Crest Learning UPSC

➡️Bihar’s 13.1% Growth • Why in News: Bihar Economic Survey 2025-26 reports 13.1% GSDP growth (2024-25), higher than the national average of 9.8%. • Key Data: • GSDP size: ~₹9.9 lakh crore • Per capita GSDP: ₹46,412 (2020-21) → ₹76,490 (2024-25) • State expenditure: ₹1.66 lakh crore → ₹2.82 lakh crore (2020-21 to 2024-25) • Drivers of Growth: • Capex-led public spending with higher share of capital expenditure • Manufacturing sector expansion and MSME support • Improved fiscal management and rising own-tax revenues • Increased spending on infrastructure, education, health, irrigation • Inter-State Perspective: • Bihar’s growth rate is higher than many states, but • Per capita income remains among the lowest due to low base effect • Richer states (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu) grow slower but have much higher income levels • Concerns / Caveats: • Growth is nominal (current prices); real growth sustainability to be monitored • Need to translate growth into employment and welfare gains • Way Forward: • Sustain quality capex and manufacturing push • Strengthen human capital and job creation • Focus on inclusive, real per-capita income growth • Conclusion: Bihar’s high growth reflects strong public investment and fiscal discipline, but long-term success depends on employment generation and inclusive development.

3 Feb.......👇

✅NOTE- Today's news paper is burdened with the discussions of budget and economic survey And i am not covering those things, for that please follow any renowned institutes budget Explanation sessions which you can find in YOUTUBE and cover exam relevant things from there. Thank you😊

➡️‘Garbh Sanskar’ in Madhya Pradesh • Why in News: Madhya Pradesh CM announced ‘Garbh Sanskar’ to be taught in all State universities and setting up Garbh Sanskar rooms in government hospitals. • What is the Issue: Institutionalisation of Garbh Sanskar (education in the womb)—a traditional practice claiming to influence the physical, mental, and moral development of the foetus. • Key Features of the Announcement: • Teaching Garbh Sanskar in medical universities • Dedicated rooms in government hospitals (AYUSH + allopathy) • Gazette notification proposed • Public awareness campaigns planned • Arguments in Favour: • Cultural revival and promotion of Indian traditions • Focus on maternal mental well-being • Claimed holistic foetal development • Concerns / Challenges: • Lack of scientific evidence supporting claims • Risk of mixing faith with public healthcare • Possible conflict with scientific temper (Article 51A) • Ethical concerns in state-sponsored promotion • Way Forward: • Ensure voluntary participation, not coercion • Clear distinction between cultural practices and medical advice • Policies guided by evidence-based medicine • Uphold scientific temper and constitutional values • Conclusion: While cultural practices may coexist with healthcare, state policy must remain evidence-based, secular, and aligned with constitutional principles.

➡️AI-Powered Toys & Child Development • Why in news: Reports flagged risks of AI-enabled toys interacting with children. • Issue: AI toys use chatbots to talk and emotionally engage with children, raising safety concerns. • Key concerns: • Emotional dependency (children can’t distinguish AI from humans) • Inappropriate content (~27% unsafe responses) • Privacy risks due to data collection • Negative impact on social and emotional development • Steps needed: Regulation of child-AI products, strong data protection, parental supervision, awareness by NGOs. • Challenges: Fast tech growth, weak child-specific AI norms, poor enforcement, low digital literacy. • Way forward: Child-centric AI laws, privacy-by-design, human-in-the-loop systems, promote real human interaction. • Conclusion: AI toys may support learning but cannot replace human care and interaction.

2 feb…….👇

Patriot Missile System • Patriot stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target. • It is a US-made surface-to-air missile defence system. • It is designed to detect, track, and intercept: • Ballistic missiles • Cruise missiles • Aircraft and drones • The system uses radar-guided interceptor missiles to destroy threats in the air. • It is a defensive weapon system, used to protect cities, military bases, and critical infrastructure. • Countries like Saudi Arabia, Israel, Japan, and Germany operate Patriot systems. Patriot is a surface-to-air missile defence system that provides air and missile defence against incoming aerial threats.

