Mapping Source: TH The port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador (a route for cocaine trafficking from neighbouring Colombia to the United States and Europe) is grappling with a devastating battle for control among criminal gangs, leaving the country broken. The violence has escalated dramatically in recent years, making Ecuador the fourth most violent country in …
Mapping Source: IE Sweden’s request for joining NATO membership has been facing hurdles (Turkey and Hungary have still not approved). Previously, Finland joined NATO. Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. Its capital Stockholm is built on 14 islands. Historically, …
Source: Nature Context: A new study has revealed that Injecting ageing monkeys with a ‘longevity factor’ protein that can restore levels of Klotho, can improve their cognitive function, a study reveals. What is Klotho? Klotho is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the KL gene and produced in Kidney. Circulating levels of …
Source: HBL Context: Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL) (state PSU) has started dispatching indigenously made Hydrazine Hydrate, a chemical product used in various industries. This move aims to reduce India’s dependence on imports from Europe. What is Hydrazine Hydrate? Hydrazine Hydrate is a chemical compound with the formula N2H4·H2O. It is a …
Source: IE Context: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a new variety of wheat called PBW RS1, which has high amylose starch content. Advantages: Reduce the risks of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases: Chapatis made from this wheat release glucose more slowly into the bloodstream, providing a feeling of satiety and potentially …
Source: IE Context: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued a standard operating procedure (SoP) to prevent the use of freebies, illicit liquor, and other prohibited items to lure voters during upcoming elections in India. What is SoP? It is a set of guidelines and instructions that define how …
Continue reading “Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) by CBIC”
Source: TH Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Indian economy has overcome the twin-balance sheet problem and now enjoys a twin-balance sheet advantage. What is the Twin-Balance Sheet problem? The twin-balance sheet problem refers to a situation in which both banks and corporates face financial distress simultaneously. It occurs when banks …
Source: TH Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) clarified in the Supreme Court that the challenges it faced in the Hindenburg-Adani allegations case were from the lack of a requirement to disclose the ‘last natural person above every person’ owning an economic interest in the FPIs. What is ‘Last Natural …
Continue reading “Last Natural Person Above Every Person Clause”
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: The Print Context: Austria and Switzerland, traditionally neutral countries, have joined the ‘European Sky Shield Initiative’ (ESSI) for air defence in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. About ESSI: The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is a regional grouping of European countries aimed at developing a common air and missile …
Source: TH The use of wastewater for public health surveillance offers significant benefits for disease prevention and control. It is a cost-effective approach that does not rely on invasive samples from individuals. Wastewater surveillance, integrated with existing surveillance mechanisms, could enhance India’s epidemiological capabilities by providing real-time insights into community-level disease patterns. This integration …
Content for Mains Enrichment Source: TH Noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam has shown support for Kerala’s Cinema Tourism project, which aims to attract tourists by showcasing prime locations featured in popular films. E.g., the Government is trying to promote Bekal Fort in Kasaragod district, where scenes from his film Bombay were shot. Similar tourism is promoted …
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger Source: TH Context: According to the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023, a total of 415 million people moved out of poverty in India within just 15 years from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021. What is the global MPI? It is a key international resource …
GS Paper 1 Syllabus: Role of Women and Women’s Organization Source: TH Context: World Population Day (July 11) is a time to look at how India’s demographic journey has changed the lives of its citizens, particularly its women. India’s population: It grew from about 340 million at Independence to 4 billion. This growth …
Continue reading “Impact of India’s demographic journey on Women’s Lives”
GS Paper 1 Syllabus: Physical Geography of India (Drainage, Climate) Source: TH Context: Northern India is currently in the midst of an extremely wet phase of the monsoon. What is an extremely heavy rainfall event? It occurs when more than 205 mm of rainfall happens at any place within a 24-hour period. (IMD) …
Continue reading “Extreme rain events: How unusual, what is causing them”
