UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 21 July 2026

The Working of Maglev Trains – Explained

July 21, 2026

Maglev Trains Latest News

Magnetic levitation (maglev) technology has drawn renewed global interest as countries explore high-speed rail options that use magnetic fields to lift and propel trains at speeds exceeding 400 km/hr.

About Magnetic Levitation

Maglev is a portmanteau of "magnetic levitation." Instead of running on wheels like conventional trains, maglev technology uses strong magnetic fields to lift the train and move it forward. Since the train floats above the track:
- No rolling friction during normal operations
- Not affected by weather conditions like rain or snow
- Extremely high speeds possible, topping 400 km/hr
- Smooth ride for passengers with minimal vibration
The Physics Behind Levitation
- Nature has four fundamental forces:
  - Two nuclear forces (strong and weak)
  - Electromagnetic force
  - Gravity
  - Gravity is the weakest by far, around 10³⁹ times weaker than the electromagnetic force. This is why a small magnet can stick to a fridge despite the entire gravitational pull of the Earth.
  - The same principle enables lifting trains weighing 150 to 500 tonnes using magnetic forces.

How Maglev Trains Are Lifted

Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS)
- The most common maglev technology uses Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS):
- The train has two "arms" that wrap around the guideway.
- Strong electromagnets on these arms point magnetic fields upward toward protruding parts of the guideway.
- The train's arms wrap only halfway around the guideway, similar to how fingers wrap around a bag's strap.
- When electromagnets are turned on, they attract the train toward the guideway, pushing it upward.
- Sensors ensure the train floats at around 10 mm above the guideway at all times.
Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS)
- A related technology called Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS) uses:
- Superconducting magnets on the train, cooled to very low temperatures.
- As the train moves, the magnets induce an electric current in coils built into the sides of the tracks (electromagnetic induction).
- This creates a repulsive force that pushes the train up.
- The train hovers higher, at around 100 mm above the track.
- Requires the train to reach around 100 km/hr using wheels before the effect kicks in.
- Can support higher speeds; Japan's SCMAGLEV EDS system achieved 603 km/hr during testing in 2015.
- EMS systems typically operate at around or under 500 km/hr.

How Maglev Trains Move Forward

The propulsion system works as follows:
- The walls of the guideway are lined with coils carrying an alternating current (AC).
- This current creates a magnetic field that constantly shifts its poles (north to south) along the track.
- The magnets on the train are attracted to the opposite pole ahead and repelled by the like pole behind.
- The train is simultaneously pulled forward from the front and pushed forward from the back.
- To increase speed, engineers just need to increase the frequency of the AC.
- To slow down or stop, the current direction is switched to reverse the magnetic field.
- Regenerative braking can divert energy saved by braking back to the electric grid.
Maintaining Stability
- Side magnets ensure the train stays centred by repelling/attracting as needed.
- For emergencies or magnetic brake failure, friction brakes are also fitted.
- Auxiliary wheels with braking systems similar to those of regular trains.
- Braking pads between the guideway and train apply friction.

Downsides of Maglev Technology

Infrastructure Requirements
- Dedicated guideways are required; they cannot reuse existing rail infrastructure or stations.
- Precision engineering is needed for magnets and coils in the guideway.
- Very expensive infrastructure, the Shanghai Maglev (completed in 2004) cost Rs. 580 crore to Rs. 720 crore per kilometre (inflation-adjusted).
- This excludes the cost of preparing local terrain and ongoing operational costs.
Economic Viability
- Requires very high and consistent passenger demand to justify costs.
- High maintenance and operational expenses.
- Limited scalability compared to conventional rail.
Engineering Challenges
- Trains moving over 300 km/hr experience significant aerodynamic resistance.
- This requires aerodynamic designs, including bird-beak-shaped front portions.
- Additional design considerations add to the overall costs.

