries of North America and Europe, on the other hand, are o�en referred to as the Global
North. �ese countries have a history of pursuing imperial policies.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Global South countries typically exhibit
lower levels of development, higher income inequality, rapid population growth, agrarian-dominant economies, lower
quality of life, shorter life expectancy, and signi�cant external dependence.
�e term Global South, thus, denotes political, geopolitical, and economic similarities between nations. Hence, it
should not be con�ated with strict geographical connotations. For instance, most Asian countries fall under the
Global South. Yet, countries such as Israel, South Korea, and Japan are considered part of the Global North because of
their higher levels of development.

From ‘Third World’ to Global South India, with its

Carl Oglesby, an American political activist, coined the term “Global South” history of a leading
in 1969. He used the term to describe countries su�ering from political and
role in the Non-
economic exploitation by developed nations of the Global North.
Initially, the term Global South did not gain much attention as the Aligned Movement and
world was classi�ed into First World (Capitalist bloc), Second World G77 through the Cold
(Socialist bloc), and �ird World (non-aligned countries). But with time War, has taken a
“�ird World” became increasingly associated with negative considerable lead in
connotations of economic powerlessness, chronic poverty, and political assuming a leadership
instability.
Resultantly, the term Global South replaced older terms like “�ird role and representing
World”, “developing”, and “under-developed” and gradually became the collective interests of
popular due to its neutral connotations. It helped unify diverse nations as the Global South
they sought to restructure the global economy, rebalance global power countries.
dynamics, and push for a New International Economic Order.

The Global South in the (new) world order

Recent years have seen a resurgence in debates around the Global North-South divide, stressing the need to
renegotiate the contours of global political and economic order. �is was highlighted when the United Nations
General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Towards a New International Economic Order” in December 2022.
�is resurgence is signi�cant given the qualitative reduction in broader wealth inequality across the North-
South divide, particularly with the faster-expanding economies of countries like India and China.
According to a World Bank report, “the gross domestic product (GDP) of the South, which represented about
20 percent of world GDP between the early 1970s and the late 1990s, doubled to about 40 percent by 2012.”
As such, countries like India, China, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, with their
considerable economic prowess, have emerged as major global and regional players. Besides, these countries
are no longer submissive international actors but rather navigate independently and have resisted
bandwagoning with the West on issues of international concern.
�e North-South divide was most vividly demonstrated in the a�ermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
in 2022. �ough a majority of Global South countries condemned Russia’s military aggression, nearly 85
percent, including India, resisted aligning with the US-led Global North consensus supporting Ukraine and

25
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

ignored Western calls for sanctions against Moscow.

India as the voice of Global South

India, with its history of a leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement and G77 through the Cold War, has
taken a considerable lead in assuming a leadership role and representing the collective interests of the Global South
countries. �is was demonstrated during India’s presidency of the G20 in 2023.
Following the assumption of the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022, India convened a landmark virtual
Global South Summit, themed “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose”, in January 2023. With leaders and ministers
from 125 countries of the Global South in attendance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for
collective action to reshape the emerging global order. He highlighted that the Global South holds “the largest
stakes in the future” as three-fourths of the world population “lives in our countries”.
However, alongside India, China too has staked claims to lead the Global South consensus on major
international issues. �e two countries have consistently advocated for a renegotiation of the global economic and
political order. Nevertheless, Beijing has attracted criticism for pursuing predatory
economic policies, especially under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), adding to the
economic distress of dozens of countries across the Global South.
India, on the other hand, has accrued signi�cant diplomatic capital to buttress its claims of
leadership for the Global South through its persistent calls for collective action and
development. For instance, during the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023, India
succeeded in its e�orts to induct the African Union as a permanent member of the major
economic bloc. �e expansion, the �rst since the formation of G20 in 1999, allows the
African countries to voice their economic concerns directly to the world’s most in�uential countries.
Secondly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, India distributed around 163 million doses across 96 countries
under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ humanitarian drive between January 2021 and February 2022. �is symbolises India’s
commitment to go beyond rhetoric to take tangible actions for the collective welfare of the Global South.
In conclusion, the recent resurgence of the Global South re�ects the evolving geopolitical landscape and the
growing in�uence of developing nations in global a�airs. India’s leadership exempli�es this transition through its
championing of the interests of the Global South and advocating for a recalibration of the global economic and
political order.

Post Read Questions

•• Evaluate the signi�cance and emergence of the term Global South.
•• What are the challenges for India as a leader in the Global South?
•• Discuss the signi�cance of Africa for India in its vision for the Global South.
�e rise of the Global South as an economic and political force has brought focus on the changing global order.
Comment.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE ECONOMY

How to read India’s Balance of Payments

Wri�en by Udit Misra

India’s current account registered a surplus in Q4 of 2023-24. But current account surpluses are not necessarily good,
nor is a de�cit always bad. Here’s how to read India’s Balance of Payments

��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

F
ew days back data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed that India’s current account registered a surplus
during the fourth quarter (Jan-Mar) of the 2023-24 �nancial year. �is was the �rst time in 11 quarters that India had
witnessed a surplus.
Movements in the current account are closely monitored as they not only impact the exchange rate of the rupee and India’s
sovereign ratings, but also because they point to the overall health of the economy.
However, the country’s current account cannot be understood in isolation. �e larger picture is provided by the so-called
‘Balance of Payments’ table alongside.

27
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

What is Balance of Payments?

�e Balance of Payments (BoP) is essentially a ledger of a country’s transactions with the rest of the world. As Indians trade and
transact with the rest of the world, money �ows in and out of the country. �e BoP shows how much money (shown here in billions
of US dollars) went out of the country and how much money came in. All the money coming into the country is marked positive
and all the money going out is marked negative. As such, in the BoP table, a minus sign points to a de�cit.
�e BoP matters because it captures the relative demand of the rupee vis-à-vis the demand for foreign currencies (represented in
dollar terms). Hypothetically, if there were only two countries in the world, India and the US, every time an Indian wanted to buy an
American good or service, or to invest in the US, they would have to hand over a certain number of rupees to �rst buy the dollars
needed to complete that transaction. In the end, the exchange rate would be determined by the relative demand of the two
currencies — if Indians demanded more dollars than Americans demanded rupees, the ‘price’ (or the exchange rate) of the dollar
relative to the rupee would go up.
What are the constituents of the BoP?
�e table shows the constituents of India’s BoP. �e BoP has two main ‘accounts’ — Current Account, and Capital Account.
CURRENT ACCOUNT: �e current account, as the name suggests, records transactions that are of a ‘current’ nature. �ere
are two subdivisions of the current account: the trade of goods, and the trade of services.
�e trade or merchandise account refers to the export and import of physical goods (cars or wheat or gadgets, etc), which
determines the ‘balance of trade’. If India imports more goods than it exports, it is running a trade de�cit, which is shown by a
negative sign.

28
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

�e second part of the current account is made up by the ‘invisibles’ trade, so called because it refers to trade in services and other
transactions that are typically ‘not visible’ in the same way as, say, the trade in cars or chairs or phones is.
‘Invisible’ transactions include services (e.g., banking, insurance IT, tourism, transport, etc.); transfers (e.g., Indians working in
foreign countries sending back money to families back home); and incomes (such as the income earned from investments).
�e net of these two kinds of trades is the current account. As can be seen from the table, in Q4, India registered a surplus on the
current account. �ere was a surplus on the invisibles, but there was a de�cit on the trade account.
CAPITAL ACCOUNT: �e capital account captures transactions that are less about current consumption and more about
investments, such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investments (FII). �e table for Q4 shows a net
surplus of $25 billion on the capital account.
Lastly, the BoP table always balances through the change in the foreign exchange reserves column. When there is a BoP surplus
— net of current and capital account — implying billions of dollars coming into the country, the RBI sucks up these dollars and
adds to its foreign exchange reserves.
If the RBI did not do this, the rupee’s exchange rate would appreciate — and undermine the competitiveness of India’s exports.
How should the data in the table be read?
Contrary to the images they evoke in the lay person’s mind, the words ‘de�cit’ and ‘surplus’ do not always correlate to ‘bad’ and
‘good’ respectively. So, a current account de�cit may not always be bad for an economy, nor is a current account surplus necessarily a
good development.
�e �rst thing to note is the di�erence between the Q4 data and the full year (FY2023-24) data.
�e current account balance, which is surplus in Q4, is in de�cit for the full year. Typically, for a country such as India, a current
account de�cit happens because a developing economy needs to import lots of capital goods (read machinery) to build up its
capacity to produce more exports. A trade de�cit also suggests that India’s underlying economy has a strong demand impulse.
Look at the data from FY2020-21, which shows a surplus on the current account. But this was the year when Covid-induced
lockdowns brought the shutters down on economic activity. �e current account surplus in FY21 was not a desirable one.
According to N R Bhanumurthy of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), an autonomous research
institute under the Finance Ministry, it is broadly agreed that a current account de�cit of 1.5%-2% of GDP is consistent with a GDP
growth rate of 7%-8%.

29
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE ENVIRONMENT

A murder of crows: How Kenya plans

to get rid of the native Indian species
Wri�en by Alind Chauhan

A�er decades of trying to control its population of crows, the Kenyan government plans to poison 1 million house
crows by December 31

By 1947, the crows had reached Kenya and currently, their population in the country is estimated to be between 750,000 and 1
million. (Express Archive)

T
hey are the bad boys of the Kenyan skies: swooping down to steal food from tourists’ plates, pushing out local bird
species from their habitats and raiding crops. A�er decades of trying to control its population of crows – also known as
the Indian house crows – the Kenyan government has declared a war on them. It plans to eliminate one million house
crows by December 31.
In a post on X on June 7, the Kenya Wildlife Service said, “House crows are invasive alien birds that have been a nuisance to
the public for decades…�ese birds also pose a major inconvenience to the hotel industry along the coast. Today, the Kenya

30
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Wildlife Service led a consortium of stakeholders in developing an action plan to eliminate one million house crows from Kenya’s
coast by 31st December 2024.”
�e plan: poison the birds using starlicide, an avicide that the Kenyan government will import from New Zealand.
Dr Colin Jackson, ornithologist, conservationist and CEO of A Rocha Kenya, a conservation organisation that has been involved in
the culling of crows, told �e Indian Express that they would require around 5-10 kilograms of the poison, at $6,000 per kg, to kill one
million house crows in the country. �e poison, he said, will be mixed with o�cuts of meat supplied by the hotel industry and o�ered
to the house crows.
�e proliferation of the Indian house crow (Corvus splendens) has severely impacted local ecosystems and communities in East
African countries, including Kenya.
A species that’s native to India, house crows o�en attack indigenous birds, kill them and feed on their eggs. Crows usually work as a
team — for instance, if one attacks a bird and chases it away from its nest, the other swoops in to steal the eggs. Experts say this
aggressive behaviour of the crows has forced several native birds to leave their natural habitat. In Kenya, birds such as scaly babblers,
pied crows, sunbirds, weaver birds, and waxbills have been displaced by house crows.
It is not just native birds; crows are known to torment and kill newborn or sick calves and goats and eat a range of small reptiles,
amphibians, mammals, and insects.
Local communities have su�ered too
— crows damage fruit trees such as mango and
guava, and raid crops, including wheat, maize,
millet, rice, and sun�owers, leading to losses for
local farmers.
Even the hospitality industry has been hit.
“Crows land up on lawns and in hotels looking
for food. Hotels with air conditioners — an ideal
spot for nesting — arti�cial water bodies and
swimming pools have a lot of crows. �ey dirty
the area and their cawing disturbs tourists,” said
K S Gopi Sundar, co-chair of the IUCN Stork,
Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group.

Indian crows in Africa

�ere are multiple accounts of how a
species that’s native to India and the
subcontinent, besides other parts of Asia and
the Middle East, began to be spotted in East
Africa sometime in the 1890s.
According to one account, they were
brought from India to the island of Zanzibar
(then a protectorate of the British and
currently a part of Tanzania) on the orders of
its then governor, who had previously served
in India, to help deal with piling garbage. �e
island had a serious litter problem, leading to
frequent breakouts of epidemics.
Another account suggests that these crows
reached the region through ships that arrived
from the Indian subcontinent. Sundar of IUCN’s
Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group said, ���������������

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

“Crows were very common pets among sailors as they are extremely intelligent. We know for sure that this is how crows reached
Australia and we are fairly certain that’s how they got to some parts of Africa.”
Regardless of how these crows reached East Africa, their arrival brought a new set of problems. Within a few years, their
population skyrocketed, and by 1917, Zanzibar had declared them pests and put a bounty on their heads — anyone who brought in a
dead crow or even a crow’s egg could walk home with a prize money. �ese e�orts did not amount to much and house crows
proliferated across the region.
By 1947, the crows had reached Kenya and currently, their population in the country is estimated to be between 750,000
and 1 million.

A population explosion
Studies show that crows have a remarkable ability to remember faces, use tools (they can, for instance, take a twig and turn it into a
hook), and communicate in sophisticated ways. �ey are also known to solve higher-order and relational-matching tasks and are
credited with advanced rational thinking, much like humans and apes.
However, in Africa, they are best known for being a ruthless and e�cient coloniser.
“House crows adapt to new environments relatively fast as long as the temperature regime and rainfall are suitable. �ey are also
extremely �exible in terms of what they can eat. �ey are predators of eggs of smaller birds, and can also feed on human food. For
instance, in India, they eat all kinds of cooked food such as churmuri and pani puri. As a result, they are able to survive not only in the
wild but also in urban areas,” said Sundar.
Moreover, there are only a few predators of crows — a handful of hawks, eagles, and owls are known to hunt crows but not in large
numbers. �at’s because crows can easily �gure out how to avoid their attackers.

STUDIES SHOW THAT CROWS HAVE A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO

REMEMBER FACES, USE TOOLS (THEY CAN, FOR INSTANCE, TAKE
A TWIG AND TURN IT INTO A HOOK), AND COMMUNICATE IN
SOPHISTICATED WAYS. THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN TO SOLVE
HIGHER-ORDER AND RELATIONAL-MATCHING TASKS AND ARE
CREDITED WITH ADVANCED RATIONAL THINKING, MUCH LIKE
HUMANS AND APES. HOWEVER, IN AFRICA, THEY ARE BEST
KNOWN FOR BEING A RUTHLESS AND EFFICIENT COLONISER.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

EXPRESS EDGE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Why the success of China’s sample

return lunar mission matters
Wri�en by Alind Chauhan

�e lander descended on the Moon’s surface on June 1, and spent two days collecting rocks and soil from one of the oldest
and largest of lunar craters — the 2,500 km-wide South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin — using a robotic arm and drill.

