ASEAN & India’s Indo-Pacific Vision - By Satish Kumar Karna
The Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions have long been hubs of economic expansion and are among the most active in the entire world. Thus, these areas continue to see changes in geopolitics and geostrategic alignment. These changes bring both opportunity and difficulties. While, on the one hand, the region's economic expansion creates opportunities for collaboration to reduce poverty and raise millions of people's living standards, on the other hand, the
Global Climate Governance: An Evolutionary Perspective - By Chandrakant Singh
A very active campaign has been going on for the last two years to get every country to sign on to a net-zero goal for 2050. It is being argued that global carbon neutrality by 2050 is the only way to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping the planet’s temperature from rising beyond 2°C compared to pre-industrial times. Current policies and actions being taken to reduce emissions would not
Indigenization of Technology in India - By Chronicle Editorial Team
Technology is a key component in accelerating progress in the modern world, as nations compete fiercely for the best resources in the military, economics, and infrastructure. The ability of the person who operates the machines to understand technology, though, is much more crucial. As a result, governments around the world who want to see their country succeed place a high priority on indigenizing technology and switching to new technologies.In a
WTO & India: Changing Dynamics - By Sharmila Senthil Kumar
Trade delegates made strategic moves during the WTO’s six-day ministerial conference to deprioritize their national interests in order to benefit the common good. There was also quiet but critical compromise between the US and China that settled the question of Beijing’s ability to sidestep patent rights under the WTO’s new intellectual-property waiver.The WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) took place from 12th to 17th June 2022 at WTO headquarters in Geneva.
Pragya - 91thAIR - UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021
Pragya Jat, AIR 91, CSE 2021, is an epitome of motivation for many civil service aspirants who dream of becoming an IAS officer despite the hurdles. Presenting to you here is an interview with Mr. Ayush Sinha, founder and director of Forum IAS and Pragya. Ayush - Pragya, a very warm welcome to you and congratulations for securing Rank 91 in CSE 2021. Can you please introduce yourself? Pragya - I am Pragya. I am 24 years old. I graduated in B.A. Honors (Economics) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University in 2018. My family hails from Rajasthan. My father worked for Indian Railways. I currently reside in Gurgaon. Ayush - Pragya, what motivated you to take the most prestigious exam of the country? Pragya – My father suggested me to go for Civil Services and gradually, the idea sinked in and I went for it after graduation. Ayush - How did you come to know about Forum IAS? Pragya - After graduation in 2018, I came across Anudeep sir’s blogs who secured Rank 1 the same year. He had been a part of Forum’s Test series. It was then I heard about Forum IAS and later, joined for Mains Guidance Program (MGP). Ayush - What is your take on the choice of Newspaper for the preparation of Civil Services? Pragya - Keeping a tab on the news on a daily basis has been an eternal struggle for me and reading every piece of micro-news is overwhelming for me. So, for this attempt, I decided to quit reading the newspaper. I will not advocate for this kind of move to my fellow students; everyone should do what works best for them. Ayush - How did you manage with the Current Affairs given the fact that you quit reading Newspaper? Pragya - As far as working on the Current Affairs (CA) was concerned, I relied on the yearly compilations for Prelims and joined Forum’s CA classes for the Mains. Also, Dipin sir’s classes were really good and his notes helped me a lot in working on the Current affairs. Ayush - Though at Forum we suggest giving 4-5 months for prelims especially when you have not been able to clear the same a couple of times, how much time did you devote for the prelims? Pragya - 2-3 months. I have barely given much thought how much time others devote in the preparation; I simply, went with the flow. Ayush - What was your strategy for the preparation of Prelims? Pragya - This was my third attempt at the prelims. I did not adopt any particular strategy for the preparation. I just kept working hard.I kept solving mocks. Ayush – Most of the students struggle with this question that at what stage the toppers bubble the circle in Prelims. What was your strategy? Pragya – I used to bubble the circle immediately after reading the question because the probability of making a mistake at the end becomes higher. Ayush – How did your day look like during the preparation of prelims? Pragya – I studied for almost 8-10 hours daily with intermittent breaks. I used to watch videos right before sleeping just to absorb the content during sleep as well. Ayush - What was your approach to GS paper 1? Pragya - I did not give much time to History as I had this subject during 11th and 12th. As we neared the exam, I simply read through the notes of previous years toppers. Also, while solving the tests under MGP, I would note down a topic/question that was unknown to me and later, learned the answers to the same. For Geography, I made diagrammatic notes. Ayush - What was your approach to GS paper 2? Pragya - I read Laxmikant and would look at only those topics that I meant to remember. Dipin sir’s classes also covered a lot of topics. Ayush - What was your approach to GS paper 3? Pragya – Topics like Disaster Management, Geography, and Environment are a part of Paper 1; so the preparation overlapped for GS paper1 and 3. For Security, I prepared at the time of prelims. For Economy, I just went through the basics as it was my subject during graduation. Ayush - What was your approach to GS paper 4? Pragya - In my opinion, paper 4 is a bit tricky as everyone can write the answers, but a good one, only a few can. I worked on writing answers of Ethics and later sought help from answers of other toppers. Also, I worked on quotes and captured a lot of examples to enhance my answers. The Red Book by Forum on Ethics helped in this. Ayush - How did you tackle Essay writing? Pragya – As I used to participate in debates when in school, my brain was programmed for breaking the topic in parts that would bring out the best motion and analytics. I wrote total 4 essays at Forum. I also went through essays of toppers. I would write the essay with a timer and prepared a rough draft before attempting an essay. The quotes and examples were an added advantage. Ayush - Why did you choose Sociology as your Optional subject? Pragya - I did not do well in Economics in college. So, I decided to go for an altogether different subject. Also, reading about Sociology here and there, developed my interest towards the subject. Ayush – You were a part of Augmented Test Series (ATS) - Sociology here at Forum. How did you benefit from the same? Pragya – I wrote 3 tests and later, went through the answers. Any point that was not covered in my notes or sources of study, I would include that. The Value addition Classes at Forum were also an added advantage in enhancing my answers. Ayush – How much did you score in the Personality test? Who were the board members in your Interview? How was your experience? Pragya – My score in Personality test was 193. I faced T. C. Anand Sir’s board. It was extremely cordial. I was nervous before the interview but all went well. Though I could not answer all the
