UPSC

What are Mangroves?  About: Mangroves are specialized coastal ecosystems consisting of salt-tolerant (halophytic) trees and shrubs that flourish in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions.  Mangrove Cover in India:  As per Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's mangrove cover is about 4,992 sq. km, accounting for 0.15% of the country’s geographical area.  Carbon Sequestration:   Mangroves store  around 394 tonnes of carbon per hectare , exceeding most terrestrial forests, due to  anaerobic and saline soils  that slow decomposition.   Coastal Protection:   Mangroves serve as  natural buffers  against  storm surges, tsunamis , and  coastal erosion acting as    "bio-shields" .   Land Conversion for Agriculture:   According to the  "State of the World's Mangroves 2024 " repor...

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has taken step in promoting research integrity by introducing negative scores for higher education institutions with retracted papers and their citations. This new policy, effective from 2025, aims to discourage unethical research practices and enhance the quality of academic output across India. Introduction of Negative Scoring in NIRF Rankings: For the first time, NIRF will deduct points from institutions that have research papers retracted in the last three calendar years. The penalties will apply both to the number of retractions and citations stemming from these papers. The negative scoring will be mild initially but will become stricter in subsequent years, signalling a zero-tolerance stance towards research misconduct. About Retractions and Their Significance: Retractions occur when published papers are withdrawn due to errors or unethical practices like data fabrication, image manipulation, or undisclosed use of...

More than 200 climate campaign groups have issued a joint call for reforms to the way United Nations (UN) climate talks are conducted, saying that the negotiations have “reached breaking point”. Consensus not voting: Unlike with many other UN conventions, decisions at the annual   conference of the parties (COPs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) require consensus. While that is not clearly defined, it is interpreted to mean at least the vast majority of governments. End fossil fuel influence: The statement also calls for measures to “end undue influence” on COP delegates from fossil fuel companies and other big emitters of planet-warming gases. Research from the Kick Big Polluters Out campaign estimated that 1,800 fossil fuel lobbyists attended COP29 last year, mainly as part of trade associations but also   as members of government delegations. COP host integrity: The joint call points out that “climate talks have been hosted i...

  The International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2025 is more than a celebration—it is a call to dismantle the structures that hold women back and to foster a world where foreign policy reflects the diversity, wisdom, and leadership of all genders. The International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWD) is observed annually on June 24 to honour and recognize the essential role that women play in the field of diplomacy—historically male-dominated but now slowly transforming with the rise of capable and dynamic women leaders. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during its 76th session in 2022 (Resolution A/RES/76/269), this day is a call to action for greater gender equality in foreign policy, peace processes, and global governance. 2025 Theme: Explained: Gender-balanced foreign ministries Anti-harassment and mentoring programs Quotas for women in ambassadorial roles Reform of patriarchal norms within diplomatic institutions History a...

  A 90-member Indian Army contingent, led by troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, has departed for France to take part in the eighth edition of the India-France joint military exercise ‘Shakti’, scheduled from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie. This biennial engagement between the two nations focuses on enhancing counter-terror cooperation, sub-conventional operations, and military interoperability in semi-urban terrain, under the UN Charter’s Chapter VII mandate. Why in News: The eighth edition of the bilateral Indo-French military exercise ‘Shakti’ begins on June 18, 2025, in France. Indian Army contingent has left for the 15-day-long operation hosted at Camp Larzac. The exercise aims to simulate UN Chapter VII peacekeeping operations in semi-urban environments. What is Exercise Shakti: Exercise Shakti is a biennial Indo-French military drill aimed at fostering joint training, tactical coordination, and mutual trust. Conducted a...

I ndia, with its cultural heritage rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, must use this opportunity to build more effective peacebuilding and peacekeeping programmes Since its inception, the world has looked to the United Nations (UN) to play a pivotal role in enabling a culture of peace, addressing complex global conflicts, and providing necessary peacekeeping and peacebuilding support. The unfolding tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran adds to a long list of examples that showcase the inability of global leaders and institutions to effectively diffuse tensions and prevent such acts, including ongoing wars between Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Hamas and conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, and the Sahel region. India, an ancient civilisation on the rise, with a global thriving diaspora and a timeless belief in  Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  (One Earth, One Family, One Future), must seize this opportunity and offer its thought leadership in designing more effective peacebuildin...