UNSC bans LeT’s Makki after China lifts its hold

The ISIL and Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council (UNSC) has placed Abdul Rehman Makki, a fundraiser and key planner of the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on its sanctions list. Blacklisting Maki: Under UNSC 1267 list The UNSC resolution 1267 was adopted unanimously on 15 October 1999. It came to force… Continue reading

UPI for NRIs: What it means for India and Indians abroad

The National Payments Corp. of India (NPCI) has allowed Indians abroad to use fast payments network UPI, if their domestic bank accounts are linked to their foreign mobile numbers. What is UPI? UPI is an instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) facilitating inter-bank transactions. The interface is regulated by… Continue reading

[pib] First evidence of Solitary Waves near Mars

In a first-of-its-kind discovery, a team of Indian scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) reported the first evidence of the presence of solitary waves around Mars. Mars Of the largest Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, being larger than only Mercury. In… Continue reading

Voting Rights of Migrant Workers

Context It is very worrying that a third of the eligible voters, a whopping 30 crore people, do not vote. Among the many reasons, including urban apathy and geographical constraints, one prominent reason is the inability of internal migrants to vote for different reasons. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers What are the efforts… Continue reading

Supreme Court to hear petitions for Criminalization of Marital Rape

The Supreme Court is set to begin hearing a series of petitions seeking to criminalize marital rape from March 14. What is Marital Rape? Marital rape is the act of sexual intercourse with one’s spouse without her consent. It is no different manifestation of domestic violence and sexual abuse. It is often a chronic form… Continue reading

ISRO pushing Venus Mission ‘Shukrayaan’ to 2031

ISRO said that it is yet to receive approval from the Indian government for the Venus mission and that the mission could as a result be postponed to 2031. Shukrayaan I: Venus Orbiter Mission Shukrayaan-I is a planned orbiter to Venus by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to study the surface and atmosphere of… Continue reading

James Webb Telescope discovers its first Earth-sized Exoplanet

NASA has announced that the James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first new exoplanet LHS 475 b. LHS 475 b The exoplanet LHS 475 b is roughly the same size as Earth. Located just 41 light-years away, the planet orbits very close to a red dwarf star and completes a full orbit in just… Continue reading

Ancient Votive Stupas found near Nalanda

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two 1200-year-old miniature votive stupas during landscaping activities near Sarai Tila mound on the premises of ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’, a world heritage site in Nalanda district. What has ASI found? The stupas, carved from stone, depict Buddha figures. These two votive stupas (offered in fulfillment of a vow)… Continue reading

Indian women’s labor force participation is declining

Context According to the World Bank report released in June 2022, Indian women’s labour force participation proportion of the population over the age of 15 that is economically active has been steadily declining since 2005 and is at a low of 19 percent in 2021. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers How the experts… Continue reading

A Bumpy Ride for India’s Economy in 2023: A perspective

Context India’s general elections, scheduled for 2024, will also bring in their wake high-pitched rhetoric and spin-doctoring to further muddy the waters. In short, buckle up because the next 12 months promise a flurry of conflicting signals and a rather bumpy ride. A perspective on Indian economy in 2023. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our… Continue reading

Mental Health Problem and effective policy

Context The fifth Global Mental Health Summit, co-sponsored by over half a dozen organisations engaged with mental health, was held in Chennai to discuss mental health in the context of human rights, ethics and justice. Highlighting the importance of mental health, it gave a call for action against the continued neglect by society at large… Continue reading

Ganga Vilas: A boost to riverine tourism

Context The travel-tourism-hospitality sector got a symbolic boost on Friday, with the Prime Minister launching the MV Ganga Vilas from Varanasi. The luxury 51-day cruise operated in partnership with private players by the Inland Waterways Authority will traverse several states, two countries and make stops at about 50 tourist and heritage sites along the Ganga… Continue reading

Reconstructing past Deep-Water Circulations of Indian Ocean

Studies have indicated that tectonically driven changes in the ocean gateways such as the closure of the Central American Seaway, a body of water that once separated North America from South America, since the late Miocene period, had a dramatic impact on the Indian Ocean circulation. What is Global overturning circulation (GOC)? It is the… Continue reading

EIA must before allowing urban development projects: SC

The Supreme Court has urged legislators and policy experts to ensure that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies are done before giving the green signal for urban development projects in India’s cities. What is the news? The Supreme Court how haphazard urban development has ruined the ‘Garden City’ of Bengaluru as witnessed during a major spell… Continue reading

Child Marriages and Personal Laws

The Supreme Court has decided to examine whether girls as young as 15 years can enter into wedlock on the basis of custom or personal law when such marriages constitute an offence in statutory law. Why discuss this? Under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, Special Marriage Act, 1954… Continue reading

Maghi Mela in Punjab

Maghi Mela is being celebrated from January 14. Maghi Mela Maghi Mela is held in the holy city of Sri Muktsar Sahib every year in January, or on the month of Magh according to the Nanakshahi calendar. It is one of the most important festivals for Sikhs. Today, the Mela starts on Maghi day and… Continue reading

Village Defence Guards (VDG): A sense of security and confidence

Context The revival of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), albeit with a new name, Village Defence Guards (VDG), in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu division has been viewed with suspicion. Sceptics doubt the prospects of its success in combating terrorism, which has raised its head in the region after a prolonged lull. Crack… Continue reading

Disasters at Himalayan Region (Uttarakhand)

Context Disasters have become commonplace in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, the most recent one being the sinking of Joshimath. Although climate change has triggered these events, the most important underlying factors are poor planning and a lack of vision. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers Recent disasters on Himalaya Kedarnath floods: Nature has… Continue reading

Uranium Contamination in Groundwater

Context The most recent report on the state of groundwater released by the Central Groundwater Board. It revealed that the twelve Indian states have uranium levels beyond permissible limits in their groundwater. Uranium concentrations in the country’s shallow groundwater range from 0-532 parts per billion (ppb), according to the document titled Groundwater yearbook 2021-2022 released… Continue reading

PM flags off world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas

Prime Minister has flagged off the world’s longest river cruise – MV Ganga Vilas – and inaugurated the tent city at Varanasi. About Ganga Vilas MV Ganga Vilas is the first indigenously made cruise vessel to be made in India. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the coordinator of this ship tourism project.… Continue reading

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