[Sansad TV] Perspective: Indian Army: Marching with times

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) This January 15th, India celebrated its 74th Army Day, to offer remembrance to the enlightening journey of courage and sacrifice of the Indian Army. In this article, we will look back at how the year gone by has been for the Indian… Continue reading

BrahMos Deal and India’s Defence Exports

On January 28, the Philippines signed a $374.96 million deal with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. for the supply of shore-based anti-ship variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Details of the contract The Philippines contract includes delivery of three BrahMos missile batteries, training for operators and maintainers as well as the necessary Integrated Logistics Support… Continue reading

What is Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI)?

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has carried out coastal vulnerability assessment for entire Indian coast at states level. Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) Under the CVI, INCOIS has brought out an Atlas comprising 156 maps on 1:1,00,000 scales to prepare a CVI. These maps determine the coastal risks due to future sea-level rise… Continue reading

Unitary Digital Identity Framework (UDIF)

India has agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to implement a ‘Unitary Digital Identity Framework’, apparently modelled on the Aadhaar Card. What is UDIF? UDIF is apparently similar to India’s own Aadhaar. Under the proposed UDIF it is expected to introduce a: Personal identity verification device based on biometric data Digital tool that… Continue reading

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

The government’s recent announcement that the maternity benefits program which provides ₹5,000 for the first child will be extended to cover the second child only if it is a girl has met with sharp criticism from activists who have demanded that it be universalized. What is PMMVY? Launched in 2017, this scheme provides ₹5,000 for… Continue reading

Paray Shikshalaya Initiative

The West Bengal government has launched ‘Paray Shikshalaya’ Initiative. Paray Shikshalaya It is an open-air classroom in the neighborhood programme – for students from class 1 to 7. The aim of this initiative is to encourage students who dropped out of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic to continue their education. Why was this initiative launched?… Continue reading

What is Operation AAHT?

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has launched a nationwide ‘Operation AAHT’ to curb human trafficking. We can site such examples in essays as well as mains as initiatives for curbing human trafficking in India Operation AAHT As part of this operation, special teams will be deployed on all long-distance trains/routes with focus on rescuing victims,… Continue reading

India’s first indigenous Bio-Sample Collection Kit: mWRAPR

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) led start-up has launched mWRAPR, a biological transport and storage medium for genomic sequencing labs, biobanks, and research labs handling biological samples for molecular analysis. mWRAPR It is India’s first indigenous bio-sample kit, a biological transport and storage medium. It would help in preserving genetic content in all types… Continue reading

Weighing in on a health data retention plan

Context The National Health Authority (NHA) — the body responsible for administering the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — has initiated a consultation process on the retention of health data by healthcare providers in India. The consultation paper asks for feedback on what data is to be retained, and for how long. Issues with the… Continue reading

What is TRIPS Agreement?

India runs the risk of being excluded from a proposal it co-authored at the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, in 2020, to “temporarily waive” intellectual property rights (IPR) held, by primarily Western countries, on vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for COVID-19. What is the case? India and China are two major global suppliers of medicine. A… Continue reading

What are Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)?

This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in TH. What are ANN? The concept behind an ANN is to define inputs and outputs, feed pieces of inputs to computer programs that function like neurons and make inferences or calculations. It then forwards those results to another layer of computer programs and so… Continue reading

What is Havana Syndrome?

A recent US intelligence report says that ‘Havana Syndrome’ —a collection of symptoms and related brain injuries, reported by some US officials could be caused by pulsed electromagnetic energy or close-range ultrasound. What is Havana Syndrome? ‘Havana Syndrome’ is a colloquial name given to a set of symptoms such as dizziness, hearing loss, headaches, vertigo,… Continue reading

Places in news: Basai Wetlands

The Basai Wetlands in Gurugram has shrunk to a quarter of its original size over the years. Basai Wetlands Basai wetland, located in Basai village in Gurgaon Haryana is a flora and fauna rich water body. It lies in one of the paleochannel of the Sahibi River, a tributary of Yamuna which originates from the… Continue reading

Issues with Population Control Bill

The Rajya Sabha has discussed a Private Member’s Bill on population regulation. The Population Control Bill First introduced in 2019, it is a private member bill proposed by Rakesh Sinha. The purpose of the bill was to control the population growth of India. The proposed bill then was signed by 125 Members of Parliament (MP)… Continue reading

Debate over Freedom of Religion and Attire

A row over whether educational institutions can impose a strict dress code that could interfere with the rights of students has spilled in the Udupi district of Karnataka. Don’t you think that such instances incite fear among the politically destitute minorities? Religious Freedom in India Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of… Continue reading

What is ‘Z’ Category Security?

A noted Parliamentarian from Hyderabad has rejected the ‘Z’ category security by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) accorded to him. Security Provisions in India In India, security is provided to high-risk individuals by the police and local government. The level of security needed by any individual is decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs,… Continue reading

Species in news: Golden Langur

Neighbours of a golden langur habitat in western Assam’s Bongaigaon district have opposed a move by the State government to upgrade it to a wildlife sanctuary. Kajoijana Bamuni Hill Wildlife Sanctuary The Assam Forest Department has issued a preliminary notification for converting the 19.85 sq. km. patch of forest into the Kajoijana Bamuni Hill Wildlife… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Inequality in India

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context Ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda, Oxfam International presented its annual global Inequality Report titled ‘Inequality Kills’ which presented the quantum growth in wealth of a minuscule few, and the simultaneous impoverishment of millions of working people. The findings… Continue reading

Fiscal management during a pandemic

Context The fiscal deficit for the year 2022-23 is higher than what was recommended by the Fifteenth Finance Commission. However, if we consider the direction of consolidation, it is towards a reduction in the fiscal deficit. The budget focuses on capital investment This year’s Union budget projects an increase in capex by Rs 3.14 lakh… Continue reading

What is E-SHRAM Portal?

Over 2 crore people who have signed up for the Centre’s portal for unorganised sector workers hold a Graduate Degree. E-Shram On August 26, 2021, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE) launched the E-Shram, the web portal for creating a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW), which will be seeded with Aadhaar. It seeks… Continue reading

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