Baikal Gigaton Volume Detector

Russian scientists have launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in the waters of Lake Baikail, the world’s deepest lake situated in Siberia. Try this PYQ from CSP 2020: Q. The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of equilateral triangle… Continue reading

OCI card holders no longer required to carry old passports for India travel

People of Indian origin (PIO) and the Indian diaspora having Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards are now not required to carry their old, expired passports for travel to India. UPSC can ask statement based question in prelims based on the definition and privileges of OCI card-holders. Who is an Overseas Citizen? An OCI is… Continue reading

A new architecture of economic growth is required

The article highlights the factors to consider in framing the policies for the well being of the people. Increase in inequality According to a report released by the World Bank, while India’s stock markets rose during the pandemic the number of people who are poor in India with incomes of $2 or less a day… Continue reading

Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has attended the Heart of Asia Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) ministerial conference is part of the Istanbul Process – a regional initiative on security and cooperation for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan – that was launched on November 2, 2011, in Turkey. Note… Continue reading

CJI’s remarks on Uniform Civil Code

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has lauded Goa’s Uniform Civil Code and encouraged “intellectuals” indulging in “academic talk” to visit the state to learn more about it. Again a controversial, conventional yet contested topic has come at our dispense! Save such articles for general idea esp. for essays. What is a Uniform Civil Code?… Continue reading

What is Happiness Curriculum?

The Delhi Deputy CM has said that during the pandemic, the Happiness Curriculum immensely helped them to apply life skills to deal with stressful situations. Try this question: Q.What is Happiness Curriculum? Discuss the scope of introducing happiness curriculum supplementary to the regular curriculum across the country. What is Delhi’s ‘happiness curriculum’? The curriculum calls… Continue reading

[pib] PRISM Scheme

The Ministry of Science & Technology has inaugurated an Alignment and Awareness Event for the publicity of the DSIR-PRISM Scheme. Crux lies in the acronym. Remember the primary aim and objectives. UPSC can also go with numbers esp. the grants. PRISM Scheme PRISM stands for Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs. It is an… Continue reading

Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) Scheme

The Centre plans to roll out the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) Scheme. ULPIN Scheme The ULPIN scheme has been launched in ten States this year and will be rolled out across the country by March 2022, the Department of Land Resources told the Standing Committee on Rural Development. It would allot a 14-digit… Continue reading

Election Commission’s new rule for polling agents

The Election Commission’s recent decision to change the rules for appointing polling agents has sparked off a debate in West Bengal. Who is a Polling Agent? A polling agent is a person appointed as a representative of a political party as it is not possible for a candidate to be physically present at every polling… Continue reading

[pib] Exercise Desert Flag-VI

Exercise Desert Flag –VI has successfully culminated with the de-induction of the Indian contingent from the UAE. Ex Desert Flag It is an annual multi-lateral large force employment exercise hosted by UAE. The sixth edition of the exercise was conducted at Air Force Base Al Dhafra, UAE. IAF participated in the exercise for the first… Continue reading

Teesta Water Sharing Deal

PM while on his tour of Bangladesh assured his best to ink the long-awaited deal over the Teesta and other common rivers. On at least two occasions—2011 and 2017—Bangladesh and India came close to signing a deal on the Teesta. Teesta River Teesta River is a 315 km long river that rises in the eastern… Continue reading

N K Singh bats for moving Health Sector to Concurrent List

Health should be shifted to the Concurrent list under the Constitution, and a developmental finance institution (DFI) dedicated to healthcare investments set up, Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh has said. Other key recommendations Bringing health into the Concurrent list would give the Centre greater flexibility to enact regulatory changes and reinforce the obligation of… Continue reading

Places in news: Chilika Lake

The Chilika Lake in Odisha, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, was once part of the Bay of Bengal, a study by the marine archaeology department of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, has found. Try this PYQ: Q.Consider the following statements: In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only. Western Ghats are spread over… Continue reading

SC bats for women officers in Army

The Supreme Court has held that the Army’s “selective” evaluation process discriminates against and disproportionately affects women short service commission officers seeking a permanent commission. Must read [Burning Issue] Women in Armed Forces What did the Court say? The Court held the view that the evaluation criteria set by the Army constituted systemic discrimination against… Continue reading

Amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has proposed several amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA), which may enable infrastructure projects to come up in the forest areas more easily. What are the amendments? They propose to grant exemptions to railways, roads, tree plantations, oil exploration, wildlife tourism and ‘strategic’ projects… Continue reading

[pib] Mission Karmayogi

The Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has informed about the Mission Karmayogi to Parliament. Try this MCQ: Q.The Mission Karmayogi recently seen in news is related to: a) EPFO reforms b) Labour laws reforms c) Civil Services reforms d) Artisans and Handicrafts Mission Karmayogi The mission is established under the National Programme… Continue reading

Learning economic lessons from Bangladesh

The article examines the key driving factors of Bangladesh’s stellar economic progress and draws lessons for India. Overview of Bangladesh’s economic achievements Bangladesh’s GDP growth in 2019 was an enviable 8.4 per cent — twice that of India’s during that year. It is one of the few countries to have maintained a positive growth rate… Continue reading

How fiscal stimulus in the U.S. will impact emerging economies

The article highlights how the faster recovery of the U.S. economy aided by the faster vaccination and stimulus packages may pose a policy challenge to the emerging economies. About the fiscal stimulus in the U.S. With the recent passage of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, the cumulative fiscal stimulus amounts to 25 per cent… Continue reading

Why privatising public assets is poor economics

The article highlights the issues with government expenditure driven by the selling of public sector assets. How public asset selling could affects private investment decisions Public sector assets are not bought by reducing consumption or investment. Current investment expenditure depends on decisions taken in the past and is more or less pre-determined. Investment decisions that… Continue reading

Justice NV Ramana set to take over as 48th CJI

The Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde has recommended Justice N.V. Ramana, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the next top judge from April 24. Chief Justice of India The CJI is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of India as well as the highest-ranking officer of the Indian federal judiciary. Appointment… Continue reading

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