Facts for Prelims Source: IE Context: The second edition of 10 days Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX 2023) started in Pune. The exercise is centred around Humanitarian Mine Assistance and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Objective: Promoting the idea of Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT) Improving coordination in UN Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF) …
Facts for Prelims Source: DTE Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 crore on the Kerala government for failing to protect the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes (Ramsar list of wetlands) Issues: The wetlands had become polluted drains due to the dumping of pharmaceutical waste, plastic waste, household …
Facts for Prelims Source: IE Context: Brazilian researchers recently captured high-speed video footage of positive upward discharges of electricity from lightning conductor rods in São José dos Campos What is Upwards lightning? Upward lightning is a phenomenon where lightning streaks develop from tall objects that travel upward toward electrified storm clouds (opposite to normal …
Facts for Prelims Source: TH Context: The article explains why most deadly viruses contain RNA, unlike most organisms which use DNA to store genetic information What is an RNA? Why do most deadly viruses contain RNA? On the other hand, DNA is more stable, error-free and doesn’t mutate easily.
Facts for Prelims Source: DTE Context: Astronomers recorded the brightest gamma-ray radiation ever in October 2022, causing disruptions in radio signals on Earth and cutting across our solar system. The radiation pulse, named GRB 221009A, was a birth cry of a black hole and lasted five minutes. The observation challenges the theory of …
Facts for Prelims Source: PIB Context: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the people of India for achieving over $750 Billion in exports in the 75th year of India’s independence India’s goods and services exports touched an all-time high of $422 billion and $254 billion respectively in 2021-22. India exports maximum to USA …
Facts for Prelims Source: TH Context: SEBI, the markets regulator in India, has approved several proposals for boosting the corporate governance ecosystem and preventing fraud and market abuse by stockbrokers
Facts for Prelims Source: PIB, IE Context: Under the aegis of India’s G20 Presidency, an 11-member G20 Expert Group on “Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) has been constituted. What is MDB? MDB is a financial institution established by multiple member countries and falls under international law. E.g., International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development …
Facts for Prelims Source: PIB Context: The government has launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, the “New India Literacy Programme” (NILP) for implementation during five years from the FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) Source: PIB ‘S’ stands for Security for Citizens ‘E’ for Economic Development ‘C’ for Connectivity ‘U’ for Unity ‘R’ for Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Unity ‘E’ for Environment Protection. Usage: the acronym can be used for deliberating on the dimensions of SCO in an International Relations paper.
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) Source: TOI Japanese farmers are hiring labour from India to cut and carry down Koyamaki (umbrella pines) from mountains, due to its ageing populations. Significance: This mutually beneficial agreement helps Japan with its worker shortages and India with its overabundance of young farmers. Usage: The example can be …
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) Source: LM Blended finance is a financing mechanism that combines public, private, and philanthropic funds to support social and environmental projects. Significance: Blended finance can help attract private capital to projects that are otherwise difficult to finance (e.g., projects related to the fulfilment of SDGs), and help achieve social and …
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) Source: HBL Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that making bitumen (used for laying roads) from agricultural waste like rice husk can save up to ₹30,000 crores annually in import bills. Bitumen is a thick low-grade crude oil that is generally composed of asphaltene resin and is …
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment Conservation Source: ET Context: The power ministry issued a draft ‘Carbon Credit Trading Scheme’ to set up a framework for the Indian carbon market and sought feedback from stakeholders. What is Carbon Credit? A carbon credit is a tradable permit representing the right to emit a set amount of …
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology Source: BBC Context: Key figures in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), including Twitter’s Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have signed an open letter calling for a suspension of the training of powerful AI systems What are the dangers of developing super-intelligent AI? …
Continue reading “Experts urging a halt to Artificial Intelligence training”
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability Source: TH Context: Even though good public policies spur economic growth, and public welfare and improve the ease of living for citizens, there is little interest in public policy education in India. Background: Most executive jobs in the organised sector are in …
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections Source: TH Context: The Karnataka government’s recent decisions on the reservation have come under intense political debate. Reservation to religious minorities: At present, there is no reservation in Civil Posts and Services under the …
Continue reading “Karnataka: Reservation for Muslims under the OBC category”
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Issues Relating to the Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources Source: IE Context: The Rajya Sabha Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, has recommended To accelerate the process for granting the Institute of Eminence (IOE) status. To realign the IoE …
