UPSC Key: Integrated Air Defence Weapon System, Famine, and Gaganyaan Mission

 
The UPSC Civil Services Examination demands a deep understanding of diverse subjects—ranging from geopolitics and food security to cutting-edge science and technology. Among the most relevant current topics for aspirants right now are:

Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)

Famine and Global Hunger

Gaganyaan Mission


These areas connect directly with the UPSC syllabus, particularly GS Paper II (governance, policies, and international relations) and GS Paper III (science, technology, and internal security). Let’s explore their importance, recent updates, and exam relevance.

Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)

India is steadily moving toward defense self-reliance. A major leap came on 23 August 2025, when the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System off the Odisha coast.

🔑 Key Features of IADWS

Part of the “Sudarshan Chakra Mission” (to be fully operational by 2035).

Components:

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM): Protects mobile armored columns.

Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS): Counters drones and low-altitude threats.

Directed Energy Weapon (Laser-based): Destroys aerial threats with high-power lasers.


Integrated with:

IAF’s Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS)

Army’s Akashteer platform



📌 Exam Angle

Prelims: Components of IADWS, DRDO’s role, “Sudarshan Chakra Mission.”

Mains: Role of IADWS in countering regional threats (Pakistan & China), indigenization in defense, and India’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in military technology.

Essay Link: “India’s Defense Modernization and Regional Security Challenges.”


Famine and Global Hunger

Famine, defined as severe and prolonged food scarcity leading to mass starvation, is not just a humanitarian issue but also a governance and international relations challenge.

Recently, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared famine in Gaza, triggered by the ongoing conflict post-October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. This underlines how war, politics, economic collapse, and climate change intersect with food security.

🔑 Key Points for UPSC

Causes of famine: armed conflicts, climate change, weak governance, faulty policies.

Historical context: Famines under British colonial rule (e.g., Bengal Famine 1943).

Modern context in India:

National Food Security Act (2013)

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)



📌 Exam Angle

Prelims: IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification), Food Security Act.

Mains: Evaluate India’s food security measures in the backdrop of global hunger crises.

Essay Link: “Food Security in the Age of Conflict and Climate Change.”


Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan Mission represents India’s entry into the league of human spaceflight nations. Managed by ISRO, the mission aims to send three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for three days.

On 24 August 2025, the Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) was conducted successfully with the help of the IAF, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard. This validated the parachute deceleration system—critical for safe crew re-entry.

🔑 Key Features

Rocket: Human-rated LVM3.

Astronauts-designate:

Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair

Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan

Gp Capt Angad Pratap

Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Shukla


Timeline: Crewed flight by 2027.

Future Goals:

Bharatiya Antariksha Station (by 2035).

Indian Moon Mission with humans (by 2040).



📌 Exam Angle

Prelims: Mission facts, astronauts’ names, human-rated LVM3.

Mains: How space programs boost scientific innovation, international collaboration, and India’s global image.

Essay Link: “India’s Space Ambitions: From PSLV to Human Spaceflight.”



---

Why These Topics Matter for UPSC

These three themes are interconnected and reflect India’s security, food, and technology priorities:

IADWS → Defense indigenization & security preparedness.

Famine → Food security, governance, and global humanitarian responsibility.

Gaganyaan → Scientific progress, technological power, and India’s space diplomacy.


👉 For aspirants, the trick is to:

1. Memorize factual details (Prelims edge).


2. Develop analytical insights (Mains scoring).


3. Link themes in essays (e.g., technology’s role in national security & socio-economic development).



📖 Suggested Sources for Preparation

The Indian Express UPSC Key

Official ISRO and DRDO updates

Economic Survey & GS Mains reports


Final Note for Aspirants

These topics are more than just headlines—they embody India’s journey toward self-reliance, resilience, and global leadership. By weaving them into your preparation strategy, you’ll not only stay exam-ready but also develop a broader vision of India’s challenges and aspirations.