IAS PCS Mission 2026: Daily Study Material – 9 Jan 2026
NCERT History: Class 6 Chapter-8 (Ashoka, The Emperor who gave up War)
This chapter, “Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War,” chronicles the history of the Mauryan Empire and the transformation of its most famous ruler, Ashoka.
1. The Mauryan Empire
The Mauryan Empire was a vast territory founded more than 2,300 years ago.
- Founder: Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire with the help of a wise advisor named Chanakya (or Kautilya), who recorded his ideas in the Arthashastra.
- Dynasty: The Mauryas were a dynasty featuring three major rulers: Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s son, Ashoka.
- Major Cities: Important centers included the Pataliputra (the capital city and center of power), Taxila (a gateway to the northwest and Central Asia), and Ujjain (a route connecting north and south India).
- Empire vs. Kingdom: Empires required more resources, larger armies for protection, and a greater number of tax-collecting officials than kingdoms.
2. Administration of the Empire
Because of its massive size, different regions of the empire were managed in various ways.
- Central Control: The area around Pataliputra was under the emperor’s direct supervision. Officials collected taxes, messengers delivered news, and spies monitored officials.
- Provincial Rule: Other provinces were governed from capitals like Taxila or Ujjain, often by royal princes serving as governors.
- Taxes and Tribute: While taxes were collected regularly, tribute was collected when possible from people who gave items like gold, blankets, or forest produce (elephants, timber, honey) more or less willingly.
3. Ashoka and the Kalinga War
Ashoka was a unique ruler who attempted to reach his people through inscriptions in Prakrit and the Brahmi script.
- The Turning Point: Eight years after becoming king, Ashoka conquered Kalinga (ancient coastal Orissa).
- Change of Heart: Horrified by the violence—over a lakh people were killed and many others captured—Ashoka decided to give up war. He is the only king in history to abandon conquest after winning a war.
4. Ashoka’s Dhamma
After the Kalinga war, Ashoka focused on Dhamma (the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit ‘Dharma’).
- Core Principles: His Dhamma did not involve worshipping a god or sacrifice. Instead, it focused on:
- Being gentle with slaves and servants.
- Respecting elders and treating all creatures with compassion.
- Respecting all religions; he believed praising one’s own while criticizing another’s harmed one’s own faith.
- Spreading the Message: Ashoka appointed officials called dhamma mahamatta to teach these ideas. He sent messengers to other lands like Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka.
- Public Welfare: He built roads, dug wells, established rest houses, and arranged medical care for both humans and animals.
5. Art and Architecture
Mauryan rulers were known for their highly skilled sculptors.
- Lion Capital: Originally placed on a stone pillar at Sarnath, the lions now appear on Indian notes and coins.
- Rampurwa Bull: A finely polished stone sculpture found in Bihar, now kept at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
6. What Followed the Mauryas
The empire collapsed about 2,200 years ago, leading to the rise of new powers:
- North & West: Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, and eventually the Guptas.
- Central & South: The Shungas, Satavahanas, Vakatakas, and the southern kingdoms of the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.
🦁 Ashoka: The Great Emperor
Class-6 History Chapter-8 PDF
Complete Study Notes: Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War
⚖️Indian Polity: Understanding Articles 15, and 16
In a diverse society like India, historical inequalities required more than just “equal treatment”; they required active protection against discrimination. Articles 15 and 16 provide this shield, ensuring that a person’s identity does not become a barrier to their progress.
1. Article 15: Prohibition of Discrimination
Article 15 ensures that the “State” does not discriminate against citizens in social and public life. It is more specific than Article 14 because it lists five prohibited grounds of discrimination.
The Five Grounds
The State cannot discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of:
- Religion
- Race
- Caste
- Sex
- Place of Birth
Crucial Word: “Only”
If discrimination is based on one of these grounds plus some other factor (like educational qualification or physical fitness), it may not be considered a violation of Article 15.
