✅Gs-2 : Centre - state relations- Finance commission - Fiscal federalism- Click here
🅾️India’s federal fiscal structure places heavy expenditure responsibility on states-from health and education to infrastructure - but revenue generation capacity is often limited. Many states carry high debt-to-GSDP ratios. To nudge states toward fiscal discipline, the Union government is proposing to introduce fiscal rankings, similar to Ease of Doing Business rankings.
🅾️Why Now?- Rising state debts after COVID-19, combined with large welfare outlays in election-bound states, have raised concern
🔰updated CPI and CES = more realistic economic denominator → better fiscal rankings and debt sustainability analysis.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️India’s federal fiscal structure places heavy expenditure responsibility on states-from health and education to infrastructure - but revenue generation capacity is often limited. Many states carry high debt-to-GSDP ratios. To nudge states toward fiscal discipline, the Union government is proposing to introduce fiscal rankings, similar to Ease of Doing Business rankings.
🅾️Why Now?- Rising state debts after COVID-19, combined with large welfare outlays in election-bound states, have raised concern
🔰updated CPI and CES = more realistic economic denominator → better fiscal rankings and debt sustainability analysis.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Economic growth
🎖MUST READ ARTICLE- What is it about?- What kind of strategy should India deploy for improving per capita - Read this article
⚠️GDP formula G= C+I+G+(X-M)
This infographic is about how C is changing.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🎖MUST READ ARTICLE- What is it about?- What kind of strategy should India deploy for improving per capita - Read this article
⚠️GDP formula G= C+I+G+(X-M)
This infographic is about how C is changing.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Poverty and unemployment studies
🅾️This article explains a new World Bank estimate: only 5.75% of Indians live in "abject poverty" in 2022-23. This seems like great news, but there's confusion about what exactly this number means.
⚠️How this number was calculated- classic example of "methodology shaping narrative"
1. If someone earns less than rs. 62/day, they are said to live in abject poverty by World Bank’s latest global poverty line for India.
2. This adjusts for different price levels across countries - rs. 62/day in India may buy what $2.15/day buys in the US. This lets us compare poverty across nations.
🚫World Bank uses PPP-adjusted rates, not forex rates
3. Earlier methods used higher poverty lines or different years for comparison (like rs. 33/day in cities). New data uses updated income benchmarks, 2022 prices, and global definitions.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️This article explains a new World Bank estimate: only 5.75% of Indians live in "abject poverty" in 2022-23. This seems like great news, but there's confusion about what exactly this number means.
⚠️How this number was calculated- classic example of "methodology shaping narrative"
1. If someone earns less than rs. 62/day, they are said to live in abject poverty by World Bank’s latest global poverty line for India.
2. This adjusts for different price levels across countries - rs. 62/day in India may buy what $2.15/day buys in the US. This lets us compare poverty across nations.
🚫World Bank uses PPP-adjusted rates, not forex rates
3. Earlier methods used higher poverty lines or different years for comparison (like rs. 33/day in cities). New data uses updated income benchmarks, 2022 prices, and global definitions.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
Gs-4- Ethics - Autonomous weapons- ethical arguments
https://youtu.be/M8K4H21ViHM
https://youtu.be/M8K4H21ViHM
YouTube
Gs-4- Ethics - Autonomous weapons- ethical arguments
Join our Telegram: https://www.tg-me.com/VK IAS UPSC Highlights by Vikas kanukollu VK/com.hinduhighlights
🔍 Ethics & Autonomous Weapons | GS-4 UPSC Mains 2025
In this video, we break down the ethical dilemma posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) — machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention.…
🔍 Ethics & Autonomous Weapons | GS-4 UPSC Mains 2025
In this video, we break down the ethical dilemma posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) — machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention.…
Upsc Ethics mastery begins with this step!
https://youtube.com/shorts/1M_49myLcDQ?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/1M_49myLcDQ?feature=share
YouTube
Upsc Ethics mastery begins with this step!
