The problem with putting the civil services on a pedestal

Context Recently, two IAS officers were the subject of widespread public derision for misuse of power. A week later, the media and the public feted those who had successfully cracked the UPSC examination in order to become bureaucrats of the future. About Indian Administrative Service Civil Services refer to the career civil servants who are… Continue reading

Myanmar’s internal situation shouldn’t hobble India’s ‘Act East’ policy

Context The military takeover in Myanmar on February 1, 2021 and its aftermath have seen an adverse impact on India’s Act East policy. What happened in Myanmar? The 2021 coup occurred in the aftermath of the general election on 8 November 2020, in which the NLD won 396 out of 476 seats in parliament, an… Continue reading

ASHA Program

Context India’s one million Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) volunteers have received World Health Organization’s Global Health Leaders Awards 2022. Background of the ASHA program In 1975, a WHO monograph titled ‘Health by the people’ and then in 1978, an international conference on primary health care in Alma Ata (in the then USSR and now… Continue reading

What are Bad Banks?

The finance ministry said the Rs 6,000-crore National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) or bad bank is expected to take over the first set of non-performing accounts of banks next month. What is a Bad Bank? A bad bank conveys the impression that it will function as a bank but has bad assets to start with.… Continue reading

Sant Kabir: the extraordinary poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement

President Kovind inaugurated the Sant Kabir Academy and Research Centre Swadesh Darshan Yojana and paid tribute to the Bhakti saint, Kabir at Maghar, his resting place in Uttar Pradesh. Kabir and the Bhakti Movement The Bhakti movement, which began in the 7th century in South India, had begun to spread across north India in the… Continue reading

Ancient sculptures recovered from Australia, US

Ten antiquities (sculptures) retrieved from Australia and the United States were handed over to the Government of Tamil Nadu. Some of the returned antiquities, and how they had gone missing: (1) Dvarapala: Retrieved in 2020 from Australia, this stone sculpture belongs to the Vijayanagar dynasty dating to the 15th-16th century. He is holding a gada… Continue reading

Malnutrition in India is a worry in a modern scenario

Context The country’s response to its burden of malnutrition and growing anaemia has to be practical and innovative. What is malnutrition? Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting… Continue reading

[Sansad TV] Perspective: Uniform Civil Code

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context Recently, a mega congregation organized by a community at Deoband in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, passed a resolution against the proposed Uniform Civil Code. It went on to say that it would be in contravention of not only the Constitution… Continue reading

Accessible India Campaign

With its deadline of June 2022 almost up, the status of targets under the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) is likely to be discussed during a meeting of the Central Advisory Board on Disability. What is Accessible India Campaign? Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is a program that is launched to serve the differently-able… Continue reading

World’s first Fishing Cat Census done in Chilika

The Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, has 176 fishing cats, according to a census done by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with the Fishing Cat Project (TFCP). About Fishing Cats About twice the size of a typical house cat, the fishing cat is a feline with a powerful build and stocky… Continue reading

UAPA

The Supreme Court recently put freeze on sedition proceedings under the Section 124A (sedition law) of the IPC for persons who have also been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967 in the same case or separately. What is the news? This freeze has rejected bails for some journalist and JNU activists… Continue reading

What are PM Shri Schools?

Union Education Ministry is planning to set up “PM Shri Schools”. PM Shri Schools PM Shri Schools will be the laboratory of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They will be fully equipped to prepare students for the future. Likely features of these schools It could imbibe 5+3+3+4 (to replace the 10+2 schooling system) approach of… Continue reading

Posidonia Australis: World’s Largest Plant

The world’s largest plant has recently been discovered off the West Coast of Australia: a seagrass 180 km in length. Posidonia australis The ribbon weed, or Posidonia australis, has been discovered in Shark Bay by a group of researchers from Flinders University and The University of Western Australia. These researchers have also found that the… Continue reading

Species in news: Eublepharis pictus

A gecko found in Visakhapatnam in 2017, then thought to belong to a known species, has now been identified as a member of a new species. Eublepharis pictus The species, Eublepharis pictus, also known as the Painted Leopard Gecko, has been described in the journal Evolutionary Systematics. Phylogenetic study and morphological comparisons have distinguished it… Continue reading

Gig Workers’ Rights

The Union Labour Ministry is organizing a program aimed at sharing information and good experiences on policies and global practices relating to gig and platform workers and their social security. What is the Gig Economy? In a gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend toward hiring independent contractors and freelancers instead of… Continue reading

Back in news: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

A national helpline for women deserted in Non-Resident Indian (NRI) marriages and the need for a dedicated fund to provide assistance to them are among the recommendations made at a consultation organized by the National Commission for Women (NCW). What are the issues faced by NRI wives? Abandon after marriage Inconclusive divorces filed abroad Child… Continue reading

Questioning the Safety of Aadhaar

Two days after issuing an advisory asking people to refrain from sharing photocopies of their Aadhaar Card, the Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI) opted to withdraw the notification. UIDAI Advisory The withdrawn notice had suggested holders use a masked Aadhaar card instead of the conventional photocopy. It added that the document must not… Continue reading

Use of statecraft for long-term solutions to security problems

Context In many countries, both the authorities and security agencies are beginning to acknowledge the importance of resorting to statecraft as a vital adjunct to the role played by the security agencies. The important role of statecraft in security Statecraft involves fine-grained comprehension of inherent problems; also an ability to quickly respond to political challenges.… Continue reading

Pacific Nations reject China Security Pact

China has suffered a big diplomatic humiliation in the pacific. 10 island nations in the region rejected China’s proposed security pact. Why in news? Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has returned empty-handed in a highly decorated visit to the Pacific Nations. The secret deal that was to be brokered got leaked in public media, caused… Continue reading

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