In-Depth PIB Analysis3 Items Core TopicImportantConcise International Relations & DefenceGS Paper II · III 01Garuda Shakti — India–Indonesia Special Forces Exercise Economy & EntrepreneurshipGS Paper III 02National Startup Awards 6.0 — Ten Years of Startup India Society & Social JusticeGS Paper I · II 03Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana — India’s Ageing & Silver Economy International Relations & DefenceGeneral Studies Papers II & III 01 Exercise Garuda Shakti: India and Indonesia’s Special Forces Train Together in East Java ImportantGS-II · IR — India and its Extended Neighbourhood (ASEAN, Indo-Pacific)GS-III · Security — Defence CooperationPrelims-orientedPIB · Ministry of Defence · 27 Oct 2026 The 11th edition of Garuda Shakti, the India–Indonesia joint Special Forces exercise, is under way at Banyuwangi, Indonesia from 27 October to 6 November 2026. India is represented by the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces). Figure 1 — Indonesia: the world’s largest archipelagic state Indonesia straddles the Indian and Pacific Oceans; Banyuwangi lies at the eastern tip of Java, facing Bali. Schematic map; not to scale. Map reproduced with credit for educational use. ◈ Static Background — Indonesia and India Geography: more than 17,000 islands; main ones Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi and Papua. Capital Jakarta; a new capital, Nusantara, is being built in East Kalimantan. Chokepoints: Indonesia borders the Strait of Malacca and controls the Sunda and Lombok straits — vital sea lanes between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Maritime neighbour: India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands lie close to Sumatra; Indonesia’s Sabang port is near India’s southernmost point, Indira Point. Groupings: founding member of ASEAN (1967), member of the G20 and, since 2025, of BRICS; the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Ties: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2018); a Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (2018); Indonesia’s President was Chief Guest at Republic Day 2025. Cultural links: Ramayana and Mahabharata traditions in Java and Bali; Odisha’s Bali Jatra festival commemorates ancient Kalinga–Bali trade. ▤ Exercise at a Glance Edition: 11th; Indonesian side drawn from its Special Forces. Focus: special operations in jungle terrain — obstacle crossing, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault and combat-hardening; exchange of expertise on weapons and equipment. Culmination: a validation exercise simulating realistic operational scenarios. Aim: mutual understanding, interoperability and stronger bilateral defence cooperation. India–Indonesia Military Exercises — Prelims Map Garuda Shakti — Army Special Forces. Samudra Shakti — bilateral naval exercise. Ind-Indo CORPAT — coordinated naval patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line, held since 2002. Name trap: “Garuda” alone is the India–France air force exercise — do not confuse it with Garuda Shakti. Why It Matters Act East and Indo-Pacific: Indonesia is central to India’s Act East Policy and its vision of a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific; both champion ASEAN centrality. Maritime security: proximity of the Andamans to the Malacca Strait makes cooperation on piracy, smuggling and sea-lane security a shared interest. Defence industry: growing interest in Indian platforms and joint production creates scope for defence exports. Counter-terrorism: special-forces training builds skills for jungle and counter-insurgency operations relevant to both countries. ✎ Mains Practice Question Indonesia is India’s closest maritime neighbour in Southeast Asia. Examine the strategic significance of India–Indonesia relations for India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. 10 marks · 150 words Economy & EntrepreneurshipGeneral Studies Paper III 02 National Startup Awards 6.0 Launched as Startup India Completes a Decade ImportantGS-III · Economy — Industrial Policy, Startups, InnovationPrelims + MainsPIB · Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT) · 27 Oct 2026 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has opened applications for the 6th National Startup Awards (27 October–20 November 2026), with 20 sectoral and 3 special categories — including 12 new sectors and a first-ever Student Innovator award. ◈ Static Background — Startup India Launched: 16 January 2016; 16 January is now observed as National Startup Day. Nodal department: DPIIT. Who is a “startup”: a private limited company, registered partnership or LLP, up to 10 years from incorporation, with annual turnover not above ₹100 crore in any year, working on innovation or a scalable business model. Funding support: Fund of Funds for Startups (₹10,000 crore, managed by SIDBI; a second fund announced in 2025); Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (2021); Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (2022). Tax and regulation: income-tax holiday for 3 of the first 10 years (Section 80-IAC) for eligible startups; the so-called “angel tax” was abolished in 2024; self-certification under labour and environmental laws. Scale: India is among the world’s three largest startup ecosystems by number of startups and unicorns. ▤ NSA 6.0 at a Glance Organiser: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, under Startup India; awards running since 2019. Categories: 20 sectoral + 3 special — Women-Led Startups, North-East Startups and the new Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur award. New sectors (12): include Biomanufacturing, Defence & Security, Electronics & Semiconductors, Ocean & Blue Economy, Space-Tech, Drones & Aerospace, and Rural Economy & Traditional Industries. Prize: ₹25 lakh per category for winning startups; a ₹25 lakh pool across four sub-categories for the student award. Beyond cash: mentorship, investor and market access, and visibility; outreach to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Prelims Hooks — Terms in the Category List Orange Economy: the creative economy — media, design, content, arts and culture. Blue Economy: sustainable use of ocean resources for growth, livelihoods and ecosystem health. Biomanufacturing: using living systems (microbes, cells) to make products — a focus of the BioE3 policy (2024). Deep-tech: startups built on significant scientific or engineering advances (AI, quantum, semiconductors, space). The Critical View Concentration: startups and funding cluster in a few metros (Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai); Tier-2/3 outreach is welcome but needs local incubation and finance. Funding cycles: private funding fell sharply after the 2021 peak; awards cannot substitute for patient, long-term capital, especially for deep-tech. Inclusion: women-led startups remain a small share of the total and of funding. Balanced view: sector categories mirror national priorities (defence, semiconductors, space, oceans), signalling where public support and procurement may flow. ✎ Mains Practice Question A decade after its launch, evaluate the achievements and limitations of the Startup India initiative in building