Tag: Weekly Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily UPSC Current Affairs for 10th September 2025 covers: Nepal’s Gen Z protests, India’s Vice President’s role, Kerala’s urbanisation model, and Indus Valley script research—relevant for Prelims and Mains. 👉 Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link 1. Why is Kathmandu Burning? What’s the News? Nepal is witnessing unprecedented youth-led protests, primarily driven by Generation Z against corruption, inequality, unemployment, and curbs on freedom of expression. The Oli-led government banned 26 major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X (Twitter), claiming non-compliance with registration laws. This crackdown fueled further resentment. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has resigned, while President Ram Chandra Poudel remains under Army protection—reflecting the severity of the crisis. Key Points for UPSC (Mains & Prelims) Political Instability in Nepal Transitioned from a monarchy to a federal democratic republic in 2008, but governance remains fragile. Frequent government changes: Nepal has seen more than 12 Prime Ministers in the past 15 years. Corruption, inequality, and weak institutions continue to erode public trust. India–Nepal Relations Convergences: 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship: Provides reciprocal rights for residence, property, trade, and movement. Open Border: Facilitates free movement of people, vital for trade and cultural exchange. Defense Cooperation: Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army; annual Surya Kiran exercise. Connectivity Projects: Kathmandu–Raxaul railway, Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline. Humanitarian Aid: Operation Maitri (2015 earthquake), Vaccine Maitri (COVID-19). Divergences: Territorial disputes: Kalapani, Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura shown as Nepalese territory in 2020 map. China’s Footprint: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Nepal, with increasing influence in hydropower and infrastructure. Trust Deficit: Nepal accuses India of interference in internal politics and delaying project implementation. Security Risks: Concerns over porous border and possibility of Gorkha youth joining PLA after India’s Agniveer reforms. Geo-Strategic Value Nepal is a buffer state between India and China, central to South Asian security. Control of Himalayan transit routes has major military and trade significance. Recent Developments & Global Context Youth Movements: The protests mirror global Gen Z-led activism (Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement, Chile’s education protests, Greta Thunberg’s climate strikes). Digital Crackdown: Social media bans in Nepal resonate with trends in authoritarian regimes, raising global concerns about internet freedom (as per Freedom House 2024 report). China Factor: Nepal deepening ties with Beijing through the BRI challenges India’s strategic dominance in the Himalayas. Regional Connectivity: BBIN and BIMSTEC projects highlight the importance of Nepal in India’s Act East and Neighborhood First policy. Global Attention: International organizations like UNDP and World Bank warn that political instability hampers Nepal’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Relevant Conventions and Treaties 1950 India–Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship – foundation of bilateral ties, now under debate. SAARC – Nepal is headquarters of SAARC Secretariat, but the grouping remains ineffective due to India–Pakistan rivalry. BIMSTEC & BBIN – regional cooperation frameworks where Nepal plays a balancing role. China’s BRI – Nepal joined in 2017, raising debt sustainability and sovereignty concerns (similar to Sri Lanka’s Hambantota case). Implications for India and the World For India Security Risks: Instability across an open border threatens India’s northern states. Geopolitical Pressure: Growing Chinese investments may weaken India’s influence in South Asia. Hydropower Cooperation: Opportunities in energy trade if relations stabilize. People-to-People Ties: Cultural linkages (Buddhism, “Roti-Beti” ties) remain strong anchors. For Nepal Democracy at Crossroads: Suppression of dissent and lack of jobs may fuel emigration. Economic Strain: Protests deter tourism, remittances (one-fourth of GDP), and FDI. Strategic Balancing: Risk of overdependence on China or India. For the World South Asian Stability: Nepal’s turmoil adds to regional volatility (Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar). China–India Rivalry: Nepal may become another arena for great power competition. Democracy vs. Digital Authoritarianism: Nepal joins global debate on internet censorship and youth-led dissent. 