India ranks 132 in HDI as score drops

India ranks 132 out of 191 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) 2021, after registering a decline in its score over two consecutive years for the first time in three decades. What is Human Development Index (HDI)? The HDI combines indicators of life expectancy, education or access to knowledge and income or standard of… Continue reading

Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction

Context English should be taught effectively not as the medium, but as a second language What is the debate? Over the years, there has been a raging debate over the need for children to have their mother tongue as the medium of instruction in schools. While educationists have emphasised the importance of learning in the… Continue reading

Global pandemic treaty to avert future mishap

Context The outline of an essential global pandemic treaty. Purpose of the treaty A pandemic treaty under the umbrella of the World Health Organization would build coherence and avoid fragmentation of response. Severity of this pandemic demands such treaty COVID-19 would count as being among some of the most severe pandemics the world has seen… Continue reading

Positive Secularism is allowed: Student to SC in hijab case

India believes in ‘positive secularism’ based on tolerance of all religious faiths and not ‘negative secularism’ followed in countries like France which holds that display of religion in public is offensive, said a student from Karnataka who has challenged the ban on wearing hijab to school. What is Positive Secularism? Secularism is most commonly defined… Continue reading

CSR needs positive reforms to support NGO’S

Context The evolving role of CSR in funding NGOs What is NGO? A non-governmental organization is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically non-profit entities, and many of them are active in humanitarianism or the social sciences; they can also include clubs and associations that provide services to their members… Continue reading

[pib] CoE – SURVEI standardizes Drone images for land Survey

The Centre of Excellence on Satellite and Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative (CoE-SURVEI) has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based software which can automatically detect change on the ground, including unauthorised constructions and encroachments in a time series using satellite imagery. CoE-SURVEI The CoE-SURVEI, established by Directorate General Defence Estates at National Institute of Defence Estates Management, leverages… Continue reading

Subash Chandra Bose

Context In the year of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the nation pays tribute to Subhas Bose on September 8 as his statue rises tall next to India Gate. Crux of this article in simple words The transfer of power to India took place on August 15, 1947. Had Bose and his Indian National Army (INA)… Continue reading

What is the PM SHRI Scheme?

Prime Minister has announced that under the PM SHRI Scheme, as many as 14,500 schools will be “upgraded” across India to showcase the components of the National Education Policy, 2020. What is the PM SHRI scheme? According to the Ministry of Education, the centrally sponsored scheme will be called PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for… Continue reading

Mental Health in india

Context How to deal with mental wellness challenges in the uniformed forces What is stress? Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. What is mental wellness? Mental wellness… Continue reading

Preventive Detention

Preventive detentions in 2021 saw a rise by over 23.7% compared with the year before, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention, according to statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). What does NCRB report say on Preventive Detention? Over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody… Continue reading

Ban on Conversion Therapy for the LGBTQIA+ Community

The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body of medical professionals in India, has written to all State Medical Councils, banning sexual conversion therapy and calling it a “professional misconduct”. What is the news? The NMC has empowered the State bodies to take disciplinary action against medical professionals who breach the guideline. The NMC… Continue reading

Pakistan floods may take away Mohenjo Daro’s World Heritage Tag

Heavy floods in Pakistan has pushed the archeological site of Mohenjo Daro – near the bank of the Indus river – to the “brink of extinction”. What is the news? Pakistan’s Department of Archaeology has said that Mohenjo Daro might be removed from the world heritage list, if urgent attention towards its conservation and restoration… Continue reading

Untangling Kerala’s Lokayukta Amendment Controversy

The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill on August 30, amid a boycott. Who are Lokpal-Lokayuktas? The Lokpal-Lokayukta issue has always generated intense debate in the country. In fact, this term was first used in a report of the Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai as far back as in… Continue reading

ISRO tests system recoverable rocket ‘Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)’

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a technology that could aid the cost-effective recovery of spent rocket stages and safely land payloads on other planets. What is IAD? IAD is a technique used for an atmospheric entry payload. An inflatable envelope and an inflatant (anything that inflates the envelope, like air or… Continue reading

India’s first Dark Sky Reserve to come up in Ladakh

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has announced the setting up of India’s first dark sky reserve at Hanle in Ladakh in the next three months. What is a Dark Sky Reserve? A dark-sky reserve is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory that is kept free of artificial… Continue reading

Martand Temple in Kashmir

In May this year, some pilgrims offered prayers inside the Martand Temple, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected (ASI) monument About Martand Sun Temple The Martand Sun Temple is a Hindu temple located near the city of Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley. It dates back to the eighth century AD and was dedicated to Surya, the… Continue reading

Exercise Vostok-22

Russia is holding Vostok exercises. However, India has only sent its army contingent of the 7/8 Gorkha Rifles, and will not take part in the maritime section of the two-part event. Vostok-2022 It is an annual, multilateral, strategic and command exercise hosted by Russia. This year it will see the participation of more than 50,000… Continue reading

India Bangladesh Relations

Context Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s four-day visit to India to boost bilateral ties. India-Bangladesh ties background India’s links with Bangladesh are civilization, cultural, social and economic. There is much that unites the two countries – a shared history and common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the arts. India was one… Continue reading

Issues faced by Teachers in India

Context 5 September is teacher’s day. Teachers’ Day or Shikshak Divas marks the birthday of the country’s first Vice President (1952–1962) who went on to become the second President of India (1962-1967), a scholar, philosopher, Bharat Ratna awardee, a highly-respected teacher and prolific statesman – Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. What are the issue with teachers? Less attractive career: It… Continue reading

Cybercrime in India

Context There has been a steady spike in cases of cybercrime in the last five years. What is a cybercrime? Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device or a network. While most cybercrimes are carried out in order to generate profit for the cybercriminals, some cybercrimes are carried out against computers… Continue reading

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