an inclusive, innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem. 15 marks · 250 words Society & Social JusticeGeneral Studies Papers I & II 03 Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana: India’s Umbrella Scheme for an Ageing Population and the Silver Economy Core TopicGS-I · Society — Population, AgeingGS-II · Welfare of Vulnerable Sections (Senior Citizens)Prelims + MainsPIB Backgrounder · Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment · 27 Oct 2026 India’s elderly population is projected to rise from 10.38 crore (Census 2011) to about 23 crore by 2036. The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), the Centre’s umbrella scheme for senior citizens, released ₹77.98 crore to 755 projects for the quarter ending September 2026 — a moment to examine how ready India is for ageing. ◈ Static Background — Ageing in India Who is a senior citizen: a person aged 60 years or above (Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007). Demographic shift: falling fertility and longer life expectancy mean the elderly share — about 8.6% in 2011 — is rising fast; UNFPA’s India Ageing Report 2023 projects it to exceed 20% by 2050. Features: feminisation of ageing (more elderly women, many widowed), rising share of the oldest old (80+), and wide State variation — southern States and Himachal Pradesh are ageing fastest. Evidence base: the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), Wave 1 (2017–18), by IIPS Mumbai for MoHFW, surveyed people aged 45+ on health, economic and social well-being; it found widespread chronic illness and functional limitations. Social change: urbanisation, migration and nuclear families are weakening traditional family care. Figure 2 — India’s elderly population (60+), crore 10.385.11 M5.27 F2011 (Census)~23*2036 (projected)more than doublesM = men, F = women (crore) · *projection cited by MoSJE Elderly women already outnumber elderly men. Chart recreated by Legacy IAS from Census 2011 and MoSJE figures. ◈ Constitutional & Legal Framework Article 41 (DPSP): the State shall make effective provision for public assistance in old age, sickness, disablement and unemployment, within its economic capacity. Seventh Schedule: “relief of the disabled and unemployable” — Entry 9, State List; “social security and social insurance” — Entry 23, Concurrent List. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007: children and relatives must maintain parents/seniors; claims decided by Maintenance Tribunals (capped at ₹10,000 a month); abandonment is punishable. BNSS, Section 144 (old CrPC Section 125): maintenance orders for parents unable to maintain themselves. Policy: National Policy on Older Persons, 1999. ▤ Scheme at a Glance — AVYAY Launched: 2021, subsuming the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC). Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Department of Social Justice and Empowerment). Guiding ideas: “Ageing with Dignity” and “Ageing in Place” — supporting seniors to live safely in their own homes and communities. Delivery: grants-in-aid to NGOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies; State action plans; District Committees chaired by the District Collector select beneficiaries and monitor homes. Coverage under IPSrC: 764 senior citizen homes, 13 continuous care homes, 17 mobile medicare units and 3 physiotherapy clinics. Latest release: ₹77.98 crore to 755 projects (quarter ending 30 September 2026). Figure 3 — Developmental objectives of AVYAY Nine objectives span security, care, rights and productive ageing. Infographic courtesy PIB / MoSJE, 27 October 2026; reproduced with credit for educational use. Building Blocks of AVYAY Figure 4 — AVYAY as an umbrella scheme AVYAY (2021)Ministry of Social Justice & EmpowermentIPSrCOld-age homes, carehomes, MMUs via NGOs;RRTCs for trainingSAPSrCState action plans;caregivers, cataractdrives (≤20% own ideas)Rashtriya VayoshriAssistive devicesvia ALIMCO;10.45 lakh+ beneficiariesElderline 14567National helpline(Oct 2021); 8.66 lakhactionable callsSAGEElder-care startups;equity up to ₹1 croreSCOPEJob-matching portalfor seniorsPM-SPECIALFree training ofgeriatric caregiversJEEVAN · SHATAYUApp + caregiverdashboard (May 2026) Top row: care and assistance; bottom row: silver economy, engagement and digital tools. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS from MoSJE information. IPSrC (Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens): the main arm — grants to NGOs and local bodies for homes and care facilities; it evolved from the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (1992). Regional Resource and Training Centres get ₹19.58 lakh a year each for training, research and inspections. SAPSrC: grants to States and UTs; up to 20% can be used for State-specific innovations, and States are expected to add their own funds. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (2017): assistive living devices for eligible seniors, distributed by ALIMCO (a PSU under MoSJE) through camps and PM Divyasha Vayoshri Kendras — over 55 lakh devices to 10.45 lakh+ seniors. SHATAYU dashboard: lists 30,151 trained caregivers — 23,334 women and 6,817 men. Intergenerational bonding: an MoU (1 September 2026) with Ramakrishna Math and Mission for a school-based programme in 200 pilot schools. Figure 5 — Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: eligibility and devices Eligibility: BPL seniors or those with monthly income up to ₹15,000. Infographic courtesy PIB / MoSJE, 27 October 2026; reproduced with credit for educational use. Related Schemes Beyond AVYAY Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (NSAP, 1995): monthly central pension of ₹200 (60–79 years) and ₹500 (80+) for BPL elderly, topped up by States. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: extended in 2024 to all citizens aged 70+, regardless of income (Ayushman Vay Vandana card). National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (2010–11): geriatric care through the public health system. Global anchors: Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002); UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030); 1 October — International Day of Older Persons. The Critical View Scale gap: fewer than 800 supported homes and about 30,000 registered caregivers are small against a population of over 10 crore elderly — demand will more than double by 2036. Income security: the central old-age pension of ₹200 has not been revised in years; most elderly lack contributory pensions, especially women and informal workers. Health costs: chronic disease and high out-of-pocket spending dominate elderly vulnerability; geriatric specialists and long-term care are scarce. Implementation: grant-in-aid models depend on NGO quality and timely releases; monitoring and standards for homes need strengthening. Elder abuse and loneliness: under-reported; awareness of the 2007 Act and Maintenance Tribunals is low. Opportunity side: the silver economy — assistive tech, care services, senior housing, re-employment — can create jobs, especially for women caregivers. Way Forward Build a long-term care policy combining home-based care, community centres and regulated assisted living. Revise and index old-age pensions; expand contributory schemes for informal workers. Geriatric capacity: train more caregivers, add geriatric wards and specialists, and integrate with primary health care. Strengthen enforcement of the 2007 Act and use digital tools (Elderline, JEEVAN) for outreach and grievance redress. Promote age-friendly cities — accessible transport, public spaces and housing. ✎ Mains Practice Question India is ageing faster than it is preparing for old age. Critically examine the adequacy of India’s policy framework for senior citizens, including the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, and suggest measures to build a comprehensive system of elderly care. 15 marks · 250 words

