IAS PCS Mission 2026: Daily Study Material – 1 Jan 2026
NCERT History: Class 6 Chapter-1 (What, Where, How, and When?)
1. What Can We Know About the Past?
History allows us to learn about several aspects of our ancestors’ lives:
- Lifestyles: We can discover the types of food people consumed, the clothes they wore, and the kinds of houses they lived in.
- Professions: We can understand the lives of hunters, farmers, rulers, merchants, priests, crafts-persons, artists, and musicians.
- Children’s Lives: It provides insights into the games children played, the stories they heard, and the songs they sang.
2. Where Did People Live?
Early humans settled in various geographical regions based on resources:
- Narmada River: People lived along its banks for several hundred thousand years. These were skilled gatherers who knew about the vast wealth of plants in the surrounding forests and also hunted animals.
- Sulaiman and Kirthar Hills: Located in the northwest, these were areas where women and men first began to grow crops like wheat and barley about 8000 years ago. They also began rearing animals like sheep, goats, and cattle.
- Garo Hills and Vindhyas: Agriculture developed here as well; rice was first grown to the north of the Vindhyas.
- Indus and its Tributaries: About 4700 years ago, some of the earliest cities flourished on the banks of these rivers.
- Ganga Valley: About 2500 years ago, cities developed along the Ganga and its tributaries. A powerful kingdom called Magadha emerged south of the Ganga.
3. How People Traveled and Interacted
Movement was a constant part of life despite geographical barriers like mountains and seas:
- Reasons for Travel: People moved in search of a livelihood or to escape natural disasters like floods and droughts.
- Expeditions: Men marched in armies to conquer lands, while merchants traveled in caravans or ships to trade valuable goods.
- Cultural Exchange: Religious teachers walked from village to village to offer instruction. These movements enriched our cultural traditions and led to the sharing of new ways of carving stone, composing music, and cooking food.
4. Names of the Land
Our country is often referred to by two names: India and Bharat:
- India: This comes from the word Indus (Sindhu in Sanskrit). The Iranians and Greeks, who came through the northwest 2500 years ago, called it the “Hindos” or the “Indos,” and the land to the east of the river was called India.
- Bharat: This name was used for a group of people who lived in the northwest and were mentioned in the Rigveda (the earliest composition in Sanskrit, c. 3500 years ago). Later, it was used for the entire country.
5. Finding Out About the Past (Sources)
Historians and archaeologists use several sources to reconstruct history:
- Manuscripts: These were books written by hand long ago. They were usually written on palm leaves or the specially prepared bark of the birch tree, which grows in the Himalayas. They covered subjects like religious beliefs, lives of kings, medicine, and science.
- Inscriptions: These are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Kings often used these to record their orders or victories in battle so people could see and read them.
- Archaeology: Archaeologists study the remains of buildings, paintings, and sculpture. They explore and excavate to find tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments, and coins. They also look for bones of animals and charred grains of plants to find out what people ate.
6. How Do We Count Dates?
Dates are a way of measuring time relative to the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity:
- BC / BCE: Stands for ‘Before Christ’ or ‘Before Common Era’. These years are counted backwards.
- AD / CE: Stands for ‘Anno Domini’ (in the year of the Lord) or ‘Common Era’.
What, Where, How and When?
Manuscripts
Hand-written on Palm leaves or Birch bark from the Himalayas.
Inscriptions
Writings engraved on permanent hard surfaces like stone or metal.
Archaeology
Physical study of remains, tools, pottery, and biological bones.
Class-6 History Chapter-1 PDF
Complete Study Notes: What, Where, How, and When?
Indian Polity: The Preamble of the Indian Constitution
The Preamble serves as the introduction or preface to the Constitution. It contains the summary or essence of the Constitution. Eminent jurist N.A. Palkhivala called the Preamble the ‘Identity Card of the Constitution’.
1. The Ingredients of the Preamble
The Preamble reveals four ingredients or components:
- Source of Authority: It states that the Constitution derives its authority from the People of India.
- Nature of Indian State: It declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, and Republican polity.
- Objectives of the Constitution: It specifies Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity as the core objectives.
- Date of Adoption: It stipulates November 26, 1949, as the date of adoption.
2. Key Keywords Explained
- Sovereign: India is neither a dependency nor a dominion of any other nation, but an independent state.
- Socialist: India follows ‘Democratic Socialism’, which aims to end poverty, ignorance, and inequality of opportunity.
- Secular: All religions in our country (irrespective of their strength) have the same status and support from the state.
