UPSC Essentials – June 2025 Comprehensive Notes

Letter to Aspirants

  • Manas Srivastava’s monthly note stresses:

    • Many aspirants missed Prelims-25 by a narrow margin; mindset & persistence are key.

    • UPSC Essentials balances Prelims & Mains through smart, value-added content.

    • Issue highlights: India’s linguistic landscape (cover), environment (methane, H₂ fuel cells, CCUS), Buddhism, NITI Aayog, Indo-Saudi ties, urban migration, and detailed post-Prelims analysis.

    • Invitation to write feedback: manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com.

India’s Linguistic Landscape (Cover Story)

  • India’s multilingualism: strength & political flash-point; shaped by millennia of migration.

  • Constitutional provisions

    • Eighth Schedule: originally 14, now 22 languages after 21st (1967), 71st (1992), 92nd (2003) Amendments.

    • Demands for inclusion of >30 more (e.g., Kokborok, Bhojpuri).

    • No formal criteria; Ashok Pahwa (1996), Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) committees examined norms.

    • Part XVII: Article 343—Hindi in Devanagari + international numerals; English continued for 15 yrs (extended). 344—language commission every 10 yrs; 345—state official language; 350—grievance redress in any language; 350 A—primary education in mother tongue; 350 B—Special Officer for linguistic minorities; 351—Union’s duty to promote Hindi while preserving other languages.

    • India has no “national language”.

  • Classical-language status

    • Criteria: antiquity ≥1500–2000 yrs; rich ancient literature; distinct from modern form.

    • Recognised: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada & Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014).

    • LEC (2024) added Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali (granted 2024).

    • Prakrit & Pali are classical yet not in 8th Schedule.

    • Benefits: academic centres, chairs abroad, digitisation, jobs in archiving, etc.

  • Endangered languages

    • UNESCO: Language endangered if speakers <10 000.

    • Ganesh Devy: India has ≈780 languages; ~600 potentially endangered; ~250 vanished in 60 yrs (e.g., Bo, Majhi).

    • Constitutional safeguard Art 29.

    • Government schemes: SPPEL (2013) under CIIL; UGC centres; UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-32; UNESCO World Atlas.

    • 2011 linguistic census: 121 mother tongues; Hindi mother-tongue of 52.8 cr (43.6%).

History & Culture – Buddhism & Nirvana

  • Buddha’s life: Siddhartha (Sakya clan, Lumbini), Four sights → renunciation → enlightenment under Bodhi Tree.

  • Four Noble Truths (catvāri ārya-satyāni):

    1. Existence of suffering (dukkha)

    2. Cause – craving (samudaya)

    3. Cessation – nirvana (nirodha)

    4. Path – Eight-fold Middle Path (aṣṭāṅga-mārga): right view, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.

  • Impermanence (anicca); non-self (anatta); nirvana ≈ arahatta, parinibbāna at death.

  • Social re-ordering

    • Varna viewed as man-made; Kshatriya precedes Brahmin in Buddhist texts.

    • Buddha called “Brahmana” for wisdom.

    • Sangha -> vevanniyanti (casteless).

    • Vinaya lists high/low occupations; hierarchy not fully erased but karma over birth.

  • Buddhist egalitarianism challenged Brahmanical ritualism; accessible salvation.

Polity & Governance – NITI Aayog

  • Formed Jan 2015 replacing Planning Commission; pillars: cooperative & competitive federalism.

  • Governing Council: PM, CMs, LGs.

  • Indices: SDG India Index (score 71 in 2023-24), Health Outcomes, Composite Water, School Education, Export Preparedness.

  • Flagship programmes

    • Aspirational Districts Programme 2018: 112 districts, 3 Cs (collaboration-convergence-competition); now Aspirational Blocks 2023 (500 blocks).

    • Atal Innovation Mission: 10 000 ATLs, 72 AICs; AIM 2.0 (till 2028; 22 languages; focus on NE, J&K, aspirational districts).

  • Supports Viksit Bharat 2047 goal; promotes data-driven policy, partnerships.

Society – Urban Migration & Womanhood

  • Globalisation → service-sector jobs → single, educated women move from Tier II/III to metros.

  • Effects:

    • Redefine womanhood via autonomy in career, marriage (late age, inter-caste, court marriage), reproductive choices.

    • Families now value daughters’ education; paternalism weakened.

    • Pew 2022: rising acceptance of women’s decision-making.

  • Challenges: higher crime in metros (NCRB); moral policing; landlord scrutiny.

  • Contrast: middle/upper-class women migrate by choice (“pull”), poorer women by compulsion (“push”) due to agrarian distress.

  • Migration fosters new kinship/freedom frameworks—society’s acceptance is test of progress.

Economy – Fiscal Balancing amid Uncertainty

  • Govt budget constraint: (extDeficit)=G+i×Debt−T( ext{Deficit}) = G + i\times Debt - T.

  • Debt-to-GDP depends on growth v/s borrowing.

  • Revenue: direct & indirect taxes, non-tax.

  • Deficits: revenue, fiscal, primary.

  • Govt FY 25 borrowing target ₹14.13 L cr (lower due to higher GST).