An image of China's Chang'e 6 lander on the moon's far side, snapped by the mission's minirover. (Credit: CNSA)

C
hina’s Chang’e-6 became the �rst spacecra� to bring back samples from the far side of the Moon — the part that
the Earth never gets to see.
�e lander descended on the Moon’s surface on June 1, and spent two days collecting rocks and soil from one of
the oldest and largest of lunar craters — the 2,500 km-wide South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin — using a robotic arm and drill.
�e lander then launched an ascent module that transferred the samples to the Chang’e-6 orbiter that was orbiting the
Moon. On June 21, the orbiter released a service module that brought back the samples to Earth.

33
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Is this the first time a spacecraft has brought lunar samples to Earth?
No. Back in July 1969, the US Apollo 11 mission brought 22 kg of lunar surface material, including 50 rocks, to Earth. In September
1970, the Soviet Luna 16 mission — the �rst robotic sample return mission — too, brought pieces of the Moon to Earth. In recent years,
Chang’e-5, the predecessor of Chang’e-6, brought back 2 kg of lunar soil in December 2020.
All these samples, however, came from the near side of the Moon. Di�cult terrain, giant craters, and the di�culty in communicating
with ground control made it technically challenging to land a spacecra� on the side that never faces the Earth. �e Moon is tidally
locked with Earth; thus we see only one side of our nearest space neighbour.
Chang’e-4 overcame these di�culties in 2019, putting the Yutu-2 rover on the far lunar surface. Now, Chang’e-6 has not only landed
on the far side, but also returned with samples from there. “�is is a great achievement by China… Recovering any samples from the
Moon is di�cult, but doing so from the far side, where communications are particularly di�cult, is a step taken by no other agency. A
real technological feat,” Martin Barstow, a professor of astrophysics and space science at the University of Leicester, told �e Guardian.

But why are sample return missions significant in the first place?
A sample return mission such as Chang’e-6 aims to collect and return samples from an extraterrestrial location like the Moon or
Mars to Earth for analysis. �e sample can be rocks or soil — or even some molecules.
In situ robotic explorations — in which landers, orbiters, and rovers carry out experiments in space or on heavenly bodies — can
carry only miniature instruments that are not very sophisticated or accurate, and answer only certain types of questions. For instance,
they can’t determine the origin or age of a rock.
If the samples can be brought to Earth, on the other hand, scientists can examine them using extremely sensitive laboratory
instruments. �ey can study the “chemical, isotopic, mineralogical, structural, and physical properties of extraterrestrial samples from
the macroscopic level down to the atomic scale, frequently all on the very same sample,” Lori S Glaze, director of NASA’s planetary
science division, wrote in January 2020.
Also, returned samples can be preserved for decades, and can be examined by future generations using ever more advanced
technology. �e samples brought back by the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s are still being studied by scientists, who are
extracting information on the history of the Moon, Earth, and the inner solar system.
India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will also
be a sample return mission. Chandrayaan-3 landed about 600 km from the South Pole of the Moon last year.

What can the lunar samples brought by Chang’e-6 reveal?

�e lunar far side is geologically di�erent from the near side. It has a thicker crust, more craters, and fewer plains where lava once
�owed. But scientists do not know why the two sides are so di�erent — and an examination of the Chang’e-6 samples could throw up
some answers. Samples collected from the SPA basin can also reveal the timeframe for lunar cratering. �e collision that created the
basin may have excavated enough material from the Moon’s lower crust and upper mantle, which could give insights into the Moon’s
history and, possibly, its origins.
�e samples can also suggest ways to use lunar resources for future lunar and space exploration. For instance, lunar soil could be
used to produce bricks to build future lunar research bases through 3D printing. Scientists are also interested in the potential presence
of ice at the Moon’s poles. Ice can be harvested for water, oxygen and hydrogen — and the latter two can be used in a rocket propellant.

Why is there a new ‘race’ to the Moon?

In 2023, India, China, Japan, the US, and Russia launched lunar missions. By 2030, more than 100 Moon missions by both
governments and private companies are expected, according to the European Space Agency.
Countries such as China and the US also want to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030. �e success of Chang’e-6 is seen as an
important step towards achieving this goal by China.
However, unlike the US-USSR space race of the 20th century, which aimed for technological and intellectual superiority, today’s
lunar missions are about exploring ways to stay for long on the Moon and to use its resources in situ. It is also expected that the Moon
can be used in the near future as a launch pad to travel deeper into space and to other extraterrestrial bodies.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

Understanding Emergency
Wri�en by Roshni Yadav

On June 25, 2024, India

entered the ��ieth year of the
imposition of the emergency,
prompting a renewed
discussion on this signi�cant
event. It is an essential topic for
your exams as well. Here are
four important Q&As on
emergencies that you shouldn’t
miss. Also, consolidate the issue
for prelims and mains through
points to ponder, MCQs, and
key takeaways.
What is the issue? The national emergency of 1975 has been in the news, and aspirants must know about it

O
from both factual and analytical perspectives. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
n June 25, 2024, India
entered the ��ieth year of the imposition of the National Emergency, a period from 1975 to 1977 during which civil
liberties were suspended, press freedom restricted, widespread arrests made, and elections postponed. �erefore, it is
important to know about the emergency from a broader perspective.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN FROM THIS ARTICLE?

•• WWhat are the constitutional provisions related to emergencies in India?
•• What are the di�erent types of emergencies under the Constitution of India?
•• How did the national emergency of 1975 unfold?
•• What was the a�ermath of the National Emergency of 1975?

QUESTION 1: WHAT ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO

EMERGENCIES IN INDIA?
Answer: Generally, the term “emergency” refers to the period from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, during which the
government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used special provisions in the Constitution to impose sweeping executive and
legislative consequences on the country. However, emergency provisions contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution of
India, from Articles 352 to 360, talk about the three di�erent types of emergencies. In this context, it becomes crucial to
understand the legal and constitutional sanctions that the emergency has in India.

35
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO EMERGENCIES IN INDIA

Article 352 of the Indian Constitution deals with the “proclamation of emergency”. Article 353 provides provisions about the
“E�ect of Proclamation of Emergency”. Article 354 talks about the “application of provisions relating to the distribution of revenues
while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation”. Article 355 deals with the “duty of the Union to protect States against external
aggression and internal disturbance”.
Article 356 provides “provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States”. Article 357 deals with the “Exercise of
legislative powers under Proclamation issued under article 356”.
Article 358 frees the state of all limitations imposed by Article 19 (“Right to freedom”) as soon as an emergency is imposed.
Article 359 provides provision with regard to the “suspension of the enforcement of the rights conferred by Part III during
emergencies”. Under Article 360 provisions about the �nancial emergency are provided.

How many times has an emergency been imposed in India?

•• Till now, three times an emergency has been imposed in India.
•• �e �rst time the emergency was imposed was on October 26, 1962, on the grounds of war.
•• �e second time emergency was imposed on December 3, 1971, on the grounds of war.
•• �e third-time emergency was proclaimed on June 25, 1975, due to an “internal disturbance.” (Note: �is ground of
“internal disturbance” was removed by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, by the Janata government
that came to power a�er the emergency.)

Points to Ponder for UPSC exam:

•• From where were the emergency provisions in the Indian Constitution derived?
•• What was the reasoning behind the incorporation of emergency-related provisions in the Constitution of India?

QUESTION 2: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMERGENCIES UNDER THE

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA?
Answer: Various provisions mentioned in Part XVIII of the Constitution of India provide for these three types of emergencies:
1. National Emergency (Articles 352-354, 358-359)
2. President’s rule (Articles 355–357)
3. Financial Emergency (Article 360)
NATIONAL EMERGENCY
Under Article 352 of the Constitution, the President may, on the advice of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, issue a
proclamation of emergency if the security of India or any part of the country is threatened by “war or external aggression, or
armed rebellion”. (Note: In 1975, instead of armed rebellion, the ground of “internal disturbance” was available to the
government to proclaim an emergency.) �is type of emergency is popularly referred to as a “national emergency”.

�����������������
According to Article 356 (1), If the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor of a State or otherwise, is satis�ed that a
situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution, the President may by Proclamation—

36
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

�a� assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or
exercisable by the Governor or any body or authority in the State other than the Legislature of the State;
�b� declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament;
�c� make such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the President to be necessary or desirable for giving e�ect to
the objects of the Proclamation, including provisions for suspending in whole or in part the operation of any provisions of this
Constitution relating to any body or authority in the State.
Financial Emergency
Article 360 of the Indian Constitution provides for �nancial emergency. It says, “If the President is satis�ed that a situation has
arisen whereby the �nancial stability or credit of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, he may by a
Proclamation make a declaration to that e�ect.”

Points to Ponder for UPSC exam:

•• What are the di�erent grounds for the imposition of emergencies in India?
•• What is the procedure for the removal of an emergency?
•• What are the consequences of the president’s rule?

QUESTION 3: HOW DID THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY OF 1975 UNFOLD?

Answer: Various political and social circumstances in India in 1974 and early 1975 led to the proclamation of the National
Emergency. Some of these events were:
1. JP MOVEMENT: Vikas
Pathak writes- “Early in 1974,
a student movement called
Navnirman (Regeneration)
began in Gujarat against the
Congress government of
Chimanbhai Patel, which was
seen as corrupt. As the
protests became violent, Patel
had to resign and President’s
Rule was imposed.
Navnirman inspired a
students’ movement in Bihar
against corruption and poor
governance, and the ABVP
and socialist organisations
came together to form the
Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti.
In June 1974, Jayaprakash Narayan led a large procession through the streets of Patna which
�e students asked Jayaprakash culminated in a call for ‘total revolution’. (Source: Express photo by R K Sharma)
Narayan, a Gandhian and hero
of the Quit India Movement, to lead them. He agreed with two conditions — that the movement would be non-violent and
pan-Indian, and aim to cleanse the country of corruption and misgovernance. �erea�er, the students’ movement came to be
called the “JP movement”.

37
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

On June 5, during a speech in Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, JP gave a call for “Sampoorna Kranti”, or total revolution. By the
end of the year, JP had got letters of support from across India, and he convened a meeting of opposition parties in Delhi.
He travelled across the country in January and February 1975. JP’s rallies invoked the power of the people with the rousing
slogan, “Sinhasan khaali karo, ke janata aati hai (Vacate the throne, for the people are coming)”.

The Indian Express in ’49 Years of Emergency’ writes ��

�e politico-economic situation including the recently concluded war with Pakistan, the 1973 oil crisis and the drought in the
country, did everything to creating conditions perfect for Gandhi’s proclamation.

2. RAILWAY STRIKE OF 1974: In May 1974, the socialist leader George Fernandes led an unprecedented strike of railway
workers that paralysed the Indian Railways for three weeks.
3. RAJ NARAIN VERDICT: On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of Allahabad High Court delivered a historic verdict in
a petition �led by Raj Narain, convicting Indira Gandhi of electoral malpractice, and striking down her election from Rae Bareli.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Bareli. (Express archive photo)

On appeal, the Supreme Court gave the Prime Minister partial relief — she could attend Parliament but could not vote. As
demands for her resignation became louder and her aides in the Congress dug in their heels, JP asked the police not to follow
immoral orders.
Late in the evening of June 25, 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, issued a
proclamation of Emergency under Article 352(1) of the Constitution, which at that time empowered him to do so on grounds of
threat to the security of the nation from “war or external aggression” or “internal disturbance”. (Note: �e Constitution (Forty-
fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 subsequently replaced the words “internal disturbance” with “armed rebellion”.)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

What happened during the Emergency?

A�er the national emergency was declared, signi�cant changes occurred in the country since the declaration of emergency
converted the federal structure into a de facto unitary one as the Union acquired the right to give any direction to state governments,
which, though not suspended, came under the complete control of the Centre.
1. WIDESPREAD ARRESTS: Vikas Pathak writes- Almost all opposition leaders, including JP, were detained. About 36,000
people were put in jail under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
2. PRESS FREEDOM
RESTRICTED: Newspapers
were subjected to pre-
censorship. UNI and PTI
were merged into a state-
controlled agency called
Samachar. �e Press
Council was abolished.
More than 250 journalists,
including Kuldip Nayar of
�e Indian Express, were
jailed. While most
newspapers bent, some like
�e Indian Express resisted
the Emergency, fought the
regulations in court, and
printed blank spaces when
their stories were pre- ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
censored. �e Indian after the Emergency was declared late on June 25.
Express proprietor Ramnath
Goenka led the resistance of the Fourth Estate.
3. 38TH AND 39TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: With the opposition in jail, Parliament passed
�e Constitution (�irty-eighth Amendment) Act that barred judicial review of the Emergency, and �e
Constitution (�irty-ninth Amendment) Act that said the election of the Prime Minister could not be
challenged in the Supreme Court.
4. 42ND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: �e Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act made
changes to a range of laws, taking away the judiciary’s right to hear election petitions, widening the
authority of the Union to encroach on State subjects, gave Parliament unbridled power to amend the
Constitution with no judicial review possible, and made any law passed by Parliament to implement any or
all directive principles of state policy immune to judicial review.
5. FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMME �STERILISATION�: Shyamlal Yadav writes– “Indira’s younger son
Sanjay Gandhi played the key role in the government during the 21 months when the Emergency was in
force. A “20-point” programme was implemented with great discipline; Sanjay had his own “�ve-point”
programme that included a sweeping campaign of forced sterilisation that led to massive unrest
countrywide.”