- Democratic: Supreme power rests with the people. India has a representative parliamentary democracy.
- Republic: The head of the state (President) is always elected directly or indirectly for a fixed period.
3. Objectives of the Preamble
- Justice: Social, Economic, and Political (Secured through Fundamental Rights and DPSP).
- Liberty: Of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship.
- Equality: Of status and of opportunity.
- Fraternity: Assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.
4. Amendment of the Preamble
- The Preamble was amended only once by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976).
- This amendment added three new words: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
5. Significance (Legal Status)
- Berubari Union Case (1960): The Supreme Court said the Preamble is not a part of the Constitution.
- Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): The Supreme Court rejected the earlier opinion and held that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution.
- Current Status: It is a part of the Constitution but it is non-justiciable (not enforceable in courts of law).
Quick Tips
- Fact 1: The Preamble is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’, drafted and moved by Pandit Nehru.
- Fact 2: The 42nd Amendment added ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’.
Preamble: The Identity Card
42nd Amendment (1976)
The only time Preamble was amended. It added three key words: Socialist, Secular, and Integrity.
Objective Resolution
The Preamble is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’, drafted and moved by Pandit Nehru on Dec 13, 1946.
“The Hindu” Editorial Analysis (1-January-2026)
Here is a detailed analysis of the The Hindu Editorials for January 1, 2026, categorized by syllabus relevance for UPSC preparation.
1. India’s Space Programme: A People’s Space Journey
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Science and Technology; Awareness in the fields of Space; Achievements of Indians in S&T).
Context: An evaluation of India’s evolution in the space sector, moving from being a participant to a global shaper of the space age.
Key Points:
- Cultural and National Pride: The display of the Tricolour aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2025 by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla marked a “defining chapter of Amrit Kaal”.
- Lunar Milestones: Chandrayaan-3 (2023) made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole, while earlier missions confirmed water molecules (Chandrayaan-1) and mapped the surface with high precision (Chandrayaan-2).
- Global Trust: India has launched over 400 foreign satellites and became the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt.
- Private Sector Boom: The opening of the field has created a thriving ecosystem of more than 350 startups building satellites and launch vehicles.
- Projected Growth: India’s space economy, currently valued at $8 billion, is projected to reach $44 billion, supported by a space budget that nearly tripled between 2013-14 and 2025-26.
UPSC Relevance: Essential for “Indigenization of Technology,” “Public-Private Partnerships,” and “Strategic Space Vision (Viksit Bharat 2047).”
Detailed Analysis:
- Governance and Daily Life: Space technology is now integrated into critical services such as disaster warnings, crop yield assessment, railway safety, and the geospatial backbone of PM Gati Shakti.
- The Human Spaceflight Goal: The Gaganyaan programme, with an outlay of over ₹20,000 crore, aims for India’s first indigenous human space mission by 2027.
- Future Ambitions: The 15-year roadmap includes a dedicated Venus mission, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035, and an Indian human landing on the Moon by 2040.
2. Descent into Farce: The Electoral Roll Revision
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Electoral Reforms; Constitutional Bodies; Important aspects of governance).
Context: A critical analysis of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories.
Key Points:
- Procedural Chaos: Implementation has been marred by ad hoc software use and poor execution, such as requiring elderly residents to attend hearings in remote locations.
- Massive Deletions: Provisional figures show over 6.5 crore deletions, including 2.89 crore in Uttar Pradesh and 97 lakh in Tamil Nadu.
- Citizenship Screening Concerns: The editorial flags the suspicion that the exercise is being used as a de facto citizenship screening exercise by targeting “unmapped” voters.
UPSC Relevance: Vital for “Electoral Integrity,” “Functioning of the ECI,” and “Rights of Citizens.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Methodological Problems: The rapid deletion and subsequent “furious inclusion” of names suggests the enumeration phase was concluded haphazardly, potentially disenfranchising legitimate voters.
- Judicial Scrutiny: The piece argues that the Supreme Court needs to go beyond limited interventions and properly vet the new SIR procedure for constitutionality to protect the idea of universal adult franchise.
3. The U.S. Tariff Shock and India’s Pharma Future
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Indian Economy; Effects of liberalization; Changes in industrial policy).
Context: In September 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical imports, posing a major challenge to India’s $50 billion pharma sector.
Key Points:
- Export Dependency: India’s pharma exports to the U.S. reached nearly $9 billion in FY25, and an escalation to generics could cut revenues by 10-15%.
- The Generics Buffer: India supplies 40% of U.S. generics, saving their health system billions, which currently provides a buffer against immediate shocks.
