Under which Article of the Indian Constitution does Parliament have the power to alter the name of a state?
Article 3 gives Parliament the power to form new states, increase or diminish areas, alter boundaries, and alter the name of any state. The bill requires a Presidential reference to the concerned state legislature for opinion, though Parliament is not bound by it.
💡 Concept Note
Article 2 deals with admission of new states into the Union. Article 368 governs constitutional amendments (special majority). Article 246 deals with legislative subjects under three lists. Article 3 is the provision for altering state territories and names.
The full Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS corridor covers a total distance of approximately how many kilometres?
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor spans 82 km total, connecting New Delhi (Sarai Kale Khan) to Meerut South in Uttar Pradesh. It has 25 stations (16 RRTS + 9 Meerut Metro), operates at a maximum operational speed of 160 km/h (design speed 180 km/h), and completes the journey in under 60 minutes.
💡 Concept Note
RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) is operated by NCRTC (National Capital Region Transport Corporation), a joint venture between the Central Government and the NCR state governments. It differs from Metro in being designed for regional intercity commuting at higher speeds.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which operates the Namo Bharat RRTS, is a joint venture between the Central Government and which set of state governments?
NCRTC is a 50:50 joint venture between the Central Government (50%) and four NCR state governments — Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan (collectively 50%). It was incorporated in 2013.
💡 Concept Note
The NCR extends across four states. The Delhi-Meerut corridor passes through Delhi and UP. The Delhi-Gurugram-SNB corridor passes through Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Hence all four states are equity partners in NCRTC.
The Waaree Energies battery gigafactory announced in Anakapalli is based on which battery chemistry?
Waaree Energies announced a 16 GWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery gigafactory in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 8,175 crore. LFP batteries are preferred for grid storage due to their safety, long cycle life (3,000-5,000 cycles), and absence of cobalt.
💡 Concept Note
LFP batteries have lower energy density than NMC but are thermally stable (no thermal runaway risk), have a longer cycle life, and are cheaper. These properties make them ideal for grid-scale storage in India’s hot climate. NMC is used in premium EVs where energy density per kg matters more.
The ACC (Advanced Chemistry Cell) Battery Storage PLI scheme has a total outlay of approximately how much?
The ACC Battery Storage PLI scheme was approved in May 2021 with a total outlay of Rs 18,100 crore targeting 50 GWh of domestic battery manufacturing capacity. The incentive is Rs 20 lakh per MWh on net sales for 5 years.
💡 Concept Note
India has 14 PLI schemes across sectors. For comparison: PLI for Semiconductors has Rs 76,000 crore outlay; PLI for Mobile and IT hardware has Rs 40,995 crore; PLI for Pharmaceuticals has Rs 15,000 crore. Battery storage (Rs 18,100 crore) is among the mid-sized PLI schemes.
KABIL, which is tasked with acquiring strategic mineral assets abroad for India, is a joint venture of which three public sector companies?
KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) is a joint venture of NALCO (National Aluminium Company), HCL (Hindustan Copper Limited), and MECL (Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited). It was formed to acquire critical mineral assets, particularly lithium and cobalt, in countries like Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia.
💡 Concept Note
India’s Critical Mineral Mission (announced Budget 2024-25) has multiple pillars: domestic exploration, overseas acquisition via KABIL, and recycling. The Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile) holds over 60% of global lithium reserves. India discovered its first major lithium deposit in Reasi, J&K (5.9 million tonnes) in 2023.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), which ordered restoration of the Suav River in UP, was established under which legislation?
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. It has original jurisdiction over environmental disputes and can award compensation and issue binding orders on environmental matters.
💡 Concept Note
NGT has five benches: Principal Bench (New Delhi) and four Zonal Benches (Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Chennai). It follows the principle of sustainable development and the polluter pays principle. Appeals from NGT go to the Supreme Court of India.
The Vanjeevi Didi initiative, which trains tribal women as conservation facilitators, is associated with which Tiger Reserve?
The Vanjeevi Didi (Forest Life Sisters) initiative was launched at Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand. It engages tribal women from buffer zone villages in wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching reporting, eco-tourism guiding, and sustainable NTFP harvesting.
💡 Concept Note
Palamau Tiger Reserve is also associated with Betla National Park (its core area), one of the first tiger reserves designated under Project Tiger (1973). Project Tiger is now managed by NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority), set up under the WPA amendment of 2006. India had 3,682 tigers as per the 2023 census.
Operation Demolishment, which targeted Naxal memorial structures in early 2026, involved the demolition of these structures in which two states?
Operation Demolishment demolished 203 Naxal memorial structures (shaheed stambh or martyrdom pillars) across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in a coordinated operation. These memorials serve as propaganda tools for CPI (Maoist) cadre morale.
💡 Concept Note
India’s anti-LWE (Left Wing Extremism) strategy follows the SAMADHAN doctrine — Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs, Harnessing technology, Action plan, No access to finance. The Naxal-affected districts (LWE districts) receive special funding under the SRE (Security Related Expenditure) scheme and PMAY/PMGSY for development.
The Takeshima/Dokdo islets in dispute between Japan and South Korea are located in which body of water?
The Takeshima/Dokdo islets are located in the Sea of Japan (called East Sea by Korea), and have been administered by South Korea since 1954. Japan holds an annual Takeshima Day ceremony in Shimane Prefecture every February 22, which South Korea regularly protests.
💡 Concept Note
The dispute has historical roots in Japan’s annexation of Korea (1910-1945) and post-WWII boundary settlements. It remains a source of diplomatic friction between Japan and South Korea, both US allies and Quad-adjacent partners. Separately, Japan disputes the Senkaku Islands (administered by Japan, claimed by China as Diaoyu) and the Northern Territories (administered by Russia, claimed by Japan as Southern Kurils).