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

2. 44TH CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT: �e Janata
government reversed many of
the constitutional changes
e�ected by the 42nd
Amendment Act of 1976. It did
not do away with the provision
of the emergency, but made it
extremely di�cult to impose
for the future.
It made judicial review of a
proclamation of emergency
possible again, and mandated
that every proclamation of
emergency be laid before both
Houses of Parliament within a
month of the proclamation.
Unless it was approved by both
Houses by a special majority — a
majority of the total strength of
the House and not less than
two-thirds of the members
present and voting — the
proclamation would lapse.
�e 44th Amendment
removed “internal disturbance”
as a ground for the imposition ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
of an emergency, meaning that 1977. (Express Archive)
armed rebellion alone would
now be a ground, apart from war and external aggression. However, the 44th Amendment le� the words
‘secular’ and ‘socialist’, inserted in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment, untouched.
3. SHAH COMMISSION AND ITS REPORT: �e Shah Commission, constituted by the Janata government to
report on the imposition of the Emergency and its adverse e�ects, submitted a damning report that found
the decision to be unilateral, and adversely a�ecting civil liberties.
Do you Know?
�e Emergency gave India a crop of young leaders who would dominate politics for decades to come —
Lalu Prasad Yadav, George Fernandes, Arun Jaitley, Ram Vilas Paswan, and many others.
4. RISE OF NEW SOCIAL FORCES: Vikas Pathak writes- “�e post-Emergency Parliament saw the coming
together of the social forces behind the Jana Sangh and the socialists — Hindutva upper caste, and the
Lohiaite agrarian and artisanal castes — and increased the representation of OBCs in Parliament. �e
Janata government appointed the Mandal Commission to look into OBC quotas, which would go on to
make the rise of the OBCs in North India irreversible.”

40
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Points to Ponder for UPSC exam:

•• What were the key amendments introduced by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act in the
Constitution of India?
•• What is the signi�cance of the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, in the Indian Constitution?
•• How did the national emergency of 1975 lead to the emergence of coalition politics and government in India?

Post Read Question for UPSC exam:

PRELIMS
�1� If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect
of a particular State, then ( UPSC CSE 2018)
(a) �e Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.
(b) the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the
Parliament.
(c) Article 19 is suspended in that State.
(d) the President can make laws relating to that State.
(2) Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of
the President’s rule in a State? (UPSC CSE 2017)
1. Dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly
2. Removal of the Council of Ministers in the State
3. Dissolution of the local bodies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(3) Which principle among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State
Policy by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution? (UPSC CSE 2017)
(a) Equal pay for equal work for both men and women
(b) Participation of workers in the management of industries
(c) Right to work, education and public assistance
(d) Securing living wages and human conditions of work to workers.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

(4) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019)

1. �e 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an article placing the election of the Prime
Minister beyond judicial review.
2. �e Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being
violative of the independence of judiciary.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(5) During which Five Year Plan was the Emergency clamped, new elections took place
and the Janata Party was elected? (UPSC CSE 2009)
(a) �ird
(b) Fourth
(c) Fi�h
(d) Sixth
MAINS
PRELIMS ANSWER KEY
(1) Under what circumstances can the Financial Emergency
be proclaimed by the President of India? What 1. (b) the powers of the Legislature of
consequences follow when such a declaration remains in that State shall be exercisable by or
force? (UPSC CSE 2018) under the authority of the Parliament.

(2) Discuss the meaning of the breakdown of constitutional 2. (b) 1 and 3 only
machinery. What are its e�ects? 3. (b) Participation of workers in the
(3) What is the constitutional position of Directive management of industries
Principles of State Policy? How has it been interpreted by 4. (b) 2 only
the judiciary a�er the Emergency in 1975-77?
5. (c) Fi�h
(Sources: Constitution of India, Explained: �e story of the
Emergency, 49 years of Emergency: Here is what happened
over the two years that changed India’s history, 1977 Lok Sabha elections: Emergency imposition, �rst non-
Congress Govt, and a promise belied)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS THIS QUOTE MEANS

‘The whole of science is nothing more than

a refinement of everyday thinking’
Wri�en by Rishika Singh

Einstein’s perspective says that science is an evolved form of our common thinking. It is systematically developed to
grasp the intricacies of reality and acknowledge its own limitations. Quotes of this nature are also important from a UPSC
Essay paper perspective.

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Physics constitutes a logical system that helps us create theories for understanding the reality around us. (Photo via Wikimedia
Commons)

T
he success of India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has seen the appreciation of ISRO scientists. �at India has
been able to land a spacecra� on the Moon, becoming only the �rst country to have done so on its south pole, is a
milestone.

43
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

As a whole, it is hoped that the idea of promoting scienti�c research and innovation will get a boost. Moreover, the idea of a
scienti�c temper, also mentioned in the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 51A of the Indian Constitution. �is
broadly means that in their day-to-day lives, people must develop the ability and instinct to question and reform things.
In this context, we take a look at a quote from Albert Einstein: “�e whole of science is nothing more than a re�nement of
everyday thinking.” Quotes from notable personalities are also an important part of the UPSC CSE syllabus, particularly from an
Essay Paper perspective.

Where is the quote from?

�e quote is from a collection of essays, called Out of My Later Years. In an essay titled ‘Physics and Reality’, Einstein
explained how physics constitutes a logical system that helps us create theories for understanding the reality around us.
He wrote at the beginning of this essay that it is said that a “man of science is a poor philosopher.” �is assertion is not without
basis, he wrote, and it can then be argued for a physicist to stick to what he knows and not begin thinking like a philosopher.
However, this assumes that physics has a set of �nal laws that cannot be further improved upon and that are totally correct
and rigid. Einstein argued against this perception of science. A physicist also “…must try to make clear in his own mind just how
far the concepts which he uses are justi�ed, and are necessities,” he wrote.
He added, “�e whole of science is nothing more than a re�nement of everyday thinking.” �is implies that the skill of critical
thinking – related to a thorough analysis of an issue – should not be restricted to one’s own �eld. Just as we observe and form an
understanding of the world around us on a daily basis, and that process is not free from errors, similarly, science should also be
constantly analysed and questioned.

What does the quote mean?

�e quote basically gives the view that science is not the same as �nality, and it is merely a process or a framework through
which we can understand the world. It has a structure: there is a hypothesis (an argument or idea that may or may not be
correct), there are de�ned processes of experimentation to test it, and �nally, a conclusion is drawn.
Such theories are not direct representations of reality, but rather tools for understanding it. Einstein wrote that scienti�c
theories, despite their role as representations of reality, are inherently constrained by the assumptions and simpli�cations they
rely upon – just as our own perceptions are. We might have our own theories on morality, the politics of the day, or how we or
others should live their lives. But these are, at the end of the day, only theories.
He underscored that no theory can assert itself as an absolute representation of the entire truth regarding all of the universe,
because this understanding is in a constant state of progression and re�nement, as science progresses.
�e essay invites readers to contemplate the relationship between human thought, scienti�c models, and the objective world.
It ultimately seems to convey that there is no absolute truth because of how humans perceive things and the fact that they can
never be sure of their own knowledge.
Einstein discussed how scienti�c theories are mental constructs that help us make sense of our experiences and observations.
�ese theories are not perfect but they are still helpful in re�ning and enhancing the way we naturally think about the world.
Just as scienti�c theories are built upon observations and empirical data, everyday thinking is also based on our interactions with
the world. It should also be emphasised that such thinking is questioned and not seen as always being error-free.
He also praised the role of mathematics in expressing physical theories. Mathematics provides a formal language that allows
us to represent complex relationships accurately. �is aligns with the idea of re�nement, as mathematics re�nes our everyday
language and concepts for describing the world.
�erefore, Einstein’s perspective says that science is an evolved form of our common thinking. It is systematically developed to
grasp the intricacies of reality and acknowledge its own limitations.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS UPSC ETHICS SIMPLIFIED

Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness

���������������������������������
Wri�en by Nanditesh Nilay

�e 5 key building blocks of Emotional Intelligence consist of self-awareness and self-management. Nanditesh Nilay
explains both concepts for the ethics paper of UPSC CSE. Also, do you know what is Johari Window? Let us learn.

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
self-management.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

THE CONCEPT
Emotion + Intelligence
In the last article, we discussed emotional intelligence in general. �e �ve key building constructs of Emotional Intelligence are
self-awareness, self-management, motivation, empathy and social skills. Now we will discuss these key elements in detail. Our focus
in this article will be speci�cally on self-awareness and self-management. As of now, we have understood well that in the process of
becoming emotionally intelligent, we have to develop our ability to feel, read and listen to our feelings, thoughts and behaviour and
simultaneously its impact on others too. Now let’s explore this meaning a bit more.
We all are emotional. It means we can feel, react and get impacted easily by the environment. We can express anything and
everything because we feel like doing so. Social media has become a big hit because we have a platform to vent ourselves without
any fetters of self-regulation.
Now comes intelligence which we inherit and develop over time. Qualifying in competitions and getting very good marks is a
testimony of intelligence. Although to a limited extent but it has been already accepted by the society at large that examinations
assess our intelligence. �at’s �ne but why rate only in terms of x or y exam? Even our problem-solving skills, decision making and
idea generation are a sign of intelligence. Now we as human beings are living with both emotion as well as intelligence. Both are
there in our system but rarely do they meet each other.
Although the moment we count emotion plus intelligence (E+I) our feelings get released from self-centeredness, our reactions
turn into sensible responses, our ability gets a holistic view, our adaptability increases and so does our understanding. To do this we
need to master the constructs of self-awareness, self-management, social skills, empathy and motivation. However, today we are
discussing self-awareness and self-management.

So what is self-awareness?
Here by ‘self ’ we mean physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. And awareness is all about knowledge or understanding
of something that exists. So for example if you are a student and preparing for civil services or a working professional but
physically you are not aware in terms of exercise, food intake, or other things that are hurting your physical state what will
happen? Your emotional state will su�er. You will be restless, irritated and lazy in day-to-day living. It will bring you near to
unhappiness. And that will negatively impact your mental as well as spiritual state. �ough self-awareness in the realm of
emotional intelligence is about recognising one’s feelings and values as well as the living purpose and the physical habits, mental
habits and spiritual intent will make our recognising ability more value-centric. So why not one should choose the right habits
(physical as well as mental) and evolve spiritually? �at will certainly in turn in�uence the self to feel and handle the emotions
well. And what will you do? �at is simply by self-management.

Discipline is key in managing the self

When we refer to management, we facilitate ourselves better in keeping the consistency of an act. Manage your time. Manage
your habits. Follow a routine which should not be mechanical. �e ultimate objective of self-management is to keep the self alive.
And awareness is the true alive state. You will be managing your reactions, responses, communication, fear, stress and so on. It
will help you in minimising con�ict. So when I am an aware self, I will certainly get a better result by the process of self-
management. Right food, exercise, proper rest, gratefulness, courage, meditation, and that focus will keep the emotions
uninterrupted and healthy. Later we would be �nding that the whole process is consciously or unconsciously E+I.

Do you have an idea about Johari Window?

It is a model or framework which gives us more windows (options) to understand ourselves, and even improve our self-
awareness and communication. Joseph Lu� and Harry Ingham brought this concept therefore it is named Johari, a�er their �rst
name. It has 4 windows: open self, hidden self, blind self and unknown self. Open Self means what I know about myself other
people also know the same. On the other hand, the Hidden Self is not the same. Here is what I know about myself other people have
no idea of the same. In the Blind Self, the other person can know about you but you would be ignorant. And neither you know nor
others about the self then that is the Unknown Self.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

So assess and recognise yourself well and the widow which is de�ning your personality. It will lead you to a clear self-
awareness state and then guide you to prepare well through self-management. �ese two constructs will prepare you for a better
understanding of feelings, behaviour, values and attitudes. Later in the forthcoming articles we will discuss more about empathy
and motivation and their role in emotional intelligence.

Point to ponder
German philosopher Schopenhauer was seated on a bench in a garden. He was looking unshaven and unkempt. Later a
policeman prodded him with a baton, and asked, “Who are you?” �e great philosopher woke up out of his thoughts, looked up
and said, “I wish I knew.” What does this mean to you? �at is your point to ponder.

THE CASELET
Here’s a caselet for your UPSC Ethics preparation:
Mohanlal’s daughter Muniya was sitting quietly in the class; that’s the way she had been for so many years. Muniya was most
of the time under the tree of silence.
“Muniya? Today is Father’s Day. What do we do on this occasion ?” her teacher asked. Muniya got nervous because she did
not understand the question. She had only picked the word ‘father’. “Stand up in class. If you don’t know the answer, let me
know.” Now Muniya felt frightened. She stammered, “Mohanlal ….father… sweeper.” All the children laughed in class.
She was returning home a�er school. She went to a good school as she got admission through government quota, but she had
never been comfortable with the idea. Most of the boys and girls were from the a�uent class, due to which she used to become a
laughingstock. She was returning home and was not willing to go to school again.
“Muniya, poor girl. You have no idea about the teacher’s question. You shared the name of your father and his profession. But
we wish our father on the occasion of Father’s Day. �e same way as we wish on birthdays or marriage anniversaries,” Sonali said.
And later she taught her about wishing on those occasions.
A�er returning home, Muniya began her daily routine activities. She and her mother used to clean the home every day. Her
father Mohanlal was responsible for swabbing the �oor of the hospital. He had just returned. Muniya remembered the teaching
of her friend Sonali. She gathered all con�dence and said, “Papa. I went to school today and….” She lost those words. Her father
was tired, so he went to bed a bit early. Dhaniya had not understood anything. Muniya asked, “Maa, when is Mother’s Day?”
Dhaniya replied,” Mother…mother”.
Muniya was very much upset with herself, but was determined to wish her father on Father’s Day. Now the clock was moving
very fast, as it was 11 pm already, and she was preparing to go to bed. Her eyes kept oscillating between her parents and the
clock. Suddenly, she looked towards the palm of her father. It was looking in bad condition. She quietly le� the bed.
�e broom was there. Muniya took her old dress and made a cushion in the middle of the mop where her father’s palm used
to get stuck. “What are you doing at this late hour, Muniya?” Mohanlal was standing behind her. At �rst, she got nervous, but the
clock was close to midnight now. Muniya returned the broom towards father and whispered, “Happy Father’s Day, Papa!” And
poor Mohanlal felt rich that night. He hugged Muniya and kept on holding the broom.
�e next day Sonali was visiting the school with her parents. She said “Muniya, meet my father and mother. Today is their
marriage anniversary. Would you like to wish them?” Muniya took a pinch of soil and touched the feet of her parents and said,
“Happy Father’s Day, Happy Mother’s Day.”
Maybe Muniya had not understood the meaning of marriage anniversary but she used to live with the words and the meaning
of ‘father and mother’. Sonali smiled and so did her parents. Muniya was walking con�dently towards her class. And so was
Mohanlal towards the hospital, while holding the broom close to his chest. And Dhaniya was muttering, “Happy daughter’s day.”

