Admissions Open: MAD-X for UPSC Prelims 2027 · Batch starts 1st Nov 2026 Explore MAD-X
UnderStand UPSC (11)
Youtube Instagram Whatsapp Linkedin X-twitter
Login/Sign up
US
UnderStand UPSC Daily Current Affairs Practice
0.00Score / 10
0 / 7MCQs Attempted
0%Accuracy
16 October 2026 • UPSC CSE

Read the news. Test the concept. Write the Mains answer.

This interactive edition converts each current-affairs item into one Prelims-level MCQ, one Mains-level question, and a compact value-addition section for revision.

+2 correct −0.66 incorrect Explanation after attempt Image/PDF answer upload
⬇ Download PDF ▶ Watch Video
NEWS 1 GS3 • Environment, Biodiversity and Wetland Conservation Source: PIB

India's Ramsar Site Tally Reaches 103

Context: India's Ramsar network increased from 101 to 103 sites in October 2026 with the addition of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh.

Ramsar Convention: Basic Facts

Dates
Adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; entered into force in 1975; India became a contracting party in 1982.
Objective
Conservation and wise use of wetlands through national action and international cooperation; a Ramsar site is a wetland designated as internationally important.

Latest Additions: Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel

Sukhna Wetland
In Chandigarh at the foothills of the Shivalik range; a reservoir near an urban area; supports waterbirds along the Central Asian Flyway — Common Pochard (Vulnerable) and Pallas's Fish Eagle (Endangered); threats: siltation, catchment erosion, invasive vegetation, urban pressure.
Sauj Jheel
In Uttar Pradesh; a shallow lake in the Ganga floodplain supporting over 30,000 waterbirds, including the vulnerable Sarus Crane and Greater Spotted Eagle.

Milestones: 96th to 103rd Sites

Sequence
96-site milestone: Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan) and Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh), December 2025; 97th Patna Bird Sanctuary (UP); 98th Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat); 99th Shekha Jheel (UP); 100th Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary/Surha Tal (UP).
Latest three
101st Glaw Lake — Arunachal Pradesh's first Ramsar site; 102nd Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh); 103rd Sauj Jheel (UP).

Terminology, Significance, Threats and Way Forward

Five terms
Catchment area; groundwater recharge; hydrological regime; eutrophication (nutrient enrichment causing algal blooms); siltation (sediment build-up reducing depth and storage).
Significance & threats
Biodiversity, water security, flood management, carbon storage and livelihoods; threatened by encroachment, pollution, hydrological alteration, siltation, invasive species and climate change.
Way forward
Protect catchments; improve sewage treatment; restore natural flows; monitor water quality and biodiversity; involve local communities; enforce regulations and integrate wetlands into urban planning.
Key Takeaway: Sukhna and Sauj show two very different wetland types being recognised — an urban reservoir under siltation pressure and a floodplain lake hosting 30,000+ waterbirds — which is why catchment protection and pollution control matter as much as the Ramsar label itself.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. The Ramsar Convention was adopted in 1971 and India became a contracting party in 1982.
2. Glaw Lake is the first Ramsar site of Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Sauj Jheel is located in Chandigarh at the foothills of the Shivalik range.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect — Sukhna Wetland is in Chandigarh; Sauj Jheel is in Uttar Pradesh.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the ecological and economic significance of wetlands, the threats they face and measures needed for their conservation, with reference to India's Ramsar sites.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • State the Ramsar basics precisely — 1971 (Ramsar, Iran), force 1975, India 1982; tally 101 to 103 in October 2026.
  • Pair the new sites with location and features — Sukhna (Chandigarh, Shivalik foothills, Common Pochard/Pallas's Fish Eagle), Sauj Jheel (UP, Ganga floodplain, 30,000+ waterbirds).
  • Memorise the 96th–103rd sequence, especially Glaw Lake (101st; Arunachal's first).
  • Define the five terms — catchment area, groundwater recharge, hydrological regime, eutrophication, siltation.
  • List threats and the six-point Way Forward individually.
NEWS 2 GS2 • Polity and Governance / Election Commission and Electoral Reforms Source: The Hindu

Special Summary Revision (SSR) of Electoral Rolls

Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls across 17 States and Union Territories to enrol eligible voters and update electoral records.

