Archives (PRELIMS  Focus) Nobel Prize in Economics 2025 Category: Economics Context: The Nobel prize in Economics was declared for year 2025 by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.   About Nobel Prize in Economics 2025: Awardees: Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt won the 2025 Nobel economics prize. Mr. Mokyr was awarded half the prize with the other half being shared between Aghion and Howitt. Awarded for: They were awarded the Nobel economics prize for “having explained innovation-driven economic growth.” Significance: The laureates have taught us that sustained growth cannot be taken for granted. Economic stagnation, not growth, has been the norm for most of human history. Their work shows that we must be aware of, and counteract, threats to continued growth. About the winners: Mr. Mokyr is a professor at Northwestern University, in Evanston in the United States, while Mr. Aghion is professor at the College de France and INSEAD, in Paris, and at the London School of Economics and Political Science, in Britain. Mr. Howitt is a professor at Brown University, in Providence in the United States. About Nobel Economics Prize: Feature: The prestigious award, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is the final prize, given out every year and is worth 11 million Swedish Kronor ($1.2 million). First Nobel Economics Prize: The economics prize was established much later (compared to other Nobel prizes), being given out first in 1969 when it was won by Norway’s Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen from the Netherlands for work in dynamic economic modelling. Famous Recipients: While few economists are household names, relatively well-known winners include former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, and Paul Krugman and Milton Friedman. Last year’s economics award: It went to U.S.-based academics Simon Johnson, James Robinson and Daron Acemoglu for research that explored the relationship between colonisation and the establishment of public institutions to explain why some countries have been mired in poverty for decades. Source: The Hindu Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Category: Polity and Governance Context: The Uttarakhand government approved a crucial amendment in the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bringing relief to citizens of Nepali and Bhutanese origin who are living in the State and do not have an Aadhaar card as identity proof to register their marriage. About Uniform Civil Code (UCC): Definition: The Uniform Civil Code refers to a single set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession for all citizens of India. Constitutional provisions: Part of DPSP: The concept of UCC is mentioned in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy, which states that the state shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout the territory of India. Entry 5 of the Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule: It specifically addresses various aspects including marriage, divorce, adoption, and succession, among others, allowing for legislation concerning personal laws. Important judgements: 1985 – Shah Bano Case: The Court upheld a Muslim woman’s right to maintenance, linking UCC to national integration.  1995 – Sarla Mudgal Case: Strongly favoured UCC, especially for the majority Hindu population, questioning the delay in its implementation. 2017 – Shayara Bano Case: Addressed triple talaq, reigniting the UCC debate but separating it from the issue of human rights. Arguments in favour: A UCC would ensure equal rights and treatment for all citizens, regardless of their religious background. This aligns with Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. Many personal laws have been criticized for being discriminatory towards women. A UCC could address issues like triple talaq, unequal inheritance rights, and child marriage. India’s current system of multiple personal laws based on religion creates a complex legal landscape. A UCC would simplify this system, making it easier for courts to administer justice and for citizens to understand their rights. Arguments against: India’s pluralistic society is characterized by a rich blend of cultural and religious practices, many of which are protected under personal laws. Critics argue that a UCC could erode this diversity, leading to cultural homogenization. Opponents of UCC argue that it could infringe on the right to religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution. They contend that personal laws are an integral part of religious practice for many communities. There are concerns that a UCC could disproportionately affect minority communities, potentially leading to a sense of marginalization. Source: The Hindu PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Category: Government Schemes Context: Despite a near four-fold increase in applications between March 2024 and July 2025, only 13.1% of the targeted 1 crore solar rooftop installations, under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, has been achieved. About PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Feature: It is a central scheme to promote the adoption of solar rooftop systems by providing substantial financial subsidies and ensuring ease of installation. Objective: It aims to provide free electricity to one crore households in India, who opt to install roof top solar electricity units. The households will be able to get 300 units of electricity free every month. Implementation Agencies: The scheme will be executed at two levels. National Level: Managed by the National Programme Implementation Agency (NPIA). State Level: Managed by State Implementation Agencies (SIAs), which are the Distribution Utilities (DISCOMs) or Power/Energy Departments of the respective states or UTs. Supervision: As SIAs, DISCOMs are responsible for facilitating various measures to promote rooftop solar adoption, including ensuring the availability of net metres, and conducting timely inspections and commissioning of installations. Capping of subsidy: The scheme provides subsidies to reduce the cost of installing solar rooftop systems. The subsidy is capped at a maximum of 3kW capacity. Eligibility: Grid-connected rooftop solar systems on residential properties, including roofs, terraces, balconies, and elevated structures are eligible for Central Financial Assistance (CFA). Source: The Hindu Snow Leopards Category: Environment and Ecology Context: Snow leopard that inhabits the rugged ranges of 12 Asian countries, including India, has the lowest genetic diversity