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  • Study of distant Magnetar reveals facets of the Exotic Star

    An international group of researchers has succeeded in measuring for the first time the characteristics of a flare on a distant magnetar.

    What is a Magnetar?

    • Magnetars are the most magnetic stars in the universe.
    • It is a rare compact type of neutron star teeming with energy and magnetism.
    • It is an exotic type of neutron star, its defining feature that it has an ultra-powerful magnetic field.
    • The field is about 1,000 times stronger than a normal neutron star and about a trillion times stronger than the Earth’s.
    • Magnetars are relatively rare objects, with only about thirty having been spotted within the Milky Way so far.

    What is the recent study?

    • The studied magnetar is about 13 million light years away, in the direction of the NGC 253, a prominent galaxy in the Sculptor group of galaxies.
    • Its flare spewed within a few tenths of a second as much energy as the Sun would shed in 100,000 years.
    • It was captured accidentally on April 15, 2020, by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor instrument (ASIM) of the International Space Station.
    • This is the first study to characterize such a flare from so distant a magnetar.

    How do magnetars form?

    • During the course of their evolution, massive stars – with masses around 10-25 times the mass of the Sun – eventually collapse and shrink to form very compact objects called neutron stars.
    • A subset of these neutron stars is the so-called magnetars which possess intense magnetic fields.
    • These are highly dense and have breathtakingly high rotation speeds – they have rotational periods that can be just 0.3 to 12.0 seconds.

    What characterizes Magnetars?

    (1) Violent flares

    • The observed giant flare lasted approximately 160 milliseconds and during this time 1039 joules of energy was released.
    • The flare spewed as much energy in a tenth of a second that our Sun will radiate in 100,000 years.

    (2) Starquakes

    • Eruptions in magnetars are believed to be due to instabilities in their magnetosphere, or “starquakes” produced in their crust – a rigid, elastic layer about one kilometer thick.
    • This causes waves in the magnetosphere, and interaction between these waves causes dissipation of energy.

     

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  • Who was Archbishop Desmond Tutu?

    Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa’s struggle against white minority rule has died on December 26 at the age of 90.

    Try this question from CS Mains 2016:

     

    Q. The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.

    Desmond Tutu (1931- 2021)

    • Tutu was a South African Anglican cleric who in 1984 received the Nobel Prize for Peace for his role in the opposition to apartheid in South Africa.
    • A decade later, he witnessed the ends of that regime and he chaired a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to unearth atrocities committed during those dark days.
    • He was considered the nation’s conscience by both, the black majority and the white minority, an enduring testament to his faith and spirit of reconciliation in a divided nation.

    His notable works

    • During South Africa’s moves toward democracy in the early 1990s, Tutu propagated the idea of South Africa as “the Rainbow Nation”.
    • The term was intended to encapsulate the unity of multi-culturalism and the coming together of people of many different nations, in a country once identified with the strict division of white and black under the Apartheid regime.
    • In 1995 South African Pres. Nelson Mandela appointed Tutu head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated allegations of human rights abuses during the apartheid era.

     

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  • In news: Tai Khamti Rebellion

    The Arunachal Pradesh Deputy CM urged the Centre to recognize the Tai Khamti-British war as India’s first for independence.

    Tai Khamti Rebellion

    • The Tai Khamti Rebellion is the first such war took place in 1839 between the Tai Khamti people and the British.
    • The theatre of this war was some 2,400 km east of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh where the mutiny began.
    • Tai Khamtis resisted colonization by the British. Some 80 British soldiers, including Col. Adam White, were killed in the resultant conflict.

    Who are the Tai Khamti people?

    • The Tai Khamti people, who follow Theravada Buddhism, number a little more than 1,00,000 today and live in areas straddling Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

    Other revolts in Arunachal

    • Arunachal Deputy CM also batted for recognition of battles between other communities of Arunachal Pradesh and the British.
    • They include a series of Anglo-Abor wars from 1858 to 1911 and the Wancho-British war in Tirap district’s Ninu in 1875.
    • The Abors, now called Adis, inhabit central Arunachal Pradesh, while the Wanchos live in the southern part of the State.

