UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Articles

Mental Health Crisis in India: Key Highlights

Prevalence and Statistics

• National Mental Health Survey (NMHS, 2015-16): Approximately 14% of India’s population lives with a mental disorder; only 1 in 10 receives treatment.
• Suicide Rates: In 2021, 118,979 men and 45,026 women died by suicide, revealing a stark gender disparity with men at 2.6 times the rate

• Genome Editing Technology: Indian scientists have developed an indigenous genome-editing technology using Transposon-associated proteins (TnpB) as an alternative to CRISPR-Cas proteins, aimed at modifying plant DNA for enhanced agricultural outcomes.

• Patent Details: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was granted a patent for this technology (Systems and Methods for Tar

Political Context: Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina's Verdict

• Bangladesh is undergoing a significant political transformation following the death sentence pronounced on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 student protests.
• Hasina’s political legacy is deeply intertwined with Bangladesh's independence, as she is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahma

Summary of Key Points on Pigeon Feeding Controversy in Mumbai:

1. Legal Action:

   • A petition was filed in the Bombay High Court by advocate Sagar Kantilal Devre against the BMC's decision to allow controlled pigeon feeding at four locations, including Airoli-Mulund creekside.

2. Health and Safety Concerns:

   • The petition cites grave risks to public health, road safety, and the

COP30 Climate Talks Summary - Key Notes

1. Event Background:

   • Venue: COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
   • Purpose: Climate negotiations for global climate action.

2. Key Delegates and Groups:

   • Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC): Coalition of oil and gas-producing nations including Saudi Arabia.
   • India included in LMDC; emphasizes renewable energy despite being a non-petro-st

Climate Change and COP30 Conference Highlights:

1. COP30 Overview:

   • Location: Belém, Brazil (Formerly an airport venue).
   • Ongoing discussions focus on climate finance, fossil fuel dependency, and emissions reduction strategies.

2. Coalition of Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC):

   • Member countries primarily include oil and gas producers, notably Saudi Arabia.
   • Cou

Summary of Cryptocurrency Regulatory Challenges and Data

Regulatory Challenges and Criminal Activities

• The rise of cryptocurrencies has resulted in significant regulatory challenges, including fraud and money laundering activities.
• Noteworthy incidents include:
  • 2022: Collapse of FTX; founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted for fraud and conspiracy to launder money.
  • 2023:

International Relations and Security

• The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission presented a report to the US Congress highlighting a disinformation campaign led by China after the recent India-Pakistan border conflict in May 2025.
• China allegedly propagated fake narratives regarding the destruction of French Rafale aircraft using AI-generated images, aiming to promote its J-35

Summary of Key Facts and Developments

1. Border Conflict and Military Relations:

• A border conflict occurred between India and Pakistan from May 7-10, 2025, triggered by terror attacks in Pahalgam.
• The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission's report, submitted to Congress, states China allegedly aided Pakistan through "live inputs" on Indian military positions during the conf

Summary of Metro Rail Projects in Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore and Madurai

Constitutional and Policy Framework:

• Metro Rail Policy 2017: Stipulates cities must have a minimum population of 2 million to qualify for a Metro Rail transit system.

Population Data:

• Coimbatore Population (2011 Census): 1.58 million
• Madurai Population (2011 Census): 1.5 million

Governmen

Exam-Focused Notes on the Bengal Famine Memorial Event

Historical Context and Background:

• 1943 Bengal Famine: A significant humanitarian crisis during British colonial rule in India, resulting in an estimated 3 million deaths. Official records initially estimated 1.5 million.
• Events Leading to Famine:
  • The onset of World War II in 1939 shifted British prioritie

Regulatory Challenges of Cryptocurrencies: Exam-Focused Notes

Key Cases and Legal Challenges

• FTX Collapse (2022): Founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted for fraud and conspiracy to launder money.
• Binance Violation (2023): Founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Impact

• **Fines and Penalties Globa

Environmental Situation in India

Air Quality and Pollution

• Air Quality Index (AQI): On November 12, 2025, Delhi recorded a severe AQI of over 400, marking the air quality as distinctly unbreathable.
• Protests: On November 9, citizens of Delhi protested against deteriorating air quality, with many being detained.