✅VK IAS Telegram - https://www.tg-me.com/VK IAS UPSC Highlights by Vikas kanukollu VK/com.hinduhighlightsConfused how to derieve value for ethics? this video shows how and where to begin!
✅Gs-3 : Disaster Management- Stampede- Click here
☝️Whatever was discussed in this class- you will find it relevant for many years to come- Expecting some kind of a question on this topic- MUST WATCH for 2025 mains aspirants. Watch it at a speed that is comfortable to you. Explained it at a slow pace that is suitable for everyone's speed.
☝️Whatever was discussed in this class- you will find it relevant for many years to come- Expecting some kind of a question on this topic- MUST WATCH for 2025 mains aspirants. Watch it at a speed that is comfortable to you. Explained it at a slow pace that is suitable for everyone's speed.
✅Gs-3 : Science and Technology- GPS
🅾️Background on GPS technology- Click here and read
🅾️Present article focus : deliberate cyberattacks on GPS systems through jamming and spoofing -are becoming a serious global threat.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Background on GPS technology- Click here and read
🅾️Present article focus : deliberate cyberattacks on GPS systems through jamming and spoofing -are becoming a serious global threat.
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
#Agriculture
✅Gs-3 : Agriculture- Fertilizer subsidy-
🅾️Background : Fertilizers provide six macronutrients and eight micronutrients to the plants for well-balanced growth- How fertilizer subsidy works?- All the other related issues regarding fertiliser subsidy- click here and read them
✅What looked like a door closing (China's export ban) actually opened several new doors:
⚜️More suppliers -Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, etc.
⚜️More fertiliser options -APS (Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate) and NPK complexes.
⚜️Better farm practices -move toward precision agriculture.
⚜️Stronger policy shifts -Push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Fertilisers
🎖Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights - Relevant hashtags for Prelims- Click here
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
✅Gs-3 : Agriculture- Fertilizer subsidy-
🅾️Background : Fertilizers provide six macronutrients and eight micronutrients to the plants for well-balanced growth- How fertilizer subsidy works?- All the other related issues regarding fertiliser subsidy- click here and read them
✅What looked like a door closing (China's export ban) actually opened several new doors:
⚜️More suppliers -Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, etc.
⚜️More fertiliser options -APS (Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate) and NPK complexes.
⚜️Better farm practices -move toward precision agriculture.
⚜️Stronger policy shifts -Push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in Fertilisers
🎖Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights - Relevant hashtags for Prelims- Click here
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
✅Gs-3 : Environmental conservation- Case study- The Pachgaon Model – Local Governance and Positive Outcomes
🅾️Central issue here : Forest Survey of India (FSI) uses outdated data- Forest Department (FD) operates with a centralised, anti-nature and anti-people mindset.
🅾️Solution suggested : Pachgaon (Maharashtra) under Forest Rights Act (2006) enabled communities to claim Community Forest Rights (CFR)-
⚠️Also read : Threats to the Biodiversity of Western ghats- Lessons to learn from GOA floods
⚠️conflict between local autonomy and corporate/state interests- Kerala High court verdict in favor of Coca-Cola over a Panchayat that denied a license- Click here
🔰Take away : From top-down forestry to bottom-up ecological democracy. This is a replicable model across India.
🌟Prelims info : Rivers in kerala- as mentioned in the article - Click here
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Central issue here : Forest Survey of India (FSI) uses outdated data- Forest Department (FD) operates with a centralised, anti-nature and anti-people mindset.
🅾️Solution suggested : Pachgaon (Maharashtra) under Forest Rights Act (2006) enabled communities to claim Community Forest Rights (CFR)-
⚠️Also read : Threats to the Biodiversity of Western ghats- Lessons to learn from GOA floods
⚠️conflict between local autonomy and corporate/state interests- Kerala High court verdict in favor of Coca-Cola over a Panchayat that denied a license- Click here
🔰Take away : From top-down forestry to bottom-up ecological democracy. This is a replicable model across India.
