The UPSC Blog
The stories that matter for the exam, analysed in depth
By Shivam Singh — filter by subject or by Prelims / Mains relevance.
POCSO Act, 2012: Features, Implementation Gaps, and Age-of-Consent Debate — UPSC Notes
A complete UPSC guide to the POCSO Act, 2012: key provisions and sections, how a case moves through the system, what NCRB data shows about implementation, the age-of-consent debate, and the Delhi High Court's 2026 ruling on personal law.
Two Election Commissioners Filed 14 Objections in 10 Months — India Only Found Out This Week
Two of India's three Election Commissioners objected 14 times in 10 months — mostly over SIR. Here's what the Constitution actually says about removing a CEC.
Haryana’s ‘Panchgama’ Model: A GS4 Example of Dedication to Public Service Against the Drug Menace
Haryana DGP Sagar Preet Hooda’s ‘Panchgama’ model groups villages into clusters for a community-led fight against drug abuse. What the model is, the scale of the problem, and how to use it as a GS4 example of dedication to public service.
Should India Review Its Nuclear Doctrine? No First Use, Credible Minimum Deterrence and the Case for Review
A growing debate argues that India’s two-decade-old nuclear doctrine needs periodic review given China-Pakistan alignment and new military technologies — without abandoning No First Use or credible minimum deterrence. The doctrine’s pillars, its origins and the UPSC angle.
Why Karnataka Rejected the Western Ghats ESA Draft: Gadgil vs Kasturirangan Explained
Both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature unanimously rejected the seventh draft notification on the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area and sought a year for a village-by-village survey. What the draft proposes, Karnataka’s objections, Gadgil vs Kasturirangan, and how UPSC tests it.
RBI September Bulletin: Why India’s Economy Is Called Resilient Despite the West Asia Oil Shock
The RBI’s September bulletin said the Indian economy stayed resilient despite a West Asia-driven crude oil spike, even as inflation and global bond yields pose downside risks. Record forex reserves, import cover and how to use it in GS3.
UPI Merchant Charge From October 15: What MDR Is and Why the Subsidy Question Remains Open
A Merchant Discount Rate will apply to UPI transactions from 15 October 2026, and the Centre will talk to banks about how much subsidy should continue. What MDR is, the budget outlay, the unresolved GST question and the UPSC angle.
AFSPA Extended for Six Months in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal: What the Law Allows and Why It Is Debated
The Union Home Ministry extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act by six months in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, while easing Nagaland’s ‘disturbed area’ tag. What AFSPA allows, its history, the reform debate and the UPSC Mains angle.
Census 2027 Caste Count: Why the Open-Column Method Has Officials Undecided on Sorting the Data
More than a month after notifying the 2027 Census’s second-phase questionnaire, officials have not decided how to sort caste data collected through an open column. How the method differs from Bihar and Telangana, the SECC 2011 precedent, and the UPSC angle.
J&K Statehood Resolution Explained: Article 3, the 2019 Reorganisation and the Supreme Court’s Direction
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution in the J&K Assembly seeking restoration of full Statehood. What the resolution says, the constitutional hook in Article 3, the Supreme Court’s December 2023 direction, and how to use it for federalism answers.
Why Is Odisha Having Its Wettest Monsoon Since 2000? The Bay of Bengal Deep Depression Explained
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has pushed Odisha towards its wettest monsoon since 2000 and flooded coastal Andhra Pradesh. What a deep depression is, how IMD classifies these systems, and how to use it in GS1 and GS3.