Union Public Service Commission
The central constitutional recruitment agency (Article 315) that conducts the Civil Services Examination.
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On UPSC.wiki
Study materialNationalism — Concept and Types in Indian HistoryNationalism in India emerged as a political ideology advocating for self-determination based on shared identity, evolving through various forms such as civic, ethnic, cultural, and economic nationalism, and significantly influenced by historical movements and figures. Study materialMahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Movement (1919–1947) — Part 10: 11. UPSC Relevance and PYQ ExamplesPart 10: UPSC relevance — chronology table (1915-1948), PYQs (NCM, CDM, Quit India, women, Poona Pact, Cabinet Mission); one-page revision summary (3 movements table, key pacts, key numbers). Study materialMauryan Administration: Economy, Provinces and GovernanceMauryan Administration created India's first centralised bureaucratic state — with provincial divisions, a standing army, a network of royal spies and welfare measures described in the Arthashastra and Ashokan inscriptions. Study materialVedic Age: Early and Later Vedic Society in IndiaThe Vedic Age (c. 1500–600 BCE) shaped India's religious, social and philosophical foundations — from the pastoral Rigvedic tribes to the stratified Later Vedic society of sacrifice, varna and emerging janapadas. Study materialHarappan Civilisation: Urban Planning, Trade and DeclineThe Harappan Civilisation (2600–1900 BCE) was the ancient world's most sophisticated planned urban culture — with grid streets, covered sewers and standardised bricks repeated across 1,400 sites. Study material18th Century India: Decline of Mughal Empire and Regional Kingdoms18th century India saw Mughal power fragment into regional successor states, allowing the British East India Company to establish colonial dominance across the subcontinent by 1818. Study materialMahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Movement (1919–1947) — Part 12: FAQPart 12: FAQ — salt symbolism in CDM; Chauri Chaura withdrawal; Poona Pact 1932; Quit India causes and outcomes; Gandhi vs Bhagat Singh vs Bose on methods. With FAQPage + BreadcrumbList schema. Study materialThe Vedic Age: Society, Economy, Religion and Transition (c. 1500–600 BCE) — Part 2: 2. Early Vedic Period (c. 1500–1000 BCE)Part 2 of the comprehensive UPSC guide on The Vedic Age. Covers: 2. Early Vedic Period (c. 1500–1000 BCE). Study materialHarappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation: Origins, Features and Decline — Part 1: IntroductionPart 1: Introduction — Harappan Civilisation overview; three phases (Early 6000 BCE, Mature 2600 BCE, Late 1900 BCE); geographical spread across 2,000+ sites; five major cities — Rakhigarhi, Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Dholavira, Ganweriwala. Study materialThe Revolt of 1857: Causes, Course, Nature and Consequences — Part 8: 8. Legacy: The Revolt in Indian National MemoryPart 8: Legacy and national memory; UPSC relevance with PYQs (2014, 2016, 2019); key chronological data; one-page revision summary — PESMR causes mnemonic, leaders table, areas that didn't revolt, consequences, nature debate. Study materialSources of Ancient Indian History: Archaeological, Literary and Foreign Accounts — Part 2: OverviewPart 2 of the comprehensive UPSC guide on Sources of Ancient Indian History. Covers: Overview. Study materialThe Delhi Sultanate — Part 7: Administration, Legacy & UPSC RelevancePart 7: Delhi Sultanate administration overview, multi-dimensional legacy (political, economic, cultural), and UPSC prelims/mains expected questions. Study materialThe Revolt of 1857: Causes, Course, Nature and Consequences — Part 1: IntroductionPart 1: Introduction — Revolt of 1857 from Meerut mutiny (10 May 1857) to widespread North Indian uprising; background of accumulated grievances 1757–1857; earlier revolts (Sanyasi, Santhal) as precursors. Study materialHarappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation: Origins, Features and Decline — Part 8: FAQPart 8: FAQ — Harappan time period, reasons for decline, Great Bath, trade with Mesopotamia, undeciphered script; 5 Q&As with detailed answers for UPSC preparation. Study materialHarappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation: Origins, Features and Decline — Part 6: 12. UPSC RelevancePart 6: UPSC relevance (Prelims, GS1, Optional); one-page revision summary; quick facts — Daya Ram Sahni (Harappa 1920-21), John Marshall (1924 announcement), Rakhigarhi largest (550 ha), Dholavira UNESCO 2021. Study materialEstablishment and Expansion of British Colonial Power in India (1757–1857) — Part 5: Key Annexations, Colonial Economy and RevisionPart 5: Mysore Wars (1767–1799), Maratha Wars (1775–1819), Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–49); colonial economy — Permanent Settlement, drain of wealth; UPSC relevance; one-page revision summary with all key dates. Study materialEstablishment and Expansion of British Colonial Power in India (1757–1857) — Part 1: IntroductionPart 1: From Trade to Empire — the East India Company's transformation (1757–1857); Company structure, Farrukh Siyar's firman (1717), Bengal trade, three Presidencies; context of Mughal fragmentation. Study materialThe Mughal Empire: Political History, Consolidation and Decline — Part 7: Six Great Mughals and Causes of DeclinePart 7: Six Great Mughals comparison table; causes of Mughal decline — jagirdari crisis (JAMMED mnemonic), Aurangzeb's religious policy, Maratha challenge, weak successors, Deccan overextension, Nadir Shah; UPSC PYQs. Study