UPSC Prelims 2026 – Ultra Revision Sheet
October & November 2025
1. ONE-LINER REVISION SHEETS
Polity & Governance
- Public Trust Doctrine → Government acts as trustee of natural resources.
- Public Trust Doctrine introduced in India via M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997).
- Doctrine of Lis Pendens → Property transfer during court dispute does not affect litigating parties’ rights.
- Lis Pendens → Section 52, Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
- 28th National Conference on e-Governance held in Visakhapatnam.
- National e-Governance Awards 2025 introduced Gram Panchayat category first time.
- CCPA established under Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
- ITAT established in 1941.
- Payments Regulatory Board derives powers from Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Economy
- Enshittification → Decline in quality of digital platforms due to profit extraction.
- UMI aims to tokenize financial assets using CBDC.
- Asset tokenization → Conversion of real assets into blockchain-based digital tokens.
- Retail CBDC → e₹-R for public transactions.
- Wholesale CBDC → e₹-W for interbank settlements.
- NCLT → Quasi-judicial body under Companies Act, 2013.
- Insider trading uses material non-public information (MNPI).
- Front-running → Trading ahead of large client orders.
- ECMS launched in 2023.
- AGR linked to telecom licence fees and spectrum usage charges.
- AT&C losses include technical + commercial electricity losses.
- IIP released monthly by MoSPI.
- Eight Core Industries carry 40.27% weight in IIP.
- FAR route allows unrestricted foreign investment in selected G-secs.
- ECGC works under Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Tex-RAMPS is a Central Sector Scheme.
- Limestone fully reclassified as major mineral.
- RoDTEP launched in 2021.
- Mig La Pass in Ladakh became world’s highest motorable pass.
Environment & Geography
- El Niño weakens Indian monsoon.
- La Niña strengthens monsoon.
- Positive IOD enhances monsoon.
- Negative IOD suppresses monsoon.
- Aravalli Range is older than Himalayas.
- Guru Shikhar is highest peak of Aravallis.
- GEI Target Rules 2025 notified by MoEFCC.
- Axial Seamount → Most active submarine volcano in Pacific Northwest.
- Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted after nearly 12,000 years.
- Zambezi → Longest east-flowing river in Africa.
- Victoria Falls lies on Zambezi River.
- BSI headquarters → Kolkata.
- Crassicaulis middletonii newly reported in India.
- Gujarat confirmed tiger presence after decades.
- Botswana to send 8 cheetahs for Project Cheetah.
- Carabid beetles can indicate soil microplastic pollution.
- Blue Flag Programme managed by Foundation for Environmental Education.
- 2025 IUCN Congress held in Abu Dhabi.
- India’s first Dugong Reserve is in Palk Bay.
Science & Technology
- Xenobiology studies non-Earth-like biological systems.
- Nafithromycin is India’s first fully indigenous antibiotic.
- SARAL tool launched by ANRF.
- GM crops use foreign genes; GE crops edit native genes.
- Junk DNA generally does not code proteins.
- GPS spoofing sends fake satellite signals.
- GNSS jamming disrupts satellite communication.
Social Issues & Health
- Siddis are of African origin.
- Siddis mainly found in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
- DEG contamination can cause kidney failure and death.
- Marburg Virus Disease is a haemorrhagic disease.
- IHR is legally binding on 196 countries.
IR & Security
- Operation White Cauldron targeted narcotics network.
- India is not signatory to 1951 Refugee Convention.
- Meteor is a Beyond Visual Range missile.
- HAMMER weapon system to be manufactured in India.
- I4C functions under Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Swavlamban 2025 focuses on naval indigenisation.
- CSC works for maritime security in Indian Ocean Region.
- ICAO created through Chicago Convention, 1944.
- ICAO headquarters → Montreal, Canada.
- Sevilla Forum on Debt launched during UNCTAD16.
2. PROBABLE UPSC PRELIMS QUESTIONS
Q1.
With reference to Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), consider the following statements:
- Retail CBDC is meant for interbank settlements.
- Wholesale CBDC pilot was launched before Retail CBDC pilot.
- CBDC carries sovereign backing.
Which statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Q2.
Consider the following pairs:
| Phenomenon | Impact on Indian Monsoon |
|---|---|
| El Niño | Weak monsoon |
| Positive IOD | Enhances monsoon |
| La Niña | Above-normal rainfall |
How many pairs are correctly matched?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. None
Answer: C
Q3.
