Dramatic Performances Act, 1876

Why in the News? PM Modi recently questioned why the colonial-era Dramatic Performances Act, 1876, which allowed authorities to ban plays deemed seditious, defamatory, or obscene, remained in force 75 years after independence. What is the Dramatic Performances Act, 1876? The Dramatic Performances Act, 1876, was a colonial-era law enacted by the British to suppress… Continue reading

Article 136 of the Indian Constitution

Why in the News? Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently raised concerns over the wide usage of Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) under Article 136 of the Indian Constitution, stating that what was meant to be a “narrow slit” has now turned into a wide judicial intervention. What is a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136?… Continue reading

‘Blue Ghost’ Mission 1

Why in the News? US’s Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed on the Moon, becoming the second private mission to do so and the first to land upright. What is ‘Blue Ghost’ Mission 1? Blue Ghost Mission 1 is a private lunar landing mission by Firefly Aerospace under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services… Continue reading

The SEC and Hague Service Convention

Why in the News? On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Secuirty and Exchange commission asked the Indian government under the Hague Service Convention, to serve summons on Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani in a securities and wire fraud case. What is the Hague Service Convention? The Hague Service Convention, formally known as the Convention on… Continue reading

‘Kundi’ Traditional Water Harvesting

Why in the News? With summers nearing, the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan particularly in Churu, Jaisalmer, and Barmer districts largely rely on ‘Kundi’ system of traditional rainwater harvesting. What is Kundi System? Found in Churu, Rajasthan, kundis (or kunds) are traditional rainwater harvesting structures designed for storing drinking water. A circular or rectangular… Continue reading

[pib] Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

Why in the News? The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) recently organized Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony in New Delhi. Prani Mitra Awards were established in 1966 to honor individuals excelling in animal welfare and protection. Since 1966, 54 individuals have received this award for their remarkable service. Jeev Daya Awards, instituted… Continue reading

National Science Day

Why in the News? February 28 is observed as National Science Day in India to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C.V. Raman in 1928. It is the only Nobel achieved by an Indian while working in India. About National Science Day National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28… Continue reading

Species in news: Doomsday Fish

Why in the News? Recent sightings of the rare oarfish, also known as the “Doomsday Fish,” near the shores of Baja California Sur, Mexico, have sparked speculation and social media frenzy. About the ‘Doomsday Fish’ Japanese Folklore calls the oarfish “Ryugu no tsukai” or “Sea God’s Palace Messenger” and believes its rare appearance signals an… Continue reading

[28th February 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: A process where free and fair elections will be a casualty

PYQ Relevance: Q)To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (UPSC CSE 2017) Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on the Election Commission of India (2017) and… Continue reading

The SEC and Hague Service Convention

PUNCH Mission

Why in the News? NASA is set to launch the Polarimetry to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on February 28, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. About the PUNCH Mission PUNCH Mission is a groundbreaking solar mission designed to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind using advanced imaging techniques. It will… Continue reading

[pib] Time Use Survey (TUS), 2024

Why in the News? The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has released the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024, marking the second nationwide survey of its kind after 2019. What is the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024? The TUS, 2024 is a nationwide survey conducted by the National… Continue reading

One Nation One Port Initiative

Why in the News? The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has launched the “One Nation, One Port Process” (ONOP) initiative to standardize and streamline operations across India’s major ports. What is the One Nation, One Port Initiative? The One Nation, One Port Process initiative, launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways… Continue reading

Chandra Shekhar Azad and his Contributions

Why in the News? Leaders from across the political spectrum paid tributes to the freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad on his martyrdom day (27th February 1931). Who was Chandra Shekhar Azad? Chandra Shekhar Azad (1906–1931) was a revolutionary who played a key role in India’s independence struggle. Born in Bhabhra, Madhya Pradesh, he joined Gandhi’s… Continue reading

A leap backward for maternity entitlements

Why in the News? All pregnant women in India are entitled to maternity benefits, yet the majority have not received any financial support in recent years. What are the legal maternity benefit provisions under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013? Universal Entitlement (Except Formal Sector): All pregnant and lactating women (excluding those already receiving… Continue reading

Why are PwDs worried about DPDP rules?

Why in the News? The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) plans to complete public consultations on the draft Rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, by March 5. Meanwhile, disability rights activists are urging changes to a key provision of the Act. Why are persons with disabilities concerned about a certain… Continue reading

What is the Tea Horse Road?

Why in the News? Recently, China’s Ambassador to India highlighted the historical significance of ‘Tea Horse Road’ in fostering Sino-Indian ties. About the Tea Horse Road The Tea Horse Road originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). Buddhist monk Yijing (635-713 CE) recorded early trade between China, Tibet, and India, mentioning exchanges of sugar, textiles,… Continue reading

Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) in DNA

Why in the News? Researchers have discovered a reason why certain segments of the human and mouse genomes (Tra2b gene) have remained unchanged for 80 million years. These segments, known as ultra-conserved elements (UCEs), play a vital role in regulating protein production What are Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) in DNA? Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) are long, highly… Continue reading

SPHEREx Telescope

Why in the News? NASA is set to launch its latest space telescope, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California. What is the SPHEREx Telescope? SPHEREx is a new space telescope developed by NASA. It is designed to map the… Continue reading

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