Delamination of the Indian Plate

Why in the News? Recent studies reveal that the Indian Plate is splitting into two, with the lower part detaching and sinking into the Earth’s mantle, a process called delamination, as published by the American Geophysical Union. About Delamination: Delamination in tectonic plates refers to the process where the lower part of a continental plate,… Continue reading

What is Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)?

Why in the News? Recently Google introduced its seventh-generation TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), named Ironwood. About Ironwood Ironwood is Google’s seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), designed to accelerate AI model training and inference with improved performance and efficiency. It builds on previous TPUs, enhancing speed and efficiency for AI workloads. It has been optimized for… Continue reading

Who was Sir Sankaran Nair (1857-1934)?

Why in the News? PM recently remembered Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a nationalist and jurist who famously fought a courtroom battle against British officials involved in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. Nair’s stand in the courtroom is now a subject of a forthcoming film, Kesari Chapter 2. About Sir Sankaran Nair: Born in 1857… Continue reading

China halts export of Rare Earth Magnets

Why in the News? China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets after US’s tariff embargo. What Are Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and RE Magnets? REEs are a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, including Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd), Europium (Eu), and Ytterbium (Yb). Though not rare, they… Continue reading

Unnecessary amendment: On the RTI Act

Why in the News? The Right to Information (RTI) Act has clearly helped make those in power more accountable in India. However, in recent years, there have been efforts to weaken some of its important provisions, even though the Act — a major reform — was passed 20 years ago. What is the role of… Continue reading

How govern-mentality exacerbates the problem of farmers’ stubble burning

Why in the News? A new study by researchers Sujit Raghunathrao Jagadale and Javed M. Shaikh from IIM Amritsar looks at the issue of stubble burning by examining how government policies and market systems are failing to manage the problem effectively. Why do farmers continue stubble burning despite its harm to air quality? Cost-Effective Method:… Continue reading

Telangana becomes first State to notify Sub- categorization of SCs

Why in the News? The Telangana government has officially implemented the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) into three groups, following a Supreme Court judgment in August 2024 that upheld the constitutionality of sub-classifying SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to grant separate quotas for the most marginalized groups. About Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Their Subcategorization: SCs… Continue reading

KATRIN Experiment

Why in the News? The KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment) has made a groundbreaking achievement by measuring neutrino mass with a new precision. About the KATRIN Experiment: The KATRIN is located at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specifically on its Campus North site in Karlsruhe, Germany. It is aimed at measuring the mass of… Continue reading

Novel Silicon Photonics Breakthrough

Why in the News? In a major breakthrough, Indian researchers have developed a new type of laser that can be placed directly onto silicon chips, a key component of modern computers. What is Silicon Photonics? Silicon photonics is a technology that uses light (photons) instead of electrical signals to transmit data inside computer systems. Light… Continue reading

DRDO successfully tested Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)

Why in the News? India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system, marking a major achievement in the country’s defense capabilities. About Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System The Mk-II(A) Laser-DEW system, also known as Sahastra Shakti, is an indigenously developed Laser weapon with an operational… Continue reading

[14th April 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Will Trump’s tariffs bring in a recession?

PYQ Relevance: [UPSC 2018] How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations in world trade affect macroeconomic stability of India? Linkage: Trump’s administration was known for implementing protectionist trade policies, primarily through tariffs, starting around that period as discussed in the article. The question asks about the impact of “protectionism” on “macroeconomic stability,”… Continue reading

A Governor’s conduct and a judgment of significance

Why in the News? In The State of Tamil Nadu vs. The Governor of Tamil Nadu and Another, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, reaffirmed that Governors’ powers are limited and must follow constitutional boundaries. What constitutional issue was addressed in the Tamil… Continue reading

APAAR ID and the Future of Student Data: Boon or Bane ?

N4S: A digital identity for students: convenience or control? This article unpacks the APAAR ID, its benefits, and the privacy concerns it raises. UPSC often asks about Fundamental Rights in light of recent judgments (like the Right to Privacy ruling in Puttaswamy vs. Union of India, 2017). This year, it asked about DNA testing and… Continue reading

Study finds a Shift in Peak Time of Maximum Rainfall

Why in the News? A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters revealed changes in the amount and timing of rainfall using GSMaP Data between 2001-2010 and 2011-2020. About Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) GSMaP is a specialized precipitation product developed through collaboration between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration… Continue reading

Real Time LAMP Assay for Early Diagnosis of TB

Why in the News? Researchers from Thiruvananthapuram have developed a cost-effective Real-Time LAMP (rt-LAMP) Assay for early Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. About the rt-LAMP Assay The rt-LAMP assay (real-time Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) is a molecular diagnostic test designed to detect TB DNA with high precision. It can detect TB DNA at concentrations as low as 10… Continue reading

India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC)

Why in the News? India and Italy have decided to enhance cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, and high technology while working jointly on the India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC). About IMEEC Project: IMEEC is a key initiative under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), aimed at infrastructure development in developing regions. It was formally… Continue reading

What is Atmospheric River?

Why in the News? Earlier this month, severe weather in the United States, including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms, was caused by an Atmospheric River. What is an Atmospheric River? An atmospheric river is a narrow, fast-moving band of moisture and wind that transports large amounts of water vapor across vast distances. They form… Continue reading

[12th April 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The Beijing India Report as milestone and opportunity

PYQ Relevance: [UPSC 2019] What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? Linkage: The challenges that women still face are a major concern under the Beijing Platform for Action and are likely to be reviewed in the Beijing India Report. Pointing out these ongoing issues shows how much more needs… Continue reading

The conservation argument for resurrecting dire wolf is not credible

Why in the news? Colossal Biosciences is an American company that combines genetics and conservation in a unique way by bringing back species that have been extinct for thousands of years. What is the primary goal of Colossal Biosciences’ de-extinction project? Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology company specializing in de-extinction projects, aiming to revive extinct… Continue reading

Who was Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890)?

Why in the News? On April 11, 2025, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 199th birth anniversary. About Mahatma Phule Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, born on April 11, 1827, near Pune, was from the Mali caste. His father was a vegetable vendor, and his mother died when he was young. He… Continue reading

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