UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Supreme Court Ruling on Presidential Reference and Constitutional Implications

Key Constitutional Articles:

• Article 200: Governor must declare decisions on State Bills "as soon as possible."
• Article 201: Governs the power of the Governor regarding State Legislature actions.
• Article 142: Allows the Supreme Court to pass orders for doing complete justice, previously used

Historical Context of Political Developments in South India (April 1942)

Key Events and Developments:

1. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Meeting:

   • Date: April 23, 1942.
   • Location: Hindi Prachar Sabha, T. Nagar, Madras.
   • Key Leaders: C. Rajagopalachari (CR), T. Prakasam, B. Gopala Reddi, K. Kamaraj, among others.

2. Resolutions Passed:

   • Two significant motions ad

Key Historical Events from April 1942 in South India

1. Political Assembly:
   • Date: April 23, 1942
   • Location: Hindi Prachar Sabha, T. Nagar, Madras
   • Organized by: C. Rajagopalachari (CR) and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP)
   • Significant Attendance: Notable leaders included T. Praksam, B. Gopala Reddi, Bulusu Sambamurti, A. Kaleswara Rao, T.S.S. Rajan, P.

Exam-Focused Notes

Meteorological Update:

• Upcoming Cyclone Formation: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts another cyclone formation over the Bay of Bengal, likely moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
• Timeline:
  • Low-pressure area expected around November 22.
  • Expected to intensify into a depression by November 24.
  • Cyclone development predi

Summary of Key Information on Cyclone Montha and Upcoming Cyclone Formation

1. Meteorological Updates:
   • A low-pressure area is expected to form around November 22 over the Southeast Bay of Bengal.
   • Forecast indicates it will move west-northwestwards and may intensify into a depression by November 24 over central parts of the South Bay of Bengal.
   • The system is proj

Summary of Key Events and Information from UN COP30 Climate Summit Fire Incident in Brazil

1. Incident Overview:

   • On November 20, 2025, a fire broke out at the main venue of the ongoing UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belem, Brazil, especially affecting the health and science pavilion.

2. Injury Details:

   • At least 21 individuals were reported injured, receiving med

Incident Summary: COP30 Climate Summit Fire

• Event Details: A fire occurred at the Blue Zone venue of the UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, on November 20, 2025, affecting the health and science pavilion.
• Injuries: At least 21 individuals received medical care:
  • 19 cases of smoke inhalation.
  • 2 cases of anxiety episodes.
  • No burn injuries reported.
  • 12 individua

Summary of Key Facts and Data from Bombay High Court Case on Malnutrition in Melghat:

1. Judicial Overview:

   • The Bombay High Court is addressing ongoing malnutrition issues in Melghat’s tribal belt.
   • The court expressed concern over infant deaths from malnutrition, with approximately 65 deaths reported since June 2025 among children aged 0-6 months.

2. Court Directives:

Notes on Infant Mortality due to Malnutrition in Melghat, Maharashtra

Judicial Context:

• Court: Bombay High Court
• Judges: Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh D. Patil
• Case Reference: Public Interest Litigation filed in 2007 by Rajendra Sadanand Burma
• Previous Orders: The court had previously directed action on malnutrition issues (notably on July 29, 2025).

**C

Summary of Pharmacogenomics Advancements

Definition and Importance

• Pharmacogenomics studies the effect of genetic variations on drug responses, transforming medication prescriptions from a trial-and-error approach to precision medicine.
• Genetic differences influence how the body metabolizes drugs, particularly through drug-metabolizing enzymes like the cytochrome P450 (CYP) f

Key Points on Climate Change Negotiations and Just Transition Mechanisms:

1. Just Transition Mechanism Establishment:

   • Proposed by India alongside several developing nations at the ongoing climate summit.
   • Aims to support workers transitioning from fossil fuel-dependent industries to renewable energy sectors.
   • Initiated at COP27 (2022) and operationalized at COP28 (2023).