Ethicist view:
Muniya struggled to communicate but her urge to express herself had been high due to that consciousness of self-awareness.
Without fail, she was willing to wish her father and even stand in the class upright. Her Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been so

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

high that she wished her friend’s parents too and that too without any inferiority complex. She looked determined to connect
with those fathers’ wishes before the day could pass. It is interesting to note that despite a few dilemmas her higher form of
self-awareness and self-management empowers her with con�dence, care and conviction while connecting with parents,
teachers, or friends. Even higher EQ saves her from the web of inferiority or superiority complex. �is is very important for
o�cers in governance and aspirants preparing for UPSC exams too.
She took the advice of her friend in the right spirit and was simultaneously unfazed by her limited understanding of the
English language.

Post Read Question:

Here’s a simple question for your UPSC Ethics prep. Can you �nd the incidents of self-awareness and self-management in this
case? If yes, how will you connect in a governance setting?
(�e writer is the author of ‘Being Good and Aaiye, Insaan Banaen’ and ‘Ethikos: Stories Searching Happiness’. He teaches
courses on and o�ers training in ethics, values and behaviour. He has been the expert/consultant to UPSC, SAARC countries,
Civil services Academy, National Centre for Good Governance, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Competition
Commission of India (CCI), etc. He has PhD in two disciplines and has been a Doctoral Fellow in Gandhian Studies from
ICSSR. His second PhD is from IIT Delhi on Ethical Decision Making among Indian Bureaucrats. He writes for the UPSC Ethics
Simpli�ed (Concepts and Caselets) fortnightly.)

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS EXPERT’S TALK

How to prepare Political Science and

International Relations (PSIR) optional?
Wri�en by Manas Srivastava

UPSC Essentials starts a special series on optional subjects. We begin with Political Science and International Relations.
Rahul Puri, PSIR expert, guides on how to approach the paper. Let's learn.

"PSIR is both a dynamic and theoretical subject, providing a deep understanding of political systems and normative political
theories", says Rahul Puri.

A
s the UPSC Prelims results were declared on July 1, the Mains season has begun and so have aspirants’ queries about
their Optional subjects. At this important juncture of your examination cycle, UPSC Essentials of �e Indian
Express is commencing a special series on how to approach optional subjects for UPSC. In this series, subject
experts will answer queries on optional subjects that we have received from our readers, aspirants, and subscribers in UPSC
LIVE with Manas (IE’s UPSC video series) and on other platforms of Indian Express’ UPSC section.
We begin our series with Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) optional. One of the most popular optional

49
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

subjects among aspirants has also seen good results in the past years. However, the queries of aspirants, especially freshers, range
from general to speci�c areas of the paper.
Manas Srivastava in conversation with Rahul Puri, PSIR expert, takes up some of these questions. Let’s learn some important
aspects of this optional and strategies accordingly.
About our expert: Rahul Puri has been teaching and mentoring UPSC aspirants for many years. His command over PSIR and
his ability to simplify complicated topics have helped many candidates develop a good understanding of PSIR optional. Aspirants
have bene�tted from his important insights and strategies to tackle PSIR optional.
Manas: What should be the rationale behind choosing any optional subject and PSIR in
particular?
Rahul Puri: You can think of selecting an optional subject as choosing a life partner, where personal interest and compatibility are
paramount. Just as a successful marriage relies on genuine a�ection and mutual understanding, selecting an optional subject should
be based on your passion and strengths. A genuine interest will keep you motivated and engaged throughout your preparation
journey. While having a prior background in the subject is not mandatory, familiarity with the basics can ease the learning curve
and enhance your understanding. At the same time, aspirants should be aware of the time and e�ort needed to prepare and revise
the subject. Some subjects are more time consuming and require extensive reading, while others might be more straightforward.
If you are someone who has always been fascinated by international relations, global geopolitics, and the dynamics of political
events, then opting for Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as your optional subject in the UPSC Civil Services exam
could be a strategic and ful�lling choice.

Manas: What are the pros and cons of PSIR paper as a UPSC optional subject?
Rahul Puri: PSIR is both a dynamic and theoretical subject, providing a deep understanding of political systems and normative
political theories. �e International Relations component o�ers insights into global issues and international politics, broadening your
worldview. One of the key advantages of choosing PSIR as an optional subject is its signi�cant overlap with the General Studies papers.
GS Paper II, which focuses on polity and governance, is essentially an extension of what is studied in PSIR. �e Indian
Government and Politics section covers many topics relevant to Indian Society. In GS Paper I, the Modern Indian History section
on the National Movement aligns well with the National Movement topics in PSIR, where we delve into both the historical and
theoretical aspects. Additionally, GS Paper III includes sections on security issues and areas of the economy that touch on political
economy, further highlighting the relevance of PSIR in these areas. Apart from this, its concepts are useful for Ethics and Essay
papers where quotes from famous political philosophers (Marx, Kant, Hobbes, Mill) have been regularly tested.
While it is challenging to pinpoint cons, one might argue that being dynamic in nature it requires substantial current a�airs
updates. Aspirants can brush up on their current a�airs through PSIR speci�c Current a�airs magazines. Also, the subjective nature
of evaluating political theories and international relations can sometimes lead to varying interpretations and marks.

Manas: How to start with PSIR optional preparation for UPSC Mains?
Rahul Puri: As you prepare for the UPSC examination, it is essential to remember that our focus is on mastering the optional
subjects to clear the exam, not pursuing a PhD. Keep your emotions in check and maintain a clear, objective focus on achieving results.
�e starting point for every aspirant is the same — the syllabus provided in the o�cial noti�cation. Begin by thoroughly
understanding the syllabus. �is will help you develop curiosity and a structured approach to the topics. Completing these books
will be a good starting point but it has to be combined with notes making as it is impossible to revise these lengthy books multiple
times. Students may �nd the dictations that I and other teachers do in the class very helpful for the students.
PAPER 1 PART A � Political �ought, Ideologies, Indian and Western Political �ought: �is section is entirely static and highly
rewarding if prepared well, despite being time-consuming. To build a strong foundation you can rely on books like O.P. Gauba for
Political �ought and �eories, Brian Nelson for Western Political �ought, and V.R. Mehta along with IGNOU materials for
Indian Political �ought.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

PAPER 1 PART B � Indian National Movement, Indian Government and Politics: �is section is highly scoring and overlaps
signi�cantly with the GS syllabus. However, the writing style for optional papers di�ers from GS answers. Utilize good old
Laxmikanth for Polity basics, Bipin Chandra and Spectrum for the Indian National Movement, and selectively refer to Indian
Politics by Oxford publications.
PAPER 2 PART A � Comparative Politics: �is tricky section o�en involves current a�airs-based questions despite its static
nature. To begin with, you can use IGNOU MA modules and Andrew Heywood’s Global Politics for in-depth conceptual
understanding, supplementing them with selective internet research.
PAPER 2 PART B � International Relations: Dominated by current a�airs, this section requires a blend of foundational
knowledge and current event analysis. Rajiv Sikri’s “Challenges and Strategies” and David Malone’s “Does the Elephant Dance?”
provide historical context, while ongoing updates from the internet ensure relevance. Understanding both the historical background
and current dynamics of topics like India-Russia relations is crucial for scoring well.
Manas: After analysing UPSC past years’ questions (PYQs), what according to you has
been the trend in marks and questions in PSIR optional?
Rahul Puri: Analysing past years’ questions and trends in the PSIR optional for the UPSC Civil Services exam reveals
several key observations.

ON PYQS
1. Certain topics, especially in Paper 1 (such as Political �eories and Indian and
Western Political �ought), frequently recur with slight variations. Familiar themes As you prepare for
include Marxism, Liberalism and in�uential political thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, and the UPSC
Machiavelli.
examination, it is
2. �e Indian Government and Politics section also covers predictable areas like the essential to remember
Indian Constitution, federalism, and the roles of state organs.
that our focus is on
3. In Paper 2, International Relations questions are heavily in�uenced by current global mastering the optional
and regional developments, requiring candidates to integrate recent issues like Indo-
China and Indo-US relations. subjects to clear the
4. Comparative Politics questions o�en demand a blend of theoretical understanding
exam, not pursuing a
and current a�airs knowledge, emphasizing the need for conceptual clarity and PhD.
application.
ON SCORING TRENDS
1. Scoring trends indicate that candidates who thoroughly understand fundamental concepts and e�ectively incorporate current
a�airs into their answers tend to achieve consistently high marks.
2. Static sections like Political �ought and Ideologies in Paper 1 o�en yield higher scores due to their predictable nature.
3. In contrast, marks in Paper 2 can vary signi�cantly based on the candidate’s ability to stay updated with recent developments
and analyse them critically.
4. E�ective answer writing is crucial for high scores; structured answers with clear introductions, detailed discussions, relevant
criticisms, and concise conclusions are rewarded.
5. Additionally, referencing scholars and relevant theories enhances the quality of answers, leading to better marks.

51
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Manas: What are some tips for writing a ‘good’ answer in PSIR?
Rahul Puri: E�ective answer writing is crucial and requires deliberate e�ort. In our optional paper, it’s advisable to write in
paragraphs rather than points. Incorporate relevant quotes from scholars in every answer to strengthen your arguments. Start by
de�ning the basic terms in PSIR wherever possible.
Follow the dictum of 3Ds — De�ne, Discuss, and Draw conclusions. A�er answering each question, check if you have included
these elements. �is approach will help you secure higher marks. Also, do not forget to include criticisms where applicable, as they are
extremely important.
For questions requiring di�erentiation between two concepts, such as social movements (new and old), present the comparisons in
parallel. Do not separate your answer into di�erent paragraphs for each concept. Instead, write about both concepts together for each
point of di�erentiation. Always pay attention to temporal terms in the question (such as old, new, contemporary, etc.), as they will
help you understand the examiner’s expectations and respond accordingly.
Previous year questions (PYQs) are extremely important for the optional papers, even if they are less critical for the Mains. A�er
completing a topic, review and solve its PYQs. Time yourself to ensure you can reach the word limit within the given time frame.
Consistent writing practice is the key to success in the optional subjects. I personally wrote answers to most of the questions asked in
previous years, which signi�cantly aided my preparation.
In an ideal situation, an aspirant should start answer writing a�er they develop a good command over the topics. Practice is
crucial for improvement but in my experience, the most crucial aspect of answer writing practice is evaluation and review by a
knowledgeable individual. So I guess even if one can prepare the subject on their own, enrolling in a test series is a must to receive
regular feedback and enhance your answer-writing skills.

�����������������������������������������������
(a) Preparation Time for PSIR Optional:
�e time required varies based on individual aptitude and background, but a general estimate is 6-8 months of dedicated study.
(b) Essential Reading Sources:
Key books include Andrew Heywood’s works, IGNOU material DD Basu’s books. You can also take guidance from coaching
materials on PSIR optional. For current a�airs, you can rely on magazines covering PSIR topics. (Refer question on analysis above)
(c) Revision Strategies:
Revise by practicing previous years’ questions (PYQs) in an intro-body-conclusion format. �is method helps consolidate
knowledge and improves answer-writing skills.
(d) Approaching the Political �eory Section:
Cover the static portion thoroughly as it is easier to grasp. Focus on understanding the thinkers, their works, and the implications
of their ideas. Regular revision and answer writing are key.
(e) Dynamic Portions and Contemporary Issues in PSIR:
Review the syllabus to identify topics with contemporary relevance. Most political science topics have practical applications in
daily politics and current a�airs, which should be integrated into your preparation.

Manas: What is your advice for The Indian Express’ UPSC Essentials aspirants who will
take up PSIR as their optional subject in the Mains exam?
Rahul Puri: �ree important pieces of advice I would like to give to your readers who aspire for Civil Services are:

1� STAY CURIOUS AND INQUISITIVE: Develop a genuine interest in the subject matter. Curiosity will drive you to
explore topics deeply and understand them better.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

2� Consistent practice and revision: Regular study, practice, and revision are essential. Focus on understanding concepts rather
than rote learning.
3� Seek guidance: Don’t hesitate to seek help from mentors, teachers, or fellow aspirants. Engaging in discussions can provide
new perspectives and clarify doubts.
P.S: �is is not the end of PSIR Optional special article. You may still send questions on PSIR optional in general or any topic in
particular. We will take up as a rejoinder article on PSIR. Write to me on [email protected]

IN AN IDEAL SITUATION, AN ASPIRANT SHOULD START ANSWER

WRITING AER THEY DEVELOP A GOOD COMMAND OVER THE
TOPICS. PRACTICE IS CRUCIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT BUT IN MY
EXPERIENCE, THE MOST CRUCIAL ASPECT OF ANSWER WRITING
PRACTICE IS EVALUATION AND REVIEW BY A KNOWLEDGEABLE
INDIVIDUAL.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS CURRENT AFFAIRS POINTERS

Prelims Tidbits for the month of June

Compiled by Khushboo Kumari

UPSC Current A�airs Pointers will help you to consolidate your prelims exam prep. Take a quick look at last month’s
current a�airs tidbits curated specially for those preparing for UPSC and various other competitive examinations.

REPORTS

���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

STATE OF GLOBAL AIR REPORT (SOGA)

•• �e report, released by the Health E�ects Institute (HEI), an independent U.S.-based nonpro�t research organization,
found air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021.
•• China and India account for 55 percent of the global burden at 2.3 and 2.1 million deaths respectively.
•• Produced for the �rst time in partnership with UNICEF, the report �nds that children under �ve years old are especially

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

vulnerable, with health e�ects including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma and lung diseases.
•• In 2021, exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 700,000 deaths of children under �ve years old, making it the
second-leading risk factor for death globally for this age group, a�er malnutrition.
•• India reported the highest number of pollution-linked deaths in children under the age of �ve in 2021 with at least 169,400
deaths attributed to air pollution.
GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX 2024
•• �e Global Gender Gap Index is released annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
•• It benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and
Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. �e index lies between 0 and 1, with 1
denoting complete parity.
•• �e index shows that while no country has achieved full gender parity, 97% of the economies included in this edition have
closed more than 60% of their gap, compared to 85% in 2006.
•• Iceland (93.5%) is again ranked 1st and has been leading the index for a decade and a half. Finland is ranked second and
Norway is ranked third.
•• India ranks 129 out of the 146 countries. �is puts India at the 18th position from the bottom. In 2023, India stood at 127 rank
out of the 146 countries.
������������������������������������������������������������������������
���������� ����������� Rank
Economic Participation and Opportunity 0.398 142
Educational Attainment 0.964 112
Health and survival 0.951 142
Political Empowerment 0.251 65
(Source: World Economic Forum)
(�ese data are for your understanding and can be used in your Mains answer writing to make your point.)