Unique Plant Evolved Before Spreading • Scientists studied a group of plants called lipstick vines, which are found in North India and Southeast Asia. • Most lipstick vines have long, red tube-shaped flowers adapted for sunbirds with long beaks. • However, one related plant species has shorter flowers, suitable for birds with shorter beaks. • Researchers found that this plant changed its flower structure on the mainland first and later migrated to Taiwan. • This means the plant evolved first and spread later, which is opposite to the usual belief that species spread first and then evolve. • The change in flower shape indicates a shift to a new pollinator, showing how plants adapt to different ecological conditions.

Ultra-thin Electronics & Space Radiation • Space radiation damages conventional silicon-based electronics, limiting the life of satellites and spacecraft. • Scientists have developed ultra-thin electronic devices using molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂), a 2-dimensional material only a few atoms thick. • Due to their extreme thinness, high-energy radiation particles pass through these devices without causing damage. • A MoS₂-based communication device was tested in space orbit and operated for nine months with nearly zero data transmission errors. • Traditional silicon electronics may fail within about two years in harsh space environments, whereas the new ultra-thin system is expected to last up to 270 years. • This development can significantly increase satellite lifespan, reduce mission costs, and improve reliability of space missions. Conclusion Ultra-thin MoS₂-based electronics offer a durable alternative to silicon by resisting space radiation, enabling longer-lasting and more reliable space systems.

• Scientists found that a virus infecting cotton bollworm caterpillars can control their behaviour to spread itself more effectively. • After infecting the midgut, the virus triggers the release of a chemical messenger called tachykinin. • This chemical travels to the brain and changes the caterpillar’s behaviour, making it attracted to light. • As a result, the infected caterpillar climbs to the top of plants and dies there. • From this height, the virus spreads easily by wind and gravity, infecting healthy caterpillars below. • This is an example of pathogen-induced behavioural manipulation through the gut–brain axis. • The finding is important for: • Understanding gut–brain communication • Developing biological pest control methods • Reducing dependence on chemical pesticides in agriculture

➡️PRIYA Trial & Vitamin B12: Inter-generational Health Why in News • Findings from the PRIYA (Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents) trial show that vitamin B12 intake during adolescence improves long-term health outcomes in babies. Core Findings • Vitamin B12 deficiency is widespread in India, especially among vegetarians. • Low maternal B12 levels are linked with: • Poor foetal growth • Higher risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes in later life. • Supplementing adolescent girls with vitamin B12 + micronutrients led to: • Improved neonatal ponderal index (better weight–height proportion) • Changes in gene expression in cord blood. Scientific Enrichment • Vitamin B12 acts as a “regulator of regulators”: • Influences DNA methylation • Regulates enzymes (methylases) controlling gene expression. • Supports the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis: • In-utero and adolescent nutrition shapes adult disease risk via epigenetics. Key Data & Facts • Effective dose: ~2 micrograms/day of vitamin B12. • Benefits observed even among adolescents with very low B12 levels (<100 pmol/L). • Trial period: 2012–2020; child follow-up till ~2025. • Findings published in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease journal. • Study linked to researchers associated with Indian Council of Medical Research institutions. Policy Implications • Current nutrition programmes focus on iron and folic acid, but exclude vitamin B12. • Experts recommend: • Adding vitamin B12 supplementation for adolescents and women of reproductive age. • Can help tackle: • Inter-generational malnutrition • Rising NCD burden • Poor human capital outcomes Conclusion The PRIYA trial provides strong evidence that improving adolescent nutrition—especially vitamin B12—can break the cycle of inter-generational disease, making a strong case for updating India’s nutrition policy framework.

SBI’s CHAKRA Centre • State Bank of India launched CHAKRA (Centre of Excellence) to finance sunrise sectors crucial for India’s long-term economic growth. • It will focus on renewable energy, battery storage (ACC), electric mobility, green hydrogen, semiconductors, decarbonisation, smart infrastructure, and data centres. • These sectors are capital-intensive and long-gestation, often underserved by conventional banking. • By 2030, they are expected to require ₹100 lakh crore+ investment. • CHAKRA aims to build specialised financial expertise and support India’s energy transition, digital economy, and manufacturing ambitions.

