UPSC Key: International Booker Prize, Veeraswami case, and CPEC

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Linkages between development and spread of extremism; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

What’s the ongoing story: Twenty-seven members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), including its general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju (70), were killed in an encounter with security forces in Abujhmad area of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Wednesday morning. A jawan from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was also killed in the faceoff.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Who are the Maoists?

— Learn the history of the origin of Naxalism and Maoism in India

— How was the rise of Maoism linked to development?

— Why is the Communist Party of India (Maoist) banned?

— What are the steps taken by the government to curtail Naxalism?

— What are the challenges in eliminating Maoist insurgency?

— What is Left-wing extremism? How is it different from Naxalism and Maoism?

Key Takeaways:

— The encounter is the latest in a series of anti-Naxal operations undertaken by security forces in Chhattisgarh, and comes against the backdrop of a deadline Home Minister Amit Shah has set to eradicate Left Wing Extremism from the country – March 31, 2026.

— Abujhmad is an unsurveyed land larger than the state of Goa. While a large part is in Narayanpur, it also extends to Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker and Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

Do You Know:

— The term Maoist specifically refers to members of the CPI (Maoist): a party which aims to capture state power through a people’s war, inspired by the political and military strategy of China’s revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.

— “The immediate aim of the party is to accomplish the New Democratic Revolution in India by overthrowing imperialism, feudalism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism only through the Protracted People’s War… The ultimate aim of the party is to bring about communism,” according to the party constitution.

— Both CPI (Maoists), and its armed wing the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), are banned in India.

— Although the party has gone through multiple transformations over the decades, CPI (Maoist) traces its origins to a peasant rebellion in Naxalbari (hence the “Naxal” tag) in West Bengal’s Siliguri district in 1967.

— This rebellion sparked a decades-long insurgency that has waxxed and waned over the years. At its peak in the mid-2000s, this insurgency affected some 180 districts in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh (including present-day Telangana), and West Bengal.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍This Word Means: Maoist

📍Chhattisgarh Encounter: Who was Basava Raju, top Maoist man killed in Abujhmad encounter?

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What Strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (2020)

EXPLAINED

The Veeraswami case: When can a sitting judge face an FIR?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said this week that the in-house inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court into the unaccounted cash found at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma this March “does not have any constitutional premise or legal sanctity”, and sought an FIR against the judge.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Know about Justice  Yashwant Varma’s case.

— What are the grounds for the impeachment of a judge?

— What is the constitutional process for impeachment of a judge?

— Why is the protection of judges necessary for the independence of the judiciary?

— What is the in-house inquiry of the Supreme Court?

— What is the role of the Executive in the impeachment process of Judges?

Key Takeaways:

— Dhankar also called for revisiting the SC’s K Veeraswami judgment, which he said has “erected a scaffolding of impunity” around the judiciary. The 1991 ruling deals with the filing of criminal cases against judges.

— It is fundamental to the independence of the judiciary that judges should be able to decide cases without fear of personal consequences, including criminal prosecution.

— Disgruntled litigants, political actors, or the executive can file cases to harass or intimidate judges. Therefore, the Constitution has set a high bar for initiating action against them.

— The only procedure prescribed in the Constitution is the removal of a judge through impeachment. Under Article 124, impeachment is largely a political process, initiated by parliamentarians, which ensures due process for a judge.

— However, in the 75 years since the SC and the Constitution came into being, not a single attempt at impeachment has been successful.

— Looking for alternative mechanisms to deal with complaints against judges, the SC developed the mechanism of the in-house inquiry, in which the Chief Justice of India (CJI) sets up a panel of judges to verify if there is a prima facie case against a judge. (The CJI himself has limited powers to deal with errant judges beyond transferring or withdrawing work from the judge.)

— Ultimately, though, the finding of this panel, too, has to go to the executive for impeachment to be initiated. It is at best a signal that the judiciary itself is on board with the impeachment motion, if one were to be made.

Do You Know:

— Justice K Veeraswami was the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court from May 1969 to April 1976. A biography by his colleague, Justice S Natarajan, noted that Justice Veeraswami, who was a “very competent Judge who knew all branches of law”, had turned down his elevation to the SC.

— A couple of months before his retirement, Justice Veeraswami went on leave after allegations of corruption surfaced against him. It was alleged that the judge “was in possession of pecuniary resources and property disproportionate by Rs. 6,41,416.36 to known sources of income”. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi had registered an FIR against him.

— The FIR against Justice Veeraswami raised larger constitutional questions on whether such a step could be initiated against a sitting judge. Justice Veeraswami moved the Madras High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR.

— Justice Veeraswami moved the SC in appeal, which finally decided the matter in 1991. The SC had to decide whether a judge of a High Court or of the SC is a “public servant” for the purpose of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. If so, who is the “competent authority” to grant sanction to prosecute the public servant?

