UPSC GS–2 | GOVERNANCE & SCIENCE POLICY 1. SUJVIKA Portal Subtopic: Biotechnology Trade Intelligence & Indigenisation Value Addition: Launched By: Ministry of Science & Technology (40th Foundation Day of DBT). Nature: AI-driven Biotech Product Data Portal. Developed With: Industry stakeholders incl. ABLE (Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises). Core Function: Structured database on biotech import statistics. Utility: Identifies high-value & high-volume imports. Ma

UPSC GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Lake Baikal Subtopic: Rift Lakes, Freshwater Resources Value Addition: Location: Southern Siberia, Russia (near Mongolia). Geological Age: 20–25 million years (oldest freshwater lake). Type: Continental rift lake (Baikal Rift Zone). Maximum Depth: 1,642 m (deepest lake globally). Sediment Depth: ~7 km (deepest continental rift system). Surface Area: ~31,722 sq km (largest freshwater lake by area). Water Volume: Holds ~20% of world’s u

UPSC GS–1 | INDIAN GEOGRAPHY 1. Rapti River Subtopic: Himalayan Rivers, Ghaghra Basin Value Addition: Type: Major left-bank tributary of the Ghaghra River (Ganga basin). Ancient Name: Iravati. Origin: Mahabharat Range (Lesser Himalayas), Nepal (~3,050 m). Basin Features: Mountainous region → Inner & Outer Tarai → Alluvial plains. Climatic Zones: Temperate (mountain region). Subtropical (plains region). Major Tributaries: Burhi Rapti, Rohini. Course: Flows from Nepal int

UPSC GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Mount Kanlaon Subtopic: Stratovolcanoes, Pacific Ring of Fire Value Addition: Location: Negros Island, Philippines. Type: Stratovolcano (composite volcano). Elevation: ~2,465 m (highest in Visayas region). Tectonic Setting: Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire (subduction zone volcanism). Structure: Multiple pyroclastic cones & craters. Broad summit caldera with crater lake. Base Spread: ~30 km × 14 km. Geological Material: Lava flows, la

UPSC GS–2 | EDUCATION GOVERNANCE 1. Vidyanjali Initiative Subtopic: Community Participation in School Education Value Addition: Launched: September 2021. Policy Alignment: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Implementing Body: Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. Scale: 8.5 lakh schools + 5 lakh volunteers onboarded. Core Objective: Strengthen government & government-aided schools through community & CSR participation. Digital Platform Rol

UPSC GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Lake Victoria Subtopic: African Great Lakes, Nile Basin System Value Addition: Location: Shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. Equatorial Position: Equator passes through the lake. Area: ~69,484 sq km (largest tropical lake). Global Rank: Second-largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior. Geological Setting: Shallow depression between Eastern & Western Rift Valleys. Major Inflow: Kagera River. Hydrological Role: Principal reservoir

UPSC GS–1 | WORLD HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY 1. Charax Spasinou Subtopic: Hellenistic Cities, Ancient Trade Networks Value Addition: Location: Confluence of Tigris and Choaspes rivers , near present-day Iraq–Iran border. Founded: 324 BCE. Founder: Alexander the Great. Historical Context: Established during the Hellenistic period after Greek expansion into West Asia. Strategic Importance: Served as a major port city linking Mesopotamia with the Persian Gulf. Facilitated Indo-R

UPSC GS–2 | DIGITAL GOVERNANCE & SKILL DEVELOPMENT 1. Yuva AI for All Initiative Subtopic: AI Literacy, Digital Capacity Building Value Addition: Launched By: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Mission Alignment: Under IndiaAI Mission . Objective: Train 1 crore citizens in foundational Artificial Intelligence skills. Course Structure: 4.5-hour self-paced module. Simplified AI concepts using real-life Indian examples. Target Group: Students, prof

UPSC GS–2 | SOCIAL JUSTICE & ROAD SAFETY 1. PM RAHAT Scheme Subtopic: Road Accident Victim Protection, Emergency Health Governance Value Addition: Full Form: Prime Minister Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment Scheme . Objective: Ensure golden hour treatment for road accident victims. Provide financial assurance to hospitals. Establish a coordinated emergency response framework. Emergency Integration: Linked with Emergency Response Support System (ER

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY 1. Barbados Subtopic: Island Geography, Caribbean Region Value Addition: Location: Island nation in the southeastern Caribbean , part of North America. Relative Positioning: East of Saint Lucia & Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Southeast of Martinique. Northeast of Trinidad & Tobago. Easternmost island in the Caribbean archipelago. Oceanic Setting: Completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean (not Caribbean Sea). Capital: Bridgetown – administrati

GS–1 | INDIAN GEOGRAPHY 1. Almatti Dam Subtopic: Inter-State River Water Disputes, Krishna Basin Value Addition: Location: Built on the Krishna River in Karnataka (Bagalkot district). Project Context: Part of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project (UKIP) . Purpose: Multipurpose – irrigation, hydroelectric power, flood control. Structural Details: Height: 52.5 m Length: ~3.5 km Gross Storage: 123.08 TMC at 519 m MSL Hydropower Capacity: Installed capacity: 290 MW Uses verti

GS–2 | SOCIAL JUSTICE & ENTREPRENEURSHIP 1. Swavalambini Scheme Subtopic: Women Entrepreneurship, Skill Development Value Addition: Objective: Empower young women to become entrepreneurs through structured training and mentorship. Approach: Phased entrepreneurial journey support — from idea generation to enterprise establishment. Target Group: 1,200 female students from Higher Educational Institutions and Universities. Training Structure: Entrepreneurship Awareness Progra

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY 1. Kordofan Region (Sudan) Subtopic: African Regional Geography, Conflict Zones Value Addition: Location: Central–southern Sudan, between Darfur (west) and the White Nile Valley (east) . Area: ~390,000 sq km. Administrative Division: North Kordofan (Capital: El Obeid) South Kordofan (Capital: Kadugli) West Kordofan (Capital: Al Fula) Physical Geography: North: Arid desert zone with sandy soils and acacia scrub. South: Clay plains with gently undul

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE 1. Kondaveedu Fort Subtopic: Medieval Hill Forts, Deccan Political History Value Addition: Location: Kondaveedu village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Topography: Hill fort spread across a range at ~ 1,050 feet elevation . Considered the largest hill fort in Andhra Pradesh . Political Timeline: Built under Telugu Chodas . Strengthened by Kakatiyas . Became capital of Prolaya Vema Reddy (1323 CE) . Later ruled by Gajapathis of Odisha , attacked by Bah

GS–1 | INDIAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Sharda River Subtopic: Transboundary Rivers, Himalayan Drainage Value Addition: Geographical Nature: A transboundary river system shared by India and Nepal , highlighting cross-border water management issues. Source Region: Originates as the Kali River in the Great Himalayas , on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif . Course Characteristics: Upper course flows south-southwest. Forms a natural international boundary between Uttara

GS–1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Lake Urmia (Iran) Subtopic: Inland Saline Lakes, Environmental Degradation Value Addition: Geographical Location: One of the largest inland lakes in north-western Iran , located between East and West Azerbaijan provinces. Hydrological Nature: Endorheic lake (no natural outlet), making it highly vulnerable to salinity build-up. Salinity is about one-fourth of the Dead Sea , yet high enough to limit biodiversity. Physiographic Setting: Western &

GS–1 | WORLD PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Mount Aconcagua Subtopic: Mountain Systems, Continental Extremes Value Addition: Location: Western Argentina , near the international border with Chile . Continental Significance: Highest peak in South America . Highest mountain outside Asia . Elevation: ~ 6,961 metres above sea level. Mountain System: Part of the Andes Range , specifically the Principal Cordillera . Forms a natural boundary between Argentina and central Chile. Global Re

GS–1 | GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA 1. El Chichón Volcano (Mexico) Subtopic: Volcanism, Tectonic Setting Value Addition: Location: Stratovolcano in north-central Chiapas , southern Mexico; also called Chichonal . Volcanic Arc: Youngest volcano in the Chiapanecan volcanic arc (~150 km long). Tectonic Position: Lies between the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Central American Volcanic Arc , making it tectonically complex. Volcanic Structure: Composed of multiple lava domes a

GS–1 | WORLD GEOGRAPHY & GEOPOLITICS 1. Rojava Region (Syria) Subtopic: De-facto Autonomous Regions, West Asia Geopolitics Value Addition: Meaning of Name: Rojava means “West” in Kurdish, referring to western Kurdistan. Political Status: A de facto autonomous Kurdish-administered region in northern and northeastern Syria. Governed largely by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) . Geographical Setting: Lies mainly within the Euphrates river basin . Contains oil

GS–1 | INDIAN SOCIETY & BHARTIYA SANT PARAMPARA 1. Guru Ravidas Subtopic: Bhakti Movement, Social Reform Value Addition: Historical Period: Lived c. 1377–1527 CE , during the peak of the medieval Bhakti movement. Birthplace: Sir Gobardhanpur village near Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) ; now revered as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan . Alternative Names: Raidas, Rohidas, Ruhidas, reflecting regional and linguistic traditions. Spiritual Lineage: Traditionally regarded as a discip