In Focus
NITI Aayog’s Report on India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy
On 27th June, 2022, NITI Aayog launched a report titled ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy: Perspectives and Recommendations’ on Future of Work’. About the Report The report is a first-of-its-kind study that presents comprehensive perspectives and recommendations on the gig–platform economy in India. The report provides a scientific methodological approach to estimate
Plans/Policies
Five Years of Goods and Services Tax
On July 1, 2022, Goods and Services Tax (GST) marked five years of implementation of the goods & service tax (GST) regime. About GST Though the Indian Goods and Services Tax came into force on July 1, 2017, it was in the works for at least 12 years before that. The Kelkar
Industry
International MSMEs Day
International MSME Day is observed every year on 27th June all over the world to highlight the significance of MSMEs. The United Nations (UN) designated 27th June as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day through a resolution passed in the UN General Assembly in April 2017. Theme for 2022 “Resilience and Rebuilding: MSMEs
EASE 5.0 'Common Reforms Agenda' for PSBs
Recently, government launched the fifth edition of Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE 5.0), which spells out the common reforms agenda for public sector banks under the EASENext program. EASENext will have two components: EASE 5.0, which is a common reforms agenda for all PSBs, and a bank-specific medium-term action plan. Need
Business Reform Action Plan 2020
On 30th June, Finance Ministry released the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP)-2020. Reform & Regulatory Areas in BRAP 2020 The BRAP 2020 includes 301 reform points covering 15 business regulatory areas, such as access to information, single window system, labour and land administration. 118 new reforms were included to further augment the reform
Reports & Indices
RBI Payment Vision 2025
On 17th June, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released “Payments Vision 2025” with an objective to provide users with safe, secure, fast, convenient, accessible and affordable e-payment options. Core Theme E-Payments for Everyone, Everywhere, Everytime (4 Es) Vision Provide every user with Safe, Secure, Fast, Convenient, Accessible, and Affordable e-payment options
Report of the Regulations Review Authority 2.0
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India released the report of the Regulations Review Authority (RRA) 2.0 Key Recommendations It recommended a periodic review of existing regulations to align them with evolving developments in industry practices and the financial landscape withdrawal of additional 239 redundant circulars. Recommended complete elimination of paper-based returns and has
Miscellaneous
Dutch Disease
Recently the research paper titled “40 years of Dutch Disease literature: lessons for developing countries”, was published by Edouard Mien and Michael Goujon. About Dutch Disease Dutch Disease in economics refers to a phenomenon wherein a country witnesses uneven growth across sectors due to the discovery of natural resources, especially large oil
News Snippets
Economic Calculation Problem
Also known as the socialist calculation debate, it was first presented in 1920 by Ludwig Von Mises in his essay, Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth. It refers to an important academic debate on the question of whether centrally planned economies can allocate scarce resources efficiently. The economic calculation problem
Cost Inflation Index (CII)
CII is a way to calculate inflation, that is, an estimated increase in the price of a good or service over the years. Usually, for the calculation of CII, gains on long term capital are taken into account. CII is notified under the Income Tax Act, 1961’s Section
Input Tax Credit
Input Tax Credit is an aggregate total amount of tax paid by a registered dealer on the total purchases made by him within the State from other dealers. It can be adjusted against the tax payable by the purchasing dealer on his sales. It is available for the purchase of
Project Bandhan
It has been launched to tackle pink bollworm menace in cotton. Pheromone trap, mating disruption being used to restrict the pest population. As the pink bollworm infestation spreads in cotton plants in North India, stakeholders including the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), State agricultural universities and private players including
GST Composition Scheme
It is an alternative method of tax levy under GST designed to simplify compliance and reduce compliance costs for small taxpayers. The main feature of this scheme is that the business or person who has opted to pay tax under this scheme can pay tax at a flat percentage of
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)
PMI is an indicator of business activity — both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before. It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then
NIRYAT Information Portal
The National Import-Export for Yearly Analysis of Trade (NIRYAT) portal where importers and ex- porters can get all necessary information related to foreign trade will provide real time data to stakeholders. It will contain information related to more than 30 commodity groups exported to more than 200 countries. Also, information
In Focus
Critical Information Infrastructure
On 17th June, 2022, the government declared the IT resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and UPI managing entity NPCI as critical information infrastructure (CII). It implies any harm to them can have an impact on national security. About CII According to the Information Technology Act of 2000 “Critical Information Infrastructure" as a
Indian Polity & Governance
Electoral Reforms: EC mulls for One Candidate One Constituency
Recently, the Election Commission (EC) proposed the Ministry of Law & Justice to limit the seats from which a candidate can contest to just one. Earlier EC had made a proposal to the government in 2004 and 2016 to amend the provisions of the concerned Act to restrict the candidate to
Economic Impact of Select Decisions of the SC and National Green Tribunal
On 20th June, 2022, a report titled ‘Economic Impact of Select Decisions of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal of India (NGT)’ was submitted to the NITI Aayog. The study was conducted by CUTS (Consumer Unity and Trust Society) which was commissioned and fully funded by the NITI Aayog. The study
Inter-State Council
Recently, Tamil Nadu government urged the Union government to conduct at least three meetings of the Inter-State Council every year to strengthen the spirit of cooperative federalism. Issues Highlighted by Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu flagged the lack of regular meetings; there has been no meeting since July 2016. There have been instances
Guidelines for Advertisements 2022
On 10th June, 2022, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) notified ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’. The Guidelines apply to advertisements published on all platforms including print, television, and digital platforms. Objective To curb misleading advertisements and protect the consumers, who may be exploited or affected
National Statistics Day