Which of the following are correctly matched?
- Blue Flag Programme — Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education
- IUCN Congress 2025 — Abu Dhabi
- Botanical Survey of India Headquarters — Kolkata
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Q4.
Front-running refers to:
A. Trading using insider information
B. Trading before execution of large client orders
C. Circular trading in stock exchanges
D. Trading in unlisted securities
Answer: B
Q5.
Which of the following sectors are covered under GEI Target Rules, 2025?
- Cement
- Aluminium
- Chlor-alkali
- Pulp and Paper
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
3. DIFFICULT TOPICS EXPLAINED SIMPLY
Public Trust Doctrine
Imagine rivers, forests, beaches and air as “public property.”
Government is only a caretaker, not owner. It must protect them for people and future generations.
Asset Tokenization
Suppose a building costs ₹10 crore.
Instead of buying whole building, digital tokens divide ownership into small parts.
People can buy small shares digitally using blockchain.
Insider Trading vs Front Running
Insider Trading
Using secret company information for profit.
Example:
A company employee secretly knows profits will rise and buys shares before announcement.
Front Running
Broker sees a huge client order coming and buys first to profit from price movement.
AT&C Losses
Electricity loss =
- technical losses in wires + transformers
- theft of electricity
- unpaid bills
All together = AT&C losses.
GPS Spoofing vs GNSS Jamming
GPS Spoofing
Fake signals sent → aircraft receives wrong location.
GNSS Jamming
Strong radio signals block satellite communication completely.
4. COMPARISON OF RELATED CONCEPTS
CBDC vs Cryptocurrency
| CBDC | Cryptocurrency |
|---|---|
| Issued by central bank | Privately created |
| Legal tender | Usually not legal tender |
| Sovereign backing | No sovereign guarantee |
| Stable value | Highly volatile |
| Regulated | Often decentralized |
GM Crops vs GE Crops
| GM Crops | GE Crops |
|---|---|
| Foreign gene inserted | Native gene edited |
| Example: Bt Cotton | CRISPR-based edits |
| Transgenic | Precision editing |
| More controversial | Comparatively more acceptable |
IIP vs Index of Core Industries
| IIP | Core Industries Index |
|---|---|
| Measures industrial output | Measures 8 infrastructure sectors |
| Released by MoSPI | Released by Economic Adviser |
| Wider coverage | Limited coverage |
| Monthly | Monthly |
Cyclone vs Hurricane vs Typhoon
| Name | Region |
|---|---|
| Cyclone | Indian Ocean |
| Hurricane | Atlantic & NE Pacific |
| Typhoon | NW Pacific |
Insider Trading vs Front Running
| Insider Trading | Front Running |
|---|---|
| Uses secret info | Uses advance knowledge of trades |
| Linked to company insiders | Linked to brokers/fund managers |
| SEBI PIT Regulations | SEBI Mutual Fund Regulations |
5. PYQ LINKAGES TOPIC-WISE
Environment & Climate
Current Topic:
El Niño / La Niña / IOD
Related UPSC PYQs:
- El Niño effect on Indian monsoon
- Indian Ocean Dipole questions
- Walker circulation
UPSC Trend:
UPSC repeatedly asks climate-ocean interaction concepts.
Economy
Current Topic:
CBDC
Linked PYQs:
- Cryptocurrency vs digital currency
- Blockchain technology
- Monetary policy transmission
UPSC Trend:
Conceptual distinction questions.
Governance
Current Topic:
Public Trust Doctrine
Linked PYQs:
- Article 21 environmental jurisprudence
- Precautionary principle
- Polluter Pays Principle
UPSC Trend:
Court doctrines + environmental governance.
Agriculture & Biotechnology
Current Topic:
GE vs GM crops
Linked PYQs:
- Bt Cotton
- GM mustard
- CRISPR-Cas9
- Gene editing
UPSC Trend:
Statement-based biotechnology questions.
Security
Current Topic:
GNSS Jamming & GPS Spoofing
Linked PYQs:
- NAVIC
- Satellite navigation systems
- Cyber warfare
UPSC Trend:
Application-based science-tech questions.
International Relations
Current Topic:
UNHCR & Refugee Convention
Linked PYQs:
- Refugee Convention
- Stateless persons
- UN specialised agencies
UPSC Trend:
International institutions + India’s membership status.
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