India’s Elephant Crisis Deepens
The latest wildlife report reveals a shocking truth – India’s elephant population has dropped by nearly 18% since 2017. The Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation 2021-25 counted just 22,446 elephants nationwide.
Key Findings:
- Western Ghats remains primary habitat with 11,934 elephants (53% of total)
- Northeast populations declined dramatically in Jharkhand (-68%) and Odisha (-54%)
- Karnataka leads with 6,013 elephants, followed by Assam (4,159) and Tamil Nadu (3,136)
| State | Elephant Population | Change Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 6,013 | -12% |
| Assam | 4,159 | -9% |
| Jharkhand | Not Disclosed | -68% |
Wildlife experts blame habitat loss and infrastructure projects. “Elephants are losing corridors to railways and mining sites,” explains Dr. Ananda Kumar from Nature Conservation Foundation. The government maintains the new counting method creates a “fresh baseline” for future comparisons.
Swadeshi Movement Makes Comeback
Union ministers switching to Indian-made Zoho Mail signals a new Swadeshi push. This revival echoes the 1905 anti-colonial movement but with digital focus.
Historical vs Modern Swadeshi
- 1905 Version: Boycott British goods, promote local industries
- 2024 Version: Government mandates Indian software adoption
Recent initiatives include promoting Koo microblogging platform and education ministry’s directive to use Indian office suites. Critics argue protectionism could backfire, while supporters cite data security benefits.
Chandrayaan-2’s Lunar Breakthrough
India’s moon orbiter made a startling discovery – solar storms dramatically affect the Moon’s atmosphere. The CHACE-2 instrument detected atmospheric density spikes during coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
“This finding helps us understand space weather impacts crucial for future lunar missions,” said ISRO scientist Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express.
The discovery has implications for India’s 2040 manned moon mission planning. Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks magnetic protection, making habitats vulnerable to solar radiation.
Government Employees Protest New Pension Plan
Only 4.5% of eligible staff have adopted the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) despite extended deadlines. Protests planned for November 9 demand return to Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Pension Scheme Comparison
- OPS: 50% last salary as pension
- NPS: Market-linked returns
- UPS: Guaranteed 50% of average last year’s salary
Tamil Nadu Challenges UPSC on Police Chief Selection
The state government formally objected to UPSC’s DGP shortlist, calling it “against rules”. The commission recommended three officers despite state reservations:
- Seema Agrawal
- Rajeev Kumar
- Sandeep Rai Rathore
This marks the latest center-state tussle over police appointments. The Supreme Court mandated UPSC involvement in DGP selections through its 2006 Prakash Singh judgment.
Previous Year Questions for Practice
Elephant Conservation (2020)
Which statements about Indian elephants are correct?
- Elephant groups have female leaders
- Maximum gestation period: 22 months
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Swadeshi Movement (2019)
Correct statements about Swadeshi Movement:
- Revived artisan industries
- Established National Council of Education
Answer: (c
Chandrayaan-2 Discovery (Expected 2024 Question)
Consider these statements about Chandrayaan-2’s findings:
- Solar flares cause Moon’s atmospheric density to decrease
- CHACE-2 instrument measured atmospheric changes
- Moon has stronger magnetic protection than Earth
Answer: (b) 2 only – The CHACE-2 instrument did detect atmospheric changes, but solar storms increase density (not decrease) and the Moon has weaker magnetic protection.
Pension Schemes (2021 Question Pattern)
Which scheme offers guaranteed 50% of average last year’s salary?
- Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
- National Pension System (NPS)
- Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
Answer: (c) UPS only – The new UPS guarantees this benefit while OPS calculated differently and NPS is market-linked.
Smart Study Strategies for Aspirants
Connect these current events to UPSC syllabus:
- Environment: Link elephant decline to GS Paper III’s Conservation topics. Note Project Elephant (1992) and Wildlife Institute of India roles
- History: Compare Swadeshi Movement (1905) with modern “digital swadeshi” for GS Paper I
- Science: Chandrayaan findings relate to GS Paper III’s Space Technology section
- Polity: Tamil Nadu vs UPSC case touches on federalism (GS Paper II)
Pro Tip: Create comparison tables for schemes like OPS-NPS-UPS. Visual learning boosts retention by 40%! @UPSC_Guide
Why These Developments Matter
These stories connect in unexpected ways:
- Elephant conservation shows environment-governance balance
- Swadeshi revival reflects India’s tech sovereignty push
- Lunar research positions India as space science leader
As one IAS officer noted anonymously: “Current affairs aren’t random events – they’re puzzle pieces forming India’s policy picture.”
Final Thought
While preparing, ask yourself: “How might human-elephant conflicts affect tribal communities (GS Paper I)?” or “Could digital swadeshi impact WTO commitments (GS Paper II)?” This interlinking approach separates top scorers from average candidates.
