Category: AGRICULTURE

Context:  Space technology is revolutionizing agriculture by enabling precision farming, improving yield estimation, optimizing resource use, and strengthening food security

Key Applications:

• Precision Agriculture: Satellite imagery and remote sensing help monitor crop health, soil moisture, and nutrients in real-time, enabling targeted irrigation and fertilizer use for better yields and reduced waste.
• Weather and Climate Monitoring: Space-based data improves weather forecasting and helps farmers plan agricultural activities and adapt to climate change.
• Resource Management: Satellites assist in managing water resources, monitoring drought, mapping soil, and preventing land degradation and deforestation.
• Yield Estimation & Insurance: Programs like FASAL and KISAN use remote sensing for accurate yield forecasts, aiding insurance schemes and disaster planning.
• Pest & Disease Detection: Hyperspectral and multispectral data can detect early signs of pest infestation or disease, reducing crop loss and excessive chemical use.
• Livestock and Land Monitoring: Satellite integration supports sustainable grazing, animal tracking, and land-use planning.
• Research & Crop Improvement: Space-based plant experiments enhance knowledge of plant biology and aid in developing resilient, high-yield crop varieties.
• Digital Decision Support: Platforms like Krishi-DSS combine geospatial data and AI to guide farmers and policy decisions in real-time.
• Food Security & Sustainability: Space technology helps track global agricultural trends, anticipate shortages, and promote sustainable farming.

India’s Initiatives:

India has led the way with programs such as FASAL, CHAMAN, NADAMS, and the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre to operationalize space-based agricultural services.

Learning Corner:

FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land-based observations)

• Launched by: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
• Implemented by: Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC)
• Objective: Pre-harvest crop production forecasting for major crops using remote sensing, weather data, and field observations.
• Significance: Helps in accurate planning of food grain procurement, supply chain management, and agricultural policy decisions.

CHAMAN (Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using Geo-informatics)

• Launched by: Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
• Implemented by: MNCFC in collaboration with ISRO and state horticulture departments
• Objective: Mapping and assessing horticulture crops using satellite data and GIS tools.
• Significance: Supports area estimation, crop condition monitoring, and planning for fruits and vegetables, aiding better management of horticulture sector.

NADAMS (National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System)

• Developed by: ISRO and Department of Agriculture
• Objective: Real-time monitoring and assessment of drought using satellite-based indicators like vegetation index, rainfall, and soil moisture.
• Significance: Assists in drought declaration, contingency planning, and timely allocation of relief resources.

Technology in Agriculture (Agri-Tech)

Technology has revolutionized agriculture by enhancing productivity, sustainability, and profitability. It plays a crucial role across the entire agricultural value chain — from pre-sowing to post-harvest.

Remote Sensing & GIS

• Used for crop monitoring, land use mapping, and precision farming.
• Programmes like FASAL and CHAMAN utilize satellite imagery for real-time assessments.

Precision Farming

• Involves site-specific crop management using GPS, sensors, and data analytics.
• Helps in optimized use of inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and water.

Internet of Things (IoT) & Smart Sensors

• IoT devices monitor soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and crop health.
• Enables real-time decision-making and automated irrigation systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning

• AI models predict weather, pest outbreaks, yield estimation, and market trends.
• Used in agri-advisory apps like Kisan Suvidha and AgriStack initiatives.

Drones & Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

• Employed for aerial spraying, crop surveillance, and damage assessment.
• Reduces human labor and enhances efficiency in large farms.

Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering

• Development of high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient crop varieties.
• Technologies like CRISPR gene editing and GM crops play a key role.

Mobile Apps & Digital Platforms

• Apps like eNAM, PM-KISAN, AgriMarket help in market linkage, subsidies, and price discovery.

• Farmers receive weather alerts, crop advisory, and digital payments.

Robotics & Automation

• Robots used for harvesting, weeding, and packaging in high-value crops.
• Reduces labor dependency and ensures uniform operations.

Source: PIB

Category: ECONOMICS

Context: The BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry) platform is a comprehensive digital ecosystem designed to strengthen collaboration and innovation across India’s startup landscape.

