Current Affairs – November 30, 2025

{GS2 – Polity} State PSC Reforms

Context (TH): State Public Service Commissions repeatedly face controversies over paper leaks, flawed evaluation, delays and litigation, eroding trust among aspirants.

Need for Reforming State PSCs

Merit Safeguard: Independent PSCs ensure fair recruitment and prevent political patronage in selection. E.g., Articles 315–323 guarantee constitutional autonomy for merit-based recruitment.
Youth Confidence: Transparent exams reduce judicial interventions and mass protests. E.g. multiple SPSC exams in Telangana (2023) and Bihar (2024) saw thousands affected due to litigation.
Governance Capacity: Timely recruitment addresses chronic vacancies in frontline departments like health, education and policing. E.g. 2nd ARC highlights staffing gaps as a major governance bottleneck.
Judicial Validation: The Supreme Court has emphasised PSC independence as essential to administrative fairness. (T.N. Public Service Commission vs A. Balasubramaniam,1994).

Issues in State PSC Functioning

Political Interference: The 41^st Constitutional Amendment (1976) raised the upper age limit for SPSC members to 62 years to attract senior civil servants, yet many States appoint underqualified members.
Outdated Syllabi: Unlike UPSC’s periodic expert committees, many PSCs rarely revise their exam patterns or syllabi, resulting in academic imbalance.
Evaluation Errors: Poor inter-se moderation and flawed translations lead to inconsistent scoring. E.g. Recurrent court cases in UP and Karnataka PSCs over mistranslated questions and scaling issues.
Reservation Complexity: Combining vertical, horizontal, and zonal quotas frequently leads to litigation. E.g. HC repeatedly intervened in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana roster cases due to calculation errors.

Way Forward

Dedicated Personnel Ministry: States should establish personnel ministries for systematic planning. E.g. model after the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions at the Union level.
Transparent Appointments: Amend rules to fix minimum (55) and maximum (65) age and qualification norms for PSC members. (2^nd ARC recommendations)
Periodic Syllabus Review: Constitute standing committees and release draft syllabi for public consultation before finalisation, similar to UPSC syllabus review committees that integrate contemporary issues.
Global Best Practices: Adopt models like the UK Civil Service Commission (annual audits and open reports) and Canada PSC (structured grievance redress).

About State Public Service Commission (SPSC)

Origin and Constitutional Status

Their origin lies in the reforms under the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, based on the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924), which urged merit-based recruitment systems.
State Public Service Commissions are independent constitutional bodies created under Articles 315–323 to recruit for State civil services and advise State governments on personnel matters.

Composition and Appointment

Each SPSC consists of a chairperson and members appointed by the Governor.
Members hold office for six years or until age 62, whichever comes first. And may resign by writing to the Governor.
At least 50% of the members must have 10 years of government service experience.

Independence and Financial Security

All expenses of the Commission are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State.
After tenure, a chairperson or member may join another SPSC or the UPSC but cannot accept further government employment within the State, reinforcing institutional neutrality.

Context (ET | NDTV): The United Nations (UN) and WHO issued a warning about increasing cervical cancer deaths on the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day observed on 17 Nov 2025.

The 78^th World Health Assembly (WHA) officially designated the day to accelerate global efforts towards eliminating cervical cancer.

About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix due to a persistent infection with specific high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
The disease can mostly be prevented and cured with early HPV vaccination and regular screening.

Global Burden

It is the fourth most common cancer among women, causing one death every two minutes. (WHO).
Around 660,000 cases and 350,000 deaths occurred in 2022, with South-East Asia accounting for roughly one-fourth of the global burden.
About 94% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries because of limited screening, delayed diagnosis, and treatment gaps.

India’s Burden

India accounted for roughly one-fifth of global cases and nearly a quarter of global deaths in 2020.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India after breast cancer.
Less than 10% of Indian women have ever undergone screening, with only 2% screened in the past five years (2019 data).

About Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a small, double-stranded DNA virus that infects the skin and mucosal surfaces.
Types: Over 200 types exist, categorised into low-risk (causing warts) and high-risk (oncogenic) groups.
Cancer Strains: High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 cause nearly 99% of cervical cancer cases.

HPV Vaccination and Prevention Strategies

Six HPV vaccines are available worldwide, offering protection against HPV 16 and 18.
Indian Vaccine: “Cervavac,” India’s first quadrivalent HPV vaccine (qHPV), was developed by the Serum Institute of India with support from the Department of Biotechnology.

qHPV vaccine: It protects against four types of HPV that cause cervical cancer.