     

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  • 27th December 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 868]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 868]

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  • Registrations Closing Today, Webinar @ 7PM || Enviornment for UPSC-CSE Prelims & Mains|| Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    Registrations Closing Today, Webinar @ 7PM || Enviornment for UPSC-CSE Prelims & Mains|| Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    If there was one visible change in UPSC CSE 2021, then its the high weightage of questions from Enviornment and Ecology. Most of the current affairs questions from Environment and Ecology are not from the last one year and one had to know about conventions and conferences held long time back. About 25-30% of the questions in GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains are from this subject.

    Many aspirants make the mistake of assuming that Enviornment and Ecology is an easy subject as it tends to overlap with Geography and Science. Post 2013, with the introduction of separate Indian Forest Service Exams, the weightage for this subject has increased as well. Topics such as Biodiversity, Wildlife conservation, Pollution, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and International Organisations have the maximum questions asked.

    Free Open for All Webinar by Retired Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    If as a UPSC aspirant, you also want to appear for Indian Forest Exams and score better in Prelims and GS Paper 3, then this webinar is for you.

    Ankit Wanve IFoS is a two time UPSC-CSE interview candidate. He however cleared the Indian Forest Exam in his first attempt with an AIR 66 in 2018. He was able to do this, thanks to his strong engineering background. This goes to show that if not UPSC-CSE, there are other overlapping government examinations one can give a try.

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    What will you learn from IFoS Aniket Wanve in this webinar?

    1. How is IFoS as an alternative career choice to Civil Services. What are the roles, responsibilities, perks and benefits Ankit of an IFoS officer?

    2. Forest and administration. Important conventions and clauses from exam point of view will be discussed.

    3. Issues of Climate Change. What are the important protocols passed by International Organisations?

    4. Current Affairs of Past One year related to Environment. What is happening in India with respect to this?

    5. How to prepare for Environment and Ecology for Prelims and Mains. How to connect concepts of Geography with Environment?

    6. Maximize your score in the Interview round. As a two-time interview what are Ankit Wanve’s suggestions?

    This live webinar for all students will also be interactive in nature with a Q&A session.

    Webinar Details

    Don’t miss the chance to get value addition inputs to score better in the examination! This webinar is absolutely free. All aspirants are welcome to attend.

    Date – 27th December 2021 (Monday)

    Time – 7 PM

    Limited slots are available. So please register ASAP.

    REGISTER HERE FOR indian forest officer aniket wanve’s ask me anything session

  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: All India Judicial Service

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    Context

    • There were reports of the Centre renewing attempts to build consensus with state governments and High Courts on setting of the AIJS.
    • However the government recently informed Parliament that only 2 states – Haryana and Mizoram, and two high courts, Tripura High Court and Sikkim High Court, are in favour of creating the AIJS.
    • As per govt data on High Courts, 13 have opposed the proposal, six have sought changes in it and others have not responded.

    All India Judicial Service (AIJS): A backgrounder

    • The AIJS is a reform push to centralize the recruitment of judges.
    • It would work at the level of additional district judges and district judges for all states.
    • In the same way that the UPSC conducts a central recruitment process and assigns successful candidates to cadres, judges of the lower judiciary are proposed to be recruited centrally and assigned to states.

    This idea has been debated in legal circles for decades, and remains contentious.

    How are district judges currently recruited?

    • Articles 233 and 234: These articles deal with the appointment of district judges, and place it in the domain of the states.
    • State PSC: The selection process is conducted by the State Public Service Commissions and the concerned HC since HCs exercise jurisdiction over the subordinate judiciary in the state.
    • Interview by HC judges panelists: They interview candidates after the exam and select them for an appointment.