- Supply Chain Risks: India imports $5 billion annually in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), mainly from China (72% share), exposing significant vulnerability.
UPSC Relevance: Critical for “Global Trade Dynamics,” “Impact of Developed Countries’ Policies,” and “Pharma Sector Resilience.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Domestic Ballast: GST rationalization (dropping rates from 12% to 5% for many medicines) and the Ayushman Bharat scheme are expected to insulate the domestic market.
- Strategic Redirection: Tariffs may spur “China-plus-one” strategies, redirecting Indian exports toward Africa and Southeast Asia to offset U.S.-related risks.
4. India’s Status as Rice Leader and the Water Crisis
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Environment; Conservation; Agriculture- cropping patterns; Disaster Management).
Context: India has overtaken China as the world’s largest producer of rice, but this leadership is linked to an unsustainable groundwater crisis.
Key Points:
- Aquifer Depletion: In heartland states like Punjab and Haryana, borewells must now reach depths of 80 to 200 feet, whereas a decade ago, water was reachable at 30 feet.
- High Water Intensity: Producing one kilogram of rice consumes 3,000–4,000 litres of water, which is 20-60% more than the global average.
- Subsidy Cycle: Government incentives, including power subsidies and a minimum price for rice that climbed 70% in a decade, discourage switching to less water-intensive crops.
UPSC Relevance: Essential for “Water Security,” “Sustainable Agriculture,” and “Environmental Degradation.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Vulnerability to Monsoons: The heavy reliance on groundwater makes rice farmers in these states particularly susceptible to weak monsoons.
- Groundwater Extraction Rates: In large parts of Haryana and Punjab, aquifers are classified as “over-exploited,” extracting 35% to 57% more water annually than is naturally replenished.
5. Land Administration Reform and Blockchain
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Governance; E-governance; Policies and interventions for development).
Context: The Supreme Court in Samiullah vs State of Bihar described property transactions as “traumatic,” suggesting the use of blockchain for secure land records.
Key Points:
- Fragmented Governance: Land administration in India is a mix of colonial laws and unsynchronized domains (Registration, Survey, and Revenue) that operate independently.
- Blockchain Benefits: Distributed ledgers can create immutable, transparent, and chronologically organized records containing historical data, maps, and crop details.
- Success in Pilot Projects: Andhra Pradesh’s pilot using blockchain for land records reportedly halved land disputes and improved efficiency by 30%.
UPSC Relevance: Key for “Digital India,” “Governance Reforms,” and “Ease of Doing Business.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Legal Presumption vs. Proof: Current registration creates only a “rebuttable presumption” of ownership, not conclusive proof, leading to prolonged legal battles.
- Integrated Record-Keeping: Future reforms must focus on creating integrated systems like Karnataka’s Bhoomi and KAVERI, which link records of rights with registration for automatic updates.
Editorial Analysis
JANUARY 01, 2026Proposed 100% Tariffs on branded imports threaten India’s $50B sector. Despite supply buffers in generics, the 72% API dependency on China remains a structural vulnerability.
India leads global rice exports, yet 1kg requires 3,000–4,000L of water. High MSP and power subsidies drive “over-exploitation” of Punjab and Haryana aquifers, threatening long-term food security.
The Supreme Court advocates for Blockchain technology to secure property transactions. Moving from rebuttable to Conclusive Proof aims to end traumatic land litigation.
Ethics of Depletion
Mapping:
Today’s study material highlights specific geographical locations that are crucial for your map-pointing practice:
1. The Indus River System (NW Subcontinent)
- Context: Ancient cities emerged here 4700 years ago.
- Key Location: Rakhigarhi (Haryana) – It is currently the largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Mapping Task: Locate the tributaries of the Indus: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
2. Magadha (South of River Ganga)
- Context: Around 2500 years ago, a powerful kingdom named Magadha developed in the area south of the Ganga.
- Significance: It was the first big kingdom in ancient India.
- Mapping Task: Mark the confluence of the Son and Ganga rivers where the heart of Magadha was located.
3. Moon’s South Pole (Space Geography)
- Context: India became the first nation to land near the lunar south pole with Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023.
- Significance: It provided unprecedented insights into lunar landscapes and the presence of water molecules.
Mapping
Global spotlight on Aug 23, 2023, with Chandrayaan-3. This landing confirmed the presence of water ice and mapped never-before-seen lunar terrains.
Build permanent visual memory by locating regions. Trace the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej and identify the confluence of the Son and Ganga.