News 1 :I&B Minister Asks Online Platforms to Take Responsibility for Content
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Minister’s Statement: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday urged online platforms to take responsibility for the content they host, act proactively against cybercrimes, and ensure online safety of citizens .
- Key Concerns Identified:
- Deepfakes and synthetically generated content as major threats to trust in institutions and democratic processes
- Online safety of children and protection against obscenity
- Cybercrimes, including online money games that bankrupt families
- Revenue sharing with original content creators (conventional media, journalists, influencers, professors, researchers)
- Warning on Revenue Sharing: The Minister warned that if platforms do not voluntarily rethink revenue-sharing policies, “there are so many countries which have shown the path to get it done in a legal way” (referring to global precedents like Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code) .
- Synthetic Content Regulation: He stressed that synthetic content should not be generated without the consent of the person whose “face or voice or personality” is used .
- Platform Responsibility: Platforms must check whether they are allowing illegal content, content causing harm to citizens, or content inciting crime .
Prelims 360
What are Deepfakes?
Deepfakes are highly realistic fake audio, video, or images created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) — especially deep learning techniques.
The term combines:
- Deep learning
- Fake
They use techniques like:
- Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
- Face-swapping algorithms
- Voice cloning models
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
🔹 What are GANs?
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a type of deep learning model introduced by Ian Goodfellow in 2014.
They consist of two neural networks:
- Generator → Creates fake data (image/video/audio)
- Discriminator → Detects whether data is real or fake
Both compete against each other (adversarial process), improving until the fake content becomes highly realistic.
Face-Swapping Algorithms
🔹 What are they?
Face-swapping algorithms replace one person’s face with another in images or videos.
They use:
- Facial recognition
- Landmark detection (eyes, nose, jawline)
- AI-based image synthesis
Voice Cloning Models
🔹 What are they?
Voice cloning uses AI to replicate a person’s voice after training on audio samples.
It captures:
- Tone
- Pitch
- Accent
- Speaking pattern
🔹 How It Works
- AI model trained on recorded speech.
- Learns voice characteristics.
- Generates new speech in same voice.
News 2 : Railway Minister Announces Portal to Attract Tech Innovations
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Policy Announcement: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced a new Rail Tech policy aimed at engaging innovators and start-ups to drive technological innovation in the railway sector .
- Innovation Portal: The policy proposes a dedicated innovation portal to enable open submissions of detailed proposals from innovators and start-ups .
- Financial Support: The Railways will provide financial support of up to 50% of the development cost for selected solutions. Successful projects will be backed by substantial long-term orders to enable scaling .
- Shift in Approach: The policy marks a shift away from the earlier complex system of vendor selection based on rigid specifications, towards a simplified, innovation-driven framework focused on trial and adoption of new technologies .
- Key Innovation Areas:
- AI-powered elephant intrusion detection systems to reduce wildlife collisions
- AI-based fire detection systems in coaches
- Drone-based broken rail detection
- Rail stress monitoring systems
- Sensor-based load calculation devices for parcel vans (VPUs)
- Solar panel integration on coaches
- AI-enabled coach cleaning monitoring systems
Prelims 360
Solar Energy in Indian Railways (UPSC Prelims + GS III)
🔹 Why Solar in Railways?
- Reduce diesel dependence
- Lower electricity bills
- Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030
- Support India’s renewable energy targets
🔹 Role of Indian Railways
Indian Railways is:
- One of the largest electricity consumers in India
- Targeting 100% electrification of Broad Gauge routes
- Aiming for renewable-based traction power
🔹 Major Solar Initiatives
1️⃣ Rooftop Solar Plants
- Installed on:
- Railway stations
- Service buildings
- Workshops
- Reduces grid dependency
2️⃣ Solar Plants on Railway Land
- Large solar parks developed on vacant railway land.
- Power used for traction (train movement) and non-traction purposes.
3️⃣ Solar-Powered Coaches (Pilot)
- Solar panels installed on train roofs.
- Used for:
- Lights
- Fans
- Charging sockets
(Not for running the train engine.)