materialThe Mughal Empire: Political History, Consolidation and Decline — Part 1: Introduction and BaburPart 1: Introduction to the Mughal Empire; Babur's four battles — First Panipat (1526), Khanwa (1527), Chanderi (1528), Ghaghra (1529); tulughma strategy; Baburnama as primary source. Study materialThe Vijayanagara Empire — Part 5: Battle of Talikota, Decline, Legacy and UPSC RelevancePart 5: Battle of Talikota (1565), Rama Raya's flawed diplomacy, empire's decline, Hampi's rediscovery (Colin Mackenzie, 1800; UNESCO 1986), legacy, and UPSC prelims/mains focus areas. Study materialMedieval Administrative Systems: Iqta, Mansab, Jagir and Revenue — Part 7: Comparison, UPSC Relevance and Revision SummaryPart 7: Sultanate vs Mughal comparison table; UPSC Prelims and Mains focus; one-page revision summary (iqta, mansabdari, jagir, Mughal revenue, central admin); 12-term glossary. Study materialMedieval Administrative Systems: Iqta, Mansab, Jagir and Revenue — Part 1: IntroductionPart 1: Introduction to medieval administrative systems; the Iqta system — origins, types (large/small/wajh), muqti duties, reforms under Balban, Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughlaq, Firuz Tughlaq, and decline. Study materialThe Gupta Empire: The Golden Age of India — Part 9: FAQPart 9: FAQ — Why is the Gupta period called the Golden Age? What was the Prayaga-prashasti? How did land grants cause decline? Aryabhatta's science. Chandragupta II's conquests. Study materialThe Gupta Empire: The Golden Age of India — Part 7: Decline and UPSC RelevancePart 7: Gupta decline — Huna invasions, samanta system, land grants, dynastic disputes; Gupta vs Maurya comparison table; UPSC PYQ examples on the Allahabad Pillar, Aryabhatta, and Dashavatara temple. Current affairsSupreme Court Clarifies OBC Creamy Layer Ruling: Parental Post Category Must Be Considered; Past Allocations UndisturbedOn 6 November 2026, the Supreme Court clarified its landmark March 11 judgment that salary income alone cannot determine OBC creamy layer status — the category of government posts held by parents must also be considered. The Court held the ruling prospective, leaving concluded selections and promotions undisturbed, but directed it to govern the pending Civil Services Examination 2025 service allocations. Current affairsWorld Tsunami Awareness Day 2026: "Be Tsunami Ready — Resilience Starts with You"November 5 is World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026, observed under the theme "Be tsunami ready: Resilience starts with you." The day, established by UNGA Resolution A/RES/70/203 (December 2015), commemorates the Inamura-no-hi story of 1854 and focuses on individual and community preparedness as the first line of defence, aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030). Current affairsIndia's Hylo Open 2026 Double Triumph: PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen Win Singles Titles in SaarbrückenIndia achieved a rare double at the Hylo Open 2026 (BWF Super 300) in Saarbrücken, Germany (27 October–1 November 2026): PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win the women's singles title (defeating Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt 21–12, 21–14), while Lakshya Sen became the first Indian to win two Hylo Open men's singles titles (defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21–17, 21–10). Current affairsCOP17 to CBD Concludes in Yerevan: Parties Adopt the Yerevan Pathway to Accelerate Biodiversity ImplementationThe 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) concluded in Yerevan, Armenia (19–30 October 2026), adopting the Yerevan Pathway — a formal framework to accelerate national implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). India, represented by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, holds 18 biosphere reserves including 13 UNESCO-designated sites — the highest in South Asia. Current affairsMINURSO Ends After 35 Years: UN Security Council Fails to Renew Western Sahara Peacekeeping MissionThe UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), established in 1991, ceased operations on November 1, 2026, after the UN Security Council failed on October 30 to adopt either a US-sponsored renewal resolution (vetoed by Russia) or a Russian counter-draft (rejected by the US), ending 35 years of international peacekeeping and raising fundamental questions about the right of self-determination for the Sahrawi people. Current affairsCyclone Arnab: Landfall on Andhra Pradesh Coast, Massive Evacuations, and Inter-Ministerial Damage AssessmentCyclone Arnab, a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, made landfall near Narsapur on the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, 2026, with winds of 125–135 kmph; it caused extensive damage across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, evacuating over 89,000 people. On November 2, an eight-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team led by Joint Secretary Ravi Shankar began a three-day assessment of damage in Odisha's southern districts. Current affairsDraft National Steel Policy Vision 2047: India Targets 604 MT Capacity, Decarbonisation, and Specialty Steel LeadershipThe Ministry of Steel released the Draft National Steel Policy Vision 2047 in October 2026, targeting 604 MT of crude steel capacity, per capita consumption of 302 kg, and carbon emission intensity reduced from 2.54 to 1.54 tCO₂/tonne by 2047. The policy replaces the National Steel Policy 2017 and focuses on raw material security, decarbonisation, specialty steel for defence and aerospace, and trade protection against cheap imports. Current affairsOsbeckia