Applications Beyond Trains

Industrial Applications
- High-speed turbines and compressors suspend rotating shafts in magnetic fields instead of conventional bearings
- Aircraft carriers use linear motor technology (similar to maglev propulsion) to accelerate aircraft on runways
- Factory automation systems achieve rapid, precise motion for:
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Food and medicine packaging
- CNC machining
- Inspection cameras with lasers or X-rays
- DNA sequencing
Scientific Research
- Biological samples
- Liquid droplets
- Molten metals
- Small animals for experiments

Global Maglev Systems

Notable Operational Systems
- Shanghai Maglev (China): Commercial service since 2004, top speed of 431 km/hr
- Linimo (Japan): Low-speed maglev, operational since 2005
- SCMAGLEV (Japan): Under construction, achieved 603 km/hr in testing
- Incheon Airport Maglev (South Korea): Low-speed maglev
Future Prospects
- Several countries are exploring maglev for high-speed intercity travel, though the high infrastructure costs remain a significant barrier to widespread adoption.

Significance of Maglev Technology

Transportation Revolution
- Faster travel times for intercity connectivity
- Reduced dependence on air travel for short-to-medium distance journeys
- Environmentally friendly as it can run on renewable electricity
- Reduced noise pollution compared to conventional trains
Technological Innovation
- Demonstrates advanced applications of electromagnetism
- Drives innovation in superconducting technologies
- Contributes to precision engineering capabilities
- Enables spin-off technologies for various industries
Economic Considerations
- High initial investment but potential long-term benefits
- Creates specialised manufacturing and engineering jobs
- Requires skilled workforce development
- Can spur regional economic development along corridors

Relevance for India

While India currently does not have operational maglev systems, the technology has been discussed in the context of:
- High-speed rail projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train (which uses conventional Shinkansen technology).
- Future connectivity between major metropolitan areas.
- Semiconductor manufacturing benefiting from maglev-based automation.
- Research and development in advanced transportation technologies.
The technology's high cost remains a significant consideration for a country balancing multiple infrastructure priorities.

Source: TH

Maglev Trains FAQs

Q1: What is maglev technology?

Ans: Maglev (magnetic levitation) is a technology that uses strong magnetic fields to lift a train above the track and propel it forward without wheels.

Q2: How fast can maglev trains travel?

Ans: Maglev trains can exceed 400 km/hr, with Japan's SCMAGLEV achieving 603 km/hr during testing in 2015.

Q3: What are the two main types of magnetic suspension used in maglev trains?

Ans: The two main types are Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS) and Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS).

Q4: Why are maglev trains expensive to build?

Ans: Maglev requires dedicated guideways with precision engineering for magnets and coils, which cannot reuse existing rail infrastructure, making construction very costly.

Q5: What was the famous frog levitation experiment?

Ans: In 1997, physicists Andre Geim and Michael Berry used a 10-tesla magnet to levitate a frog through diamagnetism, later winning an Ig Nobel Prize in 2000.

Right to Protest in India: Constitutional Basis, Legal Limits and Supreme Court Guidelines

July 21, 2026

Right to Protest in India Latest News

Police cracked down on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its supporters as thousands joined a planned march to Parliament, leading to the shutting of Parliament complex gates.
The government engaged with protesters, with CJP submitting a written letter of demands to a senior ruling party leader. The episode has revived the debate: is staging a protest legal in India, and what forms of protest are permitted?

Constitutional Basis for the Right to Protest

The right to protest is protected under the Fundamental Right to Freedom:
- Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees "freedom of speech and expression."
- Article 19(1)(b): Guarantees the right to "assemble peaceably and without arms."
However, these rights are subject to "reasonable restrictions" in the interest of:
- Sovereignty and integrity of India
- Security of the State
- Friendly relations with foreign States
- Public order, decency, or morality
- Contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offence

How Protests Are Regulated

While citizens have the right to organise protests, this must be exercised within constitutional restrictions.
The common regulatory practice in India includes:
- Designating specific spots for protests
- Making police permission mandatory
- Imposing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (earlier Section 144 of the CrPC)

India's Position at the UN

At the 47th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (Geneva, 2021), India's representative affirmed that peaceful assembly and marches are a "cherished and valuable aspect" of India's democratic tradition, tracing this practice back to the independence struggle.
It was noted that Article 19 guarantees the right to assemble peacefully without arms and to form associations and unions, and that the Supreme Court has recognised peaceful protest as a constitutional right.
India also emphasised that the government must balance citizens' rights with its duty to protect the right to life.

Key Supreme Court Rulings on Protest Rights

The Supreme Court has, over the years, upheld both the right to protest and reasonable limits on it.

Himat Lal K. Shah v. Commissioner of Police (1973)

The Court held that freedom of assembly is essential to democracy, enabling citizens to meet and discuss religious, political, economic, or social issues.
It clarified that while the State can regulate its property for public purposes, there is a constitutional difference between "reasonable regulation and arbitrary exclusion."

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India (2018)

This case challenged the repeated imposition of Section 144 CrPC banning assembly near Parliament House, North and South Block, Central Vista Lawns, and surrounding areas in Delhi.
The Court laid down specific guidelines:
- Regulating the number of participants
- Maintaining minimum distance from Parliament House, North/South Blocks, the Supreme Court, and dignitaries' residences
- Prohibiting demonstrators from carrying firearms, lathis, spears, swords, etc.
This ruling effectively reaffirmed Jantar Mantar as Delhi's designated protest site while clarifying that regulation must not amount to prohibition.

Amit Sahni v. Commissioner of Police (2020) - The Shaheen Bagh case

The Supreme Court ruled that protests must be held in "identified areas" and that protesters cannot block public roads or cause public inconvenience.
The Court stated clearly: "You cannot block public roads. There cannot be indefinite period of protest in such an area... You cannot create inconvenience for the people."

Source: IE | IE

Right to Protest in India FAQs

Q1: What is the constitutional basis of the Right to Protest in India?

Ans: The Right to Protest in India flows from Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b), guaranteeing freedom of speech, expression and peaceful assembly without arms.

Q2: Can the Right to Protest in India be restricted?

Ans: Yes. The Right to Protest in India is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order, national security, sovereignty, decency and other constitutional grounds.

Q3: How has the Supreme Court interpreted the Right to Protest in India?

Ans: The Supreme Court has consistently upheld the Right to Protest in India while affirming that protests should remain peaceful, regulated and should not cause undue public inconvenience.

Q4: What role does Section 163 of the BNSS play in the Right to Protest in India?

Ans: Section 163 empowers authorities to regulate assemblies and impose temporary restrictions on the Right to Protest in India when necessary to maintain public order.

Q5: Why is the Right to Protest in India important in a democracy?

Ans: The Right to Protest in India enables citizens to peacefully express dissent, influence public policy and strengthen democratic accountability while respecting constitutional limitations.

EPFO 3.0: How India’s New Universal Pension Reform Will Transform Social Security

July 21, 2026

EPFO 3.0 Latest News

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is planning its next phase of reforms, EPFO 3.0.
This aims to introduce a universal pension cover for all workers, extend first-time social security contributions to unorganised sector workers including gig and platform workers, and upgrade its technology backbone through a Core Banking Solution (CBS).

From EPFO 2.0 to EPFO 3.0

Over the past year, EPFO has worked on EPFO 2.0, which delivered a revamped portal with a centralised database merging 123 regional databases, ensuring timely interest credit and visibility of eligible withdrawal balances for members.
The organisation is now moving to EPFO 3.0, built on a CBS-enabled tech platform.
- CBS is the centralised payments software that forms the backbone of Indian banks, enabling real-time deposits and withdrawals across branches.
This shift is essential to manage payments for social security schemes covering India's entire workforce of over 60 crore workers, more than three-quarters of whom are in the unorganised sector with limited or no pension coverage.

Universal Pension Cover: How It Will Work

The new pension scheme will follow a defined contribution framework, drawing from multiple sources:
- Workers themselves
- Employers
- Government co-contributions for lower-income workers
- Aggregators (for gig and platform workers)
- CSR or third-party funds
This marks the first time EPFO will allow such varied contribution and withdrawal structures.
Currently, it only permits advance claims or partial withdrawals for specific purposes (education, illness, housing, marriage) or a lump-sum settlement at retirement.

How the Corpus Builds

Contributions will accumulate over time, invested in government-backed securities with annual interest credit.
At retirement, members can convert their "Target Retirement Sum" (TRS) into either:
- A pension, based on prevailing annuity and interest rates, or
- A systematic withdrawal plan
The system will dynamically compute the TRS based on the member's chosen pension goal and expected retirement age, offering personalised dashboards showing contributions, real-time corpus status, and progress toward the TRS.
Members can also adjust their TRS, with contribution requirements recalculated accordingly.