National Statistics Day is celebrated every year on 29 June to mark the birth anniversary of late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis’s work in the field of Statistics. The day was observed for the first time on June 29, 2007. PC Mahalanobis is known as the father of Indian statistics. He was also a
Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
On 29th June, 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). Aim Increasing efficiency of PACS. Bringing transparency and accountability in PACS’ operations. Facilitating PACS to diversify their business and undertake multiple activities/ services. Need PACS are still functioning manually resulting in inefficiency and trust deficit. In some
Plan/Policy/Initiatives
National Air Sports Policy 2022
On 7th June, 2022, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched National Air Sport Policy 2022 (NASP 2022). Vision: India as one of the top air sports nations by 2030. Mission: To provide a safe, affordable, accessible, enjoyable and sustainable air sports ecosystem in India. Objectives Promote an air sports culture in the country Enable adoption
Indian Railway Innovation Policy
On 13th June, 2022, the government launched Indian Railway Innovation Policy- “StartUps for Railways”. Objective Leveraging new innovative technologies, developed by entrepreneurs and Startups, for improving Operational efficiency & Safety on Indian Railways. Salient Features Grant up to Rs. 1.5 Crore to innovator on equal sharing basis with provision of milestone-wise payment. Complete process from
Important Reports
National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment Report 2021
On 13th June, 2022, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions released the second edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment 2021. About National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) had constituted the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) in 2019. It is part
News Snippets
Press Council of India
The Press Council of India is a statutory, adjudicating organisation in India formed in 1966 by its parliament. It is the self-regulatory watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press that operates under the Press Council Act of 1978. The Council has a chairman – traditionally, a
National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI)
On 7th June, 2022, government inaugurated National Tribal Research Institute in New Delhi. The NTRI will be the premier national institute for the promotion and preservation of tribal heritage and culture. It will provide policy inputs to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and State Welfare Departments with programs and studies
Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP)
RUPP are those parties- which are newly registered parties, which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become a state party, which have never contested elections since being registered are considered unrecognised parties. Such parties don’t enjoy all the benefits extended to the recognised parties. According to
India State Support Program for Road Safety
Recently, World Bank approves $250 mn loan for India State Support Program for Road Safety programme. The project will help establish a national harmonised crash database system in order to analyse accidents and use that to construct better and safer roads. It will be implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha,
In Focus
14th BRICS Summit
The 14th summit of BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa –was held on 23-24 June, 2022.The meeting, held virtually, was hosted by China. Theme Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development. Guest Countries Algeria, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Senegal,
International Relations
India and Vietnam to Boost Defence Partnership
During the recent visit of India’s Defence Minister to Vietnam, both countries agreed to boost bilateral cooperation, in particular defence partnership. Wide-ranging discussions on effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements and regional and global issues were held between the two sides. Key Highlights India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 Both
India-Israel Relations
Recently, Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister visited India. During his visit, various bilateral meetings were held. A wide range of issues concerning bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation were discussed during the meetings. Key Highlights Joint Declaration India and Israel presented a joint declaration marking 30 years of Israel-India relations. The
West Seti Hydroelectric Project
India will take over the West Seti Hydroelectric Project nearly four years after China withdrew from it, ending a six-year engagement between 2012 and 2018. India’s National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has already begun preliminary engagement of the site in far-western Nepal following Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Lumbini. About the
International North–South Transport Corridor
Recently, Iran started the first transfer of Russian goods to India via a new trade corridor which transits the West Asian nation. It was described as a ‘pilot transfer’ to check the corridor. The cargo will travel through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). INSTC About: INSTC is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation
World Issues
48th G7 Summit
The 48th annual G7 Summit was held in Germany from June 26 to June 28, 2022. India, along with Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa were invited to the summit as Partner Countries. A number of international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade
New Non-permanent Members of UNSC
As per the results of the election held recently, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland will join the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – the UN body responsible for the maintenance of global peace and security - beginning in January 2023. Overall, 192 UN Member States participated in the election. Selection of
Reports
Global Trends Report 2021
Recently, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released the Global Trends Report on forced displacements. Published annually, the Global Trends Report presents key statistical trends and the latest numbers of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons worldwide as well as numbers of people who have returned to
News Snippets
Living Lands Charter
Recently, Commonwealth leaders officially adopted the Living Lands Charter which commits all its member countries to safeguarding global land resources as well as taking coordinated action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable land management. It was announced on June 25, 2022, at the conclusion of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads
Juneteenth Day 2022
Juneteenth Day is observed on 19th June to commemorate the end of slavery in the US. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.” In 1865 an Order Number 3 was issued,
Title IX Law
On 23rd June 2022, the 50th anniversary of Title IX law was observed. Title IX, also called Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, was signed into law by US President Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972. The law is best known for its role in gender equity in
UNSC 1267 Committee
Recently, China blocked a joint move by India and the US to list Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist at the UN Security Council (UNSC) under Al-Qaeda and ISIL Sanctions Committee (UNSC 1267 Committee). The UNSC Resolution 1267 was adopted unanimously on 15th October, 1999.