assamensis: Gauhati University Discovers New Flowering Plant Species in Manas National Park, AssamResearchers Barnali Das and Namita Nath from Gauhati University identified a new flowering plant species, Osbeckia assamensis, in the grasslands of Manas National Park, Assam. The discovery was published in the peer-reviewed botanical journal Phytotaxa on October 22, 2026. The species belongs to the Melastomataceae family, grows as a perennial shrub 2–2.5 metres tall with pink flowers, and has been provisionally classified as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN criteria. Current affairsISRO Launches NVS-03 Aboard GSLV-F18: NavIC Restored to Minimum Operational Configuration of Four SatellitesISRO successfully launched NVS-03, the third satellite in the second-generation NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series, aboard GSLV-F18 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on October 30, 2026. The 2,250 kg satellite carried India's third indigenous atomic clock into orbit, restoring NavIC to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites. Current affairsManisha Bhanwala Wins Historic Gold at Senior World Wrestling Championships 2026: First Indian Woman World ChampionManisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, defeating American Abigail Nette 8–6 in the 59 kg freestyle final at Astana, Kazakhstan on October 30, 2026. She is only the second Indian wrestler ever to win a senior world title — after Sushil Kumar (65 kg) in 2010 — ending India's 39-year wait for a women's gold at the championships. India also won three other medals (2 silvers, 1 bronze) in the women's freestyle category at the same championships. Current affairsNational Geospatial Policy 2022: India's Transition to an Open, AI-Driven Geospatial Economy — UPSC AnalysisThe Department of Science and Technology (DST) highlighted India's geospatial sector as a key economic growth driver in October 2026, calling for an "enable, invest and adopt" approach with wider deployment of geospatial AI. India's National Geospatial Policy, 2022 — building on the Liberalised Geospatial Guidelines of 2021 — aims to position India as a global geospatial leader by 2035, moving from a restrictive security-centric mapping regime to an open, innovation-first architecture. Current affairsTextiles PLI Scheme Round 4: Extended to FY2034, Minimum Turnover Threshold Halved to ₹100 Crore — UPSC AnalysisThe Ministry of Textiles on October 28, 2026 announced the reopening of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles under Round 4 — extending the scheme tenure to FY2033-34 and halving the minimum turnover threshold for Part 2 category from ₹200 crore to ₹100 crore. Applications open November 1–December 31, 2026. Round 1-3 applicants who have not claimed incentives may migrate to Round 4 terms.
In previous-year questions
- The "Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar" (Tamralipta National Government), one of the most notable parallel governments established during the Quit India Movement (1942–43), was located in which district?UPSC · Current Affairs
- The Hara Biosphere Reserve, threatened by an oil spill in August 2026, is located in Iran. What is the dominant mangrove species of the Hara forests, and where else in India is this species prominently found?UPSC · Current Affairs
- IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) was established by:UPSC · Current Affairs
- Under which Article of the Constitution of India does the High Court exercise control over district courts and subordinate courts, including the discipline and postings of judicial officers?UPSC · Current Affairs
- The Jhiram Valley massacre occurred in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh — a region that has been the epicentre of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India. Which of the following geographical terms describes the contiguous belt of LWE-affected districts across central and eastern India?UPSC · Current Affairs
- After the Union Cabinet raised the EPFO mandatory wage ceiling to ₹25,000 per month in September 2026, a worker earning ₹22,000 per month in an EPFO-covered establishment will now be mandatorily enrolled in EPFO. Which of the following correctly describes how the employer's 12% EPF contribution is split between the EPF and EPS accounts?UPSC · Current Affairs
- The Supreme Court Collegium that recommends appointments to High Courts consists of which of the following members?UPSC · Current Affairs
- The Public Service Commission of India held its first sitting on which date, as recommended by the Lee Commission?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Under the Constitution of India, the expenses of the Union Public Service Commission are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India under which Article, making them non-votable by Parliament?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which of the following correctly describes the procedure for removing a Member of the Union Public Service Commission from office?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Article 323 of the Constitution of India requires the Union Public Service Commission to present its annual report to whom, who then causes it to be laid before Parliament?UPSC · Current Affairs
- India's CAFE-III norms, notified on September 30, 2026, require passenger vehicle fleet-average fuel consumption to improve from 3.996 litres per 100 km in 2027-28 to 3.327 litres per 100 km in 2031-32. Which body is empowered to SET (not enforce) CAFE standards under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001?UPSC · Current Affairs