Ministry of Railways – Important Schemes & Initiatives
1️⃣ Passenger-Focused Schemes
🔹 Vande Bharat Express
- Indigenous semi-high-speed train
- Make in India initiative
- Energy efficient, faster acceleration
🔹 Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
- Redevelopment of 1000+ railway stations
- Modern passenger amenities
- City integration & multimodal connectivity
🔹 Amrit Bharat Express
- Affordable, non-AC push-pull train
- Improved passenger facilities
2️⃣ Safety Schemes
🔹 Kavach
- Indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System
- Prevents Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD)
- Automatic braking system
🔹 Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK)
- Dedicated safety fund
- Track renewal, bridge strengthening, signalling upgrades
3️⃣ Infrastructure & Freight Schemes
🔹 Dedicated Freight Corridor
- Eastern & Western DFC
- Faster freight movement
- Reduces logistics cost
🔹 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals
- Private participation in cargo infrastructure
- Supports PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
news 3:New GDP Data Set to Capture Economy More Accurately
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- New Series Release: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is set to release a new series of national accounts data on Friday, incorporating several methodological and statistical upgrades to make India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross Value Added (GVA) data more accurate and granular .
- Base Year Updated: The most visible change is the updating of the base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23, making data more representative of the current economic structure and improving inter-temporal comparisons .
- Consultative Process: The new series is the culmination of a wide consultative process, spanning multiple sub-committees that examined sector-wise improvements, new data sources, and methodological upgrades .
- Key Improvements:
- Private Corporate Sector: Shift from company-level to activity-level estimation using revenue share
- Government Sector: Inclusion of housing services provided to employees; enhanced coverage of autonomous bodies and local bodies
- Household Sector: Annual estimation using ASUSE and PLFS instead of extrapolation
- Consumption Expenditure: Granular measurement using Household Consumer Expenditure Surveys
- New Data Sources: Integration of GST data, STRBI (RBI), NBFC data from MCA
Significance: These changes address long-standing criticisms about the accuracy and timeliness of India’s GDP data, bringing it closer to international best practices .
Prelims 360
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
🔹 What is GDP?
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within the domestic territory of a country in a given period (usually one year).
In India, GDP is estimated by the
National Statistical Office
under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
🔹 Methods of GDP Calculation
There are three methods (important for Prelims):
1️⃣ Production (Value Added) Method
GDP = Sum of Gross Value Added (GVA) of all sectors
- Taxes on products
– Subsidies on products
Sectors:
- Primary (Agriculture)
- Secondary (Industry)
- Tertiary (Services)
👉 Avoids double counting by considering value added.
2️⃣ Income Method
GDP =
Wages + Rent + Interest + Profit
- Mixed income
- Depreciation
- Net indirect taxes
Used mainly in the organized sector.
3️⃣ Expenditure Method (Very Important)
GDP = C + I + G + (X – M)
Where:
- C = Consumption
- I = Investment
- G = Government expenditure
- X = Exports
- M = Imports
👉 Most commonly cited in news.
🔹 Nominal vs Real GDP
| Nominal GDP | Real GDP |
| Current prices | Constant prices |
| Includes inflation | Adjusted for inflation |
| Overstates growth | True growth measure |
🔹 GDP vs GNP (Prelims Trap)
GDP → Within domestic territory
GNP → GDP + Net Factor Income from Abroad
⚠️ Criticism of GDP (Very Important for GS III)
1️⃣ Does Not Measure Welfare
- Ignores income inequality
- Ignores quality of life
Example: High GDP but poor healthcare access.
2️⃣ Ignores Informal Sector (Major issue in India)
Large informal economy may be undercounted.
3️⃣ No Environmental Cost Accounting
- Pollution increases GDP (cleanup spending counted positively)
- Natural resource depletion ignored
4️⃣ Unpaid Work Ignored
- Household work
- Care economy
- Volunteer services
5️⃣ Disaster Paradox
Natural disasters increase GDP due to reconstruction spending.
