21st August 2026

Explanation - Caste enumeration has a long and complicated history in India. The 1931 Census was the last comprehensive exercise that counted and published caste data. It recorded 4,147 castes. In the 1941 Census, caste details were collected but dropped from final tabulation due to wartime financial constraints. The then Census Commissioner wrote that with a constricted financial position and many other priorities, there was no justification for spending lakhs on that detail. After Independence, the 1951 Census under the Nehru government decided against caste enumeration altogether, shaped by the ideals of equality and secularism. Since then, the Census has continued to enumerate Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) using comprehensive official lists. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment currently lists 1,208 SCs, with different castes categorised differently across states, while official records list 730 STs.

Explanation - The first step towards the formation of the Council occurred in 1991 when the eight Arctic countries signed the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS). The Arctic Council was created with the signing of the Ottawa Declaration on 19 September 1996 in Canada. India got the observer status at the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting in 2013. As per the Ottawa declaration, the following 8 countries form the Arctic States: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. The Ottawa Declaration established the Arctic Council as a forum for promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on issues such as sustainable development and environmental protection. The Arctic Council has conducted studies on climate change, oil and gas, and Arctic shipping. The Ottawa Declaration explicitly excludes any military security and the Arctic Council is a forum with no enforcement powers. The projects and work is sponsored and carried out by member states or other entities. India had launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2007 to carry out researches in Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences & Biological sciences. A research base was set up at International Arctic Research Base at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway in July 2008 and was named ‘Himadri’.

Explanation - Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that can kill certain weeds and grasses. It is considered a broad-spectrum herbicide, meaning it can effectively control a wide variety of plants, including grasses, broadleaf plants, and woody plants. Impact of Glyphosate — Herbicidal Action: It works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSP synthase, which is essential for the synthesis of certain amino acids that plants need for growth. It disrupts this enzyme; glyphosate interferes with the plant’s ability to produce proteins, leading to the eventual death of the plant. Broad-Spectrum: It is effective only on plants that grow above the water. It will not be effective on plants that are submerged or have most of their foliage underwater, nor will it control regrowth from seed. It is degraded in soil and water by microbes and binds tightly to soil particles, which prevents the leaching of glyphosate into groundwater. It does not degrade quickly in plants. As a result, it is possible that glyphosate residues can occur in food products.

Explanation - Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is also known as meth, chalk, ice, and crystal. It was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. Properties of Methamphetamine — It is a member of the class of amphetamines. It takes the form of a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Methamphetamine is potent and easy to produce. It has a role as a neurotoxin, a psychotropic drug, a central nervous system stimulant, a xenobiotic and an environmental contaminant.

Explanation - Sawalkote Hydropower Project is a 2,185 megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant proposed on the Chenab River in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. The project was first conceptualised in the 1980s and revised several times due to environmental and technical concerns. The project, to be executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC), is estimated to cost ₹22,704 crore The project would feature a 5-metre roller-compacted concrete gravity dam. It is expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually. It is expected to enhance power availability in the Union Territory, especially during winters when electricity shortages are frequent. It also has the potential to turn J-K into a power-surplus region, creating scope for exporting surplus energy to the national grid. By regulating the flow of the Chenab River, the Sawalkote project could contribute to flood mitigation downstream, while also ensuring better water management for agriculture and domestic use.