Key Features:

• Centralized Networking: Connects startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and policymakers on a single platform, enabling seamless collaboration across sectors and regions.
• Personalized BHASKAR ID: Users receive a unique ID linked to verified, complete profiles—enhancing credibility, searchability, and secure interaction.
• Multi-Stakeholder Access: Open to diverse roles including entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and support organizations, ensuring inclusivity.
• Enhanced Discoverability: Advanced search tools help users find partners, funding opportunities, programs, and schemes quickly and efficiently.
• Resource Hub: Offers centralized access to startup-related resources, events, and knowledge-sharing tools, eliminating system fragmentation.
• Digital & On-Ground Engagement: Facilitates both online collaboration and physical events to build relationships and market presence.
• Large-Scale Reach: With around 200,000 startups registered as of August 2025, BHASKAR is among the largest startup registries in the country.

Conclusion:
BHASKAR acts as a secure, inclusive, and scalable digital backbone for India’s startup ecosystem, accelerating innovation, connectivity, and growth.

Learning Corner:

Initiatives to Develop Startup Ecosystem in India

India has emerged as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. To encourage innovation, job creation, and entrepreneurship, the government and associated bodies have launched several initiatives:

Startup India Initiative (2016)

• Launched by: Government of India
• Objective: Promote entrepreneurship, simplify regulatory processes, and provide funding support.
• Key features:
  • Tax exemption for 3 years
  • Self-certification for compliance
  • Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with ₹10,000 crore corpus
  • Startup India Hub for single-window support

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• Launched by: NITI Aayog
• Components:
  • Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL): Foster creativity among school students
  • Atal Incubation Centres (AIC): Support early-stage startups with infrastructure and mentoring
  • ARISE: Promote innovation in MSMEs and public systems

Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics & IT (SIP-EIT)

• Provides financial support to startups and MSMEs for filing international patents.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (2021)

• Objective: Provide seed funding (grants and convertible debentures) up to ₹20 lakh to early-stage startups for proof of concept and product development.

Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)

• Managed by SIDBI, the fund invests in SEBI-registered Venture Capital funds which in turn invest in startups.

State-level Startup Policies

• States like Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Kerala have startup policies with dedicated innovation hubs and incubators.

National Startup Awards

• Recognize startups that contribute to social impact, rural development, and sustainability.

Digital Platforms

• Startup India Portal: For registration, learning programs, and networking
• GeM (Government e-Marketplace): Provides market access to startups for public procurement

Source:  PIB

Category: POLITY

Context : 71st National Film Awards honoured films certified between January 1 and December 31, 2023. The awards celebrated excellence in Indian cinema across mainstream and regional films.

Major Awards:

• Best Feature Film: 12th Fail
• Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) & Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
• Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway)
• Best Director: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)
• Best Hindi Film: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani
• Best Film on National/Social Values: Sam Bahadur

Other Notable Wins:

• Best Non-Feature Film: Flowering Man
• Best Documentary: God Vulture and Human
• Best Child Artists: Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, Kabir Khandane, Treesh Thosar
• Best Screenplay: Baby, Parking
• Best Male/Female Playback Singers: PVM Sroht (Premisthunna), Shilpa Rao (Chaliya)
• Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dhindhora Baje)
• Best Action Direction: Hanuman (Telugu)
• Best Editing: Pookkaalam

Best Regional Films:

Highlights:

• Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever National Film Award after 33 years in cinema.
• Awards jury was chaired by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker.
• Recognition spanned artistic, technical, and social categories, reflecting diversity in Indian cinema.

Learning Corner:

History of National Film Awards in India

The National Film Awards were established in 1954 by the Government of India to honor artistic and technical excellence in Indian cinema. Instituted under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the awards aim to encourage the production of films of aesthetic, cultural, and educational value.

Key Milestones:

• 1954: First National Film Awards presented; initially known as the “State Awards for Films.” Only a few categories existed, and “Shyamchi Aai” (Marathi) was the first winner of the President’s Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film.
• 1967: The awards were renamed as National Film Awards, and regional films were officially included in competitive categories.
• 1973: The Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) was established to organize the National Film Awards and the International Film Festival of India.
• Over time, the awards expanded to include categories for feature films, non-feature films, and best writing on cinema, encouraging excellence in cinema across India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape.
• Awards are given by the President of India at a formal ceremony in New Delhi, and they hold the highest prestige among Indian film honors.

