UPSC GS Paper 2

QUICK DELIVERY APPS EXPLOITING GIG WORKERS

India’s quick commerce boom, led by Blinkit and Zepto, depends on gig workers facing insecure pay, no social security, and algorithmic pressure. Though the Code on Social Security offers safeguards, delays persist. Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Act shows a way forward, demanding strong laws, algorithmic accountability, and consumer awareness.

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INDIA BALANCES ENERGY SECURITY WITH GLOBAL NON-PROLIFERATION NORMS

The SHANTI Act ends the state monopoly on nuclear power, allowing private entry through licences and aligning liability norms with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation. Yet vague definitions, doubts over regulatory independence, and administered pricing that may strain DISCOMs risk slowing India’s goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.

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INDIA SELECTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS

The Kimberley Process faces a relevance crisis due to its narrow mandate and paralysis over Russia. As chair in 2026, India can drive reforms by expanding the definition of conflict diamonds, modernising governance, and restoring credibility to ensure an ethical global diamond trade.

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OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE:US RETALIATES AGAINST ISIS IN SYRIA

The US launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS in Syria after attacks on its forces, amid Assad’s fall and cooperation with a transitional government. The shift to swift deterrence weakens Iran-Russia influence and demands Indian diplomacy to safeguard diaspora interests.

 

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INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND CONCLUDED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA)

India and New Zealand concluded FTA to double trade to $5 billion by 2030. It grants zero-duty access to Indian exports, protects dairy, secures $20 billion investment, opens visas and STEM mobility, and strengthens Indo-Pacific ties aligned with Viksit Bharat.

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INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS AT CROSSROADS: CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARD

The political upheaval in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster poses India’s biggest strategic test since 1971. It strains ties, stalls projects like the Agartala–Akhaura rail link, and boosts China’s influence. India needs calibrated engagement, faster connectivity, CEPA focus, and competitive partnerships.

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TAXI : INDIA'S FIRST NATIONAL COOPERATIVE CAB SERVICE

Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative ride-hailing platform, launches as a swadeshi alternative to Uber and Ola. Built on platform cooperativism, it makes drivers owner-members with zero commission and profit sharing. Backed by Amul and IFFCO, it promotes a fairer gig economy aligned with social security reforms.

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INDIA-JORDAN RELATIONS: STATUS, SIGNIFICANCE, CHALLENGES, WAY FORWARD

Marking 75 years of ties, India and Jordan are upgrading relations to a strategic partnership. Jordan’s stability, role in the Aqaba Process, and IMEC potential matter for India. Fertiliser trade anchors ties, while defence, energy, and connectivity will drive future cooperation.

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SEX SELECTION IN INDIA: CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

Despite the PC-PNDT Act, illegal sex determination has moved online, using encrypted apps, social media, and cross-border blood testing. This digital shift risks reversing SRB gains and sustaining son preference. Effective response needs cyber policing, intermediary accountability, global cooperation, and sustained social change nationwide campaigns.

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INDIA-OMAN RELATIONS: STATUS, SIGNIFICANCE, CHALLENGES, WAY FORWARD

India–Oman ties, central to India’s West Asia policy, have deepened into a strategic partnership anchored in defence, trade and culture. Duqm Port access and Hormuz proximity enhance maritime security. The proposed CEPA promises trade growth, while alignment with Oman Vision 2040 can offset regional instability and Chinese influence.

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VIKSIT BHARAT SHIKSHA ADHISHTHAN BILL EXPLAINED

The VBSA Bill, 2025 proposes a single higher education regulator to implement NEP 2020, replacing UGC and AICTE. It promises outcome-based regulation and accountability but raises concerns over centralisation, institutional autonomy and transition challenges.

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US GOLD CARD SCHEME EXPLAINED

The US ‘Gold Card’ scheme fast-tracks residency for wealthy investors and sponsors of skilled graduates, bypassing H-1B bottlenecks. For India, it enables brain circulation and diaspora gains but risks deeper brain drain, threatening national missions and returns on education, demanding urgent domestic retention policies.

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