Person in news: Anna Bhau Sathe

Central Idea Telangana CM has expressed a desire to see social reformer, writer, and folk poet Anna Bhau Sathe honoured with the prestigious Bharat Ratna award. Who was Anna Bhau Sathe? Anna Bhau Sathe, born Tukaram Bhaurao Sathe on August 1, 1920, in Maharashtra’s Wategaon village, emerged as a prominent figure in the field of… Continue reading

WHO Report on Tobacco Control

Central Idea The WHO has released a report on the progress made in global tobacco control in the last 15 years. The report highlights the impact of the MPOWER measures, introduced by WHO, to combat tobacco use and protect public health. What are MPOWER measures by WHO? The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a… Continue reading

In news: New GI Tags Awards

Central Idea The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai recently granted the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag to many distinctive products from across India. GI Tags for Rajasthani Crafts Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft: This traditional craft involves ornamenting weapons with intricate designs, gold and silver wire embedding, and polishing. The process results in exquisite and finely… Continue reading

CERT-IN warns against Akira Ransomware

Central Idea The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) issued a warning about the Akira ransomware, a highly dangerous cyber threat that has been wreaking havoc on corporate networks worldwide. What is the Akira Ransomware? Encryption and Data Theft: Akira ransomware encrypts sensitive data on targeted devices and appends the “akira” extension to filenames,… Continue reading

Places in news: Kuril Islands

Central Idea Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is ongoing, leading to challenges in resource allocation along its western border. Japan sees a chance to reclaim the Kuril Islands, also known as the Northern Territories in Japan, which were seized by Soviet forces during WWII. About Kuril Islands The Kuril Islands, also known as the Kurile Islands,… Continue reading

What is Zero FIR?

Central Idea Recent incidents of violence and crime in Manipur have brought the concept of the ‘Zero First Information Report (FIR)’ into the spotlight. The Supreme Court has sought for all data regarding such FIRs in Manipur Gangrape Incidence. What is Zero FIR? Provision and Purpose: Zero FIR allows any police station to register an… Continue reading

Hybrid EVs: A Viable Path to Net-Zero Mobility

Central Idea The global transition towards net-zero emissions is a critical aspect of combating climate change, and electric vehicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in this endeavour. In economically developing countries, hybrid EVs offer a significant opportunity to kickstart the transition, considering challenges related to power generation, grid capacity, and fast-charging infrastructure. Understanding Net-Zero for… Continue reading

Centre publishes Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy

Central Idea The office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government released a draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) for public feedback. What is Deep Technology? Deep Tech refers to advanced and sophisticated technologies that have a significant impact on various industries. These technologies are complex, innovation-driven, and often require interdisciplinary collaboration. Examples… Continue reading

WorldCoin: Building a Global Digital Network with Biometric Identity

Central Idea OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently reintroduced Worldcoin, a project that was previously overshadowed by the popularity of ChatGPT. What is WorldCoin? The Worldcoin venture involves a unique model where individuals have their eyes scanned to establish their human uniqueness. In return for the eye scan, participants receive cryptocurrency and a World ID, forming… Continue reading

Potential of Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) in Disease Research

Central Idea Researchers worldwide are increasingly using Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a valuable tool to better comprehend human diseases, improve diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis. What is Cell-free DNA? CfDNA refers to small fragments of nucleic acids that are released from cells and found outside the cell in body fluids. Its discovery dates back to the… Continue reading

Israel Judicial Reform Explained: What is the crisis about?

Central Idea On July 24, the governing coalition in Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) passed a critical part of its judicial overhaul plan, aimed at curbing the Supreme Court’s oversight powers over government decisions. This has sparked months of protests against the right-religious government’s plans to transform the judiciary. Judiciary Overhaul: The Crisis Trigger Abolishing the “Reasonability… Continue reading

BPaL Trial yields 85% TB Cure Rate

Central Idea The interim results of a randomized phase-3/4 trial conducted in India to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of BPaL Regimen, an all-oral, short-course treatment are promising. BPaL is administered for individuals with pre-XDR TB or treatment-intolerant/non-responsive MDR pulmonary TB What is BPaL? The trial uses only three drugs—Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Linezolid (BPaL). The… Continue reading

Mapping India’s Chip Design Ecosystem

Central Idea The Indian government is considering a proposal to pick an equity stake in domestic chip design-making companies as part of the second phase of the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme for the semiconductor industry. The aim behind the scheme is to establish a stable ecosystem and promote the growth of “fabless companies” in India—entities… Continue reading

Need for Overhaul in UDAN Scheme

Central Idea Union Civil Aviation Ministry inaugurated a new phase of the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, or UDAN 5.2, to improve last-mile connectivity in remote regions of the country through small aircraft. There have been aspersions regarding the success of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme (RCS) since ONLY 11 of the 74… Continue reading

In news: International Tiger Day

Central Idea July 29th was celebrated the world over as International Tiger Day in a bid to raise awareness on various issues surrounding tiger conservation. India’s tiger population has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, owing to successful conservation efforts under the Project Tiger initiative. About International Tiger Day It was first instituted in… Continue reading

China’s Use of Stapled Visas and its Implications for India

Central Idea The issuance of stapled visas by China to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has been a contentious issue between the two countries. What is Stapled Visa? A Stapled Visa is an unstamped piece of paper attached to the passport, different from a regular visa that is affixed and stamped.… Continue reading

Festivals in news: Muharram and Ashura

Central Idea For the first time in over three decades, the Jammu and Kashmir government permitted a Muharram procession in Srinagar, drawing thousands of Shia mourners on the 8th of Muharram. The decision has been widely hailed. What is Muharram? Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it holds significant religious… Continue reading

What is Offer-for-Sale (OFS)?

Central Idea The government’s stake sale in Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) through an offer-for-sale (OFS) received an enthusiastic response from institutional investors. About Offer for Sale (OFS) OFS is a method of share sale introduced by India’s securities market regulator SEBI in 2012. The primary aim was to facilitate promoters of listed companies to… Continue reading

Free Movement Regime along India-Myanmar Border

Central Idea The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur is further complicated by the issue of illegal migration of tribal Kuki-Chin people into India from Myanmar. Amid this charged and sensitive debate, questions have been raised on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that allows tribes along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) to… Continue reading

Supreme Court concerns over Persistent Lynchings and Mob Violence

Central Idea The Supreme Court asked the Centre and six States to respond to a plea concerning the alarming incidents of lynchings and mob violence. It highlighted the need for the government machinery to be held accountable for protecting the lives of victims, including members of the minority community. Presently the National Crime Records Bureau… Continue reading

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