Places in news: Chernobyl

Ukrainian authorities said that radiation levels had increased in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after the Russian Invasion. What is Chernobyl Disaster? The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of… Continue reading

Who was Lachit Borphukan?

The Prime Minister has paid tribute to Lachit Borphukan on Lachit Diwas. Who was Lachit Borphukan? The year was 1671 and the decisive Battle of Saraighat was fought on the raging waters of the Brahmaputra. On one side was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s army headed by Ram Singh of Amer (Jaipur) and on the other was… Continue reading

In news: P-8I Aircraft

Aviation and defence colossus Boeing delivered India’s 12th maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare P-8I aircraft. P-8I Aircraft It is a multi-mission aircraft with state of the art sensors, proven weapons systems, and a globally recognised platform. The first aircraft produced by Boeing flew in 2009, and has been in service with the US Navy since… Continue reading

Species in news: Dugong

India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong, a marine mammal. Dugong Conservation Reserve The reserve will spread over an area of 500 km in Palk Bay on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a water depth maximum… Continue reading

Cyber warfare

Alongside the missiles and bombs slamming down in Ukraine, the country has also been hit by a wave of cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure companies. What is Cyberwarfare? Cyberwarfare has emerged as a new form of retaliation or passive aggression deployed by nations that do not want to go to actual war but want to send… Continue reading

Who was Narsinh Mehta?

Recently Junagadh University discovered a new species of spider and named it Narsinhmehtai in honour of Narsinh Mehta, the 15th-century poet who was a devotee of Lord Krishna. Narsinh Mehta Mehta is believed to have been born in Talaja in present-day Bhavnagar district in 1410 and died in Junagadh in 1480s. The family had its… Continue reading

NASA to decommission the International Space Station

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced plans to retire and decommission the International Space Station (ISS) by 2031. What is the ISS? The ISS was launched in 1998 as part of joint efforts by the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe. The idea of a space station originated in the 1984 State… Continue reading

Who is a Chess Grandmaster?

India’s teenage chess grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has won praise for a stunning victory over world number one Magnus Carlsen in an online championship. Why are we reading this? UPSC had asked three questions on sports in CSP 2021. They were based on Laureus World Sports Award, Summer Olympics, and ICC World Test Championship. Try to… Continue reading

[pib] Quantum Key Distribution

A joint team of scientists from DRDO and IIT Delhi, for the first time in the country successfully demonstrated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh, a distance of more than 100 kilometers. What is QKD Technology? Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method that implements a cryptographic… Continue reading

IT Ministry pitches for Data Monetization Policy

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s proposal to monetise data collected at the central level has data policy and other experts divided. Backgrounder to this policy The idea of monetising citizens’ data for greater public good was first floated by the government in the Economic Survey of 2018-19. It had noted that since such… Continue reading

Panel on AFSPA removal misses ‘45-day’ deadline

A committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry to study the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, from Nagaland, slated to submit a report within 45 days is yet to conclude its findings. AFSPA: A Backgrounder The AFSPA, 1958 came into force in the context of insurgency in the North-eastern States… Continue reading

[Sansad TV] Perspective: Green Hydrogen

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) The government has unveiled the first part of the much-awaited National Hydrogen Policy. In this article, we shall study some broad contours of this policy – how will it benefit producers of green hydrogen, how will it boost India’s energy security and… Continue reading

Issues with corporate governance in the context of NSE scam

Context Over the past 10 days, the revelations about the functioning of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) during the tenure of Chitra Ramkrishna as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) have raised questions about the governance. Managerial misconduct at NSE There was managerial misconduct at NSE. An effective board of directors: That is why… Continue reading

What are CRZ norms?

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inspected a bungalow owned by a Union Minister for alleged violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. What is the news? The Union Minister’s bungalow named has been illicitly constructed within 50 metres of the sea in violation of the CRZ rules. The crackdown assumes significance in the escalating verbal… Continue reading

All you need to know about Satellite Internet

The Reliance has launched a joint venture (JV) with European satellite-based broadband service company SES to enter the satellite internet space. What is Satellite Internet? The technology beams the internet down from a satellite that’s orbiting the Earth. Jio, Bharti Airtel Ltd’s OneWeb, and billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink want to send thousands of these satellites… Continue reading

EV Battery Swapping Policy

NITI Aayog is holding a consultation on the upcoming electric vehicle (EV) battery swapping policy. What is BaaS? Battery-as-a-service (BaaS) is seen as a viable charging alternative. Manufacturers can sell EVs in two forms: Vehicles with fixed or removable batteries and vehicles with batteries on lease. If you buy an electric scooter with battery leasing,… Continue reading

What is Presidential Fleet Review?

The President of India recently took part in the Indian Navy’s 12th Presidential Fleet Review. What is the President’s Fleet Review? In simplest terms, it is the country’s President taking stock of the Navy’s capability. It showcases all types of ships and capabilities the Navy has. It takes place once under every President, who is… Continue reading

A case for specialists

Context Given the fact that political input in economic policymaking is becoming dominant as regional and state-level issues assume overriding significance, it’s perhaps time to consider sheltering economics from politics and vice versa. Continuity in policy The sudden withdrawal of farm laws last year and the repeal of the land acquisition ordinance in 2015 are… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] India-UAE Relations

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context India’s approach towards FTAs is now focusing more on gaining meaningful market access and facilitating the Indian industry’s integration into global value chains. As Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has repeatedly emphasized, India would no longer be signing… Continue reading

Tapping technology for multilingual learning

Context As the theme of International Mother Language Day 2022, it has much relevance in reshaping Indian higher education. India’s unique cultural and linguistic diversity According to the Language Census in 2018, India is home to 19,500 languages or dialects, of which 121 languages are spoken by 10,000 or more people in our country. For… Continue reading

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

Your better version awaits you!