Constitutional and Legal Basis

Articles
Article 324: ECI's superintendence, direction and control; Article 326: adult suffrage for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections; Article 327: Parliament's power to legislate on elections, including rolls.
Statute & rules
RP Act, 1950 — Section 21: preparation and revision of electoral rolls; Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: procedures for preparing, revising and correcting rolls.

Key Features of SSR

Coverage & objective
17 States and UTs, including poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab; enrol eligible voters, correct entries and update rolls.
Process
No house-to-house visits by Booth-Level Officers under this exercise — draft and final rolls displayed locally; searchable, readable PDF rolls; limits on Form 7 applications to prevent bulk deletions; special camps for re-enrolment.

SSR vs SIR

Distinction
SSR: a routine process to update rolls and enrol eligible voters; SIR (Special Intensive Revision): a more extensive exercise with intensive enumeration and verification.

Significance, Challenges and Way Forward

Significance & risks
Electoral inclusion, accuracy and transparency; risk of exclusion from lack of awareness, documentation difficulties or administrative errors; transparent additions/deletions sustain public trust.
Way forward
Voter-awareness campaigns and enrolment camps; transparent procedures; accessible grievance redressal; regular publication of searchable rolls; safeguards against wrongful exclusion.
Key Takeaway: The safeguard that stands out is the limit on Form 7 applications — given the earlier Karnataka controversy over bulk deletion requests, capping them is a direct response to the main exclusion risk in roll revision.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 provides the statutory basis for preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
2. Under the SSR announced across 17 States and Union Territories, Booth-Level Officers conduct house-to-house enumeration for all voters.
3. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a more extensive exercise involving intensive enumeration and verification than the SSR.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — under this SSR, draft and final rolls are displayed locally instead of house-to-house visits by Booth-Level Officers.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the constitutional and legal basis of electoral-roll revision in India and examine the significance and challenges of the Special Summary Revision.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • Cite Articles 324, 326, 327, RP Act 1950 Section 21 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 precisely.
  • State SSR's features — 17 States/UTs, no house-to-house visits, searchable PDF rolls, Form 7 limits, re-enrolment camps.
  • Distinguish SSR (routine) from SIR (intensive enumeration and verification) — a likely Prelims pair.
  • List significance (inclusion, accuracy, transparency) against exclusion risks.
  • Link to the 3 October Form 7 (Karnataka) topic for the deletion-safeguard context.
NEWS 3 GS2 • International Relations; GS3 • Indian Economy, Energy Security and External Sector Source: The Hindu

India's Crude Oil Imports: Rising Dependence on Three Countries

Context: In August 2026, Russia, the United States and the UAE together supplied approximately 66.85% of India's crude oil imports, highlighting increasing concentration in its energy supply.

Key Data and Trends

Totals
India imported 191.2 lakh tonnes in August 2026 — 10.3% lower than July but 3.4% higher than August 2025; import bill $12.2 billion, nearly 25% higher year-on-year.
Supplier shares
Russia: 84.8 lakh tonnes (44.3%), down from a record 51% in July; UAE: 33 lakh tonnes (17.4%); US: 9.7 lakh tonnes (5.1%), volume nearly 82% higher than July; together 66.85%.

Price and Cost Implications

Costlier US oil
India paid an average of $810.6 per tonne for US oil versus the overall average of $640 per tonne.
Russia & UAE
Russian imports fell 23% from July but stayed 22.5% above August 2025; the UAE's share rose as it provided an alternative supply route amid West Asia disruptions.
Economic impact
Higher crude prices raise the import bill, potentially widening the current account deficit and adding to inflation.

