The Atlantic Niño’s role in India’s erratic monsoon

Context Last month, farmers from Madhya Pradesh threatened to take IMD to court for the inaccurate monsoon forecast this year. A question was also raised in Parliament about whether the Arctic warming had led to an erratic monsoon this year. Understanding the role of Atlantic Niño in monsoon prediction Monsoon predictions are a monumental challenge,… Continue reading

Anti-defection Law

An independent MLA from Gujarat is said to have has joined a national political party “in spirit” as he could not formally do so, having been elected as an independent. What is Anti-defection Law? The Anti-Defection Law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution punishes MPs/ MLAs for defecting from their party by taking away… Continue reading

Defence Ministry issues order for OFB dissolution

The Defence Ministry has issued an order for the dissolution of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) with effect from October 1. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) OFB consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories is a government agency under the control of the department of defence production (DDP). It is engaged in research, development, production, testing, marketing… Continue reading

What are Electronic Gold Receipts?

The board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the framework for a gold exchange as well as for vault managers. This approval paves the way for gold exchanges to be set up for trading in ‘Electronic Gold Receipt’ (EGR). What is EGR? SEBI’s concept paper proposes issuing an electronic gold… Continue reading

What is Meningitis?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year. What is Meningitis? Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. People of any age can get meningitis. What Causes Meningitis?… Continue reading

Places in news: Zojila Tunnel

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inspected the work on Zojila and Z Morh tunnels. Zojila Tunnel The Zojila is set to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. It will connect Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh via a tunnel through the famous Zojila Pass. Located at more than 11,500 feet above sea level, the… Continue reading

Illicit Proliferation of networks of N-weapons

India has underlined the need for the international community to pay closer attention to the “illicit proliferation” of networks of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, components and relevant technologies. Key takeaways from India’s remarks India’s remarks appeared to be a veiled reference to China and its “all-weather ally” Pakistan. China’s nuclear cooperation with Pakistan was… Continue reading

Right to Govt. Aid is not a Fundamental Right: SC

The right of an institution, whether run by a majority or minority community, to get government aid is not a fundamental right. Both have to equally follow the rules and conditions of the aid, the Supreme Court held in a judgment. What is the case about? The judgment came in an appeal filed by Uttar… Continue reading

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

The PM has launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to provide a digital Health ID to people which will contain their health records. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission The pilot project of the National Digital Health Mission was announced by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on August 15, 2020. The… Continue reading

Cyclone Gulab

As a very rare occasion during monsoons, Cyclone Gulab has been developed in the Bay of Bengal and later made landfall close in Andhra Pradesh. Tauktae, Amphan, Fani, Titli, Bulbul, Gaja… And now Gulab. As and when cyclones with intriguing names approach the Indian coasts, a common question comes to our minds: Who names these… Continue reading

[pib] Crop varieties with special traits

In an endeavor to create mass awareness for adoption of climate resilient technologies, PM will dedicate 35 crop varieties with special traits to the Nation. About Crop Varieties with Special Traits The crop varieties with special traits have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate… Continue reading

DRDO tests Akash Prime Missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested a new version of Akash Surface to Air missile Akash Prime from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. About Akash Missile System Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced… Continue reading

Flood management that cannot be watered down

Over the years, many of Bihar’s districts have been facing serious challenges with recurrent and massive flooding. It is the right time to look at some of the key aspects of India-Nepal flood management. Simultaneous floods in Bihar and Nepal Some of Nepal’s biggest river systems originate in the Himalayan glaciers which then flow into… Continue reading

What is a Cartel?

Last week, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has slapped a penalty on a cartel of beer companies for hiking the prices. What is a Cartel? According to CCI, a “Cartel includes an association of producers, sellers, distributors, traders or service providers who, by agreement amongst themselves, limit, control or attempt to control the production,… Continue reading

National Mission on Cultural Mapping

Having made little progress since its launch in 2017, the National Mission on Cultural Mapping has now been handed over to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). About the National Mission on Cultural Mapping The NMCM is a mission mode project of the Ministry of Culture. It was incepted in 2015. It… Continue reading

What is Dark Energy?

Last week, an international team of researchers has made the first direct detection of dark energy. About the Project The XENON1T experiment is the world’s most sensitive dark matter experiment and was operated deep underground at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The finding also suggests that experiments like XENON1T, which are… Continue reading

Risks involved in Indian tech unicorns gaining at China’s expense

Context Investment firms with a reputation for tracking and hunting unicorns — startups with billion-dollar-plus valuations are shifting their attention to India from China. While this cannot be good for China, the question remains over whether or not it is good for India either. China’s crackdown on tech industry Beijing has decided to crack down… Continue reading

Complex count: On caste census

These days, many states are urging the Centre to include a caste-wise census in the Census of India to have substantial data for reservations of certain dominant caste groups. Background Caste census of Backward Classes difficult: Centre Reaction by the Centre In this backdrop, the Union government’s assertion in the Supreme Court that a census… Continue reading

Naga Peace Accord

Tamil Nadu Governor has resigned as interlocutor for the Naga peace talks. What is the Naga Peace Process? (A) Issue It refers to ongoing talks between the Indian government and Naga insurgent groups, in particular the NSCN(IM), since 1997 with the aim to sign a Naga Peace Accord. The Naga insurgency, rooted in Naga… Continue reading

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

Your better version awaits you!