Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn or swidden farming, is an indigenous agricultural system in which farmers clear and burn small forest patches, cultivate them for a few years, and then leave the land fallow for natural regeneration. The nutrient-rich ash temporarily improves soil fertility, after which cultivation shifts to another plot.
Process
The practice begins with clearing and burning vegetation to release nutrients into the soil. Farmers then cultivate cereals, pulses, tubers and vegetables for a limited period. As soil fertility and productivity decline, the plot is abandoned and left fallow, allowing natural vegetation to restore soil fertility. The cycle is then repeated.
Key Characteristics
Shifting cultivation is characterised by small-scale forest clearing, controlled burning, mixed cropping and long fallow periods. It relies heavily on traditional ecological knowledge, community cooperation and natural regeneration, while supporting local food security and self-sufficiency.
Major Types
Different forms of shifting cultivation have developed across regions. Jhum is widely practised in Northeast India, while Milpa is associated with Mesoamerica. Taungya combines crop cultivation with tree plantations, whereas Ladang is found in Southeast Asia. Other regional forms include Roca, Conuco, Ray, Kumara and Chena cultivation.
Significance
Shifting cultivation supports indigenous livelihoods, food security and cultural traditions. Its rotational nature can allow soil recovery and biodiversity conservation when adequate fallow periods are maintained. It also preserves traditional ecological knowledge and promotes community-based resource management.
Challenges
The sustainability of shifting cultivation depends largely on the length of the fallow period. Shortened fallow cycles can lead to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, declining fertility and deforestation. Increasing population pressure, unpredictable rainfall, droughts, pests and climate change can further reduce its productivity.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Shifting cultivation can maintain biodiversity, provide food security, enrich soil through controlled burning and sustain indigenous cultural practices. However, when fallow periods become too short, it may contribute to deforestation, soil degradation and fertility loss. It is also labour-intensive and vulnerable to climatic and market fluctuations.
Shifting Cultivation in India
In India, shifting cultivation is particularly associated with the Northeastern states, including Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. It is also practised in parts of Central India, the Western Ghats, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Eastern Himalayas. In Northeast India, it is commonly known as Jhum cultivation.
Background
The Central Government has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945 to bring Cell/Stem Cell-derived Products, Gene Therapeutic Products and Xenografts under the Centrally Licence Approving Authority (CLAA) framework. The amendment seeks to ensure uniform regulation, patient safety and responsible innovation in advanced healthcare.
Drugs Rules, 1945
The Drugs Rules, 1945 were framed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, distribution and licensing of drugs and cosmetics in India. They prescribe standards for manufacturing, testing, storage, labelling and quality control, while defining the roles of Central and State Licensing Authorities.
What Has Changed?
The amendment expands the CLAA framework to include advanced biological and regenerative therapies. Cell or Stem Cell-derived Products include therapies developed from living cells or stem cells, such as stem-cell therapies and CAR-T cell therapy. Gene Therapeutic Products treat diseases by repairing, replacing or modifying genetic material, while Xenografts involve the transplantation of animal-derived tissues or organs into humans.
CLAA Framework
Under the expanded CLAA mechanism, these advanced products will be subject to joint regulation by Central and State Licensing Authorities. This is intended to establish uniform standards for quality, safety and efficacy, along with stronger licensing, inspection, scientific evaluation and post-approval monitoring.
Why Was the Amendment Needed?
Advanced therapies involve living cells, genetic material and animal tissues, making their manufacturing and safety assessment more complex than conventional medicines. The growing use of CAR-T therapy, stem-cell therapy and gene-based treatments therefore requires specialised regulatory oversight. A common framework also helps prevent variations in regulatory standards across States.
Significance
The amendment strengthens patient safety through more rigorous scientific assessment and regulatory scrutiny. It promotes uniform regulatory standards across India, while providing a clearer pathway for the adoption of innovative therapies.
A predictable regulatory framework can also encourage research, biotechnology investment and pharmaceutical innovation. At the same time, stronger oversight can facilitate safer access to advanced treatments for cancers, genetic disorders and other complex diseases, while improving public confidence in emerging medical technologies.
