EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : India’s G-20 opportunity for an African Renaissance

  Source: The Hindu   Prelims: Current events of international importance, G20, Global south, BRICS, ECOWAS, etc. Mains GS Paper II & III: Bilateral, regional and global grouping and agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests.   ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Africa is flagging its demands nowadays on multilateral fora such as BRICS, the G-20 and the …

[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 25 August 2023

  InstaLinks :  help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to …

Panama Canal

Mapping   Source: WEF A severe drought in Panama is causing extensive delays for cargo ships transiting the Panama Canal, a vital route connecting almost 2,000 ports across 170 countries.   About the Panama Canal The Panama Canal is an 82 km artificial waterway in Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and dividing North …

Khelo India initiative

  Source: BS This initiative was introduced by the Indian government in 2017 and serves as a dynamic platform to nurture sports talent and revive the sporting culture of India. It encompasses the: Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) (commenced 2018): Annual national competition for youngsters representing states Khelo India University Games (KIUG) (commenced 2020): Showcases …

FIDE Chess World Cup

Sports   Source: TH In the FIDE World Cup finals, Magnus Carlsen secured his first-ever title, defeating Indian chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa in Baku, Azerbaijan. Praggnanandhaa has become the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach a World Cup final. Praggnanandhaa’s spirited performance earned him a spot in the prestigious Candidates Tournament, despite his loss. …

Indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile

  Source: PIB  Context: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7, known as “Tejas,” successfully launched the indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile called ASTRA. The missile was fired from the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet and achieved all test objectives flawlessly. The test was closely supervised by the Aeronautical Development Agency …

Deficiency in micronutrients in soil linked to the health of children and women

  Source: DTE  Context: A new study titled “Soil micronutrients linked to human health in India,” has revealed a significant connection between soil micronutrients and the nutritional well-being of individuals, particularly children and adult women.    Key Findings: The study found that districts with a higher proportion of soil zinc samples showed notably lower rates …

Hubble Space Telescope captures ‘ghostly’ glow of distant galaxy

  Source: Space.com    Context: The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of a distant galaxy named ESO 300-16, situated approximately 28.7 million light-years away in the Eridanus constellation. ESO 300-16 is categorized as an irregular galaxy due to its vague shape and absence of features like spiral arms or a nuclear bulge. It …

Why rural India shifted to sugars and processed foods

  Source: DTE  Context: A research study conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has revealed that rural families in India are increasingly relying on carbohydrates and sugary processed foods instead of protein and micronutrient-rich options.    Key Findings: The shift from traditional diets is attributed to factors like limited …

Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) Initiative

  Source: ET  Context: The Ministry of Coal is driving a transformative initiative known as Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) to revolutionize coal transportation in India. This strategy integrates rail and sea transportation to create an efficient movement of domestic coal, connecting mining sites, ports, and end-users. The goal is to enhance logistical efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and …

First ABDM Microsite

  Source: PIB  Context: The National Health Authority (NHA) introduced the ABDM Microsite project to accelerate the adoption of digital health services across India. Mizoram is the first state to operationalize an ABDM Microsite, ensuring that healthcare facilities, including private clinics, small hospitals, and labs, become ABDM-enabled and offer digital health services to patients. The …

C.R. Rao

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: Renowned statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishnan Rao, known as C.R. Rao, has passed away at the age of 102. He was among the world’s most eminent statisticians and spent a significant part of his career in India. Rao was instrumental in pioneering fundamental statistical concepts like the Cramer–Rao inequality …

SeamlessM4T

Content for Mains Enrichment   Source: IE Meta has introduced an advanced AI model called SeamlessM4T that can translate and transcribe nearly 100 languages across text and speech. This model aims to break language barriers and facilitate communication across diverse languages. It has the ability to recognize when a speaker is code-switching or when someone moves between …

Significance of Chandrayaan-3 Mission and ISRO’s future mission

GS Paper 3  Syllabus: Science and Technology: Space   Source: IE, IE  Context: The article is in continuation of yesterday’s post on the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.   Significance of Chandrayaan-3 for India:   Other upcoming Planetary missions of ISRO: Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX): Aims to explore the Moon’s polar regions and shaded areas; Investigate water …

India’s protectionist Industrial Policy

GS Paper 3  Syllabus: Industrial Policies Since Independence    Source: BS  Context: The author discusses India’s protectionist policies in manufacturing and electronics, contrasting them with targeted approaches in the US and EU.    What meaning of Protectionist measures? It refers to economic policies and actions taken by a country to protect its domestic industries, businesses, …

Pakistan Army Act

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: International Relations   Source: TH Context: The Pakistan Senate passed a Bill on July 27, 2023, to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952.   What is the ongoing issue with Pakistan? The ongoing political crisis in Pakistan has escalated with the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The conflict centres …

Expansion of BRICS

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: Multilateral Organizations   Source: IE   Context: The alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa invited six more countries (Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia) to join, starting in January 2024. This article is in continuation of the article “Admitting new members to BRICS” posted four days …

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : The U.K.-India relationship is alive with opportunity

               Source: The Hindu   Prelims: Current events of international importance(FTA, India-UK relations, G20, tariff etc) Mains GS Paper II & III: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India and affecting India’s interests etc   ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS The U.K. and India share a thriving trading relationship, worth £36 billion in 2022. INSIGHTS ON THE …