General Studies Paper -2 Context: The Meghalaya government is pushing for a TB-free State by re-skilling TB survivors and bringing them back into control programmes as ‘TB champions’. TB Champions A TB Champion is a person who has been affected by TB and successfully completed the treatment. As survivors, they can provide valuable support to those with TB and their families. NTEP has designed a standard sensitization and training curriculum for empowering TB survivors as TB Champions. TB survivors themselves can access the self-learning modules available online. Districts can coordinate with NTEP partners or local NGOs to conduct the training.....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Public Accounts Committee (PAC), led by K.C. Venugopal, criticized the Tourism Ministry for poor execution of the Swadesh Darshan scheme. About The panel was reviewing a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the scheme. Despite the Ministry of Tourism’s claims of completion for most of the sanctioned projects, the panel found substantial discrepancies. Swadesh Darshan The Ministry of Tourism launched its  flagship scheme of  ‘Swadesh Darshan’ in 2014-15. The Ministry has now revamped it as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist & destination centric approach.....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: The demand for skilled public health professionals faces numerous challenges, ranging from a lack of standardization in training to limited job opportunities for graduates. About the Public Health Education in India Evolution: Dates back to the colonial era when the focus was primarily on epidemic control. 1932: Establishment of institutions like the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH), shift toward systematic public health training. Post-independence Era: Institutions such as the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and various medical universities expanded their curriculum to include public health as a specialized....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Rajeshwari Deshpande’s study, ‘Shaping of the Woman Constituency in Indian Elections: Evidence from the NES Data’ analyses political participation of women in India. Major Highlights of the Study Voting Behavior & Agency: Women’s voting patterns and choices are often overlooked, with political parties treating them as a homogeneous group and not considering factors like caste, class, and religion. Welfare Programs: Political parties often frame women as passive beneficiaries of welfare programs like Ujjwala and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, reinforcing a dependent image. Voting vs Political Power: Despite increased turnout, women’s political participation remains limited beyond....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recent advancements in technology are empowering women farmers and giving them a stronger voice on farms. Key Contributions of Women in Agriculture Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, employing nearly 54.6% of the total workforce (Census2011), with women making up about 75% of the full-time farm labor force. The workforce participation rate for rural females is significantly higher at 41.8% against urban women participation rate of 35.31% (MoSPI, 2017). Women comprise a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce, especially in rural areas, where 80% of women rely on agriculture for livelihood (ICAR Data). The....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The Minister of Science and Technology has said that India’s Space technology is playing a major role in revolutionising governance at the “Good Governance” Conclave. What is Space Technology? Space technologies designate technologies used to enable activities conducted in outer space: such as Earth observation, satellite communication, satellite navigation or even robotic and human space exploration beyond Earth’s orbits. Governments use space technology, geospatial data, and field information for planning, monitoring, and evaluating developmental activities. Use of Space Technology in Governance Disaster Management and Response: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) provides satellite data that helps in....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recently, the Vice-President of India called for a national debate on the shift from ‘Democracy to Emocracy’, emphasizing that emotion-driven policies and debates threaten the foundational principles of democracy. Understanding Emocracy: From Rational Debate to Emotional Influence Traditionally, democracy is built upon logical reasoning, debate, and informed citizenry. In an ideal democratic setup, policies are formulated and debated based on evidence, expert insights, and rational decision-making. However, in an emocracy (fusion of ‘emotion’ and ‘democracy’), decision-making is increasingly dictated by public emotions, viral narratives, and psychological persuasion tactics. It is visible worldwide—from the rise of....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recently, India has launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a multi-nation alliance aimed at fostering city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships during the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, held in Jaipur. Background The Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific forum was launched in 2009 with the objective of regional cooperation for sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives in the rapidly urbanizing and industrializing Asia-Pacific. Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023) outlined 33 voluntary goals for shifting towards a more resource efficient and....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Recently, the panel on the Ministry of Panchayati Raj identified several reasons why male relatives of elected women representatives in the Panchayati Raj System are able to act as proxies on their behalf. Women in Panchayats The introduction of women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, was a landmark step toward gender equality in India’s political landscape. It mandated that one-third of all seats in panchayats be reserved for women, enabling them to participate in grassroots governance. Over the years, several states have extended it to 50%, resulting in....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: The Right to Information (RTI) Act was hailed as a revolutionary step towards transparency and accountability in governance. However, over the years, the effectiveness of the RTI Act has been undermined, leading to concerns that it has transformed from a tool for transparency into a ‘right to deny information’. About the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 The RTI Act recognized citizens as the rightful owners of government information and aimed to restore the concept of ‘swaraj’ (self-rule). It empowers citizens who seek information from public authorities, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. It provides....Read More