👉 Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link 2.Role of Vice President What’s the News? C.P. Radhakrishnan has been elected as India’s 14th Vice President in 2025. This has revived discussions about the constitutional role, powers, and limitations of the office, especially in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha amidst frequent disruptions. Key Points for UPSC (Mains & Prelims) Constitutional Basis Articles 63–71 deal with the Vice President. Article 63: There shall be a Vice-President of India. Article 64: VP is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Article 65: VP acts as President during a vacancy or temporary absence (up to 6 months). Eligibility (Article 66) Must be a citizen of India. Minimum 35 years of age. Eligible for Rajya Sabha membership. Should not hold an office of profit. Election Process Elected indirectly by an Electoral College comprising members of both Houses of Parliament (including nominated MPs, unlike Presidential elections). Conducted by the Election Commission of India using proportional representation and single transferable vote. Tenure & Removal Five-year term, but continues until successor assumes office. Removal: Resolution by Rajya Sabha with effective majority, agreed by Lok Sabha (Article 67(b)). Role as Rajya Sabha Chairman Maintaining Decorum: Can suspend members under Rule 256 for disorderly conduct. Ensuring Quorum: Minimum 1/10th of total membership. Casting Vote: Exercises tie-breaking vote under Article 100. Referral of Bills: Sends bills to committees for detailed scrutiny. Disqualification Powers: Decides under the 10th Schedule (Anti-defection Law). Consensus Building: Holds all-party meetings to manage disruptions. Recent Developments & Global Context Disruptions in Rajya Sabha: According to PRS Legislative Research, Rajya Sabha has often lost 25–30% of working hours annually due to disruptions. Calls for stronger impartiality and authority of the Chair are growing. Comparison with U.S. Vice President: U.S. VP directly succeeds the President for the remainder of the term. Indian VP acts only temporarily until a new President is elected (max 6 months). Debates on Reforms: Parliamentary experts (Rajya Sabha Secretariat reports, 2024) recommend empowering the VP/Chairman to enforce stricter disciplinary measures. Youth Parliament & Parliamentary Outreach: Vice President’s role in fostering civic participation is emphasized in Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha secretariat programs. Relevant Conventions and Provisions Parliamentary Conventions: VP is expected to act as an impartial umpire while presiding. 10th Schedule (Anti-Defection Law): VP’s decision as Rajya Sabha Chairman is binding, subject to judicial review. Parliamentary Privileges: Protects the functioning of the House under his authority. Practice in Westminster Systems: Similar impartial presiding roles are seen in the UK House of Lords. Implications for India and the World For India Ensures checks and balances within parliamentary democracy. VP’s neutrality in Rajya Sabha is critical for federal cooperation and passage of key bills. Plays symbolic role in protecting parliamentary dignity amidst rising polarization. For World Comparisons U.S. Model: VP as a powerful executive authority contrasts with India’s primarily legislative role. UK Model: Presiding officers remain impartial, showing convergence with India’s parliamentary conventions. Strengthens India’s image as the world’s largest parliamentary democracy, balancing continuity with accountability. 👉 Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link 3.How Kerala is Tackling Rapid Urbanisation What’s the News? Kerala has pioneered a citizen-centric urbanisation strategy, embedding resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability into city planning. Unlike conventional “top-down” models, Kerala’s framework places citizens, local bodies, and technocrats at the center of decision-making. Recently, Kerala also reported the lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India (19 per 1,00,000 live births, as per SRS 2022 data), highlighting how decentralized governance and participatory planning can deliver across multiple sectors—urban health, infrastructure, and social welfare. Key Points for UPSC (Mains & Prelims) Participatory Governance Citizens co-create policies through consultative town halls and ward-level planning. Aligns with the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments on local self-governance. Climate Resilience Post-2018 floods, resilience is built into urban housing, drainage, and transport planning. Early warning systems and community disaster drills now part of city protocols. Fiscal Empowerment Kerala promotes municipal bonds, green levies, and user charges to reduce dependence on state funds. Supports the 15th Finance Commission’s recommendations for urban local body funding. Youth-Led Governance Establishment of “City Cabinets” with technocrats, elected representatives, and youth leaders. Kerala’s model mirrors initiatives in Singapore and Barcelona on “technocratic urban councils.” Integrated Urban Systems Focus on data-driven governance (GIS mapping, real-time traffic data). Breaking silos: health, sanitation, housing, and