GS Paper 2

Urban Local Bodies, History, Objective, Types and Challenges

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) play a vital role in the governance and administration of urban areas in India. They are local self-government institutions responsible for managing urban centers, including cities and towns. ULBs are empowered by state governments to handle...

IAS Preeti Sudan appointed new UPSC Chairperson

IAS Preeti Sudan appointed new UPSC Chairperson The Union Public Service Commission announced on Wednesday the appointment of IAS officer Preeti Sudan as its new chairperson. Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer from the Karnataka cadre, will assume the role...

Enforcement Directorate (ED), Power, Functions and Jurisdiction

Context The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. The Court raised the bar for arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. More...

Om Birla elected Lok Sabha Speaker for Second Term

Om Birla Re-elected as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha Om Birla, the BJP nominee, has been re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. He was up against Congress candidate K Suresh, who filed his nomination after the...

Legislative Council in India, Composition, Constitutional Provisions

Context: Bypolls are scheduled in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh to fill five vacant seats. Three of these vacancies arose due to the resignation of members. Legislative Council Within the Indian government, the Legislative Council is a deliberative...

Parliamentary Committees, Types, Need and Significance

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government settles into its third term, the focus now shifts to the reconstitution of parliamentary committees—an integral part of India's legislative process. These committees are crucial for scrutinizing bills, offering policy recommendations, and ensuring that...

African Union, Objective, Member Countries, Significance and Challenges

Context: The African Union criticised the Israeli military's actions in Rafah, southern Gaza, and urged the international community to intervene to halt the "deadly escalation" of the conflict. African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental association that encourages...

Electoral Reforms in India, Challenges, Reforms & Issues

India, with its vast population and strong democratic foundation, holds elections of immense significance. However, over time, several challenges have emerged, threatening the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. In response to these challenges, electoral reforms have been introduced...

Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Historical Cases and Latest Update

Uniform Civil Code: An Overview It aims to replace the diverse personal laws based on religious scriptures and customs with a common set of laws governing every citizen. These laws would cover marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, etc., promoting national unity...

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Map, Countries

Context: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that despite the Israeli conflict in Gaza impacting the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) plans, India and Greece should continue their commitment to this "peace project". India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) About IMEC...