Synthetic biology and its implications for national security

Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the article discusses the national security threat emanating from biological weapons. Synthetic biology Synthetic biology is a revolutionary technology that can help us manipulate biological organisms and processes for human betterment, especially in treating diseases, by re-engineering cells. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Defense categorised synthetic biology… Continue reading

Cyberattacks reveal vulnerabilities in critical infrastructures

The article highlights the threat posed by cyberattacks to our critical infrastructure and suggest the ways to deal with the the ever evolving threat. Civilian targets of cyberattacks Several high-profile cyberattacks were reported from the United States during the past several months. These attacks were all primarily on civilian targets, though each one was of… Continue reading

Operation Olivia to protect Olive Ridley Turtles

Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December. Answer this question from CSP 2012 in the comment box: Q.Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?… Continue reading

Challenges in Vaccinating All

Reoriented vaccine policy The foremost challenge in vaccination in India has been a supply deficit. Announcing a reoriented vaccine policy recently, the Prime Minister announced a coherent path forward. Starting from June 21, the Union government will take charge of 75 per cent of the total procurement, and provide vaccines to states at no cost.… Continue reading

Protection of ‘Heritage Trees’ in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government will make amendments to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act of 1975, to introduce provisions for the protection of ‘heritage trees’. What are Heritage Trees? Under the proposed amendment, a tree with an estimated age of 50 years or more shall be defined as a heritage tree. It… Continue reading

Delhi’s Master Plan 2041

The Delhi Development Authority gave its preliminary approval to the draft Master Plan for Delhi 2041. What is the Master Plan 2041 for Delhi? The draft of the Master Plan seeks to “foster a sustainable, liveable and vibrant Delhi by 2041”. It includes analysis, recommendations, and proposals keeping in mind the population, economy, housing, transportation,… Continue reading

EnVision Mission to Venus

Following NASA’s footsteps, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it has selected EnVision as its next orbiter that will visit Venus sometime in the 2030s. Last week, NASA selected two missions to the planet Venus, Earth’s nearest neighbour. The missions called DAVINCI+ and VERITAS have been selected based on their potential for scientific value… Continue reading

What is Fastly Internet Outage?

Several big websites around the world went down for about half an hour because of a major issue with the content delivery network (CDN) of American cloud computing services provider Fastly. Global internet outage: Which websites were affected? com, Reddit, Twitch, Spotify, Pinterest, Stack Overflow, GitHub, gov.uk, Hulu, HBO Max, Quora, PayPal, Vimeo and Shopify… Continue reading

[pib] Aspirational Districts Programme

In an independent appraisal report released today, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India has lauded the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) as a very successful model of local area development. Aspirational Districts Programme Launched in January 2018, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative aims to remove this heterogeneity through a mass movement to quickly and effectively… Continue reading

[pib] Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

To empower the farmers through the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, the government has released funds for various activities of Farm Mechanization. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) The Agri ministry has launched this mission in 2014-15 with the objectives of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the… Continue reading

What Centre must do to meet the economic challenges

The article takes an overview of the fiscal and monetary challenges posed by the second covid wave and suggest ensuring the availability of liquidity. GDP projections need to be re-examined According to NSO’s provisional estimates for 2020-21, the annual contraction in real GDP turned out to be 7.3 per cent. The erstwhile GDP growth projections… Continue reading

US, UK seek to sign New Atlantic Charter

US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to sign a new Atlantic Charter. What is Atlantic Charter? The Atlantic Charter was a statement issued on 14 August 1941 that set out American and British goals for the world after the end of World War II. The charter’s adherents signed the Declaration… Continue reading

CHIME Telescope

Scientists with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) Collaboration have assembled the largest collection of fast radio bursts (FRBs) in the telescope’s first FRB catalog. CHIME Telescope CHIME is an interferometric radio telescope at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, Canada. It consists of four antennas consisting of 100 x 20-meter cylindrical… Continue reading

[pib] All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20

Union Education Minister has announced the release of the report of All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20. This newscard provides useful data about the state of higher education in India on various parameters. Such data should not be missed while substantiating any point in answer writing. About AISHE AISHE was established by the… Continue reading

South Asia’s healthcare burden

The article contrasts the public healthcare system in South Asian countries with that of their Southeast Asian peers and highlights the shortcomings. Subpar public healthcare system Super spreader events, a fragile health infrastructure neglected for decades, citizens not following health protocols, and logistical mismanagement were the factors responsible for the destruction in the second Covid-19… Continue reading

Holding states to account

The article highlights the excessive focus on the Union government and the lack of scrutiny of the functioning of the States in various areas. Need for focus on the States In discussions on reforms or debates about public expenditure, there is an excessive focus on the Union government. This focus reflects our mindset that there… Continue reading

Legalizing Bitcoin in El Salvador and takeaways for India

El Salvador, a small coastal country in Central America, on became the first in the world to make Bitcoin, a digital currency, legal. Lessons for India While there are many precedents El Salvador sets for a global debate on cryptocurrency, we explore what this means in the Indian context. (1) Not a precedent for monetary… Continue reading

[pib] QS World University Rankings 2022

The Prime Minister has congratulated IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IISc Bengaluru for top-200 positions in QS World University Rankings 2022. QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). It comprises the global overall and subject rankings (which name the world’s top universities for… Continue reading

Places in news: Sardar Sarovar Dam

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is providing irrigation water in summer for the first time in history. Sardar Sarovar Dam The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam is a terminal dam built on the Narmada river at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district. Four Indian states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supply from the… Continue reading

Dihing Patkai is Assam’s 7th National Park

The Assam government has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park, four days after creating the 422-sq. km Raimona National Park in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district. Dihing Patkai NP Dihing Patkai, in focus a year ago for illegal coal mining in the vicinity, encompasses the erstwhile Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, the Jeypore Reserve Forest and… Continue reading

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