— The government argued that, unlike the President and Governors, there is no immunity for judges of the higher judiciary under the Constitution. In a 3-2 verdict, the SC held that while a judge can be considered a public servant for a corruption case to be registered against him, the sanction must come from the CJI.

— But it is significant that the SC did, thereafter, allow the CBI to register a case against a sitting judge. However, this power has been used sparingly by the CJI.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: How the judiciary’ in-house inquiry against Justice Yashwant Varma will work

📍Who is Justice Yashwant Varma, the Delhi HC judge in middle of ‘cash recovered at home’ row?

UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019)

1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

 

THE WORLD

After Bejing meet, Pak says CPEC will be extended to Afghanistan

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. 

What’s the ongoing story: THE CHINA-PAKISTAN Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to be expanded to Afghanistan with the foreign ministers of the three countries agreeing on it as part of broader efforts to boost “trilateral” cooperation.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is CPEC?

— What are India’s concerns with CPEC?

— What is the Belt and Road Initiative?

— What is the implication of extending CPEC to Afghanistan on India?

— What are the measures taken by India to counter CPEC?

— In light of this, understand India’s relationship with Afghanistan and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Key Takeaways:

— The announcement on expansion of CPEC was made following a meeting among Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Pak counterpart Ishaq Dar and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Beijing, according to a Pakistani readout.

— India has been severely critical of the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. New Delhi is also opposed to China’s Belt and Road initiative as the project includes the CPEC.

— The trilateral meeting was held on the concluding day of Dar’s three day visit to Beijing, the first high-level interaction after India launched Operation Sindoor targetting terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok) on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Do You Know:

— China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

— In 2023, China’s ambitious infrastructure funding project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marked a decade since it was first outlined by President Xi Jinping.

— President Xi Jinping announced the Silk Road Economic ‘Belt’ during his visits to Kazakhstan in 2013. The ‘Belt’ plan was to revitalise a series of trading and infrastructure routes between Asia and Europe. Connectivity through Central Asia was a key element of the initiative.

— Subsequently, President Xi announced a sea trade infrastructure called the ‘Road’. This maritime ‘Road’ would connect China with Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. The major focus has been to build ports, bridges, industry corridors, and other infrastructure throughout Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

— For some time, together these initiatives were referred to as the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR). Since 2015, it has been mostly referred to as the BRI.

— India’s position on the BRI has remained relatively consistent since 2013. From the beginning, India had reservations about the BRI – mainly due to sovereignty-related issues, as the  China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) goes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and geopolitical implications of projects in the Indian Ocean.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

📍An Expert Explains | China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: The bumpy road travelled so far

UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (2016)

(a) African Union

(b) Brazil

(c) European Union

(d) China

UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. (2018)

 

EXPRESS NETWORK

Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp wins International Booker Prize 2025

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

What’s the ongoing story: Kannada author Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection Heart Lamp, which interprets and inhabits the faultlines and silent revolts in the everyday lives of Muslim women, won the 2025 International Booker Prize on Wednesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the International Booker Prize?

— Why is it named the Booker Prize?

— What are the criteria for awarding the Booker Prize?

— What is the difference between the International Booker Prize and the Booker Prize?

Key Takeaways:

— Translated from the Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, Heart Lamp (Penguin) examines how misogyny unfolds, according to a review in The Indian Express, “in kitchens, bedrooms, prayer rooms, and (women’s) own silent soliloquies”.

— This marks only the second time a Kannada author has been recognised by the Booker institutions — the first being U R Ananthamurthy’s nomination in 2013 for his body of work.

— Mushtaq said in a statement after the victory: “My stories are about women — how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates.”

Do You Know:

— First awarded in 1969, the Booker Prize is one of the prestigious awards in English fiction. In 2005, the Booker Foundation instituted the International Booker Prize for translated works.

— The International Booker Prize began in 2005. A biennial prize initially, it was then awarded for a body of work available in English, including translations, with Alice Munro, Lydia Davis and Philip Roth becoming some of the early winners.

— In 2015, the rules of the International prize changed to make it an annual affair. The new rules stipulated that it will be awarded annually for a single book, written in another language and translated into English. The £50,000 prize money is divided equally between the author and translator each year

— This is the first time a Kannada writer has won a Booker Prize. For a language with centuries of rich storytelling, this recognition is long overdue. That it comes via one slender volume rather than a lifetime’s work — like U R Ananthamurthy’s 2013 nomination — signals a shift: global readers are finally heeding voices that whisper.

