News Summary · 3 minutes read
Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE preparation with our daily News Summary. Designed to save time, it highlights key national and international events from leading newspapers and government websites.
DGP appointment guidelines
The Supreme Court (SC) laid down the DGP appointment process in Prakash Singh vs. Union of India (2006). It has been clarified/expanded in later SC rulingsand UPSC guidelines, and currently standsas follows:
- Concerned State Govt sends a list of eligible IPS officers to UPSC at least 3 months before the incumbent DGP’s retirement.
- Officers need at least 25 years of service and 6 months of residual service before retirement.
- Officers with at least 10 years of experience in critical areas like law & order or intelligence should be preferred.
- They must hold an ADG rank or equivalent, and demonstrate strong leadership.
- UPSC forms an empanelment committee to shortlist 3 officers from the State Govt’s list.
- Concerned State Govt immediately appoints one of these 3 officers as DGP.
- Minimum 2-year tenure is mandated, irrespective of superannuation.
- Appointment of acting DGPs is prohibited → frequently violated by States → recently, SC authorized UPSC to initiate contempt proceedings against States for non-compliance.
Rat hole mining
- A primitive, hazardous method of coal extraction involving narrow tunnels just wide enough for one person to crawl through.
- Prevalent in Northeast India, especially Meghalaya, despite being banned by the NGT in 2014.
- Lacks safety features like ventilation or supports, causing frequent accidents and deaths, but many people take up the job due to high daily wages.
Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA)
- Recently, a tripartite agreement for creating FNTA was signed between:
- Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO)
- Nagaland government
- Union Home Ministry
- Paves the way for the creation of the FNTA for the 6 districts of Nagaland – Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator.
- ENPO is an apex body representing 8 recognised Naga tribes of the 6 eastern districts of Nagaland.
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle of WTO
- MFN principle is based on Article I of GATT 1994 (for goods) and Article II of GATS 1995 (for services) → tariff concessions given to one WTO member must extend to all other members to prevent favouritism.
- Exceptions
- Customs unions, free-trade areas, and interim agreements leading to the formation of a customs union or free-trade area (Article XXIV, GATT 1994).
- WTO’s Enabling Clause: preferential arrangements for developing countries, e.g., the US’s GSP (Annex 1A, GATT 1994).
- Economic integration in services (Article V, GATS 1995).
Bharat Taxi
- India’s first co-operative-run ride-hailing platform, launched recently by Amit Shah.
- World’s first mobility cooperative.
- Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
- Established by India’s top 8 co-operatives, including Amul.
- Gives the ownership of the platform to drivers and is expected to enhance their income.
Quick Picks for Pre and Mains (QPPM)
- Cyberchondria: excessive online search for health-related information that leads to increased anxiety about one’s health.
- Defence Acquisition Council (DAC): India’s highest decision-making body for defence procurement → chaired by Raksha Mantri → formed in 2001 post-Kargil war → approves capital acquisitions for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
- GCC countries are together India’s largest merchandise trade partners.
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): formed in 1981 → Members (6): Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- New START: an erstwhile US-Russia agreement that set limits on the number of strategic nuclear delivery systems and warheads of both countries → expired on 5 February 2026.
- Kwara state: Nigeria