India could lead the G20 agenda in a unique way

Context The G20, or Group of 20, has emerged as the primary venue for international economic and financial cooperation. India assumed the presidency of the powerful grouping G20 on 1 December 2022, symbolising the motto and showcasing its philosophies of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. What One Earth, One Family, One… Continue reading

What ails the Ken-Betwa River Link Project?

The Steering Committee of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) held its third meeting in New Delhi. What is the Ken Betwa Link Project? The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for the interlinking of rivers. Under this project, water from the Ken River will be transferred to the Betwa… Continue reading

Green Comet appears close to Earth after 50,000 years

The rare green comet that last came to Earth about 50,000 years ago has returned to the skies of Earth. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen with the naked eye if the conditions in the sky are just right. What are Comets? Comets are frozen rocky or gas-filled objects that are remnants of the formation… Continue reading

Norovirus Cases detected in Kerala

The Kerala Health Department confirmed two cases of the gastrointestinal infection norovirus in class 1 students in Ernakulam district. What is Norovirus? Norovirus is an important cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in children as well as adults worldwide. It leads to diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. Being a diarrhoeal disease, it can lead to… Continue reading

Species in news: Olive Ridley Turtles

Hundreds of vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) have washed ashore along the coastline between Kakinada and Antarvedi in the Godavari region during the ongoing annual breeding season on the east coast. Why in news? The wastewater from the aqua ponds is also being released into the sea. This is suspected to be one of the… Continue reading

Uniform Civil Code, Identity politics and the gender equality

Context Once again there is a clamour to replace diverse personal laws with a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), applicable to all Indians, irrespective of religion, gender or caste. Some states (for example, Uttarakhand) are already drafting one. What is a Uniform Civil Code? A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law… Continue reading

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC)

Context The introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016 brought about a structural change in the resolution architecture in the country. However, despite its promise, the IBC, in its functioning, has fallen short of expectations. Last week, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs invited comments on a fresh set of changes it is… Continue reading

Menstrual leave and the question of gender equality

Context On January 19, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on social media that the state government will grant menstrual leave for female students in all state universities under the Department of Higher Education. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers Background The announcement came shortly after the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)… Continue reading

Bimodal Nuclear Propulsion can send missions to Mars in 45 days

NASA is planning to send mission to Mars in 45 days using the Bimodal Nuclear Propulsion. Bimodal Nuclear Propulsion: What is it? NASA relaunched its program to develop bimodal nuclear propulsion a few years ago. Bimodal nuclear propulsion is a two-part system that includes an NTP and NEP element. This system is expected to enable… Continue reading

INS Vagir commissioned into the Indian Navy

The fifth Scorpene class conventional submarine was commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Vagir. INS Vagir The latest submarine gets its name from the erstwhile Vagir, a submarine that served the Navy between 1973 and 2001 and undertook numerous operational missions. The construction of the new Vagir began in 2009 and it took its… Continue reading

PM named 21 Andaman Islands after Param Vir Chakra recipients

Prime Minister named 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after India’s 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees. Note: Earlier, Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep by the Prime Minister during his visit to the Island in 2018. Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.… Continue reading

AI-Generated Art: Paradox of capturing humanity

Context Around the end of last year, social media spaces were trending with Lensa-generated images of online users. A subscription app, Lensa, makes graphic portraits, called “Magic Avatar” images, using selfies uploaded by its users. As AI takes a strong foothold over the realm of art, are we equipped with mechanisms to define what is… Continue reading

State of the Economy Report and the Macroeconomic Stability

Context The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) just-released State of the Economy report. The report suggests that while controlling inflation was a big concern in 2022, the bank may now be more focused on avoiding a recession in 2023. There is still debate about whether the recession will be short and mild or long and… Continue reading

Key takeaways form the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting

Context The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2023, held in the Swiss town of Davos, ended Friday a conference that started in a world possibly fundamentally altered, but whose processes and outcomes remained pretty much business as usual. The theme this year was ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’. World Economic Forum (WEF) Headquartered in Geneva,… Continue reading

PM calls for Prison Reforms and Repeal of Obsolete Laws

Prime Minister has suggested prison reforms to improve jail management and recommended repealing obsolete criminal laws, at the national annual police meet. Issues with Prisons in India Overcrowding: 149 jails in the country are overcrowded by more than 100% and that 8 are overcrowded by margins of a 500%. Overcrowding takes affects the already constrained… Continue reading

Employment days under MGNREGS at a 5-year low

The average days of employment provided per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are at a five-year low, this financial year. What is the news? As on January 20, the average days of employment provided per household is 42 days while it was 50 days in 2021-22, 52 days in 2020-21,… Continue reading

Excavations reveal Buddhist monastery complex at Bharatpur of Bengal

Recent excavations at Bharatpur in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district have revealed the presence of a Buddhist monastery. Bharatpur Buddhist Monastery Complex The Kolkata Circle of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) started excavating the site in the second week of January and a structural complex of a monastery has now been partially exposed. The… Continue reading

Places in news: Jagannath Puri Temple

Odisha Governor’s suggestion that foreigners and non-Hindus should be allowed to enter Puri’s famed Jagannath temple has not gone down well with traditionalists and political leaders alike. Why in news? It has been the practice for centuries — even though there is no clearly articulated reason for it. Some historians believe that multiple attacks on… Continue reading

Assam’s Charaideo Maidams nominated for UNESCO tag

The Centre has decided to nominate Assam’s Charaideo Maidams — the Ahom equivalent of the ancient Egyptian pyramids — for the UNESCO World Heritage Centre this year. Why in news? The nomination has attained significance at a time when the country is celebrating the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan. Charaideo Maidams The Charaideo maidams… Continue reading

What is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and how it impacts the climate?

The EU is weaning itself off piped Russian gas by rapidly expanding imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from US. What is Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG? LNG is natural gas reduced to a liquid state (liquefaction) through intense cooling to around -161 degrees Celsius (-259 Fahrenheit). It is constituted almost wholly of methane —… Continue reading

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