Geopolitical Significance and Challenges

Relations
Russia: major supply but exposure to Western sanctions and tariff pressure; US: supports trade ties but costs more for refiners; UAE: an alternative source that helps diversify routes.
Challenges
Heavy import dependence; price and freight volatility; West Asia exposure; trade-balance and currency pressure; balancing affordable energy, strategic autonomy and trade relationships.

Way Forward

Measures
Diversify suppliers; strengthen strategic petroleum reserves; promote renewables, electric mobility and biofuels; improve energy efficiency; maintain strategic autonomy.
Key Takeaway: The price gap is the telling detail — India paid $810.6 per tonne for US crude against a $640 average — showing that diversifying away from a dominant supplier has a cost, and that concentration in three suppliers still leaves India exposed to sanctions, tariffs and West Asia shocks.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. In August 2026, Russia, the United States and the UAE together supplied about 66.85% of India's crude oil imports.
2. Russia's share of India's oil imports in August 2026 was higher than its record share in July.
3. India paid a higher average price per tonne for US oil than the overall import average.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — Russia's share declined to 44.3% in August from a record 51% in July.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the implications of India's growing crude-oil import concentration among a few suppliers for its energy security and foreign policy.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • Use the exact data — 191.2 lakh tonnes, 66.85% combined, Russia 44.3% (from 51%), UAE 17.4%, US 5.1% (volume up ~82%).
  • Cite the price contrast ($810.6 vs $640 per tonne) and the $12.2 billion import bill (up ~25%).
  • Explain each supplier's geopolitical angle — Russia (sanctions exposure), US (trade ties/higher cost), UAE (alternative route).
  • List challenges and the five-point Way Forward individually.
  • Link to the 18 September US-Russia sanctions-Bill topic for the tariff-risk context.
NEWS 4 GS2 • Polity and Governance / Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Executive Discretion Source: The Indian Express

Government's Powers over Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholders

Context: Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen and OCI cardholder, received a Leave India Notice after participating in a protest in Mumbai, raising concerns about the government's powers over foreign nationals of Indian origin.

OCI: Meaning and Status

Nature
Introduced in 2005; a special immigration status — not Indian citizenship or dual citizenship; lifelong multiple-entry visa and specified benefits.
Restrictions
OCI cardholders cannot vote, contest elections or hold constitutional offices reserved for citizens; they remain foreign nationals subject to Indian immigration laws.

Legal Framework and Government Powers

Citizenship Act, 1955
Section 7A: registration as OCI; Section 7B: rights and privileges, excluding rights reserved for citizens; Section 7D: statutory grounds for cancellation, subject to conditions and procedures.
Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
Section 7: Centre may regulate or restrict entry, departure or continued presence of foreigners; Section 29: removal in specified circumstances (violations, adverse security reports); powers may be delegated to designated immigration officials.

Leave India Notice vs Cancellation

Key distinction
A Leave India Notice requires departure under immigration powers; OCI cancellation terminates registration under Section 7D; a departure notice does not automatically cancel OCI status; no blanket ban on foreigners attending protests, but the government can regulate activities and presence.

Constitutional Dimensions

Articles
Article 14: protects citizens and non-citizens against arbitrariness; Article 19: guaranteed to citizens, not foreign nationals as such; Article 21: applies to all persons — procedure established by law; Article 226: High Court writ review.