finance are integrated under one planning framework. Recent Developments & Global Context Kerala’s MMR Success: At 19 (SRS 2022), it is far below India’s average of 97, showing how urban health infrastructure, women’s education, and local governance converge. Global Networks: Kerala’s model resonates with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability). World Bank & UNDP Reports: Post-2018 floods, Kerala is cited as a global case study in decentralized disaster management. National Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) flagged that Kerala ranks among top performers in the Ease of Living Index (2023) due to its urban planning reforms. Relevant Conventions and Treaties UN-Habitat & SDG 11: Kerala’s policies align with the global goal of building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030): Kerala’s disaster-ready planning is a direct reflection of Sendai principles. Paris Climate Agreement (2015): Focus on low-carbon, climate-smart transport and housing. Implications for India and the World For India Kerala’s success offers a replicable model for other Indian states facing rapid urbanisation (e.g., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu). Decentralisation and community-driven models may reduce urban-rural inequality. Its low MMR strengthens India’s SDG 3 targets (Good Health and Well-being). For the World Kerala emerges as a laboratory of participatory urbanism, blending governance, health, and climate resilience. Its integrated framework is studied globally as an alternative to privatized, top-heavy urbanisation. Offers insights for Global South countries grappling with urban population surges. 👉 Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link 4. Deciphering Indus Valley Script What’s the News? The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), one of the world’s earliest urban cultures (2600–1900 BCE), left behind thousands of inscriptions in an undeciphered script. Renewed global interest—driven by AI, computational linguistics, and digital archaeology—is rekindling hopes of solving this ancient puzzle. If deciphered, it could transform our understanding of early South Asian history, culture, and linguistics. Key Points for UPSC (Mains & Prelims) Material Form Found on seals, pottery, bronze tools, bangles, bones, shells, ivory, steatite, and copper tablets. Many seals carry animal motifs (e.g., unicorn, bull, elephant), possibly symbolic or religious. Features of Indus Script Boustrophedon writing style: right-to-left on one line, left-to-right on the next. Pictographic symbols: 250–400 signs, each representing sound, idea, or object. Logosyllabic tendencies: Some signs represent words or syllables. Short inscriptions: Typically 4–6 characters, longest around 26 characters. Challenges in Deciphering No bilingual inscriptions (unlike Egypt’s Rosetta Stone). Short length prevents recognition of recurring grammatical patterns. Unknown linguistic family: Scholars debate between Proto-Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Austroasiatic, or even a lost language family. Lack of continuity: Later Indian scripts (Brahmi, Kharosthi, Devanagari) have uncertain links. Recent Developments & Global Context AI & Computational Tools: IITs and Harvard researchers use machine learning to identify recurring sign sequences. Digital databases (Indus Texts Corpus) are being created for comparative analysis. Archaeological Updates: ASI excavations at Rakhigarhi, Haryana, unearthed pottery with inscriptions, confirming script use beyond seals. Tamil Nadu excavations at Keezhadi revived debates on possible Dravidian links. International Research: UNESCO & World Digital Heritage Initiatives fund digitization of Harappan seals. IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) curates a digital collection of Harappan inscriptions. Global Comparisons: Scholars compare Indus script with Mesopotamian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs to trace possible trade-based influences. Relevant Conventions and Treaties UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro recognized globally as markers of early civilization. UNESCO Memory of the World Programme: Supports preservation of ancient manuscripts and scripts. World Digital Heritage Initiatives: Promote digitization of undeciphered scripts for open academic access. 👉Watch Video – Click 👉Join YouTube:Subscribe to our YouTube channel for daily updates on current affairs, environment, governance, and more: Link 👉Join WhatsApp:Join our WhatsApp group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link 👉Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 👉Join Facebook:Like and follow our Facebook page to stay connected with detailed analysis, live sessions, and discussions: Link 👉Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link

Tag: Weekly Current Affairs for UPSC

10th September 2025 UPSC Current Affairs: Kathmandu, VP, Kerala, Indus Script

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