Towards cleaner air in Delhi

The article suggests the three-pronged strategy to deal with the emission from transportation and highlights the importance of coordination at various level to deal with the issue of pollution. Anti-pollution campaign in Delhi With air pollution returning to pre-COVID levels, the Delhi administration has launched a major anti-pollution campaign this month. The campaign is focused… Continue reading

Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP)

Following up on India’s announcement of a $500 million package to the Maldives, the Exim Bank of India and the Maldives’s Ministry of Finance signed an agreement for $400 million in Male. Try this question from 2014: Q.Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’?… Continue reading

Indian Sat: Another satellite made by students

An experimental satellite developed by three students of Karur (TN) has been selected for launch in sub-orbital space by NASA. Try this PYQ: Q.The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of: (a) An indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence (b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of… Continue reading

[pib] Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog

Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) has started a nationwide campaign to celebrate “Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan” this year on the occasion of Deepawali festival. Try this PYQ: Q.Consider the following statements: Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into the environment. Cattle release ammonia into the environment. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment. Which of the… Continue reading

What is Raychaudhuri Equation?

The Raychaudhuri Equation in General Relativity, derived by Raychaudhuri is in the spotlight after 2020 Physics Nobel was awarded to Penrose for throwing light on Black Holes. Try this MCQ: Q.The Raychaudhuri Equation is sometimes seen in news is related to: Artificial Intelligence/Cloud Computing/Quantum Mechanics/Space Sciences What is Raychaudhuri Equation? Raychaudhuri (1923–2005) was an Indian… Continue reading

[pib] Bharatmala Pariyojana

A total of 322 projects in a length of 12,413 km have been awarded under Bharatmala Pariyojana. Further, 2921 Km has been constructed under the Project till the date. Try this PYQ: Q.Consider the following pairs: National Highway: Cities connected NH 4: Chennai and Hyderabad NH 6: Mumbai and Kolkata NH 15: Ahmedabad and Jodhpur… Continue reading

Redefining cities

The article the need for liberal and realistic definition of the ‘urban’ area in the next Census and mention the implications of such change. 2 ways to define urban areas 1) Statutory town These towns are defined by state governments and place India’s urbanisation rate at 26.7%. A statutory town includes all places with a… Continue reading

Global Nitrous Oxide Pollution

Human emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) — a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) — increased by 30 per cent between 1980 and 2016. Observe the above image carefully and try to find out the major contributor of nitrous oxide emission in the Global N2O Budget. What is Nitrous oxide? Nitrous… Continue reading

[pib] SVAMITVA Scheme

Our PM has launched the physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme. Try this MCQ: Q.The SVAMITVA Scheme sometimes seen in news is related to: Urban Employment/ Land records management/ Child Adoption/ None of these About SVAMITVA SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. Under the… Continue reading

[pib] Calcium Nitrate and Boronated Calcium Nitrate

Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has launched an indigenous variety of fertilizers- ‘Calcium Nitrate’ & ‘Boronated Calcium Nitrate’. Try this PYQ: Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture? (a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms (b) Neem coating slows… Continue reading

Anti Radiation Missile: RudraM-I

A New Generation Anti Radiation Missile (NGARM), RudraM-I, was successfully flight-tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Try this MCQ: Q.The RudraM-I recently seen in news is an: Ans: Anti-satellite missile/ Anti-radiation Missile/ Anti-tank mine/ Submarine Torpedo RudraM-I RudraM-I is an anti-radiation missile can locate and target any radiation-emitting source like enemy radars,… Continue reading

What is World Food Programme?

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Programme (WFP) for feeding millions of people from Yemen to North Korea, with the coronavirus pandemic seen pushing millions more into hunger. Tap here to read more about Nobel Prizes here at: Nobel and other Prizes World Food Programme The WFP is the food-assistance branch… Continue reading

3 contenders for National Butterfly Status

A citizen poll to identify the national butterfly concluded with three species garnering the highest number of votes. Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are- (a) Birds (b) Primates (c) Reptiles (d) Amphibians Which are the three species? (1) Indian Jezebel Blessed with a… Continue reading

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

The article highlights the importance of CAG in times of disasters to ensure check and balances. Context With the nation spending substantial resources to manage the pandemic, the role of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has come into prominence. Opportunity for corruption in pandemic Allegations of siphoning off of funds to purchase the… Continue reading

Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill needs a thorough review

There are several issues with the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill and these issues need consideration before the passage of the Bill. What the Bill aims to achieve Union Health Minister introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 (Bill) in the Lok Sabha. Its aim is to regulate ART banks and clinics, allow safe and… Continue reading

Television Rating Points (TRP) System and its loopholes

Mumbai police are investigating the alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) by an extremely right-wing opinionated news reporter. Try this question: Q.What do you mean by “TRP Journalism”? Discuss the loopholes in the present system of self-regulation in Indian media. What is TRP? In simple terms, anyone who watches television for more than a… Continue reading

Is Indian economy going through stagflation

The article analyses the challenge faced by the Monetary Policy Committee in wake of a pandemic where falling growth is accompanied by the rising inflation. Dilemma with inflation targetting in pandemic After the RBI’s adoption of a flexible inflation targeting framework from August 2020, it became even more focused on anchoring inflation and inflation expectations… Continue reading

Provisions for platform workers in the labour code and issues with them

The article examines the provision made for the platform workers and the gig workers in the labour codes passed by the Parliament recently and explains the issues with it. Context The three new labour codes passed by Parliament recently acknowledge platform and gig workers as new occupational categories in the making. Definition issue The specific… Continue reading

Right to Protest

The Supreme Court has found the indefinite “occupation” of a public road by the Shaheen Bagh protestors unacceptable. Right to Protest The right to protest is the manifestation of the right to freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, and the right to freedom of speech. The Constitution of India provides the right… Continue reading

Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR Technology

French-American duo Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna have been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for the chemistry of CRISPR, which allows scientists to ‘cut-paste’ inside a genetic sequence. Try this PYQ: Q.What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing (b) A biosensor used in… Continue reading

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