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☑️Deepavali (Diwali) has been officially inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. ✨Announcement made during the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee. 1. What is Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)? 👉Defined under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. ICH includes: 1.Oral traditions and expressions 2.Performing arts 3.Social practices, rituals, festive events 4.Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe 5.Traditional craftsmanship → Focuses on living traditions, NOT monuments (which fall under UNESCO World Heritage). 2. UNESCO ICH Lists 👉UNESCO maintains three official lists: A. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity •Showcases cultural practices that help promote visibility, awareness, and cultural diversity. •Example: Yoga (India), Deepavali (India, 2024), Kumbh Mela. B. List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding •Traditions at risk of disappearance. •Example: Naqqāli (Iran), Traditional weaving of Ecuadorian toquilla straw hats. C. Register of Good Safeguarding Practices •Includes successful safeguarding programs and projects. •Example: ‘Revitalization of the Vedic Chanting’ (India – recognized earlier as a safeguarding practice). 3. Criteria for Inscription (VERY IMPORTANT for UPSC) To be inscribed, a practice must meet 5 criteria : a) The element must fit the definition of ICH under Article 2 (as a living tradition, passed through generations). b) Its inscription should help increase visibility, raise awareness of ICH, and encourage dialogue between communities. c) There must be safeguarding measures proposed, including: •documentation •education •transmission •revitalization •community participation d) The nomination must be submitted with free, prior, and informed consent from the community/ group/ practitioners concerned. e) The element must already be included in the country’s national inventory of ICH. 4. How an element gets inscribed? (Nomination Process) 1.State Party (country) prepares nomination file. 2.Community consent is mandatory. 3.Submitted to ** Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH**. 4.Evaluated by: •Evaluation Body (NGOs + experts) •Subsidiary Body (for urgent safeguarding list) 5.Committee meets annually and decides by consensus. 5. Governing Bodies :- A. General Assembly •Highest decision-making body. •Meets biennially. B. Intergovernmental Committee (24 members) •Examines nominations. •Oversees implementation of the 2003 Convention. C. Evaluation Body •Experts + accredited NGOs review nominations. 6. Funding Source: Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund :- •Established by Article 25 of the 2003 Convention. •Sources: •Compulsory contributions (1% of UNESCO contributions) •Voluntary contributions by states, NGOs, private donors •Fundraising events •Supports safeguarding projects, training, documentation. 7. India & UNESCO ICH 👉India ratified the 2003 Convention in 2005. India currently has 15+ elements on the ICH list including: •Deepavali (2024) •Yoga •Kumbh Mela •Ramlila •Vedic chanting •Kutiyattam •Chhau dance •Kalbelia folk songs & dance •Mudiyettu •Sankirtana (Manipur) •Nawrouz celebration (multi-national) •Durga Puja (2021) •Garba (2023)

☑️How the Next UN Secretary-General Is Chosen ? 1. Nomination • Any UN member state can nominate a candidate. • The job usually rotates among world regions. • 2016 → It was expected to be Eastern Europe’s turn, but António Guterres (Portugal) was selected. • Next expected turn: Latin America. 2. Role of the Security Council The real selection power lies with the UN Security Council. Step-by-step: a) Informal Straw Polls • The Security Council conducts secret straw polls. • In these polls, each Council member rates candidates as: • Encourage • Discourage • No opinion b) Veto Power • Five permanent members (P5) must agree: • USA, UK, Russia, China, France • Even one veto blocks a candidate. c) Formal Recommendation • Once consensus is reached, the Council votes formally. • The candidate needs: • 9 votes in favor • 0 vetoes • A resolution is passed recommending the candidate to the General Assembly. 3. Role of the General Assembly • The 193-member UN General Assembly then votes. • Approval is usually considered a rubber stamp, because: • GA rarely rejects the Security Council’s recommended candidate. ✨Final Selection Flow : 1. Member states nominate candidates 2. Security Council conducts secret straw polls 3. P5 must agree (no veto) 4. Security Council formally recommends candidate 5. General Assembly elects the candidate (simple majority)

Draft Seeds Bill ☑️

☑️Appeals from Tribunals lies to ? 👉Different tribunals have different appellate routes depending on their parent Act. Here are some important tribunals and their appellate court. #upsc #UPSCPrelims2026 #indianpolity

✨Recently Microsoft CEO highlighted “Jevons Paradox” in the backdrop of increased adoption of the AI systems globally. ☑️What is “Jevons Paradox” ? Jevons Paradox states that an increase in the efficiency of using a resource can lead to an overall increase in its consumption, not a decrease. So, Higher efficiency → lower cost of using resource → more demand → more total consumption 👉Origin •Proposed by William Stanley Jevons, British economist, in 1865 in his book The Coal Question. •Observation: More efficient steam engines increased total coal consumption in England, instead of reducing it. 👉Why does it happen? 1. Rebound Effect Efficiency reduces cost → people use more of the resource. 2. Economic Expansion Cheaper resource use boosts production → more industries → higher demand. 3. Behavioral Response Users consume more because it’s cheaper or easier (e.g., fuel-efficient cars being driven more). 👉Examples (Indian & global) ✔ Fuel-efficient vehicles Mileage improves → people drive more → total fuel consumption increases. ✔ Energy-efficient appliances LEDs reduce cost of lighting → more lights used → higher electricity demand. ✔ Water-efficient irrigation (drip/sprinkler) Lower water use per acre → farmers expand area under irrigation → total water use may rise. ✔ Coal power plants Improved technology lowers cost → more coal-based generation → higher coal use. #UPSCPrelims2026 #UPSC #UPSCPreparation #upsc

