GK 2015: Evergreen Current Affairs Guide for UPSC Aspirants (Updated 2025)

(Estimated reading time: 8–10 minutes)

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🟢 Introduction

Wondering how 2015 shaped the trajectory of Indian governance, diplomacy, and policy reforms? For UPSC aspirants, it's crucial to understand not only what happened in past years, but also why it matters today.

This comprehensive guide unpacks the most important events of 2015 — from international summits and landmark judgments to policy shifts and socio-economic trends — and explains how they remain deeply relevant for Prelims, Mains, and Interviews.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Major Indian and global events of 2015

• Schemes, reforms, and legislation still in effect

• Their impact on GS Papers I–IV and Essay

• Sample PYQs and strategy takeaways

• FAQs and memory hacks

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🔷 Zone 1: Conceptual Foundation & Core Principles

📌 2015: Building the Foundations of Reform

• Key Term – NITI Aayog: Replaced Planning Commission in Jan 2015

• Key Term – Smart Cities Mission: Urban modernization initiative launched

• Key Term – International Solar Alliance (ISA): India-led global energy initiative

🔍 Historical Context

• Shift from centralized planning (Five-Year Plans) to cooperative federalism

• Rise of India’s proactive foreign policy (multilateral engagement)

• Focus on “reform to transform” — evident in budget and governance changes

🔑 Concepts Introduced/Reinforced

• Federalism through institutional reform (e.g., NITI Aayog)

• Sustainable development in India's diplomatic vision

• Judicial accountability debates due to NJAC verdict

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🔷 Zone 2: Analytical Depth & UPSC Relevance

✅ What Happened in 2015?

• NITI Aayog became operational (Jan 1)

• Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT launched (June 25)

• Digital India Week inaugurated (July 1)

• Supreme Court struck down NJAC Act (Oct 2015)

• India launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at COP21 in Paris

❓ Why Was It Important?

• Institutional transition toward long-term, decentralized policy planning

• Urban governance and sustainability as top national priorities

• Judicial independence reaffirmed in NJAC case

• India’s global climate leadership strengthened

⚙️ How Did It Operate?

• NITI Aayog emphasized policy think tank model over fund allocation

• Smart Cities used a city-level SPV (special purpose vehicle) model

• ISA aimed to promote clean energy cooperation among solar-rich nations

• Digital India initiatives linked departments via digital platforms

🌍 Impact Analysis (GS Paper Tags)

• GS II: Governance (NITI Aayog, NJAC), Federalism

• GS III: Infrastructure, Environment (ISA, Smart Cities)

• GS I: Urbanization trends

• GS IV: Ethics in public administration (judicial accountability, transparency)

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🔷 Zone 3: Practical Application & Current Context

🧪 Real-World Example (Timestamped)

• NJAC Judgment (2015): Still referenced in debates about judicial reforms and collegium transparency

• Smart Cities (2025 update): Urban development metrics show mixed outcomes, making it a hot topic for evaluation-style UPSC questions

📜 Government Schemes (With Ongoing Impact)

• Smart Cities Mission: Focused on infrastructure, IT-enabled governance

• Digital India: Continued digitization of services and delivery

• AMRUT: Basic urban infrastructure (sewerage, transport) for smaller towns

• NITI Aayog: Core body behind major national vision documents (e.g., Viksit Bharat 2047)

📝 UPSC Mains Strategy

• "Evaluate the shift from Planning Commission to NITI Aayog in light of cooperative federalism."

• "Discuss how urban development schemes have altered India’s urban governance paradigm."

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🔷 Zone 4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What replaced the Planning Commission in 2015?
A: NITI Aayog — aimed at fostering cooperative federalism and strategic policy-making.

Q2. What is ISA and why is it important for UPSC?
A: The International Solar Alliance promotes solar energy. It’s key in GS III (environment) and GS II (India’s foreign relations).

Q3. Was NJAC implemented?
A: No, the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015, reaffirming the collegium system.

Q4. Are Smart Cities relevant for UPSC 2025?
A: Absolutely. They're still being implemented and are useful in GS I, GS II, and GS III answers.

Q5. What was the significance of Digital India Week 2015?
A: It signaled the launch of integrated e-governance and digital public infrastructure initiatives.

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🔷 Zone 5: UPSC Exam Strategy & Revision Aids

📘 PYQ Samples & Strategy

• 2016 Mains GS II: “Discuss the significance of cooperative federalism in the light of recent developments in planning and finance.”
  Approach: Compare Planning Commission and NITI Aayog; link to 14th Finance Commission.

• 2018 Mains GS II: “Judicial independence is essential for democracy. Discuss in light of NJAC judgment.”
  Approach: Analyze the NJAC Act, SC ruling, and implications on separation of powers.

🔭 Future Trends

• Federalism debates likely to intensify in UPSC questions (e.g., GST Council, NITI Aayog vs Finance Commission)

• Smart Cities and ISA will remain critical for essay and GS III

🧠 Mnemonic – SANDI

• Smart Cities

• AMRUT

• NITI Aayog

• Digital India

• ISA (International Solar Alliance)

✅ Quick Fact Cheat Sheet

• NITI Aayog launched: 1 Jan 2015

• NJAC struck down: Oct 2015

• Smart Cities Mission: 25 June 2015

• ISA Launched: Nov–Dec 2015 (COP21)

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🟢 Conclusion

2015 laid the groundwork for India’s modern governance model: decentralized, urban-focused, digital-first, and internationally engaged. Understanding these developments gives you an analytical edge in UPSC answers.