6️⃣ Inequality Not Reflected
GDP growth may benefit only top income groups.
🔹 Alternatives to GDP
🌍 Human Development Index (HDI)
By United Nations Development Programme
🌱 Green GDP
Adjusts for environmental degradation.
😊 Gross National Happiness
Used by Bhutan
News 4: SC Bans Class 8 Textbook, Orders Seizure of Copies
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Landmark Order: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a “blanket and complete” ban on a Class 8 social science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), directing the immediate seizure and sealing of every copy, both in digital and physical form .
- Offending Content: The textbook contained a “selective reference” about “corruption” in the judiciary in a chapter titled ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’, which the court termed a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and a “very, very calculated move” to portray the judiciary as a venal institution .
- Contempt Action Initiated: The court issued show cause notices to the Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education) and the NCERT Director, Dinesh Prasad Saklani, for allegedly defending the offensive content even after the Supreme Court Secretary General sought an explanation .
- Court’s Observations: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the content was meant to instil bias against the judiciary in the “impressionable minds” of young students, and through them, to society at large and even future generations. He declared: “Heads must roll” .
- Government’s Response: Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta offered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” on behalf of the Centre, stating that the people who worked on the textbook would never be assigned such tasks again .
- Bar’s Agreement: Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, A.M. Singhvi, and SCBA President Vikas Singh agreed that the content was “definitely deliberate” .
Editorial 360
Editorial : The Shift of Critical Minerals to India’s Strategic Centre
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Paradigm Shift: Three years ago, critical minerals barely featured in India’s policy thinking. As recently as August 2023, several critical minerals, including lithium, were still classified as atomic minerals, effectively barring private exploration and mining. Today, they have moved to the “mainstream” as a core pillar of India’s industrial, energy, and geopolitical strategy .
- Policy Momentum:
- India now has a notified list of 30 critical minerals
- Mineral exploration eased for junior miners; royalty rates rationalized
- National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) launched in January 2025 with ₹16,300 crore outlay
- Budget 2026 removes import duties on capital goods for mineral processing
- Exploration expenditure for nine critical minerals (including lithium, beryllium, tantalum, niobium) made eligible for tax deductions
- The Challenge: While India has ambition, execution is key. China controls up to 90% of global mineral processing capacity for several critical minerals. However, CEEW analysis shows Indian industries already produce high-purity copper, graphite, rare earth oxides, tin, and titanium—but largely for conventional uses and limited volumes .
- Three Priorities Identified:
- Create demand avenues for processed minerals
- Adopt an AI-first approach to mineral exploration
- Leverage geopolitical disruption to build technological sovereignty
PRELIMS 360
Critical Minerals – India
🔹 What are Critical Minerals?
Critical minerals are minerals that are:
- Essential for economic development & national security
- Have high supply risk
- Lack easy substitutes
They are vital for:
- Renewable energy
- Electric vehicles (EVs)
- Defence
- Electronics
- Space technology
🔹 India’s Official List
In 2023, the Government of India identified 30 critical minerals based on a report of a committee set up by the Ministry of Mines.
Important ones include:
- Lithium
- Cobalt
- Nickel
- Graphite
- Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Vanadium
- Niobium
🔹 Key Institutions
🔹 Ministry of Mines
- Nodal ministry for critical minerals policy.
🔹 Geological Survey of India
- Conducts mineral exploration.
🔹 Khanij Bidesh India Limited
- JV of PSUs for acquiring overseas mineral assets.
🔹 Recent Developments
1️⃣ Discovery of Lithium
- Lithium reserves found in Jammu & Kashmir (Reasi district).
2️⃣ Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
- Introduced auction of critical mineral blocks.
- Increased private sector participation.
3️⃣ Critical Minerals Mission (proposed/announced policy direction)
- Strengthen supply chains
- Promote recycling
- Strategic reserves
🔹 India’s Challenges
- Heavy import dependence (especially lithium, cobalt)
- China dominates rare earth processing
- Limited domestic exploration
- Environmental concerns in mining
