Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in the News? The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved 5 crucial roads, including 4 that pass through the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These include a route to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), India’s northernmost military outpost in Ladakh, which also houses the country’s highest airstrip. About Karakoram… Continue reading

[16th October 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: Food access is about equitable agrifood systems

PYQ Relevance: Q) Elaborate the policy taken by the Government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector. (UPSC CSE 2019) Q) What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective? (UPSC CSE 2019) Q) What are the challenges and opportunities of the food… Continue reading

Canada accuses Indian diplomats?

Why in the News? India-Canada relations have reached a historic low after Justin Trudeau’s government accused Indian officials of being involved in “activities that pose a significant threat to public safety,” claims that New Delhi has strongly rejected as “preposterous.” What specific allegations has Canada made against Indian diplomats? Violent Extremism: Canadian authorities claim that… Continue reading

Places in news: Jordan Valley

Why in the News? Extremist groups held drone strikes on Israeli territory in the Jordan Valley (which forms Jordan’s border with Israel and the West Bank). About Jordan Valley: Details Geography • Part of the Great Rift Valley, extending from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. • Forms a natural border between Jordan,… Continue reading

Article 142 of the Indian Constitution

Why in the News? The Supreme Court declined a PIL seeking directions under Article 142 to include sexual offences against men, trans-persons, and animals in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Supreme Court’s Observations: The petitioner argued that the new BNS omitted Section 377 of the IPC, which previously… Continue reading

How did the Haber-Bosch process change the world?

Why in the News? One hundred million tonnes of nitrogen are extracted from the atmosphere and transformed into fertilizer through the Haber-Bosch process, adding 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen to the soil. What is the Nitrogen molecule and how is it availed in Nature? The nitrogen molecule (N2) consists of two nitrogen atoms joined… Continue reading

Why did Delhi HC allow a 60-year-old couple to access their dead son’s sperm?

Why in the News? The Delhi High Court recently permitted a couple in their sixties to access their late son’s sperm sample, thus opening the door for posthumous assisted reproduction. About the Present Case: The Delhi HC allowed a couple in their sixties to access their deceased son’s sperm sample for posthumous assisted reproduction, marking… Continue reading

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacteria

Why in the News? Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), many existing antibiotics are becoming less effective. As a result, researchers are studying Mtb to identify key proteins and design new drugs to target them. What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)? Mtb is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), affecting the lungs and… Continue reading

Nile nations agree on Water-Sharing without Egypt’s nod

Why in the News? A regional partnership of 10 countries announced that an agreement on the equitable use of Nile River water resources has come into effect, despite Egypt’s opposition. Why discuss this? The legal status of the “cooperative framework” was confirmed by the African Union after South Sudan joined the treaty. The treaty is… Continue reading

[14th October 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: A critical message for the urban elite

PYQ Relevance: Q) “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2018) Q) Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.(UPSC CSE 2014) Q) To… Continue reading

Why precision medicine in India can’t advance without biobank laws?

Why in the News? Precision medicine is ushering in a new era of personalized healthcare, with its foundations taking shape during the completion of the Human Genome Project by scientists. What is the current legal framework governing biobanks in India? Lack of Comprehensive Legislation: India lacks specific, comprehensive laws governing biobanks. The current framework consists… Continue reading

Issues in the treatment of ‘rare diseases’, and what the govt can do?

Why in the News? The Delhi High Court recently issued directives to enhance the availability of “orphan drugs” to combat rare diseases. About the Delhi High Court Verdict: The Delhi High Court issued directions aimed at improving the availability of “orphan drugs,” which are used to treat rare diseases. This intervention seeks to address challenges… Continue reading

Scuttling people’s Right to Information (RTI)

Why in the News? Governments are undermining the RTI Act by delaying the appointment of information commissioners, causing commissions to struggle with increasing backlogs, according to a 2023-24 report of Satark Nagrik Sangathan. About Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS): Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) is not a government-based organization; rather, it is a citizens’ organization focused on… Continue reading

What is the UNIFIL?

Why in the News? India has expressed concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon, after they came under fire from Israeli forces. Among the peacekeepers are 600 Indian soldiers, who are part of the UN peacekeeping mission and are stationed along the 120-km Blue Line on the Israel-Lebanon border. What is… Continue reading

In news: Wular Lake

Why in the News? The harvest of water chestnuts, locally known as goer has begun around “Wular Lake” in Kashmir. About Wular Lake: Details Location Bandipore district, Jammu and Kashmir Size Largest freshwater lake in India, second-largest in Asia Area Covers 200 sq. km, with a length of 24 km and breadth of 10 km… Continue reading

What is Wayanad’s new X-band Radar?

Why in the News? After the floods and landslides in Wayanad in July 2024, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences approved the installation of an “X-band radar” in the district. What is an X-Band Radar? An X-band radar is a type of radar that operates in the 8-12 GHz frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum,… Continue reading

China’s ‘Anaconda Strategy’

Why in the News? Taiwanese authorities recently stated that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is using an ‘anaconda strategy’ to put pressure on Taiwan. China’s Military Maneuvers around Taiwan China has been steadily increasing its military activities around Taiwan, both by air and sea: Air incursions into the Taiwan Strait have increased significantly, from 36… Continue reading

International NGOs and the Perils of Outsourcing Development

Why in the News? For many years, International NGOs (INGOs) have promoted donor-driven agendas that have frequently caused harm to local communities. Case Study: Africa and Bolivia Tanzania and Kenya (Africa): In these regions, INGO-led conservation efforts, often backed by Western donors, displaced indigenous Maasai communities from their ancestral lands. These interventions were justified as… Continue reading

Workplace carcinogens are increasingly a global problem

Why in the News? Data indicates that Central Europe and the wealthiest nations in Asia are approaching the cancer rates from workplace exposure to carcinogens seen in Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Carcinogens are associated with Occupational Cancer: Asbestos: A major contributor to lung cancer and mesothelioma, responsible for the highest number of deaths… Continue reading

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

Your better version awaits you!