Editorials, Opinions & Explained3 Items Core TopicImportantConcise EditorialsGS III 01Drug Networks — Beyond Carriers to Kingpins OpinionsGS II · GS III 02India–Azerbaijan Reset & the Limits of Turkic Unity03Avoiding Carbon Lock-In — India’s Next Investment Cycle EditorialsThe paper’s own arguments, analysed 01 Catching the Carriers, Missing the Kingpins: The Limits of Seizure-Led Drug Enforcement Core TopicEditorialGS-III · Internal Security — Organised Crime, Drug Trafficking, Money LaunderingGS-II · Health — Substance UsePrelims + MainsThe Hindu · Editorial (“Small fish”) Welcoming Operation Trident against a syndicate on the India–Myanmar–Bangladesh corridor, the editorial argues that enforcement still catches couriers while the financiers and foreign-based suppliers remain beyond reach. Its central claim: success should be measured by networks dismantled and convictions secured, not by arrests and seizures alone. ◈ Static Background — India’s Drug-Control Framework Constitution: Article 47 (DPSP) directs the State to endeavour to prohibit the consumption of drugs injurious to health, except for medicinal purposes. NDPS Act, 1985: the principal law; distinguishes small, intermediate and commercial quantities; Section 27A punishes financing of illicit traffic; Chapter V-A provides for forfeiture of illegally acquired property. PITNDPS Act, 1988: allows preventive detention of suspected traffickers. Institutions: Narcotics Control Bureau (1986) under the MHA; the four-tier NCORD coordination mechanism; State Anti-Narcotics Task Forces; the Enforcement Directorate under PMLA, 2002 for proceeds of crime. Geography of supply: the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan–Iran–Pakistan) to the west and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar–Laos–Thailand) to the east; maritime routes through western ports. Scale of use: the national survey on Magnitude of Substance Use in India (2019), by AIIMS for the Ministry of Social Justice, found opioid use at about 2% of the population, with Punjab among the most affected States. What the Editorial Says Policy frame: the Vision Document on Drug Control (2026–2029), launched on 26 June 2026 (International Day against Drug Abuse), involves States, more than 40 Ministries, central agencies and the pharmaceutical sector; it aims to dismantle 100 major cartels and improve prosecution, with a stated deadline of 31 December 2029. Rising enforcement: arrests rose by over 50% and NDPS cases by about 53% in 2025 compared with 2024. The gap: in the 2021 Mundra port seizure of about 3,000 kg of heroin, the principal Afghanistan-based suppliers have not been brought to book. Seizures ≠ outcomes: the quantity seized does not show whether availability or consumption has fallen. Human cost: alleged killings of anti-drug activists in Punjab and a reported suicide of a father who had complained about synthetic drugs highlight risks faced by those who speak out. Prescription: follow the money trail to the ultimate beneficiaries and secure their conviction. Figure 1 — Where enforcement lands vs where the network is controlled KingpinsFinanciers / hawalaDistributorsCarriers & street peddlersTop: hardest to reachOften abroad; needs extradition,mutual legal assistance, finance trailMiddle: the leverFreezing accounts and attachingassets (NDPS Ch. V-A, PMLA)Base: most arrestsEasily replaced; high arrest countsmay not reduce supply The editorial’s point in one picture: enforcement metrics concentrate at the base, while control sits at the top. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS. Analysis Output vs outcome metrics: arrests and seizures measure enforcement activity; conviction rates, assets confiscated and prevalence of use measure impact. Policy needs both kinds of data. Transnational reach: pursuing suppliers in Myanmar or Afghanistan depends on extradition treaties, mutual legal assistance and cooperation through bodies such as UNODC and BIMSTEC — difficult where governance is weak. Protecting those who speak out: the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, approved by the Supreme Court in Mahender Chawla v Union of India, and Section 398, BNSS, which requires States to notify witness-protection schemes, offer a framework that could extend to informants and activists. Demand side: treatment, rehabilitation and prevention — under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan — determine whether lower supply translates into lower harm. Balanced view: the network-centric approach signalled by recent operations is a step in the right direction; the editorial’s caution is about consistency and follow-through, not intent. ✎ Mains Practice Question “Seizure statistics measure enforcement activity, not success against drug networks.” Critically examine this statement and suggest how India’s drug-control strategy can target the financiers and organisers of trafficking networks. 15 marks · 250 words OpinionsSigned op-eds, analysed with counter-views 02 A Reset With Azerbaijan: National Interest, the Organisation of Turkic States and India’s Eurasian Opportunity Core TopicOpinionGS-II · IR — India and Central Asia / South Caucasus; Regional GroupingsPrelims + MainsThe Indian Express · Op-Ed (“Raja Mandala”) The External Affairs Minister’s visit to Baku signals a reset in India–Azerbaijan ties after a difficult period. The author argues that national interest outweighs religious or ethnic solidarity in shaping states’ choices — and that India should engage the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia on their own terms rather than treating them as part of a fixed bloc. ◈ Static Background — Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus Location: on the western shore of the Caspian Sea; borders Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran; its exclave Nakhchivan touches Turkey. The South Caucasus lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian. Polity: independent since 1991 after the Soviet break-up; a Shia Muslim-majority country with a secular constitutional order. Energy: major oil and gas producer; the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline carries oil to the Mediterranean. ONGC Videsh holds stakes in the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli oil fields and the BTC pipeline. Connectivity: lies on the western route of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. Regional conflict: long dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; after the 2020 war and the 2023 offensive, Baku and Yerevan have moved towards normalisation. India has substantial defence ties with Armenia. Figure 2 — Azerbaijan as a connector (schematic, not a map) Azerbaijan(Baku)Russia (north)Iran (south)INSTC → Chabahar/Bandar Abbas → IndiaGeorgia → Turkey→ Europe (west)Across the Caspian→ Central Asia (east) Azerbaijan’s value lies in its position at the junction of four directions — the author’s reason for India to engage it. Relationship diagram drawn by Legacy IAS; not a map. ▤ Groupings to Know Organisation of Turkic States (OTS): began as the Turkic Council (2009); renamed in 2021. Members: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan; Turkmenistan and Hungary are observers. Secretariat in Istanbul. Azerbaijan is handing the chair to Turkey. Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO): Russia-led military alliance including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia (which has frozen its participation). Pakistan–Turkey–Azerbaijan trilateral: the 2021 Islamabad Declaration backed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir; the “Three Brothers” military exercise was held in Azerbaijan that year. India’s frameworks: Connect Central Asia (2012); the India–Central Asia Summit (first in 2022); Chabahar port and INSTC. Figure 3 — Overlapping memberships limit bloc politics OTSCSTOTurkey*AzerbaijanUzbekistanKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaBelarusTajikistanArmenia (frozen)*Turkey is also a NATO member · Turkmenistan: OTS observer, neutral Two Central Asian States sit in both a Turkic grouping and a Russia-led alliance — one reason they reject turning the OTS into a military bloc. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS. The Author’s Argument Interests over identity: as with pan-Arabism and pan-Islamism, pan-Turkism has not produced a unified strategic bloc; shared identity eases cooperation but does not override national priorities. Strains within: Turkey and Azerbaijan differ on the place of religion in the state and on relations with Israel — Azerbaijan values defence ties with Israel, while Turkey (the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israel, in 1949) is now at odds with it. Central Asian caution: the region pursues “multi-vector” diplomacy — comparable to India’s multi-alignment — and has rejected proposals to turn the OTS into a military alliance. India’s opportunity: energy interests, the INSTC and convergence through Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel and the UAE, while preserving the partnership with Armenia. Principle: India seeks neutrality from others in India–Pakistan disputes, not an end to their ties with Pakistan; Pakistan’s friends have interests of their own, some overlapping India’s. Counter-Views and Balance Security concerns remain: Azerbaijan’s defence links with Pakistan and Turkey, and its diplomatic positions during the May 2025 India–Pakistan hostilities, explain public scepticism; a reset will be tested by its stance in future crises. Armenia factor: deeper ties with Baku must be managed so as not to undermine India’s credibility as a defence partner for Yerevan. Domestic opinion: social-media-driven boycotts can constrain diplomacy; the author’s case is that policy should rest on assessed interests rather than public mood. Academic frame: the argument reflects a realist reading of international relations — states act on interests — tempered by recognition that identity still shapes cooperation. ✎ Mains Practice Question “Shared religious and ethnic identities facilitate cooperation but do not automatically produce strategic blocs.” In this context, discuss the significance of the South Caucasus and Central Asia for India’s foreign policy and the approach India should adopt towards the region. 15 marks · 250 words 03 Building Tomorrow’s Emissions Today: Why India’s Next Investment Cycle Will Decide Its Carbon Future Core TopicOpinionGS-III · Environment — Climate Mitigation; Economy — Infrastructure, Investment, EnergyPrelims + MainsThe Hindu · Op-Ed Most of the buildings, factories and grids India will use in the coming decades are yet to be built. The authors argue that this is an advantage as well as a challenge: India can avoid carbon lock-in by embedding efficiency now — through building codes, transmission planning and green public procurement — rather than paying for costly retrofits later. ◈ Static Background — Key Concepts Carbon lock-in: long-lived assets (power plants, buildings, steel mills) commit an economy to emissions for decades after they are built. Stranded assets: investments that lose value before the end of their life because of policy, market or technology change. Embodied vs operational emissions: emissions from making materials (steel, cement) versus from using a building or machine (energy for cooling, lighting). Hard-to-abate sectors: steel, cement and chemicals, where process emissions make decarbonisation costly. Global context: UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report warns the world could overshoot 1.5°C within the next few years. Figure 4 — Share of future building stock yet to be built India (stock in 2070)86% yet to be builtAdvanced economies(stock in 2050)~20%~80% already existsYet to be built (a choice)Already built (an inheritance) India’s development deficit means most future stock is still a choice. Chart recreated by Legacy IAS from NITI Aayog and IEA estimates cited by the authors (approximate). ▤ The Scale of What Is Coming Buildings: floor space to rise from about 18 billion sq m (2020) to 42 billion sq m (2070). Steel: capacity of about 200 million tonnes (2024–25), targeted at 300 million tonnes by 2030–31 under the National Steel Policy, 2017. Cement: output projected to rise from about 427 million tonnes (2024) to 660 million tonnes (2030). Power: about 590 GW of generation additions planned for 2023–2032; the IEA estimates transmission bottlenecks have held back around 60 GW of renewable capacity. Finance: India’s cost of capital for grid-scale renewables is about 80% higher than in advanced economies (IEA). The Policy Toolkit — Lineage Energy Conservation Act, 2001 → Bureau of Energy Efficiency (2002); the 2022 amendment enabled a domestic carbon market. Building codes: ECBC 2007 → ECBC 2017 (notified by 27 States, legally incorporated in 21) → Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) 2024 for commercial buildings; Eco-Niwas Samhita (2018, updated 2024) for homes. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (2023): sets emissions-intensity targets for energy-intensive sectors such as cement and aluminium. Green Steel Taxonomy (2024): classifies steel by emissions intensity, enabling green labelling and procurement. Transmission: Green Energy Corridors and the national transmission plan to evacuate renewable power. National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) — long-term route for green steel and fertilisers. The Authors’ Argument Buildings — implement, don’t innovate: technology and codes exist; States should tie them to building permits, occupancy certificates and grid connections. Power — plan the wires first: transmission and storage must be planned alongside, or ahead of, new generation. Steel and cement — avoid mandating technologies: hydrogen-based steel and carbon capture are not yet viable at scale; mandates could lock firms into uneconomic routes. Use public procurement: governments, Railways and NHAI can set emissions-intensity thresholds in tenders without prescribing the production route, revealing the “green premium” and tightening thresholds over time, aligned with the CCTS. Targeted finance: payment-security mechanisms, partial credit guarantees and concessional debt where technology is mature — but not cheap public money for unproven technology, which shifts risk onto the State. Critical Assessment Strength: the technology-neutral, threshold-based approach is consistent with economic theory — it sets the outcome and lets markets find the cheapest route. Federal challenge: building codes are enforced by States and urban local bodies, many with limited capacity; incentives and capacity-building matter as much as mandates. Cost trade-off: green procurement raises short-term costs for public projects; the fiscal space for a green premium has to be weighed against other priorities. Equity and growth: India’s per-capita emissions are low and its development needs are large — so the focus on efficiency and flexibility rather than absolute caps is consistent with CBDR-RC and its 2070 net-zero path. ✎ Mains Practice Question India’s infrastructure deficit is both a challenge and an opportunity for climate mitigation. Discuss how policy choices in buildings, power transmission and public procurement can help India avoid carbon lock-in without compromising growth. 15 marks · 250 words

In-Depth News Analysis9 Items Core TopicImportantConcise Polity & GovernanceGS Paper II 01Sentencing Council — Ending the ‘Sentencing Lottery’02Essential Medicine Prices — SC Questions NPPA International RelationsGS Paper II 03Israel’s Election — Proportional Representation Explained Economy & InfrastructureGS Paper III 04InvITs — Channelling Household Savings to Infrastructure Science & TechnologyGS Paper III 05NavIC — NVS-03 to Restore India’s Navigation System06PFBR Criticality & ESTIC — India’s Research Push07Immersive Technologies — AR, VR & the AVGC-XR Push Geography, Disasters & EnvironmentGS Paper I · III 08Cyclone Arnab — Landfall Near Yanam–Kakinada09Lake-Ending Glaciers Lose Ice Fastest Polity & GovernanceGeneral Studies Paper II 01 Ending the “Sentencing Lottery”: The Case for a National Sentencing Council Core TopicGS-II · Polity — Judiciary, Criminal Justice Reform, Fundamental RightsPrelims + MainsThe Indian Express · Experts Explain In India, two people convicted of the same offence can receive very different sentences depending on the judge. With the Law Commission examining a national sentencing policy at the Supreme Court’s prompting, legal experts propose a statutory Sentencing Council to issue guidelines and build a national sentencing database. ◈ Static Background — How Sentencing Works Today Sentencing converts a statutory range (e.g. “up to ten years”) into a specific punishment — imprisonment, fine, probation or community service. Wide discretion: laws fix maximums (and sometimes minimums) but give no structured list of aggravating or mitigating factors. Hearing on sentence: Section 258(2), BNSS (old CrPC 235(2)) requires a Sessions Judge to hear the convict separately on sentence. Alternatives to prison: Sections 401–402, BNSS (old CrPC 360–361) and the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (Sections 3, 4 and 6) require courts to consider admonition or probation in eligible cases. Death penalty: Bachan Singh (1980) laid down the “rarest of rare” test; Manoj v State of MP (2022) required courts to collect mitigation material before imposing it. Lineage — A Reform Long Recommended 1972 — Law Commission, 47th Report: flagged unguided sentencing discretion. 2003 — Malimath Committee on criminal justice reform: recommended statutory sentencing guidelines. 2008 — Madhava Menon Committee (Draft National Policy on Criminal Justice): echoed the call. 2012 — Soman v State of Kerala: the Supreme Court called sentencing one of the weakest parts of criminal justice administration. 2024 — Sunita Devi v State of Bihar: “sentencing shall not be a mere lottery”; the Court asked the Centre to examine a national sentencing policy, possibly via a Sentencing Commission. The Law Commission’s recommendations are awaited. Figure 1 — The proposed three-stage sentencing framework Stage 1SeriousnessCulpability × harm:planning, violence,victim vulnerabilityStage 2Starting pointIndicative range for anordinary case, withinstatutory limitsStage 3IndividualiseOffender factors tied torecognised purposes;reasons for departureGuidelines: advisory but strongly presumptive — courts must consider themand explain departures (preserves judicial independence, adds accountability) Modelled on the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS from the authors’ proposal. The Proposed Council — Three Functions Offence-specific guidelines using the three-stage method above. National sentencing database built on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) — anonymised data on offence, factors and final sentences to reveal disparities. Parliamentary oversight: guidelines issued as delegated legislation, laid before Parliament. Why It Matters Equality and fairness: unexplained disparity sits uneasily with Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (fair, just and reasonable procedure). Bias: research on rape sentencing has found reduced sentences based on legally irrelevant factors such as the complainant’s “chastity”. Pendency: appellate courts spend time correcting sentences case by case; guidelines could reduce appeals. Prisons: about three-fourths of India’s prisoners are undertrials; better use of probation and non-custodial options could ease overcrowding. Counter-View and Balance Judicial independence: rigid guidelines can become mechanical; the U.S. federal guidelines were made advisory in United States v Booker (2005). Diversity of contexts: a vast country with varied social conditions needs flexibility; hence the proposal for presumptive but not binding guidelines. Data gaps: a reliable database must come first, or guidelines will rest on assumptions. ✎ Mains Practice Question “Sentencing shall not be a mere lottery.” Examine the problems of unguided judicial discretion in sentencing in India and evaluate the case for a statutory Sentencing Council. 