Clauses of Article 15
- 15(1): General prohibition against the State from discriminating.
- 15(2): Horizontal Rights. No citizen can be denied access to shops, public restaurants, hotels, or the use of wells, tanks, and roads maintained by State funds. This is one of the few rights enforceable against private individuals as well.
- 15(3) [Exception]: The State can make special provisions for women and children (e.g., reservation of seats for women in local bodies or free education for children).
- 15(4) [Exception]: Added by the 1st Amendment (1951), it allows special provisions for the advancement of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs), SCs, and STs.
- 15(5): Allows reservations in educational institutions, including private ones (added by the 93rd Amendment, 2005).
- 15(6): Allows up to 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational admissions (added by the 103rd Amendment, 2019).
2. Article 16: Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment
While Article 15 covers social access, Article 16 is confined specifically to employment or appointment under the State.
The Seven Grounds
Article 16(2) expands the list of prohibited grounds to seven. No citizen can be discriminated against for government jobs based on:
- Religion | 2. Race | 3. Caste | 4. Sex | 5. Place of Birth | 6. Descent | 7. Residence
The Framework of Exceptions (Reservation Policy)
Article 16 is not just about “no discrimination”; it is about “Substantive Equality.”
- 16(3): Parliament can prescribe residence as a condition for certain jobs in a particular State/UT (e.g., for certain posts in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana).
- 16(4): The State can provide for reservation of appointments in favor of any “backward class” which is not adequately represented in the services of the State.
- 16(4A): Provides for reservation in matters of promotion for SCs and STs (added after the Indra Sawhney case).
- 16(4B): The “Carry Forward Rule.” If reserved seats are not filled in a year, they can be filled in the next year without being counted against the 50% limit for that specific year.
- 16(5): Allows laws to require that an official of a religious institution (like a Waqf Board or Temple Trust) must belong to that specific religion.
- 16(6): Provides up to 10% reservation for EWS in public appointments.
Key Differences: Article 15 vs. Article 16
| Feature | Article 15 | Article 16 |
| Scope | Broad (Social, educational, public places). | Narrow (Only Public Employment/Offices). |
| Grounds | 5 grounds (Religion, Race, Caste, Sex, Place of birth). | 7 grounds (Adds Descent and Residence). |
| Beneficiaries | Includes non-citizens in some aspects of 15(2). | Only available to Citizens. |
Landmark Cases
- State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan (1951): Led to the 1st Amendment and the birth of Article 15(4).
- Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992): The “Mandal Commission Case.” It upheld 27% OBC reservation but capped total reservations at 50% and introduced the “Creamy Layer” concept.
- Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India (2022): The Supreme Court upheld the 103rd Amendment (10% EWS reservation), ruling that it does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.
🛡️ Articles 15 & 16: Social Equity
“The Hindu” Editorial Analysis (09-January-2026)
Here is a detailed analysis of the The Hindu Editorials for January 9, 2026, categorized by syllabus relevance for UPSC preparation.
1. Slapping Tariffs: U.S. Pressure on Russian Oil Imports
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (International Relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests).
Context: U.S. President Donald Trump has greenlit the Russia Sanctions Bill, which empowers him to levy up to 500% in tariffs on countries buying oil or uranium from Russia.
Key Points:
- Leverage Strategy: The Bill aims to provide the U.S. with “tremendous leverage” to incentivize countries like India, China, and Brazil to stop financing Russia’s actions in Ukraine through oil purchases.
- Bipartisan Support: The Bill has significant backing in both the Senate (84 co-sponsors) and the House (151 co-sponsors), suggesting a smooth passage.
- India’s Response: Reliance Industries has already stopped receiving Russian oil at its Jamnagar refinery as of December 2025, and Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra has sought relief from current 25% penalty tariffs.
