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@CSEWhy Times – Dec 13, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

none today

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞

1. Read all editorials at your discretion

2. India's focusing on PM10 when PM2.5 is real danger
(GS3: Environment/Pollution)

3. Link b/w Inequality and Public Education
(GS2 Policy/Edu)

The Hindu 📰

1. The Indian Ocean as cradle of a new blue economy

Important flowcharts to revise 1909, 1919, 1935 acts in a way that is easy to recall and remember in the exam.

Do save this PDF and keep learning dosto😊

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@CSEWhy Times – Dec 14, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

next text

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞 none today

The Hindu 📰

1. Entire FAQ page

2. America, first in the world

1) GPS Jamming & Spoofing Incidents Rising in Aviation

What Happened

* Global aviation is reporting a sharp rise in GPS/GNSS interference—especially around conflict zones (Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Arctic) and recently near major Indian airports including Delhi.
* These disruptions affect aircraft navigation, timing and routing.

Issue Raised

* Jamming: Overpowering a GNSS receiver with strong radio interference, making navigation temporarily unusable.
* Spoofing: Deliberately sending counterfeit GNSS signals to mislead the aircraft about position/time.

Current Context

* MoCA informed Parliament of repeated interference cases around the Delhi airport.
* Airlines worldwide reported a 200% rise in GPS signal-loss events (2021–24).
* Spoofing is becoming a major safety risk, capable of causing navigational confusion in cockpit systems.

Why it Matters for India / UPSC

* Safety concerns for civil aviation.
* Need for redundancy systems & protected navigation infrastructure.
* GNSS vulnerabilities impact national security and aviation reliability.



2) How Mangroves’ Cells Help Plants Survive Saltwater

What Happened

* New study (Current Biology) reveals specific cell-level traits that allow mangroves to tolerate high salinity.

Issue Raised

* Saltwater kills most terrestrial plants, but mangroves survive due to specialised cellular adaptations.

Current Context

* Scientists analysed 34 mangrove species across 17 plant families:

* Smaller & more compact cells
* Thicker cell walls for mechanical strength
* Specialised epidermal cells for salt expulsion
* Waxier roots in some species to exclude salt
* Mangroves also excrete salt through leaf glands.

Why it Matters for India / UPSC

* Helps develop salt-tolerant crops (critical under climate change & sea-level rise).
* Mangrove ecosystems protect coasts, support biodiversity, and prevent erosion.



3) Sacred Claims: The Preah Vihear Temple Dispute (Thailand–Cambodia)

What Happened

* Ongoing border tensions over the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, revived by recent political statements.

Issue Raised

* Dispute centres on ownership of the plateau surrounding the temple, though ICJ had already ruled.

Current Context

* Temple built by Khmer kings (9th–12th century), dedicated to Shiva.
* ICJ rulings:

* 1962: Temple belongs to Cambodia.
* 2013: Cambodia also owns the entire promontory; Thailand must withdraw security forces.

* Border clashes have occurred intermittently, sometimes killing dozens and displacing thousands.

Why it Matters for India / UPSC

* Example of international boundary disputes + role of ICJ in conflict resolution.
* Illustrates how colonial-era cartography fuels modern tensions.
* Important for GS-1 (World Heritage), GS-2 (IR), and Essay.

Revise with CSEWhy😊

Topic : Volcanism

1. Definition
• Volcano: Opening releasing magma, gases and pyroclasts due to internal pressure.

2. Key Terms

• Magma: Molten rock below
• Lava: Molten rock on surface
• Vent: Eruption pathway
• Crater: Summit depression
• Caldera: Large collapsed depression
• Fissure: Linear crack
• Pyroclasts: Solid ejecta
• Hotspot: Stationary mantle plume
• Volcanic gases: Water vapour, CO₂, sulphur compounds, nitrogen compounds

3. Types of Lava

• Basaltic: Low silica, fluid, gentle
• Andesitic: Medium silica, moderate
• Rhyolitic: High silica, viscous, explosive

4. Volcano Types with Examples

• Shield: Broad, basaltic. Example Mauna Loa
• Composite: Layered, explosive. Example Mt Fuji
• Cinder cone: Pyroclastic. Example Paricutin
• Lava dome: Viscous dome. Example Mt Pelee dome
• Fissure: Linear cracks. Example Deccan Traps
• Caldera: Collapse. Example Yellowstone

5. Distribution

• Ring of Fire about 75 percent of volcanoes
• Divergent boundaries: Iceland
• Convergent boundaries: Andes, Japan
• Hotspots: Hawaii, Reunion

6. Some more facts

• Deccan Traps are fissure flood basalts
• Andesite forms at subduction zones
• Hotspots remain fixed, plates move
• Higher silica increases viscosity and explosiveness
• Volcanic soils are highly fertile
• Volcanoes emit sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides affecting climate
• Sulphur aerosols cause short term global cooling
• Most active volcanoes occur at convergent boundaries.