15 marks · 250 words 02 “Economic Policy Cannot Outweigh Citizens’ Lives”: Supreme Court Questions the Regulation of Medicine Prices Core TopicGS-II · Health, Governance — Regulatory Bodies; Right to HealthGS-III · Pharmaceutical SectorPrelims + MainsThe Hindu Hearing petitions on excessive markups, a Supreme Court Bench asked why the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had not capped trade margins on essential medicines and why caps on some anti-cancer drugs came only after judicial scrutiny. The Centre argued that complete price control could deter investment. The Court reserved its order. ◈ Static Background — How Drug Prices Are Regulated Legal basis: the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, issued under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Regulator: the NPPA, set up in 1997 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, fixes and monitors prices. Scheduled formulations: medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) — 384 medicines in NLEM 2022 — have ceiling prices based on the average price of brands with at least 1% market share; revised annually with the Wholesale Price Index. Non-scheduled formulations: outside ceilings; manufacturers may raise prices by up to 10% a year. Extraordinary power: Paragraph 19, DPCO allows price intervention in public interest — used for trade margin rationalisation of anti-cancer drugs in 2019. Retail margin: DPCO allows retailers a 16% margin on scheduled formulations. Figure 2 — Two tracks of medicine pricing Scheduled (NLEM)Non-scheduled• Ceiling price fixed by NPPA• Annual revision linked to WPI• 16% retailer margin• 384 medicines (NLEM 2022)• No ceiling; up to 10% rise a year• Trade margins often very high• Para 19: margin caps possible —137 anti-cancer drugs capped at30% of MRP (from 9 November) The Court questioned the basis of the scheduled/non-scheduled divide and why the retail margin should not apply to all essential medicines. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS from DPCO 2013. The Arguments in Court The Bench: economic policy cannot take precedence over citizens’ lives; it asked how “essential” is decided and why margin caps on 137 anti-cancer drugs came only now. The Centre: “complete government control” could hurt investment and supply; periodic interventions are preferable to blanket control. Hospitals: argued that capping margins would make operations unviable — a contention the Bench rejected. Critical Assessment Right to health: the Supreme Court has read health into Article 21 (Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity, 1996); Article 47 places public health among the State’s primary duties. Out-of-pocket burden: medicines are the largest component of households’ out-of-pocket health spending in India. Trade-off: India is the “pharmacy of the world” for generics; overly rigid controls can discourage production or lead to shortages, as manufacturers have argued. Middle path: trade-margin rationalisation targets distribution markups rather than manufacturers’ prices; wider use, with transparent criteria, may balance access and viability. Expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras complements regulation. ✎ Mains Practice Question Affordable access to essential medicines is integral to the right to health, yet price regulation must not undermine supply. Examine India’s drug-pricing framework and suggest reforms to strike this balance. 15 marks · 250 words International RelationsGeneral Studies Paper II 03 Israel Votes: How a Pure Proportional-Representation System Elects the Knesset and Forms Governments ImportantGS-II · IR — West Asia; Polity — Comparative Electoral SystemsPrelims + MainsThe Indian Express · Explained About 7.3 million Israelis were eligible to elect the 26th Knesset on 27 October 2026 — the first Knesset since 1988 to complete its full four-year term. With 38 registered lists and a 3.25% threshold, the outcome will again depend on coalition-building. ◈ Static Background — Israel’s System No single written constitution: a set of Basic Laws serves constitutional functions. Parliamentary democracy: a unicameral Knesset of 120 members with a four-year term; the government needs the Knesset’s confidence — a working majority of 61. President: a largely ceremonial head of State elected by the Knesset for a single seven-year term, who assigns the mandate to form a government. Judiciary: headed by the Supreme Court, which reviews legislation; a 2023 attempt to curtail its review power was struck down in January 2024. Elections: run by a Central Elections Committee; lists or candidates may be disqualified under Section 7A of the Basic Law for denying Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic State, incitement to racism or support for armed struggle. Figure 3 — Raising the electoral threshold (% of national vote) 1%19511.5%19922%20033.25%2014Clearing 3.25% guarantees at least 4 of 120 seats Higher thresholds push small parties to merge into joint lists. Chart recreated by Legacy IAS from figures reported by The Indian Express. How a Government Is Formed Nationwide list PR: the whole country is one constituency; seats are allotted in proportion to votes among lists crossing 3.25%. Votes for lists below the threshold are effectively wasted. Always a coalition: no single party has ever won 61 seats on its own. The mandate: after consulting all successful lists, the President asks the candidate most likely to command 61 seats to form a government within 28 days, extendable once by 14 days; if that fails, another candidate gets 28 days. A deadlock can lead to fresh elections, with a caretaker government in the interim. Comparative Lens — India and Israel India uses First-Past-The-Post for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections — simpler and producing clearer majorities, but with gaps between vote share and seat share. India uses proportional representation (single transferable vote) only for indirect elections — Rajya Sabha, President and Vice-President. Trade-off: list PR maximises representation of diverse views but can produce fragmentation, frequent elections and strong leverage for small coalition partners. ✎ Mains Practice Question Compare the First-Past-The-Post system with list-based proportional representation, using the examples of India and Israel. Would a mixed system suit India’s democracy? 10 marks · 150 words Economy & InfrastructureGeneral Studies Paper III 04 InvITs Draw More Investors as India Seeks Household Savings for Infrastructure ImportantGS-III · Economy — Infrastructure Financing, Capital Markets, Mobilisation of ResourcesPrelims + MainsThe Hindu · Business Listed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) had 6.53 lakh investors and assets under management of ₹7.3 lakh crore in the first quarter of FY27, with distributions of ₹5,923 crore in the quarter, according to the Bharat InvITs Association. ◈ Static Background — What Is an InvIT? Definition: a trust, similar to a mutual fund, that pools investors’ money to own completed, income-generating infrastructure — toll roads, power transmission lines, pipelines, telecom towers. Regulation: SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014; the first listed InvIT came in 2017. Its real-estate counterpart is the REIT. Payout rule: must distribute at least 90% of net distributable cash flows to unitholders. Public use: NHAI InvIT and PowerGrid InvIT (2021) monetise government assets; the National Monetisation Pipeline (2021) and the Asset Monetisation Plan 2025–30 rely on such vehicles. Figure 4 — How an InvIT works Investorshouseholds, fundsbuy units≥90% distributedInvIT (trust)trustee + manager; SEBIownsOperating assetsroads, power linesSponsor recycles capital Developers monetise completed assets and reinvest in new projects. Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS. Why it matters: India’s infrastructure needs exceed what budgets and foreign capital can supply; InvITs offer a route for long-term domestic savings — from households, insurers and pension funds — to reach infrastructure. Benefits: regular income for investors; asset recycling for developers; better price discovery and transparency for public assets. Risks: traffic or tariff shortfalls reduce payouts; interest-rate changes affect unit prices; liquidity in some listed InvITs is thin; retail investors need clear risk disclosure. ✎ Mains Practice Question Discuss the role of Infrastructure Investment Trusts in financing India’s infrastructure and mobilising household savings. What safeguards are needed for retail investors? 10 marks · 150 words Science & TechnologyGeneral Studies Paper III 05 NVS-03 Launch Could Restore NavIC, India’s Regional Satellite Navigation System Core TopicGS-III · S&T — Space Technology; Security — Strategic AutonomyPrelims + MainsThe Indian Express · Explained ISRO is slated to launch NVS-03, its third second-generation navigation satellite, on 30 October. NavIC had stopped providing location data after atomic-clock failures, satellites reaching end of life and failed replacements; NVS-03 would help restore the minimum of four working satellites needed for positioning. ◈ Static Background — Satellite Navigation Basics How it works: a receiver calculates its position from the time signals take to arrive from several satellites. At least four satellites are needed — three for position and one to correct the receiver’s clock. Atomic clocks on satellites keep time precisely; a timing error of a billionth of a second translates into about 30 cm of position error. Global systems (GNSS): GPS (U.S.), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China). Regional: NavIC (India), QZSS (Japan). NavIC (IRNSS): a seven-satellite constellation — 3 in geostationary and 4 in inclined geosynchronous orbits — covering India and about 1,500 km around it, with accuracy better than 20 m for civilian users. Named NavIC in 2016. Two services: a Standard Positioning Service for civilians and an encrypted Restricted Service for authorised (including military) users. Figure 5 — India’s navigation constellation at a glance NavIC7 satellites3 GEO + 4 GSOCoverage: India+ ~1,500 kmNeeds ≥ 4 workingsatellites for a fixFirst generation — IRNSS-1A to 1I (2013–2018)Imported rubidium clocks; several clock failures; IRNSS-1H lost (2017)Second generation — NVS seriesAdds L1 band (phone-friendly); indigenous rubidium clocks; longer lifeNVS-01 (May 2023) in orbit · NVS-02 (Jan 2025) — stranded intransfer orbit after valve failure · NVS-03 — slated 30 Oct 2026 Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS from ISRO information and reporting by The Indian Express. What Went Wrong Clock failures: imported atomic clocks on several first-generation satellites failed, leaving satellites unable to provide navigation. Launch setbacks: IRNSS-1H (2017) was lost when the heat shield failed to separate; NVS-02, launched in January 2025 on ISRO’s 100th launch from Sriharikota, could not raise its orbit because of a propulsion-valve failure. Ageing fleet: satellites reached the end of their design life faster than replacements arrived. Why It Matters Strategic autonomy: reliance on foreign systems carries the risk of denial or degradation during conflict — the oft-cited lesson of the 1999 Kargil conflict. Civilian uses: fisheries alerts, disaster management, vehicle tracking, railways, precise timing for power grids, banking and telecom. Adoption: the L1 band on NVS satellites makes NavIC easier to integrate into mainstream smartphones. The Critical View Reliability over announcements: a navigation system’s value lies in continuous availability; gaps undermine user and industry confidence. Redundancy: spare satellites and faster replacement cycles are needed, along with fully indigenous clocks. Ecosystem: chipsets and receivers supporting NavIC must become standard for the system to be used widely. ✎ Mains Practice Question An indigenous satellite navigation system is a strategic necessity, not a luxury. Examine the significance of NavIC for India and the challenges that have affected its reliability. 15 marks · 250 words 06 From Laboratory to Land: PFBR Reaches Criticality as ESTIC Spotlights India’s Research Push Core TopicGS-III · S&T — Nuclear Energy, R&D Policy, IndigenisationPrelims + MainsThe Hindu At the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026, the Prime Minister said the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam has reached first criticality — a milestone for the second stage of India’s nuclear programme — and outlined commitments for research funding under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). ◈ Static Background — India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme Architect: Homi J. Bhabha (born 30 October 1909) designed the programme in the 1950s to use India’s modest uranium and large thorium reserves (in coastal monazite sands of Kerala, Odisha and Tamil Nadu). Stage I — PHWRs: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors burn natural uranium and produce plutonium-239. Stage II — Fast Breeder Reactors: use plutonium-based (MOX) fuel and fast neutrons to breed more fissile material than they consume; a thorium blanket can produce uranium-233. Stage III — Thorium reactors: use thorium–U-233 fuel for long-term energy security. PFBR: built by BHAVINI (set up 2003) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu; sodium-cooled; core loading began in 2024. Criticality means a self-sustaining chain reaction has been achieved. Figure 6 — The three stages and where PFBR fits Stage IPHWRsNatural uranium in→ plutonium outStage IIFast Breeders (PFBR)Plutonium MOX fuel;thorium blanket → U-233First criticality: 2026Stage IIIThorium reactorsThorium + U-233for the long termStage II is the bridge that unlocks India’s large thorium reserves Diagram drawn by Legacy IAS from Department of Atomic Energy information. ▤ The Research Agenda Highlighted at ESTIC ANRF: created by the ANRF Act, 2023 to fund and coordinate research, with a large share expected from the private sector; efforts to speed up its work are under way. Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: a ₹1 lakh crore fund for long-term, low-cost finance to private R&D — including ₹12,000 crore for lab-to-market translation with matching private investment, as stated. Patents: filings in India rose from about 50,000 to 1.5 lakh a year, as stated. Milestones cited: Chandrayaan-3’s landing near the lunar south pole, Mangalyaan, satellite docking, private launch vehicles, domestic AI models and chips. AI caution: AI can raise productivity but should not replace scientists’ independent judgement. Critical Assessment R&D spending: India’s gross expenditure on R&D is about 0.6–0.7% of GDP, far below leading innovators; private-sector share is low — the gap ANRF and the RDI fund aim to address. Patents vs impact: rising filings are encouraging, but grant quality, commercialisation and global citations matter more. Nuclear timelines: the PFBR took over two decades from construction start to criticality; scaling fast reactors and meeting the 100 GW by 2047 nuclear goal will require faster execution and private participation. Balanced view: the PFBR milestone validates decades of indigenous work on a technology few countries have mastered. ✎ Mains Practice Question Explain the rationale of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. What is the significance of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor achieving criticality for India’s long-term energy security? 