Black Sea Grain Initiative to resume soon: Turkey

Central Idea The Black Sea grain deal lapsed on July 17. Turkey now seeks to resume the treaty. Russia though had not agreed to renew the deal, citing unmet promises and difficulties in its own agricultural exports due to Western sanctions. Black Sea Grain Initiative The Initiative eased Russia’s naval blockade and saw the reopening… Continue reading

Ecocide Laws: Protecting Nature and Addressing Limitations

Central Idea Mexico’s ‘Maya train’ project has generated controversy due to its scale and environmental impact. The project aims to connect tourists to historic Maya sites across a 1,525 km route, with a cost of $20 billion. Critics have dubbed it a “megaproject of death” for its threats to the Yucatan peninsula’s environment, Indigenous communities,… Continue reading

UPI-CBDC Interoperability: Advancing Retail Digital Rupee Adoption

Central Idea The convergence of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Quick Response (QR) codes with Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) applications is set to revolutionize digital transactions in India. This strategic integration enables users of the retail digital rupee to seamlessly transact using UPI QR codes, making transactions convenient for both customers and merchants. Understanding Interoperability… Continue reading

Hubble Constant to settle Universe Expansion Dispute

Central Idea Researchers from India and the US have come up with a new way to answer a big question about the universe. This question is about how fast the universe is getting bigger. Story of Our Universe The universe began around 13.8 billion years ago with a massive explosion called the Big Bang. As… Continue reading

Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan (2023-37)

Central Idea The Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan (MIPP) 2023-37 was unveiled at the Naval Commanders Conference. It signifies a forward-looking strategy aimed at fostering sustainable maritime architecture. About MIPP Aligned with the overarching vision of the PM Gati Shakti project, this comprehensive plan was introduced by the Minister of State for Defence. The plan’s objectives… Continue reading

From Meluha to India: The Journey of Names

Central Idea India, with its rich heritage, has borne various names throughout its history, each encapsulating a distinct facet of its identity. The process of naming this diverse land has sparked debates, controversies, and reflections on its collective consciousness. Historical Evolution of Names Meluha (Third Millennium BCE): The ancient Mesopotamian texts referenced ‘Meluha’ to denote… Continue reading

Progress track: Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY)

Central Idea The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) by the Central Government has outperformed its initial employment targets, proving its effectiveness in fostering job creation during the COVID-19 crisis. About Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) Launch Introduced in November 2020 Purpose As part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0 to boost post-Covid-19 employment Government’s Contribution Subsidy… Continue reading

Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) on DIKSHA Platform

Central Idea The National eGovernance Division (NeGD) plans to incorporate Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) into its existing Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) platform. PAL offers individualized learning experiences based on students’ unique needs and abilities. DIKSHA 2.0 Portal Diksha Portal was launched in 2017 to provide a digital platform to teachers giving them an… Continue reading

HC allows Stem Cell Therapy for autistic kids

Central Idea The Delhi High Court granted permission for two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to undergo Stem Cell Therapy for their condition. The court’s decision followed a challenge against the Ethics and Medical Registration Board’s (EMRB) recommendation against stem cell treatment for ASD. Understanding Stem Cells Stem cells are the foundational cells that… Continue reading

Festivals in news: Pulikkali

Central Idea The culmination of Onam festivities witnessed the Pulikkali celebration, a traditional folk art form from Kerala, where humans dressed as tigers and leopards paraded through the streets. About Pulikkali Pulikkali, also known as Tiger Dance, is a unique folk art of Kerala. Celebrated on the fourth day of Onam, artists adorn themselves as… Continue reading

Chandrayaan-3 Update: Pragyan put to Sleep Mode

Central Idea Chandrayaan-3 accomplished India’s historic achievement of soft landing on the Lunar South Pole. Its mission success marked by several noteworthy observations since touchdown on August 23. Chandrayaan-3’s: Key Achievements Pragyan rover’s Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument identified elements like aluminium, sulphur, calcium, iron, and more. Vikram lander recorded a ‘moonquake’ and detected an… Continue reading

Has the RTI been weakened over the years?

Central Idea Activists worry about the diminishing effectiveness Right to Information Act, 2005 in holding officials accountable. The Act has exemptions for political parties, the judiciary, and intelligence agencies. Recent amendments have sparked concerns, such as personal data protection provisions. The DPDP Act and RTI The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, of 2023 prohibits personal… Continue reading

Unveiling the Sun’s Secrets: ISRO’s Aditya-L1 Mission

Central Idea India’s maiden solar observatory mission, Aditya-L1, was successfully launched by ISRO on September 2. Carried by the PSLV in its 59th flight, the spacecraft’s mission aims to study the sun’s behaviour and phenomena. Aditya-L1 will spend 16 days orbiting Earth, undergoing five manoeuvres for required velocity. Subsequent Trans-Lagrangian insertion will begin a… Continue reading

What is the debate around ‘one nation, one election’?

What’s the news? The government forms a committee to explore the possibility of One Nation, One Election. Central idea On September 1st, the Central government established a committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind to assess the viability of the ‘one nation, one election’ (ONOE) proposal. This concept revolves around synchronizing the timing of… Continue reading

Progress track: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

Central Idea The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) aims to clean the Ganga River by treating sewage generated in five major states through sewage treatment plants (STPs) and sewerage networks. Over seven years, NMCG has achieved 20% sewage treatment capacity, with a target of 60% by December 2026. About National Mission for Clean Ganga… Continue reading

India-Greece Relations: Bridging Cultures and Commerce

Central Idea PM Modi recently visited Greece to elevate bilateral ties to the level of strategic partnership. No Indian PM has visited Greece since 1983. Greece awarded the Indian PM with “The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour” (its second highest civilian award). India and Greece Ties: A Historic Backgrounder India’s engagement with Greece… Continue reading

Mercy Petitions in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023

Central Idea The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 seeks to replace the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and introduces significant changes to the mercy petition process for death sentence cases. These changes impact core aspects like justiciability, time limits, and the execution process. Background on Mercy Petitions The Constitution granted the President (Article 72) and… Continue reading

In news: Mitakshara Law of Succession

Central Idea The Supreme Court clarified that children born from void or voidable marriages can inherit the parent’s share in a joint Hindu family property governed by Mitakshara law. However, the inheritance rights are limited to the parent’s share and do not extend to other family members’ properties. Mitakshara School of Law History Originated in… Continue reading

Tibetan Democracy Day: A Legacy of Struggle and Resilience

Central Idea Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2 marks the founding of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala. It signifies the establishment of Tibetan democracy after forced displacement. Tibetan Govt in Exile: Historical Genesis In 1960, a year after Tibetans were displaced, the first elected representatives of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile were sworn in. His Holiness the… Continue reading

Armenia and Azerbaijan Conflict

Central Idea Three Armenian soldiers have been killed in firing from Azerbaijan as tensions between the two countries persist. Consider this PYQ: Q.The area is known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to: (CSP 2015) a) Central Asia b) Middle East c) South-East Asia d) Central… Continue reading

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