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Rise in Violent Crimes by Juveniles Syllabus: GS1/ Society, GS2/ Governance   Current Trends Juvenile cases falling overall: From 37,402 (2017) to 33,261 (2022) But violent crimes rising: Share rose from 32.5% (2016) to 49.5% (2022) – NCRB Key crimes: Murder, rape, grievous hurt, robbery, dacoity Hotspots: Madhya Pradesh (20%), Maharashtra (18%), Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi    Key Drivers Digital exposure: Incel culture, violent content, social media addiction Neglect & poverty: Emotional neglect, poor parenting, joblessness Peer pressure: Gangs in informal settlements Substance abuse: Easy access to alcohol and drugs fuels aggression   Policy Response Juvenile Justice Act, 2015: Allows 16–18 age group to be tried as adults for heinous crimes ICPS: Rehabilitation, institutional care, family reintegration Cyber Safety Campaigns: NCERT, CBSE, MoE initiatives against grooming, bullying, addiction    Challenges Under-resourced JJBs & CWCs Gaps in counselling & rehabilitation Stigma post-incarceration Lack of gender-specific data & support   Way Forward Early Intervention: School-based psychosocial support Juvenile Justice Reform: More funding, trained personnel Rehabilitation Focus: Mental health, skill-building, family therapy Community Role: NGOs, mentors, restorative justice models Digital Regulation: Age-gated content, digital literacy Better Data: Gender- and region-wise tracking for targeted action   Conclusion: Tough laws alone are insufficient. A holistic, child-centric approach rooted in prevention, education, mental health, and reintegration is critical to address the surge in juvenile violence in India. With reference to juvenile crime patterns in India over the past decade, consider the following statements: Despite a gradual decline in the total number of juveniles apprehended under criminal charges since 2017, the relative share of those involved in violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and grievous hurt has witnessed a statistically significant rise, signaling a qualitative shift in juvenile delinquency. The 2022 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data confirms that more than half of the recorded crimes committed by juveniles fall under the category of “violent crimes,” thereby necessitating a legislative rethink on how youth crimes are categorized and addressed. Geospatial crime mapping based on NCRB datasets between 2017 and 2022 points to a concentration of juvenile violent offences in Central India, particularly in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where socio-economic vulnerabilities and inadequate juvenile support systems compound the risks of criminal behavior among minors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 1 and 3 onlyC. 2 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 Correct Answer: B Detailed Explanation: Statement 1 is Correct:According to NCRB’s 2023 report, the total number of juveniles in conflict with the law has decreased from 37,402 in 2017 to 33,261 in 2022. However, the share of juveniles involved in violent crimes increased markedly from 5% in 2016 to 49.5% in 2022. This indicates a shift from minor/non-violent offences like petty theft toward more serious violent offences, raising alarms about the psychological, socio-economic, and digital influences affecting youth behaviour. Statement 2 is Incorrect:Though close to 50% of juvenile crimes in 2022 were categorized as violent (49.5% to be precise), the number did not exceed the halfway mark, making this a critical statistical distinction. In a UPSC context, the phrasing “more than half” implies crossing the 50% threshold, which did not occur, thus rendering the statement factually incorrect. Statement 3 is Correct:Data disaggregation by state from NCRB indicates that Madhya Pradesh alone accounted for 20% of all violent juvenile crimes from 2017 to 2022. Chhattisgarh followed with around 8.4%, placing Central India at the epicentre of juvenile violent criminality. These states often rank poorly on socio-economic indicators such as literacy, urban poverty, substance abuse prevalence, and child protection infrastructure, contributing to the regional spike. Ninth Anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Scheme   Context: India recently commemorated the ninth anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a transformative initiative aimed at providing clean cooking fuel to economically disadvantaged households.   Overview of PMUY: Launched: 2016 Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Objective: To promote the adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) among Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, thereby eliminating dependence on traditional, polluting cooking methods.   