Why in the news? Due to the loss of credibility, many institutional news media struggle to establish a factual foundation or maintain control over diverse social narratives, affecting society, media principles, and the Political milieu in India. The Present Scenario of Discourse in News Media: Institutional Crises: Loss of credibility in institutional news media leads… Continue reading The democratic political process is broken
Why in the news? Recently, the SC’s judgment on the Chandigarh Mayoral election gives us a good occasion to think more broadly about elections in municipalities. Context: Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies are exemplary democratic processes known for their punctuality, well-organized procedures, and seamless transitions of power. However, when it comes to… Continue reading It is time for Comprehensive Reforms to Municipal ElectionsÂ
Context We live in a world where therapy is a text away. Natural language processing (NLP), a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), enables computers to understand and interpret human language that mirrors human comprehension. In mental healthcare, we are already seeing a rapid evolution of use cases for AI with affordable access to therapy and… Continue reading Can AI help in Navigating Mental Health?
Why in the News? According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India had installed a renewable energy capacity of over 180 GW by 2023 and is expected to meet its target of 500 GW by 2030. Context At the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in November 2021, India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions… Continue reading The need to curb Black Carbon Emissions | Explained
PYQ Relevance: Mains:Â Q) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting an incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse. (UPSC IAS/2022)Â Q) Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What… Continue reading [27 March 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: A cry for help, a call for reflection and action
What is the news? The Union Environment Ministry has notified a set of rules called the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024. Elephants, classified as Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972 enjoy special protection, but certain provisions allow for their translocation under specific circumstances. Existing Regulations on Elephant Transfer Legal… Continue reading Captive Elephant Transfer Rules, 2024
What is the news? A 900-year-old Kannada inscription from the Kalyana Chalukya dynasty has been discovered in a state of neglect at Gangapuram, a temple town in Jadcherla mandal, Mahabubnagar, Telangana. The inscription dates back to June 8, 1134 CE (Friday) and was issued by the Customs Officers of Tailapa-III, son of Kalyana Chalukya Emperor… Continue reading 900-year-old Chalukyan Inscription discovered Â
What is the news? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has undertaken rigorous regulatory actions to address lenders’ over-exuberance, enhance compliance culture, and protect customers. RBI’s Regulatory Actions: An Overview Recent Examples: Recent regulatory moves by the RBI, such as restraining lending by IIFL Finance and JM Financial Products, and implementing restrictions on customer… Continue reading RBI Clampdown on Lenders could moderate Credit Growth in 2024-25
What is the news? The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court against the Union government, seeking the release of drought relief funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). This disagreement marks the second major dispute after alleged ‘injustice’ in tax devolution and other allocations. Extent of Drought and Water Scarcity in Karnataka Rainfall… Continue reading Karnataka approaches Supreme Court over NDRF Funds for Drought Management
Why in the news? Agriculture Minister has recently inaugurated the Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi. What is Krishi ICCC? The ICCC incorporates multiple IT applications and platforms to provide actionable insights and aid informed decision-making. 8 large LED screens display crucial information such as crop yields, production,… Continue reading Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)
Writing an impactful introduction to UPSC Mains Answer Join Arvind sir’s FREE webinar on 28th March, 6 pm First 100 will get Civilsdaily’s Mains Toolkit A strong introduction is your first step to standing out in UPSC Mains. The opening lines of your answer can captivate or lose the examiner’s interest. It’s not just an… Continue reading How to write topper-level Introductions to UPSC Mains Answers?
Why in the news? The binary revolution (0s and 1s) constantly shape the way we interact with technology and with each other daily and the beating heart of this binary revolution is the semiconductor device. What are semiconductors? Semiconductors are materials that possess properties intermediate between those of conductors and insulators. They can conduct electricity… Continue reading How are Semiconductors fabricated? | Explained
Why in the news? Recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Rahul Gandhi for hurting the sentiments of Hindus through his remark on ‘Shakti’. What does the law say? Section 123(3): Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) provides that appeals by a candidate,… Continue reading On Campaigning in the name of Religion | Explained
Why in the news? The conduct of elections has become increasingly complex and multifaceted, requiring meticulous planning and execution to ensure a free, fair, and inclusive electoral process A cornerstone of this planning process is the District Election Management Plan (DEMP), a comprehensive document that uses statistics and analysis to ensure the smooth conduct of… Continue reading What is the District Election Management Plan? | Explained
What is the news? Robusta Coffee farmers in South India are celebrating as their produce fetches an all-time high price. The farmgate price of raw Robusta coffee berries reached ₹172 per kilogram (kg) in the Wayanad market, a significant increase from ₹115 per kg last year. Coffee Cultivation in India The coffee cultivation in India… Continue reading Robusta Coffee price touches All-time High
What is the news? Rising sea temperatures have triggered severe bleaching events, leading to significant coral mortality in Gulf of Mannar. Annual surveys show a decline in live coral cover from 37% in 2005 to 27.3% in 2021. Corals in Gulf of Mannar The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part… Continue reading Live Coral cover in Gulf of Mannar down to 27%
Why in the news? Krutrim AI is Ola’s homegrown AI assistant, designed to cater to the diverse needs and nuances of Indian consumers, bridging the gap between conventional AI and specific cultural contexts. Krutrim’s Capabilities Multilingual Support: Krutrim boasts the ability to converse in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Hinglish,… Continue reading Krutrim AI: India’s indigenous AI
Why in the news? North Atlantic right whales face a grave threat due to entanglement in fishing gear, contributing to their critically endangered status. Entanglement not only leads to physical harm but also affects reproductive success, exacerbating the species’ decline. Impact of Entanglement Lethal and Sublethal Effects: Entanglement in fishing gear leads to energy expenditure,… Continue reading North Atlantic Right Whales: Threats and Conservation Imperatives