Today’s Prelims-Relevant Topics
- Bhojshala Complex — History and Religious Significance — GS PAPER I — Art & Culture, History
- India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) — GS PAPER II & III — International Relations & Economy
- English and Its Constitutional Status as an ‘Indian Language’ — GS PAPER II — Polity & Constitution
- Acid Ingestion Now Covered Under the RPwD Act, 2016 — GS PAPER II — Governance & Social Justice
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| Bhojshala Complex — History and Religious Significance GS PAPER I — Art & Culture, History |
Why in News?
The Bhojshala Complex continues to draw attention as a centrally protected monument with layered historical and religious significance, making it a recurring Prelims topic on art, culture, and heritage protection.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Located in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Believed to have been established under the Paramara dynasty, particularly during the reign of King Bhoja (11th century CE), known for patronising education, literature, and architecture.
- Revered by Hindus as the Bhojshala, dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).
- Regarded by Muslims as the Kamal Maula Mosque, associated with Sufi saint Kamal al-Din (Kamal Maula).
- Currently a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle
A recurring Prelims theme is dual religious identity of monuments — Bhojshala’s Hindu-Saraswati and Muslim-Kamal Maula associations make it a natural fit for this kind of statement-based question.
Remember its ASI-protected status and Paramara/King Bhoja linkage as the most testable factual anchors.
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the Bhojshala Complex, consider the following statements: 1. It is located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. 2. It is a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. 3. It is associated with the Paramara ruler King Bhoja and is revered by Hindus as a temple of Goddess Saraswati. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (d) All three statements are correct. The Bhojshala Complex is located in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, is a centrally protected ASI monument, and carries dual significance — revered by Hindus as a Saraswati temple and by Muslims as the Kamal Maula Mosque. |
| India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) GS PAPER II & III — International Relations & Economy |
Why in News?
The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) remains a key bilateral trade topic for Prelims, testing understanding of what a CETA covers and how it differs from deeper integration models like a customs union.
Key Facts for Prelims
- CETA is a broad-based Free Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom covering trade, investment, services, and economic cooperation.
- Aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs, improve market access, facilitate investment, and strengthen supply chains.
- Covers cooperation in digital trade, intellectual property, innovation, and government procurement.
- Improves market access for services including IT, financial, legal, and professional services.
- Expected to expand Indian exports in textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.
- Enhances mobility and access opportunities for Indian professionals in the UK.
- Deepens the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and supports supply chain diversification.
- As a Free Trade Agreement, it does not create a customs union — each country retains its own independent external tariff policy toward non-member countries.
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle
A classic distractor is confusing an FTA/CETA with a customs union — remember member countries keep independent external tariffs under an FTA.
Link CETA to the broader India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for context in both Prelims and interview-style questions.
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), consider the following statements: 1. It aims to reduce trade barriers and improve market access for goods and services between India and the United Kingdom. 2. It includes provisions relating to investment, digital trade, and intellectual property cooperation. 3. It is a customs union requiring India and the U.K. to adopt a common external tariff. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (a) Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect — CETA is a Free Trade Agreement, not a customs union, so India and the UK each retain their own external tariff policies toward non-member countries. |
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| English and Its Constitutional Status as an ‘Indian Language’ GS PAPER II — Polity & Constitution |
Why in News?
A recent Supreme Court observation questioning whether English can be considered an ‘Indian language’ in a broader sense has renewed interest in its actual constitutional status — a frequently tested distinction in Prelims.
Key Facts for Prelims
- English is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently recognises 22 scheduled languages.
- Under Article 343, Hindi in the Devanagari script is the Official Language of the Union.
- The Official Languages Act, 1963 (as amended in 1967) provides for the continued use of English for official Union purposes alongside Hindi.
- Under Article 348, the Supreme Court and High Courts function primarily in English, unless the President permits use of Hindi or another official language in a specific High Court.
- The Supreme Court’s recent observation that English has become integral to India’s linguistic and administrative landscape does not change its constitutional status.
- Including English in the Eighth Schedule would require a constitutional amendment; it is not currently a scheduled language.
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle
A common distractor claims English is in the Eighth Schedule — it is not, despite its wide administrative and judicial use.
Keep Articles 343 and 348 clearly distinguished: one covers the Official Language of the Union, the other covers language use in the higher judiciary.
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the constitutional status of English in India, consider the following statements: 1. English is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 2. Article 348 provides for the use of English in the Supreme Court and High Courts. 3. The Official Languages Act, 1963 provides for the continued use of English for the official purposes of the Union. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (b) Statement 1 is incorrect — English is not part of the Eighth Schedule. Statements 2 and 3 are correct, covering Article 348’s judicial language provision and the Official Languages Act, 1963’s continuation of English for Union purposes. |
| Acid Ingestion Now Covered Under the RPwD Act, 2016 GS PAPER II — Governance & Social Justice |
Why in News?
The Union Government has amended the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to bring acid ingestion within its compensation and support framework — extending protections previously limited to external acid attack victims.
Key Facts for Prelims
- The amendment expands RPwD Act coverage to include acid ingestion (accidental or intentional consumption of acid causing disability), not just external acid attacks.
- Earlier, only victims of external acid attacks were explicitly recognised under the Act’s disability framework.
- Benefits now available to acid ingestion victims include a disability certificate, reservation in education and employment (subject to eligibility), rehabilitation, and social security and financial assistance.
- The RPwD Act, 2016 itself was enacted to implement India’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified by India in 2007.
- It replaced the earlier Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- The Act increased the number of legally recognised disabilities from 7 to 21.
- It mandates reservation of 4% in government jobs and 5% in higher educational institutions for persons with disabilities.
- The Act also mandates barrier-free accessibility and non-discrimination for persons with disabilities.
UPSC Note — Prelims Angle
Memorise the 7-to-21 disability expansion and the 4%/5% reservation figures precisely — these are among the most frequently tested RPwD Act numbers.
Note that this amendment is about expanding who qualifies (acid ingestion victims), not about creating a new law — a distinction Prelims often tests.
| Prelims MCQ Practice With reference to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, consider the following statements: 1. The Act was enacted to implement India’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 2. The Act increased the number of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21. 3. The recent amendment includes acid ingestion within the scope of disabilities eligible for benefits under the Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (d) All three statements are correct. The RPwD Act, 2016 implements the UNCRPD, expanded recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, and the recent amendment extends benefits to acid ingestion victims alongside acid attack survivors. |
| External References Union Public Service Commission — upsc.gov.in Archaeological Survey of India — asi.nic.in Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — socialjustice.gov.in |
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