India remains biggest Arms Importer during 2018-22: SIPRI

Central idea India is the world’s largest arms importer for the five-year period during 2018-22, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). However, India’s arms imports have dropped by 11% between 2013–17 and 2018–22. Top Arms Suppliers to India Russia was the largest supplier of arms to India in both 2013–17 and 2018–22. France… Continue reading

India bats for Sovereign Credit Rating upgrade

Central idea: India is seeking an upgrade to its sovereign credit rating, currently at the lowest-possible investment grade, as it believes its economic metrics have improved considerably since the pandemic. What are Sovereign Credit Ratings? A sovereign credit rating is a measure of a country’s creditworthiness, or its ability to meet its financial obligations. It… Continue reading

In news: One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme

The government told the Supreme Court that paying all dues to 1.6 million army pensioners under the OROP scheme in one go may not be in the nation’s larger interest as it could disrupt allocations for other public purposes. What is OROP Policy? OROP means the same pension, for the same rank, for the same… Continue reading

Explained: Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Crisis

Central idea: The shutdown and takeover of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) by US regulators has raised questions on how it impacts India’s startup industry. It was an important partner for the global startup economy. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) It is a financial institution that provides banking services to the technology industry and venture capital firms.… Continue reading

Same-Sex Marriages can rock societal values: Centre

Central idea: The Centre in the Supreme Court expressed its disagreement towards same-sex marriage, citing traditional beliefs and values. Here are the main points of the affidavit: Heterosexual marriage has been the norm throughout history and is “foundational to both the existence and continuance of the state.” Marriage in India is regarded as a “holy… Continue reading

Rural-Urban Dichotomy And The Continuum

Central Idea The traditional dichotomy of rural and urban, and the accordingly mandated governance structure, seems inadequate to understand and act upon poverty, undernourishment, education, health, environmental management or even development. There is a need to adopt the notion of urban catchment areas delineated along an urban-rural continuum to understand urban-rural interconnections and address issues… Continue reading

Ukraine Conflict: Implications And The Danger Of Provoking A World War

Central Idea The Ukraine conflict has significant implications for Europe and the world. It has demonstrated that the US is the true defender of Europe and highlighted the fragile state of Europe’s defence industry. The conflict has also given the US confidence to take on all challengers, leading to new ambitions in Western minds. While… Continue reading

Decriminalization of Adultery and the Duty and Discipline

Central Idea The Supreme Court of India decriminalized adultery in 2018, but the Union of India sought clarification from the Court concerning its implementation in the armed forces. The court’s observations suggest that the armed forces may still discipline for adulterous acts under their special legislations. However, recent court cases show that an act must… Continue reading

Australia’s AUKUS Dilemma: Options and Challenges

Central Idea The AUKUS security partnership between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom has important implications for Australia’s plans to operate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, with potential drawbacks. What is AUKUS? Trilateral Partnership: AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, announced on September 15,… Continue reading

States demand that ‘Lightning’ be declared a Natural Disaster

Central idea: A few states have requested lightning to be declared a natural disaster due to the high number of deaths caused by it in the country. Why discuss this? Around 2,500 people die every year due to lightning. Present norms consider cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, frost,… Continue reading

Bhutan no longer a ‘Least Developed Country’

Central idea: Bhutan will become the seventh country to graduate from the United Nations’ list of Least Developed Countries (LDC) on December 13, 2023. What is a Least Developed Country (LDC)? The LDCs are developing countries listed by the UN that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development. The concept first originated in the late… Continue reading

Bengal is tackling fatal Adenovirus Infection

Central idea: 19 children below the age of five years have died in State-run institutions due to acute respiratory infection (ARI) caused by Adenovirus. What is Adenovirus Infection? Adenoviruses are common viruses that typically cause mild cold or flu-like illness and are usually spread from an infected person to others by close personal contact The… Continue reading

Sickle Cell Anaemia screening meets only 1% of target

Central idea: The Health Ministry of India set a target to scan one crore people for sickle cell disease in 2022-23. However, with only two weeks left in the fiscal year, the Ministry has completed only 1% of the target. What is Sickle Cell Anaemia? Sickle Cell Anaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects… Continue reading

Scientists devise ‘Glowscope’ to bring fluorescent microscopy to schools

Central idea: Researchers at Winona State University, Minnesota, have created a design for a rudimentary fluorescence microscope. Why in news? The development can be put together at a cost of $30-50 (Rs 2,500-4,100) using products purchased on online marketplaces. The device aims to democratize access to fluorescence microscopy. What is Fluorescence Microscopy? An optical microscope… Continue reading

G20: SUMups To Tackle Global Natural Disasters

Central Idea The concept of SUMups, a hypothetical bundling of complementary start-ups globally that work on some aspect of managing natural disasters. There are some of the innovative technologies developed by these start-ups and how they can be combined to develop more effective disaster management solutions. Background: The Rising Frequency and Impact of Natural Disasters… Continue reading

India -Sweden: Flourishing Partnership

Central Idea This year marks 75 years of bilateral relations between India and Sweden, and it is an occasion to celebrate. Bilateral trade has reached unprecedented levels in the past year, with Swedish companies making significant strides in the Indian market. The latest Indian administration has shown a keen interest in augmenting and broadening the… Continue reading

Government amends KYC to add non-profit organisations, ‘politically exposed persons’

Central idea: The Finance Ministry has amended the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules for widening the scope of Know your Customer (KYC) norms to include Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), non-profit organisations (NPOs) and those dealing in virtual digital assets (VDA) as reporting entities. Who are Politically Exposed Persons (PEP)? According to the… Continue reading

ISRO releases Landslide Atlas of India

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently released the Landslide Atlas of India to identify landslide hotspots in the country. What are Landslides? Landslides are natural disasters that occur in mountainous terrains where soil, rock, geology, and slope conditions are conducive. A landslide is the sudden movement of rock, boulders, earth, or debris down a… Continue reading

In news: Megha Tropiques Satellite

ISRO attempted a controlled re-entry of the Megha Tropiques-1 satellite with leftover fuel to lower the orbit and reduce space debris. Megha Tropiques Satellite The weather satellite Megha Tropiques-1 was developed as a joint mission by Indian and French space agencies. It was launched aboard a PSLV by the space agency in 2011. And, although… Continue reading

Reintroduction of Cheetahs and Its Potential Impact

Central Idea India has embarked on a conservation plan to reintroduce the cheetah into the country, with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining population at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park. The initiative has translocated eight African cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa since September 2022. Can this initiative succeed in helping India’s grasslands?… Continue reading

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