POLITY
���������������
•• BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed as the pro-tem Speaker. ‘Pro-tem’ essentially means ‘for the time being’ or
‘temporarily’.
•• �e Constitution does not mention the post. �e o�cial ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary A�airs’
mentions the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.
NATIONAL FORENSIC INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT SCHEME (NFIES)
•• �e Union Cabinet has approved the NFIES with a �nancial outlay of Rs 2,254.43 crore during the period from 2024-25 to
2028-29.
•• It is a Central Sector Scheme that will be provisioned by the Ministry of Home A�airs from its own budget.
•• �ere are three components under the scheme: Establishment of Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University
(NFSU) in the country, establishment of Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country, and enhancement of existing
infrastructure of the Delhi Campus of the NFSU.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

POST OFFICE ACT, 2023

•• �e Post O�ce Act came into force on June 18. It has repealed the 125-year-old Indian Post O�ce Act of 1898.
•• �e act contains provisions that allow the Centre to intercept, open, or detain any item, and deliver it to customs authorities.
AGNIPATH SCHEME
•• Following the conclusion of the
General Election and the formation
of a coalition government, the
Agnipath Scheme has returned to
the spotlight. Crucial alliance
partners, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal
(United) and Chirag Paswan’s Lok
Janshakti Party are calling for a
review of this scheme.
•• �e Agnipath Scheme was
designed to recruit personnel below
o�cer ranks—soldiers, airmen, and
sailors who are not commissioned
o�cers—into the Indian Armed
Forces for four years. At the end of The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s ambitious Agnipath scheme has faced
this tenure, up to 25% of these ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������
recruits, known as ‘Agniveers,’ can
be granted a permanent commission for an additional 15 years, based on merit and organizational needs.
•• Eligible aspirants are between 17.5 and 23 years old, with the upper age limit having been increased from 21. �e recruitment
standards remain consistent with those of regular service prior to the introduction of the Agnipath Scheme.
KERALA MIGRATION SURVEY (KMS) 2023
•• �e KMS-2023 report, presented by the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD)-�iruvananthapuram
at the Loka Kerala Sabha, reveals key trends in emigration from Kerala. �e number of emigrants from the state is estimated at 2.2
million, closely matching the 2.1 million recorded in KMS 2018.
•• According to KMS 2023, total remittances to Kerala saw a signi�cant increase, rising from Rs 85,092 crore in 2018 to Rs 2,16,893
crore in 2023—a 154.9% surge post-pandemic.
•• �e study also notes a rise in the proportion of female emigrants, from 15.8% in 2018 to 19.1% in 2023. Additionally, students
now make up 11.3% of total emigrants, indicating a growing trend of younger individuals emigrating for educational purposes.
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC)
•• �e NHRC of India was established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, which was
later amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
•• �e NHRC is a multi-member body comprising a chairperson and �ve members.
•• Following the retirement of former Supreme Court judge Arun Mishra, who served as the chairperson of the NHRC for three
years, the President has appointed Vijaya Bharathi Sayani as the acting chairperson.
ELECTION VERDICT
•• In the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India, a total of 543 parliamentary constituencies were contested. �e
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the leading party, securing victory on 240 seats, followed by the Indian National Congress
(INC) with 99 seats, the Samajwadi Party (SP) with 37 seats, and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) with 29 seats.

56
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

•• Despite progress in women's representation, with 74 women MPs elected to the Lok Sabha this year, the number is four fewer
than in 2019. However, it marks a substantial increase from India's �rst elections in 1952, indicating gradual progress in gender
parity in Indian politics. Nonetheless, these 74 women MPs constitute only 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House,
highlighting the ongoing need for greater gender diversity in political representation.
•• One noteworthy aspect of these elections was the signi�cant number of votes cast for "None Of �e Above" (NOTA) in the
Indore Lok Sabha constituency. A staggering 218,674 voters opted for NOTA, setting a new record. �is surpassed the previous
record held by Gopalganj, Bihar, in 2019, where 51,660 voters chose this option.

ENVIRONMENT
CROWS
•• A�er decades of trying to control its
population of crows, the Kenyan
government plans to poison 1 million
house crows by December 31.
•• �e scienti�c name of the Indian
House crow: Corvus splendens.
•• IUCN Red list status: Least
Concerned
•• Diet: Omnivorous
•• �e house crow is a slender bird
with a long neck and a relatively large
bill. �e head-body length is 40cm and
it weighs approximately 245 to 370 The proliferation of the Indian house crow (Corvus splendens) has severely impacted local
grams. ecosystems and communities in East African countries, including Kenya. (Express Archive)

SUMMER SOLSTICE
•• �e longest day of the year, for
anyone living north of the Equator, is
June 21.
•• �e day is referred to as the
summer solstice, and it occurs when
the Sun is directly over the Tropic of
Cancer, or more speci�cally right over
23.5 degrees north latitude.
•• �e maximum amount of sunlight
received by the Northern Hemisphere
during this time is usually on June 20,
21, or 22.
•• In contrast, the Southern
Hemisphere receives most sunlight on
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
December 21, 22, or 23 when the ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Northern Hemisphere has its longest (Wikimedia Commons)

57
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

nights — or the winter solstice.

NITROUS OXIDE EMISSION
•• A study conducted by the Global Carbon Project reveals a signi�cant increase in emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent
planet-warming gas, by 40% between 1980 and 2020. High levels of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere can deplete the ozone layer
and exacerbate climate change, according to the study.
•• �e top �ve emitters of this gas, which is more impactful than carbon dioxide and methane, are China (16.7%), India (10.9%),
the US (5.7%), Brazil (5.3%), and Russia (4.6%).
•• Despite being the second-largest emitter, India has the lowest per capita emissions at 0.8 kg N2O per person. In comparison, per
capita emissions are 1.3 kg in China, 1.7 kg in the US, 2.5 kg in Brazil, and 3.3 kg in Russia.
•• �e Global Carbon Project aims to analyze the impact of human activity on greenhouse gas emissions and earth systems,
quantifying emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide to inform public policy and international action.
CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION PROJECT
•• �e Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is set to become the second habitat for cheetahs in India, following the Kuno National
Park. Spanning 368.62 sq km, the sanctuary is located in the districts of Mandsaur (187.12 sq km) and Neemuch (181.5 sq km) in
western Madhya Pradesh, bordering Rajasthan.
•• �e sanctuary is situated atop a �at rocky plateau, with the Chambal River dividing it into nearly equal halves. �e Gandhi Sagar
Dam, built on the river in 1960, lies within the sanctuary’s boundaries, as does part of its vast reservoir, which covers 726 sq km
and is the third largest in the country.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT
DAY
•• World Environment Day
(WED) is observed annually
on June 5th as a signi�cant
international event dedicated
to raising awareness about
environmental issues and
promoting sustainable
practices. �is year, the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
had the honor of hosting the
2024 Environment Day
celebration.
•• �e theme for WED 2024
is “Our Land, Our Future,
We Are Generation �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Restoration,” with a focus on
land restoration, deserti�cation, and drought resilience.
•• �e establishment of the United Nations General Assembly on June 5, 1972, marked the inception of WED, aiming to raise
awareness and promote action for environmental protection. Each year, a di�erent theme is chosen to spotlight various
environmental challenges.

58
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

•• �e United Nations General Assembly declared the decade from 2021 to 2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
CYCLONE REMAL
•• Cyclone Remal struck the coastline of West Bengal on Sunday night, May 26, resulting in the deaths of six people and damaging
at least 27,000 houses in the coastal districts.
•• A cyclone is a large-scale air system that rotates around a low-pressure center, typically bringing violent storms and severe
weather. In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones feature inward spiraling winds rotating counterclockwise, while in the Southern
Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. �e name "Remal," meaning "sand" in Arabic, was chosen by Oman, following the standard
convention for naming tropical cyclones in the region.
•• �e World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a 185-member United Nations agency, established the Panel on Tropical
Cyclones (PTC) in 1972 to improve cyclone warning and disaster mitigation e�orts in the North Indian Ocean region.
•• �e PTC initially included eight countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, and
�ailand. In 2018, it expanded to include Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
In April 2020, the WMO released a list of 169 cyclone names, with 13 suggestions from each of the 13 member countries. �is list
is currently used for naming cyclones in the region.
SUNDHNUKSGIGAR
•• Sundhnuksgigar, a volcano situated south of Reykjavik, Iceland, has erupted for the ��h time since December last year, making
headlines due to its increasing activity.
•• Iceland, one of the most volcanically active regions on Earth, typically experiences an eruption every four to �ve years. However,
since 2021, the frequency of eruptions has surged to nearly one per year. �is uptick in activity is signi�cant, highlighting the
dynamic nature of Iceland's geological landscape.
•• �e heightened volcanic activity in Iceland is attributed to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the longest mountain range in
the world, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Here, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging at a rate of a
few centimeters annually. Additionally, Iceland lies over a hotspot, which further intensi�es volcanic activity.
•• �e Fagradals�all volcano, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, is another notable example of the region's
volcanic activity.

ECONOMY
GLOBAL ECONOMIC
PROSPECTS REPORT
•• �e Global Economic Prospects Report
is a semi-annual report of the World Bank
which was recently released. �e report
o�ers a sobering assessment of the extent
to which that model of international
cooperation has been fracturing—and
what it will take to retool it for the needs of
this decade and the next.
•• According to the report, Global growth
is projected to stabilize at 2.6 percent this The good news is that global growth is holding steady, having slowed for three
year, holding steady for the �rst time in ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Representational)

59
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

three years despite �aring geopolitical tensions and high interest rates.
•• India’s economy has been buoyed by strong domestic demand, with a surge in investment, and robust services activity. It is
projected to grow an average of 6.7 percent per �scal year from 2024 through 2026—making South Asia the world’s fastest-
growing region.
•• India will remain the fastest-growing of the world’s largest economies, although its pace of expansion is expected to moderate.
(Source: worldbank.org)

��������������������������������������������
•• A recent index released by Knight Frank highlights Mumbai and Delhi as two of the top �ve global cities that recorded
signi�cant increases in their average annual house prices.
•• Mumbai saw year-on-year growth of 11.5% in prime residential prices during the January-March quarter, achieving the
third-highest increase among global cities. �is surge pushed Mumbai up three places in the ranking to secure the third position.
•• �e National Capital Region of Delhi also
recorded notable growth, with a 10.5% rise in
house prices, placing it in the ��h position.
•• In contrast, Bengaluru experienced a decline
in its ranking, moving from 16th to 17th place.
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI)
•• �e Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
launched three signi�cant initiatives aimed at
enhancing regulatory processes and improving
access to �nancial services: the PRAVAAH
portal, the retail direct mobile app, and a �ntech
repository.
•• PRAVAAH Portal: PRAVAAH (Platform for
Regulatory Application, Validation and
Authorisation) is a secure and centralized RBI has launched three major initiatives – PRAVAAH portal, the retail direct
web-based portal designed for individuals and ������������������������������������������������
entities to seek authorization, licenses, or
regulatory approvals from the RBI.
•• Retail Direct Mobile App: �e retail direct
mobile app is designed to provide retail investors
with seamless and convenient access to the retail
direct platform. �is app facilitates easy
transactions in government securities (G-Secs),
thereby promoting greater participation in the
government securities market by retail investors.
•• Fintech Repository: �e �ntech repository is
a comprehensive database containing
information on Indian �ntech �rms. �is
repository aims to provide better insights into
the �ntech sector from a regulatory perspective, In urban India, the share of food in average monthly per capita consumption
helping in the formulation of appropriate policy ��������������������������������������������������������������������

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

approaches and ensuring informed decision-making.

HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE SURVEY (HCES)
•• �e National Sample Survey O�ce (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation conducted the
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) from August 2022 to July 2023.
•• �is survey, typically conducted every �ve years, aims to generate estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption
Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution across rural and urban sectors, di�erent states and union territories, and various socio-
economic groups.
•• �is survey marks a signi�cant update in understanding the consumption patterns of Indian households, given that the last
survey conducted in 2017-18 was not released due to cited “data quality” issues.
•• �e average monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) in urban households rose by 33.5% since 2011-12, reaching
₹3,510. Rural India saw a 40.42% increase in MPCE over the same period, hitting ₹2,008.
•• �e proportion of spending on food has decreased in both rural and urban households. Rural households now spend 46.4% of
their overall monthly outgoes on food, down from 52.9% in 2011-12. Urban households spend 39.2% on food, compared to 42.6%
eleven years ago.
•• In rural areas, Haryana households spent the most on ‘milk and milk products’ at 41.7% of total expenditure on food. Kerala
households spent the most on ‘egg, �sh & meat’ at 23.5% of their food expenditure.
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)
•• �e International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association representing some 330 airlines and over 80% of total
air tra�c, will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) in Delhi from June 8-10, 2025. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will be the host
for this marquee global aviation event.
•• �is will mark the �rst time in over four decades that India hosts the IATA AGM. �e last time India hosted the event was in
1983, and prior to that, in 1958.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

HOOCH
•• At least 53 people have died, and around 140 others have been hospitalised a�er consuming hooch, or spurious liquor, in Tamil
Nadu’s Kallakurichi
•• Hooch is a commonly used term for poor-quality alcohol, derived from Hoochinoo, a native Alaskan tribe that was known to
produce very strong liquor.
•• Hooch is produced using distillation of a fermented mixture, generally of locally available yeast, and sugar or fruit (o�en fruit
waste).
•• �ere is an inherent risk associated with the crude methods of hooch production. �e fermented mixture which is distilled
contains more than just consumable alcohol (ethanol). It also contains methanol, an industrial alcohol that is highly toxic for
human beings.
•• Methanol has a boiling point of 64.7 °C, lower than that of ethanol 78.37 °C.
CHILLIES
•• Food safety authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of South Korean spicy instant noodles over possible risks of “acute
poisoning.” According to the authorities, the the capsaicin content [in the noodles] is so high that it can pose a health hazard,
especially to children.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

