UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) General Studies (Prelims): Current Affairs and Core GS Syllabus

Distinguish between a Constitutional body and a Statutory body, giving one example of each.

A Constitutional body is established directly by the Constitution (e.g., Election Commission of India, UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission). A Statutory body is created by an Act of Parliament/legislature (e.g., NHRC, CBI, SEBI, NITI Aayog is actually an executive body).

Is the Election Commission of India a constitutional body, and under which Article is it established?

Yes, it is a constitutional body established under Article 324. It is responsible for superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.

Which body is constitutional and which is statutory among: NITI Aayog, Finance Commission, and National Commission for Scheduled Castes?

NITI Aayog is an executive (non-statutory, non-constitutional) body created by a Cabinet resolution (2015). The Finance Commission is a constitutional body (Article 280). The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is a constitutional body (Article 338).

How many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are there, by when are they to be achieved, and what is SDG 1?

There are 17 SDGs adopted in 2015, to be achieved by 2030 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 1 is 'No Poverty' (end poverty in all its forms everywhere).

What is the Tendulkar Committee associated with, and what concept did the Rangarajan Committee revise?

The Tendulkar Committee (2009) recommended a methodology for estimating poverty lines based on consumption expenditure. The Rangarajan Committee (2014) revised poverty estimation, raising the poverty line and the estimated number of poor compared to Tendulkar.

What is the difference between the poverty line and the Below Poverty Line (BPL) in the Indian context?

The poverty line is the minimum level of income/consumption expenditure deemed adequate for basic needs. BPL is the official classification of households whose income/consumption falls below this poverty line, used for targeting welfare schemes.

What does the term 'demographic dividend' mean, and why is it significant for India?

Demographic dividend is the economic growth potential that results from a higher share of working-age population (15–64 years) relative to dependents. It is significant for India because a large young workforce can boost productivity and growth if adequately skilled and employed.

What is the objective of the Mission Indradhanush scheme?

Mission Indradhanush aims to achieve full immunization coverage of all children and pregnant women against vaccine-preventable diseases (originally seven, later expanded), targeting unvaccinated and partially vaccinated populations.

Which scheme provides free food grains, and what is the difference between Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) under the NFSA?

The National Food Security Act, 2013 / PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana provides subsidized/free food grains. Under NFSA, AAY households (poorest of the poor) get 35 kg per household per month, while PHH get 5 kg per person per month.

What is the difference between GDP and GNP?

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total value of goods and services produced within a country's domestic territory. GNP (Gross National Product) is GDP plus net factor income from abroad (income earned by residents abroad minus income earned by foreigners domestically).

What is the difference between fiscal deficit and revenue deficit?

Fiscal deficit is the excess of total government expenditure over total revenue receipts plus non-debt capital receipts (i.e., total borrowing requirement). Revenue deficit is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts.

What does CPI measure, and which body releases India's WPI and CPI data?

CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures retail-level price changes faced by consumers. India's CPI is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI, while WPI (Wholesale Price Index) is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

What is repo rate, and how does the RBI use it to control inflation?

Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities. To control inflation, the RBI raises the repo rate, making borrowing costlier, reducing money supply and demand; it lowers it to stimulate growth.

What is the objective of the PM-KISAN scheme and the amount disbursed annually?

PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) provides income support of Rs 6,000 per year to eligible landholding farmer families, paid in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 directly into bank accounts via DBT.

State Newton's three laws of motion.

First Law (Inertia): a body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. Second Law: Force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma); rate of change of momentum is proportional to applied force. Third Law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

What is the difference between an element, a compound, and a mixture?

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom (e.g., oxygen). A compound is a pure substance formed by chemically combining two or more elements in a fixed ratio (e.g., water, H2O). A mixture is a physical combination of substances not chemically bonded, separable by physical means (e.g., air).

What is the pH scale, and what do values below 7, equal to 7, and above 7 indicate?

The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, ranging from 0 to 14. A pH below 7 indicates an acidic solution, exactly 7 indicates neutral (e.g., pure water), and above 7 indicates a basic/alkaline solution.

What is photosynthesis, and what is its basic chemical equation?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2, occurring in chloroplasts using chlorophyll.

What is the difference between vitamins that are fat-soluble and water-soluble, and which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?

Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K (stored in the body). Water-soluble vitamins are the B-complex group and Vitamin C (not stored, excreted in urine). Scurvy is caused by deficiency of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

State Ohm's Law and its formula.

Ohm's Law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, at constant temperature. Formula: V = IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.

What is the difference between conductors, insulators, and semiconductors?

Conductors allow electric current to flow easily (e.g., copper, silver). Insulators resist the flow of current (e.g., rubber, glass). Semiconductors have conductivity between the two and can be controlled (e.g., silicon, germanium), forming the basis of electronics.

What is the difference between Mission LiFE and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture?

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), launched by India, promotes individual and community pro-planet behaviour and sustainable consumption. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture is one of the missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, promoting climate-resilient farming.

What is ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 known for, and where did it land?

Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to soft-land near the lunar South Pole and the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. Its lander 'Vikram' and rover 'Pragyan' landed in August 2023; the landing site was named 'Shiv Shakti Point.'

What is CRISPR-Cas9, and why is it significant in science and technology?

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technology that allows precise modification of DNA by cutting it at specific locations. It is significant for applications in treating genetic diseases, improving crops, and biological research; its developers won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

What is the difference between fission and fusion nuclear reactions?

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus (e.g., Uranium-235) into lighter nuclei, releasing energy—used in nuclear reactors and atomic bombs. Nuclear fusion is the combining of light nuclei (e.g., hydrogen isotopes) into a heavier nucleus, releasing more energy—powering the Sun and stars.

What does the term 'green hydrogen' mean, and which national mission promotes it in India?

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy, emitting no carbon. India promotes it through the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for production, use, and export of green hydrogen.

What is the objective of the Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY scheme, and what health cover does it provide?

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to poor and vulnerable families, making it one of the world's largest publicly funded health assurance schemes.

What is the difference between the Lokpal and the Lokayukta?

The Lokpal is the anti-corruption ombudsman at the central/union level, established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to inquire into corruption allegations against public functionaries including the PM (with safeguards). The Lokayukta is the equivalent ombudsman at the state level.

What is the difference between Scheduled Areas governed by the Fifth Schedule and the Sixth Schedule?

The Fifth Schedule deals with administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Sixth Schedule provides for administration of tribal areas in these four northeastern states through Autonomous District Councils.

What is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme aimed at, and which ministries jointly implement it?

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aims to address the declining child sex ratio and promote the survival, protection, and education of the girl child. It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Education.