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UPSC Current Affairs 24 Feb 2026 | The Indian Express Newspaper Analysis | Complete Prelims Notes

 

UPSC Current Affairs Notes – 24 February (Comprehensive)

1. Bust of C. Rajagopalachari Unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Context

  • President Droupadi Murmu unveiled bust of C. Rajagopalachari at Ashok Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhavan.

  • Bust replaced statue of Edwin Lutyens, architect of New Delhi.

  • Part of initiative to remove colonial symbols and promote mental decolonisation.

 About C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

 Basic Facts

  • First and only Indian Governor-General of independent India

  • Tenure → 21 June 1948 – 26 January 1950

  • Last Governor-General before India became Republic.

    Before Rajaji → Lord Mountbatten

    After Constitution → Post abolished → President system started.

 Freedom Movement Contributions

  • Leader of Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930).

  • Close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

  • Supported negotiations with Muslim League to avoid partition.

 CR Formula (1944)

  • Proposal to resolve Congress–Muslim League conflict.

  • Suggested plebiscite in Muslim-majority areas to decide Pakistan demand.

 Political Career

  • Last Governor-General of India.

  • Chief Minister of Madras State.

  • Founder of Swatantra Party (1959).

    • Opposed Nehru’s socialist policies.

    • Supported free-market economy.

 Other Contributions

  • Author and translator of Ramayana & Mahabharata in Tamil.

  • Awarded Bharat Ratna (1954).

 Why Rajaji Statue Important for UPSC

  • Connected to Modern History + Current Affairs overlap

  • Questions may ask:

    • First Indian Governor-General

    • CR Formula

    • Swatantra Party founder.

 Mental Decolonisation – Government Steps

Examples of renaming colonial symbols:

  • Rajpath → Kartavya Path

  • Durbar Hall → Ganatantra Mandap

  • Colonial portraits replaced with Indian leaders.

  • Param Vir Chakra Gallery created.

  • Cultural terminology used instead of colonial names.

 Theme → Promote Indian identity and heritage.

2. New NCERT Updates – Focus on Judiciary Issues

 Context

New Class 8 Civics NCERT highlights systemic problems in judiciary.

 Key Judicial Problems Mentioned

    Massive Case Backlog

  • Supreme Court → ~81,000 cases pending.

  • High Courts → ~62 lakh.

  • Subordinate Courts → ~4.7 crore.

   Shows delay in justice delivery.

  Corruption Concerns

  • Majority judges follow ethics.

  • But misconduct cases exist.

  Access to Justice Problem

  • Poor people most affected.

  • Costly legal process.

  • Delay acts as punishment.

  Landmark Cases Mentioned

  Electoral Bonds Case

  • Supreme Court declared scheme unconstitutional.

  • Reason → Voters have right to know funding sources.

  IT Act Section 66A

  • Allowed arrest for online posts.

  • Struck down in Shreya Singhal Case (2015).

  • Violated freedom of speech.

  CPGRAMS

  • Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.

  • Online complaint system.

  Important for governance transparency.

3.  ₹14,601 Crore Offshore Assets Brought Under Tax Net

  Context

Income Tax Department identified undisclosed foreign assets worth ₹14,601 crore.

 Based on Investigative Leaks

  • Panama Papers (2016)

  • Paradise Papers (2017)

  • Pandora Papers (2021)

 Global leaks exposing offshore tax evasion.

 Meaning of “Brought to Tax”

  • Tax assessment completed.

  • Notice issued to taxpayers.

  • Final tax liability determined.

 Collection happens later.

 Agencies Involved

  • CBDT

  • Enforcement Directorate

  • FIU-India

  • CBI

Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI)

  • Countries share financial data of non-residents.

  • Helps detect black money abroad.

 Importance of Investigative Journalism

  • Helps uncover corruption.

  • Supports tax recovery.

  • Strengthens democracy.

4. Renewable Energy Curtailment in India

 Context

India curtailed 23 GW renewable energy between May–Nov 2025.

 What is Renewable Curtailment?

Reduction in solar/wind output to maintain grid stability.

 Happens when electricity supply exceeds demand.

 Why Curtailment Happens

🔹 Minimum Technical Load

  • Coal plants cannot operate below ~55% capacity.

  • Cannot shut down instantly.

 Coal power continues even if solar available.

🔹 Grid Capacity Limit

  • Transmission infrastructure insufficient.

  • Cannot absorb excess renewable power.

🔹 Duck Curve Problem

Graph showing:

  • Midday solar surplus.

  • Evening sudden demand spike.

 Difficult grid management.

 Consequences

  • Wastage of green energy.

  • Financial loss to renewable companies.

  • Slower energy transition.

 Solutions

  • Battery energy storage systems.

  • Flexible coal plant technology.

  • Smart grids.

  • Demand response systems.

5. Important Institutions & Concepts

 FIU-India

  • Under Finance Ministry.

  • Tracks suspicious financial transactions.

 CBDT

  • Apex body for direct taxes.

  • Works under Finance Ministry.

 FATF

  • Global body against money laundering.

  • India is member.

6. Prelims Rapid Revision Points

 Rajaji → First Indian Governor-General
 CR Formula → Plebiscite proposal
 Swatantra Party → Founded 1959
 Electoral Bonds → Declared unconstitutional
 IT Act Section 66A → Struck down
 Offshore leaks → Panama, Paradise, Pandora
 Renewable Curtailment → Grid stability issue
 Duck Curve → Solar surplus problem

 Possible Prelims Questions

  1. Who was first Indian Governor-General?
     C. Rajagopalachari

  2. Which paper leaks exposed offshore assets?
    Panama, Paradise, Pandora

  3. What is Renewable Curtailment?
     Reduction of renewable output to stabilise grid.

  4. Section 66A related to which Act?
     Information Technology Act.


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