UPSC Relevance: Critical for topics like “Energy Security,” “Strategic Autonomy,” and “Indo-U.S. Bilateral Ties.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Economic Impact: For India, which has seen Russian oil account for up to 35% of its imports, a 500% tariff would effectively end the economic viability of these purchases.
- Diplomatic Balancing: The move follows a pattern from 2018 when India “zeroed out” oil imports from Iran and Venezuela under similar U.S. pressure.
- Shift in Supplies: While Indian PSUs had increased intake recently, private players like Reliance and Nayara Energy (under Western sanctions) are halting imports, making a full recovery of previous Russian oil levels unlikely.
2. GSDP: A Fairer Metric for Tax Devolution?
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Indian Economy; Issues relating to mobilization of resources; Federal Structure).
Context: An editorial proposing that Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) share be used as a primary criterion for Central-State tax transfers to better balance efficiency and equity.
Key Points:
- Collection vs. Accrual: High-performing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu argue they contribute disproportionately to Central taxes but receive smaller devolution shares.
- GSDP as Proxy: Unlike direct tax figures that reflect registered office locations (e.g., PAN data), GSDP reflects the underlying tax base where economic activity actually occurs.
- Devolution Outcomes: Under the 15th Finance Commission, Uttar Pradesh received 15.81% of transfers while contributing only 4.6% to collections; conversely, Maharashtra contributed 40.3% but received 6.64%.
UPSC Relevance: Vital for “Fiscal Federalism,” “Finance Commission Mandates,” and “GST Challenges.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Efficiency vs. Equity: Current formulas prioritize “income distance” and “population,” which critics argue penalize performance. A GSDP-based formula would better acknowledge state contributions to national income.
- Simulated Gains: If GSDP were the sole metric, 9 out of 20 major states would gain. Maharashtra and Karnataka would benefit most, while states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh would see moderate reductions.
- Strong Correlation: Statistical data shows a high correlation (0.91) between GSDP and GST collections, making it a reliable indicator of tax accrual at the state level.
3. NATGRID: Security vs. Digital Authoritarianism
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Internal Security; Challenges to internal security through communication networks; Cyber Security).
Context: An analysis of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) and concerns over its expansion without a statutory framework.
Key Points:
- Expanded Access: NATGRID has scaled its operations to roughly 45,000 requests monthly, with access granted to police units down to the rank of Superintendent.
- Data Integration: The grid is reportedly being integrated with the National Population Register (NPR), which contains data for 119 crore residents.
- Technological Capability: The system uses the “Gandiva” analytical engine for “entity resolution,” triangulating fragmented records to identify and track individuals.
UPSC Relevance: Important for “Surveillance Laws,” “Right to Privacy (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy case),” and “Governance vs. Security.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Lack of Statutory Oversight: NATGRID operates via executive order rather than an Act of Parliament, leading to calls for independent oversight to prevent misuse.
- Reproducing Biases: The editorial warns that algorithms ingested by NATGRID may reproduce societal biases related to caste, religion, or geography, potentially leading to discriminatory outcomes.
4. Spina Bifida: The Ignored Birth Defect
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Health; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector).
Context: A report highlighting that India has one of the highest prevalence rates of Spina Bifida globally (4 per 1,000 births) despite it being largely preventable.
Key Points:
- Prevention: Intake of folic acid before conception can prevent over 70% of Spina Bifida cases.
- Lack of Policy: Unlike 68 other countries, India has no mandatory food fortification laws for folic acid, nor widespread national awareness campaigns.
- Economic Burden: Every rupee spent on prevention could save more than 100 rupees required for the long-term treatment and rehabilitation of affected children.
UPSC Relevance: Significant for “Public Health Policy,” “Social Justice for Disabled,” and “Nutrition Security.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Health Negligence: The failure to educate the public about periconceptional folic acid is termed “gross public health negligence” given the severity of the condition, which causes childhood paralysis.
- Innovative Solutions: Research suggests using widely consumed “vehicles” like salt or tea for fortification with folate and Vitamin B12 to eliminate neurological complications.