☑️What is “Doctrine of Clean Hands” ? 👉The Doctrine of Clean Hands is an equitable principle which states that: A person who approaches the court must come with clean hands — i.e., without fraud, illegality, or bad faith. One who seeks equity must do equity. In simple terms: If you act unfairly or dishonestly, you cannot demand fairness from the court. 👉Origin : • Originates from English Equity Courts. • Based on the maxim: “He who comes into equity must come with clean hands.” 👉Where is it applied in India? Although not codified in any statute, Indian courts, especially High Courts and the Supreme Court, routinely apply this doctrine in: • Writ jurisdiction (Articles 32 and 226) • Equitable reliefs like injunctions, specific performance • Public interest litigation (PILs) — to prevent misuse of PILs 👉Key Features ✔ 1. Applies only when relief sought is equitable If the remedy is discretionary (like injunctions or writs), courts check if the party acted fairly. ✔ 2. Misrepresentation or suppression of facts = No relief If a litigant hides material facts or lies, the court can dismiss the petition. ✔ 3. Prevents abuse of process Ensures judicial process is not used for ulterior motives. 👉Important Supreme Court Cases 1. S.P. Chengalvaraya Naidu v. Jagannath (1994) • Court held: A party who conceals material facts is not entitled to any relief. • Famous quote: “A person whose case is based on falsehood has no right to approach the court.” 2. Dalip Singh v. State of U.P. (2010) • SC observed rise in litigants with “unclean hands”. • Courts must protect honest litigants. 3. K.D. Sharma v. SAIL (2008) • Court dismissed a writ petition for suppression of material facts. 4. Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018) • Court emphasised purity of PIL jurisdiction.

Correct Answer: c) Explanation: •(1) False: Naoroji said India appeared to have a surplus but drain caused poverty; not the balance of trade. •(2) True. •(3) True: Ranade → economic regeneration + industrialization needed.

“Daily MCQ Edge Series” [ Topic : Modern History ] Q) Consider the following regarding the early nationalist economic critique, consider the following statements: 1. Dadabhai Naoroji argued that the “drain of wealth” was fundamentally caused by India’s negative balance of trade with Britain. 2. RC Dutt held that the Permanent Settlement contributed significantly to economic drain by undermining indigenous revenue systems. 3. MG Ranade emphasized that industrialization was essential for correcting political subordination.

☑️CRITICAL TIGER HABITATS (CTH) (Also called Core areas of Tiger Reserves) 1. Legal Basis Critical Tiger Habitats are notified under: ➡ Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Inserted by Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2006) They form the inviolate core of a Tiger Reserve. 2. Who declares a CTH? •State Government notifies the CTH on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). •NTCA bases its recommendation on scientific and objective criteria. 3. Purpose of a CTH To provide a strictly protected, inviolate space for tiger breeding and conservation, where: •Human activity is minimal to zero •Core ecological processes remain intact •Tiger reproduction and prey-base flourish 4. How are CTHs identified? Identification requires: Scientific Assessment •Tiger population density •Habitat quality •Prey base •Connectivity •Ecological sensitivity Consultation with Gram Sabhas Mandatory consultation of affected forest-dwelling communities living inside proposed CTH. 5. Can people be relocated from CTHs? Yes, but only if BOTH conditions are met: 1.Settlements cause irreversible damage to tiger habitat 2.Relocation is done ONLY with informed consent and due process, following Forest Rights Act, 2006 Relocation Process •Must follow FRA Section 4(2) conditions •Community forest rights are to be recognized first •Two relocation options: •₹15 lakh package per family (lump sum) •Resettlement with full rehabilitation facilities Forced eviction is illegal. #UPSC #UPSCPrelims2026 #environment

Correct Answer: b) 1 and 3 only Statement 1: “For the first time, the idea of passive resistance received systematic theoretical justification.” During the Swadeshi movement, Aurobindo Ghose and Bipin Chandra Pal provided a systematic ideological foundation for passive resistance, which included: •Non-payment of taxes •Boycott of government institutions •National education •Swadeshi industries This was the first structured theoretical articulation of passive resistance in India. Statement 2: “It saw the formation of the first all-India labour federation.” The first all-India labour federation was AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) formed in 1920, long after Swadeshi movement. Before that, labour organisations were local or sector-specific (e.g., Bombay mill workers, Calcutta jute workers). Thus, the Swadeshi movement did NOT see the formation of a national labour federation. Statement 3: “It marked the first national-scale boycott of both foreign goods and government institutions.” The Swadeshi movement was the first truly national movement (though strongest in Bengal) involving: •Boycott of foreign cloth, sugar, salt, goods •Boycott of government schools, courts, councils •Use of Swadeshi goods •Establishment of National Schools and Colleges Earlier movements did not have such a nationwide, organised boycott programme.

“Daily MCQ Edge Series” [ Topic : Modern History ] Q) Consider the following statements regarding the Swadeshi movement (1905–11) 1. For the first time, the idea of passive resistance received systematic theoretical justification. 2. It saw the formation of the first all-India labour federation. 3. It marked the first national-scale boycott of both foreign goods and government institutions.