— This recognition is, in no small part, due to the quality of the English translation by Deepa Bhasthi. Having worked with Mushtaq since 2022, Bhasthi preserves the original’s rhythms by retaining key Kannada words and cadences, letting the readers breathe the stories in their native air.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Quiet power, revolutions: What shines in International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq’s ‘Heart Lamp’

📍Explained: The Booker Prize, one of the most coveted literary awards in the world

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Which of the following authors became the first Indian to win the International Booker Prize?

(a) V.S. Naipaul

(b) Geetanjali Shree

(c) Arundhati Roy

(d) Banu Mushtaq

India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest in 2024: Report

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

What’s the ongoing story: India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest in 2024 compared to 17,700 hectares in 2023, according to new data from Global Forest Watch (GFW), a global collaboration of over 100 organisations.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the status of forest cover in India?

— What is the significance of forests?

— What are the reasons for deforestation?

— Role of forests in climate change

— What are the steps taken by the government to increase forest cover in India?

Key Takeaways:

— The GFW data also said the country lost 3,48,000 hectares (about 5.4 per cent) of humid primary forest between 2002 and 2024. This is equivalent to 15 per cent of India’s total tree cover loss during the same period.

— Between 2019 and 2024, India lost 1,03,000 hectares (1.6 per cent) of humid primary forest, which is 14 per cent of its total tree cover loss in those years.

— The data also showed that the country lost 16,900 hectares of humid primary forest in 2022, 18,300 hectares in 2021, 17,000 hectares in 2020, and 14,500 hectares in 2019.

Do You Know:

Indian State of Forest Report 2023

— The 18th biennial State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023) was released by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on December 21 at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. The ISFR is released biennially and involves forest cover mapping of the country using satellite data.

— India’s green cover has exceeded the 25% threshold with 8,27,357 sq km (25.17%) of the country now under forest (21.76%) and tree (3.41%) cover. Of this, 4,10,175 sq km is classified as dense forests.

— The net forest cover has increased by 156.41 sq km between 2021 and 2023 taking the geographical area under forest cover to 21.76 per cent, a paltry rise of 0.05 per cent compared to the 2021 assessment. With the increase in the net forest area, the total area under the forest cover is now 7,15,342.61 sq km.

— Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover increased by 0.61 percentage points, from 20.62% to 21.23%. In the next 10 years, it grew by only 0.53 percentage points to 21.76%.

— ISFR-2023 shows that 3,913 sq km of dense forests — an area larger than Goa — have disappeared in India in just two years since 2021. This is consistent with the worsening trend over the past two decades: 17,500 sq km of dense forests were wiped out between 2013 and 2023, while 7,151 sq km disappeared between 2003 and 2013.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge nugget of the day: India State of Forest Report 2023

📍Why is International Day of Forest 2025 important for UPSC?

Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) Consider the following States:

1. Uttar Pradesh

2. Chhattisgarh

3. Rajasthan

4. Odisha

With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of maximum increase in Forest and Tree Cover of State according to the Indian Forest Report 2023, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?

(a) 2-3-1-4

(b) 1-3-4-2

(c) 3-2-4-1

(d) 2-1-4-3

 

ECONOMY

Eight key infra sectors’ growth slide may have cascading impact on IIP

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment

What’s the ongoing story: India’s key infrastructure-linked industries in April showed a sharp deceleration, with their output rising just 0.5 per cent from a year ago, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?

— What is the share of core sectors in IIP?

— What is the significance of IIP?

— IIP is released by?

— What are the eight core sectors?

— What is the importance of these eight core sectors?

Key Takeaways:

— At 0.5 per cent in April, the growth of the eight core sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity — was not only well below 4.6 per cent in March, but was the lowest in eight months.

— Vagaries of the base effect apart, there are real concerns about the weak infrastructure output growth. Of the eight sectors, the performance of six weakened in April compared to March, with refinery products faring the worst after their production was down 4.5 per cent, the poorest showing since November 2022.

— The bad start to the new financial year seems to have been partially driven by the “unprecedented economic uncertainty” caused by the US’ ‘tariff tantrums’, according to Paras Jasrai, economist and associate director, India Ratings and Research.

— Next week on May 28, the statistics ministry will release industrial production data for April. After edging up marginally to 3.0 per cent in March, industrial growth may have more than halved last month, going by the performance of the eight core sectors which make up 40 per cent of the Index of Industrial Production.

Do You Know:

— The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) maps the change in the volume of production in Indian industries. More formally, it chooses a basket of industrial products — ranging from the manufacturing sector to mining to energy, creates an index by giving different weight to each sector and then tracks the production every month.

— Finally, the index value is compared to the value it had in the same month last year to figure out the economy’s industrial health.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: What is IIP and why does it matter?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight? (UPSC CSE 2015)

(a) Coal production

(b) Electricity generation

(c) Fertilizer production

(d) Steel production

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PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (c)  2. (d)  3. (b)   4. (d)  5. (b)

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