    Why has the AIJS been proposed?

    The idea was to ensure:

    • Efficient subordinate judiciary
    • Address structural issues such as varying pay and remuneration across states
    • Fill vacancies faster
    • Ensure standard training across states

    Beginning of the debate

    • The idea of a centralized judicial service was first proposed in the Law Commission 1958 ‘Report on Reforms on Judicial Administration’.
    • It was proposed again in the Law Commission Report of 1978, which discussed delays and arrears of cases in the lower courts.
    • In 2006, the Parliamentary Standing Committee backed the idea of a pan-Indian judicial service, and also prepared a draft Bill.

    What is the judiciary’s view on the AIJS?

    • 1992: the Supreme Court directed the Centre to set up an AIJS in All India Judges’ Assam. vs Union of India
    • 1993: In review of the judgment, the court left the Centre at liberty to take the initiative on the issue.
    • 2017: The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue of appointment of district judges, and mooted a “Central Selection Mechanism”.

    Need for AJIS

    • Huge vacancy of judges and delay in recruitment: Currently there are about 5400 vacant posts in lower judiciary across the country and a pendency of 2.78crore cases in lower judiciary.
    • Dearth of good quality judicial officers: The ever continuing decline in their qualityhas led to decline in the competence of overall judiciary.
    • Lack of finances: State judicial services are not attractive for ‘best talents’ due to low salaries, rewards and compensations by the state governments.
    • Lack of specialized training: Adjudication is a specialization which requires state of the art training institutes and professors but state institutes don’t allow such exposure to interns.
    • Discretion of a narrow body: The process of selecting a good judge is a difficult job and should not be left at the discretion of few persons (collegiums) however sagacious they may be.
    • Subjectivity in the process: Current judicial appointments suffer subjectivity, corruption and nepotism on the part of Collegium.

    Critical views on AJIS

    • Blow to federalism: AJIS is seen as an affront to federalism and an encroachment on the powers of states granted by the Constitution.
    • Language of Business: Language and representation, for example, are key concerns highlighted by states. Judicial business is conducted in regional languages, whi ch could be affected by central recruitment.
    • Quotas: A “national exam” risks shutting out those from less privileged backgrounds from being able to enter the judicial services.
    • Separation of power: The opposition is also based on the constitutional concept of the separation of powers.
    • Not a complete remedy: Additionally, legal experts have argued that the creation of AIJS will not address the structural issues plaguing the lower judiciary.
    • Mismanaged legal education: Curriculum followed by law universities, overseen by Bar Council of India, lacks effective standards barring few National Law Universities.

    Other limitations of AJIS

    • Legacy issues unaddressed: AIJS addresses neither the problem of disproportionately low pay nor unavailability of adequate judicial infrastructure in states nor the lack of career advancement.
    • Problem of local laws and customs: AIJS does not take into account the problem of local laws, practices and customs which vary widely across States, thus increasing the costs of training for judges selected through the mechanism.
    • Unnecessary bureaucratization: The argument that the centralization of recruitment processes through the UPSC automatically leads to a more efficient recruitment process is flawed and not a guarantee of a solution.

    Why is the government seeking to revive the idea of AIJS?

    • The government has targeted the reform of the lower judiciary in its effort to improve India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.
    • It will act as efficient dispute resolution is one of the key indices in determining the rank.
    • AIJS is a step in the direction of ensuring an efficient lower judiciary.

    Centre’s argument for AJIS

    • The government has cited IAS officers’ examples.
    • It has argued that if a central mechanism can work for administrative services — IAS officers learn the language required for their cadre — it can work for judicial services too.

    Way forward

    In its report on Strategy for New India @75 which defines objectives for 2022-23, Niti Aayog suggested that

    • An all-India judicial services examination on a ranking basis can be considered to maintain high standards in the judiciary
    • There is a need to facilitate the availability and usage of video-conferencing facilities to assist in speedy access to justice and to minimize logistical issues.
    • To maintain judicial independence, the cadre should report to the Chief Justice in each High Court.

