Ministry Of Earth Sciences
Official policy releases, schemes, circulars, and Prelims practice questions from Ministry Of Earth Sciences distilled for UPSC Civil Services Examination.
🎯 Ministry Of Earth Sciences UPSC Practice Questions
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Consider the following statements regarding recent developments in sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital governance initiatives in India: 1. 'Jnani Earth' is a sovereign AI stack comprising 'Yvon 3.3', a large language model, and 'Plexus', a platform that connects AI intelligence to real-world tasks and institutions. 2. The Digital Sansad portal introduced an AI-based translation service covering eight languages, with plans for expansion to all scheduled languages. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: 'Jnani Earth' is an indigenous sovereign AI stack consisting of 'Yvon 3.3' (a large language model) and 'Plexus' (a platform connecting AI intelligence to real-world tasks). Statement 2 is correct: The Digital Sansad portal launched an AI-driven translation service in eight Indian languages to enhance multi-lingual parliamentary access, aiming to eventually cover all scheduled languages.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the recent developments in India's critical and strategic mineral sector, consider the following statements: 1. The 8th tranche of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks auction includes both Composite Licenses and Mining Leases. 2. The 'Tin Portal' is an initiative aimed at transparent benefit distribution to tribal tin collectors in Chhattisgarh. 3. Minerals such as columbite, graphite, vanadium, and rare earth elements are included among the critical minerals under current exploration and auction tranches. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The 8th tranche of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks comprises 20 blocks (17 Composite Licenses and 3 Mining Leases) across nine states. Statement 2 is correct: State-level initiatives in Chhattisgarh include the 'Tin Portal' designed for transparent benefit distribution to tribal tin collectors. Statement 3 is correct: The blocks and exploration efforts cover critical minerals such as graphite, rare earth elements, vanadium, gallium, and columbite.
Official Policy Notifications & Dossiers
12 Briefs-
THE HINDU
Yellow alert for two districts on July 21
- The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Kasaragod and Kannur districts on Tuesday due to expected moderate heavy rain.
- Approximately 4 days of moderate heavy rain are forecasted for north and central Kerala under the influence of an upper cyclonic circulation.
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THE HINDU
At least 11 killed, 10 missing as heavy rain triggers flash floods in J&K
- Heavy rain triggers flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and 10 missing individuals.
- The initial assessment indicates that over 100 houses and approximately two dozen school structures were damaged in the floods.
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THE HINDU
Jammu and Kashmir rains LIVE: Amarnath Yatra suspended as J&K braces for heavy rain
- The Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes in Jammu and Kashmir due to adverse weather conditions and forecast of widespread rainfall.
- At least four people have died and several are missing following flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
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THE HINDU
Monsoon tracker LIVE: Cloudburst floods hotels, houses in Pahalgam; heavy to very heavy rain lash parts of India
- The Indian government has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across various parts of the country, triggering landslides and flash floods in 32 villages.
- The current monsoon spell, which began in early July, has resulted in damages worth millions of rupees to roads and infrastructure, with nearly 10 houses in Shimla's Sanjauli area facing an immediate threat of collapse due to landslips.
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THE HINDU
Monsoon tracker LIVE: Monsoon fury batters several states, over 10 dead in rain-related incidents across country
- The Indian government has announced a heightened state of alert in multiple states due to severe monsoon conditions, resulting in over 10 confirmed deaths nationwide.
- As of July 10, 2026, flood-related incidents have disrupted normal life across several cities, with authorities working to restore order amidst forecasts of further rain.
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THE HINDU
Wayanad debris slip Live: Search on for 5 missing; Amit Shah pledges Centre's support
- The Kerala Cabinet has decided to conduct a detailed investigation into the reasons that led to a debris slip at the tunnel road construction site in Wayanad district, resulting in three deaths and five missing persons.
- The debris slip occurred at a construction site in Wayanad, Kerala, on July 7, 2026, and extensive search operations are ongoing to find the five missing people.
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THE HINDU
Heavy Mumbai rains: Three dead, four injured as rain disrupts life in Maharashtra
- Heavy rainfall disrupted life in Mumbai, Thane, and surrounding districts, resulting in three deaths and four injuries due to strong winds and uprooted trees.
- The impact of the heavy rainfall was seen in flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which were affected for approximately one hour.
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THE HINDU
Six fishermen missing after boat capsizes off Visakhapatnam coast
- The Indian Coast Guard and Marine Police have launched a search operation to locate six missing fishermen after their boat capsized off the Visakhapatnam coast.
- The search operation is ongoing for the six missing fishermen, with one fisherman rescued by a passing cruise ship, amidst reports that around 400 fishing boats were affected by strong winds and adverse weather conditions.
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THE HINDU
Fiancee or lover: Who pushed Ketan Agarwal off the cliff
- The Pune Rural Police have arrested Ketan Agarwal's fiancée Siya Goyal and her lover Chetan Chaudhary in connection with his murder at Lohagad Fort.
- The reclassification of Agarwal's death from an accidental fall to a pre-planned murder has led to a significant shift in the investigation, with investigators now focusing on determining which of the two accused physically pushed Agarwal off the cliff.
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THE HINDU
NEET-UG re-exam: Nationwide mock drill under way; security tightened
- A nationwide mock drill was conducted across India to test the preparedness of examination centers and streamline coordination among agencies involved in the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination process.
- The re-examination will involve over 22.79 lakh medical aspirants, with the test being held on June 21, 2026, in 551 cities across India and 14 cities abroad.
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THE HINDU
PM Modi visits President Murmu’s in-laws’ village, explores tribal traditions and way of life
- The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited the in-laws' village of President Droupadi Murmu in Odisha, engaging with local tribal traditions and way of life.
- Development projects worth over ₹47,000 crore, including a ₹25,016 crore coal gasification unit, ₹6,000 crore power projects, and ₹700 crore railway infrastructure works, were inaugurated and laid by President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi.
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LIVEMINT
Solar sector feels the heat as cost spike threatens project economics
- A surge in prices of metals and petrochemical inputs linked to the West Asia war has pushed up costs for India's solar power sector by around 20%.
- The cost increase includes a 30-35% rise in solar cell prices, which could impact developers' returns and financing costs for solar power projects.