•• Capsaicin (CAP) is a naturally occurring bioactive phytochemical abundant in red and chili peppers that is responsible for its
hot pungent taste.
•• It is native to southern North America and northern South America.
•• A high-dose CAP may inhibit gastric acid production, damage the gastrointestinal mucosa by inducing gastric in�ammation,
and cause structural changes of the intestinal barrier.
MIFEPRISTONE
•• �e US Supreme Court on June 13 rejected a petition by anti-abortion groups seeking to undo the Food and Drug
Administration’s (FDA) approval of a commonly available abortion pill, called mifepristone.
•• Mifepristone is part of the
two-drug regimen used for
medical abortion. A patient �rst
takes mifepristone to induce an
abortion and then misoprostol
to empty the uterus.
CLAUDE 3.5 SONNET
•• Anthropic has launched its
latest AI model called Claude
3.5 Sonnet — the company’s �rst
release in the upcoming Claude
3.5 AI model series.
•• It is a large language model
(LLM), and is part of the family
of LLMs which is being
developed by Anthropic
AGNIKUL COSMOS
•• �e private space company ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Agnikul has successfully
(PTI Photo)
launched its �rst indigenously
built rocket, Agnibaan, marking a signi�cant achievement in the aerospace sector.
•• Agnibaan's distinction lies in its power source: the world's �rst fully 3-D printed engine. Launched from Agnikul’s custom
launchpad at ISRO’s Sriharikota facility, this semi-cryogenic engine is a single piece of hardware without any components, moving
parts, joints, welding, or fusing, making it an unprecedented innovation in rocket technology.
•• India is also expanding its space infrastructure with the construction of a second spaceport at Kulasekharapattinam in Tamil
Nadu's �oothukudi district. �is facility will be dedicated to Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs), complementing ISRO’s
primary spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
•• �is launch is not the �rst by an Indian private company; in November 2022, Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its
Vikram rocket, named a�er Vikram Sarabhai.
�������������������������������������������������������������
•• NASA, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has developed a mission featuring two shoebox-sized CubeSats
to study the heat radiated by the Arctic and Antarctica, two of Earth's coldest regions, and its impact on the planet’s climate.
•• CubeSats, miniature satellites with a standard design of 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm (1U), weigh no more than 1.33 kg. �e

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

PREFIRE mission consists of two 6U

CubeSats, each measuring
approximately 90 cm in height and
nearly 120 cm in width with deployed
solar panels.
•• �ese CubeSats will be placed in a
near-polar orbit at an altitude of about
525 kilometers. Each PREFIRE satellite
is equipped with a �ermal Infrared
Spectrometer (TIRS) to measure
infrared and far-infrared radiation from
the polar regions.
•• �e mission aims to assess the
amount of far-infrared radiation
trapped by atmospheric water vapor
and clouds at the poles and its in�uence
on the greenhouse e�ect in these areas.
NAKSHATRA SABHA
•• �e Uttarakhand government has
inaugurated a three-day ‘Nakshatra This Nakshatra Sabhas have been launched in collaboration with Starscapes, a private
company that runs observatories related to astrophysics and space exploration across the
Sabha’. It was organised at George Everest state. (Express Photo)
peak in Mussoorie by the Uttarakhand
Tourism Department in collaboration with an Astro tourism company, Starscapes.
•• It aimed at promoting astro tourism in the region. �e event promised a comprehensive astro-tourism experience, featuring
stargazing through specialised instruments, talks by experts, an astrophotography competition, and special solar observations.
��������������
•• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identi�ed the earliest-known galaxy, an extraordinary discovery by an
international team of astronomers as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program.
•• �e galaxy, named JADES-GS-z14-0, spans about 1,700 light-years approximately 9.5 trillion kilometers. �is galaxy has a mass
equivalent to 500 million stars the size of our Sun and is rapidly forming new stars at a rate of about 20 per year.
•• In the same study, the JADES team also uncovered the second oldest-known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-1. �is galaxy dates back to
about 303 million years post-Big Bang. It is smaller than JADES-GS-z14-0, with a mass equivalent to about 100 million sun-sized
stars, measuring approximately 1,000 light years across, and forming around two new stars per year.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
����������������������������
•• �e �ai Senate, the upper house of �ailand’s National Assembly, passed the Marriage Equality Bill on June 18, 2024.
•• �is puts �ailand on the verge of becoming the �rst country in Southeast Asia, and third in Asia a�er Nepal and Taiwan, to
legalise same-sex marriage.
MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER
•• India and Sri Lanka had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Indian public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

(BEL) for setting up a state-of-

the-art Maritime Rescue
Co-ordination Centre (MRCC)
in Colombo. It has been
formally commissioned now.
•• It is built with a USD 6 million
grant from India. It includes a
center at Navy Headquarters in
Colombo, a sub-center in
Hambantota, and unmanned
installations at Galle, Arugambay,
Batticaloa, Trincomalee,
Kallarawa, Point Pedro and
Mollikulam.
SWISS PEACE SUMMIT
•• Switzerland organised a The Marriage Equality bill had the support of all of Thailand's major parties and was more than
Summit on Peace in Ukraine at ����������������������������������������������������������������
the Bürgenstock (Canton of Nidwalden) on 15 and 16 June, 2024.
•• Some 100 delegations attended the summit, including 57 heads of state and government from all regions of the world.
•• India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, �ailand, Indonesia, Mexico and UAE were among countries participating at the summit on
peace for Ukraine but did not sign a �nal communique.
•• Russia was not invited to the summit and China decided not to attend the summit.
GROUP OF SEVEN (G7)
•• Italy hosted the 50th G7 Summit in Apulia from June 13 to 15, 2024.
•• �e G7 is an informal grouping of leading industrialised nations, which include the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the
United Kingdom, Italy and Canada.
•• India was invited as an Outreach Country.
•• �e next G7 Leaders' Summit will be hosted in Kananaskis, Alberta province of Canada in 2025.
RESOLVE TIBET ACT
•• �e United States Congress on June 12 passed the Promoting a Resolution to Tibet-China Dispute Act, better known as the
Resolve Tibet Act.
•• �e Resolve Tibet Act authorises the use of funds to counter Chinese disinformation about Tibet “including disinformation
about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama.

DISEASES IN NEWS
SENSORINEURAL DEAFNESS
•• Popular singer Alka Yagnik has revealed that she has a condition called sensorineural deafness.
•• Sensorineural deafness is a type of hearing loss that happens because of damage to the inner ear, the place of origin of the nerve
that runs from the ear to the brain, called the auditory nerve.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

•• It can be triggered by meningitis, mumps and measles. Other causes could be injury of the ear or head or exposure to really loud
noises or sound over a prolonged period of time.
PERTUSSIS
•• Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, has seen a signi�cant surge in Europe, with approximately 32,000 cases
reported between January and March 2024.
•• Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough spreads easily from person to person through coughing,
sneezing, or close contact.
•• In its early stages, pertussis symptoms
resemble those of a common cold, including a
runny nose, low-grade fever, sneezing, and
occasional cough. As the infection progresses,
severe coughing �ts develop, o�en
accompanied by a high-pitched "whoop"
sound.
��������������������
•• Donanemab, a new therapy for Alzheimer’s
disease developed by Eli Lilly, has received
unanimous support from independent
scientists advising the United States Food and
Drug Administration (USFDA), bringing it a
step closer to clinical use.
With Alzheimer’s, a person may witness a persistent decline in their intellectual
•• �e drug is designed for individuals in the abilities. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)
early stages of Alzheimer’s disease—those with
mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
•• Similar to its predecessor Lecanemab,
Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody that
targets amyloid beta protein plaques in the
brain.
•• �is mechanism aligns with other
amyloid-�ghting drugs like Leqembi and
Biogen, which received FDA approval last
year.
H5N2 BIRD FLU
•• �e World Health Organization (WHO)
con�rmed on June 5, the death of a 59-year-
old man in Mexico caused by a strain of bird
�������������������������������������������������������������������������
�u called H5N2. �is marks the �rst recorded Mexico City hospital had the virus despite no known exposure to poultry or
human fatality from this particular strain. other animals. (AP)
•• Avian in�uenza, or bird �u, is a viral
infection that primarily a�ects birds but certain subtypes can infect humans, leading to severe respiratory illnesses. �e most
notorious of these subtypes is H5N1, which has caused numerous human infections and fatalities in the past.
•• Symptoms of avian in�uenza in humans mirror those of regular �u and include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and, in
advanced cases, severe respiratory distress.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

IMPORTANT DAY
INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
•• June 21 is celebrated as the International Yoga Day. �is year it was the tenth annual celebration.
•• A theme for this day is announced every year — this year’s theme is “Yoga for Self and Society”. Last year, the theme was “Yoga
for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth One Family”
•• �e �rst Yoga Day celebrations held in 2015 at Raj Path in New Delhi. Modi, along with other dignitaries, created two Guinness
World Records — for being the world’s largest yoga session (35,985 people), and for having the largest number of participating
nationalities (84).

PLACES IN NEWS
NALANDA UNIVERSITY
•• �e campus of Nalanda
University was formally
inaugurated by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on
19th June 2024. It is located in
Rajgir roughly 100 km from
Patna, Bihar.
•• 17 countries other than
India — Australia,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia,
China, Indonesia, Laos,
Mauritius, Myanmar, New What likely began as a small vihara (Buddhist monastery) before the Common Era, became a
mahavihara (‘great’ monastery) by 5th century CE. (Wikimedia Commons)
Zealand, Portugal, Singapore,
South Korea, Sri Lanka, �ailand, and Vietnam
— have helped set up of the university.
Ambassadors of these countries attended the
inauguration ceremony.
•• �e ruins of ancient Nalanda University in Bihar
was declared as the World Cultural Heritage by
UNESCO in 2016.
•• Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (also known as
Hsuan Tsang or Mokshadeva), who travelled across
India from 629–645 CE have spent roughly �ve
years in Nalanda, where he studied under the
mahavihara’s grand abbot, Silabhadra.
•• It is believed that Emperor Kumaragupta
(Shakraditya) of the Gupta Dynasty founded the
���������������������������������������������������
Nalanda University.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

JOSHIMATH AND KOSIYAKUTOLI

•• �e Centre has approved the Uttarakhand
government’s proposal to rename Joshimath tehsil in
Chamoli district to Jyotirmath and Kosiyakutoli tehsil
in Nainital district to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham
tehsil, e�ective June 12.
•• Jyotirmath, also known as Jyotir Peeth, is one of the
four cardinal mathas (monasteries) established by the
8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya to
promote Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
•• Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have performed
penance under the Amar Kalpavriksha tree here,
attaining the divine light of knowledge, hence the
name "Jyotirmath," with ‘jyoti’ meaning divine light.
•• �e renaming of Kosiyakutoli to Pargana Shri
Kainchi Dham tehsil aligns its identity with Neem
Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dham Ashram, a signi�cant
spiritual site attracting devotees worldwide.
•• Established in 1962 by Neem Karoli Baba, a revered
spiritual guru known for his teachings on bhakti yoga
and devotion, the ashram has made the area notable.
Neem Karoli Baba, who passed away in 1973, remains ����������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������
a beloved �gure among his followers both in India and
abroad.

SPORTS
PAAVO NURMI GAMES 2024
•• Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the men’s
javelin throw competition with a throw of 85.97m at
the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 athletics meet in Turku,
Finland.
•• Finland’s Toni Keränen won the silver medal with a
personal best of 84.19m throw while his compatriot
Oliver Helander took the bronze with 83.96m.
FIDE WORLD JUNIOR CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP ���������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������
•• �e World Junior Chess Championship was held in
Gandhinagar, India, from June 2-13, 2024. Kazybek Nogerbek from Kazakhstan emerged as the winner of the 2024 FIDE World
Junior Chess Championship, showcasing exceptional skill and strategy.
•• In the girls' category, Divya Deshmukh from India triumphed, claiming the title at the prestigious event in Gujarat’s
Gandhinagar.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

FRENCH OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

•• Polish sensation Iga Swiatek, the 23-year-old World No. 1, triumphed over Italian Jasmine Paolini to clinch her third
consecutive French Open title, marking her fourth victory in �ve years at Roland Garros. �is victory also marks Swiatek’s
��h Grand Slam singles title. Notably, she became the only woman apart from Serena Williams to achieve the Madrid-Rome-
Paris triple, winning all three premier clay court events in the same year.
•• On the men's side, 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated Germany's Alexander Zverev to claim his �rst French Open
title. �is victory makes Alcaraz the seventh Spaniard in the Open Era to win the Roland Garros trophy. With this win, Alcaraz
now holds three Major titles and has become the youngest player to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
•• Real Madrid clinched their 15th Champions League title with a decisive 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
•• �is triumph not only solidi�ed their position as one of the most successful clubs in European football but also marked a
signi�cant achievement for key players Dani Carvajal and Luka Modrić.
•• Following this victory, Carvajal and Modrić surpassed their former teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in terms
of showpiece victories, with six �nal wins to their names.
�����������������������������
•• Indian shooter Sarabjot Singh clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Munich,
Germany, on June 6, 2024.
•• Shooter Samra secured the bronze medal in the women's 50m ri�e 3 positions event, contributing to India's medal tally.
•• India concluded the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Munich with two medals. China dominated the event, leading the standings with
11 medals (four golds, four silvers, and three bronzes), followed by Norway, which secured one gold, one silver, and one bronze.
DIPA KARMAKAR
•• Dipa Karmakar becomes the �rst Indian to win gold in the Asian Senior Championships. �is is the �rst time that an Indian
gymnast managed to win a gold medal in any event at the Asian Championships.
•• Karmakar scores 13.566 points in women's vault �nal to secure the title.
•• North Korean gymnasts Kim Son Hyang and Jo Kyong Byol take silver and bronze, respectively.
IPL 2024
•• Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led by Shreyas Iyer, secured an impressive eight-wicket victory over Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers
Hyderabad on Sunday to claim their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title. KKR had previously won the IPL titles in 2012 and
2014.
•• Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the two most successful teams in IPL history, each with �ve titles. Meanwhile,
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and Rajasthan Royals have each won the title once.
MALAYSIA MASTERS 2024
•• Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu faced a heartbreaking loss in the women’s singles �nal at the Malaysia Masters 2024
badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur. She was defeated by Wang Zhi Yi of the People’s Republic of China.
•• In the men's singles, Viktor Axelsen emerged victorious, adding another title to his impressive career.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