Learning from Global Models

EPFO is studying international systems, notably Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF), a deferred annuity scheme covering retirement, housing, and healthcare.
Under CPF, 20% of salary is contributed, supplemented by employers and the government, with differential interest rates: up to 6% for those aged 55 and above and 5% for those below 55.

Flexibility features planned

Inflation-adjusted pension projections.
Simulation of pension amounts based on age, corpus, interest rate, and retirement age.
Ability to increase or decrease withdrawal amounts (higher initial drawdowns draw from the principal; lower drawdowns let interest compound, creating an inflation-linked effect later).
Notably, the proposed EPFO scheme is expected to be more flexible than the National Pension System (NPS), where the mandatory annuity requirement was reduced to 20% in December 2025, easing lump-sum payouts for non-government subscribers from the earlier 60:40 ratio.

Coverage for Gig and Platform Workers

EPFO expects around 2.5 crore gig workers and Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) to be added over the next five years.

Key Design Features Include

One-to-many mapping: a single Universal Account Number (UAN) will be linked to multiple employers and aggregators, showing total contributions while retaining employer-wise breakdowns.
Support for third-party contributions from NGOs, individuals, donor organisations, and CSR, tracked under each UAN with a configurable upper limit.
Flexible co-contribution models to include delivery partners, drivers, and other platform workers.

BOCW Coverage

India has over 3.5 crore registered BOCWs, with net cess collections exceeding ₹70,000 crore across state welfare boards.
The new scheme aims to channel these funds into structured, sustainable, and portable pension benefits.

Family and Survivor Pensions

The scheme also proposes coverage for spouses, children, and orphans, funded through a pooled "Family Benefit Fund" managed on actuarial principles.
Members of EPF, GPF (General Provident Fund), and other provident funds may also be allowed to transfer balances into the new pension initiative.

Legal Basis and Technical Backbone

EPFO 3.0 will operationalise PF contributions for all unorganised sector and gig workers, in line with the Code on Social Security, which brings gig and platform workers into the social security net for the first time.
Under the Code, aggregators must contribute 1-2% of annual turnover toward social security, with total contributions capped at 5% of the amount payable by the aggregator.
Given the scale involved, covering a workforce exceeding 60 crore, EPFO is adopting CBS as its technological foundation, since it is already validated and regulated by the RBI.
The platform will support a split-payment model, allowing innovative contribution mechanisms, such as voluntary contributions from unorganised workers, third-party payments, or even a small diversion (e.g., 5%) from digital transactions like food delivery app payments toward social security.

Conclusion

EPFO 3.0 represents a structural shift, from a scheme built around formal-sector employees to one designed for India's vast and diverse workforce, including gig workers and the unorganised sector.
Its success will depend on how effectively technology, flexible contribution models, and the Code on Social Security are integrated to deliver adequate, portable pension coverage at scale.

Source: IE

EPFO 3.0 FAQs

Q1: What is the primary objective of EPFO 3.0?

Ans: EPFO 3.0 aims to create a universal, portable pension system by extending social security coverage to formal, informal, gig and platform workers across India.

Q2: How does EPFO 3.0 benefit gig and platform workers?

Ans: EPFO 3.0 introduces flexible contribution models involving workers, aggregators, government support and third-party contributions, bringing gig workers under structured social security coverage.

Q3: What technological reforms are being introduced under EPFO 3.0?

Ans: EPFO 3.0 adopts a Core Banking Solution (CBS), enabling real-time account management, seamless transactions, centralised records and efficient pension administration at a national scale.

Q4: How is EPFO 3.0 different from the existing EPF framework?

Ans: EPFO 3.0 expands beyond formal-sector employees by offering flexible contributions, personalised retirement planning, universal portability and wider pension coverage for India's workforce.

Q5: Why is EPFO 3.0 significant for India's social security architecture?

Ans: EPFO 3.0 strengthens retirement security by integrating technology, expanding pension access, supporting unorganised workers and implementing the Code on Social Security at scale.