Author: karthik

Society History Governance Science and Technology Environment Polity Economy Intellectual Property Rights Geography Reports Disproportionate Burden on Women in Risk Society Syllabus: GS1/ Society   What is a Risk Society? Coined by German sociologist Ulrich Beck in his 1986 book Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. Refers to a shift from industrial society to one dominated by man-made risks—like climate change, pandemics, and technological hazards—arising from modern development. Unlike natural disasters, these risks are global, complex, and often invisible, affecting societies unequally.       Why Women Are Disproportionately Affected Environmental & Health Risks: Water collection exposes women to contaminated sources, increasing the risk of disease. Solid fuels for cooking cause indoor air pollution, leading to chronic respiratory issues. Gender norms (e.g., eating last or less) worsen women’s nutritional and health outcomes. NFHS-5 (2019–21): 57% of Indian women suffer from anaemia vs. 25% of men. Economic Vulnerability: Concentration in informal work with low job security and savings. Limited land ownership and asset access hinder disaster recovery. Lower credit access increases dependency and reduces resilience. Unpaid care work adds emotional and physical strain. Political & Institutional Exclusion: Women’s voices are often missing in policy-making, especially in disaster preparedness and climate governance. Results in gender-blind policies and missed use of women’s community knowledge.   Way Forward Gender Mainstreaming: Integrate women’s needs into all risk reduction, climate, and pandemic strategies. Economic Empowerment: Ensure land rights, financial access, and social protection schemes prioritise women. Care Infrastructure: Support unpaid care work via crèches, health insurance, and community kitchens. Inclusive Governance: Institutionalise women’s participation in disaster management and local planning bodies. Consider the following statements regarding the concept of a “Risk Society” and its gendered impacts: The term “Risk Society” was coined by Ulrich Beck in 1986 and refers to a society increasingly shaped by global, man-made risks such as climate change, pandemics, and technological hazards. Women are disproportionately affected by environmental and health risks, such as water collection from contaminated sources and indoor air pollution from solid fuels. Women’s economic vulnerability is exacerbated by higher participation in the formal labor sector, where job security and savings are guaranteed. Political and institutional exclusion of women often leads to gender-neutral policies, ignoring their unique needs in disaster preparedness and climate governance. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2 and 4 onlyC. 1, 2, and 4 onlyD. 1, 2, 3, and 4 Answer: C. 1, 2, and 4 only Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Ulrich Beck’s “Risk Society” indeed describes the shift towards a society dominated by human-made, global risks such as climate change, pandemics, and technological hazards. Statement 2 is correct. Women are disproportionately affected by environmental and health risks, such as exposure to contaminated water and indoor air pollution, which are exacerbated by gendered roles (e.g., water collection and cooking). Statement 3 is incorrect. Women are more likely to be concentrated in the informal labor sector, where job security and savings are often lacking, not in the formal sector as the statement suggests. Statement 4 is correct. Women’s exclusion from decision-making results in gender-blind policies, ignoring their specific needs in the context of disaster preparedness and climate governance. Years of End of the Vietnam War Syllabus: GS1/World History Background Vietnam had been a French colony since the mid-19th century, part of French Indochina along with Laos and Cambodia. During World War II, Japan occupied Vietnam, allowing the French to retain some control. After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam), declared Vietnam’s independence. However, the French attempted to reassert control, leading to the First Indochina War.     The Vietnam War: The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, was a prolonged conflict from 1955 to 1975 between North Vietnam (Communist) and South Vietnam (anti-Communist), with significant U.S. involvement on the side of the South. North Vietnam: Led by Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party, it was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist nations. South Vietnam: Initially led by Ngo Dinh Diem, with various leaders taking charge after multiple coups. It received support from the United States, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and others.   Causes of the War Division of Vietnam: Following the First Indochina War, the 1954 Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, establishing North and South Vietnam. Cold War Tensions: The U.S. feared the spread of communism in Asia, adhering to the “Domino Theory,” which suggested that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries might follow. Internal Conflict: The Viet Cong insurgency in South Vietnam, aligned with the Communist North, sought to reunify the country under communist rule.   Key Phases Advisory Phase (1955–1963): The U.S. provided military advisors and aid to the South Vietnamese government. The unpopular regime of Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown in a U.S.-backed coup in 1963.   Escalation (1964–1969): The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) allegedly saw attacks on U.S. ships, leading to increased U.S. involvement. S. troop levels peaked at over 500,000 by 1969, with significant battles like the Tet Offensive (1968), Battle of Hue, and Khe Sanh. The use of napalm, Agent Orange, and carpet bombing provoked widespread international outrage. Withdrawal (1969–1973): Under President Richard Nixon, the U.S. pursued “Vietnamization,” training South Vietnamese forces to take over the war. U.S. forces began withdrawing, and the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973.   Final Collapse (1973–1975): Despite the U.S. withdrawal, fighting continued, and on April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, marking the end of the war. Vietnam was reunified under communist control, becoming the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.   Agent Orange: Agent Orange, a potent herbicide, was used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War as part of Operation Ranch Hand (1961–1971). This controversial chemical became one of the war’s most infamous symbols due to its severe health and environmental impacts.   Manufacturing: The production of 2,4,5-T, a component of Agent Orange, led to the creation