    The Supreme Court has recently suggested the establishment of the National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation (NJIC)  for the modernization of judicial infrastructure. This is also another welcome move in reforming India Judiciary.

    Conclusion

    • If we want to create a robust judicial system at the subordinate level, the constitution of an Indian judicial service is a sound idea.
    • Only a meritocratic service with a competitive recruitment, high-quality uniform training and assured standards of probity and efficiency would be able to ensure speedy and impartial justice in India.
  • Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    If there was one visible change in UPSC CSE 2021, then its the high weightage of questions from Enviornment and Ecology. Most of the current affairs questions from Environment and Ecology are not from the last one year and one had to know about conventions and conferences held long time back. About 25-30% of the questions in GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains are from this subject.

    Many aspirants make the mistake of assuming that Enviornment and Ecology is an easy subject as it tends to overlap with Geography and Science. Post 2013, with the introduction of separate Indian Forest Service Exams, the weightage for this subject has increased as well. Topics such as Biodiversity, Wildlife conservation, Pollution, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and International Organisations have the maximum questions asked.

    Free Open for All Webinar by Retired Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    If as a UPSC aspirant, you also want to appear for Indian Forest Exams and score better in Prelims and GS Paper 3, then this webinar is for you.

    Ankit Wanve IFoS is a two time UPSC-CSE interview candidate. He however cleared the Indian Forest Exam in his first attempt with an AIR 66 in 2018. He was able to do this, thanks to his strong engineering background. This goes to show that if not UPSC-CSE, there are other overlapping government examinations one can give a try.

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    What will you learn from IFoS Aniket Wanve in this webinar?

    1. How is IFoS as an alternative career choice to Civil Services. What are the roles, responsibilities, perks and benefits Ankit of an IFoS officer?

    2. Forest and administration. Important conventions and clauses from exam point of view will be discussed.

    3. Issues of Climate Change. What are the important protocols passed by International Organisations?

    4. Current Affairs of Past One year related to Environment. What is happening in India with respect to this?

    5. How to prepare for Environment and Ecology for Prelims and Mains. How to connect concepts of Geography with Environment?

    6. Maximize your score in the Interview round. As a two-time interview what are Ankit Wanve’s suggestions?

    This live webinar for all students will also be interactive in nature with a Q&A session.

    Webinar Details

    Don’t miss the chance to get value addition inputs to score better in the examination! This webinar is absolutely free. All aspirants are welcome to attend.

    Date – 27th December 2021 (Monday)

    Time – 7 PM

    Limited slots are available. So please register ASAP.

    REGISTER HERE FOR indian forest officer aniket wanve’s ask me anything session
  • Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    If there was one visible change in UPSC CSE 2021, then its the high weightage of questions from Enviornment and Ecology. Most of the current affairs questions from Environment and Ecology are not from the last one year and one had to know about conventions and conferences held long time back. About 25-30% of the questions in GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains are from this subject.

    Many aspirants make the mistake of assuming that Enviornment and Ecology is an easy subject as it tends to overlap with Geography and Science. Post 2013, with the introduction of separate Indian Forest Service Exams, the weightage for this subject has increased as well. Topics such as Biodiversity, Wildlife conservation, Pollution, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and International Organisations have the maximum questions asked.

    Free Open for All Webinar by Retired Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    If as a UPSC aspirant, you also want to appear for Indian Forest Exams and score better in Prelims and GS Paper 3, then this webinar is for you.

    Ankit Wanve IFoS is a two time UPSC-CSE interview candidate. He however cleared the Indian Forest Exam in his first attempt with an AIR 66 in 2018. He was able to do this, thanks to his strong engineering background. This goes to show that if not UPSC-CSE, there are other overlapping government examinations one can give a try.

