What the Q1 GDP numbers say

Context India’s GDP data for Q1 of 2021-22 was released on August 31, 2021. The data revealed the real GDP growth at 20.1% in Q1. Making sense of the growth Base effect: Real GDP growth at 20.1% in Q1 of 2021-22 is largely because of the contraction of 24.4% in the corresponding quarter of the… Continue reading

Allahabad HC verdict disqualifying then PM

The 1975 verdict of Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad high court, disqualifying then PM Indira Gandhi on charges of electoral malpractices was a judgment of “great courage” that “shook” the nation, said CJI in his speech. What was the case? It all started with the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, where the Congress (R), which… Continue reading

National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)

The PM is soon expected to launch the National Intelligence Grid or NATGRID that aims to provide cutting-edge technology to enhance India’s counter-terror capabilities. What is NATGRID? NATGRID is an intelligence sharing network that collates data from the standalone databases of the various agencies and ministries of the Indian government. It is a counter terrorism… Continue reading

124 years of the Battle of Saragarhi

This September 12 marks the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi that has inspired a host of armies, books and films, both at home and abroad. What is the Battle of Saragarhi? The Battle of Saragarhi is considered one of the finest last stands in the military history of the world. Twenty-one soldiers were… Continue reading

Thamirabarani Civilization is 3200 years old

A carbon dating analysis of rice with soil, found in a burial urn at Sivakalai in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu has yielded the date of 1155 BC, indicating that the Thamirabarani civilization dates back to 3,200 years. About Thamirabarani River The Thamirabarani or Tamraparni or Porunai is a perennial river that originates from… Continue reading

Why we must focus on Human Development not GDP growth?

The much-anticipated estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2021-22 were released on 31 August. This has seen an unprecedented decline in GDP at 24.4%. Why debate this? An increasing GDP is often seen as a measure of welfare and economic success. However, it fails to account for… Continue reading

What is a Solar Storm?

Studies have found that a powerful solar storm can cause a disruption of the internet, damage submarine cables, and communication satellites. What is a Solar Storm? A solar storm or a Coronal Mass Ejection as astronomers call it is an ejection of highly magnetized particles from the sun. These particles can travel several million km… Continue reading

First Dugong Conservation Reserve to be built in India

India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong, a marine mammal. Try answering this PYQ: With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a herbivorous marine animal. It is found along the entire coast of India. It… Continue reading

Festival in news: Nuakhai

In Odisha, Nuakhai, an important agrarian festival in the State is being celebrated today. Nuakhai Nuakhai or is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh in India. It is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. As per the customary practice, people offer the new grains of… Continue reading

[pib] Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products

The Centre has revised “Transport and Marketing Assistance” (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products’. What is the TMA Scheme? The TMA Scheme was introduced in 2019 to provide assistance for the international component of freight, to mitigate the disadvantage of higher freight costs faced by the Indian exporters of agriculture products. All exporters, duly registered… Continue reading

The national security discourse is changing

Context From a rising China to the pressures of climate change; from the challenges of counter-terrorism to the COVID-19 pandemic (the four Cs), the old order is collapsing much faster than the ability of nations to create the foundations of a new one. The reduced difference between the domestic and foreign policy of the U.S.… Continue reading

Tasks accomplished by the Chandrayaan-2

The failure of Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to the Moon, to make a soft landing on the lunar surface had led to much disappointment. But that did not mean the entire mission had been wasted. Chandrayaan-2: A quick recap Chandrayaan-2 consisted of an Orbiter, Lander and Rover, all equipped with scientific instruments to study the… Continue reading

PLI Scheme for Textiles

The Union Government has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles. This move is a part of the overall announcement of PLI Schemes for 13 sectors made earlier during the Union Budget 2021-22. What is PLI Scheme? As the name suggests, the scheme provides incentives to companies for enhancing their domestic manufacturing apart from… Continue reading

NDA to admit Women: Centre

The Centre gave the Supreme Court the “good news” that it had taken a decision to allow women entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), so far a male bastion for recruitment into the Armed Forces. About National Defence Academy The NDA is the joint defence service training institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where… Continue reading

Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Centres

The state government in Punjab is banking on Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Centres (OOAT) to curb the drug menace in the state. What are the OOAT Centres? The move to set up OOAT centres in Punjab began in October 2017. The centres administer de-addiction medicine, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, to the opioid-dependent people… Continue reading

Needed: A tribunal for CAPF

Context There have been numerous cases of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers overstaying leave. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to issue orders to the CRPF headquarters to “include the provisions of Security Force Court (SFC), for initiating disciplinary action against the delinquent officers. Departmental enquiries Vs SFC The SFC is a purely judicial… Continue reading

The economic reforms — looking back to look ahead

Context The economic reforms, so far, have been more focused on the technical nature of the economy than the system, process and people. The fundamentals need to be set right with a focus on human capital, technology readiness and productivity. Benefits and limits of economic reforms of 1991 Economic reforms of 1991 — and from… Continue reading

India appoints Sherpa for G20 Summit

The government has appointed a union minister as Sherpa for the G20 summit. Who is a Sherpa (in IR context)? A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G7 and G20 summits. Between the G7 summits, there are multiple sherpa conferences where… Continue reading

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