Author: karthik

Tawi River Syllabus: GS1/ Geography Context India recently issued a flood warning to Pakistan regarding the Tawi River as a humanitarian gesture. The alert was sent through diplomatic channels, not via the Indus Waters Commission, which is the designated mechanism under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960.   About River Tawi Origin: Kailash Kund glacier (Kali Kund) near Bhaderwah, Doda district, Jammu & Kashmir. Tributary: Left bank tributary of the Chenab River. Significance: Known as the “Lifeline of Jammu City”. Provides water for drinking, irrigation, and holds cultural importance. Flows through Jammu before joining Chenab.   About the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT, 1960) Parties: India & Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. River Allocation: Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) → Pakistan’s rights, with India allowed limited use (irrigation, hydropower, domestic). Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) → India’s exclusive rights. Flood-Information Sharing: A key obligation under the treaty, ensuring early warnings to prevent disasters. Consider the following statements regarding River Tawi: It originates from the Kailash Kund glacier in Himachal Pradesh. It is a right-bank tributary of the Chenab River. It flows through Jammu city before joining the Chenab. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2 onlyC. 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: C (3 only)Explanation: Statement 1 : River Tawi originates from Kailash Kund glacier (Kali Kund) in Doda district, Jammu & Kashmir, not Himachal Pradesh. Statement 2 : It is a left-bank tributary of the Chenab, not right-bank. Statement 3 : It flows through Jammu city before meeting the Chenab. Switch facility from Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS) Syllabus :GS2/Governance In News The Ministry of Finance has introduced a one-time, one-way switch facility allowing employees to shift from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS).   Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) Nature of the scheme: A Defined Benefit pension model, designed to replicate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) with slight modifications.   Key Features: Pension assurance: 50% of last drawn basic pay as monthly pension, provided the employee has completed 25 years of service. For employees with service between 10 and 25 years: Pension is given on a pro-rata basis, subject to a minimum floor of ₹10,000 per month. Family pension: Fixed at 60% of the retiree’s pension. Inflation protection: All pensions are indexed to inflation.   Funding pattern: Employee contribution – 10% of salary Government contribution – 18.5% of salary Subject to actuarial review and adjustments. Retrospective coverage: Applies to those who joined after January 1, 2004 and have retired under the NPS framework.   National Pension System (NPS) Launched: 2004, replacing the fiscally burdensome Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Nature: A Defined Contribution model, with returns dependent on market performance.   Structure: Tier I (Mandatory): Central Government employees (except Armed Forces) who joined on or after 1st January 2004. Contributions: 10% of basic pay + DA by employee, matched equally by 10% government contribution. Withdrawal: On retirement at age 60, at least 40% of corpus must be used to purchase an annuity for lifetime pension. For premature exit, annuitization rises to 80%. With reference to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), consider the following statements: It assures 50% of the average basic pay during the last 10 years of service as pension, provided at least 25 years of service is completed. For employees with service less than 25 years, pension is given proportionately but cannot be below ₹10,000 per month. Family pension under UPS is fixed at 60% of the retiree’s pension. Government contribution under UPS is higher than in the National Pension System (NPS). Which of the above statements are correct? Options:A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2, 3 and 4 onlyC. 1, 3 and 4 onlyD. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: B Explanation: (1)  Wrong → UPS assures 50% of last basic pay, not the average of last 10 years. (2)  Correct → Minimum floor = ₹10,000/month. (3)  Correct → Family pension = 60%. (4)  Correct → Govt contribution = 18.5% (UPS) vs 10% (NPS) India Partners with World Food Programme to Fight Global Hunger Syllabus: GS3/ Food Security Context The Government of India and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen cooperation in addressing global hunger and malnutrition. Under this initiative, India will provide fortified rice to WFP for supporting the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations in food-insecure regions of the world.     About World Food Programme (WFP) Establishment: 1961, jointly by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and the UN General Assembly. Headquarters: Rome, Italy. Mandate: The world’s largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to fighting hunger and promoting food security.   Governing Body: The Executive Board is the supreme decision-making authority. Comprises 36 Member States, which provide intergovernmental direction, support, and oversight.   Leadership: Headed by an Executive Director (appointed for fixed five-year terms). Responsible for programme implementation and overall administration. Funding: Relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and individuals. Global Operations: Active in 120+ countries and territories, delivering food assistance, nutrition programmes, and emergency relief.   Historic Milestone: Launched its first development programme in Sudan (1963). Recognition: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for efforts to combat hunger, improve peace in conflict zones, and prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war. With reference to the World Food Programme (WFP), consider the following statements: It was jointly established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN General Assembly in the early 1960s. Its Executive Board consists of 36 Member States, elected for staggered terms by the UN General Assembly. WFP is entirely funded by assessed contributions of UN Member States. The first WFP development project was launched in Sudan. Which of the above statements are correct? A. 1 and 4 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1, 2 and 4 onlyD. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: C Explanation: Correct: WFP was established in 1961 jointly by FAO and UNGA. Partially correct: 36 members, but