e-Emergency X-Misc Visa
A day after the deadly terror attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Balain Afghanistan, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to grant an electronic visa, the e-Emergency X-Misc visas to over 100 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus on priority. e-Emergency X-Misc was introduced to fast-track visa applications for
Space Science
PSLV-C53/DS-EO Mission
On 30th June, 2022, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched three Singaporean satellites in a commercial mission of the New Space India Limited (NSIL) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This was the second launch of the year by ISRO. In February, the space agency placed an Indian
International Liquid-Mirror Telescope
Recently, the International Liquid-Mirror Telescope (ILMT) was commissioned at the Devasthal Observatory campus owned by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in Uttarakhand. It is the first liquid-mirror telescope in the country and the largest in Asia. The handful of liquid-telescopes that were previously built either tracked satellites or
Scientists Detect New Fast Radio Burst
Recently, astronomers reported a fast radio burst (FRB) whose characteristics are different from almost all other FRBs previously detected, except one.It has been named FRB 20190520B. The FRB was detected following scientists’ observation of a radio signal coming from a galaxy believed to be nearly 3 billion light-years away. The detection
New Technology & Innovations
Ultra-thin Heteroprotein Films
Recently, scientists from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have developed ultra-thin heteroprotein films which can pave the way for expanding applications of thin films in biomedical and food packaging industries. In the recent past, several
Artificial Photosynthesis
Recently, scientists from the University of California – Riverside and the University of Delaware have found a way to bypass the need for biological photosynthesis altogether and create food independent of sunlight by using artificial photosynthesis. Photosynthesis has evolved in plants for millions of years to turn water, carbon dioxide, and
Major Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
In a recent medical trial in the USA, 12 patients were completely cured of rectal cancer without requiring any surgery or chemotherapy. The trial used a monoclonal antibody - dostarlimab - every three weeks for six months for the treatment of a particular kind of stage two or three rectal cancer. About
Defence
Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile
On 24th June, 2022, the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. About VL-SRSAM Development: VL-SRSAM is an indigenous ship-borne
Government Policy
Geospatial Self Certification Portal
Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, launched the Self Certification Portal for conveying adherence to provisions of Geospatial Guidelines by individuals, companies, organisations and Government agencies. Background DST had released the new Geospatial Data Guidelines on February 15, 2021. The Guidelines mandated the replacement of process of
News Snippets
Psyche Mission
Psyche is the name of an asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter and the name of a NASA space mission to visit that asteroid. NASA has cancelled its planned 2022 launch attempt of the Psyche asteroid mission. Key objectives of the mission are to understand how planets
GSAT-24 Satellite
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has launched GSAT-24 in its first “demand-driven” communication satellite mission, leasing the entire capacity on board to Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider Tata Play. GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4180 kg with pan-India coverage for meeting DTH application needs. Built by Indian Space Research
Surya Nutan
Indian Oil and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas have developed an indigenous solar cooktop “Surya Nutan”. It is a stationary, rechargeable, and always kitchen-connected indoor solar cooking system. This is a patented product designed and developed by Indian Oil R&D Centre, Faridabad. It offers an online cooking mode
Black Death
The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East from 1346 to 1353. It is the most fatal pandemic ever recorded in human history, causing the death of 75–200 million people. It is commonly believed that the term Black Death gets
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a neurological disease in which a virus - Varicella zoster - causes inflammation of the nerves involved in facial movements. When the nerves get inflamed, they lose their ability to function, leading to temporary facial palsy or paralysis. There are 12 cranial nerves in the
GEMCOVAC-19
It is India’s first indigenously developed mRNA COVID vaccine and only third mRNA vaccine to be approved for COVID-19 in the world.Recently, GEMCOVAC-19 got ‘restricted emergency use’ nod for the 18-and-above age group. It was developed at Pune’s Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.It is a two-dose vaccine to be administered intramuscularly 28 days
In Focus
Environmental Performance Index 2022
Recently, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 was released. It provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. The EPI offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards in environmental performance and provides practical guidance for countries that aspire to move toward a sustainable future. About the Index A
Climate Change
Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
On 17th June, 2022, the meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) was held virtually. It was attended by twenty three major economies across the world and the Secretary General of United Nations. The MEF leaders shared the initiatives being taken by them to deliver on their
Climate Change Heating Up Indian Rivers
According to a recently published study, climate change may turn India’s rivers into hostile environments for aquatic life by 2070-2100. Key Highlights Coverage: The study covered seven Indian basins: Ganga, Narmada, Cauvery, Sabarmati, Tungabhadra, Musi and Godavari. Methodology: The team used computer-modelling to predict river water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels across the
Pollution
National Air Quality Resource Framework of India
On 22nd June, 2022, the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India inaugurated a Brainstorming Workshop to kick start an ambitious National Mission on National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI). Key Highlights About: NARFI is an information mechanism to help decision-makers in government, municipalities, start-ups and the private sector to
Microplastics in Antarctic Snow
According to a recently published research, microplastics have been found, for the first time, in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica. The pollutant poses a growing threat to the region’s ecosystem and could increase the melting of ice and snow. About Microplastics Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are smaller than 5 mm
Sustainable Development
‘Ocean Promise’: UNDP’s Blue Economy Vision
At the recently held UN Ocean Conference at Lisbon, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced ‘Ocean Promise’- its vision for Blue Economy. About the Promise UNDP’s Ocean Promise underscores that every penny invested in achieving the Paris Agreement is a penny invested in ocean health— the foundation of the sustainable blue
Reports
Sustainable Development Report 2022
Recently, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2022. The report assesses the progress of all 193 UN Member States on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report shows that multiple and simultaneous international crises have halted progress on the universal goals adopted by all UN
Renewables 2022 Global Status Report
Recently, the Renewables 2022 Global Status Report (GSR 2022) was released by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). The report documents the progress made in the renewable energy sector across the globe. Key Highlights Capacity Addition: Despite supply chain disruptions, shipping delays, and surging prices for wind and solar
News Snippets
India Forum for Nature-based Solutions
The forum - India’s first national coalition platform for urban nature-based solutions (NbS) - was launched at the 11th World Urban Forum in Poland. The forum is led by the National Institute of Urban Affairs’ Climate Centre for Cities (NIUA C-Cube) and anchored by World Resources Institute India (WRI India)
EU’s Nature Restoration Law
The European Commission (EC) recently tabled a new Nature Restoration Law with legally binding targets. The aim of the proposed regulation is to restore natural degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to remove and store carbon, and to reduce the impact of natural disasters linked to global
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has recently promised to provide $5.33 billion over the next four years to address problems related to biodiversity worldwide. The amount is 30 percent more than the last four years and at least 60 percent of the commitments will be related to biodiversity. GEF plans
2022 United Nations Ocean Conference
The United Nations-led Ocean Conference was held from June 27 to July 1, 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal. It was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal. The Conference sought to propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action. France would co-host
Kerala’s Red List of Birds
Kerala will soon have its own Red List of birds. The Kerala Bird Monitoring Collective led by Kerala Agricultural University and Bird Count India will conduct the regional Red List assessment. Once it gets ready, Kerala will be the first State to have a region-specific Red List of birds.
