Icequakes on Ross Ice Shelf

Why in the news? Scientists found out that the huge Ross Ice Shelf, almost as big as France, moves forward a few centimetres daily. This happens because of the Whillans Ice Stream, a fast-moving river of ice that sometimes gets stuck and then suddenly moves forward. About Ross Ice Shelf Ross Ice Shelf is the… Continue reading

In the news: Pulicat Wetland

Why in the news? Settlement of claims for local communities within Pulicat Wetland and Birds Sanctuary boundary raises concerns. State government plans to denotify a significant portion of the sanctuary and Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for industrial park development. About Pulicat Wetland and Birds Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary is the second-largest bird sanctuary in India.… Continue reading

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) Meeting in Ottawa

Why in the news? The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) is happening in Ottawa, Canada. The goal is to finalize a global agreement on plastic pollution by November this year. What is the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)? INC is a committee that aims to develop a legally binding international instrument to end… Continue reading

[25th April 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Restoring earth’s right to ‘good health’The Indian seafarer deserves better in choppy high seas

PYQ Relevance: Mains: Q) What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve maritime security. (UPSC IAS/2022) Prelims: Q) Which of the following have coral reefs? (1). Andaman and Nicobar Islands(2). Gulf of Kachchh(3). Gulf of Mannar(4). SunderbansSelect the correct answer using the code given below. a)… Continue reading

[pib] Role of the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO)

Why in the news? The Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) recently held inspections of Coal Mines to ensure the accuracy of Coal class and grade declarations. Coal Sector in Indian Economy: The Indian coal sector is one of the 8 core sectors contributing heavily to the economic development of India. In India, there are 4 grades… Continue reading

On the National Clean Air Programme | Explained

Why in the news? When the Indian government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, it’s target was to cut the concentration of atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM) by 20-30% by 2024, from 2017 levels. This was later revised to 40% by 2026. What is the NCAP? The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was… Continue reading

Tensions grow in West Asia, a heavily militarised region

Why in the news? According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers 2023’, four of the top 10 largest importers of arms last year were from West Asia, with the U.S. being the main supplier SIPRI Report: Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2023 India’s Arms Imports: Increased by 4.7% compared… Continue reading

The reality of the Swachh Bharat Mission

Why in the news? India was ranked right at the bottom of 180 countries in the Environment Performance Index (EPI) in 2022. The EPI ranks countries on climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan It is also known as the Clean India Mission, is a significant campaign initiated by the Government… Continue reading

95Mat5 Antibody: Revolutionizing Snakebite Treatment

Why in the news? After multiple rounds of screening, researchers have identified an antibody, 95Mat5 that showed promising results in making a potent antidote against various snake venoms. What is 95Mat5? 95Mat5 is a universal antivenom developed to neutralize the toxins present in snake venoms. Development Process: The scientists first synthesized variants of a toxin… Continue reading

[pib] India showcases CPGRAMS at 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Meeting in London

Why in the news? India’s Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) received global recognition during the 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads in London. What is CPGRAMS? The primary objective of CPGRAMS is to provide citizens with a user-friendly mechanism to register complaints or grievances related to various government departments and agencies. It is an… Continue reading

PREMIUM – Subsidies – Good or Bad for India?

Why in the News? Issues have been raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning Agricultural Subsidies in India. Major subsidies in India are on fertilizer, power, credit, output, seed, and export products. What is Subsidy? The term subsidy refers to financial assistance in the form of discounts or monetary grants by the Central government… Continue reading

PREMIUM – Travelling the Regions of South America

Why in the News? South America, known for its diverse landscapes and cultures, also harbors several disputed territories, each with its own historical, geopolitical, and economic significance. These disputes often arise from conflicting territorial claims, historical grievances, or resource-rich areas. Diverse Landscapes of South America: The Pacific Coastal Strip: Between the ocean and the Andes… Continue reading

An overview of the PMAY-U scheme | Explained

Why in the News? As the current Union government completes two terms, one of its flagship programs was Housing For All (HfA) by 2022, both in urban and rural areas, planned under the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) scheme in 2015. About the PMAY scheme: The declared objectives of the scheme included rehabilitation of slum… Continue reading

Towards a less poor and more equal country

Why in the news? In March, World Inequality Lab, a Global Research Center focused on inequality and public policies, published in a paper titled, ‘Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj’. Income and wealth inequality as per the World Inequality Lab: Income Inequality: In 2022-23, the top 1% of… Continue reading

ISRO’s Findings on Glacial Lake Dynamics in Himalaya

Why in the News? The Satellite images by ISRO show an increase in the size of Gepang Gath Lake amidst rising concerns about Climate Change. Gepang Gath Lake (one of the biggest Glacial lakes in the Chandra basin) is located in the Western Indian Himalaya at the terminus of the Gepan Gath glacier. ISRO’s… Continue reading

Census to be conducted under Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project

Why in the News? After the launch of the Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project, the Tamil Nadu government gears up to assess the population of Nilgiri Tahr (state animal). The Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will collaborate in a synchronized way. Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project (2022 to 2027): Under The Nilgiri Tahr project, the… Continue reading

A lesson from Taiwan in quake resilience

Why in the news? On April 3, Taiwan was struck by an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude. This was strongest in last 25 years. Reason behind the earthquake in Taiwan In the Taiwan region, the Philippine Sea plate is moving northwest towards the Eurasian plate at a velocity of about 7.8 cm per year, which is… Continue reading

SC allows termination of pregnancy of minor rape survivor

Why in the news? The Supreme Court on Monday used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do “complete justice” to permit the medical termination of pregnancy of a 14- year-old rape.Her pregnancy is nearing 30 weeks. The minor became aware of her condition only at a very late stage. Article 142… Continue reading

What Iran-Israel conflict means for Middle East and India

Why in the news? The turmoil resulting from the Iran-Israel conflict poses a threat to the security of the extensive Indian diaspora residing in the Gulf region, with an added risk of piracy and hostage situations. The conflict between Israel and Iran: Historical Context: The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the… Continue reading

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