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    What will you learn from IFoS Aniket Wanve in this webinar?

    1. How is IFoS as an alternative career choice to Civil Services. What are the roles, responsibilities, perks and benefits Ankit of an IFoS officer?

    2. Forest and administration. Important conventions and clauses from exam point of view will be discussed.

    3. Issues of Climate Change. What are the important protocols passed by International Organisations?

    4. Current Affairs of Past One year related to Environment. What is happening in India with respect to this?

    5. How to prepare for Environment and Ecology for Prelims and Mains. How to connect concepts of Geography with Environment?

    6. Maximize your score in the Interview round. As a two-time interview what are Ankit Wanve’s suggestions?

    This live webinar for all students will also be interactive in nature with a Q&A session.

    Webinar Details

    Don’t miss the chance to get value addition inputs to score better in the examination! This webinar is absolutely free. All aspirants are welcome to attend.

    Date – 27th December 2021 (Monday)

    Time – 7 PM

    Limited slots are available. So please register ASAP.

    REGISTER HERE FOR indian forest officer aniket wanve’s ask me anything session
  • Part – 2 of Mains Value Added Material for 2021 || Enroll for FREE || Increase your 2021 GS Mains Marks || A Compilation of Subject-Wise Data, Indices & Statistics|| Register Now to Claim Your Handbook

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  • Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    Free Live Webinar Discussion on Important Treaties, Policies, Conventions, Acts related to Environment & Ecology || Ask me Anything Session with Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve|| Limited Slots, Register Now

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    If there was one visible change in UPSC CSE 2021, then its the high weightage of questions from Enviornment and Ecology. Most of the current affairs questions from Environment and Ecology are not from the last one year and one had to know about conventions and conferences held long time back. About 25-30% of the questions in GS Paper 3 in UPSC Mains are from this subject.

    Many aspirants make the mistake of assuming that Enviornment and Ecology is an easy subject as it tends to overlap with Geography and Science. Post 2013, with the introduction of separate Indian Forest Service Exams, the weightage for this subject has increased as well. Topics such as Biodiversity, Wildlife conservation, Pollution, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and International Organisations have the maximum questions asked.

    Free Open for All Webinar by Retired Indian Forest Officer Aniket Wanve

    If as a UPSC aspirant, you also want to appear for Indian Forest Exams and score better in Prelims and GS Paper 3, then this webinar is for you.

    Ankit Wanve IFoS is a two time UPSC-CSE interview candidate. He however cleared the Indian Forest Exam in his first attempt with an AIR 66 in 2018. He was able to do this, thanks to his strong engineering background. This goes to show that if not UPSC-CSE, there are other overlapping government examinations one can give a try.

    REGISTER HERE FOR INDIAN FOREST OFFICER ANIKET WANVE’S ASK ME ANYTHING SESSION

    What will you learn from IFoS Aniket Wanve in this webinar?

    1. How is IFoS as an alternative career choice to Civil Services. What are the roles, responsibilities, perks and benefits Ankit of an IFoS officer?

    2. Forest and administration. Important conventions and clauses from exam point of view will be discussed.

    3. Issues of Climate Change. What are the important protocols passed by International Organisations?

    4. Current Affairs of Past One year related to Environment. What is happening in India with respect to this?

    5. How to prepare for Environment and Ecology for Prelims and Mains. How to connect concepts of Geography with Environment?

    6. Maximize your score in the Interview round. As a two-time interview what are Ankit Wanve’s suggestions?

    This live webinar for all students will also be interactive in nature with a Q&A session.

    Webinar Details

    Don’t miss the chance to get value addition inputs to score better in the examination! This webinar is absolutely free. All aspirants are welcome to attend.

    Date – 27th December 2021 (Monday)

    Time – 7 PM

    Limited slots are available. So please register ASAP.

    REGISTER HERE FOR indian forest officer aniket wanve’s ask me anything session

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