Menar Bird Village
Recognised as the “bird village” following community-driven conservation efforts, Menar in Udaipur district in Rajasthan is set to be notified as the state’s new wetland. The two lakes in the village – the Brahma and Dhandh play host to a large number of migratory birds in the winter season every
News Notes
Appointments
Yair Lapid
Yair Lapid has become Israel's interim prime minister, taking over from Naftali Bennett after just one year.Naftali Bennett handed over the position to Lapid in accordance with an existing agreement to rotate the premiership. Bennett will occupy the post of alternate prime minister until the November election – to which
T Raja Kumar
On 1 July 2022, T Raja Kumar from Singapore was appointed as the president of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for a two-year term. He replaced Marcus Pleyer.FATF is the anti-money laundering watchdog headquartered at Paris (France) with 39 members.India is a member of the FATF since
Avinash Kulkarni
He has been selected to head the India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL) which will be the sole agent to resolve bad loans to be acquired by the National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited
Ruchira Kamboj
Indian ambassador to Bhutan, has been appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York to succeed T. S.
Amandeep Singh Gill
Indian diplomat has been appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as his Envoy on
AR Rahman
He has been named the ambassador of the Indo-UK culture platform – ‘Season of Culture’ that aims to strengthen India and the United Kingdom’s relations in arts, English and
Krishna Srinivasan
He has been appointed as the director of the Asia and Pacific Department (APD) of International Monetary
Samant Kumar Goel
His contract as secretary of the intelligence agency’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was extended by the Centre on June 24 by another year.
Ranjana Prakash Desai
Retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai became first women chairperson of Press Council of
Sandeep Kumar Gupta
The Director for Finance at Indian Oil Corporation, has been picked for the post of chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Ltd. He will replace Manoj Jain, who is scheduled to retire on August 31,
Obituary
Pallonji Mistry
Renowned business tycoon Pallonji Mistry has passed away on 28 June, 2022.He was the Chairman of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, one of the largest business firms in India. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contributions in the field of trade and
V. Krishnamurthy
Venkataraman Krishnamurthy, an Indian civil servant known as the "Father of Public sector undertakings in India" has passed away on 26 June, 2022.He was well-known for his leadership and successful contribution in turning around Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and
Gopi Chand Narang
Eminent Urdu scholar and former president of Sahitya Akademi Prof. Gopi Chand Narang passed away on 15th June, 2022.Born in Dukki town of Balochistan, Prof. Narang inherited the love for Urdu literature from his father. In 1995, Prof. Narang won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his comprehensive work Sakhtiyat, Pas-Sakhtiyat
Peter Brook
An English theatre and film director Peter Brook has passed away on 2 July, 2022.He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2021. He is best known in India for his production of the French play “Le Mahabharata” (“The Mahabharata”), which was based on the Sanskrit epic, by Jean-Claude
BB Muringla
Birkha Bahadur Limboo, famously known as BB Muringla, breathed his last on 8th June, 2022 at Gangtok.A Padma Shri (2017) recipient, Muringla was known for his contribution to Limboo language and literature. He is also credited with writing of a Limboo-Nepali- English dictionary in two parts, designing the Limbu flag
Awards
UN Public Service Award
‘Mo Bus’, the bus service of Odisha’s Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) authority, has been recognised by the United Nations as one of 10 global recipients of its annual Public Service Awards for 2022.The public transport service has been recognised for its role in “promoting gender-responsive public services to achieve
National Geoscience Award
Lucknow University geologist Prof Dhruv Sen Singh has been selected for the National Geoscience Award (NGA), 2019, for his outstanding contributions in geo-environmental studies.Instituted in 1966, NGA, the highest award in the field of earth sciences, is given annually by the Union Ministry of Mines to encourage geoscientists. The award
Defence
Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 324
The Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 324 was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. The unit is the first Naval Squadron on the Eastern Seaboard operating the indigenously designed and built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III (MR) helicopters. INAS 324 has been named ‘Kestrels’, which are birds of
Ex RIMPAC
The 2022 edition of the world's largest naval war games, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, will feature key US partners from around the globe, including India, Japan and Australia -- who have joined Washington in the Quad group -- and five nations bordering on the South China Sea,
Important Days
Art & Culture
India’s Cultural & Traditional Gifts to G7 Leaders
Indian Prime Minister during his visit to Germany (to attend the G7 summit), gifted its leaders with various rich art and crafts - especially those that are related to Uttar Pradesh's ‘one district, one product' scheme. Following are the gifts presented to the G7 leaders: Gulabi Meenakari Brooch and Cufflink Gulabi Meenakari
Dharohar: National Museum of Customs and GST
On 11th June, 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav ‘Iconic Week’ of the Ministry of Finance, dedicated to the nation, Dharohar - the National Museum of Customs and GST in Goa. About the Museum First Museum of its kind in India: It is the first museum of its kind
Pattachitra Painting
Recently, Odisha Chief Minister, during his visit to Rome gifted Pope Francis a Pattachitra painting themed ‘Tree of Life’. About Pattachitra Painting Origin Pattachitra is a unique ancient traditional, cloth-based scroll painting based in the eastern Indian states of Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh. It is believed to have originated as
Deva Snana Purnima
The full moon day i.e. Purnima Tithi in the month of Jyeshtha is considered to be the birth anniversary of Lord Jagannath. Deva Snana Purnima is a significant ritual just prior to the world renowned Rath Yatra of the Jagannath Temple, in Puri. In 2022, this was celebrated on
Ambubachi Mela
The four-day-long Ambubachi Mela started on June 23, 2022 at the famous Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal Hills in Assam's Guwahati after a gap of two years. About Ambubachi Mela It is more of a ritual of austerities, a festival celebrated with Shakti rites. During the period of Ambubachi - from the
Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela
On 8th June, 2022, the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela at the famous Ragnya Devi temple was celebrated after a hiatus of two years owing to COVID-19 outbreak. About Kheer Bhawani Mela Also known as Kheer Bhawani Yatra, it is the annual festival held at the temple of Mata Kheer Bhawani in
History
Kapilvastu Relics of Buddha
Recently, four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha were taken from India to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition to coincide with Mongolian Buddha Purnima celebrations. These relics were displayed at the Batsagaan Temple in Gandan Monastery complex in Ulaanbaatar. The last time these relics were taken out of the country was in 2012
Kempegowda: Architect of Bengaluru City
On 27th June, 2022, Karnataka celebrated the 513th birth anniversary of Kempegowda, the architect of Bengaluru city. On this occasion, Chief Minister presented the Kempegowda International Award to the former Karnataka Chief Minister S. M. Krishna, Infosys founder and IT industry veteran N. R. Narayana Murthy, and former badminton player Prakash
Personality
Sant Tukaram
On 14th June, 2022, Prime Minister inaugurated the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in Dehu in Maharashtra’s Pune district. While a Shila Mandir was constructed after his demise, it was not established as a temple. Now it has been rebuilt in stone masonry. Shila Mandir The Shila Mandir is a temple dedicated to a
News Snippets
200 Years of Mumbai Samachar
On 14th June 2022, Prime Minister participated in the Dwishatabdi Mahotsav of Mumbai Samachar and released a postage stamp to commemorate the occasion of 200 years of newspaper. The printing of Mumbai Samachar, then called Bombay Samachar, as a weekly was started on July 1, 1822, by Fardunjee Marzbanji. The
Kalika Mata Temple
The redeveloped Kalika Mata Temple in Gujarat was inaugurated recently. The temple is located on Pavagadh hill in Panchmahal district, Gujarat UNESCO has designated Champaner-Pavagadh as a World Heritage
Thang-Ta
Thang Ta - is an ancient Manipuri Martial Art developed from the war environment of Manipur and created by the Meitei. Thang-Ta literally means ‘sword and spear’ is one aspect of Huyen Langlon (art of war or method of safeguarding). Its other aspect is ‘Sarit Sarak that involves unarmed
20th Folk Fair
It was hosted from June 20 to 24, 2022 at Muktakash Rangomancho, near Shri Gundicha Temple, Saradhabali, Puri. The objective is to emphasize the importance of tribal culture and establish its originality and uniqueness. Through the fair, attempts are being made to help the groups and individuals from the tribal
Sao Joao Festival
Every monsoon the Sao Joao feast is celebrated with grandeur and gaiety. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who had baptised Jesus Christ on the river Jordan. The Sao Joao traditional boat festival started in 1992. The festival celebrations include villagers jumping into the wells, streams and
Unmesha
It was an International Literature Festival held in Shimla from 16th to 18th June 2022. It was jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Culture, Sahitya Akademi and the Himachal Pradesh Department of Language and Culture.
Jyotirgamaya Festival
It was organised at Kamani Auditorium New Delhi by Sangeet Natak Akademi as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and on the occasion of World Music Day. It is a unique festival to showcase the talent of rare musical instruments from across the country. It aims to raise awareness among
In Focus
World Mental Health Report 2022
On 17th June, 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report titled ‘World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health For All’. Major Findings Rising Cases: Mental illness had spiked across the world due to COVID and related restrictions. Those living in conflict zones were affected even more, with one in five
Social Issues
Juvenile Justice Amendment Act 2021
Recently, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the amendments made to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2015. In 2021, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015 as amended through Presidential assent. The Amendments made certain
First International Day for Countering Hate Speech
On June 18, 2022, the world observed the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech to highlight the need for combating hate speech and promoting tolerance and dialogue between different communities. Theme “Role of education to address the root causes of hate speech and advance inclusion, non-discrimination, and peace”. Background In July 2021,
Indian Society
Self-Help Groups
The Government has prioritised the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), aimed at raising the annual income of each woman in self-help groups (SHGs) to Rs 1 lakh by 2024. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, 7.7 crore women have been mobilised into 70 lakh SHGs. About Self-Help Groups (SHGs) SHGs are informal
Social Justice
One Nation One Ration Card
Recently, Assam has become the 29th State to implement One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC). With this, the ONORC plan is successfully implemented in all the 36 states/UTs, making food security portable throughout the country. About One Nation One Ration Card The Scheme was rolled out by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food
National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has launched an innovative project called National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman (NIPUN) workers to enable them for better job opportunities. The project NIPUN is a flagship scheme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). Need The construction industry is poised to become
Plan & Policies
Second Phase of Goal Program Launched
On 28th June, 2022, the second phase of Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) program was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The programme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Meta (formerly FaceBook). GOAL 2.0 initiative aims to digitally upskill 10 lakh youth by promoting entrepreneurship
Reports & Indices
State of Global Learning Poverty 2022
On 23rd June, 2022, a report, titled ‘The State of Global Learning Poverty 2022’ was published by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, UK government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), USAID and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Major Findings Even before COVID-19, the world was facing a learning crisis, with nearly 6
Fourth State Food Safety Index
On World Food Safety Day 2022 (7 June, 2022), Union Health Ministry released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) 4th State Food Safety Index. About State Food Safety Index (SFSI) It is developed Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2018-19. Aim To measure the performance of states on various
Report on Performance Grading Index for Districts
On 27th June, 2022, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education (MoE), released the Centre’s first-ever Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for 2018-19 and 2019-20. Requirement The purpose of the PGI is to help the States and UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritize areas
News Snippets
Education Cannot Wait (ECW)
It is the United Nations global, billion-dollar fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. It is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources, and administrative rules and regulations; operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance
Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana
Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana for faster development of tribal villages. Objective: Convergence and coordination of programs and schemes across Departments/Ministries and implement them properly at bottom
Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)-2022
It was being implemented from 13th June to 27th June 2022 in the States/UTs. The goal of IDCF is to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea. IDCF consists of a set of activities to be implemented in an intensified manner for the prevention and control of deaths due
Miao-Choephelling Settlement
The Choephelling Cooperative Society was established in 1975 by Tibetan refugees on the outskirts of Miao, Arunachal Pradesh.(Miao is situated at the bank of River Noa-Dehing). The camp produces superior quality carpets, a larger portion of which goes to the global market. The raw materials mainly cotton yarn and wool
Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM)
The Distt. Administration of Gadhchiroli, Maharashtra has taken pathbreaking initiatives in menstrual hygiene management. It is a vital step towards protecting the girl child while safeguarding her dignity and giving her a life of opportunities to pursue her dreams, towards achieving a gender-balanced world. It has been included as
Himachal Pradesh
First Indian State to Approve a Policy for Drones
The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the drone policy, first in the country. It envisions creating a holistic drone ecosystem built upon the foundation of Governance And Reforms Using Drones (GARUD). It aims to harness digital sky opportunities through institutional linkages with the National Education Policy (NEP),
Jammu & Kashmir
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme
It has been launched to bridge the learning gap that was caused due to the COVID pandemic among students aged below eight. The scheme aims to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025. The children will be trained in 3 subjects – Tamil, English, and
Pensioner’s Digital Life Certificate
The Tamil Nadu government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for obtaining life certificate from pensioners through doorstep services of the Postal Department. IPPB would transfer it to the doorstep services at a cost of Rs. 70 per digital life certificate.
Nalaya Thiran Skilling Programme
The Nalaya Thiran skilling programme has been launched for college students. Under this programme, Govt. will train 50,000 college students with knowledge in computer science, electronics and IT domains, skilling them on problem solving using technologies. This multi-agency programme has been co-created by Nasscom, ICT Academy and Skill Development
Largest State in Microfinance Loan
Tamil Nadu replaced Bihar and West Bengal to become the largest state in terms of outstanding portfolio of microfinance loans. According to MFIN Micrometer Q4 FY21-22, a quarterly report published by Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), the gross loan portfolio (GLP) of Tamil Nadu as of March 31, 2022 stood at
Punjab
e-Stamp
The Punjab government has launched the ‘e-stamp facility’ in an attempt to bring efficiency and check the pilferage of State revenue. Now, stamp paper of any denomination can now be obtained via ‘e-stamp’, which includes computerised print-out from any stamp vendor or from banks authorised by the State government. The
Andhra Pradesh
Kerala
MEDISEP Scheme
On 1st July, 2022, the Kerala government launched the Medical Insurance for State Employees and Pensioners scheme. The scheme will provide cashless medical assistance with a comprehensive coverage up to 3 lakhs per year. The annual premium would be Rs 4,800 plus 18 per cent GST for the policy period
Uttarakhand
Climate Responsive Rain-fed Farming Project
In order to advance rain-fed agriculture in the steep areas of Uttarakhand, the World Bank has approved a project Climate Responsive Rain-fed Farming Project. The initiative aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it will encourage environmentally friendly agricultural practices so that young people and farmers have an economically feasible
Gujarat
17th ‘Shala Praveshotsav’