Past Cases, Concerns and Way Forward

Previous cases
Aatish Taseer (2019 cancellation over alleged application omissions); Ashok Swain (Delhi HC set aside a cancellation); Christo Thomas Philip (Delhi HC, 2024, fresh proceedings allowed); Khalid Jahangir Qazi (reportedly fresh proceedings allowed).
Concerns & way forward
Broad discretion, chilling effect on expression, procedural fairness and proportionality; set clear criteria, give reasons and an opportunity to respond, ensure evidence-based action and accessible judicial review.
Key Takeaway: The legal point to keep straight is that a Leave India Notice and OCI cancellation are different tools — the first is an immigration direction, the second a Section 7D process — and Article 19 does not extend to foreign nationals, though Articles 14 and 21 still protect against arbitrary action.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. The OCI scheme confers Indian citizenship and dual citizenship on eligible foreign nationals of Indian origin.
2. Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955 provides statutory grounds for cancellation of OCI registration.
3. A Leave India Notice automatically cancels the OCI registration of the cardholder.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Only statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect — OCI is a special immigration status, not citizenship or dual citizenship. Statement 3 is incorrect — a departure notice does not automatically cancel OCI registration.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the legal framework governing OCI cardholders and examine the constitutional safeguards available against arbitrary executive action affecting foreign nationals.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • State OCI's nature precisely — 2005, special immigration status, not citizenship; cannot vote, contest elections or hold constitutional offices.
  • Cite Citizenship Act Sections 7A, 7B, 7D and Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 Sections 7 and 29 individually.
  • Distinguish Leave India Notice from OCI cancellation — the central legal distinction.
  • Apply Articles 14, 19, 21 and 226 correctly (Article 19 is for citizens; 14 and 21 for all persons).
  • Name the four past cases (Taseer, Swain, Philip, Qazi) and the Way Forward criteria.
NEWS 5 GS2 • Polity and Governance / Reservation, Equality and Social Justice Source: The Hindu

Supreme Court: Conversion Does Not Automatically Confer Reservation Benefits

Context: In The Secretary to Government v. Sameer Ahamed N. & Others (15 October 2026), the Supreme Court upheld rejection of a Tamil Nadu applicant's request for a Backward Class (Muslim Lebbai) certificate after conversion from Hinduism to Islam, holding that conversion alone does not automatically confer membership of a notified backward-class community or its reservation benefits.

Legal and Constitutional Basis

Articles
Article 14 (equality); Article 15(4) (special provisions for backward classes, SCs and STs); Article 16(4) (reservation in public employment); Article 341 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (SC identification, including religion-related conditions).
Key distinction
Eligibility depends on the relevant constitutional and statutory framework, not simply on a person's earlier caste identity.

Major Supreme Court Judgments on Reservation

Foundational cases
Champakam Dorairajan (1951) — struck down communal seat allocation, leading to the First Amendment and Article 15(4); Indra Sawhney (1992) — upheld 27% OBC reservation, creamy-layer exclusion, 50% ceiling, no reservation in promotions then.
Promotions & data
M. Nagaraj (2006) — enabling, not automatic, reservation in promotions with quantifiable data; Jarnail Singh (2018) — removed the backwardness-data requirement for SCs/STs, kept inadequate-representation assessment, allowed creamy layer.
Recent cases
Janhit Abhiyan (2022) — upheld 10% EWS reservation (103rd Amendment, 3:2); State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024) — States may sub-classify SCs based on evidence but cannot add or remove communities (Parliament, Article 341).

