GK Express of 28/01/2026

🚆 GK Express 2.0

Discipline • Clarity • Competitive Preparation

TODAY’S FOCUS → WEDNESDAY - INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

🧠 Thought of the Day

“Life is not about What you do. It is all about How you do it.”

— Sadhguru

📰 Current Affairs

1. Republic Day 2026:
   
   Republic Day 2026 marked the 77th anniversary of the Constitution of India coming into force on 26th January 1950, and was celebrated around the theme “150 Years of Vande Mataram.”
2. National Girl Child Day 2026:
   National Girl Child Day is observed annually on 24th January, serving as a critical platform to reaffirm India's commitment to eradicating gender discrimination and accelerating girls' empowerment through holistic development.

📘 Concept of the Day

Subject: Indian Polity & IR

Topic: Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

An FTA is an agreement between countries to reduce trade barriers (tariffs & quotas). Here are the key distinctions:

• PTA vs FTA:
  PTA (Preferential Trade Agreement): Tariffs are reduced on a "Positive List" of items.
  FTA (Free Trade Agreement): Tariffs are eliminated on a "Negative List" (almost all items).
• CECA vs CEPA:
  CECA: Focuses mainly on tariff reduction (e.g., India-Malaysia).
  CEPA: Broader scope; covers services, investment, and IPR (e.g., India-UAE, India-Japan).

🤔 Think About This

Tap to expand

1. What do you mean by Administrative Tribunals? How are they different from the Court System?

Answer: Administrative Tribunals (Article 323A) are quasi-judicial bodies for service disputes (e.g., CAT).

Key Differences:
1. Procedure: Courts follow rigid rules (CPC, Evidence Act). Tribunals follow "Principles of Natural Justice" and are flexible.
2. Expertise: Courts have generalist judges. Tribunals have domain experts (Administrative Members) + Judicial Members.
3. Speed: Tribunals aim for faster, specialized justice.

2. Is the pardoning power of the Indian President and USA President the same? Think.

Answer: No, they differ significantly.

1. Discretion: US President's power is absolute/discretionary. Indian President (Art 72) acts on "aid and advice" of the Council of Ministers (Maru Ram Case).
2. Judicial Review: US pardons are generally not reviewed. In India, they are subject to review on grounds of arbitrariness (Epuru Sudhakar Case).
3. Impeachment: US President cannot pardon in impeachment cases.

📝 Let’s Write an Exam

Q.1 (UPSC 2017) One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of:

A. Privileges

B. Restraints

C. Competition

D. Ideology

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The concept of Equality (Article 14) implies the absence of special privileges for any individual. 'Privileges' create inequality by birth or status. Absence of 'Restraints' refers to Liberty.

Q.2 (UPSC 2020) A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which:

A. All political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government

B. The Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it

C. The Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them

D. The Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by it

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The core principle of a Parliamentary System is "Collective Responsibility" of the Executive to the Legislature (Lok Sabha), as per Article 75(3).

✍️ Answer These Questions

1. Under which Article of the Constitution can the Parliament create a new All India Service?

2. Expand ASEAN?

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Curated with discipline by Nikhil Dasari