Target Group: Vaccination is most effective in preteen girls aged 9–14 years.
WHO Strategy (2020): Aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030 through a three-pillar strategy.
- Fully vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV by the age of 15; Screen 70% of women aged 35 and 45 using high-performance tests; Provide treatment to 90% of women with cervical disease.
India’s Steps: National Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (NTAGI) recommended adding the HPV vaccine to the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
- The 2024–25 Union Budget announced a phased free vaccination for girls aged 9–14.

Read More > Cervical Cancer

{GS3 – Envi} Methane Hotspot Warning for India

Context (DTE): A UNEP report released at COP30 (Belem, Brazil) identifies India as a global methane hotspot, especially from stubble burning and waste burning.

India emitted ≈9% of global emissions, making it the world’s 3rd-largest emitter, yet methane was absent from India’s COP30 national statement.

Key Findings of the UNEP Report

India emitted about 31 Mt of methane in 2020, accounting for 9% of global methane emissions.
Methane emissions from waste burning in India rose 64% (1995–2020), significantly higher than the global rise of 43%.
Agricultural methane from India accounts for 12% of global agricultural methane.
Methane from rice cultivation in India is projected to increase by 8% between 2020 and 2030.
India generated 20 Mt methane from agriculture and 4.5 Mt from the energy sector in 2020.
The G20, including India, contributes 65% of global methane emissions as per UNEP’s assessment.

India’s Methane Emission Profile

Livestock Emissions: Enteric fermentation produces ~20 Mt methane (India’s largest emission source).
Rice Cultivation: Methane release in paddy fields projected to rise 8% by 2030.
Waste Burning: Methane from waste burning surged 64% (1995–2020), reaching 7.4 Mt.
Energy Sector: Coal mining, biomass burning, and oil & gas leakages emit ~4.5 Mt methane annually.

Why Methane Was Omitted from India’s COP30 Statement

Agriculture Sensitivity: Over 54% of India’s workforce depends on agriculture, and livestock, rice, the top methane sources, are politically and socio-economically sensitive sectors.
Food Security Concerns: Rice systems emit 12% of global agricultural methane, and India fears aggressive methane mitigation may risk food security for 1.4 billion people.
No Commitment in NDC: UNEP notes India’s NDC “does not identify actions” to cut agricultural methane; mitigation pledges focus instead on renewables, efficiency, hydrogen and forests.
Past Refusal: India earlier declined the Global Methane Pledge (2021), arguing its priority is adaptation, not mitigation, in agriculture, hence no policy shift at COP30.

Way Forward

Farm Diversification: Shift from water-intensive paddy to millets/pulses to reduce methane from rice cultivation. E.g. MSP-backed Shri Anna Mission for climate-resilient cropping.
Straw Management: Expand access to Happy Seeders, balers, and bio-decomposer sprays to eliminate burning. E.g. Delhi–Punjab PUSA Bio-Decomposer pilot.
Methane Capture: Promote CBG plants for landfill methane capture. E.g. SATAT Scheme
Waste Reform: Strict enforcement of waste segregation, landfill capping, and biomethanation. E.g. Indore’s biogas-from-waste model.
Methane Monitoring: Use satellite-based monitoring for real-time methane hotspots. E.g. EU’s Copernicus Methane Tracker model for India’s ISRO systems.
Policy Integration: Include methane mitigation explicitly in NDC updates and state climate action plans. E.g. New Zealand’s agriculture methane roadmap.

{Prelims – Species} Taningia silasii (Indian Octopus Squid) *

Context (TH | PIB): A new deep-sea squid species, named Taningia silasii or the Indian octopus squid, has been discovered in the Arabian Sea (at about 390 m depth).

Researchers from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) made the discovery.

The CMFRI is India’s leading marine fisheries research organisation based in Kochi, Kerala. It operates under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

About Taningia silasii

It is the second recognised species in the rare genus Taningia, after Taningia danae, which was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean.
The specimen belongs to the family Octopoteuthidae, whose adults lack the two long feeding tentacles found in most other squid species.
It is nicknamed the “octopus squid” because it has only eight arms instead of ten.
Key Distinction: It differs from T. danae by having fewer gill lamellae and featuring an oval funnel–mantle locking cartilage.
Genetic Evidence: DNA barcoding showed an 11% divergence from the Atlantic member, confirming it as a separate species.

{Prelims – Species} Grey Seal Has One of the Most Complex Mammalian Milks *

Context (IE): Researchers found that grey seal milk contains 332 distinct oligosaccharides, the highest number ever recorded in any mammalian milk.

