How suspension bridges work and the tragedy in Morbi

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: DM+ Governance   Sources: Indian Express  Context: The century-old cable suspension bridge in Gujarat’s Morbi, collapsed into the river, sending hundreds plunging into the water. The bridge was a tourist attraction and had long been hailed as a magnificent engineering marvel.    Technical reasons for the collapse of the 19th Century …

How the government is trying to control Big Tech

GS Paper 3 Syllabus Science and Technology/ Internal Security/Governance   Source : Indian Express Directions: Although the article was big, only important points are being provided here. You can use it for value addition. How government is trying to control BigTech? Draft telecom bill: it proposes to bring OTT communication platforms under its ambit, subjecting …

Indian Agri-Tech

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Agriculture: transport and marketing of agricultural produce   Context: FSG, a global consulting firm, has launched the Agritech Report 2022, “What’s next for Indian agri-tech   Agricultural technology, or agri-tech, is the use of technology in agriculture based on agricultural science, agronomy, and agricultural engineering. It aims to improve yield, efficiency, profitability, …

AI in Education: State of education report for India 2022

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology/ Governance/Social Justice/ Indian Society   Source: UNESCO Context: UNESCO has released the State of education report for India 2022: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education   Findings: India has the highest relative AI skill penetration rate ( over 3 times the global average) AI literacy is increasing and is …

CRISPR

GS Paper  3 Syllabus: Biotechnology   Source: Indian Express  Direction: Biotechnology is one of the favourites for UPSC mains as well as prelims. CRISPR has reached a decade of development this year. Those giving mains this time, plz don’t ignore this topic.  Context: Over the last 3 years, gene-editing technology with nearly unlimited potential has …

Keeping Big Tech in check

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology/ Internal Security/Governance   Source: Indian Express Context: US and India are looking to remove special protection available to social media platforms, called ‘safe harbour’. What is ‘Safe Harbour’? In the US, social media companies enjoy special protection under US’ the Communications Decency Act (CDA). It is similar to …

Single-use plastic

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Environment Conservation/ Science and Technology   Source: The Hindu Direction: Keep the basic concept of SUP, harmful effects, alternatives available, and rules governing it ready.  Context: MoEFCC has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 on August 12, 2021 India has signed a resolution to draw up an agreement (under …

The case of the missing scientific Indian

GS Paper 1 Syllabus: Indian Society   Source: The Hindu Direction: Context: This is an editorial piece. The author argues that India has failed to propagate scientific literacy not only among the public but also among scientists themselves   Scientific temper is an open-minded examination—a temper ever ready to welcome new knowledge and experiments, even …

Women in Science

GS Paper 3  Syllabus: Science and Technology   Source: Indian Express Direction: Keep a rough note on women in various fields such as women in defence, women in the judiciary, women in parliament, women in the social sector, women freedom fighters, women revolutionaries, and so on. For this article, no need to remember data, just …

Delhi Police’s use of facial recognition technology

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Internal Security   Source: The Hindu Direction: Those preparing for mains this time, plz have note ready on FRT, its working, its implications on individual rights and security of the nation. You may note down the points from it. Context: Delhi Police using facial recognition technology Facial recognition Technology is an …

An India Blockchain Platform

GS Paper 3  Syllabus: S&T/ Governance   Source: Indian Express Context: The author argues for use of blockchain technology for e-governance in India A digital infrastructure based on blockchain technology will transform the digital ecosystem in India and will enable the future of digital services, platforms, applications, content, and solutions. Recent steps for digital infrastructure: …

Recalling India’s Antarctica activities

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology   Source: The Hindu Context: Antarctica Bill 2022 was passed Direction: This was already discussed in the  Previous Article, 1-2 points extra have been added from Jai Ram Ramesh’s article. The Antarctic treaty (signed in 1959 and implemented in 1961) made it mandatory for the 54 signatory countries to specific laws governing territories on …

Private players can use drones for delivery purposes in accordance with Drone Rules, 2021

GS paper 2 Syllabus: Drone Rules, 2021, application of drones etc   Source: PIB Context: The government is utilizing the services of drone providers for vaccine delivery, an inspection of oil pipelines and power transmission lines, agricultural spraying, etc. Private players can now also do so. In 2021, the government notified the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) …

Need for a new legal framework governing telecommunication in India

GS2/GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Governance/ S&T   Source: PIB Context: Given emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, etc., the Ministry of Communication has underscored the need to have a legal framework for these technologies. Direction: Just go through it once. This is just a draft framework and may change in the future. Proposals of the …

Use of technology to make efficient auto vehicles

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Science and Technology   Source: Indian Express Context: Nudged by tough BS6 emission norms, automakers are offering mild and strong hybrid options in their vehicles and using technology to make vehicles efficient (Just remember a few names to be written in the mains answer and some basic terminology of engine for …