Present Structure:

• Divided into three sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Writing on Cinema.
• Includes Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) and Silver Lotus (Rajat Kamal) trophies with cash prizes.
• Open to films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the previous calendar year.

Source:  PIB

Category: CULTURE

Context: The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the rise of “fake Arya Samaj societies”

Key Points:

• Arya Samaj Marriages: Based on reformist Hindu values, they are quick, paperwork-light, and popular among interfaith or eloping couples. Established in 1875, Arya Samaj promotes “shuddhi” or reconversion to Hinduism.
• Legal Framework: The Arya Marriage Validation Act, 1937, protects such marriages even across castes and sub-castes. However, it does not bypass procedures under state anti-conversion laws or marriage registration rules.
• Concerns Raised: Courts and governments have flagged cases where Arya Samaj weddings were used to:
  • Avoid scrutiny under Special Marriage Act (SMA), which mandates a 30-day public notice.
  • Circumvent anti-conversion laws, especially when conversion rituals are incomplete or rushed.
  • Marry minors or without valid consent, especially in interfaith cases.
• Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021: Requires pre- and post-conversion declarations, verification of voluntariness, and penalizes coercive or fraudulent conversions.
• Court Observations: The judiciary noted misuse of Arya Samaj temples to issue fraudulent marriage certificates without proper documentation, particularly in interfaith unions.

Learning Corner:

Arya Samaj

The Arya Samaj was a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay (now Mumbai). It aimed to revive the Vedic way of life, rejecting superstitions, caste discrimination, and idol worship, and promoting rationalism, equality, and education.

Key Objectives:

• Return to the Vedas: Emphasized the authority of the four Vedas as the true source of knowledge.
• Opposition to orthodoxy: Rejected rituals, priestcraft, and idol worship.
• Promotion of social reforms:
  • Women’s education and widow remarriage
  • Abolition of child marriage and untouchability
• National awakening: Encouraged self-reliance, swadeshi, and national pride.
• Shuddhi Movement: Re-conversion of non-Hindus back to Hinduism.

Key Contributions:

• Established Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and colleges to combine Vedic values with Western education.
• Promoted Hindi in Devanagari script as a unifying national language.
• Influenced leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and played a role in freedom struggle.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: ISRO is set to launch the BlueBird Block 2 communications satellite, developed by U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile, using its LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) launch vehicle

Key Highlights:

• Objective: To provide direct mobile voice and internet services to smartphones, even in areas without terrestrial networks.
• Technology: Equipped with a large antenna (approx. 64 sq. meters) to offer near-total geographic coverage, including remote areas.
• Impact: Enhances global connectivity, especially useful for disaster response, remote education, and rural healthcare.
• Strategic Value: Strengthens India–U.S. space cooperation and positions ISRO as a major player in global commercial satellite launches.

This mission reflects India’s growing influence in commercial space services and deepening international collaborations.

Learning Corner:

GSAT Series (Geostationary Satellites)

India’s GSAT (Geo-Stationary Satellite) series is the backbone of Indian communications from space, developed by ISRO for telecommunication, television broadcasting, internet services, secure communication, and disaster management support.

Recent GSAT Missions:

• GSAT-24 (Launched: June 2022 by Arianespace):
  • Fully commercial satellite, leased by Tata Play.
  • Provides DTH services with 24 Ku-band transponders.
• GSAT-20 (GSAT-N1) – Upcoming:
  • Will use High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology.
  • Ka-band satellite designed for pan-India broadband coverage, especially in rural areas.
  • Expected launch via Arianespace or LVM3.
• GSAT-19 & GSAT-29:
  • These acted as technology demonstrators for high throughput satellite tech.
  • Carried advanced payloads like ion propulsion and optical communication experiments.

