[pib] Tso Kar Wetland Complex

India has added Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as its 42nd Ramsar site, which is a second one in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. With this, India now has forty-two Ramsar sites. Try this PYQ: In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people not allowed to… Continue reading

Mapping: Caspian Sea

The Caspian is actually a lake, the largest in the world and it is experiencing a devastating decline in its water level that is about to accelerate. Note the countries bordering the Caspian Sea: Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Or else remember the acronym ‘TARIK(h)’ (Hindi word for date). You can frame a mnemonic… Continue reading

World to breach 1.5°C threshold by 2027-2042

The planet will breach the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels between 2027 and 2042 according to new research. Ever wondered why is there so much of hue to halt the temperature rise at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and why not 2°C? Read this newscard to get aware…. What does that mean? The… Continue reading

Scheduled Castes Post-matric Scholarship Plan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved changes to the post-matric scholarship scheme for students from the Scheduled Castes (SCs), including a new funding pattern of 60-40 for the Centre and States. Note: Equality enshrined in the Constitution is not mathematical equality and does not mean all citizens will be treated alike without any… Continue reading

No need for a Two-Child Policy

The latest data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) proves that the country’s population is stabilizing and fears over a “population explosion” and calls for a “two-child policy” is misguided. Try this PYQ: Q.Economic growth in country X will necessarily have to occur if (a) There is technical progress in the world economy (b)… Continue reading

Why the universe has less ‘antimatter’ than matter?

This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in DownToEarth. Try this PYQ: Q.The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz, gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not correct? (a) Gravity is the strongest of… Continue reading

Firefly Bird Diverters’ to save the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

The Environment Ministry along with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India has come up with a unique initiative a “firefly bird diverter” for overhead power lines in areas where Great Indian Bustard (GIB) populations are found in the wild. Try this PYQ: Q.Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of… Continue reading

Bihar to change Kosi’s course to save the ancient site

The Bihar government will try to divert the course of the mighty Kosi River in Bhagalpur district to save an archaeological site discovered recently. Tap to read more about the Himalayan Drainage System: Drainage System | Part 3 Kosi River: The Sorrow of Bihar The Kosi is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, Nepal… Continue reading

[pib] Rights to the Electricity Consumers

The Ministry of Power has for the first time laid down Rights to the Electricity Consumers through “Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020”. Q.What are the new Rights to the Electricity Consumers as envisaged under Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020? Rights to the Electricity Consumers: A highlight Following key areas are covered in the… Continue reading

[pib] Leopard Population in India

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released the Status of Leopards Report. Confused over Leopard and Cheetah? The most common difference between these two animals is the patterns on their coat. At first glance, it may look like they both have spots, but in actual fact, a leopard has rosettes which are… Continue reading

Policy implementation in India : Issues

Policy implementation matters as much as the policy itself. The article highlights the importance of monitoring system to track the implementation of the policies. Implementing policy It is taken for granted that a government policy or social-development program, is meant to be perfectly executed. Implementation is the key and ends up with sub-par results and… Continue reading

Dominance of Private healthcare in India & Related issues

Lack of resources such as 1:1,700, doctor: citizen ratio, well below the minimum ratio of 1:1,000 stipulated by WHO. Rural areas and smaller towns of India are the worst sufferers, where even basic health services remain inaccessible, many cases were reported where ward boys and alone found running the primary healthcare center. Inadequate government spending… Continue reading

Custodial torture in India

Installation of cameras would help in curbing the custodial torture to some extent but ending the menace requires comprehensive reforms. Installation of CCTV cameras to curb custodial torture The Supreme Court recently mandated that CCTV cameras be installed in police stations and offices of other investigative agencies. However, previous decisions with similar recommendations have been… Continue reading

E20 Fuel to Cut Vehicular Emissions

The government has proposed the adoption of E20 fuel — a blend of 20% of ethanol and gasoline — as an automobile fuel in order to reduce vehicular emissions as well as the country’s oil import bill. E20 Fuel E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol with gasoline (petrol) and can be used as an… Continue reading

Who was Khudiram Bose?

Union Home Minister has visited the native village of Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose in Midnapore, West Bengal. One of the youngest leaders of the Independence movement, Khudiram Bose is highly regarded in Bengal for his fearless spirit. He was just 19 when he was hanged! Who was Khudiram Bose? Bose was born in 1889 at… Continue reading

Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

India is looking at integrating more countries into coastal radar network IMAC. What is IMAC? The Indian Navy’s IMAC located in Gurugram which was set up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is the nodal agency for maritime data fusion. It functions under the National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) Project. The NMDA project was launched… Continue reading

Species in news: Himalayan trillium

The Himalayan trillium (Trillium govanianum), a common herb of the Himalayas was declared ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last week. Try this MCQ: Q.Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of-… Continue reading

Laying the foundation for faster growth

To ease the damage inflicted by the pandemic on the economy, India needs to act on multiple fronts. The article suggests the trajectory India should follow to compensate for the economic loss due to pandemic. Economy picking up As the restrictions were slowly withdrawn, the economy has also started picking up. There are many indicators… Continue reading

West Bengal IPS Controversy

Police personnel should not be made instruments of a political battle Tug of war between political parties in West Bengal The appointment of three IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre to various posts by the Union Home Ministry on Thursday has escalated the confrontation between the State and the Centre. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee… Continue reading

Andhra Pradesh High Court and the CM Row

The Supreme Court has stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court order intending to embark on a judicial enquiry into whether there is a constitutional breakdown in the State machinery, requiring a declaration of President’s rule. A backfire from the AP High Court Andhra Pradesh CM had earlier sparked controversy by writing to the CJI complaining… Continue reading

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