LIGO-India: India’s Node in Global Universe Probe

India has given the final approval to build its biggest scientific facility, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. The facility will join the global project to detect and study gravitational waves. Gravitation and General Theory of Relativity Newton’s law of gravitation, proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century,… Continue reading

Physicists discover new Uranium Isotope

Physicists in Japan have discovered a new isotope of uranium, with atomic number 92 and mass number 241. Uranium Uranium is a naturally occurring chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a heavy metal that is radioactive and found in small quantities in rocks and soils worldwide. Uranium has several… Continue reading

The Statistical Genius: C. R. Rao

Central idea: Indian-American statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is considered the Nobel Prize for statistics. He is 102 YO. Who is C. R. Rao? R. Rao, is an Indian-American mathematician and statistician. He is currently professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at the… Continue reading

Poverty Estimates: Issues With PLFS Data

Central Idea The claim of poverty reduction in India during the pandemic year of 2020-21 is contested due to discrepancies in data and survey design. The PLFS data is used to make this claim, and there are recent papers that have come up with divergent claims on trends in poverty, showing both a rapid decline… Continue reading

Himachal Pradesh considering legalizing Cannabis Cultivation

Himachal Pradesh CM has announced that the state government is considering legalizing the cultivation of cannabis. What is Cannabis? Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of… Continue reading

TEMPO: NASA device to Monitor Air Pollution from Space

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched carrying a new NASA device named Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) designed to monitor air pollutants and their emission sources across North America from space more comprehensively than ever before. What is TEMPO? TEMPO is an instrument developed by NASA, which will enable scientists to monitor air pollutants… Continue reading

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Program

Central idea: The government has identified and documented the unique cultural heritage of more than one lakh villages across the country under the National Mission for Cultural Mapping’s Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar programme. Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar The National Mission for Cultural Mapping aims to develop a comprehensive database of art forms, artists, and other… Continue reading

India elected to UN Statistical Body

Central idea: India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission for a four-year term. About United Nations Statistical Commission The UN Statistical Commission is the topmost body of the global statistical system, bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states worldwide. Responsibilities of the Commission include setting statistical standards and developing concepts and methods,… Continue reading

RBI’s Pause On Repo Rate Hike: Concerns Over Inflation And Global Pressures Remain

Central Idea The RBI has decided to not increase the repo rate amid continuing hikes by important central banks such as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and European Central Bank (ECB), and domestic inflation concerns. However, if incoming data point to rising inflation risks, this decision could prove to be only a pause in the… Continue reading

India-Bhutan Relationship Built On Faith and Mutual trust

Central Idea India-Bhutan’s exemplary relationship has been a key factor in ensuring the stability and security of the region. The recent visit of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to India was focused on enhancing the bilateral relationship between the two countries. However, the unspoken part of the visit was the Bhutan-China boundary talks, which… Continue reading

Govt releases pre-draft of National Curriculum Framework

The Ministry of Education has released a pre-draft version of National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) Features Details What is it? A comprehensive framework for school education in India Provides guidelines for the development of curricula and syllabi, textbooks, and teaching practices for schools in India Developed by National Council… Continue reading

Union Cabinet gives nod to Indian Space Policy, 2023

Central idea: The Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023. Indian Space Policy, 2023 It aims to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost the activities of ISRO missions, and encourage participation from research, academia, startups, and industry. Salient features (1) Outlining roles and responsibilities The Indian Space Policy, 2023 outlines… Continue reading

Principles of Natural Justice and Proportionality

Central idea The Supreme Court lifted a broadcasting ban on a Malayalam news channel ‘MediaOne’. The court blasted the government for silencing voices in the media who “speak truth to power” by branding them as “anti-establishment”. A quick recap of the case The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has earlier refused to renew broadcast… Continue reading

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

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

Your better version awaits you!