Veer Savarkar and His Contributions

Why in the News? Prime Minister paid tribute to Veer Savarkar on his death anniversary (26th February), acknowledging his contributions to India’s freedom movement. About Veer Savarkar: Life, Contributions, and Legacy Details Who was Veer Savarkar? • Born on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur, Maharashtra. • Founded Abhinav Bharat Society (1904) for armed resistance. •… Continue reading

Should a third language be compulsory?

Why in the News? The Central government and the Tamil Nadu government are disagreeing over the three-language rule in schools under the New Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Why is the Union government withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan from Tamil Nadu? Non-compliance with the three-language formula: The Union government has linked the release of… Continue reading

‘Cali Fund’ launched at CBD COP16

Why in the News? A new international biodiversity fund, the ‘Cali Fund’, was launched at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome. What is the Cali Fund? The Cali Fund is an international biodiversity financing mechanism launched on February 25, 2025, at COP16 of the… Continue reading

What is Black Plastic?

Why in the News? A recent study suggested that black plastic contains harmful flame retardants, which may leach into food at hazardous levels. What is Black Plastic? Black plastic is often made from recycled electronic waste like old computers, TVs, and appliances. These electronics contain flame retardants (such as bromine-based compounds), heavy metals (lead, cadmium,… Continue reading

New Experiment to Test Quantum Gravity

Why in the News? A new proposal published on October 29, 2024, suggests an experiment that could provide direct evidence for quantum gravity, unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics. A new experiment proposes testing weak gravitational fields at the quantum level, a historic breakthrough in physics if successful. What is Quantum Gravity? Quantum Gravity is… Continue reading

[25th February 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Surveillance capitalism: the power to control personal data

PYQ Relevance: Q) Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber-crimes. The Justice B. N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weaknesses of the Report relating to protection of personal data in cyber space? (UPSC CSE 2018) … Continue reading

The RTI is now the ‘Right to Deny Information’

Why in the News? The RTI Act allowed people to question the government, but the government soon tried to weaken it. Why is the RTI now being viewed as the ‘right to deny information’? Judicial Interpretations Diluting the Scope of RTI: Key court judgments, like Girish Ramchandra Deshpande vs. CIC (2012), have expanded the definition… Continue reading

Battle of Karnal (1739)

Why in the News? On February 24, 1739, the Battle of Karnal marked a turning point in the history of Mughal empire. About Battle of Karnal The Battle of Karnal on February 24, 1739, saw Nadir Shah’s Persian army defeat Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah ‘Rangila’ in under three hours. Despite having 300,000 soldiers, the Mughal… Continue reading

What is the ‘Quality of Public Expenditure’ Index?

Why in the News? The Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index, developed by the RBI, evaluates how efficiently government funds are used, focusing on expenditure composition and its long-term impact on economic growth. About the QPE Index The QPE Index by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) measures how effectively government funds are utilized. It… Continue reading

Rupee-Dollar Swap Auction

Why in the News? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct a $10 billion dollar-rupee swap auction on February 28, 2025, aimed at injecting durable rupee liquidity into the banking system. This 3-year forex swap is expected to inject ₹86,000 crore into the banking system at a time when there is a liquidity deficit… Continue reading

[pib] Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation

Why in the News? India has taken over the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation from Bangladesh at the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Male, Maldives. What is BOBP-IGO? BOBP-IGO is a regional fisheries body promoting sustainable fisheries management and improving the livelihoods of small-scale fishers in the Bay of Bengal region.… Continue reading

Indian industry needs innovation, not mindless toil

Why in the News? Indian industry leaders are hurting their future by depending too much on cheap labour for growth. What are the issues related to cheap labour in India? Long Working Hours: Migrant industrial workers often work 11-12 hours a day without breaks during peak demand, compromising their physical and mental well-being. Informal Employment:… Continue reading

Tea Tribes and Jhumur Dance

Why in the News? Prime Minister witnessed the largest-ever Jhumur dance performance in Guwahati, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry. What are Tea Tribes/Tea Garden Communities of Assam? The Tea Tribes or Tea Garden Communities of Assam are descendants of laborers brought by the British in the 19th century to work in… Continue reading

Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement

Why in the News? On February 23, 2025, farmers protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders are observing Pagri Sambhal Diwas in honor of Ajit Singh, a freedom fighter, revolutionary, and Bhagat Singh’s paternal uncle. About the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement (1907) The Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement was a peasant uprising in Punjab against the… Continue reading

What are Zonal Councils?

Why in the News? Union Home Minister chaired the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune. About Zonal Councils in India: Details Origin & Purpose Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 to promote cooperation among states after reorganization. Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, with the goal of resolving inter-state disputes and… Continue reading

Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site in Odisha

Why in the News? On December 1, 2024, a team of archaeologists, students, and laborers began excavation at the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site in Jajpur, Odisha. About the Ratnagiri Buddhist Heritage Site Located in Jajpur district, Odisha, Ratnagiri is part of the “Diamond Triangle” along with Udayagiri and Lalitgiri. It flourished as a Vajrayana Buddhist… Continue reading

USAID meddling charge ‘deeply troubling’: MEA

Why in the News? Recently the Indian government said that it is seriously investigating claims made by the U.S. government that USAID planned to spend $21 million to influence voter turnout in India. What is USAID, and how did it originate? USAID (United States Agency for International Development) was founded in 1961 by President John… Continue reading

Concept of sexual equality must be part of syllabus: SC

Why in the News? On Friday (February 21, 2025), the Supreme Court told the Centre that schools should teach students about gender equality and how men should treat women with respect. Is the lack of basic education about gender equality the root cause of the surge in rape cases and crimes against women? Perpetuation of… Continue reading

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Remission

Why in the News? In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that prisoners eligible for remission under state policies must be considered for release even if they do not apply for it. This decision comes as part of the suo motu case “In Re: Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail”, initiated… Continue reading

[pib] Ministry of Mines classifies Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as Major Minerals

Why in the News? The Ministry of Mines has reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz as major minerals, aligning with the National Critical Mineral Mission to boost India’s industrial growth. Major and Minor Minerals in India What are Major Minerals? Major minerals are those with high economic value, used in industrial applications, energy production, and… Continue reading

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