What are White Label ATMs?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the validity of authorization issued to Vakrangee to setup, own and operate White Label ATMs in India. What is White Label ATM? Usually ATMs are managed by banks. But White Label ATMs are owned and operated by non-banking entities. ATMs operated under this business model allow customers… Continue reading

Bard: Google’s answer to ‘ChatGPT’

Google has finally decided to answer the challenge and threat posed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and its AI chatbot- ChatGPT. What is Bard, when can I access it? Google’s Bard is functioned on LaMDA, the firm’s Language Model for Dialogue Applications system, and has been in development for several years. It is what Sunder Pichai termed… Continue reading

Turkey hit by series of powerful Earthquakes: The science behind it

More than 4000 people died and several hundred were injured after a major earthquake of magnitude 7.8 hit south-central Turkey and Northwest Syria. What is an Earthquake? An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground caused by movement under the earth’s surface. It happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one… Continue reading

NASA-ISRO partnership’s NISAR and its Mission

An earth-observation satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) jointly developed by NASA and ISRO is all set to be shipped to India later this month for a possible launch in September. What is NISAR? NISAR has been built by space agencies of the US and India under a partnership agreement signed in 2014. The 2,800… Continue reading

In news: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to form a special committee to trace and certify 24 protected monuments that have gone “missing”. Why in news? PMO has in a report last month said there was an urgent need to “rationalise” the list of monuments of national importance. Sites in news Barakhamba Cemetery temple… Continue reading

[pib] Yuva Sangam Portal

The Union Ministry of Education has launched the “Yuva Sangam” registration portal. Yuva Sangam The Yuva Sangam is an initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister to build close ties between the youth of North East Region and rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Yuva Sangam embodies the philosophy of our rich… Continue reading

MISHTI: Budgetary push for Mangroves

The Union Budget for 2023-24 announced an initiative for mangrove plantation along the coastline and on saltpan lands, under MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes). MISHTI MISHTI is a new programme that will facilitate mangrove plantation along India’s coastline and on salt pan lands. This new programme will aim at intensive afforestation… Continue reading

73rd establishment day of Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India is hosting its celebration of the 73rd anniversary of its establishment today. Why in news? This year’s event is being aired on social media platforms and will witness Singapore’s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who is of Indian origin, as the chief guest. When was the Supreme Court founded? On January… Continue reading

What is the North Star?

Vice President said Parliament is the “North Star” of democracy, “a place of discussion and deliberation to realize the aspirations and dreams of the people”. What is North Star? North Star is a metaphor to refer to something constant/permanent that leads and provides direction. Polaris, also known as the North Star or the Pole Star,… Continue reading

Muons and their use to analyse large structures

As per a new study, researchers are examining the fortress wall of Xi’an, an ancient city in China, by using tiny outer space particles ‘Muon’ that can penetrate hundreds of metres of stone surfaces. What are Muons? Muons are subatomic particles raining from space. They are created when the particles in Earth’s atmosphere collide with… Continue reading

Two years of Myanmar Coup and Concerns for India

It is exactly two years since the Myanmar army seized power. Myanmar Coup: A quick recap A coup in Myanmar began on the morning of 1 February 2021, when democratically elected members of the country’s ruling party, were deposed by the Tatmadaw—Myanmar’s military. The coup occurred the day before the Parliament of Myanmar was due… Continue reading

Back in news: Collegium System

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it would soon clear five names that were recommended by the collegium for appointment of judges in the apex court. What is Collegium System? The Collegium of judges is the Indian Supreme Court’s invention. It does not figure in the Constitution, which says judges of the Supreme… Continue reading

What are Shaligram Stones?

Two sacred Shaligram stones arrived in Ayodhya for crafting the idols of Lord Ram and Janaki at the Ram Temple. What is a Shaligram Stones? Shaligram stones are fossils of ammonite, which is a type of mollusk that lived between 400 million and 65 million years ago. They are found in the Shaligram Pilgrimage in… Continue reading

No bar on contesting two seats in one poll: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has refused to set aside a provision in the election law that allows candidates to contest polls from two constituencies simultaneously. What is the issue? The petition had sought the court to declare Section 33(7) of the Representation of People Act invalid and ultra vires. Like one-person-one-vote, one-candidate-one-constituency is the dictum of… Continue reading

What is Additional Surveillance Mechanism (ASM)?

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) placed very famous enterprises of business tycoons under the additional surveillance mechanism (ASM). Why in news? The Adani Group has shed $108 billion in market value since Hindenburg Research accused it of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. What is Additional Surveillance Mechanism (ASM)? 2018 saw the establishment of the Additional… Continue reading

CITES database reveals Red Sanders smuggling

The CITES trade database has recorded 28 incidents of Red Sanders confiscation, seizure, and specimen from the wild being exported from India. Red Sanders The species, Pterocarpus santalinus, is an Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical range in the Eastern Ghats. It is a very slow-growing tree species that attains maturity in natural… Continue reading

What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

During her Budget speech, Finance Minister announced the government’s move to focus on lab-grown diamonds (LGDs). What did the FM announce? Customs duty on the seeds used in lab-grown diamond manufacturing will be reduced, announced the finance minister. She also announced a grant to IITs to facilitate the growth of LGDs in India. What are… Continue reading

Who is a Puisne Judge, and what does the term mean?

While recommending two names for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court, the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that the collegium had taken into “consideration the seniority of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges…” Who are Puisne Judge? According to the dictionary, the word puisne has French origins, which… Continue reading

Who are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?

The Union Budget 2023-24 has provided to launch the Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) Development Mission in order to saturate the PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities. What is the budgetary announcement about? The Pradhan Mantri PVTG Mission will be launched as part of ‘Reaching The Last Mile’, one of the seven… Continue reading

History, Significance of President’s Address

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of Parliament for the first time after assuming the position. Mains PYQ: The President’s address is one of the most solemn occasions in the Parliamentary calendar. Discuss. Highlight its importance in Parliamentary Democracy. (250W) President’s Address: What is the history? United Kingdom: The tradition of the monarch addressing… Continue reading

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