Governance International Relations Economy Science & Technology & Defence Environment Geography Urban Planning Awards Women & Society Reports Arts & Culture Bihar’s Mukhya Mantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana Syllabus GS2/Governance The Bihar Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, has approved a subsidy of ₹15,995 crore under the Mukhya Mantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana for the financial year 2025-26. This allocation is ₹652 crore more than the subsidy granted in the previous year.   Mukhya Mantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana: Introduced in Bihar, this scheme aims to provide significant electricity subsidies to ease the financial burden on consumers and promote fair access to power throughout the state.   The subsidy is designed to reduce the per-unit cost of electricity for consumers, and will be directly provided to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) through the Reserve Bank of India.   The subsidy will be reflected in consumers’ monthly energy bills, covering the period from April 2025 to March 2026. This move is intended to offset the impact of rising electricity tariff rates.   Did You Know? The Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) in October 2017, with the goal of achieving universal household electrification.   This initiative provides electricity connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural areas and to poor households in urban areas across the country.   Consider the following statements regarding the Mukhya Mantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana: The scheme provides subsidies directly to consumers through the Reserve Bank of India to reduce their electricity bills. The subsidy aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers by lowering per-unit electricity costs and is allocated for the period from April 2025 to March 2026. The subsidy under the scheme is specifically aimed at reducing the electricity tariffs for commercial consumers in Bihar. The Bihar Government has allocated ₹15,995 crore for the scheme in 2025-26, which is an increase of ₹652 crore from the previous year’s budget. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1, 2, and 4 only(b) 2, 3, and 4 only(c) 1, 3, and 4 only(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 Answer: (a) 1, 2, and 4 onlyExplanation: Statement 1: Correct – The subsidy is provided through the Reserve Bank of India directly to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which helps reduce the per-unit cost for consumers. Statement 2: Correct – The subsidy will indeed be for the period from April 2025 to March 2026, aimed at reducing the per-unit electricity costs. Statement 3: Incorrect – The scheme primarily targets domestic consumers, not commercial consumers. Statement 4: Correct – The Bihar government has allocated ₹15,995 crore, which is an increase of ₹652 crore over the previous year’s allocation. Bandung Conference Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations This year marks 70 years since the historic Bandung Conference, a landmark moment in the rise of the Global South as a political force.   About the Bandung Conference (1955) Held in Bandung, Indonesia, the conference brought together 29 newly independent Asian and African nations. It aimed to confront the challenges of decolonization, assert sovereignty, and offer an alternative voice in a world dominated by Cold War superpowers. The event laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and promoted Afro-Asian solidarity through economic and cultural cooperation. It opposed colonialism, imperialism, and neocolonialism in all forms. Bandung’s Ten Principles (Dasasila Bandung) Respect for human rights and the UN Charter Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations Equality of all races and nations Non-interference in internal affairs Right to self-defense per the UN Charter No use of collective defense to serve big power interests No aggression or use of force Peaceful settlement of disputes Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation Respect for justice and international obligations Legacy and Relevance The Bandung Conference is remembered as a powerful assertion of self-determination and dignity for post-colonial nations.Its vision continues to inspire efforts toward a just, multipolar world order in an era of global realignments. What is the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)? Definition: A group of developing countries that remained independent of Cold War power blocs. Origins: Traces back to Bandung (1955); formally established in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Founding Leaders: Jawaharlal Nehru (India) Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt) Josip Tito (Yugoslavia) Sukarno (Indonesia) Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) Structure: No permanent secretariat or binding charter Second-largest international grouping after the United Nations Membership: 120 member countries: 53 from Africa 39 from Asia 26 from Latin America & the Caribbean 2 from Europe Includes Palestine and 17 observer states With reference to the Bandung Principles, which of the following statements is/are correct? They allowed for collective defense only under UN authorization. They prohibited any nation from using its military strength to exert influence on smaller nations. They emphasized cultural cooperation over economic cooperation among Afro-Asian countries. Select the correct answer using the code below:(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (a)     Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Bandung principles align with the UN Charter, allowing defense only in conformity with it. Statement 2 is correct: One of the ten principles specifically opposes the use of power to dominate smaller nations. Statement 3 is incorrect: The conference emphasized both economic and cultural cooperation, not prioritizing one over the other. World Bank: India’s Extreme Poverty Drops to 2.3% Syllabus :GS 3/Economy  According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs), India has made remarkable strides in reducing extreme poverty, with the proportion of people living in extreme poverty dropping from 16% in 2011–12 to just 2.3% in 2022–23. This substantial reduction represents a major milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to combat poverty. About the Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs) The Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs) are biannual reports published by the World Bank. These reports provide a snapshot of trends in poverty, inequality, and shared prosperity across over 100 developing countries. The PEBs are released during the Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund