Indian Constitution: Schedules

• First Schedule: Lists 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
• Second Schedule: Details salaries, allowances, and pensions.
• Third Schedule: Covers oaths and affirmations.
• Fourth Schedule: Allocates seats in the Rajya Sabha.
• Fifth Schedule: Deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
• Sixth Schedule: Covers the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• Seventh Schedule: Defines the division of powers between the Union and States through the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
• Eighth Schedule: Recognizes 22 official languages.
  • Originally 14 languages; 8 added later.
  • 21st Amendment: Added Sindhi.
  • 71st Amendment: Added Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani.
  • 92nd Amendment: Added Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, Maithili.
• Ninth Schedule: Contains Acts and Regulations related to land reforms, added by the 1st Amendment (1951).
• Tenth Schedule: Addresses anti-defection provisions, added by the 52nd Amendment.
• Eleventh Schedule: Relates to Panchayati Raj, added by the 73rd Amendment (effective April 24, 1993), covering 29 subjects.
• Twelfth Schedule: Pertains to Urban Local Bodies (Nagarpalika), added by the 74th Amendment.

Indian Constitution: Important Articles

• Article 1: Union and its Territory.
• Articles 5-11: Citizenship.
• Article 14: Equality before law.
• Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability.
• Article 18: Abolition of Titles.
• Article 19(1)(A): Freedom of speech and expression.
• Article 21: Protection of Life and Personal Liberty.
• Article 21A: Right to Education (86th Amendment).
• Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc.
• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.
• Article 32: Remedies for enforcement of rights (Constitutional Remedies), referred to as the "Soul of the Constitution" by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar; Supreme Court can issue 5 types of writs.
• Article 37: Application of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs are non-justiciable).
• Article 38: State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people.
• Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid (42nd Amendment).
• Article 40: Organization of Village Panchayats.
• Article 44: Uniform Civil Code.
• Article 47: Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living.
• Article 50: Separation of Judiciary from Executive.
• Article 51: Promotion of international peace and security.
• Article 51A: Fundamental Duties (42nd Amendment, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee).
• Article 52: The President of India.
• Article 53: Executive Power of the Union.
• Article 54: Election of President (Electoral College).
• Article 55: Manner of election of President (Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote).
• Article 56: Term of office of President (5 years).
• Article 60: Oath or affirmation by the President (administered by CJI).
• Article 61: Procedure for impeachment of the President.
• Article 63: The Vice-President of India.
• Article 64: The Vice-President to be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
• Article 71: Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a President or Vice-President (disputes resolved by Supreme Court).
• Article 72: Power of President to grant pardons.
• Article 76: Attorney General of India (currently R. Venkataramani).
• Article 108: Joint Sitting of Parliament (convened 3 times so far).
• Article 110: Definition of Money Bills.
• Article 112: Annual Financial Statement (Budget).
• Article 123: Power of President to promulgate Ordinances.
• Article 124: Establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court (details judges, tenure, appointment, oath, removal).
• Article 129: Supreme Court to be a court of record.
• Article 143: Power of President to consult Supreme Court.
• Article 148: Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG, currently Girish Chandra Murmu).
• Article 153: Governors of States.
• Article 161: Power of Governor to grant pardons (cannot pardon death sentences or court-martial sentences).
• Article 165: Advocate General for the State.
• Article 213: Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances.
• Article 214: High Courts for States.
• Article 215: High Courts to be courts of record.
• Article 226: Power of High Courts to issue writs.
• Articles 243-243O: Panchayats (73rd Amendment).
• Article 239AA: Special provisions with respect to Delhi (69th Amendment).
• Article 246A: Goods and Services Tax (GST, 101st Amendment, a tax on the Concurrent List).
• Article 263: Provisions with respect to an Inter-State Council (headed by the Prime Minister).
• Article 266: Consolidated Fund of India.
• Article 267: Contingency Fund of India (at the disposal of the President for unforeseen expenditure).
• Article 280: Finance Commission (15th FC chaired by N.K. Singh).
• Article 300A: Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law (Right to property, changed from Fundamental to Legal right by 44th Amendment).
• Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States (UPSC).
• Article 324: Superintendence, direction, and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
• Article 338: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
• Article 338A: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST, 89th Amendment).
• Article 343: Official language of the Union (Hindi in Devanagari script).
• Article 352: Proclamation of Emergency (National Emergency).
• Article 356: Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States (President's Rule).
• Article 360: Provisions as to Financial Emergency.
• Article 368: Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor (Part XX).
• Article 370: Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (largely abrogated).

