GS Paper 2/3 Syllabus: Government policies/Issues Relating to Health/Economy Source: PIB Context: With an aim to improve medical tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism (2022). Background: India has been ranked 10th in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) for 2020-2021 …
Continue reading “National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment Source: TH Context: According to an IPCC report, climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health and a window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all is fast closing. Background: Through its multiple assessment …
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation Source: IE Context: According to a Global Commission on the Economics of Water report, human activities (from destroying forests to burning gas-oil-coal for energy) are disrupting the rainfall the world depends on. Background: The report comes ahead of a key U.N. Water Conference – …
Continue reading “Water warning: How ‘vanishing’ rainfall is threatening economic stability”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc./Investment models Source: IE Context: Infrastructure in emerging economies like India has seemingly become both a demonstration of good and a necessity. Importance of Infrastructure in emerging economies: Simultaneously works as a national aspiration good, A barometer of national progress, A mechanism for …
Continue reading “Will the national champions model of infrastructure development work?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Source: AIR Context: The Union Defence Ministry has introduced the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha. Background: The bill comes ahead of the impending move to establish integrated or joint commands → all the assets of …
Continue reading “Govt introduces bill in Lok Sabha to strengthen tri-services commanders’ powers”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Disaster Management Source: TH Context: The Kochi landfill site around Brahmapuram that caught fire was a stark reminder that Indian cities need to be prepared for more such incidents as summer approaches. What triggers landfill fires? A landfill site is a site for the disposal of waste materials and …
Continue reading “Why do landfills catch fire and what can we do about them?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism Source: IE Context: The state government of Manipur decided to withdraw from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with two hill-based tribal militant groups. Background: Two hill-based tribal militant groups – Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) were allegedly …
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Infrastructure (Energy) Source: IE Context: An integrated approach that focuses on renewable energy along with the exploration of traditional fuels is the key to energy security in the next 25 years in India. Need for an integrated approach: 3As: Ensuring energy access, availability and affordability for India’s large population. …
Continue reading “Powering the Amrit Kaal through an integrated approach to ensure energy security”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources Source: IE Context: India’s petroleum product exports to the EU have increased considerably over the past months as the region reduces imports of refined products from Russia, due to the war in Ukraine. Background: India is a major refiner …
Continue reading “The significance of the rise in India’s petroleum product exports to the EU”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Money laundering-related issues Source: IE Context: The Finance Ministry has amended the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and rules in line with the recommendations of the FATF – the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. Background: The government has been struggling to deal with the pandemic-era upsurge …
Continue reading “Amendments to PMLA rules and its impact on ‘politically exposed persons’, NGOs”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment, Conservation Source: TH Context: Since September 2022, India has translocated eight African cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa. Background: This is part of a long-term conservation plan to re-introduce the wild cat into the country after it became extinct in the 1950s, primarily due to hunting. …
Continue reading “Can the cheetahs help India’s grasslands?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life Source: TH Context: AI can traditionally be divided into Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI). AGI and ANI: The difference lies in their scope of intelligence and their ability to generalise knowledge across different contexts. …
Continue reading “Artificial intelligence: Comparing the types and their impacts”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment Source: DTE Context: Over the last year, the Union government has laid emphasis on promoting sustainable tourism in the Himalayan region. Background: The Indian Himalayan region, with its rich biodiversity, offers conditions suitable for several activities (recreation/adventure/religious pilgrimages) and attracts a large …
Continue reading “Tourism in the Himalayas is not uniform; its impacts though are detrimental”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Infrastructure (Energy)/Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Source: TH Context: The 2023 Union Budget has allocated ₹19,700 crore for the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This could help India establish itself as a green H2 superpower. Importance of Green H2 for India: India has committed to 50% electricity capacity from non-fossil …
Continue reading “How to become a green hydrogen superpower?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Source: BBC Context: After more than a decade of negotiations, the UN members have agreed (in New York, US) on the first-ever treaty – the UN High Seas Treaty, to protect the world’s oceans outside national boundaries. What are the high …
Continue reading “What is the UN High Seas Treaty and why is it needed?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Source: IE Context: Compensatory afforestation forms a significant component of various reforestation programmes being implemented in India. Background: India has promised to increase its forest and tree cover to absorb an additional 2.5 – 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by …
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment, Conservation, Pollution Source: DTE Context: According to the IEA’s ‘CO2 Emissions in 2022’ report, global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rose by under 1% in 2022. Background: The report is the first in a new series, the Global Energy Transitions Stocktake, which will bring together the IEA’s …
Continue reading “A plateau? Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022, says IEA”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment, Conservation Source: IE Context: The certification industry offers a multi-layer audit system that seeks to authenticate the origin, legality, and sustainability of forest-based products such as timber, etc. Background: With climate change, deforestation has become a critically sensitive issue globally. Forests absorb large amounts of CO2, keeping a check …
Continue reading “Our forests are under threat – here’s how they are certified”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment, Conservation, Pollution Source: IE Context: Coral reefs are not looking too healthy as increased ocean temperature caused by climate change is the main cause of coral bleaching events. Coral reefs: These are limestone structures (found in more than 100 countries) built by thousands of tiny coral creatures called polyps …
Continue reading “Coral reefs damaged: What’s the big deal?”
GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Infrastructure (Energy) Source: TH Context: After a 3-year pandemic break, the coal industry in India welcomed back its major conference (Coaltrans India conference) with a positive forecast of demand, increased production from new mines and strong demand for imports. The prosperous future of the coal industry in India: Increased …
Continue reading “India cheers the return of ‘King Coal’ as the industry sees a buoyant future”