PERSONS IN NEWS
LT GEN UPENDRA DWIVEDI
•• Vice Chief of Army Sta� Lt Gen
Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed as
the next Army Chief of India. He will
assume his new role on June 30, 2024.
�is appointment follows the
government's decision to extend the
tenure of the current Army Chief, Manoj
Pande, by a month. Gen Pande was
initially set to retire on May 31.
•• �e tenure for the position of Army
Chief is either three years or until the
o�cer reaches the age of 62, whichever
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
comes �rst. Lt Gen Dwivedi's
appointment marks a signi�cant
leadership transition within the Indian
Army.
PT RAJEEV TARANATH
•• Recently, sarod maestro Pt Rajeev
Taranath passed away in Mysuru at the
age of 92.
•• He was the seniormost disciple of
Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and a noted
scholar of English literature, referenced
in the famous Arden edition of
Shakespeare.
•• He received the Sangeet Natak
Akademi Award in 2000 and the Padma
�������������������������������������������������������������������
Shri in 2019.
ANAMIKA B RAJEEV
•• Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev has made history by becoming the Indian Navy’s �rst woman helicopter pilot. She received
the prestigious “Golden Wings” at a passing-out parade held at a naval air station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu.
•• She will be �ying helicopters such as Sea Kings, ALH Dhruvs, Chetaks, and MH-60R Seahawks, marking a signi�cant milestone
for women in the Indian Navy.
•• In another notable achievement, Lt Jamyang Tsewang, the �rst commissioned naval o�cer from Ladakh, also graduated as a
quali�ed helicopter pilot.
•• In 2018, �ying o�cer Avani Chaturvedi of the Indian Air Force became the �rst Indian woman to �y a �ghter aircra� solo,
piloting a MiG-21 Bison.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM
•• Claudia Sheinbaum has achieved a historic milestone by winning a landslide victory to become Mexico's �rst female president.
•• �is landmark election sets a precedent for North America, as neither the United States nor Canada has yet elected a woman
leader to o�ce.
•• A climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum's election is seen as a signi�cant advancement for gender
equality in the region.
•• �e historic election featured two prominent female candidates, with Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz of the Fuerza y Corazón por México
(Strength and Heart for Mexico; formerly known as Frente Amplio por México) serving as the opposition coalition candidate.
•• Sheinbaum will be the seventh woman to be elected president in Latin America, following in the footsteps of Violeta Chamorro
of Nicaragua (1990), Mireya Elisa Moscoso of Panama (1999), Michelle Bachelet of Chile (2006), Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
of Argentina (2007), Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica (2010), and Dilma Rousse� of Brazil (2011).
SUNITA WILLIAMS
•• Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams �ew to space for the third time on May 5th, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore,
marking a historic milestone as the �rst members aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecra�.
•• �is 25-hour �ight to the International Space Station (ISS) also saw Wilmore and Williams become the �rst astronauts to be
launched on an Atlas V rocket.
•• Williams made history as the �rst woman to embark on such a mission, adding to her already impressive list of achievements.
•• In 2012, during a prior trip to the ISS, Williams became the �rst person to complete a triathlon in space. She simulated
swimming using a weight-li�ing machine and ran on a treadmill while strapped in by a harness to prevent �oating away.
RUCHIRA KAMBOJ
•• India’s �rst woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has retired a�er 35 years of
distinguished service.
•• She has also served as the Indian envoy in Bhutan, South Africa, and at UNESCO.
•• Kamboj assumed the role of Permanent Representative and Ambassador of India to the United Nations in New York on
August 2, 2022.
MAJOR RADHIKA SEN
•• Major Radhika Sen, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUSCO), was awarded the prestigious ‘2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’ by UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
•• �e award ceremony took place at the world body’s headquarters on �ursday, coinciding with the International Day of UN
Peacekeepers.
•• �e International Day of UN Peacekeeping is celebrated annually on May 29th, with this year's theme being “Fit for the future,
building better together.” It pays tribute to the invaluable contributions made by military, police, and civilian peacekeepers over the
past seven decades.
ANISH KAPOOR
•• For the sixth year in a row, London-based Indian origin artist Anish Kapoor has claimed the top spot on the Hurun India Art
List, released by the Hurun Research Institute.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

Today, a memorial stands on the rock in which Swami Vivekananda meditated. (Wikimedia Commons)

•• �is list ranks the top 50 living Indian artists based on the sales of their works at public auctions up to January 1, 2024.
•• Following Kapoor in second place is Baroda-based artist and pedagogue Gulammohammed Sheikh. His 2015 canvas, Ark
Kashmir, fetched an impressive Rs 21 crore last year, securing his high ranking. In third place is Delhi-based Arpita Singh, who
continues to hold her position as the most successful woman artist on the list.
AHILYA BAI HOLKAR
•• May 31st marked the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Maratha queen renowned for her exceptional
administration, visionary leadership, and spiritual inclination.
•• Born on May 31, 1725, in Chondi village of Ahmednagar to Mankoji Shinde, the village head, Ahilyabai was one of the few
women rulers of Medieval India.
•• Ahilyabai Holkar's legacy extends beyond her role as the wife of Khande Rao Holkar. A�er his death in the Battle of Kumbher
against the king of Bharatpur in 1754, Ahilyabai assumed control of Malwa, establishing herself as a formidable leader.
•• Her reign is noted for extensive renovations and contributions to numerous sacred sites, including Somnath, Varanasi, Trimbak,
Gaya, Pushkar, Vrindavan, Nathdwara, Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, and many others.
VIVEKANAND ROCK MEMORIAL
•• �e Prime Minister of India visited the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu to meditate, marking the culmination of his
party's Lok Sabha campaign.
•• �e Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a small rocky islet situated about 500 meters from Kanyakumari’s Vavathurai beach, at the
southernmost tip of mainland India. It lies at the con�uence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, making
it a signi�cant and symbolic location for this important moment in the campaign.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE
•• A portion of the Virupaksha Temple in Karnataka collapsed on May 21 following torrential rains.
•• �is temple, a nationally protected monument, and UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the 7th century and gained
signi�cant prominence during the 14th century under the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1646).
•• �e temple, founded by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty, showcases the grandeur of Dravidian architecture with its towering
gopurams (gateway towers), the shikhara above the sanctum sanctorum, and intricately carved pillars and halls.
•• �e richly adorned gopuram features carvings of various deities, mythological scenes, and animals. At the heart of the temple
lies the sanctum sanctorum, which houses the Shiva lingam, the primary object of worship.

AWARDS
�����������
•• �e Kavli Prize, established in honor of Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli
(1927-2013), recognizes outstanding contributions in three scienti�c areas: astrophysics, nanoscience, and
neuroscience—representing the largest, the smallest, and the most complex phenomena in the universe.
•• First awarded in 2008 to seven scientists, the Kavli Prizes have since honored 73 scientists from 19 countries, with ten recipients
later winning the Nobel Prize. �e prize includes a $1 million cash award per �eld, a scroll, and a 7 cm diameter medal. �e award
ceremony is notably grand, featuring a red carpet event for the invitees.
•• Selection for the Kavli Prize involves three independent committees, each comprising �ve members nominated by prestigious
science institutions worldwide, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, Germany’s Max Planck
Society, the National Academy of Sciences in the US, and the Royal Society in the UK. �ese committees present unanimous
recommendations to �e Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Winner of Kavli Prize 2024
ASTROPHYSICS
•• David Charbonneau of Harvard University, and Sara Seager, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are winners for
Astrophysics.
•• �e duo have been recognised for discoveries of exoplanets, and the characterisation of their atmosphere.
NANOSCIENCE
•• Robert Langer of MIT, Armand Paul Alivisatos of the University of Chicago, and Chad Mirkin of Northwestern University were
given the prize for nanoscience.
•• Langer was recognised for Nano-engineering materials for controlled release of therapeutic bio-molecules.
•• Alivisatos devised semiconductor crystals or “quantum dots” which could be used as multi-colour �uorescent probes in bio-imaging.
•• Mirkin introduced the concept of spherical nucleic acid (SNA), a new class of nucleic acids that are densely functionalised and
oriented spherically around a nanoparticle core.
NEUROSCIENCE
•• �e prize in neuroscience has been awarded to Nancy Kanwisher of MIT, Winrich Freiwald of Rockefeller University, and Doris
Tsao of the University of California at Berkeley.
•• �e trio have been awarded for their collective e�ort over decades to map the linkage between facial recognition and the brain.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

TERMS IN NEWS
•• ANGEL TAX: It is an income tax at the rate of 30.6 percent that is levied when an unlisted company issues shares to an
investor at a price higher than its fair market value.
•• CHENAB BRIDGE: It is the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge running between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district
of Jammu and Kashmir
•• JUNETEENTH: It is observed on June 19 every year to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.
•• BLOOD MONEY: In Islamic law, there is a principle of divya, or ‘blood money.’ In this, victims of crimes have a say in how
criminals are to be punished. In the case of murder, this principle applies to the families of victims. Victim's family may choose to
“forgive” the murderer in exchange for monetary compensation.
•• KAVACH: It is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identi�cation devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling
system as well the tracks, that talk to each other using ultra high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert
drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

UPSC SPECIALS PRACTICE QUIZ

Brush Up Your Current Affairs Knowledge

And Consolidate Your UPSC CSE Preparation.
Compiled by Nitendra Pal Singh industries in the importing country.

QUESTION 1 2. If a country’s currency is non-convertible, the US

designates that country as a non-market economy.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS WITH
WHICH OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS IS/ARE
REFERENCE TO ‘FOOT ROT’ WHICH WAS RECENTLY
CORRECT?
SEEN IN NEWS:
(a) Only 1
1. Foot rot is a fungal disease that a�ects Basmati rice crops
particularly at the seedling stage. (b) Only 2

2. It is di�erent from ‘bakanae’ disease in which infection is (c) Both 1 and 2

caused a�er transplantation. (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. To prevent the disease from occurring and spreading, QUESTION 3
seedlings are treated with Trichoderma harzianum before
sowing and transplantation. THIS TREATY AT THE END OF THE ANGLO�NEPALESE
WAR RESULTED IN NEPAL LOSING A CHUNK OF
HOW MANY OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE
TERRITORY TO THE EAST INDIA COMPANY. ARTICLE 5
CORRECT?
OF THE TREATY TOOK AWAY THE JURISDICTION OF
(a) Only one NEPAL’S RULERS OVER THE LAND TO THE EAST OF
THE KALI RIVER. WHICH IS THIS TREATY BEING
(b) Only two
TALKED ABOUT IN ABOVE LINES?
(c) All three
(a) Treaty of Punakha
(d) None
(b) Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923
QUESTION 2
(c) Treaty of Sinchulu
WITH REFERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE,
(d) None of the above
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
QUESTION 4
1. ‘Dumping’ in international trade is de�ned as when a
country’s export prices are considered to be intentionally set WITH REFERENCE TO WORLD MIGRATION REPORT
above domestic prices, thereby providing immense pro�t to 2024, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

1. India is the origin of the largest number of international 3. 3D printing requires computer-aid design (CAD) so�ware to
migrants in the world. make designs.
2. India is ranked �rst as the destination country for immigrants. HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT?
3. India is the only country from Asia in the top �ve remittance
recipient countries’ list. (a) Only one
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS ABOVE ARE (b) Only two
CORRECT?
(c) All three
(a) Only one
(d) None
(b) Only two
QUESTION 7
(c) All three
WITH REFERENCE TO THE INDIA-SAUDI ARABIA TRADE,
(d) None CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
QUESTION 5
1. India is the second largest trade partner for Saudi Arabia.
WITH REFERENCE TO ‘STARLINER’, RECENTLY SEEN IN 2. Saudi Arabia was India’s largest crude and petroleum products
NEWS, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: sourcing destination in 2022- 23.
1.SpaceX’s Starliner will become the second private �rm to be WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
able to provide NASA crew transport to and from the CORRECT?
International Space Station (ISS).
(a) 1 only
2.If Starliner completes its objectives, it will also help SpaceX’s
(b) 2 only
challenge Boeing’s dominance in the commercial space industry.
(c) Both 1 and 2
WHICH OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS IS/ARE NOT
CORRECT? (d) Neither 1 nor 2

(a) Only 1 QUESTION 8

(b) Only 2 WITH REFERENCE TO THE OLEANDER, CONSIDER THE

FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. It is a plant cultivated worldwide in tropical and temperate
regions.
QUESTION 6
2. �e plant is known for its drought tolerance.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE 3D PRINTING, CONSIDER THE
3. Locally, it is known as kanaveeram.
FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
4. Oil prepared from the root bark can be used to treat skin
1. It is an additive process, in which layers of a material are built
diseases.
up to construct objects.
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
2. Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
CORRECT?
successfully tested a liquid rocket engine made with the help of
3D printing. (a) Only one

75
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

(b) Only two QUESTION 11

(c) Only three ANDROTT, KILTAN, AND KALPENI ISLANDS WERE
(d) All four RECENTLY IN NEWS DUE TO CORAL BLEACHING. THEY
ARE LOCATED IN:
QUESTION 9
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
WITH REFERENCE TO THE INDIA’S AGRICULTURE
EXPORTS, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: (b) West Bengal
(c) Tamil Nadu
1. �e export of oilseeds has consistently increased from 2021-22
to 2023-24. (d) Lakshadweep
2. �e export of raw cotton has decreased from 2021-22 to QUESTION 12
2023-24.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE INTER-SERVICES
3. �e export of wheat has consistently increased from 2021-22 ORGANISATIONS (COMMAND, CONTROL AND
to 2023-24. DISCIPLINE) ACT, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE STATEMENTS:
CORRECT?
1. �e Act empowers Defence Minister to exercise control over
(a) Only one service personnel.

(b) Only two 2. �e government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the Army,
the Air Force and the Navy, and optimally utilise their resources
(c) All three
for wars and operations.
(d) None
WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
QUESTION 10 CORRECT?

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT WEST (a) 1 only

NILE VIRUS:
(b) 2 only
1. It is a mosquito-borne virus. (c) Both 1 and 2
2. It has double-stranded RNA virus. (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. It is related to yellow fever. QUESTION 13
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CURRENTLY WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING
CORRECT?
ORGANISATIONS IS ENTRUSTED WITH SECURITY AT THE
(a) Only one PARLIAMENT COMPLEX?

(b) Only two (a) Central Industrial Security Force

(c) All three (b) National Security Guard
(d) None (c) Parliament Security Service

76
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

(d) Delhi Police 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

QUESTION 14 (b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement
2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.
RAFAH BORDER WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS. IT CONNECTS:
(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.
(a) Egypt and Sudan
(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.
(b) Israel and Jordan
QUESTION 17
(c) Gaza strip and Jordan
WITH REFERENCE TO THE RANGELANDS, CONSIDER THE
(d) Gaza strip and Egypt
FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
QUESTION 15
1. �ey contain vegetation such as grasses, shrubs, bushes, open
THE SAHYADRI TIGER RESERVE (STR) WAS IN NEWS DUE forests, and agroforestry systems.
TO TRANSLOCATION OF TIGERS. IT FORMS A COMMON
2. �e nature of rangelands’ vegetation is in�uenced by rainfall
BOUNDARY BETWEEN:
and temperature.
1. Maharashtra 3. �ey act as carbon sinks.
2. Karnataka 4. India do not have rangelands.
3. Goa HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
4. Gujarat CORRECT?

SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER USING THE CODES (a) Only one
GIVEN BELOW:
(b) Only two
(a) 1 and 2 only (c) Only three
(b) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All four
(c) 1 and 3 only QUESTION 18
(d) 1, 2 and 3
THE TERM “KARMAN LINE” WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS. IT IS:
QUESTION 16
(a) �e boundary line separating inner planets and outer planets.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
(b) �e line separating Earth’s crust from Earth’s mantle.
Statement 1: �e winds in the region �ow towards a (c) �e line separating the troposphere from the stratosphere.
southwesterly direction in the northern hemisphere and a
(d) �e boundary line separating the Earth’s atmosphere from
northwesterly direction in the southern hemisphere.
outer space.
Statement 2: �e Earth’s west-east rotation causes all winds
QUESTION 19
blowing between 30 degrees to the north and south of the
equator to slant in their trajectory. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS CORRECT IN EUROPEAN UNION’S COPERNICUS PROGRAMME:
RESPECT OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS?
ADVERTISEMENT
(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 1. It aims to monitor the Earth and its environment by collecting

77
UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

data from a set of satellites known as the Sentinels. (d) European Space Agency (ESA)
2. It was launched in 1998. QUESTION 22
3. It was earlier known as Global Monitoring for Environmental CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
Security (GMES).
1. About 45 per cent of the cybercrimes targeting India originates
4. Currently, it is implemented by the European Commission
from the Southeast Asian region.
(EC) with support from NASA.
2. For India, the investment scams account for the highest
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
amount of money-related scams.
CORRECT?
WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
(a) Only one CORRECT?
(b) Only two
(a) 1 only
(c) Only three
(b) 2 only
(d) All four
(c) Both 1 and 2
QUESTION 20
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
WITH REFERENCE TO THE PALM OIL, CONSIDER THE QUESTION 23
FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
1. It does not contain saturated fats.
Statement 1: India’s pulses imports in 2023-24 were highest since
2. It boasts vitamins A and E.
the 2016-17.
3. It does not contain antioxidants.
Statement 2: El Nino induced patchy monsoon and winter rains
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE were the main reason of decline in domestic pulses production
CORRECT? in 2023-24.

(a) Only one WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS CORRECT IN

RESPECT OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS?
(b) Only two
(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement
(c) All three
2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.
(d) None
(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement
QUESTION 21 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.
ARTEMIS III WHICH WILL EXPLORE THE SOUTH POLAR (c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.
REGION OF THE MOON WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS. THE
(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.
MISSION ARTEMIS III WILL BE LAUNCHED BY: QUESTION 24
(a) Canadian Space Agency (CSA) CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT
(b) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ANTARCTIC TREATY:

(c) Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) 1. India have joined this treaty in 1983.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

2. All signatories will have the freedom to carry out scienti�c 2. De�ned territory government
investigations.
3. Capacity to enter into relations with other states
3. India is hosting the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative
4. Having their own currency
Meeting (ATCM 46), also known as the Antarctic Parliament.
HOW MANY OF THE CONDITIONS GIVEN ARE
4. Nuclear testing or disposal of radioactive waste materials is not
IDENTIFIED CONDITIONS OF A STATE?
prohibited anywhere in Antarctica.
(a) Only one
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT? (b) Only two

(a) Only one (c) Only three

(b) Only two (d) All four

(c) Only three QUESTION 27

(d) All four WITH REFERENCE TO THE LABOUR FORCE

PARTICIPATION RATE (LFPR), CONSIDER THE
QUESTION 25
FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
WITH REFERENCE TO THE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
1. LFPR represents the demand for jobs in an economy.
(AMR), CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
2. It even includes people like a 35-year-old married woman who
1. It happens when bacteria or viruses no longer respond to
is not actively looking for a job or a 22-year-old who is busy
antimicrobial medicines.
pursuing higher education but has potential to be employed.
2. �e misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers
3. It excludes 65-year-old who no longer wants to work.
in the development of drug- resistant pathogens.
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
3. It makes infections di�cult to treat.
CORRECT?
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
(a) Only one
CORRECT?
(b) Only two
(a) Only one
(c) All three
(b) Only two
(d) None
(c) All three
QUESTION 28
(d) None
NAEGLERIA FOWLERI, RECENTLY SEEN IN NEWS IS:
QUESTION 26
(a) a virus causing rare brain infection
WITH REFERENCE TO THE MONTEVIDEO CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF STATES (1933), CONSIDER (b) a recently discovered butter�y
THE FOLLOWING CONDTIONS: (c) an extinct species of marine ecosystem
1. A permanent population (d) None of the above

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

QUESTION 29 among poultry and some wild birds.

WITH REFERENCE TO WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S 2. It can spread from animals to humans.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2024, 3. H5N2 has been responsible for numerous human infections
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: and fatalities in the past.
1. India is ranked highest in South Asia and among the lower- HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
middle-income economies. CORRECT?
2. US, Spain, Japan, France and the UK �gure among the top �ve (a) Only one
in the 2024 list.
(b) Only two
3. �e results highlighted that high-income economies generally
(c) All three
continue to have more favourable conditions for travel and
tourism development. (d) None

WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE QUESTION 32

CORRECT?
WITH REFERENCE TO THE TURBULENCE EXPERIENCED
(a) 1 only BY AIRCRAFT, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:

(b) 2 and 3 only 1. It is an irregular motion caused by circular whirls and vertical
(c) 1 and 3 only currents of air.

(d) 3 only 2. It can cause erratic changes in orientation with respect to the
horizon.
QUESTION 30
3. It does not cause a change in altitude.
WHICH OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN BELOW WITH
4. It occurs only on the edges of jet streams.
REFERENCE TO PROJECT UDBHAV, RECENTLY SEEN IN
NEWS, IS CORRECT? HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT?
(a) It aims to promote indigenous military knowledge by
merging ancient strategic insights with modern military (a) Only one
practices. (b) Only two
(b) Its main objective is promote MSMEs with the support of (c) Only three
international �nancial forums and agencies.
(d) All four
(c) It addresses the lack of skill in specialised technologies and
services and aims at opening opportunities for skill development. QUESTION 33

(d) It is an initiative of the Government of India for research and VIVEKANANDA ROCK WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS. IT IS
development in the AI technologies. LOCATED IN:

QUESTION 31 (a) Pithoragarh

WITH REFERENCE TO THE AVIAN INFLUENZA, CONSIDER (b) Ladakh

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: (c) Kanyakumari
1. It is an infectious viral illness that mainly infects and spreads (d) Hyderabad

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

QUESTION 34 (a) India-Myanmar

WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE, (b) India-China

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: (c) India-Bangladesh
1. �e temple is built in the Dravidian style with extensive inner (d) India-Bhutan
and outer enclosures.
QUESTION 37
2. It is a revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE RUDRA MISSILE, CONSIDER
3. �e temple is believed to have been built during the rule of the THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
Vijayanagara Empire.
1. It is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled missile system.
4. �e temple does not have garbhagriha.
2. It is a surface-to-air missile.
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT? WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
CORRECT?
(a) Only one
(a) 1 only
(b) Only two
(b) 2 only
(c) Only three
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) All four
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 35
QUESTION 38
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
1. She became the queen of the Malwa region under the Maratha COLOMBO PROCESS:
rule in 1767 following the deaths of her husband and father-in-law.
1. �e Colombo Process is a regional consultative forum
2. She is known to have renovated several temples across the
comprising member states of Asia, Europe and North America.
country, most importantly the Kashi Vishwanath temple in
Varanasi. 2. India has become chair of regional grouping Colombo Process
for the third consecutive time.
3. She pioneered education for women and worked on women’s
empowerment during her three- decade reign. WHICH OF THE STATEMENT�S� GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
CORRECT?
THE ABOVE MENTIONED STATEMENTS REFER TO:
(a) 1 only
(a) Rani Durgawati
(b) 2 only
(b) Tarabai
(c) Both 1 and 2
(c) Kittur Chennamma
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(d) Ahilyabai Holkar
QUESTION 39
QUESTION 36
WITH REFERENCE TO THE EXERCISE SHAKTI, CONSIDER
COMILLA-SONAMURA BORDER WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
DUE TO ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO INDIA. THE BORDER
DEMARCATES: 1. It is a Joint Military Exercise between India and Russia.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

2. It is an annual training event. those changes will a�ect phenomena like ice sheet melting,
atmospheric temperatures, and global weather.
3. �e seventh edition of the Exercise SHAKTI was concluded in
Meghalaya. 5. Provide answers to critical questions on climate change using a
platform that costs less than a full-size satellite.
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT? WHICH OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
CORRECT?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) All three (b) 2, 3 and 5 only

(d) None (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

QUESTION 40 (d) All of the above

RECENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA EXTENDED AN QUESTION 42

IMMEDIATE RELIEF ASSISTANCE OF $1 MILLION TO
WITH REFERENCE TO AGNIBAAN SORTED (SUB-ORBITAL
SUPPORT RELIEF, REHABILITATION AND
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR) RECENTLY SEEN IN
RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN:
NEWS, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
(a) Nepal
1. It is the �rst launch by a private startup in India.
(b) Nigeria
2. It is the world’s �rst launch vehicle to use a single-piece
(c) Djibouti 3D-printed rocket engine.
(d) Papua New Guinea WHICH OF THE STATEMENT/S GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
QUESTION 41 CORRECT?

WITH REFERENCE TO WHAT PREFIRE (POLAR RADIANT (a) 1 only

ENERGY IN THE FAR-INFRARED EXPERIMENT) POLAR (b) 2 only
MISSION IS EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE, CONSIDER THE
(c) Both 1 and 2
FOLLOWING:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
1. Provide new information on how Earth’s atmosphere and how
ice in�uences the amount of heat being radiated out to space QUESTION 43
from the Arctic and Antarctic.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS CORRECT
2. Understand why the Antarctic has warmed more than 2.5 WITH REFERENCE TO ‘ZIG’ RECENTLY SEEN IN NEWS:
times faster than the rest of the planet since the 1970s.
(a) Most distant known galaxy founded by James Webb Space
3. Give scientists a better idea of how e�ciently far-infrared heat Telescope.
is emitted by matter like snow and sea ice, and how clouds
in�uence the amount of far-infrared radiation that escapes to (b) One of the rare minerals found in India that are not classi�ed
space. as rare earths, but are equally valuable and scarce.

4. Help researchers better predict how the heat exchange (c) An AI tool used for digital recreation of a crime scene
between Earth and space will change in the future, and how (d) It is a new gold-backed currency of an African country.

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

QUESTION 44 2. Currently, the entire north-eastern states of India have been

accorded SCS.
ACCORDING TO THE IMD, THE ONSET OF THE
MONSOON MARKS A CRUCIAL TRANSITION IN THE 3. SCS states enjoy special industrial incentives such as Income-
LARGE�SCALE ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEAN tax exemptions and custom duty waivers.
CIRCULATIONS IN THE INDO�PACIFIC REGION, AND THE 4. In SCS states, the Centre funds central schemes up to 90 per cent.
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES IT ONLY AFTER CERTAIN
HOW MANY OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE ARE
DEFINED AND MEASURABLE PARAMETERS, ADOPTED IN
CORRECT?
2016, ARE MET. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT
THE PARAMETERS: (a) Only one

(a) If at least 60 per cent of 14 designated meteorological stations (b) Only two
in Kerala and Lakshadweep record at least 2.5 mm of rain for (c) Only three
two consecutive days at any time a�er May 10.
(d) All four
(b) �e depth of westerlies should be up to 600 hectopascal in
the area bounded by the equator to 10ºN latitude, and from QUESTION 47
longitude 55ºE to 80ºE. SUNDHNUKSGIGAR VOLCANO WAS RECENTLY IN NEWS
(c) �e INSAT-derived Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) DUE TO ERUPTIONS LEADING TO EVACUATIONS OF THE
value should be below 200 watt per sq m (wm2) in the box SMALL FISHING TOWN OF GRINDAVIK. THE VOLCANO IS
con�ned by 5-10ºN latitude and 70-75ºE latitude. LOCATED IN:

(d) If the size of a Tropical Cyclone over Arabian seas starts (a) United States
varying from 50-100 km radius to 600 km. (b) Philippines

QUESTION 45 (c) Italy

INDIA’S “ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT”, WAS RECENTLY (d) Iceland

SEEN IN NEWS BECAUSE: QUESTION 48

(a) It won the ‘Best Global Music Album award’ at the 66th WITH REFERENCE TO WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN
Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. LOK SABHA, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
(b) It won the Golden Peacock at the 55th International Film 1. In 1952, women made up approximately 4 per cent of the
Festival of India strength of the Lower House.
(c) It won the Grand Prix prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2. In 2024, the number of women elected is higher than women
(d) It made history as the �rst book by an Indian author to elected in previous Lok Sabha elections.
receive the International Booker Prize. WHICH OF THE STATEMENTS GIVEN ABOVE IS/ARE
QUESTION 46 CORRECT?
(a) 1 only
WITH REFERENCE TO THE SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS
(SCS), CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: (b) 2 only

1. �e Ninth Finance Commission of India introduced the (c) Both 1 and 2

mechanism of SCS to assist certain states in their development. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC ESSENTIALS July 2024 Issue

QUESTION 49 QUESTION 50

CHANG’E�6, AN UNCREWED SPACECRAFT LANDED ON SEMAGLUTIDE IS OFTEN HEARD IN NEWS. IT IS

THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON. THE MISSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH:
ASSOCIATED WITH:
(a) Antibiotics
(a) Japan
(b) Rare fossil
(b) Russia
(c) Diabetes and weight-loss drug
(c) France
(d) Asteroid
(d) China

ANSWER KEY

1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (c 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (b) 11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (c)
14. (d) 15. (d) 16. (a) 17. (c) 18. (d) 19. (c) 20. (a) 21. (b) 22. (a) 23. (a) 24. (c) 25. (c) 26. (c)
27. (b) 28. (d) 29. (c) 30. (a) 31. (b) 32. (b) 33. (c) 34. (b) 35. (d) 36. (c) 37. (a) 38. (d) 39. (a)
40. (d) 41. (c) 42. (b) 43. (d) 44. (d) 45. (c) 46. (c) 47. (d) 48. (a) 49. (d) 50. (c)

84