Current Affairs

Awards & Recognition

• Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize):
  • Awarded by a Swedish institution for work in environmental protection, human rights, and climate change.
  • Recipients include:
    • Julian Aguon (Vanuatu lawyer) for climate justice.
    • Emergency Response Team (Sudan).
    • Justice for Myanmar (Myanmar organization).
  • Award started in 1980.
• World's Best School Prize 2025: Awarded by England to a government Zila Parishad School in Jalindarnagar, Pune, Maharashtra.
• Ramon Magsaysay Award: Awarded to Educate Girls, a Rajasthan-based organization.
• Digital Payments Award 2024-25: Received by India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) from the Ministry of Finance's Department of Financial Services.
• Bloomberg Philanthropy Award 2025: India received this for tobacco control efforts.
• Lokmanya Tilak Award: Conferred upon Nitin Gadkari.
• Václav Havel Prize: Awarded to Max Bourtkevitch, a Ukrainian journalist.
• Global News Network Award: Received by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department.

Defense & Security

• Anant Shastra System (formerly QRSAM):
  • Indian Army issued tenders to procure this Quick Response Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system.
  • Aims to strengthen air defense against drones on India-Pakistan and India-China borders.
  • It has a range of 30 km and can engage targets from surface to air.
• Astr/Gandeev: A Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile.
• Samar: An air defense system using Akash Missiles, capable of surface-to-air engagement.
• Vasharodh: A short-range air defense system.
• Iron Dome & Iron Beam: Air defense systems of Israel.
• S400 (Triumf): Russian air defense system.
• Operation Sindhu: Launched by the Indian government to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran.
• Operation Basayat Al-Fateh: Iran's counter-attack on a US airbase in Qatar.
• INS Nilgiri: First of Project 17A stealth frigates, deployed in Visakhapatnam.
• FPV 'Adamy': First Fast Patrol Vessel included in the Indian Coast Guard in Goa.
• Operation Bihali: Launched in Jammu & Kashmir.

Science & Technology

• Novel Desert Soil Formation Technique:
  • First successful wheat cultivation (variety: Wheat 4079) in Western Rajasthan's desert areas using this biotechnology-based technique.
  • It converts barren sand into consolidated soil with water retention capacity.
• Siphon-Powered Thermal Desalination System:
  • Developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru.
  • Converts saline seawater into potable water.
  • Process: Seawater spread as a thin layer on a heated fluted metal siphon (made of aluminum) with an absorbent cloth; clean water vaporizes and is collected, cooled, and condensed.
  • IISc Bengaluru was established in 1909 by Jamshedji Tata, the Mysore Royal Family, and the Government of India.
• Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Mission: First nuclear power plant under this mission started in Bihar.
• Nakshatra: First high-performance computing facility for genomic surveillance, launched by ICMR Pune.
• AI-Powered Smart Traffic System: India's first launched on Dwarka Expressway, Delhi.

Environment & Conservation

• Namo Van:
  • Foundation stone laid by Union Environment Minister Dr. Bhupender Yadav in Manesar, Haryana, on October 2, 2025.
  • Coincides with Wildlife Week 2025 (October 2-8).
  • 750 varieties of plants will be planted.
  • Linked to the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign (started June 5, 2024, on World Environment Day).
• Aravalli Green Wall Project:
  • Launched on March 25, 2023 (International Forest Day) from Gurugram, Haryana.
  • Aims to green the Aravalli mountain range, creating a 1400 km long and 5 km wide green wall.
• Arlam Wildlife Sanctuary: Kerala's first butterfly sanctuary.
• Elephant Corridor (Animal Overpass): India's longest animal overpass corridor on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, located near Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
• Hemis National Park: India's largest national park, located in Ladakh.