Beneficiary Focus: Target Group: Adult women from BPL households. Priority Coverage: SC/ST households, PMAY (Gramin) beneficiaries, forest dwellers, tea garden workers, and migrant families (allowed self-declaration for address proof).   Implementation Phases: Phase I (2016–2020): Target: 8 crore LPG connections Achievement: Successfully met target by 2020. Phase II (2021 onwards): Additional 1.6 crore connections sanctioned. Special focus on migrant households and last-mile inclusion. Current Status (As of March 1, 2025): Total Active Domestic LPG Consumers:94 crore PMUY Beneficiaries:33 crore   Significance of PMUY: Health Benefits: Replaces traditional biomass fuels (wood, dung, coal) with clean LPG. WHO Estimate: Indoor air pollution due to unclean fuels causes over 5 lakh premature deaths annually in India.   Women’s Empowerment: Reduced drudgery: Eliminates the need for time-intensive firewood collection. Ownership in women’s names: Enhances intra-household bargaining power and financial autonomy.   Socio-Economic Impact: Increased productivity: Time saved enables women to engage in economic or educational pursuits. Gender-sensitive design: LPG connections issued in women’s names bolster their social standing and control over household decisions. Environmental Gains: Reduction in deforestation and air pollutants due to decreased reliance on firewood and kerosene. Contributes to India’s climate goals by lowering carbon emissions from domestic energy use.   Key Challenges: Affordability of Refills: While the initial connection is subsidized, high refill costs limit sustained usage among the poorest families. Infrastructure Deficit: Last-mile delivery issues in rural and remote regions due to limited LPG distribution networks. Administrative Bottlenecks: Delays in verification and beneficiary documentation impede seamless access. Behavioural Barriers: Many households continue to use traditional fuels, driven by cost considerations and entrenched cooking habits.   Way Forward: Enhance Supply Chain Infrastructure: Expand LPG distribution points and establish mini-refill centers in underserved areas. Subsidy Rationalisation and Support: Provide targeted subsidy support for refill costs to ensure continued usage among BPL households. Awareness and Behavioural Change Campaigns: Conduct IEC (Information, Education & Communication) outreach to promote awareness of health benefits and encourage sustained adoption.

UNFPA State of World Population 2025 Syllabus: GS1/ Human Geography   Current Demographic Snapshot Population: 146.39 crore (April 2025), surpassing China (141.61 crore) Projected Peak: 170 crore before declining in ~40 years Total Fertility Rate (TFR): 1.9 — below the replacement level of 2.1 High-TFR States: Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.9), UP (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26), Manipur (2.2)     Demographic Composition Working-age (15–64 yrs): 68% Children (0–14 yrs): 24% Youth (10–24 yrs): 26% Elderly (65+): 7% (and rising)   The Real Fertility Crisis Contrary to fears of overpopulation, the true crisis lies in unmet reproductive goals. The focus must shift from controlling numbers to ensuring reproductive agency — the right to informed decisions on sex, contraception, and family planning.   Drivers of Fertility Decline Better Healthcare: Access to contraception and maternal care Women’s Empowerment: Higher literacy, delayed marriage, workforce participation Urbanization: Smaller families due to cost and space constraints Economic Pressures: Job insecurity and high living costs   Implications for India Positive Outcomes Population Stabilization: Eases pressure on environment and services Maternal & Child Health: Improved outcomes due to fewer, well-spaced births Gender Equity: Lower fertility linked to increased female autonomy   Concerns Ahead Aging Population: More elderly dependents; stress on pensions, healthcare Sex Ratio Imbalance: Risk of intensified gender bias amid fertility decline Regional Disparities: Varying TFR may lead to demographic and resource imbalances Global Comparisons Japan: Median age 48+, facing labor shortages and economic stagnation China: Aftereffects of one-child policy include rapid aging South Korea: TFR at 0.78 (2022), among the lowest globally   Conclusion India is at a demographic turning point. Falling fertility reflects advancements in health, education, and women’s rights. Going forward, policy must pivot from population control to ensuring reproductive freedom, equitable development, and preparedness for an aging society. Consider the following implications of India’s declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR): It ensures an immediate demographic dividend due to a larger working-age population. It reduces pressure on public infrastructure and environmental resources in the long run. It will make India’s population structure resemble that of Japan within the next decade. It poses a long-term challenge of rising dependency ratio due to population aging. Which of the above statements are correct? A. 1, 2, and 3 onlyB. 