Places in News for UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam, National And International
Places in news for UPSC mention locations from where related questions might be asked in the exam. A few places in news for UPSC 2025 are shared here!
Deeksha Dixit7 May, 2025
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Places in News for UPSC 2025 is an important segment in the General Studies section of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, especially for the Prelims. It refers to locations or regions that are frequently mentioned in current affairs due to significant political, social, environmental, or economic events.
To prepare for this section, aspirants must keep track of global and national news to ensure they are aware of the places that are being discussed in the news. Read on for a list of national and international places in news for UPSC 2025.
Places in News for UPSC Prelims 2025
Staying updated with places in news for UPSC Prelims 2025 is essential for every serious aspirant. This is because questions based on current affairs and map-based locations are common in the Prelims exam. These questions often appear under Environment, International Relations, or Geography topics. Here are some places in news for UPSC Prelims:
| Place | Why in News | Description |
| Indian Ocean Region | India’s increasing maritime focus | Region of strategic importance; India is enhancing naval cooperation through initiatives like SAGAR |
| Ekmae | India-Africa naval collaboration | Joint naval exercises to strengthen maritime ties with African nations, part of India’s outreach in the Indian Ocean. |
| Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan) | Perpetual conflict, terrorism (e.g., Hamas, ISIS) | The Eastern Mediterranean region, strategically important; recurring wars and proxy conflicts. |
| Chile | Visit by President Gabriel Boric to India | Key Latin American nation; strategic for resource partnerships (especially lithium) and South-South cooperation. |
| ABC Triangle | Lithium resource hotspot | Region in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile) rich in lithium—critical for electric vehicles and energy storage. |
| Aghanashini Estuary | Ramsar Wetland | Situated in Karnataka, flood and erosion mitigation, confluence with Arabian Sea |
| Kurdistan (Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran) | Ethnic conflict; demand for autonomy | Region with large Kurdish population, not recognized as a sovereign state; conflict over autonomy and identity. |
| Suez Canal | Trade disruptions and alternative route planning | Traditional trade route facing issues like Houthi attacks, prompting India and partners to explore alternatives like IMEC. |
| Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary | Boundary revision efforts underway to resolve legal issues | Established in 1980; located in Jaipur, Rajasthan near Nahargarh Fort; part of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve corridor. |
Also Read, ‘Atlas for UPSC Preparation 2025’
Places in News in World for UPSC 2025
Places in News in World for UPSC 2025 include hotspots of political tension, climate events, and international cooperation. UPSC often frames questions from global events like peace talks, natural disasters, or new geopolitical alliances. Learning these places helps in answering related questions:
| Place | Why in News | Description |
| Syria & Iraq | ISIL conflict, civil war, city-based pair questions | Important cities: Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa (Syria); Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Haditha (Iraq). |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | Armenia-Azerbaijan territorial dispute | Ethnic Armenian region within Azerbaijan; called Artsakh; heavily militarized, recent ceasefire. |
| Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia) | Geostrategic area, mountain conflict | Important for energy pipelines and regional geopolitics; includes Caucasus Mountains. |
| Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine war, territorial annexation (Crimea, Donbas) | Key regions: Donbas (Donetsk, Luhansk), Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sevastopol, Snake Island, Kerch Strait. |
| Central Asia (The ‘Stans’) | SCO relevance, energy resources, geopolitical alignment | Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan; Turkmenistan is neutral and not in SCO; Caspian Sea nearby. |
| Kuril Islands | Territorial dispute between Russia & Japan | Controlled by Russia; Japan claims them; significant military and strategic presence. |
| Chagos Archipelago / Diego Garcia | UK-US military base, Mauritius sovereignty claim | Strategic Indo-Pacific base; recent ICJ ruling supported Mauritius’ claim; UK promised to hand over in the future. |
| COP29 - Baku | Climate summit 2024 venue | Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, hosted COP29; Azerbaijan in focus for green diplomacy and oil politics. |
| Bonn (Germany) | Environmental diplomacy hub | Host of key UN climate negotiations and biodiversity-related conferences. |