15 marks · 250 words 07 Immersive Technologies: AR, VR and India’s AVGC-XR Ambitions ImportantGS-III · S&T — Emerging Technologies; Economy — Creative IndustriesPrelims-orientedPIB Backgrounder · 26 Oct 2026 India’s immersive-technology market — about USD 1.26 billion in 2023 — is projected to reach about USD 7.8 billion by 2030 (a 29.8% CAGR). Policy support comes through the broader AVGC-XR framework rather than a standalone scheme. Figure 7 — The family of extended-reality technologies XR is the umbrella term for AR, VR and MR. Infographic courtesy PIB (source: India Cine Hub), 26 October 2026; reproduced with credit for educational use. ◈ Concepts to Know Augmented Reality (AR): overlays digital information on the real world (e.g. via a phone camera). Virtual Reality (VR): a fully digital environment, usually through a headset. Mixed Reality (MR): real and virtual objects coexist and interact in real time. Haptics: touch-based feedback through vibration or pressure; 360° video lets viewers look in every direction. Digital twin: a live virtual replica of a physical asset or city, used for planning and simulation. Uses in India: AR/VR learning for rural schools (IIT Madras); museum digitisation through JATAN and virtual tours of ASI museums at Hampi and Nalanda; DoT’s “Sangam: Digital Twin” initiative and a National Digital Twin goal for major cities by 2035. Institutions: AVGC Promotion Task Force (April 2022) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai (2025) as a national centre of excellence; the WaveX media-tech accelerator; the WAVES summit. Budget 2026–27: ₹250 crore for AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges, with IICT as nodal agency. Concerns: cost of hardware, digital divide, data privacy (headsets collect biometric and behavioural data) and health effects of prolonged use. ✎ Mains Practice Question Discuss the potential of immersive technologies in education, heritage conservation and urban governance in India, and the challenges in their adoption. 10 marks · 150 words Geography, Disasters & EnvironmentGeneral Studies Papers I & III 08 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab Makes Landfall in Andhra Pradesh; Odisha Evacuates Southern Districts Core TopicGS-I · Geography — Tropical CyclonesGS-III · Disaster ManagementPrelims + MainsThe Hindu; PIB · Ministry of Civil Aviation Cyclone Arnab, a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 125–135 km/h gusting to 150 km/h, was forecast to cross the coast near Yanam–Kakinada early on 28 October. Andhra Pradesh evacuated over 84,000 people to 290 shelters and brought 30,000 boats ashore; Odisha began moving 48,000 people in its southern districts. ◈ Static Background — Tropical Cyclones Formation needs: warm sea surface (above about 26.5–27°C), a pre-existing low-pressure disturbance, the Coriolis force (hence no cyclones within about 5° of the equator), low vertical wind shear and upper-level divergence. Structure: a calm eye ringed by the eyewall of strongest winds; rotation is anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Hazards: strong winds, very heavy rain, storm surge and inland flooding and landslides. Seasonality: the Bay of Bengal gets several times more cyclones than the Arabian Sea; peaks are in pre-monsoon (April–June) and especially post-monsoon (October–December). Naming: cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named from a list of 169 names (adopted 2020) contributed by the 13 member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones; IMD’s RSMC New Delhi assigns them. “Arnab” was contributed by Bangladesh. Figure 8 — IMD classification of cyclonic disturbances (maximum sustained wind, km/h) Depression · 31–49Deep Depression · 50–61Cyclonic Storm · 62–88Severe Cyclonic Storm · 89–117Very Severe Cyclonic Storm · 118–165 ← ArnabExtremely Severe Cyclonic Storm · 166–220Super Cyclonic Storm · 222 and above Chart drawn by Legacy IAS from IMD’s classification. Prelims Hooks Yanam is part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, an enclave surrounded by Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada. Response agencies: NDMA and NDRF under the Disaster Management Act, 2005; State Disaster Management Authorities; the National Crisis Management Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Aviation response: the Ministry of Civil Aviation coordinated AAI, DGCA, BCAS, IMD and airlines; airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry suspended operations. India’s Cyclone Preparedness — From Loss to Resilience 1999 Odisha super cyclone: about 10,000 deaths; led to the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority — India’s first such State body. Phailin (2013) and later storms: evacuation of around a million people kept deaths low — a model praised internationally. National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (World Bank-supported): multipurpose cyclone shelters, early-warning dissemination and coastal embankments. Remaining gaps: loss of livelihoods (fishing, agriculture), damage to power and telecom networks, and urban flooding; resilience must cover recovery, not only evacuation. ✎ Mains Practice Question India has sharply reduced cyclone-related deaths over the past two decades, yet economic losses continue to mount. Examine the factors behind this shift and suggest measures to build long-term cyclone resilience along the east coast. 15 marks · 250 words 09 Glaciers Ending in Lakes and Oceans Account for Over Half of Global Glacier Ice Loss ConciseGS-I · Geography — GlaciersGS-III · Climate Change, Disasters (GLOFs)Prelims-orientedThe Hindu (PTI) A study in Nature Communications finds that glaciers ending in lakes, oceans or ice shelves — just over 3% of glaciers but more than half of glacier area — lost about 134 billion tonnes of ice a year in 2000–2019, over half of all glacier loss. Lake-ending glaciers lose about 57% more ice than land-ending ones relative to size. Mechanisms: calving (ice breaking off as icebergs) and melting of ice below the waterline; lake- and ocean-ending glaciers also flow faster (by about 10% and 44%). Model gap: glacier projections do not yet fully account for lake-ending glaciers. India link — GLOFs: growing glacial lakes raise the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, as at Kedarnath (2013, Chorabari lake) and South Lhonak, Sikkim (2023). NDMA issued GLOF guidelines in 2020 and a national programme targets high-risk lakes with early warning and lake-lowering measures. ✎ Mains Practice Question Glacial lakes in the Himalaya are expanding with warming. Discuss the risks posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and the measures needed for their mitigation in India. 10 marks · 150 words