🌟Prelims info : Rivers in kerala- as mentioned in the article - Click here
🎖VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-2 : RPA- RUPP = Registered Unrecognised Political Party
🅾️Background : RPA- Role of political parties on Indian politics- click here
⚜️ Dynamics of Indian politics- Useful in Essay and ethics also- Click here
🔰Procedure : Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 – lays down the registration process- But 345 RUPPs haven’t contested elections since 2019 and have no traceable office- possibility of Ghost parties misusing tax benefits without actual electoral activity.
⚠️Does ECI Have Explicit Power to De-Register a Party?= Supreme Court in Indian National Congress vs Institute of Social Welfare (2002)- ECI cannot de-register a party unless: Registration was obtained fraudulently, or The party violates the Constitution or becomes unlawful- , ECI can only de-list for non-compliance, not cancel existence. Read Law Commission Reports quoted here in this article in this context.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️Background : RPA- Role of political parties on Indian politics- click here
⚜️ Dynamics of Indian politics- Useful in Essay and ethics also- Click here
🔰Procedure : Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 – lays down the registration process- But 345 RUPPs haven’t contested elections since 2019 and have no traceable office- possibility of Ghost parties misusing tax benefits without actual electoral activity.
⚠️Does ECI Have Explicit Power to De-Register a Party?= Supreme Court in Indian National Congress vs Institute of Social Welfare (2002)- ECI cannot de-register a party unless: Registration was obtained fraudulently, or The party violates the Constitution or becomes unlawful- , ECI can only de-list for non-compliance, not cancel existence. Read Law Commission Reports quoted here in this article in this context.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅GS 3: PDS- public distribution system
⚜️Food subsidy as economic tool to fight poverty- India’s poverty measurement, particularly post the 2023–24 Household Consumption Survey, should consider the actual food consumption pattern of the population - using a metric like the Thali Index- subsidies must be rationalised, not eliminated, as access to a nutritious, affordable diet remains critical despite declining poverty numbers- Why?= Click here
🅾️Traditional poverty lines (e.g., Tendulkar, Rangarajan) used consumption expenditure.
But they: 1. Treat food as a residual expense 2. Do not account for nutritional quality 3. Overlook actual food inflation Thali Index fixes this by using food prices to reverse-engineer affordability → better poverty estimation. This works because Food inflation hits bottom 40% hardest, who also often live just above the poverty line.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
⚜️Food subsidy as economic tool to fight poverty- India’s poverty measurement, particularly post the 2023–24 Household Consumption Survey, should consider the actual food consumption pattern of the population - using a metric like the Thali Index- subsidies must be rationalised, not eliminated, as access to a nutritious, affordable diet remains critical despite declining poverty numbers- Why?= Click here
🅾️Traditional poverty lines (e.g., Tendulkar, Rangarajan) used consumption expenditure.
But they: 1. Treat food as a residual expense 2. Do not account for nutritional quality 3. Overlook actual food inflation Thali Index fixes this by using food prices to reverse-engineer affordability → better poverty estimation. This works because Food inflation hits bottom 40% hardest, who also often live just above the poverty line.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-2 : Fundamental rights- Secularism- Preamble
🅾️What is the reasoning Behind Including ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?- click here
⚠️The Core Debate – Is Secularism Inherent Even Without the Word?- Critics argue: The word “secular” was imposed during a politically coercive period (Emergency) and was not part of the Constitution as adopted in 1950. This article is saying that it is not- and shows reasons why secularism is not derived from one word in the Preamble but from the Constitution’s structure and values.
🅾️Judicial Position- Sanjiv Khanna Bench (2024):ismissed challenge to the 42nd Amendment’s wording. Held: These additions do not violate fundamental rights, and no constitutional violation occurs.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
🅾️What is the reasoning Behind Including ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble?- click here
⚠️The Core Debate – Is Secularism Inherent Even Without the Word?- Critics argue: The word “secular” was imposed during a politically coercive period (Emergency) and was not part of the Constitution as adopted in 1950. This article is saying that it is not- and shows reasons why secularism is not derived from one word in the Preamble but from the Constitution’s structure and values.
🅾️Judicial Position- Sanjiv Khanna Bench (2024):ismissed challenge to the 42nd Amendment’s wording. Held: These additions do not violate fundamental rights, and no constitutional violation occurs.