Strong Force and QCD
The strong force is one of nature’s four fundamental forces and is responsible for binding quarks inside protons and neutrons. It is described by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), in which the strong interaction is mediated by gluons.
Role of Gluons
Unlike photons, gluons carry colour charge, allowing them to interact with one another. This unique property of QCD makes it theoretically possible for gluons themselves to form bound states.
What is a Glueball?
A glueball is a hypothetical composite particle made predominantly of gluons, rather than a quark–antiquark pair as in conventional mesons. QCD predicts their existence, but they have been difficult to identify experimentally.
Why is Detection Difficult?
Glueballs are highly unstable and rapidly decay into lighter particles. They can also mix with ordinary hadrons having similar quantum properties, making it difficult to establish their identity conclusively.
X(2370) as a Candidate
The X(2370) particle, first observed in J/ψ meson decays in 2011, has characteristics that broadly match theoretical predictions for a pseudoscalar glueball. Further analysis of J/ψ decay data has strengthened its status as a leading glueball candidate.
Significance
If the X(2370) is conclusively confirmed as a glueball, it would provide landmark experimental evidence for a new form of hadronic matter dominated by gluons, offering a deeper understanding of QCD and the strong interaction.
About
The Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan aims to create a drug-free, physically healthy, mentally resilient and confident youth population, linking substance-abuse prevention with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Origin and Expansion
The campaign evolved from a pilot initiative in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, supported by over 125 spiritual organisations and several NGOs under the Kashi Declaration. It was subsequently expanded into a nationwide campaign.
100-Week Action Plan
The campaign will continue for 100 Sundays, using activities such as sports, art, culture, meditation and community engagement to raise awareness about substance abuse and promote healthier lifestyles.
Youth-Led Jan Bhagidari
The initiative promotes Jan Bhagidari by involving students, NSS members, MY Bharat volunteers, colleges and local communities. Participants are encouraged to take anti-drug pledges and actively promote drug-free lifestyles.
Prevention and Early Intervention
The campaign emphasises early identification of addiction risks, stronger parent-child communication, campus-level awareness and efforts to prevent the social normalisation of substance abuse.
Rehabilitation and Second Chances
Along with prevention, the campaign promotes medical treatment, counselling, rehabilitation, yoga and meditation for people affected by addiction. It also seeks to reduce social stigma and support the reintegration of recovering individuals into society.
Enforcement and National Security
The initiative combines prevention and rehabilitation with stronger action against drug trafficking and smuggling. It recognises the links between narcotics networks, organised crime and national security, while emphasising enhanced enforcement against traffickers.
Significance
The campaign adopts a holistic approach by combining prevention, youth participation, rehabilitation and law enforcement to address substance abuse. It seeks to transform the fight against drugs into a mass youth-led movement supporting the broader goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.
CPGRAMS is the Government’s 24×7 digital grievance-redressal platform, connecting Central Ministries, Departments, State Governments and Union Territories. It enables citizens to lodge, track and monitor grievances related to public-service delivery.
Since 2014, CPGRAMS has evolved from a largely manual mechanism into a technology-driven, citizen-centric governance platform. Annual grievances increased from around 3.01 lakh in 2014 to nearly 27 lakh in 2024, while Grievance Redressal Officers increased from 10,232 to over 1.11 lakh by 2025.
Citizens can register grievances through the CPGRAMS portal, mobile app, UMANG, post and more than 5 lakh Common Service Centres, supported by around 2.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs. This improves accessibility, particularly for citizens with limited digital access.
CPGRAMS uses auto-routing, grievance categorisation, unique registration IDs, escalation mechanisms, citizen feedback and appellate review to improve accountability, transparency and timely grievance resolution.
Launched in May 2026, Samadhan Didi is an AI-enabled voice chatbot integrated with BHASHINI. It allows citizens to register grievances through speech in their preferred language and automatically identifies the appropriate Ministry, Department and grievance category.
The proposed NextGen CPGRAMS, being developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), seeks to introduce AI-based routing, multilingual support across 22 Scheduled Languages, omni-channel registration, automated escalation, accessibility features and real-time analytics.
CPGRAMS represents a shift towards technology-enabled, accessible and citizen-centric governance, strengthening administrative accountability, transparency and responsive public-service delivery.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
Offline/Online Class
