State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 15 Nov 2025

Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar

Why in News? 

The Reserve Bank of India has launched a campaign titled “Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar” (Your Capital, Your Right) in Prayagraj to help citizens reclaim funds held in dormant bank accounts.  

Key Points 

• About the Campaign: 
  • Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar” (Your Capital, Your Right) is a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, in coordination with major regulators, including the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA. 
  • The initiative aims to quickly return unclaimed financial assets to rightful owners, raise awareness about the large pool of unclaimed funds, improve access through tools like the UDGAM portal, ensure transparent, time-bound settlements, and promote good financial habits such as updated KYC, active accounts, and proper nominations. 
• Unclaimed Bank Deposits: 
  • A bank account becomes inoperative if no financial or non-financial transaction (withdrawal, deposit, fund transfer, KYC update) occurs for 2 years or more. 
  • Inoperative account balances may be transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund, though the original account-holder or heir can claim them later. 
  • Unclaimed deposits in the Indian banking system were estimated at over ₹67,000+ crore by mid-2025.  
  • The UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation) portal allows individuals to search for unclaimed deposits across multiple banks using basic details (name, date of birth, PAN).  
  • RBI’s “Scheme for Facilitating Accelerated Payout of Inoperative Accounts & Unclaimed Deposits” offers incentives to banks for clearing dormant funds.

Ammonium Nitrate

Why in News?   

A blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has put  “Ammonium Nitrate” in the spotlight, as investigators suspect the chemical may have been used in the explosion. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • Pure ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) is a white, crystalline, water-soluble, nitrogen-rich compound made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid, and it melts at about 170°C.  
  • The substance is classified as an oxidising agent. It is one of the base ingredients used in the manufacture of commercial explosives.  
  • It is classified as a dual-use substance, meaning it has legitimate industrial uses but can also be weaponised.  
• Uses:  
  • In agriculture, it is widely used as a nitrogen fertilizer due to its high nutrient content.  
  • It is used for controlled blasting in quarries and excavation projects, and also forms a key component of various emulsions and gels used in mining-grade explosives.  
• Weaponization of Ammonium Nitrate:  
  • Pure ammonium nitrate is not explosive by itself and is classified as an oxidiser under United Nations classification of dangerous goods.   
  • It becomes volatile when combined with fuel oil, potassium chlorate, sulphur or other accelerants.  This mixture creates ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), a commonly used explosive.  
    • However, ANFO cannot detonate on its own; it requires a trigger such as a detonator, often initiated with primary explosives like RDX or TNT.