PYQ related to Volcanism with detailed explanation.

Note: this screenshot is from CSEWHY PYQ Notes

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@CSEWhy Times – Dec 15, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

check next text

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞

1. From Brazil, a lesson on antibiotic use for India

2. Why lower LDL are recommended for Indians?

3. Indians are thin fat, must use Ozempic wisely

4. New Insurance Bill: Major reforms it seeks to bring (MUST READ)

The Hindu 📰

1. Crossing a river into cyber slavery

2. The right moment to boost India-Ethiopia ties

3. Why are OBC lists in Bengal being scrutinised?

1. AI tool helping Maharashtra Police solve crime

What happened
• Maharashtra Police launched MahaCrimeOS AI developed with Microsoft to assist criminal investigations across police stations.

Issue raised
• Manual investigation delays in cybercrime, financial fraud, narcotics and complex crimes.

Current context
• MahaCrimeOS uses AI to analyse FIRs, telecom data and open source intelligence.
• Generates investigation plans aligned with Supreme Court and High Court guidelines.
• Part of MARVEL initiative under state Microsoft collaboration.
• Falls under AI in governance and policing reforms.



2. Karnataka Bill to tackle hate speech

What happened
• Karnataka government tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025.

Issue raised
• Expansive definition of hate speech and concerns over misuse affecting free speech.

Current context
• Bill expands hate speech beyond existing IPC provisions.
• Provides stronger punishments and wider takedown powers.
• Raises constitutional concerns under Article 19.
• Similar debates earlier seen with sedition and IT Rules.



3. EU fines Elon Musk’s X platform

What happened
• European Commission fined X 140 million dollars under the Digital Services Act.

Issue raised
• Failure to meet transparency, accountability and misinformation control obligations.

Current context
• First major DSA penalty against a large tech platform.
• Focus on blue tick verification misleading users.
• Sets precedent for Big Tech regulation globally.
• Relevant for digital governance and platform accountability.



4. Lunacrete concrete for the Moon

What happened
• Scientists developed lunar concrete using moon regolith for future lunar habitats.

Issue raised
• Conventional cement requires water which is scarce on the Moon.

Current context
• Lunacrete uses regolith with sulphur or microwave heating.
• Can withstand extreme lunar temperatures.
• Important for long term lunar missions by US and China.
• Part of space habitation and extraterrestrial infrastructure.



5. Big Shot Nubian ibexes in Negev desert

What happened
• Photograph captured Nubian ibexes navigating steep rocky terrain in Israel’s Negev desert.

Issue raised
• Survival of desert species in fragile arid ecosystems.

Current context
• Nubian ibex is adapted to extreme desert environments.
• Highlights biodiversity in West Asian deserts.
• Relevant for conservation and climate adaptation studies.

@CSEWhy Times – Dec 16, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞

1. 20 yrs on, a radical revamp of the rural jobs framework
(on G-RAM-G Scheme)

2. Australia shored up gun laws after '96 tragedy. It faces a fresh reckoning
(gun laws in age of lone wolf terror attacks)

The Hindu 📰

1. The Oman visit is more than a routine diplomatic trip
(GS2-IR)

2. Why were IndiGo operations disrupted?
(read for awareness)

1. Suncatcher: Google moonshot to move data centres to space

What happened

* Google announced Project *Suncatcher*, a long-term research initiative to explore solar-powered data centres in space by 2027.

Issue raised

* Rising energy, water and climate costs of terrestrial data centres powering AI and cloud computing.

Current context

* Data centres face criticism for fossil fuel dependence, water depletion and vulnerability to outages and disasters.
* Advances in rockets, satellite tech and space computing have reduced launch and experimentation costs.

Way forward / Why it matters

* Space-based data centres could offer constant solar energy and data sovereignty advantages.
* Challenges include latency, cybersecurity, maintenance, costs and Outer Space Treaty constraints.



