Q. Why is this in News? A. As AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT continue to gain popularity for their versatility and automation capabilities, concerns are being raised regarding their environmental impact. A recent study has shed light on the water footprint of Artificial Intelligence(AI) models, highlighting the significant amounts of water required to maintain data centers and train these models. Q. What is the Water Footprint of AI? A. The water footprint of AI is the&... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A Delhi Police has established identity of a victim of brutal murder and mutilation by DNA fingerprinting. Q What is DNA fingerprinting? A DNA fingerprinting was first developed in 1984 by Alec Jeffreys in the UK, after Jeffreys discovered that no two people could have the same DNA sequence. Within three years of the discovery, the UK achieved the world’s first conviction based on DNA evidence in a case of rape and murder. Q How is DNA fingerprin... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme/ Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS) had organized a meeting of Range Countries to strengthen conservation efforts for migratory birds and their habitats in the Central Asian Flyway (CAF). The meeting was attended by 11 countries, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait. The delegates agreed on an institutional framework for the CAF and a draft roadmap for updating the CMS CAF Action Plan. Read More...
Q What is Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA) ? A The UAPA is aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India It is an upgrade on the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act TADA, which was allowed to lapse in 1995 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was repealed in 2004. It was originally passed in 1967 under the then Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Till 2004, &... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prepared the ‘Model Prisons Act 2023’ that will replace a British-era law, (the Prisons Act of 1894), to overhaul the prison administration that will focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Q. What is the Model Prisons Act 2023? A. Need: There are “several lacunae” in the old pre-Independence act, Prisons Act of 1894 ... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The importance of care work is now widely acknowledged and covered in various international commitments such as the SDGs. However, the investment in the care economy has not matched the pace. Q What is the significance of care work ? A Care work encompasses direct activities such as feeding a baby or nursing an ill partner, and indirect care activities such as cooking and cleaning’. Whether paid or unpaid, direct or indirect, care work is vital for human well-being and economies... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, China and Pakistan have held the 4th round of the Foreign Minister-level Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue Islamabad, Pakistan, where they agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan. Alongside, the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was also held where they agreed to combat terrorism and enhance cooperation in different economic fields. In 2021, China proposed construction of the Peshawar-Kabul ... Read More...
Q What is Collegium System? A The Collegium of judges is the Indian Supreme Court’s invention. It does not figure in the Constitution, which says judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President and speaks of a process of consultation. In effect, it is a system under which judges are appointed by an institution comprising judges. After some judges were superseded in the appointment of the CJI in the 1970s, and attempts made subsequently to effect a mass transfer of High Court judges across the country. Hence there was a perception that the indepen... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news? A. Recently, the Allahabad High Court allowed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct Carbon Dating of a 'Shivling' inside the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The petitioners have claimed the object inside the Gyanvapi mosque to be a "Shivling". The claim was disputed by the Muslim side, which said the object was part of a "fountain". It set aside an order of the Varanasi District Court that rejected a plea for scientific inves... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The Supreme Court has examined plea to simplify the legal process for the adoption of children in the country. The Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance (CARING) System ought to appoint trained “adoption preparers” who could help the prospective parents to complete the cumbersome paperwork required for adoption. Q What is Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)? A CARA is an autonomous and statutory body of Ministry of Women and Child Dev... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Draft Pandemic treaty also known as “Zero Draft”, is currently under negotiation by Member States at the World Health Assembly. However, there is growing concern that the provisions addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are at risk of being removed from the final text. Civil society and research organizations provided analysis and recommendations on addressing AMR. A special edition of the Journal of Medicine, Law and Ethics Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A India tops the list of Global Slavery Index, 2023 with 11 million people working as forced laborers. Q What are some details about Global Slavery Index, 2023 ? A Publisher Walk Free Foundation Purpose Assess modern slavery conditions worldwide Data Sources International Labour Organization (ILO), Interna... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A India lost more than 95% of its vulture population through the 1990s and by the mid-2000s. Today, the country requires urgent conservation efforts to save vultures from becoming extinct. Q What are some details about vultures ? A Vultures belong to the Accipitridae family whose members include eagles, hawks and kites. They are relatively social birds with an average lifespan of 10-30 years in the wild. Vultures are slow breeders and so the survival of every individual is ve... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A In the realm of technological advancements, certain breakthroughs possess the power to revolutionize entire industries. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for software, quantum computing for computers, and graphene for materials are such game-changers. While India has made commendable progress in AI and shows promise in quantum computing, it is crucial for the country to catch up in the domain of graphene. Q What is Graphene? A Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern. It is a two-dimensional ... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The European Union’s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has raised concerns in India due to its potential impact on the country’s carbon-intensive exports to the EU. While India has criticized CBAM as protectionist and discriminatory, the debate highlights the delicate relationship between trade and environmental considerations. Q What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) ? A CBAM is a key climate law introduced by the European Union (EU). It is designed to address the issue... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A Announcement of dam and reservoir: The Deputy CM of Karnataka announced plans for the construction of a dam and reservoir called Mekedatu near the state’s border with Tamil Nadu. Objections raised by Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu expressed strong objections to the project, arguing that it goes against the rulings of both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court. Warning of protests: Political parties in Tamil Nadu have warned of potential protests and opposition if the construction of t... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The recent events in Pakistan which saw violent protests and attacks on military installations in Pakistan, are expected to have far-reaching consequences for the country. The repercussions of these developments raise questions about the implications for India’s national security, given the limited influence India has over the situation in Pakistan. Q What are the Factors attributed to the Pakistan’s Internal Unrest ? A Political Turmoil: Pakistan has witnessed... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A Central Idea The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released revised guidelines allowing higher education institutions to apply for deemed university status. The new guidelines aim to establish more quality-focused deemed universities by simplifying the eligibility criteria. Light but tight regulatory framework: The guidelines are based on the principle of a “light but tight” regulatory framework envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020. About University Grants Commission (UGC) UGC is ... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The ongoing debate regarding India’s preferred path for economic growth, whether it should prioritize manufacturing or services, has resurfaced in public discussions. While India’s software exports previously flourished, questioning why the services sector couldn’t spearhead the nation’s progress. In light of the disappointing manufacturing growth post the 1991 economic reforms, it becomes evident that a structural obstacle inhibits the sector’s progress Q Why is there unfulfilled Promises of Manufacturing Reforms ? Read More...
Q What is DNA fingerprinting? A DNA fingerprinting was first developed in 1984 by Alec Jeffreys in the UK, after Jeffreys discovered that no two people could have the same DNA sequence. Within three years of the discovery, the UK achieved the world’s first conviction based on DNA evidence in a case of rape and murder. Q How is DNA fingerprinting done? A Each person’s DNA, except for identical twins, is unique. By analyzing selected DNA sequences (called loci), a crime laboratory can deve... Read More...