UPSC GS–1 | INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

1. Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake)

Subtopic: Glacial Lakes of the Eastern Himalayas

Value Addition:

• Location: East Sikkim.

• Type: Glacial lake.

• Altitude: ~3,753 m (12,313 ft).

• Source: Snowmelt from surrounding Himalayan ranges.

• Seasonal Variation:

  • Winter: Completely frozen.

  • Post-May: Alpine bloom (rhododendron – State Tree of Sikkim, primulas, poppies, irises).

• Biodiversity:

  • Birds: Brahminy ducks.

  • Mammals: Red panda.

• Recent Context: Rescue of stranded tourists due to heavy snowfall.

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims focus: Glacial lake identification + altitude-based ecosystems.

• Mains angle: Glacial lake vulnerability, climate change & tourism management in fragile ecosystems.

UPSC GS–2 | GOVERNANCE & SOCIAL SECURITY

2. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

Subtopic: Social Security Institutions in India

Value Addition:

• Established Under: Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.

• Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Labour & Employment.

• Nature: Statutory body.

• Scheme Benefits:

  • Medical care.

  • Maternity benefits.

  • Financial assistance during sickness/disability.

• Genesis:

  • Based on Adarkar Report (Professor B. P. Adarkar – “Chhota Beveridge”).

• ESI Scheme Launch:

  • 24 February 1952, Kanpur.

  • Inaugurated by PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

  • 24 Feb observed as ESIC Day.

• Composition:

  • Chairman: Union Labour Minister.

  • Director General: CEO (appointed by Centre).

  • Members: Employers, employees, MPs, Centre & State reps, medical experts.

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims: Statutory bodies + Act-year pairing.

• Mains: Labour welfare architecture & informal sector coverage gaps.

UPSC GS–3 | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

3. Capsid

Subtopic: Viral Structure & Antiviral Drug Targets

Value Addition:

• Definition: Protein shell enclosing viral genetic material.

• Location: Beneath viral envelope (in enveloped viruses).

• Structure: Made of repeating units called capsomeres/protomers.

• Function:

  • Protects viral nucleic acid.

  • Assists in host cell entry.

• Structural Complexity: Depends on genome complexity.

• Associated Study: HIV must compromise capsid integrity to evade Lenacapavir → capsid is strong antiviral target.

• Additional Note: Some viruses have lipid elements + glycoprotein envelope.

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims: Virus structure basics (capsid vs envelope).

• Mains: Antiviral drug development & structural biology in therapeutics.

UPSC GS–3 | BIODIVERSITY

4. Impatiens nagorum

Subtopic: New Species Discovery – Eastern Himalayas

Value Addition:

• Location: Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaland.

• Altitude: ~2,336 m.

• Habitat: Moist temperate broadleaf forests.

• Genus: Impatiens (balsams / touch-me-nots).

• Distinct Traits:

  • Purple flowers.

  • Serrated leaves.

  • Hairy lateral sepals.

  • Hooked spur.

• Etymology: Named after Naga tribes.

• Biodiversity Hotspot: Eastern Himalayas.

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims: Genus identification + hotspot linkage.

• Mains: Endemism & conservation of Himalayan biodiversity.

5. Smew (Mergellus albellus)

Subtopic: Migratory Waterbirds

Value Addition:

• Type: Small diving duck.

• Described By: Carl Linnaeus (1758).

• Breeding Region: Northern taiga (Europe & Palearctic).

• Wintering Areas: Baltic Sea, Black Sea, northern Germany.

• Habitat: Fish-rich lakes & slow rivers.

• Sexual Dimorphism:

  • Male: White with black mask.

  • Female: Grey with reddish-brown head.

• Bill Feature: Serrated edges for catching fish.

• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

• Indian Context: First recorded in Kaziranga buffer (Waterbird Count).

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims: Species–habitat–IUCN matching.

• Mains: Migratory flyways & wetland ecosystem health.

6. Periyar Tiger Reserve

Subtopic: Protected Areas – Western Ghats

Value Addition:

• Location: Idukki district, Kerala.

• Physiography: Cardamom & Pandalam Hills (Western Ghats).

• Lake: Periyar Lake (formed 1895 via dam construction).

• Highest Peak: Kottamala (2,016 m).

• Major Rivers: Periyar & Pamba.

• Dam: Mullaperiyar Dam within reserve.

• Forest Types:

  • Evergreen.

  • Semi-evergreen.

  • Moist deciduous.

  • Grasslands.

• Fauna: Tiger, elephant, deer species.

• Primates: Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaque.

• Current Context: Phase III – All India Tiger Estimation 2025–26.

Subject Analysis:

• Prelims: Tiger reserve–state pairing + dam within reserve.

• Mains: Human-wildlife conflict & transboundary river disputes (Mullaperiyar issue).