Stay ahead in your UPSC Prelims 2025 preparation with this curated list of the 100 most important topics, categorized and updated with recent developments across science, history, polity, economy, geography, and international relations.
List of 100 Most Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2025
1. Chandrayaan-3 & Chandrayaan-5
→ Mission objectives, differences, payloads, significance for ISRO.
2. Aditya-L1 Mission & Solar Flares
→ Instruments, purpose (heliophysics), relevance to space weather.
3. SpaDeX Mission
→ Purpose, significance in satellite docking and space experiments.
4. PUNCH Mission – Solar Maximum
→ NASA-ISRO cooperation? Purpose (solar wind), timeline.
5. LIGO-India Project
→ Location, global network, significance (gravitational waves).
6. MeerKAT Telescope
→ Location (South Africa), importance in radio astronomy.
7. Edakkal Caves (Kerala)
→ Location, prehistoric rock engravings.
8. Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas (UNESCO)
→ Locations (Belur, Halebidu, Somnathapura), architecture features.
9. Konark Wheel (G20 logo)
→ Symbolism, historical significance of Sun Temple.
10. Arittapatti (Tamil Nadu – Biodiversity Heritage Site)
→ Location, unique rock shelters, flora-fauna.
11. Mahabodhi Temple
→ UNESCO tag, significance in Buddhism.
12. Charaideo Maidams (Assam – UNESCO Nomination)
→ Who built it, Ahom dynasty significance.
13. Nalanda University (Bihar)
→ UNESCO site, role in ancient education.
14. Manuscript Mission (National Mission for Manuscripts)
→ Objectives, achievements.
15. Vijayanagar Empire (Hampi)
→ Art & architecture, economy, UNESCO site.
16. Belgaum Session, 1924 (INC)
→ Gandhi’s only presidential session, significance.
17. Birsa Munda
→ Ulgulan Movement, contribution to tribal rights.
18. Mahendra Pratap Singh
→ Provisional Govt of India (Kabul), freedom struggle.
19. Lachit Borphukan
→ Battle of Saraighat, National Defence Academy Award.
20. Shivaji Maharaj – Administration
→ Ashta Pradhan, forts, military reforms.
21. MISHTI Scheme
→ Full form, mangrove conservation, implementation agencies.
→ Focus on child welfare, key features.
23. Model Prisons Act, 2023
→ New provisions compared to old Prisons Act 1894.
24. National Medical Devices Policy 2023
→ Focus, sector significance, production-linked incentives.
25. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
→ What is it, benefits for MSMEs, recent updates.
26. National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)
→ Objectives, paperless legislatures.
27. BHIM 3.0
→ Features, new functionalities (UPI ecosystem).
28. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) & India Stack
→ Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker – ecosystem & global promotion.
29. D-Voter Concept (Assam)
→ Definition, controversy, legal status.
30. Vibe Coding (NEP initiative)
→ For whom, purpose (coding education), pilot states.
31. Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2025
→ Key amendments, Bar Council powers.
32. Waqf Bill Amendment
→ Provisions, Waqf management reforms.
33. Universal Basic Income (UBI)
→ Pros-cons, pilots in India & abroad, economic feasibility.
34. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
→ Powers, composition, recent reports.
35. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
→ Mandate, powers, NDPS Act relevance.
36. Dark Patterns (Consumer Protection)
→ What are they? Types, relevance in e-commerce.
37. Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index
→ Purpose, methodology, which ministry?
38. Plastic Ice (Fourth Form of Water)
→ Science behind, potential applications.
39. Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR)
→ Why formed? India’s role.
40. International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)
→ Members, objective (Tiger, Lion, etc.).
41. Innovative Finance Facility for Climate Asia-Pacific (IF-CAP)
→ ADB-led, what is blended finance?
42. Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative
→ Who launched, objectives (cybersecurity for govt bodies).
43. Seed Bank at Asola Bhatti Sanctuary
→ Location, conservation purpose.
44. Space Science & Technology Awareness Training (START)
→ ISRO initiative, objectives.
45. Foucault Pendulum (India’s New Parliament Building)
→ Scientific significance.
46. India’s New Parliament Building
→ Features, design, symbolic elements.
47. Road Crash Deaths in India (MoRTH Reports)
→ Key stats, policies to reduce deaths.