  • Productive deficit spending (capital outlay) can spur growth; excessive debt crowds out private credit, raises rates.

  • Path to <4.5 % fiscal deficit by 2025-26 via tax buoyancy, capex quality.

International Relations – Indo-Saudi Strategic Partnership

  • PM Modi visit Apr 22-23 2025; met Crown Prince MBS; deepened ties despite regional turmoil.

  • New pillars:

    • Environment & food security: collaboration on green H₂, solar; Saudi Green Initiative, CCE model; support for ISRO-led ISA, CDRI, LiFE.

    • Defence & counter-terrorism: joint exercises; ministerial committee under Strategic Partnership Council; condemn cross-border terror.

    • Culture & tourism: Indian diaspora 2.5 mn; new committee on tourism/culture; NEOM, Red Sea Film Fest.

  • Supports IMEC corridor; enhances maritime security NW Indian Ocean.

Environment & Ecology

Methane Emissions

  • Methane: ~30 % global warming; lifetime 12 yrs; main sectors Agriculture 40 %, Fossil fuels 35 %, Waste 20 %.

  • International response: Global Methane Pledge 2021 (-30 % by 2030); IMEO, MARS; GMI (2004); upcoming Methane Tech Summit Jun 2025.

  • India not signatory: methane tied to ‘survival emissions’ (rice, livestock); focus on NMSA, GOBAR-Dhan, balanced ration.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

  • PEM fuel cell: H₂ at anode 2H<em>2→4H++4e−2H<em>2→4H^+ + 4e^-; O₂ at cathode O</em>2+4H++4e−→2H2OO</em>2+4H^+ +4e^-→2H_2O; only water emitted.

  • Advantages: zero tailpipe GHG, quick refuel, high range, ideal for heavy duty.

  • Challenges: H₂ infra, green H₂ cost, durability, safety perception.

  • National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023): 5 MMT/yr by 2030; Hydrogen Highways; Hydrogen Valley clusters.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS)

  • CCUS stages: capture (pre-, post-, oxy-fuel); utilisation (urea, methanol, building blocks); storage (geological).

  • Global capacity small (∼3 Mt/yr). Costs high; DAC nascent.

  • India’s NITI Aayog roadmap 2022: decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, create renewable fuels; policy incentives needed (PLI, PPP).

UPSC Focus – Prelims 2025 Analysis

  • Subject weightage: Economy 17, Geography 14, Polity 15, History/Art 16, Env 10, SciTech 15, Misc 13.

  • GS easier in History, tricky in Polity (statement-based), Economy introduced arithmetic (inflation calc), SciTech mix of buzzwords & basics; IR few Qs.

  • CSAT very tough; could be eliminating not qualifying.

  • Takeaways: master basics, tackle ‘how many statements’ traps, expect unpredictability.

Issue at a Glance – Caste Census Debate

  • Cabinet approved caste enumeration in next census (last: 1941; SC/ST counted post-1951).

  • Arguments vs caste census: may deepen divisions; data misuse; dynamic identities; risk like colonial separate electorates.

  • Arguments for: evidence-based policy, expose inequities, correct reservation quotas, visibility to marginalised; data ≠ division.

  • Socio-Economic & Caste Census 2011 (SECC) separate from decennial census.

Essays Simplified – ‘Your perception of me…’

  • Approach essay by introspection: perception as mirror, Jung’s shadow, social media curation.

  • Link to Gita (svadharma), Gandhi, EI (emotional intelligence), ethical leadership.

  • Structure: explain quote, provide examples, conclude with inner growth.

Ethics Simplified

  • Patriotism: moral obligation (Viroli) rooted in gratitude; civilians vs soldiers; both should act within love, courage, service.

  • Unity essay: sports diplomacy (Neeraj Chopra), terror attack in Pahalgam challenges fraternity; Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ advocates global unity.

Current Affairs Pointers (May 2025)

  • UNDP HDR 2025: India HDI 0.685 rank 130.

  • GLEX 2025 announced; ISRO-ESA human spaceflight MoU.

  • Sikkim Day May 16 (1975 accession via 36th Amend.).

  • Cashless Treatment Scheme: ₹1.5 L per road accident victim.

  • PM-SHRI funding stopped to states refusing scheme.

  • India-UK FTA signed; CBAM dispute.

  • India Semiconductor Mission: HCL-Foxconn ATMP unit.

  • Defence: Operation Sindoor (strike on terror bases); HAROP, HAMMER, SCALP, BrahMos, S-400, IACCS; Mission Sankalp vs Naxals; LUPEX Chandrayaan-5.

  • Environment: early monsoon onset; Shirui Lily festival; Asiatic lion census 891; CAQM 19-point stubble plan.

  • SciTech: PSLV-C61 failure; genome-edited rice ‘Kamala’; Hoyle-Narlikar theory; CRISPR base-editing cure; sodium-ion fast-charge battery.

  • Awards: Pulitzer – WSJ fentanyl exposé; Intl Booker to Salma’s ‘Women Dreaming’ (‘Heart Lamp’).

Practice Quiz – Key Concepts

  • 50 MCQs on fifth-gen jets, oil spills, Indus treaty rivers, Shingles, MFN, etc. (answers provided).