How the Sameer Ahamed Judgment Fits In

Issue & ruling
Whether a person who converted could claim a Backward Class Muslim certificate on earlier caste status and conversion alone; the Court held conversion alone did not establish membership of the specific notified community claimed.
Significance & nuance
A person must satisfy the legal criteria for the particular category; this is not a blanket denial of reservation to Muslims — notified Muslim communities may qualify for OBC or State backward-class benefits under applicable lists.
Key Takeaway: The ruling turns on notification, not identity — reservation attaches to membership of a community on the applicable list, so a conversion certificate by itself cannot establish eligibility, while notified Muslim communities remain eligible under their own lists.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. In State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024), the Supreme Court held that States may sub-classify Scheduled Castes based on evidence but cannot add or remove communities from the Presidential List.
2. The Sameer Ahamed judgment (2026) denies reservation benefits to all Muslims.
3. Indra Sawhney (1992) upheld 27% reservation for OBCs and excluded the creamy layer.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — the ruling is not a blanket denial; notified Muslim communities may qualify under applicable OBC or State backward-class lists.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the constitutional framework of reservation and the principle that conversion alone does not confer reservation benefits, with reference to key Supreme Court judgments.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • Cite Articles 14, 15(4), 16(4), 341 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 with their distinct roles.
  • Sequence the six cases — Champakam (1951), Indra Sawhney (1992), Nagaraj (2006), Jarnail Singh (2018), Janhit Abhiyan (2022), Davinder Singh (2024) — with holdings.
  • State the Sameer Ahamed holding precisely — conversion alone does not establish membership of the notified community (15 October 2026).
  • Include the nuance explicitly — not a blanket denial for Muslims; notified communities qualify under applicable lists.
  • Note Parliament's exclusive power over the Presidential List (Article 341), as clarified in Davinder Singh.
NEWS 6 GS3 • Economy / External Trade, Balance of Trade and Export Competitiveness Source: The Hindu

India's Merchandise Exports Rise 23.04% in September 2026

Context: India's merchandise exports recorded strong year-on-year growth in September 2026, while the monthly trade deficit narrowed despite rising crude oil imports.

Export Performance

Headline
Merchandise exports rose 23.04% to $44.4 billion over September 2025.
Sectors
Electronic goods up 70.44% to $5.3 billion; petroleum products up 31.9% to $6.2 billion; chemicals up 24.21% to $3 billion.

Imports and Trade Deficit

Deficit
Imports rose 8% to $74.61 billion; deficit narrowed to $30.21 billion from $33 billion in September 2025.
Gold, silver & crude
Gold imports fell 81.27% and silver 49.11%, moderating the deficit; crude imports rose 30.76% to $18.34 billion, showing oil-price vulnerability.

Cumulative Trends and Way Forward

April-September 2026
Exports up 18.51% to $259.89 billion; imports $437.53 billion (up 16.31%); cumulative deficit widened to $177.64 billion from $156.88 billion; FY 2025-26 exports were $442 billion, with a government aim to cross $500 billion.
Challenges & way forward
Import dependence on crude; sustaining competitiveness; diversification of destinations and higher-value products, stronger supply chains, better logistics and trade facilitation.
Key Takeaway: The monthly and cumulative pictures diverge — September's deficit narrowed to $30.21 billion thanks to a fall in gold and silver imports, but the April-September deficit widened to $177.64 billion, so one strong month does not yet signal a structural improvement.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. India's merchandise exports rose 23.04% to $44.4 billion in September 2026 compared with September 2025.
2. Crude oil imports declined in September 2026, helping narrow the trade deficit.
3. The cumulative trade deficit for April-September 2026 was higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — crude oil imports increased 30.76% to $18.34 billion; the deficit narrowed mainly due to sharp falls in gold and silver imports.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Analyse India's merchandise trade performance in September 2026 and discuss the challenges to sustaining export growth and containing the trade deficit.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • Use the exact data — exports $44.4bn (+23.04%), imports $74.61bn (+8%), deficit $30.21bn (from $33bn).
  • Name sector growth — electronics +70.44%, petroleum products +31.9%, chemicals +24.21% — and import moves (gold −81.27%, silver −49.11%, crude +30.76%).
  • Cite cumulative April-September data — exports $259.89bn (+18.51%), imports $437.53bn, deficit $177.64bn vs $156.88bn.
  • Note the FY 2025-26 base ($442bn) and the $500bn target.
  • Compare with the 16 September topic (August exports +26%) for a trend view.
NEWS 7 GS2 • Health and Education; GS3 • Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases Source: The Indian Express

Preventing Childhood Diabetes Through School-Based Interventions

Context: Rising childhood obesity and diabetes highlight the need to integrate preventive healthcare, nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices into school education.