Human milk, by comparison, contains an average of around 100 oligosaccharides.
Development Support: These complex oligosaccharides protect pups against viruses and bacteria and help establish early microbial flora.

About the Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)

The grey seal is a large marine seal found in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, known for its distinctive long, straight nose.
- Genus Status: It is the only species classified under the genus Halichoerus.
Appearance: Adults have grey-brown coats with distinct blotches. Males are larger, darker, and have a more prominent nose.
Distribution: The species inhabits coastal and subarctic waters across the North Atlantic, with major populations in the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Canada, and the northeastern U.S.
Haul-out Sites: Rocky coasts, sandy beaches, ice edges, and offshore islands serve as resting, breeding, and moulting sites.
Diet: The seal is an opportunistic predator feeding on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) detect subtle water vibrations and help locate prey.
Bottling Behaviour: Individuals often float vertically with only the head above water to conserve energy and maintain vigilance.
Ecological Role: As an apex predator, the grey seal regulates coastal food webs and stabilises fish and invertebrate populations.
Key threats: Fishing-gear entanglement, declining prey stocks, marine pollution, habitat disturbance, etc.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concerned;

{Prelims – S&T} Satpura Tiger Reserve *

Context (TOI): A forest patrol team recorded a tigress swimming across the Denwa River inside Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

About Satpura Tiger Reserve

Satpura Tiger Reserve is a dry deciduous forest in Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh, known for its unique central Indian highland ecosystem.
- It is part of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve and is recognised as India’s first reserve forest.
Biogeography: The reserve is called the “northern extremity of the Western Ghats” because it hosts species from both the Himalayan and Nilgiri regions.
Central Highland: It spans the Mahadeo Hills and includes rugged plateaus, deep gorges, sandstone cliffs, ravines, and highland meadows.
River System: The area is mainly drained by the Denwa River, along with the Malini, Sonbhadra, and Nagdwari rivers.
Vegetation Type: It features tropical dry and moist deciduous forest dominated by teak, sal, bamboo, tendu, and mixed hardwood species.
Faunal Diversity: Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaurs, dholes, swamp deer, etc. It is the only confirmed stronghold of the Indian giant squirrel in central India.

About Denwa River

Denwa, known as the “lifeline” of Satpura Tiger Reserve, is a perennial tributary of the Tawa River.
Course: It originates from the southern slopes of the Mahadeo Hills and flows east-to-west through Satpura National Park.
Confluence: Denwa joins the Tawa River largest tributary of the Narmada) near the town of Ranipur.
- Ramsar Site: The Tawa Reservoir, located at the confluence, is designated as the fifth Ramsar Site of Madhya Pradesh.

{Prelims – In News} Tex-RAMPS Scheme

Context (PIB): The Union Government has approved the Tex-RAMPS (Textiles-Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning & Start-up) Scheme aimed at strengthening India’s textile sector.

About Tex-RAMPS Scheme

Goal: Future-proof India’s Textiles & Apparel (T&A) ecosystem through research and start-up support.
Scheme Type: Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Ministry of Textiles.
Duration: FY 2025-26 to 2030-31, co-terminus with the next Finance Commission cycle.

Key Components of Tex-RAMPS

Research & Innovation: Promotion of advanced research in smart textiles, sustainability, process efficiency, and emerging technologies to boost India’s innovation capacity.
Data, Analytics & Diagnostics: Creation of robust data systems, including employment assessments, supply chain mapping, and the India-Size study to facilitate evidence-based policymaking.
Integrated Textiles Statistical System (ITSS): A real-time, integrated data and analytics platform to support structured monitoring and strategic decision-making.
Capacity Development & Knowledge Ecosystem: Strengthening of State-level planning, dissemination of best practices, capacity building workshops, and organisation of sectoral events.
Start-up & Innovation Support: Support for incubators, hackathons, and academia-industry collaborations to nurture high-value textile start-ups and entrepreneurship.

{Prelims – In News} UGC Warns HEIs on Timely Exams

Context (ET): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an advisory urging Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to conduct exams on schedule and issue final degrees within 180 days.

About University Grants Commission

Establishment: Statutory body created under the UGC Act, 1956 to create, regulate, and maintain standards of higher education in India. The headquarters is in New Delhi.
Mandate: Responsible for funding & recognition of universities, NET exams (UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, ICAR-NET), and advising central & state governments on allocation of funds to universities.
Composition: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and 10 members appointed by the Central Government; at least 4 members must be university professors.
Accountability: Annual report submitted to Parliament; CAG audits finances.