Polity & Governance

• UPSC Centenary Celebration:
  • The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) celebrated its centenary on October 1, 2025.
  • UPSC was established on October 1, 1926, based on the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924) and provisions of the Government of India Act 1919.
  • Its first head was Sir Ross Barker.
  • Current Chairman: Ajay Kumar.
  • A portal "मेरा यूपीएससी साक्षात्कार स्वप्न से वास्तविकता" was launched for successful candidates.
  • The "Pratibha Setu" portal was launched to connect interview-failed candidates with private job opportunities.
  • The tenure for UPSC Chairman/Members is 6 years or 65 years, similar to the Chief Election Commissioner and CAG.
• Payment Regulatory Board (PRB):
  • Constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to monitor and regulate payment systems.
  • Consists of six members: RBI Governor (Chairman), one RBI Deputy Governor, one RBI official, and three central government members.
  • Tenure: 4 years or 70 years.
  • RBI Deputy Governors include Shrish Chandra Murmu and Dr. Poonam Gupta.
  • Full forms: RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement), NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer).
• Preventive Detention (Article 22):
  • Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under preventive detention, specifically the National Security Act (NSA) 1980.
  • Preventive detention allows arrest before committing a crime if a person is deemed a threat to national security or public order.
  • It permits detention for up to 3 months without judicial review.
  • Sonam Wangchuk's demands included statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
  • Ladakh became a Union Territory on October 31, 2019, with Leh as its capital and 7 districts.
• Constitution Assassination Day: Observed on June 25, marking the date of the third National Emergency in India.
• Surjit Bhalla Committee: Formed to review reliance on coaching centers for entrance exams.
• ULLAS Nav Bharat Saksharta Abhiyan: First fully functional literate state: Mizoram; Second: Goa; Third: Tripura.
• International Potato Centre (South Asia Regional Centre): Foundation stone laid in Singhania, Uttar Pradesh.

Sports

• ICC Men's T20 Batter Rankings:
  • Abhishek Sharma (India) achieved the highest rating ever with 931 points, surpassing Dawid Malan's 919.
  • Varun Chakravarthy (India) is top in T20 Bowling Rankings.
• Ankita Raina: Indian tennis star won the ITF Women's Tournament doubles title in Portugal.
• Neeraj Chopra: Won gold in the Paris Diamond League with an 88.16m throw and also a gold at the Ostrava Golden Spike.
• Rishabh Pant: First Indian wicket-keeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
• Asian Wrestling Championship 2025 (U-23, U-17): Indian team won 35 medals in Vietnam.
• Khelo India University Games (5th Edition): To be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• 2025 Time 100 Next: Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only cricketer featured.

Economy & Business

• Elon Musk: Became the first person in history to have a net worth of $500 billion.
• Hurun Global Unicorn Index: India ranked 3rd after the USA and China.
• Mazagon Dock Limited (Mumbai): Acquired a controlling stake (52.96 million USD) in Colombo Dockyard, Sri Lanka.

Other News

• Mobile-based E-voting: Bihar became the first city to adopt this system for urban elections.
• ISRO Model Rocket Launch: Successful test in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Desi Wool: Animation film received the best animation film award at the International Animation Festival in France.
• Energy Transition Index (World Economic Forum): India ranked 71st.
• Falcon 200 Jet Manufacturing: Reliance Infrastruct Aviation and Dassault (France) will manufacture these jets in Maharashtra.
• Performance Grade Index 2.0 (Ministry of Education, 2023-24): Chandigarh topped the performance.
• Lana-Capavir Drug: Approved by the US FDA for HIV/AIDS treatment.
• Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan: Inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in Dehradun.
• Halley's Comet: First archival evidence in India found at Mallikarjuna Swami Temple, Andhra Pradesh.
• 3R Circular Meeting: Held in Jaipur.
• Indian Conservation Conference (ICON 2025): Held in Dehradun.
• Pandit Chhannu Lal Mishra:
  • Renowned classical singer (Hindustani classical music) passed away.
  • Associated with Banaras and Kirana Gharanas, expert in 'Khayal' and 'Thumri'.
  • Played the 'Swarmandal' instrument.
  • Received Padma Bhushan (2010) and Padma Vibhushan (2020).
  • Founder of Kirana Gharana: Abdul Karim Khan; Prominent exponent: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
• Rose-scented Litchi Export: India exported this for the first time from Punjab to Qatar and UAE.
• Bonalu Folk Festival: Celebrated in Telangana.
• The One: Book authored by Shikhar Dhawan.