Environmental Disasters

• Flash Floods in Uttarkashi:

Summary of Key Facts and Developments on Maoist Activities and Government Response

Maoist Leadership and Operations:

• The killing of Madvi Hidma, a prominent Maoist leader, marks a significant development in anti-Maoist operations by the Telangana Police's Greyhounds in the Maredumilli forest of Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
• This event indicates a potential decline in Maoist activitie

Groundwater Contamination Crisis in India

Overview

• Groundwater Dependency: 600 million people in India rely on groundwater for drinking and irrigation.
• Contamination Statistics:
  • Annual Groundwater Quality Report (2024): Nearly 1/5 of samples from 440 districts exceed safe contamination limits.
  • Over 30% of samples in Punjab show uranium levels above permissible

Summary of Air Pollution in India and China: Comparative Analysis

Current Situation of Air Pollution in India

• Persistent air pollution, particularly in northern cities like Delhi, worsens during winter months due to meteorological factors and external triggers such as stubble burning and fireworks.
• Coastal cities, including Mumbai, also face high pollution levels attributed to indust

Key Highlights from Sentinel-6B Launch

Mission Overview

• Launch Date: Recent launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
• Vehicle: Sentinel-6B, an ocean-tracking satellite.

Technical Specifications

• Speed: Orbits Earth at 7.2 km/s.
• Orbit Period: Completes one revolution every 112 minutes.
• Instruments: Equipped with six science instruments for var

Summary of Key Points from the Article

Metro Rail Projects in Tamil Nadu:

• The Union government's rejection of Metro projects for Coimbatore and Madurai due to non-fulfillment of eligibility criteria specified in the 2017 Metro Rail Policy.
• Eligibility requirement: A city must have a population of at least 2 million to qualify for Metro Rail projects, based on **2011 Census dat

Exam-Focused Summary: Bangladesh Political Crisis and International Implications

1. Context of the Verdict
   • Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, faces a death sentence for crimes against humanity related to the violent crackdown on student protests in 2024, marking significant political volatility.
   • The trial's speed and opacity have raised questions about the fairn

Air Pollution in India and Lessons from China

Overview

• Air Pollution Problem: Northern India faces severe air pollution, particularly in winter due to smog. Coastal cities like Mumbai also experience high pollution levels from industrial and vehicular emissions.
• Meteorological Factors: Factors like wind direction and low temperatures, along with farm stubble burning and firec

Summary of Fossil Discovery in Spitsbergen

Key Findings:

• Location: Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago.
• Discovery: More than 30,000 fossils (teeth, bones, coprolites) from approximately 249 million years ago.
• Species Diversity: Fossils represent a wide range of marine reptiles, amphibians, bony fish, and sharks.

Significance of the Discovery:

• **Early

Key Highlights on India’s Decarbonization Financing Needs

1. Decarbonization Estimates:
   • Former Minister Jayant Sinha stated that India needs an additional $50 billion to $100 billion in corporate capital expenditure over this decade to achieve significant decarbonization.
   • A report by Rakesh Mohan and Janak Raj estimated India’s annual climate finance requirement between **20

• Incident Overview: Chhattisgarh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) apprehended two juveniles in Raipur linked to a Pakistan-based ISIS module that attempted to radicalize them.

• Radicalization Techniques: The Pakistani handlers operated social media accounts under fake identities, specifically utilizing Instagram, to disseminate ISIS ideology, incite anti-India activities, and spread extremist

Summary of World Happiness Report Insights

World Happiness Ranking:

• Finland ranks as the happiest country for the eighth consecutive year (2025 World Happiness Report).
• India ranks 118th with a score of 4.389 out of 10, while Pakistan ranks 109th despite its economic difficulties.

Economic Context:

• India has a GDP of $3.7 trillion, making it