Resurrecting the right to know

This article analyses the importance of peoples’ right to know and instrumental role judiciary played in harmonising it with the Official Secrets Act 1923. Context A High Level Committee (HLC) chaired by a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court was constituted by the Home Ministry through a gazette notification. Its mandate was, among others,… Continue reading

Re-imagining and reinventing the Indian economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global economy and India is no different. Besides the stimulus package totalling ₹20 lakh crore, a lot more needs to be done, however, to resuscitate the country’s growth engine. Try this question: Q.Economic reconstruction needs a multi-pronged strategy apart from economic stimulus. Discuss. Need for a two-pronged strategy At… Continue reading

Bioethanol Blending in Petrol

The government has set targets of 10 per cent bioethanol blending of petrol by 2022 and to raise it to 20 per cent by 2030 to curb carbon emissions and reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil. Try this PYQ: Q.Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be… Continue reading

Tornado’s dynamics and its India connection

Babu ChunderSikur Chatterjee’s paper was the earliest record of a tornado’s dynamics in the history of meteorology, according to a study. Try this PYQ: Q. In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason? (CSP 2015) (a) Sea surface temperatures are low (b) Inter-Tropical Convergence… Continue reading

In news: Lingaraj Temple

The Odisha government has announced to give a facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple, akin to its pre-350-year structural status. Try this PYQ: Q. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of- (CSP 2019) (a) Chalukya (b) Chandela (c) Rashtrakuta (d) Vijayanagara About Lingaraj Temple Lingaraja Temple… Continue reading

Death Valley records the highest temperature on Earth

California’s Death Valley registered a temperature of 54.4 degrees Celsius or 129.9 degrees Fahrenheit on August 16, 2020, which, once verified, could be the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth. Some years back, there was a question in the mains: Major hot deserts in the northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the… Continue reading

[pib] Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS) 2.0

As part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, announced by the Government, the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS) 2.0 was launched to provide Portfolio Guarantee for purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers (CPs) with a rating of AA and below issued by NBFCs/HFCs/ MFIs by Public Sector Banks (PSBs). Try this PYQ: When the Reserve Bank of… Continue reading

Economic crisis without culprit

Contradictions in the present crisis India registered negative economic growth in 1972-73, 1965-66 and 1957-58. All these were drought years. 1957-58 also registered a significant balance of payments (BOP) deterioration and 1979-80 witnessing the second global oil shock following the Iranian Revolution. Farmers harvested a bumper rabi crop last year and public cereal stocks at… Continue reading

Debate: Minimum age of marriage for women

PM in his I-Day speech has announced that the central government has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women during his address to the nation on the 74th Independence Day. Try this question for mains: Q.The different minimum age of marriage for women and men is a discriminatory provision.… Continue reading

Expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)

In his I-Day speech, PM spoke about the expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in coastal and border districts of India. Try this question: Q.The Shekatkar Committee recommendations sometimes seen in the news are related to: a) Modernization of Railways b) Modernization of Defence c) Road Infrastructure d) Cashless Payments About NCC The NCC,… Continue reading

What is the National Health ID System?

In his address to the nation on Independence Day, the PM has launched the National Digital Health Mission which rolls out a national health ID for every Indian. Try this question for mains: Q.What is the National Health ID System? How will it benefit transforming healthcare facilities in India? National Health ID System This system… Continue reading

RBI’s Positive Pay system

The new ‘Positive Pay’ mechanism was recently introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Try this PYQ: With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements: BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account. While a chip-pin debit card has four factors authentication, BHIM app has only… Continue reading

In news: Mauritius Oil Spill

A Japanese ship recently struck a coral reef resulting in an oil spill of over 1,000 tonnes into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius. Try this PYQ: Q.Recently, “oil zapper’’ was in the news. What is it? (CSP 2011) (a) It is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills. (b) It… Continue reading

[pib] Sarabhai Crater

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has named a crater captured by Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter after Vikram Sarabhai. Try this PYQ: What do you understand by the term Aitken Basin? (CSP 2012) (a) It is a desert in southern Chile which is known to be the only location on earth where no rainfall takes place… Continue reading

Census 2021 and the long-pending reforms

In all likelihood, the February 2021 Census will have to be rescheduled to ensure comparability with earlier censuses. This will also affect the National Sample Surveys and others that use the census as the sampling frame. The delay can, however, be used to introduce much-needed reforms to this gigantic exercise whose roots go back to… Continue reading

UAE, Israel reach agreement to establish diplomatic ties

The United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. What is the deal? The deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize ties with… Continue reading

Story of our National Flag

The final design of the Indian National Flag, hoisted by PM Nehru on August 16, 1947, at Red Fort, had a history of several decades preceding independence. Note various personalities involved in the development of our National flag. It may be no wonder to accept a personality-based question on such topics. Story of our National… Continue reading

One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) Initiative

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has put calls for proposals to the One Sun, One World, and One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative on hold till further notice. Try this PYQ: Q.Consider the following statements: The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. The Alliance includes… Continue reading

Species in news: Great Indian Hornbill

A study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh. Try this PYQ: Q. In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat? (CSP 2016) (a) Sand deserts of northwest… Continue reading

Perseids Meteor Shower

The Perseids meteor shower is going to be active from August 17-26. Try this question from CSP 2014: Q.What is a coma, in the content of astronomy? (a) Bright half of material on the comet (b) Long tail of dust (c) Two asteroids orbiting each other (d) Two planets orbiting each other What is the… Continue reading

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