UPSC CARE Mains Practice 13th March 2026
Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- What is NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)? Discuss its significance for India’s strategic autonomy and analyse the challenges faced in the development of India’s indigenous satellite navigation system. (GS Paper III – Science & Technology)
- Caste-based denial of access to public spaces remains a serious challenge to constitutional equality in India. Discuss the reasons behind such exclusion and examine the measures needed to ensure dignity and equal access for Scheduled Castes.( GS Paper II – Polity and Governance / Social Justice)
Q. What is NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)? Discuss its significance for India’s strategic autonomy and analyse the challenges faced in the development of India’s indigenous satellite navigation system.
(GS Paper III – Science & Technology)
Introduction:
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), also known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), is India’s indigenous satellite-based navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is designed to provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services over India and up to 1500 km beyond its borders, similar to the Global Positioning System (GPS).
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Key Features of NavIC
- Planned seven-satellite constellation placed in geosynchronous and geostationary orbits.
- Provides location accuracy of about 10 metres over the Indian region.
- Uses L5, S-band and new L1 frequency signals.
- Supports civilian and military navigation services.
- New-generation satellites have indigenously developed atomic clocks and 12-year mission life.
Significance for India
Strategic Autonomy
- NavIC reduces dependence on foreign navigation systems such as GPS (USA) and enhances India’s technological sovereignty.
Defence and Security
- Provides reliable navigation for military operations, missile guidance, and border surveillance.
Disaster Management
- Supports early warning systems, disaster response, and emergency communication.
Transportation and Logistics
- Improves navigation for aviation, shipping, railways, and road transport systems.
Economic and Technological Development
- Encourages indigenous space technology development and integration into smartphones, wearable devices, and digital infrastructure.
Challenges Faced by NavIC
Atomic Clock Failures
- Several early satellites experienced atomic clock failures, affecting navigation accuracy.
Aging Satellite Constellation
- Many first-generation satellites launched between 2013–2016 are nearing the end of their mission life.
Launch and Technical Failures
- Examples include IRNSS-1H mission failure (2017) and the orbit failure of NVS-02 (2025).
Delay in User Segment Development
- Delays in developing navigation receivers and user devices limited early adoption.
Way Forward
India must focus on launching replacement satellites, strengthening indigenous atomic clock technology, expanding smartphone compatibility, and promoting NavIC adoption across sectors.
Conclusion:
NavIC represents a critical step towards India’s technological self-reliance in space navigation systems. Strengthening its reliability and expanding its applications will enhance national security, economic development, and India’s position as a major space power.
Q. Caste-based denial of access to public spaces remains a serious challenge to constitutional equality in India. Discuss the reasons behind such exclusion and examine the measures needed to ensure dignity and equal access for Scheduled Castes.
( GS Paper II – Polity and Governance / Social Justice)
Introduction:
Denial of access to public spaces for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a continuing form of caste-based discrimination and social exclusion in India. Recent NCRB data showing rising cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 highlights that untouchability and spatial segregation still persist despite constitutional safeguards.
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Constitutional Role and Powers of the Speaker
Presiding Officer of Lok Sabha
The Speaker con
Significance / Body
1. Nature of the Problem
Denial of public spaces includes restrictions on access to:
- temples,
- village pathways,
- wells and tanks,
- community facilities,
- cremation grounds.
Such practices violate the principles of equality, dignity, and social justice.
2. Reasons Behind the Exclusion
Caste-based spatial segregation:
Many villages still follow informal caste-based settlement patterns where dominant castes control common resources and public spaces.
Dominance of local power structures:
Land ownership, economic dependence, and traditional authority systems often enable dominant groups to impose exclusion and intimidation.
Weak enforcement of laws:
Delays in FIR registration, poor investigation, and low conviction rates reduce the effectiveness of legal safeguards.
Limited legal awareness:
Victims often lack knowledge of their rights and available remedies, leading to underreporting and weak institutional response.
Constitutional and Legal Safeguards
India has provided several protections:
- Article 15 – prohibits caste-based discrimination.
- Article 17 – abolishes untouchability.
- Article 21 – guarantees life with dignity.
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 – criminalises denial of access to public spaces.
- Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 – punishes practices arising from untouchability.
Challenges / Concerns
- Persistence of social prejudice in rural areas
- Regional concentration of cases indicating entrenched exclusion
- Weak administrative accountability
- Social boycott and fear of retaliation against victims
- Gap between legal guarantees and ground-level reality
Way Forward
- Ensure strict enforcement of the SC/ST Act, especially Section 4 dealing with official negligence.
- Establish exclusive special courts for speedy trial of atrocity cases.
- Promote spatial justice by locating public facilities in neutral and accessible areas.
- Conduct Gram Sabha social audits to identify exclusionary practices.
- Increase legal literacy and awareness among SC communities.
- Promote constitutional morality through education and social reform inspired by Ambedkar, Phule, and Periyar.
ducts proceedings, ensures discipline, and maintains orderly debates in the House.
- Interpretation of Rules
The Speaker interprets the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business and ensures their proper implementation.
- Certification of Money Bills
Under the Constitution, the Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill, and this decision is final.
- Anti-Defection Authority
The Speaker decides cases of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law).
- Protection of Parliamentary Privileges
The Speaker protects the rights and privileges of Members of Parliament and ensures parliamentary decorum.
Challenges Affecting the Office of the Speaker
- Perception of Political Bias
Decisions related to anti-defection cases and Money Bill certification are often viewed as politically influenced.
- Growing Parliamentary Disruptions
Frequent confrontations between ruling and opposition parties create difficulties in maintaining parliamentary order.
- Weakening Parliamentary Conventions
Traditional norms of neutrality and cooperation have gradually weakened due to intense political competition.
- Delay in Appointment of Deputy Speaker
The absence of a Deputy Speaker for a prolonged period raises concerns about institutional balance.
Way Forward
Strengthening the credibility of the Speaker’s office requires reinforcing neutrality, ensuring transparency in procedural decisions, and reviving parliamentary conventions. Greater dialogue between government and opposition can also improve legislative functioning.
Conclusion:
Denial of public spaces to Scheduled Castes is not merely a social issue but a direct challenge to constitutional democracy. Eliminating such exclusion requires not only stronger law enforcement but also deeper social transformation based on equality, dignity, and fraternity. Only then can public spaces truly become democratic and inclusive for all citizens.
