QUAD: its origins, goals and future plans

Why was it formed? While not stated explicitly by the leaders, a major basis for the grouping is to check China’s growing influence in the region. After the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 wreaked havoc in the region now called the Indo-Pacific, India stepped up its rescue efforts. India provided assistance to its maritime neighbours:… Continue reading

Qutub Minar not a Place of Worship: ASI

The Qutub Minar complex is not a place of worship and its character cannot be changed now, the Archaeological Survey of India submitted in a Delhi Court while opposing a plea challenging the dismissal of a civil suit seeking “restoration” of temples on the premises. What is the case? The original suit claimed that 27… Continue reading

Who was Prithviraj Chauhan?

There is controversy around a new film where some communities of Rajasthan are laying claim over the 12th century emperor Prithviraj Chauhan. Prithviraj Chauhan Prithviraj Chauhan (1177–1192 CE) popularly known as a king from the Chauhan (Chahamana) dynasty who ruled the territory of Sapadalaksha, with his capital at Ajmer in present-day Rajasthan. Ascending the throne… Continue reading

FDI inflow ‘highest ever’ at $83.57 bn

The foreign direct investment (FDI) in the financial year 2021-22 has touched a “highest-ever” figure of $83.57 billion. Get aware with the recently updated FDI norms. Key facts mentioned in this newscard can make a direct statement based MCQ in the prelims. Ex. FDI source in decreasing order: Singapore – Mauritius – Netherland – Ceyman… Continue reading

Branch campuses in India, prospects and challenges

Context India, after half a century of keeping its higher education doors closed to foreigners, is on the cusp of opening itself to the world. Higher education reforms Currently, India does not allow the entry and the operation of foreign university branch campuses. The NEP 2020 was a turning point for the entry of foreign… Continue reading

ASHA workers earn WHO’s global plaudits

The country’s frontline health workers or ASHAs (accredited social health activists) were one of the six recipients of the WHO’s Global Health Leaders Award 2022 which recognises leadership, contribution to the advance of global health and commitment to regional health issues. Who are ASHA workers? ASHA workers are volunteers from within the community who are… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Abortion Debate

UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context Around 36 million women across the US are on the verge of losing their right to legal abortion. A draft document, leaked a couple of weeks ago, suggests that the Supreme Court has decided to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade… Continue reading

Hyper-accumulator Plants for Soil Detox

A study published in the JNKVV (Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya) research journal concluded that heavy metal pollution of soil is “emerging at a speedy rate” in India due to industrialisation. How does soil get contaminated? Soil contamination can happen due to a variety of reasons, including manufacturing, mineral extraction, accidental spills, illegal dumping, leaking underground… Continue reading

What are Look Out Circulars (LOCs)?

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a Look Out Circular (LOC), which prevents one from travelling abroad, must be supplied to the person at the time of being stopped at the airport and that the reasons should be communicated to the affected party. What is a Look Out Circular? It is a… Continue reading

India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)

The IHCI project has demonstrated that blood pressure treatment and control are feasible in primary care settings in diverse health systems across various States in India. India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) It is a multi-partner initiative involving the Indian Council of Medical Research, WHO-India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and State governments. It aims… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Energy Transition & Challenges

Context India has set ambitious targets towards the achievement of the dual goals of climate action and sustainable development through its nationally determined contributions and energy access commitments. As India starts a new decade of energy transition, it is an opportune time to assess where India stands in achieving its targets as well as to… Continue reading

Structural interventions by state governments that can create higher-wage jobs

Context The recent decision to deduct off-budget borrowings from state borrowing limits reminds chief ministers to be good policy ancestors. Financing welfare state In A Brief History of Equality, economist Thomas Piketty suggests that “the world of the early 2020s, no matter how unjust it may seem, is more egalitarian than that of 1950 or… Continue reading

SC tests phones for Pegasus Spyware

The Supreme Court has said its technical committee had so far received and tested 29 mobile devices suspected to be infected by Pegasus malware. Why in news? It was alleged that the government used the Israel-based spyware to snoop on journalists, parliamentarians, prominent citizens and even court staff. What is Pegasus? Pegasus is a spyware… Continue reading

Project WARDEC: India’s upcoming AI-powered Wargame Centre

The Army Training Command signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to develop a ‘Wargame Research and Development Centre (WARDEC)’ in New Delhi. What is Project WARDEC? The project ‘WARDEC’ will be a first-of-its-kind simulation-based training centre in India that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to design virtual reality war-games.… Continue reading

Bridging the health policy to execution chasm

Context In April this year, the Union government released a guidance document on the setting up of a ‘public health and management cadre’ (PHMC) as well as revised editions of the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) — for ensuring quality health care in government facilities. Background The need for a public health cadre and services… Continue reading

States have equal powers to make GST-related Laws: SC

The Supreme Court has held that Union and State legislatures have equal, simultaneous and unique powers to make laws on Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the recommendations of the GST Council are not binding on them. What is the case? The apex court’s decision came while confirming a Gujarat High Court ruling that the… Continue reading

India’s Vulnerability to Drought

A United Nations report ‘Drought in Numbers’ has revealed that many parts of India fall under the list of regions that are vulnerable to drought globally. What are Droughts? Drought is a prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world. It is a slow-onset disaster characterized by the… Continue reading

What is Stockholm+50?

Stockholm+50 conference — a follow-on to the 1972 conference to be held in Stockholm from 2-3 June 2022 is the one that started the environmental movement we see today. What is Stockholm +50? Stockholm +50 is an international environmental meeting hosted by the United Nations General Assembly to be held in Stockholm, Sweden from 2-3… Continue reading

Places in news: Sela Tunnel

The strategically-significant Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh is nearing completion well before the deadline. What is Sela Tunnel Project? The Sela Tunnel is the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world. The total length of the project, including the tunnels, the approach and the link roads, will be around 12 km. The tunnel is… Continue reading

Ensuring a sustainable vaccination programme

Context COVID-19, which disrupted supply chains across countries and in India too, marks an inflection point in the trajectory of immunisation programmes. UIP: Showcasing India’s strength in managing large scale vaccination India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), launched in 1985 to deliver routine immunisation, showcased its strengths in managing large-scale vaccine delivery. This programme targets close… Continue reading

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