EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : With climate change, tackling new disease scenarios

  Source: The Hindu Prelims: Current events of national importance, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Nipah virus, The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) etc Mains GS Paper I & II: Development and management of social sectors/services related to Health and education etc ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS The latest report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate …

[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 27 September 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 their …

Haifa (Isreal)

Mapping   Source: IE The Battle of Haifa (1918), fought during WWI as part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign, was historically overlooked until research by Brig. M S Jodha shed light on the contributions of Indian soldiers. The Battle of Haifa had significant long-term effects, leading to the partition of the Ottoman Empire and …

Bharat Drone Shakti 2023

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: PIB  Context: The first-ever drone exhibition and display, “Bharat Drone Shakti 2023,” was inaugurated by India’s Defence Minister, at the Hindan Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This event, jointly organized by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Drone Federation of India (DFI), showcases over 75 drone …

Nilgiri tahr

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH   Context: The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is planning to conduct a comprehensive census of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, along with Kerala. There are believed to be a little over 3,100 Nilgiri tahrs in the Western Ghats region. For the first time, drones may be used in the …

Asola Bhatti sanctuary

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: IE   Context: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, is set to conduct a study on the biodiversity of the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi and formulate a management plan for the sanctuary. The study aims to assess the potential socio-economic impacts on nearby villages by preserving …

Kole wetlands

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: The Kole wetlands in Kerala, an internationally important Ramsar site known for its high biodiversity, are facing a new threat from an invasive alien plant species called Cabomba furcuta, also known as Pink Bloom. This species, originating from Central and South America, has been introduced to Kerala …

Maharashtra’s ephemerals

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: In parts of Maharashtra, certain plant species known as “ephemerals” wait for the monsoon season to bloom. These ephemerals include both annual and perennial plants. Annual ephemerals form new individuals each year, briefly appearing for a short period, producing seeds, and remaining dormant until the next year. …

Green hydrogen-run bus

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has introduced India’s first green hydrogen-powered bus, which emits only water vapour as its by-product. Green hydrogen is an environmentally friendly option as it only emits water vapour when burned and has three times the energy density of other fuels. It requires 50 …

Indian Standards on Biofuel to Aid GBA’s Clean Energy Goals

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: PIB   Context: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has announced that Indian standards on biofuels will significantly support the objectives of the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA). BIS has developed nine Indian standards on biofuels, including specifications for anhydrous ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biodiesel-diesel fuel blends, hydrous ethanol, E85 fuel, …

Foreign Contribution Regulations Act

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TOI  Context: Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), NGOs and associations registered to receive foreign contributions must now annually declare details of movable and immovable assets created using those contributions.    About the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act: FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976amid apprehensions that foreign powers …

Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: PIB  Context: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has introduced a Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan to simplify the registration of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and biogas plants across India. So far, over 1,163 biogas plants and 426 CBG plants have been successfully registered …

Odhuvars

Content for Mains Enrichment Source: Outlook The Government of Tamil Nadu appointed 15 ‘odhuvars’ to government-controlled Hindu temples, including five women odhuvars, a “milestone in the journey for equality.”   Who are Odhuvars? Odhuvars sing devotional hymns in Tamil Nadu’s Hindu temples but are not priests. They are in the service of Lord Shiva by …

India’s GDP measurement and its limitations

GS Paper 3  Syllabus: Indian Economy   Source: IE  Context: Accurate GDP measurement is crucial for India’s economic goals. Currently, India’s GDP base year is outdated (2011-12), which may not capture recent economic activities and investments.    What is GDP?  Gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods …

Findings of Parliament Panel on NEP

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: Education: NEP 2020   Source: TH  Context: This is an extension of the article on 25th September (Parliamentary panel on MEME system in NEP 2020)   Other Key Findings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education:       Recommendations by the Committee: