PREMIUM – Travelling the Regions of South America

Why in the News? South America, known for its diverse landscapes and cultures, also harbors several disputed territories, each with its own historical, geopolitical, and economic significance. These disputes often arise from conflicting territorial claims, historical grievances, or resource-rich areas. Diverse Landscapes of South America: The Pacific Coastal Strip: Between the ocean and the Andes… Continue reading

An overview of the PMAY-U scheme | Explained

Why in the News? As the current Union government completes two terms, one of its flagship programs was Housing For All (HfA) by 2022, both in urban and rural areas, planned under the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) scheme in 2015. About the PMAY scheme: The declared objectives of the scheme included rehabilitation of slum… Continue reading

Towards a less poor and more equal country

Why in the news? In March, World Inequality Lab, a Global Research Center focused on inequality and public policies, published in a paper titled, ‘Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj’. Income and wealth inequality as per the World Inequality Lab: Income Inequality: In 2022-23, the top 1% of… Continue reading

ISRO’s Findings on Glacial Lake Dynamics in Himalaya

Why in the News? The Satellite images by ISRO show an increase in the size of Gepang Gath Lake amidst rising concerns about Climate Change. Gepang Gath Lake (one of the biggest Glacial lakes in the Chandra basin) is located in the Western Indian Himalaya at the terminus of the Gepan Gath glacier. ISRO’s… Continue reading

Census to be conducted under Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project

Why in the News? After the launch of the Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project, the Tamil Nadu government gears up to assess the population of Nilgiri Tahr (state animal). The Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will collaborate in a synchronized way. Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project (2022 to 2027): Under The Nilgiri Tahr project, the… Continue reading

A lesson from Taiwan in quake resilience

Why in the news? On April 3, Taiwan was struck by an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude. This was strongest in last 25 years. Reason behind the earthquake in Taiwan In the Taiwan region, the Philippine Sea plate is moving northwest towards the Eurasian plate at a velocity of about 7.8 cm per year, which is… Continue reading

SC allows termination of pregnancy of minor rape survivor

Why in the news? The Supreme Court on Monday used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do “complete justice” to permit the medical termination of pregnancy of a 14- year-old rape.Her pregnancy is nearing 30 weeks. The minor became aware of her condition only at a very late stage. Article 142… Continue reading

What Iran-Israel conflict means for Middle East and India

Why in the news? The turmoil resulting from the Iran-Israel conflict poses a threat to the security of the extensive Indian diaspora residing in the Gulf region, with an added risk of piracy and hostage situations. The conflict between Israel and Iran: Historical Context: The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the… Continue reading

Premium- Indian Federalism as a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Why in the News? In recent times, the Central government has exerted significant political and financial control over the regional states. What is Federalism? Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central authority (usually a national government) and constituent political units (such as states or provinces). Both… Continue reading

[23 April 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Restoring earth’s right to ‘good health’

Mains PYQ Relevance: Q) ‘Clean energy is the order of the day.’ Describe briefly India’s changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. (UPSC IAS/2022) Q) ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be… Continue reading

Premium – Conflict Areas of African Continent

Why in the News? The places discussed in this article are pertinent to conflict zones either due to Geopolitical conflicts or Climate change impacts. Political and Ethnic Conflicts: Darfur Region, Sudan: The Darfur region constitutes Western Sudan, present-Eastern Chad, and the present-Northern part of the Central African Republic Region. This conflict involves clashes between government… Continue reading

[pib] Padma Awards for 2024

Why in the news? The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented 3 Padma Vibhushan, 8 Padma Bhushan and 55 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2024. About Padma Awards The Padma Awards are among India’s most prestigious civilian honors. It is announced annually on Republic Day, following the Bharat Ratna. These awards are designed… Continue reading

[pib] Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Why in the news? The Competition Commission of India (CCI) invites proposals for conducting a Market Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on competition. About Competition Commission of India (CCI) The CCI is a statutory body established under the Competition Act, 2002 by the Vajpayee government. It aims to promote and sustain competition,… Continue reading

Glycemic Index of Diets: Importance beyond Diabetes Control

Why in the news? Understanding and managing Glycemic Index (GI) in diets is crucial for promoting long-term health and mitigating the risk of chronic diseases. What is Glycemic Index (GI)? Prof. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto introduced Glycemic Index (GI) in 1981. GI measures how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels compared… Continue reading

[22 April 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Preparing India for water stress, climate resilience

Mains PYQ Relevance: Q) Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenarios. (UPSC IAS/2020)Q) What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (UPSC 2019) Prelims Q) If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country? (UPSC… Continue reading

What is the outlook on the global economy? | Explained

Why in the news? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest Global Financial Stability Report warning about the risks to the Global Financial System. What is the IMF’s worry about Inflation? Premature Investor Enthusiasm: The IMF believes that investors may be overly optimistic about the end of high inflation and the subsequent lowering of… Continue reading

Sustaining our Earth and Nourishing our Bodies

Why in the news? The women from a Self-Help Group in Kanker district (Chhattisgarh), have spared 10 decimals of land for multi-layer farming to mitigate land degradation and under-nutrition, and to secure round-the-year incomes. How does the relationship between Climate Change and Nutrition result in Food insecurity? Impact on Food Chain: Climate change affects food… Continue reading

On the fall in Household Savings

Why in the news? The sharp reduction in Household Net Financial Savings and the rise in Household Debt burden are a cause for concern for growth and economic stability. BACK2BASICS: What are household financial savings? Household financial savings refer to currency, bank deposits, debt securities, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance, and investments in small savings schemes. The total… Continue reading

IRDAI removes Age Bar for purchasing Health Insurance

Why in the news? The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) abolished the age limit for purchasing health insurance policies, effective April 1. Individuals aged above 65 were ineligible previously for new health insurance policies. About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) IRDAI is the apex regulatory body overseeing the insurance… Continue reading

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