It is the drive to enrol students in primary schools in the state. The three-day enrollment drive begins from Memadpur primary school in Vadgam taluka of Banaskantha district. The state officials including IAS and IPS officers and Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly will visit different schools of
Delhi
‘Nanhi Pari’ Program
Launched by the Northwest Delhi district administration, it is a scheme to provide a one-stop solution to parents, eliminating their need to visit various offices to obtain documents. The programme aims to complete essential services such as provision of a birth certificate, Aadhaar card registration, and opening a bank account
Arunachal Pradesh
Nasha Mukt Changlang
It is an initiative under ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It seeks to make a drugs free society in Changlang, where youth and women are able to realise their full potential. As per the Ministry of Social Justice, 14 villages have been declared 100%
Mizoram
E-Daakhil
This portal enables consumers to file consumer complaints at their convenience, from anywhere, diminishing the requirement of their physical presence at the Consumer Commission. It allows Consumer commission to examine online submitted complaints; approve, reject and forward these to the appropriate commission for further
Meghalaya
Best Project Award
The Meghalaya government key initiative of e-proposal system, part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architect (MeghEA) has won a coveted UN Award- World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) prize at Geneva in Switzerland. Meghalaya contested with projects from Australia, China, Argentina and Tanzania. Meghalaya was declared as the best
Karnataka
One Health Pilot Initiative
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) has launched the One Health pilot in Bengaluru.The programme is aimed at bringing stakeholders from animal, human and environment health on a common platform to address challenges.DAHD in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and The Confederation of Indian
FRUITS App
The Farmer Registration & Unified Beneficiary Information System or FRUITS software is for Aadhar-based, single-window registration for the schemes. FRUITS software will facilitate single registration using an Aadhar card and Karnataka’s Bhoomi digitized land record system for authenticating ownership. The state departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, revenue, food, civil
Sports In News
Athletics
Khelo India Youth Games 2021
The Khelo India Youth Games 2021 was hosted by Haryana from 4 -13 June 2022 across multiple venues with Panchkula hosting the bulk of the events. The Games are a part of the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative.Top Three in the Medal TableHaryana won the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)
Cricket
Ranji Trophy 2022
Madhya Pradesh cricket team won their first-ever Ranji Trophy title recently.MP, led by Aditya Shrivastava, defeated 41-time champions Mumbai in the final played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.The team was coached by former India wicketkeeper-batsman Chandrakant Pandit.Player of the Match (Final): Shubham Sharma (MP) Player of the Tournament: Mumbai
Info Bytes
Info Bytes
In which city, the UN Ocean Conference was organized from 27th of June to 1st of July 2022? - Lisbon (Capital city of Portugal) Which two West African countries (former French colonies) recently joined the Commonwealth as 55th and 56th members respectively? - Gabon and TogoWith 1.03 lakh species of fauna,
Mains Specials
GS Paper I
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Indian History and Culture
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Rationale/Causes Passage of Rowlatt Act: The Rowlatt Act (Black Act), passed on March 10, 1919, gave the government the power to detain or imprison anyone connected to seditious activity without a court hearing. This caused discontent across the nation. Indians' trust in the British justice system was seriously shaken. Arrest
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Geography
Rising Groundwater Scarcity in the CountryRationale/Causes Rapid Deforestation: It causes rainfall to decrease and also causes the check dams built by these trees, which aid in replenishing groundwater, to diminish. Growing Urbanization: As cities and industries become more developed, there is a greater demand for water, which causes groundwater levels to drop.
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Society
Hate CrimesRationale/Causes Prejudices: The perpetrator may experience severe prejudice toward an entire identification group, which causes him or her to feel disdain and even hatred for those in that group. A lack of knowledge about cultural and racial diversity and traditions fuels bigotry and fear. These feelings might inspire acts of violence
GS Paper II
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Indian Constitution and Polity
Reform in Seventh ScheduleSignificance of Seventh Schedule Ensuring Unity and Integrity of India: Due to the partition, national integration was prioritised, and only a powerful central authority could handle the complicated administrative issues, safeguard the country from foreign threats and invasions, and uphold international relations. Facilitating Responsive Governance: According to the state
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - International Relations
Global Declaration on Future on InternetRationale/Causes Internet Freedom Repression: Recently, there has been an increase in the repression of Internet freedoms by some authoritarian governments, as well as the use of digital tools to violate human rights, the growing impact of cyberattacks, the dissemination of illegal content and misinformation, and the
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Social Issues and Justice
Manual Scavenging: A Regressive Reality of IndiaRationale/Causes Vague Legal Provisions: Manual scavenging appears to be unaffected by the 2013 Act if it is carried out while wearing sufficient and suitable protective gear. However, the definition of protective clothing in the Act is ambiguous. For instance, there have been occasions where contractors
GS Paper III
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Economy
Fintech RevolutionRationale/Causes Growing Digital Services: In India, digital payment systems have been widely adopted during the past two years, making it much easier to conduct fundamental financial activities. Numerous reasons, like as the rising prevalence of smartphones, improved internet access, and high-speed connectivity, have contributed to the growth and expansion of
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Science & Technology
Lithium-ion BatterySignificance High Specific Charge Density: There is a significant specific charge density in lithium-ion batteries. The parameter for determining how much charge a battery can offer at a given time is the specific charge density. High Voltage: A single lithium-ion battery offers 3 to 3.5 volts, which is three times greater
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Environment
Urbanization: Problems and SolutionsIssues Overcrowding: In this condition, a lot of individuals are crammed into a small area. Overpopulation in urban areas frequently leads to overcrowding. Obviously, it is predicted that cities will grow in size as a result of the large-scale migration of people from underdeveloped areas, yet this has
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Security
Border Security in India Q. Proper management of borders, which is vital to national security, presents many challenges.Analyse the challenges in border management. Also, discuss the role of technology in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of border operations.(250 words) Ans: India share borders with Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Afghanistan
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - Disaster Management
Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Significance Rural Population: Due to the fact that roughly 65 percent of Indians live in rural regions, the function of PRIs (rural local bodies) has evolved into a crucial aspect of local self-governance. They offer last-mile connectivity and support the government's implementation of various social sector
GS Paper IV
Mains Topics with Mock Q&A - GS Paper IV
Cognitive Dissonance: How can a civil servant deal with it?About Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive Dissonance (CD) is generally defined as a ‘the mental conflict or discomfort which occurs when a person holds conflicting beliefs or when actions contradict their beliefs’. Signs to Identify CD Feeling uncomfortable before doing something or making a decision. Trying
