Today's Current Affairs Question:Analyse the trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and livelihoods. Read More...
Today's Current Affairs Question:Comment on the significance of the Supreme Court order on the Pegasus episode. Read More...
Q Why is the context ?A The PM has launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA), an industry body consisting of various stakeholders of the Indian space domain.Q What is Indian Space Association (ISpA) ?A The ISpA is a premier industry association of space and satellite companies, which aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian space industry.It will be headed by retired Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, who will be its Director General.It will target to undertake policy advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian space domain. It will engage with the g... Read More...
Q What is the context ?A The Environment Ministry has issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be recycled as well as used in subsequent supply.Q What is EPR?A Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) means the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product (plastic packaging) until the end of its life.India had first introduced EPR in 2011 under the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 and E-Waste Managemen... Read More...
Q Why is the context ?A In its budget 2021-22, the Union government had announced the launch of a “reforms-based and results-linked” scheme for the distribution sector.Q What is the financial condition of discoms ?A Their overall debt burden, despite the implementation of the UDAY scheme, is estimated to increase to around Rs 6 lakh crore in the ongoing financial year.Moreover, their annual cash losses are estimated to be about Rs 45,000-50,000 crore (excluding UDAY grants and regulatory income).Due to highly subsidised ... Read More...
Q What is the context ?A The standoffs between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where initial steps towards disengagement have taken place, are around a number of patrolling points or PPs in Galwan, Hot Springs and Gogra areas.Q What exactly are Patrolling Points?A Patrolling Points are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC, which are patrolled with a stipulated frequency by the security forces.They serve as a guide to the location of the LAC for the soldiers, acting as indicators of the extent of ‘actual control’... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A The delivery of the S-400 Triumf air defence systems from Russia is expected according to schedule. In response, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman hoped that both the U.S. and India could resolve the issue.The “issue” here is that receiving the missile systems could attract for India sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), enacted by the U.S. Congress. U.S. thinks it’s “dangerous” for “any country that decides to use the S-400”. India is scheduled to receive five squadrons of the surface-to-air missile systems under the $5.43 billion (₹40,000 cro... Read More...
Q What is the context ?A With elections around the corner in many States, political parties are competing with one another in promising free power.Q What are Problems with free electricity ?A Supported by state subsidy, electricity tariff to agriculture is low in most States – often less than ₹1/unit and is free in some States such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.There is inefficient use of electricity and water, neglect of service quality by the distribution companies leading to frequent outages and motor burn outs, and high sub... Read More...
Q What is the context?A The UK is set to host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (CoP26) in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12 with a view to accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement’s goals. The focus should be on climate finance and transfer of green technologies at low cost.Q What is Cause of concern for India ?A According to the Global Carbon Atlas, India ranks third in total greenhouse gas emissions by emitting annually around 2.6 billion tonnes (Bt) CO2eq, preceded by China (10 Bt CO2eq) and the United States (5.4 Bt CO2eq), and followed by Russ... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A The researchers from the Geological Survey of India collected about 30 meteorite fragments with the largest weighing around a kilogram near the town of Katol in Nagpur in 2012.Q What is Significance of meteor study ?A Now, by studying the composition of these meteorite fragments, researchers have unraveled the composition expected to be present in the Earth’s lower mantle which is at about 660 km deep.Studying the meteorite could also tell us more about how our Earth evolved from being a magma ocean to a rocky planet.Q What ... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A Punjab has now proposed to use the paddy crop residue as fodder for animals, especially cattle.Q Why such a move?A In Punjab, the total availability of paddy straw is about 20 million tones per annum.The total value of this straw is Rs 400 crore approx., calculated on an average rate of Rs 200/quintal. Almost all of it is burnt in fields.This accounts for economic loss apart from the loss of 77,000 tonnes of nitrogen and 5.6 million tonnes of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) which could be used for ruminant production.Also nearly 30.4 ... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A A global deal to ensure big companies pay a minimum tax rate of 15% and make it harder for them to avoid taxation has been agreed by 136 countries.The OECD said four countries Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka had not yet joined the agreement.However, the countries behind the accord together accounted for over 90% of the global economy. Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A Recently, the Goa government’s Feni Policy 2021 has paved the way to take the GI (Geographical Indication) Certified Goan Cashew Feni forward at par with other international Liquors such as Mexico’s tequila, Japanese Sake and Russia’s Vodka.The Goa government in 2016 classified Feni as the Heritage Spirit of Goa.Q What is specific about Cashew Feni ?A It is the first liquor product in the country to obtain ‘Heritage Drink’ status and got its GI certification in 2000. Only the cashew feni has bee... Read More...
Q What is the context ?A The US is discussing launching a formal review into whether Tether and other stablecoins threaten financial stability.The first stablecoin, created in 2014, was Tether.Q What is a Stablecoin ?AA stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that is typically pegged to an existing government-backed currency.A cryptocurrency is a form of digital asset based on a network that is distributed across a large number of computers.Stablecoins hold a bundle of assets in reserve, usually short-term... Read More...
Today's Current Affairs Question:Write on the importance of Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A A new study’s “treasure map” suggests that a planet several times more massive than Earth could be hiding in our solar system, camouflaged by the bright strip of stars that make up the Milky Way. Read More...
Q What is the context ?A India has seen a rapid deployment of Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) in recent years, both by the Centre and State governments, without putting in place any law to regulate their use.There is a growing unabated use of this potentially invasive technology without any safeguards.This poses a huge threat to the fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of speech and expression of the citizens.Q What is Facial Recognition System ?A A FRS is a technology capable of matching a human face from a digital image or a video frame against... Read More...
Today's Current Affairs Question:How can we fight online hate? Answer with multiple examples Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has asserted the need for the “Indianisation of our legal system”, pointing out that the colonial system being followed currently may not be best suited to the complexities of India.Q What are Prospects of Indianization suggested by CJI?A CJI meant that the need to adapt to the practical realities of our society and localize our justice delivery systems.For example, parties from a rural place fighting a family dispute are usually made to feel out of place in the court.They do not understand the arguments or ... Read More...
Q What is the context ?A Recently, the union government has introduced Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021 which has reduced the fee for patent filing and prosecution for educational institutions by 80%.It is aimed at promoting innovation and development of new technologies.Q What can be called as a Patent ?A A patent is a form of preservation of intellectual property. It is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers... Read More...