5. India’s Growth Forecasts: UN DESA vs. Govt
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Indian Economy; Growth and Development).
Context: A comparison between the Union government’s First Advance Estimates (7.4%) and UN DESA’s growth projection (7.2%) for FY26.
Key Points:
- Growth Drivers: Resilient domestic consumption and strong public investment in digital and physical infrastructure are expected to largely offset the impact of U.S. tariffs.
- Tariff Headwinds: Tariffs remain a risk as 18% of Indian exports are U.S.-bound; however, demand from Europe and West Asia may limit this impact.
- Supply Side: Manufacturing and services expansion remain the primary supply-side drivers of growth.
UPSC Relevance: Essential for “Macroeconomic Planning,” “Global Economic Trends,” and “Budgetary Assumptions.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Contrasting Trends: While India sees growth in gross fixed capital formation, China has seen a contraction in fixed asset investment due to its weakening property sector.
- Fiscal Support: Tax reforms and monetary easing are identified as necessary near-term supports to sustain the 7%+ growth trajectory.
Editorial Analysis
Jan 09, 2026Mapping:
For today’s mapping session, we will focus on India’s Coastal Geography, Major Ports, and Island Territories.
1. India’s Coastal Geography
India has a coastline of 7,516.6 km, including the mainland and island territories. It is divided into the Western Coast and the Eastern Coast.
- The Western Coast: Narrower than the eastern coast. It consists of:
- Konkan Coast: Maharashtra and Goa.
- Kanara Coast: Karnataka.
- Malabar Coast: Kerala (famous for backwaters or kayals).
- The Eastern Coast: Broader and characterized by large deltas formed by rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
- Northern Circars: Northern part (Odisha/Andhra Pradesh).
- Coromandel Coast: Southern part (Tamil Nadu).
2. Major Sea Ports of India
India has 13 major ports that handle the bulk of its international trade.
| Coast | Major Port | Key Feature |
| Western | Kandla (Gujarat) | A tidal port; handles petroleum and fertilizer imports. |
| Western | Mumbai (Maharashtra) | The largest and busiest port in India. |
| Western | Mormugao (Goa) | Leading iron ore exporting port. |
| Western | Kochi (Kerala) | Situated at the entrance of a lagoon (Vembanad Lake). |
| Eastern | Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) | Handles a variety of cargo to neighboring countries like Sri Lanka. |
| Eastern | Visakhapatnam (A.P.) | Deepest landlocked and protected port. |
| Eastern | Paradip (Odisha) | Specializes in the export of iron ore to Japan. |
| Eastern | Haldia/Kolkata (W.B.) | A riverine port situated on the Hooghly River. |
3. Island Territories & Strategic Channels
India has two major island groups which are strategically vital for maritime security.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal):
- They are an elevated portion of submarine mountains.
- 10 Degree Channel: Separates the Andaman group from the Nicobar group.
- Barren Island: Home to India’s only active volcano.
- Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea):
- These are coral islands (atolls).
- 9 Degree Channel: Separates the island of Minicoy from the rest of Lakshadweep.
- 8 Degree Channel: Separates the entire Lakshadweep group from the Maldives.
Summary Mapping Table
| Feature | Details | Geographic Location |
| Longest Coastline | Gujarat | West Coast |
| Deepest Port | Visakhapatnam | East Coast |
| Coral Islands | Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea |
| Active Volcano | Barren Island | Andaman Sea |
Maritime Frontiers
| Port | Coast | Distinguishing Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | Western | Largest and busiest port in India |
| Visakhapatnam | Eastern | Deepest landlocked protected port |
| Mormugao | Western | Leading iron ore exporter (Goa) |
| Feature | Details | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Longest Coast | Gujarat | West Coast |
| Coral Atolls | Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea |
| Strategic Channel | 10 Degree Channel | Andaman & Nicobar |