48. IRCTC & IRFC Navratna Status
→ What is Navratna? Implications.
49. Bills of Lading Bill 2024
→ What is Bill of Lading? Why amended?
50. Sanctions Committee of UNSC (1267)
→ Purpose, India’s relevance.
51. International Organization for Migration (IOM)
→ India’s status, functions.
52. WTO – Key Issues
→ Fisheries subsidy, e-commerce moratorium.
53. Indus Waters Treaty – Disputes
→ Kishanganga, Ratle projects.
54. SCO Summit 2025
→ Key declarations, India’s role.
55. Quad Summit 2025
→ Focus areas: tech, maritime security.
56. G20 Summit (India)
→ Key outcomes, India’s achievements.
57. BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Meet
→ Connectivity, security focus.
58. First Global Buddhist Summit
→ Themes, India’s soft power projection.
59. India-Mauritius Bilateral Ties
→ Agalega Islands, recent developments.
60. Official Visit of PM of Nepal to India (2024)
→ Agreements signed, key areas of cooperation.
61. Sudan Crisis (2023-24)
→ Why? Impact on India (Operation Kaveri).
62. Mizoram-Assam Border Dispute
→ Causes, current status.
63. Foreign Trade Policy 2023
→ Key shifts, trade facilitation measures.
64. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme – Updates
→ New sectors, achievements.
65. India’s Gold Reserves – Trends
→ RBI acquisitions, strategic rationale.
66. Falling Bond Yields – Causes
→ Relation with inflation, growth.
67. Volatility in Edible Oil Prices
→ Global causes, India’s import dependency.
Geography, Environment, Places in News
68. Cyclones in Arabian Sea – Trends
→ Causes of higher frequency, names of recent cyclones.
69. Monsoon Factors – IMD Reports
→ ENSO, IOD, Western Disturbances, etc.
70. Shallow Earthquake – Why Dangerous?
→ Definition, recent examples in Himalayas.
71. Critical Minerals India – New List
→ 30 minerals, importance in clean energy.
72. Critical Minerals Imports – Vulnerabilities
→ Which countries dominate supply?
73. Rat Hole Mining (Meghalaya)
→ Process, environmental hazards.
74. Mullaperiyar Dam Issue
→ Location, inter-state dispute.
75. China’s Dams on Brahmaputra
→ Locations, potential impact on India.
76. Teesta River Dispute (India-Bangladesh)
→ Status, agreements.
Places on Map (Location + Why in News)
77. Sittwe Port (Myanmar)
→ India’s Kaladan Project link.
78. Coco Islands (Myanmar)
→ Strategic concerns (China’s presence?).
79. Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman
→ Geostrategic importance, recent tensions.
80. Kakhovka Dam (Ukraine)
→ Collapse, impact.
81. Batagaika Crater (Siberia)
→ Why expanding? Climate change link.
82. Ubinas Volcano (Peru)
→ Recent eruption.
83. Gelephu Smart City (Bhutan)
→ Location, India’s involvement.
84. Alexandria Port (Egypt)
→ Why in news? India’s trade link.
85. Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
→ Geography, cause of dispute.
Miscellaneous but High Yield
86. PoSH Act – Key Provisions
→ ICC, recent SC observations.
87. Article 370 – Developments Post-2019
→ Current status, SC verdict.
88. Same-Sex Marriage Case (2023-24)
→ SC ruling, constitutional angles.
89. Sarna Code (Jharkhand)
→ What is it? Why demanded?
90. Gender Equality Indices – Global
→ WEF GGI, India’s rank, gaps.
91. Birth & Death Registration (New Rules)
→ Why amended? Benefits.
92. Practice of Polygamy – Legal Status
→ SC cases, UCC debate.
93. Manual Scavenging – Status Report
→ Key stats, govt schemes.
94. Child Trafficking in India – NCRB Data
→ Trends, hotspots, schemes.
95. Freedom of Religion – Key Judgments
→ Hadiya case, Hijab case.
96. Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index
→ What is measured? India’s performance.
97. Pratibimb Module (MEA)
→ For what? Foreign missions’ dashboard.
Science & Tech – Emerging
98. Grok 3 (AI Tool by xAI)
→ Features, relevance.
99. Electronic Interlocking System (Railways)
→ Benefits, safety improvements.
100. Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves
→ What are they? Space weather relevance
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