2 and 4 onlyC. 1 and 4 onlyD. 2, 3, and 4 only Answer:BExplanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because India’s demographic dividend phase began earlier and may start waning in the coming decades. Statement 3 is incorrect as Japan’s demographic aging is far more advanced. Statements 2 and 4 are correct. India’s IBC Framework: Balancing Resolution with RecoverySyllabus: GS3/ Economy Context: Enacted in 2016, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has fundamentally reshaped India’s insolvency regime, aiming to address the growing problem of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and inefficient debt recovery systems.     Key Objectives of IBC: Timely Resolution: Establishes a time-bound process (maximum of 330 days) to resolve insolvency. Creditor-in-Control Mechanism: Replaces debtor-led restructuring with creditor-driven resolutions. Business Continuity: Seeks to revive viable businesses via restructuring, ownership change, or mergers. Maximization of Asset Value: Ensures value preservation and optimal recovery for stakeholders. Credit Market Development: Enhances credit availability and promotes entrepreneurship.   Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP): Initiation: Triggered by a financial/operational creditor or the debtor itself before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Moratorium & Public Notice: Legal stay on all recovery proceedings; creditors invited to submit claims. Appointment of IRP: Interim Resolution Professional is appointed to manage debtor’s affairs. Constitution of CoC: Committee of Creditors (CoC) is formed with financial creditors. Resolution Plan: Resolution applicants submit plans involving: Debt restructuring Management overhaul Strategic mergers/acquisitions Interest rate cuts or loan tenure extensions Approval: Requires 66% CoC vote and final NCLT approval. If no plan is approved within the deadline, liquidation   Positive Impact: Improved Insolvency Ranking: India’s rank in the World Bank’s “Resolving Insolvency” indicator improved from 136 (2016) to 52 (2020). Major Recovery Channel: As per RBI’s Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024, IBC contributed to 48% of total recoveries by banks in FY 2023–24.   Persistent Challenges: Delays and Backlogs: As of March 2025, 78% of active CIRPs exceeded the 270-day limit. Even post-CoC approval, judicial delays—e.g., in Bhushan Power & Steel—affect implementation.   High Haircuts: Creditors recover only about 33% of claims, with average haircuts of 67%.   Institutional Constraints: NCLT/NCLAT face severe manpower shortages and infrastructural limitations, delaying case resolution.   Lack of Nuanced Framework: Inadequate mechanisms for resolving modern business issues like: Intellectual property valuation Employee claims Tech continuity in digital enterprises   Conclusion: While the IBC has strengthened creditor rights and brought a degree of discipline to the financial ecosystem, its success is being undermined by procedural delays, capacity issues, and high recovery losses. Strengthening institutional capacity, streamlining judicial processes, and evolving a more nuanced framework for 21st-century firms are crucial for the IBC to achieve its full potential. With reference to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, consider the following statements: The resolution plan approved by the Committee of Creditors becomes binding only after clearance from the Reserve Bank of India. The Code provides for a moratorium period during which no legal proceedings can be initiated or continued against the corporate debtor. The resolution plan once approved by the NCLT is binding on all stakeholders, including Central and State Governments. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 2 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 Answer:BExplanation: Statement 1 is incorrect – RBI has no role in approving resolution plans. Statement 2 is correct – A moratorium is declared under Section 14. Statement 3 is correct – As per Section 31, the resolution plan is binding on all stakeholders including government authorities. Rapid Expansion of Gig Workforce in India Syllabus: GS3/Economy   Context The VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), building on NITI Aayog’s 2022 estimates, has reported that gig workers constitute approximately 15% of India’s non-agricultural workforce.   Key Findings & Future Projections In 2020, around 3 million workers were