CMS (Communication Satellite) Series

• CMS-01 (Launched: December 2020 via PSLV-C50):
  • Replaced GSAT-12.
  • Provides extended C-band services for tele-education, telemedicine, and disaster warning.

Source: THE HINDU

Introduction (Context)

Government schools in India offer numerous student-friendly benefits: free education, qualified and better-paid teachers, mid-day meals, free textbooks and uniforms, and low or zero fees. 

Despite this government schools in India are witnessing a decline in enrolments, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. 

The answer lies in a complex combination of perception, policy gaps, structural inequities, and, most importantly, an entrance exam system that unintentionally favours private institutions and urban students while leaving rural, government school students at a disadvantage.

Let’s analyse this detail.

Core Issues Behind the Declining Enrolment

Perception Gap

• Government schools are often perceived as outdated, poorly managed, and meant for the underprivileged regardless of their actual strengths. 

• Whereas, Private schools, despite often lacking infrastructure or qualified staff, are marketed as modern and aspirational.

Medium of Instruction Divide

• NEP recommends mother tongue-based learning till Grade 5, followed by a gradual transition to ensure better comprehension and conceptual clarity in the early years. 
• Government schools generally adhere to this policy. However, many private schools advertise English-medium instruction from Class 1, often without qualified English teachers.
• Hence parents under advertisement and peer pressure prefer private schools for early language advantage for their children
• Without uniform enforcement of NEP across both public and private schools, this divide is bound to widen.

Entrance Exam Bias

• Major exams (IIT-JEE, NEET, etc.) focus only on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects. Subjects like languages, history, geography, political science, and ethics are ignored, devaluing holistic learning.
• Private schools often run early coaching programmes, giving their students an unfair advantage.
• Government school students, who study a broader and more balanced syllabus, are at a disadvantage. The system rewards selective learning and penalizes holistic education.

Steps needed

Reform Entrance Exams

• Entrance exams must be reformed to test across all key school subjects, including languages, humanities, ethics, and reasoning.
• This will give equal chances to all students, not just those trained in STEM subjects.

Implement NEP Uniformly

• Enforce the National Education Policy (NEP) rules in both public and private schools.
• Ensure all schools follow proper language policies and balanced curriculum.

Regulate Misleading Branding by Private Schools

• Misleading early branding by private schools—such as IIT and NEET training from Class 1—should be regulated to protect the integrity of childhood education.

Improve Government School Infrastructure

• Public school infrastructure must be upgraded to reflect the aspirations of a changing society. 
• Teacher support, digital tools, and community participation through School Management Committees should be strengthened. 
• Success stories from government schools should be advertised to rebuild public trust.

Strengthen Community Participation

• Empower School Management Committees (SMCs) to involve parents and local stakeholders.
• Improve accountability and ownership at the local level.

Conclusion

Government schools are crucial for educational equity and national development. The current preference for private schools is less a result of actual performance and more due to systemic biases and perception issues. A realignment of admission policies, examination systems, and curriculum implementation is vital to make public schools the “first-choice” rather than the “last resort”.

Mains Practice Question

Q Despite welfare measures and sound pedagogical frameworks, enrolment in government schools continues to decline in India. Critically examine the causes behind this trend. What reforms are necessary to restore public trust in government school education? (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: Here’s why enrollments are falling in govt schools and how that can be fixed – The Hindu

Introduction (Context)

In July 2024, five family members, including three women, were brutally killed in Purnia, Bihar, over accusations of witchcraft. 

According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, since 2000 more than 2,500 women have been killed after being branded as a witch. This number is estimated to be even higher, as many cases go unreported. 

These incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of violence rooted in superstition, patriarchy and casteism.

What is witch hunting?

Witch-hunting refers to the practice of accusing individuals mostly women of practicing witchcraft.

Women accused of practicing witchcraft face various forms of physical and mental torture as well as execution. Severe violence is commonly use to punish accused witches and can include rape, beating, flogging and severing of limbs.

Data

• Over 663 were killed for allegedly practising witchcraft during 2015 and 2021 according to the National Crime Research Bureau (NCRB).
• The state of Jharkhand has recorded the highest total number of murders where the motive was witchcraft, with 593 women being killed on the grounds of witchcraft between 2001 and 2021 according to the National Crime Records Bureau. 
• The states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha also have recorded many cases of witch branding.