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Mobilization of resources- Fiscal deficit- World economy backdrop- Click here
✅Gs-3 : Government Budgeting- Constraints and Resource Optimization-Fiscal prudence in foreign assistance”
🔰Prelims Pointers:
⚜️IDEAS Scheme: Framework for Indian LoCs via EXIM Bank.
⚜️GDC: Global Development Compact – India’s 5-modality approach.
⚜️TrC (Triangular Cooperation): Emerging new norm; India + OECD + LDC.
⚜️Trend =Shrinking ODA: Aid from OECD nations reducing due to domestic pressures
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-3 : Government Budgeting- Constraints and Resource Optimization-Fiscal prudence in foreign assistance”
🔰Prelims Pointers:
⚜️IDEAS Scheme: Framework for Indian LoCs via EXIM Bank.
⚜️GDC: Global Development Compact – India’s 5-modality approach.
⚜️TrC (Triangular Cooperation): Emerging new norm; India + OECD + LDC.
⚜️Trend =Shrinking ODA: Aid from OECD nations reducing due to domestic pressures
⚡️VK IAS subject wise channels - Click here
⚠️Youtube : Click here and join the VK IAS channel
✅Gs-2 : Vulnerable sections - Social security of Gig economy workers-
🅾️case study of china- how public facilitated changes in china. - Click here
⚠️Issue = The PLFS continues to subsume such workers under misleading categories like “self-employed,” missing nuances critical for social security and wage policy.
🅾️Conclusion that you can use for Mains answers= “recognition without representation” risks tokenism unless India updates its labour survey architecture to reflect the hybrid and precarious nature of modern work.
🔰Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights for prelims info
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
🅾️case study of china- how public facilitated changes in china. - Click here
⚠️Issue = The PLFS continues to subsume such workers under misleading categories like “self-employed,” missing nuances critical for social security and wage policy.
🅾️Conclusion that you can use for Mains answers= “recognition without representation” risks tokenism unless India updates its labour survey architecture to reflect the hybrid and precarious nature of modern work.
🔰Join
@hinduhighlights for News analysis
@upschighlights for prelims info
🎖Please Subscribe : Youtube.com/vikaskanukollu
Forwarded from UPSC Ethics by VK IAS
A letter from a student… Made me put this out..
I didn’t always know how to say this.
But somewhere between chasing ranks and routines, I realised—what’s really holding most students back isn’t lack of discipline or notes…It’s the quiet stories they keep telling themselves.
“I’m behind.”
“Others are built for this, not me.”
“If I don’t succeed fast enough, I’ll be left behind.”
At VK IAS, mentorship for me is not about fixing your productivity.
It’s about sitting with those stories. Looking them in the eye.
Because true learning begins not with a timetable,
but with the courage to ask:
“Whose expectations am I carrying?”
You don’t need to fight the syllabus - first you need to stop fighting yourself.
This is where the whole idea of mentorship gets its meaning from-for me it is a return. A remembering.
Success? It’s not the prize.
It’s the quiet side-effect of someone who has finally come home to their own clarity.
Thank you for giving me a purpose for existence 🙂
-vk
I didn’t always know how to say this.
But somewhere between chasing ranks and routines, I realised—what’s really holding most students back isn’t lack of discipline or notes…It’s the quiet stories they keep telling themselves.
“I’m behind.”
“Others are built for this, not me.”
“If I don’t succeed fast enough, I’ll be left behind.”
At VK IAS, mentorship for me is not about fixing your productivity.
It’s about sitting with those stories. Looking them in the eye.
Because true learning begins not with a timetable,
but with the courage to ask:
“Whose expectations am I carrying?”
You don’t need to fight the syllabus - first you need to stop fighting yourself.
This is where the whole idea of mentorship gets its meaning from-for me it is a return. A remembering.
Success? It’s not the prize.
It’s the quiet side-effect of someone who has finally come home to their own clarity.
Thank you for giving me a purpose for existence 🙂
-vk