Artform in news: Bidri Crafts

Bidri craft artist from Karnataka Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award. Bidri Crafts Bidri ware is a traditional form of handicraft that originated in Bidar, Karnataka. It involves the crafting of metal wares using a unique technique that incorporates zinc and copper. Its history Bidri ware has a… Continue reading

The Need For Humane Policing In India

Central Idea The recent case of human rights violation against an IPS officer in Ambasamudram highlights the need for humane policing in India. The history of police brutality across the globe, including in the US, reveals the need for change in the policing system. The pressure to produce results, coupled with corruption and lack of… Continue reading

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. What is Aquaculture? Aquaculture essentially means, breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants. In a nutshell, it’s farming in water. Saline water along the coast has been found to be suitable for practising aquaculture which produces shrimp, majorly. If aquaculture is… Continue reading

What is the Open-Source Seeds Movement?

Central idea The article discusses the concept of open-source software and its parallels with open-source seeds. Richard Stallman pioneered the Free Software Movement and developed the General Public License (GPL) to protect users’ rights and prevent code misappropriation. Farmers have been innovating and sharing seeds without intellectual property rights (IPR) claims for centuries. Backgrounder: Plant… Continue reading

Tribes in news: Idu Mishmis

Central idea The National Tiger Conservation Authority has proposed to notify Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as a tiger reserve, causing concerns among the Idu Mishmi community. The Idu Mishmi community has a unique cultural relationship with the forest, particularly with tigers. This article explains who the Idu Mishmis are, their relationship with the… Continue reading

What is Dhawan II Engine?

In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine. Dhawan II Engine The Dhawan II engine is a cryogenic engine developed by Skyroot Aerospace for use as the upper stage of the updated version of their Vikram II rocket. The engine was recently test-fired for a duration of… Continue reading

International Water Action Conference and Voluntary Commitments

Central Idea The International Water Action Conference held by the United Nations in March 2023, which resulted in over 670 commitments from various governments, multilateral institutions, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to address water security issues. There are implications of these commitments which needs to be examined the challenges associated with achieving universal, safe, affordable, and… Continue reading

Current Paradigm of Economics In India Is Inadequate

Central Idea The current paradigm of economics in India is inadequate in providing solutions to the three major economic challenges the country is facing. The economists need to break out of their self-referential silo and examine the science of complex self-adaptive systems. The Poly-crisis faced by India The Indian government is grappling with three economic… Continue reading

India Justice Report, 2022: Key Highlights

Central idea: The third India Justice Report, 2022 analyses the changes – both positive and negative – in India’s justice delivery system across four parameters: police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid. India Justice Report The IJR is an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause and Commonwealth Human Rights… Continue reading

China issues ‘official’ names for some places in Arunachal Pradesh

Central idea: The Chinese government has announced it would “standardize” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. MEA clarification The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed the Chinese “invention”. Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an integral part of India, said MEA. Why is China giving names to places that are… Continue reading

What are Performer’s Rights?

Central idea This article discusses a recent case involving Bollywood actor and producer, in which the Bombay High Court ruled that sales tax cannot be levied on the transfer of copyright. The ruling has implications for the entertainment industry, particularly in terms of taxation and copyright protection as well as performer’s rights. What are Performer’s… Continue reading

Places in news: Nathu La

Several people have been killed and many others are feared trapped under snow after a massive avalanche near Sikkim’s Nathu La Mountain pass. Nathu La Pass Location Sikkim, on the border between India and China Altitude 4,310 meters (14,140 ft) Importance Historical Silk Route Trade Reopened in 2006 for border trade between India and China… Continue reading

GI art in news: Basohli Paintings

The famous Basohli Painting, known for its miniature art style from Kathua district, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. Basohli Paintings Basohli Paintings are a form of miniature paintings that originated in the town of Basohli in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. They are known for their vibrant color, intricate details, and… Continue reading

Same-Sex Marriages: A Push Must Come From Representative Bodies

Central Idea The Centre’s opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriages based on cultural and societal concepts of marriage and family is examined and critiqued. The Centre’s Argument The Centre argues that same-sex marriages are not recognized in Indian traditions, ethos, culture, and societal concepts of marriage. The Parliament, and not the Court, should decide… Continue reading

Sodium Intake Target: Challenge of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

Central Idea The WHO recently published the ‘Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction’ which sheds light on the progress of its 194 member states towards reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025. Regrettably, progress has been lethargic, with only a few countries making considerable headway towards the objective. Consequently, there is a proposal to… Continue reading

Carbon Pricing: The Way For Decarbonization

Central Idea Environmental destruction has been a consequence of boosting GDP growth in every country due to the absence of a price for natural resources like air and forests. To combat this, the biggest economies of the G-20 must agree on valuing nature, including by pricing carbon effluents. As president of the G-20 this year,… Continue reading

Finland to join NATO Military Alliance

NATO Secretary-General said that Finland will become the 31st member of the military alliance. What is the North Atlantic Treaty? North Atlantic Treaty, often referred to as the Washington Treaty, states the parties to the treaty seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. The signatories affirm their faith in the… Continue reading

ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Mission RLV LEX

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a successful autonomous landing mission experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka. What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)? RLV is a type of spacecraft that is designed to be reused multiple times for launching payloads into space, instead of… Continue reading

Arctic scientists race to preserve ‘Ice Memory’

Scientists from Italy, France, and Norway have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to extract samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change. ‘Ice Memory’ Project Scientists will drill a series of tubes as far as 125 meters (137 yards) below the surface, which contains frozen… Continue reading

SNAP-10A: World’s first Operational Nuclear Reactor in Space

Central idea: The newscard is about the US government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, and its SNAP-10A space nuclear reactor. What is SNAP-10A? SNAP-10A A nuclear reactor sent to space by the US in 1965 SNAP program A government-sponsored program for developing compact,… Continue reading

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