2. N-power Bill introduced; permits private operators, limits supplier liability

What happened

* Government introduced the Nuclear Power Bill in Lok Sabha to allow private participation in nuclear power and cap supplier liability.

Issue raised

* Existing Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act discouraged private and foreign investment due to high supplier liability.

Current context

* India aims to expand nuclear energy for clean baseload power to meet climate and energy security goals.
* Small Modular Reactors and advanced nuclear technologies require private sector involvement.

Way forward / Why it matters

* Bill aligns India with global nuclear liability norms.
* Raises concerns on safety, accountability and public trust in nuclear expansion.



3. Does India need to upgrade its biosecurity measures?

What happened

* Experts flagged gaps in India’s biosecurity framework amid rapid advances in biotechnology.

Issue raised

* Existing systems focus more on biosafety than preventing deliberate misuse of biological agents.

Current context

* India is signatory to the Biological Weapons Convention.
* Increased access to biotech tools raises risks from non-state actors, lab leaks and bio-terrorism.

Way forward / Why it matters

* Need for unified national biosecurity framework integrating health, agriculture, environment and security.
* Strong biosecurity is critical for public health, livestock safety and national security.

1. Inhalable microplastics worsening urban air

Issue raised
Air pollution assessment has largely ignored inhalable microplastics despite growing evidence of health risks.

Current context
A study found high concentrations of microplastics in urban air of Indian cities like Kolkata and Delhi.

Why it matters
Microplastics can carry heavy metals and toxic chemicals deep into lungs, increasing chronic disease risks.

Key findings
Particles smaller than 10 micrometres penetrate respiratory system
Urban sources include tyre wear, plastic waste, construction dust
Winter inversion worsens exposure

Implications
Adds a new dimension to air quality governance
Challenges current PM2.5 focused regulatory approach



2. Wisdom teeth as an evolutionary relic

Issue raised
Why humans still develop wisdom teeth despite frequent dental problems.

Current context
Evolutionary explanation links wisdom teeth to dietary and jaw size changes.

Scientific explanation
Early humans needed extra molars for coarse diets
Modern cooking reduced jaw size but tooth pattern remained

Why problematic today
Jaw space insufficient leading to impaction and pain
Example of evolutionary mismatch

Relevance
Useful for evolution, biology, and human adaptation questions



3. Lab grown food and 3D printing technology

Issue raised
Can alternative food technologies address nutrition and sustainability challenges.

Current context
Italian researchers are developing lab grown plant based snacks using 3D printing.

Technology involved
Plant cells and fruit residues converted into printable food material
High nutritional density with minimal waste

Why important
Reduces pressure on agriculture
Supports future food security and climate goals

UPSC angle
Links science innovation with sustainable development goals



4. Noida penalises Blinkit cloud kitchen

Issue raised
Violation of solid and liquid waste management rules by gig economy platforms.

Current context
Noida Authority fined Blinkit Rs 5 lakh for improper waste handling.

Violations noted
Non segregation of waste
Improper disposal of liquid waste
Use of banned single use plastics

Governance concern
Urban local bodies enforcing environmental compliance
Regulatory gaps in cloud kitchen sector

Prelims angle
Solid Waste Management Rules
Urban governance and municipal powers



5. Enduring popularity of Jane Austen

Issue raised
Why Jane Austen remains culturally relevant 250 years after her birth.

Current context
Renewed global interest through films, TV adaptations, and academic discourse.

Key themes
Women’s agency
Social class and marriage
Moral reasoning and realism

Why enduring
Simple language with deep social insight
Adaptable across cultures and generations

Culture angle
Literature as soft power
Cultural continuity and reinterpretation

@CSEWhy Times – Dec 17, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞

1. At 100, Indian Communism has an unfinished business, too early to write its obituary
(raja mandal - wednesday must reads)

2. Entire IDEAS page

The Hindu 📰

1. India and the US: 2005 vs 2025 (read for basic awareness)

2. The future of governance in post-Maoist India
(delightful read)

Rupee breaches all-time low,
Rupee crosses 91 against the dollar.

Read impacts of falling Rupee,

V. Important for UPSC.
Save this as this can become handy for exam.😊

This side of an UPSC aspirant’s life hardly anyone talks about🙁

@CSEWhy Times – Dec 18, 2025

Pre & Mains Notes

not much in the paper today

@CSEWhy Newspaper Recos

Indian Express🗞

1. Entire EXPLAINED page

The Hindu 📰

1. The changing patterns of India’s student migration

2. How is the Aravalli range to be protected?