Stubble Burning and its impact on health:

GS Paper 3 Topics Covered: Conservation and Pollution related issues.   Context: A study was conducted recently in six villages of Patiala, Punjab on Stubble Burning and impacts on health.   Key findings of the study: Pollution from stubble burning significantly reduced lung function and was particularly harmful to rural women. The concentrations of PM2.5, the …

What are Technical Textiles?

GS Paper 3 Topics Covered: Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.   Context: The Centre is targeting five times’ increase in export of technical textiles in three years.   Technical Textiles market and India’s share in it: The world market for technical textiles is $250 billion and India’s share is $19 billion. The biggest players …

Edible oil prices

GS Paper 3 Topics Covered: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country.   Edible oil prices Context: The prices of most major cooking oils have dropped and stabilised across the country in the run-up to Diwali.   Reasons for the drop in prices: Stabilisation of global prices. Duty cuts. Cut in wholesale prices …

Hamas and Gaza Strip:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.   Context: Egypt is seeking to reach an agreement on a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in Gaza.   The Agreement includes: Long-term cease-fire, a prisoner swap, humanitarian aid to Gaza and …

China-Taiwan relations

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: India and its neighbours.   China-Taiwan relations Context: The European Parliament’s first official delegation to Taiwan has come in support of Taiwan and said that the diplomatically isolated island is not alone. It called for bolder actions to strengthen EU-Taiwan ties as Taipei faces rising pressure from Beijing.   Need for: …

Khasi Inheritance of Property Bill, 2021:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Government Policies and issues arising out of it.   Context: Last week, a district autonomous council in Meghalaya announced that it would introduce the ‘Khasi Inheritance of Property Bill, 2021. It is aimed at “equitable distribution” of parental property among siblings in the Khasi community.   Implications: If implemented, the …