Making sense of population growth of India

The article analyses and explains the declining trend in India’s total fertility rate. The aspirational revolution in the parents explains such decline. What the projections say A new study was published in The Lancet, and prepared by the Seattle-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). It argues that while India is destined to be… Continue reading

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord

In February, a government-appointed committee had submitted its recommendations for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, a key provision that has been contentious for decades. Must read: https://www.civilsdaily.com/burning-issue-assam-nrc/ What is Clause 6? It is a part of the Assam Accord which came at the culmination of a movement against immigration from Bangladesh. It… Continue reading

Hindu Women’s Inheritance Rights

The Supreme Court has expanded a Hindu woman’s right to be a joint legal heir and inherit ancestral property on terms equal to male heirs. What is the ruling? The SC Bench ruled that a Hindu woman’s right to be a joint heir to the ancestral property is by birth and does not depend on… Continue reading

[pib] Krishi Megh: A Cloud-based Data Recovery Centre

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has launched the Krishi Megh Data Recovery Centre. Do not get confused with the name ‘Krishi Megh’. One might mistakenly relate it to some weather forecasting tool of the Indian Meteorological Department. Krishi Megh The Krishi Megh has been set up at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management… Continue reading

In news: Loya Jirga

The Afghan Loya Jirga approves release of 400 ‘hard-core’ Taliban prisoners. The term seems peculiar. We may expect a prelim question on the same. What is Loya Jirga? A Loya Jirga is a special type of jirga, or legal assembly, in Pashtunwali, the traditional code of laws of the Pashtun people. It is mainly organized… Continue reading

Making up for shortfalls in GST collection

The article deals with the issue of shortfall in the GST compensation cess and the challenge Central government faces to pay the promised compensation to the states. Background of the cess GST subsumed several taxes, including those which were the preserve of the States. Therefore it required an amendment to the Constitution of India. The… Continue reading

Increasing dependence on indirect taxes and issues with it

India, with a tax-GDP ratio of 10.9 per cent in 2019 needs an overhaul of its tax system. This article analyses India’s growing dependence on indirect taxes and its implications for the poor. Important changes in direct taxes The wealth tax was abolished in 2016. Wealth tax was replaced by a 2 per cent surcharge… Continue reading

What is the Negative Imports List for Defence?

The Defence Ministry announced a list of 101 items that it will stop importing. Try this question for mains: Q.Being one of the top importers of defence equipment India is well placed to enhance its domestic manufacturing capacity of defence equipment. Yet, India lacks it after repeated attempts to achieve it. Examine the reasons for… Continue reading

Submarine Cable Connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

PM has launched the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland. Try this PYQ: Q. Consider the following statements regarding optical fibres: A layer called the cladding, which has a refractive index more than that of the core, surrounds the core of the optical fibre. Light is propagated in… Continue reading

[pib] Himalayan Geothermal Springs release huge amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

The Himalayas, which hosts about 600 geothermal springs needs to be considered while estimating emissions to the carbon cycle and thereby to global warming says, Indian researchers. Note the following hot springs in India: 1) Panamik in Nubra valley 2) Kheer Ganga in Kullu, Himachal 3) Manikaran Sahib, Himachal 4) Tattapani, Chhattisgarh 5) Gaurikund, Uttarakhand… Continue reading

The new consumer

The focus of this article is on the behavioural changes in the consumer post Covid. It also suggest the ways to deal with these changes. Context The consumer during and post-COVID is showing remarkable flexibility, bringing about a paradigm shift in her consumption pattern. Issue of generating demand Some state governments are busy demanding the… Continue reading

What are Immunity Passports?

There is a growing debate for a rethink on “immunity passport” to be handed out to those who have recovered from COVID-19 for the purpose of travel or work without restrictions of quarantine. Try this question form mains: Q.Discuss various ethical issues evolved during the outbreaks of pandemics (of the scale of COVID-19). Immunity Passports… Continue reading

How Quit India movement gave a new direction to India’s freedom struggle?

On August 8, 78 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for British colonizers to “Quit India” and for the Indians to “do or die” to make this happen. Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to the Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events: Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy Quit India Movement launched Second Round Table… Continue reading

Boreal Summer Intra-Seasonal Oscillation (BSISO)

Researchers at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad have reportedly found a way to better forecast the Boreal Summer Intra-Seasonal Oscillation (BSISO). Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (CSP 2017) IOD… Continue reading

[pib] E-Sanjeevani Tele-Medicine Platform

1.5 lakh teleconsultations were recently completed on the “eSanjeevani” and “eSanjeevani OPD” tele-medicine. Why Telemedicine? Telemedicine can increase the efficiency of care delivery, reduce expenses of caring for patients or transporting to another location, and can even keep patients out of the hospital. E-Sanjeevani Platform E-Sanjeevani is a platform-independent, browser-based application facilitating both doctor-to-doctor… Continue reading

Restructuring to cushion impact on the economy

“The article analyses the present scenario of the economy and impact of the steps taken by the central bank and the government.” Context Monetary policy committee (MPC) members, through a unanimous vote, decided to keep policy rates unchanged. MPC also maintained an accommodative stance. This was the result of inflation hovering around 6% i.e. above… Continue reading

Importance of increasing the income of those at the bottom of income pyramid

India’s growth has been fuelled by demand which has dampened owing to various factors. One untapped source of demand could be the group which lies at the bottom of income pyramid. This article suggests the ways to increase the income of this group. Structural demand problem India’s structural demand problem predates the COVID-19 shock. This… Continue reading

Digital realities of India

Context Google has recently announced a decision to invest $10 billion in India. To put that sum in context, it is over 10 times the money set aside for 100 smart cities and almost 20 times that for Digital India. Purpose of that investment is stated to be digitising India. Digital realities of India Google… Continue reading

Why August 7th is called National Handloom Day?

Yesterday, August 7th was celebrated as the National Handloom Day. It was in 2015, the first National Handloom Day was celebrated. Try this PYQ: What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi movement? (CSP 2010) (a) The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon. (b) A sentence of 18 months rigorous imprisonment… Continue reading

Exercise Kavkaz 2020

In a resumption of bilateral and multilateral military exercises which were deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19), India will take part in the Russian Kavkaz 2020 strategic command-post exercise next month. Go through the list for once. UPSC may ask a match the pair type question asking exercise name and countries involved. https://www.civilsdaily.com/prelims-spotlight-defence-exercises/ Kavkaz 2020 The… Continue reading

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