Digital surveillance for Covid could do more harm than good

Two issues are examined in detail in this article. The first is about the lack of legal framework in India. And the second which is related to the first is the deployment of technology and its benefit and issues it raises. The nature of private-friendly technology to track the disease is also elaborated. Disease surveillance… Continue reading

Tracking the epidemic

This article suggests the innovative indicators for the classification of areas. Also, the need for decentralisation of science and governance is stressed. So, how could decentralisation help? What should form the basis of indicators at the local level? Such questions are answered in this article. States are better placed to deliver on public health They… Continue reading

MOOC can’t be the substitute for learning in the classroom

Massive open online courses (MOOC) could not be panacea for the problems education faces. It can’t be the replacement for the learning in the classrooms. This article highlights the issues with adoption of MOOC and why it can’t be the replacement for learning in the classrooms. UGC circular to adopt MOOC In the wake of… Continue reading

Sahakar Mitra Scheme

The Union Ministry for Agriculture has launched Sahakar Mitra: Scheme on Internship Programme (SIP). Note: Article 19 states that the Right to form co-operative societies is a Fundamental Right and DPSP Article 43-B provides for the promotion of co-operative societies. Sahakar Mitra Scheme The scheme is an initiative by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC),… Continue reading

I-FLOWS: Mumbai Flood Management System

Integrated Flood Warning System for Mumbai (I-FLOWS Mumbai), a state-of-the-art flood warning system has been developed for the city. Practice question for mains: Q. Urban floods in India are consequences of unplanned urbanization in India. Discuss with references to the frequent annual floods in Mumbai. What is IFLOWS-Mumbai? IFLOWS is a monitoring and flood warning… Continue reading

FSSAI Food Safety Index for 2019-20

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently released its Food Safety report for 2019-20. Food safety has been in news this year quite frequent. Do make a note of following – Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Red Octagon, Eat Right Movement, Food Safety Mitra etc. The Food Safety Index The index ranks… Continue reading

Migrants and COVID

In this Article, we highlight some facts about migration in India, summarize key relief measures announced by the government and directives issued by the Supreme Court for the migrant population in relation to the lockdown. Background India has been in lock down since March 25, 2020. During this time, the activities of production and… Continue reading

Sikkim-Tibet Convention of 1890 and its significance

The skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops at Naku La in Sikkim that is considered settled may be Beijing’s way of attempting a new claim. Defence experts highlighted the historical Sikkim-Tibet Convention of 1890 as proof of India’s ownership of the territory. Practice question for mains: Q. China’s actions on dormant areas mask a hidden… Continue reading

Reservation not fundamental right: SC refuses to hear pleas by TN parties

What did the Hon’ble Supreme Court rule? Article 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) are in the nature of enabling provisions, vesting a discretion on the State Government to consider providing reservations, if the circumstances so warrant. It is settled law that the State Government cannot be directed to provide reservations for appointments in public… Continue reading

Guidelines for Import of Exotic Species

The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has issued an advisory saying people importing “exotic live species” will have to make a voluntary disclosure. Practice questions for mains: Q. What are Zoonotic Diseases? Discuss how the illicit trade in wildlife has resulted in the spread of zoonotic diseases of the scale of the… Continue reading

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ‘India Rankings 2020’

The National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking list has been released by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Practice question for mains: Q. What is NIRF? Discuss the parameters and methodology used in the ranking. Also, discuss its key features and limitations. About NIRF The NIRF is a methodology adopted by the Ministry of… Continue reading

Nature Index, 2020

India has ranked twelfth, globally in science research output as per the recently-released Nature Index table 2020. The top five positions have gone to the United States of America, China, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan. Note: This nature index has nothing to do with nature conservation. It has only mentioned the rankings of research institutes… Continue reading

Lonar Lake colour changes to pink

The colour of water in Maharashtra’s Lonar Lake, formed after a meteorite hit the Earth some 50,000 years ago, has changed to glaring. Make a note of all saltwater lakes in India. Few of them are Pulicat, Pangong Tso, Chilika, and Sambhar Lakes etc. About Lonar Lake Lonar Lake, also known as Lonar crater, is… Continue reading

Crisis of today should not blind us to the crisis of tomorrow

Covid-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the governments across the world. And the destruction caused by it would impact not only our present but the future as well. So, what this means to our climate future? First and foremost, it will leave the governments with less fund to invest for the greener outcomes. What would be the… Continue reading

Strategic importance of Daulat Beg Oldie, Ladakh

In the reporting on the LAC stand-off, the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road has often appeared in news. Practice questions for mains: Q. Discuss how India’s all-weather border infrastructure has created new festering points for the Sino-Indian border skirmished. Daulat Beg Oldie DBO is the northernmost corner of Indian Territory in Ladakh, in the area… Continue reading

Challenger Deep: the deepest spot in the ocean

On June 7, astronaut and oceanographer Kathy Sullivan, who was the first American woman to walk in space in 1984, became the first woman and the fifth person in history to descend to the deepest known spot in the world’s oceans, called the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. The ocean relief can be divided… Continue reading

Species in news: Asiatic Lion

Asiatic lions have now significantly risen in number at an estimated population of 674 in the Gir forest region of Gujarat. Unlike in previous years, this count was estimated not from a Census, but from a population “observation” exercise called Poonam Avlokan. Try this question from CSP 2017: Q. The term ‘M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen… Continue reading

Permafrost and the hazards of its Thawing

The principal reason that led to the recent 20,000-tonne oil leak at an Arctic region power plant in Russia that is now being recognised is the sinking of ground surface due to permafrost thaw. Try this question from Mains 2017: Q. What is Cryosphere? How does the Cryosphere affect global climate? What is Permafrost? Permafrost… Continue reading

Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF)

The RBI has created a Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) with an outlay of Rs. 500 Cr. Possible prelims question: Q. Which of the following is the major aim of Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) recently created by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)? a) Promotion of UPI payments b) Deploying Points of Sale (PoS)… Continue reading

Taking care of finances of local governments

This article makes some suggestions to improve local finance and argues that the extant fiscal illusion is a great deterrent to mobilisation. Advantageous position in handling disasters In terms of information, monitoring and immediate action, local governments are at an advantage, and eminently, to meet any disaster such as COVID-19. While increasing the borrowing limits… Continue reading

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