National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025 Overview

• Release Date & Context: Unveiled on World Fisheries Day 2025, with the theme "India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports."
• Objective: To improve traceability, sustainability, and infrastructure in India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Key Highlights and Initiati

Economic Overview:

• Trade Deal Confidence: RBI Governor, Sanjay Malhotra, expressed optimism regarding a favorable trade agreement with the US which could alleviate pressure on India's current account balance and stabilize the rupee.
• Current Account Metrics: India’s current account deficit widened to $2.35 billion in Q1 of 2025 from a surplus of $13.48 billion in the previous quart

Fisheries and Aquaculture in India: Key Highlights

Growth and Economic Impact

• Fisheries and aquaculture are critical sectors in India, contributing significantly to livelihoods, nutrition, and trade.
• India is the second-largest aquaculture producer globally, contributing 10.23 million tonnes to aquatic food production.
• Overall production has increased from 2.44 million tonnes in th

Summary of India's Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector

1. Growth and Contribution:
   • Fisheries and aquaculture are among India's fastest-growing food-producing sectors, crucial for livelihoods, nutrition, and trade.
   • India has shown significant progress in aquatic food production, rising from 2.44 million tonnes in the 1980s to 17.54 million tonnes in 2022-23.
   • Contributes 10.23 m

• International Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the G20 summit in South Africa from November 21, 2025. This marks the first G20 summit hosted in Africa.

• IBSA Summit: During the visit, PM Modi will also participate in the sixth IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Summit, focusing on collaboration among these nations.

• Indian Perspective: PM Modi emphasizes India's

Exam-Focused Notes on Parliamentary Accountability and the Election Commission of India

Constitutional Framework:

• Separation of Powers: The three arms of the state are the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
• Election Commission of India (ECI): Operates under the executive but has quasi-judicial powers.

Parliament's Role:

• Parliament has constitutional authority to dis

Summary of Parliamentary Accountability and the Election Commission of India

Constitutional Framework

• Parliament's Role: The Constitution mandates that the government is accountable to Parliament, which in turn is accountable to the public.
• Executive Responsibility: The Election Commission of India (ECI), while part of the executive, possesses quasi-judicial powers.
• **Parli

Summary Notes on St. George's Cathedral Renovation

Background

• Establishment: St. George’s Cathedral, Madras, was established in 1816, initiated by a request from Rev. Richard Hall Kerr in 1807.
• Construction: Funded through a lottery, the construction cost totaled 41,709 Pagodas, with an additional 57,225 Pagodas for furnishings and design; both local and E

Supreme Court Ruling on Environmental Clearance

1. Case Overview:
   • In a 2:1 ruling, the Supreme Court of India has recalled its May 2025 judgment that struck down a 2017 notification and a 2021 office memorandum from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). These allowed projects that commenced without prior environmental clearance to seek **ex

Exam-Focused Notes on Pharmacogenomics

Definition and Importance:

• Pharmacogenomics: Study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs, transitioning medication prescribing from a trial-and-error method to a precision approach.

Key Genetic Components:

• Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes: Essential for drug metabolism, with variants affecting drug efficacy and safety.
  • 7

Summary of Key Points on Scams and Fraud in India

Introduction to the Issue of Scams

• Scams in India manifest in various forms such as digital fraud, e-commerce blunders, and credit card deception.
• The book "Scamlands: Inside the Asian Empire of Fraud That Preys on the World" by Snigdha Poonam explores the intricacies and evolution of scamming as a skill within communities pri

Summary of Key Facts and Insights

Vaccine Development and WHO Pre-Qualification

• Product: Pneubevax 14 (BE-PCV-14)

  • Manufacturer: Biological E.
  • Type: 14-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

• WHO Pre-Qualification Status:

  • This status allows for broader global immunization efforts, ensuring enhanced access to high-quality pneumococcal vaccines, particularly for

Mental Health Issues in India

Key Statistics

• Prevalence of Mental Disorders: Approximately 14% of India's population experiences some form of mental disorder (National Mental Health Survey, 2015–16).
• Treatment Gap: Only 10% of individuals with mental health disorders receive treatment.
• Suicide Rates: Suicide among men is 2.6 times higher than among women. In 2021, 118,9