Magnitude of the Problem

Prevalence
101 million Indians have diabetes and 136 million have prediabetes (ICMR-INDIAB study); 1 in 4 children aged 5-9 is reportedly overweight.
Lifestyle indicators
Over 50% of urban adolescents reportedly consume ultra-processed foods; only 18% of adolescents meet 60 minutes of daily physical activity; 12-15-year-olds sleep about 6.5 hours against the recommended 8-9.
Economic burden
India's direct economic burden of diabetes could exceed $90 billion by 2033, as projected in the article.

Key School-Based Preventive Measures

Diet & hydration
Healthy breakfast using millets, peanuts, sattu and local foods; safe drinking water and discouraging sugar-sweetened beverages; fruits, millets and high-fibre foods over sugar-rich snacks.
Activity & sleep
At least 60 minutes of daily physical activity and less sedentary screen time; age-appropriate sleep to support metabolism, appetite regulation and learning.

Way Forward

Measures
Nutrition-integrated education (food literacy); healthier canteens limiting ultra-processed foods; family-school collaboration; preventive programmes (wellbeing assessments, kitchen gardens, healthy-tiffin initiatives); evidence-based monitoring.

Policy and Economic Significance

NEP 2020 & returns
NEP 2020 offers scope to integrate health and wellbeing into holistic education; the article cites a WHO estimate that every ₹1 invested in school health and nutrition can yield ₹16 in healthcare savings and productivity gains.
World Food Day 2026
Theme: 'Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.'
Key Takeaway: The ₹1-to-₹16 return estimate is the policy argument in one line — prevention in schools is cheaper than treating adult diabetes later, which is why habits (breakfast, hydration, 60 minutes of activity, sleep) are framed as health infrastructure rather than lifestyle advice.

Prelims Practice MCQ

+2 correct • −0.66 wrong

Consider the following statements:
1. According to the ICMR-INDIAB study, 101 million Indians have diabetes and 136 million have prediabetes.
2. The article states that a majority of Indian adolescents meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
3. The article cites a WHO estimate that every ₹1 invested in school health and nutrition can yield ₹16 in healthcare savings and productivity gains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect — only about 18% of Indian adolescents meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

UPSC Mains Question

10 Marks • 150 Words

Discuss the rising burden of childhood obesity and diabetes in India and suggest school-based interventions for prevention.

Attempt before opening the value-addition tab.
Accepted: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP or PDF. The standalone file previews your answer locally; connect the API hook for real server submission.
Use after attempting the Mains answer
  • Use the prevalence data — 101 million diabetes, 136 million prediabetes (ICMR-INDIAB), 1 in 4 children aged 5-9 overweight.
  • Cite the lifestyle indicators — 50%+ ultra-processed food, 18% meeting activity norms, 6.5 hours sleep vs 8-9.
  • List the five school measures — breakfast, hydration, food choices, activity, sleep.
  • Name the Way Forward items — food literacy, healthier canteens, family-school collaboration, preventive programmes, monitoring.
  • Note the ₹1→₹16 WHO-cited return, NEP 2020 linkage and the World Food Day 2026 theme.

← Browse all UPSC Current Affairs editions

UnderStand UPSC logo

A Platform OF The Students
For The Students
By The Students

Follow Us On:

Instagram Youtube Linkedin Whatsapp X-twitter

Student Desk

Student Testimonial

Our Courses

Syllabus

Help Desk

Login

Contact Us

Support

FAQs

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cancellation/ Refund Policy

Career

Free Resources

Daily Current Affairs

UPSC PYQ

UPSC Prelims Quizzes

UPSC Static Quizzes

Static Content Revision

UPSC CSE GS Mains Micro-Syllabus

NCERT Books

IGNOU

NIOS

Demo Lectures

Strategy

Blog

Download Our App

UnderStand UPSC android Old app
UnderStand UPSC iphone Old app

Copyright © 2026 USARAMBHA EDUCATION (UnderStand UPSC). All Rights Reserved.

MAD X POPUp

Fill Out the Form &
Get Free Guidance