You have already studied the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in detail under Indian Polity. In this section, we are not repeating the constitutional provisions, but revisiting Local Governance from a Governance lens—focusing on decentralization, participation, accountability, service delivery, and outcomes. The notes are structured in a Mains-ready format, so that you can directly reproduce…
When we talk about Governance in India, we must understand that India is large, diverse, federal, and democratic. Therefore, governance here cannot be one-dimensional. Recognising this complexity, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in its report “State of Governance – A Framework of Assessment”, breaks governance into five interrelated dimensions. Dimensions of…
What is Governance? When we hear the word government, we usually think of ministers, officers, laws, and offices.But governance is much wider than government. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 1997), governance is: The exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels. This definition highlights three…
UN Sustainable Development Report According to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network‘s 10th Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025, India ranks 99th in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, marking its first time in the top 100 out of 167 countries with a score of 67. Key Findings of the 10th Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 SDG India Index Key Highlights of the SDG India Index for 2023-24
The Starting Point: Why Rural Employment Matters India has always been a rural-majority country. Even today, a significant portion of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. After Independence, three major problems existed in rural India: So the State gradually moved towards wage employment programmes — not just as poverty relief, but as a…
Invasive Plant Species Species Native Region Habitat / Spread Major Impacts Special UPSC Notes Acacia (Wattles) Africa, Australasia Dry regions; deep roots Suppresses native flora; destroys grasslands Conversion of shola–grassland ecosystems in Western Ghats → Nilgiri Tahr habitat loss Billygoat Weed Tropical America (Brazil) Rice fields, disturbed land Crop weed; competes with crops Medicinal +…
Fish Species IUCN Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Areas) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Deolali Minnow CR Yes (Western Ghats) Hill streams with rocky gradients Darna River, Nashik (MH); Nandur Madhameshwar Ramsar Site First Ramsar site of Maharashtra; freshwater minnow — Ganges Shark CR Yes (India–Bangladesh) Rivers & estuaries (turbid water) Ganga–Brahmaputra–Padma systems;…
Birds – Critically Endangered (CR) Species IUCN Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Areas) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Baer’s Pochard CR No Freshwater wetlands NE India, WB, Odisha, Terai Freshwater diving duck WPA: Sch I; CMS: Appx I Bengal Florican CR No Grasslands with scrub Assam, Arunachal, UP; Nepal Terai Bustard species; courtship…
Mammals – Critically Endangered (CR) Species IUCN Status Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Area) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Andaman White-toothed Shrew CR Yes (Andaman Islands) Tropical moist deciduous & evergreen forests Narcondam Island Island endemic; insectivorous, nocturnal mammal — Himalayan Brown Bear (sub-species) CR No (sub-species level) High-altitude forests & alpine meadows…
At the global level, climate action today is no longer limited to clean energy production; it equally emphasises how we consume energy. The cover decision of COP-27, titled the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, highlights the transition to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production as a core requirement for addressing climate change.👉 This…
