Matrilineality in Meghalaya

Central Idea: A tribal council’s order not to issue a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to any Khasi person who adopts the surname of her or his father has triggered a war of words in matrilineal Meghalaya. Matrilineal Society of Meghalaya Multiple tribes in Meghalaya, northeast India, practice matrilineal descent. Khasi and Garo people are the… Continue reading

Monsoon onset in Kerala on June 4

Central Idea: The monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala with a “slight delay” on June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The usual onset date over Kerala is June 1, within a seven-day window. What does the “Onset of Monsoon” mean? The onset of the monsoon over Kerala marks the beginning of… Continue reading

India nears milestone with first indigenous Dengue Vaccine

Central Idea: Serum Institute of India and Panacea Biotec have applied to the ICMR’s call for Expression of Interest for collaborative Phase-III clinical trials for an indigenous dengue vaccine. What is Dengue? Details Transmission Primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes Virus and Serotypes Dengue virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family Four distinct… Continue reading

In news: Sikkim Statehood Day

Sikkim Statehood Day Sikkim day is annually celebrated on May 16, commemorating the integration of Sikkim with India in 1975. The process of Sikkim joining India occurred about two decades after Sardar Vallabbhai Patel led the integration of princely states into India. Sikkim’s History with the Chogyal Royals The kingdom of Sikkim was established in… Continue reading

Worldcoin: The Iris-scanning Cryptocurrency

Central Idea: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly raising $100 million for Worldcoin, a unique cryptocurrency. What is Worldcoin? Worldcoin, co-founded by Altman and Alex Blania in 2019, aims to provide every human being on Earth with a share of its digital token. Worldcoin is a crypto project that seeks to establish a global… Continue reading

10 Years of Sexual Harassment Law

Central Idea The Supreme Court of India has identified “serious lapses” and “uncertainty” in the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act). It has directed the Union, States, and UTs to verify the formation of Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) in government bodies and ensure strict… Continue reading

What is ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme?

Central Idea Private firms, companies, and public sector units can adopt and maintain State-owned archaeological sites or monuments through agreements with the Union Ministry of Culture. These businesses are referred to as “Monument Mitras” under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme. Adopt a Heritage scheme The ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ scheme is a… Continue reading

Gaps in Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) abused by Cybercriminals

Central Idea Scammers are using silicone thumbs to operate biometric POS devices and ATMs, draining users’ bank accounts. Incidents of Aadhaar-linked fingerprint misuse and unauthorized withdrawals have been reported. What is AePS? Details What is it? Enables online financial transactions using Aadhaar authentication, eliminating the need for OTPs and other details. Supported transactions Cash deposit,… Continue reading

[pib] Meri LiFE Mera Swachh Shehar Campaign launched

Central Idea: The Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’ campaign. Meri LiFE Mera Swachh Shehar The campaign focuses on waste management and promotes the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (RRR). It aims to create awareness and encourage individuals to adopt sustainable daily habits for environmental… Continue reading

MoD signs 250th contract under ‘Innovations for Defence Excellence’

Central Idea Innovations for Defence Excellence (IDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has achieved a milestone with the signing of the 250th contract. The first contract under Mission DefSpace and the 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract were signed on May 15. What is Innovations for Defence Excellence (IDEX)? IDEX is a government… Continue reading

Orders on ONDC grow rapidly

Central Idea The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a government-backed modular network for e-commerce, food and grocery delivery, and cabs in India. ONDC has witnessed significant growth, with a rising number of orders and participants. India Post, one of the world’s largest logistics systems, is expected to join ONDC, strengthening the network. About… Continue reading

Groundwater Extraction and Land Subsidence

Central Idea: Groundwater extraction in northwestern India, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Faridabad, has led to land subsidence and structural damage. What is Groundwater? Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks… Continue reading

Supreme Court guideline for granting Bail

Central Idea: The Supreme Court emphasized that orders in bail cases should adhere to the constitutional principle of personal liberty. Supreme Court on Bail Short debates: Prolonged debates on bail may prejudice the accused in their case. Upholding liberty: Delays in pronouncing bail decisions impinge on the personal liberty of the undertrial. No extensive discussions… Continue reading

UK sees success in Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

Central Idea The birth of a baby using three persons’ DNA using Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT) in the UK has generated significant attention and discussion. The baby has three parents, with the mitochondria coming from a donor in addition to the genetic material from the biological parents. This pioneering technology was employed to prevent the… Continue reading

Palghat Gap: A break in the Western Ghats

Central Idea: The article discusses the Palghat (Palakkad) Gap, a significant corridor in the Western Ghats of India. It provides information about the geological origin of the gap. What is Palghat Gap? The Palghat Gap is a 40 km wide corridor in the Western Ghats, known for its steep hills and serving as a gateway… Continue reading

Thirunelli Temple

RBI advises banks to transit away from LIBOR

Central Idea: The RBI has issued an advisory to banks and other RBI-regulated entities regarding the transition away from London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) July 1. What is London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)? Explanation Definition LIBOR is a benchmark interest rate used in financial transactions such as loans, derivatives, and bonds. It is the interest… Continue reading

RBI to join Greenwashing TechSprint

Central Idea: The RBI has announced its participation in the Global Financial Innovation Network’s (GFIN) Greenwashing TechSprint. What is Greenwashing? Greenwashing is a term used to describe the practice of making exaggerated, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials of a product, service, or company. It is a deceptive marketing… Continue reading

What is Carbon Dating? How does it work?

Central Idea: Allahabad high court ordered the ASI to conduct the carbon dating process of the ‘Shivling’ found in the premises of the Gyanvapi mosque, without causing any damage to the structure. What is Carbon Dating? Carbon dating is a widely-used method for determining the age of organic materials that were once living. The method… Continue reading

Species in news: Alligator Gar

Central Idea: The Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) discovered a rare type of fish known as “Alligator Gar” for the first time during the ongoing cleaning of famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. Alligator Gar Information Scientific Name Atractosteus spatula Size and Weight Up to 8 feet in length, over 300 pounds… Continue reading

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