Indian Coast Guard – Officers’ Hierarchy A. Gazetted Officers (Top → Bottom) 1. Director General (DG) • Highest-ranking officer of the ICG • Overall command and policy direction • Equivalent to Vice Admiral (Indian Navy) 2. Additional Director General (ADG) • Assists DG in strategic and operational command • Equivalent to Rear Admiral 3. Inspector General (IG) • Commands Coast Guard Regions (East/West/North-East etc.) • Equivalent to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) 4. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) • Heads Coast Guard Districts • Supervises operational units • Equivalent to Commodore 5. Commandant • Commands large ships, air stations, or key shore establishments • Equivalent to Captain (Navy) 6. Deputy Commandant • Second-in-command of major units • Equivalent to Commander (Navy) 7. Assistant Commandant • Entry-level officer rank • Commands smaller ships / performs operational duties • Equivalent to Lieutenant (Navy)

Why in News • The Indian Coast Guard completed 50 years of service (raised on 1 February 1977). Legal & Institutional Basis • Established under the Coast Guard Act. • Functions under the Ministry of Defence. • Mandated for law enforcement at sea (distinct from the Indian Navy’s war-fighting role). Core Roles & Functions • Coastal & maritime security (anti-smuggling, anti-trafficking, counter-terrorism). • Search and Rescue (SAR) – first responder during cyclones and maritime accidents. • Law enforcement in Territorial Waters, Contiguous Zone, and EEZ. • Marine environmental protection (oil spill response, pollution control). • International cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Strategic Importance • India has a 7,500+ km coastline and an EEZ of ~2.37 million sq km. • ~90% of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes. • ICG is the lead agency for coastal security (post-26/11 reforms). • Critical for Blue Economy, fisheries protection, and SLOC security. The Indian Coast Guard ensures peacetime maritime law enforcement and coastal security, while the Navy handles war-fighting and blue-water operations. Challenges • Vast maritime area vs asset availability. • Emerging grey-zone threats and maritime terrorism. • Need for advanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and inter-agency coordination. Way Forward • Faster induction of indigenous ships & aircraft (Atmanirbhar Bharat). • Integration of satellite surveillance, drones, AI-based MDA. • Strengthening coastal security coordination with States and Marine Police. • Expanding regional role as a net security provider in IOR. Conclusion In 50 years, the Indian Coast Guard has evolved into a pillar of India’s maritime security architecture, safeguarding the coastline, protecting marine resources, and underpinning India’s economic and strategic interests at sea.

1 Feb……👇

Why in News • China’s coast guard patrolled islands administered by Japan in the East China Sea almost daily last year, according to official data. What is the Issue • The patrols occurred near disputed islands called Senkaku Islands in Japan and Diaoyu Islands in China. • Both countries claim sovereignty, making it one of their most serious diplomatic disputes.

➡️Jal Jeevan Mission: High Coverage, Low Reliability Why in News • A periodic functionality survey commissioned by the Ministry of Jal Shakti highlights a gap between tap coverage and actual water availability and reliability under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal). Key Findings • ~98% rural households now have tap connections. • However: • Only 83% actually received water through taps. • Only 80% got the mandated 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD). • Only 76% met water quality standards (e-coli, coliform, pH). Inter-State Variations • High availability: Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, UTs (>97%) • Low availability: Bihar (61%), Uttar Pradesh (72%), Nagaland (74%) • Lowest LPCD compliance: Sikkim (24%), Gujarat (58%) Core Issue • Focus has been more on infrastructure creation (tap connections) than on: • Regular water supply • Adequate quantity • Safe water quality • As a result, coverage ≠ functionality. Major Challenges • Source sustainability and groundwater stress • Low water pressure and intermittent supply • Quality monitoring gaps • State capacity and local governance issues • Seasonal and environmental variability Way Forward • Shift focus from coverage-centric to service-centric outcomes. • Strengthen: • Source sustainability planning • Operation & maintenance by Panchayats • Real-time water quality monitoring • Convergence with watershed management and groundwater recharge programmes. Conclusion Jal Jeevan Mission has achieved near-universal tap coverage, but its success now depends on ensuring reliable, adequate, and safe water delivery, not just household connections.