| Cali (Colombia) | CBD COP16 venue | Convention on Biological Diversity; focus on the global biodiversity framework. |
List of Places in News in India for UPSC 2025
India has seen many important developments in previous year that can be turned into potential UPSC questions. The list of places in news in India for UPSC 2025 includes new infrastructure projects, natural disasters, conservation sites, etc. Here are places in news for UPSC that are in India:
| Place | Why in News | Description |
| Gibbon Sanctuary, Jorhat (Assam) | Northeast Frontier Railway built canopy bridge to protect Hoolock Gibbons | Only gibbon species in India; sanctuary located in Jorhat, Assam, habitat conservation efforts ongoing. |
| Naini Lake | Water level dropped to a 5-year low | Kidney-shaped natural lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand; surrounded by seven hills. |
| Anchar Lake | Nadru (lotus stem) production | Located in Soura, Srinagar; connected to Dal Lake; part of Sindh River Delta and Shallabugh Wetland |
| Bangus Valley J&K | Government promotes it for ecotourism | Located in Kupwara district, J&K near LoC; consists of Boud (Big) and Lokut (Small) Bangus |
| Longwood Shola Reserve Forest | Ramsar Wetland status | Western Ghats forest in Tamil Nadu, key for endangered birds. |
| Guneri Inland Mangrove | Declared Gujarat's first Biodiversity Heritage Site | Unique inland mangrove ecosystem in Kutch, Gujarat; covers 32.78 ha; one of only 8 inland mangrove sites globally |
| Khecheopalri Wetland | New Ramsar Wetland | Sikkim, sacred lake, ecological hotspot. |
| Katchatheevu Island | India-Sri Lanka dispute | Small island in Palk Strait, fishing rights controversy. |
| Siachen Glacier | Strategic military zone | Ladakh, world’s highest battlefield on the India-Pakistan border. |
Places in News in 2024 for UPSC CSE
To succeed in the exam, aspirants must revise places in news in 2024 for UPSC CSE, as this exam usually covers events from the last 12 to 15 months. This section includes locations related to international summits, government schemes, climate action, and political developments. Here are some places that were in news in 2024:
| Place | Why in News | Description |
| Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary | Legal and ecological issues | Delhi-Haryana border, threatened by urbanization. |
| North & South Kivu, Ituri (DR Congo) | Armed conflict, instability, ethnic violence | Ongoing rebel insurgencies and conflict in eastern DR Congo; M23 rebel group active. |
| Israel | Gaza conflict, border tensions with neighbors | Conflicts with Hamas, disputes over Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, West Bank; borders Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan |
| Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary | Water-sharing dispute | Goa sanctuary at the center of Goa-Karnataka water conflict. |
| Yemen | Houthi rebels, civil war, Red Sea tensions | Iran-backed Houthis attacking Red Sea shipping; strategic location near Gulf of Aden. |
| South China Sea | Nine-dash line, island disputes | Spratly, Paracel, Scarborough Shoal disputed by China, Vietnam, Philippines, etc.; artificial island building by China. |
| Tso Kar Lake | Ramsar Wetland, bird breeding | Ladakh salt lake, breeding ground for Black-necked Crane. |
| Thailand (Pattani) | Ethnic Malay separatism | Southern Thailand conflict between Malay-Muslim rebels and Thai government. |
| Philippines (Mindanao) | Moro separatist conflict | Southern Philippines region; Islamic separatist movement for autonomy. |
| Myanmar (Rakhine, Kachin, Shan) | Ethnic conflicts, Rohingya issue | Rohingya persecution in Rakhine; armed groups in Kachin, Shan, and other states. |
| String of Pearls | Chinese maritime strategy encircling India | Ports: Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Marao (Maldives), Djibouti. |
| Aral Sea | Environmental issue, drying up | Between Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan; heavily shrunk due to river diversion. |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | Climate diplomacy hub (Egypt) | Hosted COP27; major environmental and climate change dialogues. |
| Xinjiang (China) | Human rights violations, Uyghur repression | Surveillance, detention of Uyghur Muslims; international criticism. |
To sum up, places in news for UPSC Prelims 2025 are a scoring and predictable area. Revise them with maps, note the news connections, and stay updated till the exam day. Explore PW UPSC Courses for complete current affairs and Prelims preparation!
Places in News for UPSC 2025 FAQ
How many questions are expected from places in news in UPSC Prelims 2025?
Candidates can expect 3 to 5 direct questions related to the world or Indian locations.
How to cover places in news in UPSC 2025?
To cover places in the news in UPSC follow PW monthly current affairs magazines, PIB, and newspapers like The Hindu.
Should I locate each place in news on a map?
Yes, map-based learning improves retention and is helpful for Prelims questions.
How often should I revise these places in the news in UPSC?
At least once a month and more frequently in the last 2 months before Prelims.
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