Why Is Witch Hunting Still Thriving?

• Superstitious beliefs – People believe that witches have magical powers which they use to attack humans, destroy crops, harm animals, influence others’ bodies and minds, or gain control in ways beyond medical explanation.
• Lack of knowledge – In remote, isolated areas with limited or no educational facilities, or among older illiterate people, women are often blamed for bad events when others cannot explain the cause.
• Lack of resources and poverty – Women are targeted due to poverty, refusal to engage in sexual relations, and other vulnerabilities.
• Other reasons include a gullible, conservative society, patriarchy, financial disputes, personal and social conflicts, jealousy, property disputes, lack of medical facilities, and ignorance.

Disturbing trends

• Accusations of witchcraft are systematically targeted on Widowed, elderly, or single women which are seen as obstacles to male inheritance or land ownership.
• Witch-branding functions as a tool of patriarchal control.
• Witchcraft accusations are common in areas where poverty, illiteracy, and poor health facilities are prevalent. In such cases supernatural effects are used to justify the unexplained deaths of livestock, illness or natural events. 
• Accusations often arise from land disputes, caste conflicts, or community tensions, especially involving dominant caste men seeking to maintain social hierarchies.

Laws related to Witch hunting

• IPC Sections 302 (murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) are invoked in cases of witch-hunting.
• Many states such as Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Rajasthan have enacted Anti-Witch-Hunting Laws. These provide stringent punishment to perpetrators of a witch hunt but these state-level legislations are not sufficient to eradicate the atrocious act of witch-hunting.
• Witch-hunting and related superstitious beliefs lead to crimes that violate the fundamental articles such as Article 14, Articles 15(3) and 21 of the Indian Constitution and simultaneously violate several provisions of international legislations to which India is a signatory, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women, 1979 and International Covenant on civil and political rights, 1966.
• UN Human Rights Council adopted the resolution titled: “Elimination of Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks (HPAWR)” in July 2021. It calls for Criminalisation of harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations, Awareness campaigns and community sensitisation and tackle root causes such as poverty, superstition, illiteracy, and gender inequality.

Need for Central Legislation

• Current laws focus on punishment mechanisms and do not address the need to eradicate superstitious beliefs. 
• Cases often treated as “local cultural matters” rather than gender-based violence.
• Low conviction rates, poor victim rehabilitation, and community complicity remain challenges.
• Reporting methods are limited, and victims often avoid reporting witch hunting due to fear or acceptance. 
• The Prevention of Witch Hunting Bill was introduced in 2016 but never passed.

The Indian Government must make a universal law banning the practice of witch-hunting which is the need of the hour and must set up organizations to deal with such acts expeditiously as a matter of concern to eradicate the exploitation at large of women.

Other steps needed

• Strengthen enforcement of anti-witch hunting laws.
• Fast-track courts and mandatory FIR registration in such cases.
• Spread scientific temper, especially in tribal and rural areas.
• Ensure last-mile delivery of healthcare and public health literacy to reduce fear-based belief systems.
• Train police, judiciary, and local administrators.
• Empower School Management Committees (SMCs), Panchayats, and self-help groups to counter superstition.
• Create safe shelters, medical and psychological support, and economic rehabilitation schemes for survivors.
• Encourage testimonies and survivor-led campaigns to break stigma.

Conclusion

Witch-hunting in India is not merely a vestige of superstition, but a violent expression of entrenched patriarchy, caste oppression, and systemic neglect. Legal reform, community sensitisation, and structural empowerment must go hand-in-hand to dismantle the social legitimacy that sustains such violence. Only through an intersectional and rights-based approach can India uphold its constitutional promise of dignity, equality, and justice for all.

Mains Practice Question

Q Witch-hunting in India reflects the intersection of superstition, gender-based violence, caste discrimination, and state failure. Critically analyse the structural factors that sustain this practice. Suggest a multi-pronged strategy to eradicate it. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: Caste, patriarchy brand women as witches – The Hindu