UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Kattaikkūttu from Tamil Nadu

Dec 04, 2024

Kattaikkūttu from Tamil Nadu What is Kattaikkūttu? Kattaikkūttu, also known as Terukkuttu, is a vibrant, ancient folk theater tradition from Tamil Nadu in South India. It's known for its energetic performances, colorful costumes, and elaborate makeup. Performances often take place outdoors, in village squares or temple grounds, and can last all night. What are the key characteristics of Kattaikkūttu? Heroic characters (kattai): The plays primarily focus on heroic male characters, often drawn from Hindu epics... Read More...

Personality Rights: Protecting Identity and Image-The Case of Dr.Devi Shetty

Dec 04, 2024

Personality Rights: Protecting Identity and Image-The Case of Dr.Devi Shetty Personality rights refer to the right of an individual to control the commercial use of their name, image, likeness, voice, and other personal attributes. These rights safeguard an individual's identity and prevent unauthorized exploitation of their persona for commercial gain. Key Aspects of Personality Rights: Right to Publicity: This allows individuals to control the commercial use of their identity for advertising, endorsements, ... Read More...

Euthanasia:A Right to Die Comparing Assisted Dying Laws in the UK and India

Dec 03, 2024

Euthanasia:A Right to Die Comparing Assisted Dying Laws in the UK and India Context: The UK House of Commons recently passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, reigniting the debate on assisted dying. This bill, if enacted, would mark a significant shift in the UK's approach to end-of-life care. This analysis examines the provisions of the bill, compares it with India's legal framework on euthanasia, and explores the arguments for and against assisted dying. The UK's Assisted Dying Bill: &... Read More...

India's Eroding Coastline: A Looming Crisis

Dec 03, 2024

India's Eroding Coastline: A Looming Crisis Context: A recent Lok Sabha session revealed alarming data from the Union Environment Ministry: a staggering 33.6% of India's coastline is under threat from erosion. This issue, highlighted by a question about Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district, has far-reaching implications for coastal communities, ecosystems, and the nation's economy. The Erosion Problem: National Scale: While Karnataka's situation is conce... Read More...

PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS: INDIA VS. THE UNITED STATES

Dec 03, 2024

PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS: INDIA VS. THE UNITED STATES 1. How does the pardon power of the Indian President differ from the U.S. President? • United States: The U.S. President has the sole authority to grant pardons for federal crimes without requiring approval or consultation. This power is exercised independently, even for personal or political reasons, as seen historically. • India: The Indian President’s pardon power is outlined under Article 72 of the Constitution and applies to offenses: • Against union laws. • Committed und... Read More...

PRESIDENTIAL PARDON IN THE UNITED STATES

Dec 03, 2024

PRESIDENTIAL PARDON IN THE UNITED STATES 1. What is a presidential pardon? A presidential pardon is an authority granted by the U.S. Constitution allowing the president to grant clemency for federal crimes. It is outlined in Article II, Section 2, and excludes cases of impeachment. The president can use this power without consulting others, which is rare globally. 2. How has the presidential pardon evolved in the U.S.? The tradition of pardoning dates back to George Washington, who pardoned participants in the Whiskey Rebellion. Since then, it has been used in various ways, from granting ma... Read More...

SATELLITES AND SPACE JUNK:INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO MANAGE SPACE TRAFFIC

Dec 03, 2024

SATELLITES AND SPACE JUNK:INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO MANAGE SPACE TRAFFIC 1. Why is space traffic becoming a concern? The rapid increase in satellites and space debris is creating congestion in low Earth orbit (LEO), making it difficult to manage space operations. With over 14,000 active satellites and 120 million pieces of debris from past launches, the risk of collisions and disruption to vital global services has escalated. 2. What is being done to address this issue? A United Nations panel has called for urgent action, emphasizing the need for a shared database of orbital obje... Read More...

PRAGATI INFRASTRUCTURE: AN OVERVIEW AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Dec 03, 2024

PRAGATI INFRASTRUCTURE: AN OVERVIEW AND ACHIEVEMENTS FAQs 1. What is PRAGATI? PRAGATI stands for “Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.” It is an online platform launched by the Indian government in 2015 to facilitate efficient monitoring of infrastructure projects and their timely completion. 2. What are the objectives of the PRAGATI system? • To resolve bottlenecks in infrastructure development. • To integrate efforts of Central and State governments on a single platform. • To ensure accountability, transp... Read More...

HOUSING PRICE INDEX (HPI) BY RBI

Dec 03, 2024

HOUSING PRICE INDEX (HPI) BY RBI The Housing Price Index (HPI) is an important economic indicator published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to track changes in residential property prices across major cities in India. It provides insights into real estate trends, economic stability, and affordability in the housing sector. FAQs 1. What is the Housing Price Index (HPI)? The Housing Price Index is a measure of the movement in residential property prices over time. It is compiled by the RBI using transaction-level data provided by banks and financial institutions across selected cit... Read More...

LAND DEGRADATION:REASONS , IMPACT AND REMEDIES

Dec 03, 2024

LAND DEGRADATION:REASONS , IMPACT AND REMEDIES FAQs 1. What is land degradation, and why is it a global concern? Land degradation refers to the decline in the biological and economic productivity of land due to unsustainable practices like deforestation, overgrazing, and excessive use of chemicals. According to the UNCCD, it impacts ecosystems by reducing biodiversity, limiting carbon absorption capacity, and making land vulnerable to desertification. This leads to reduced agricultural output, water scarcity, and worsens global climate change, posing significant challenges to humanity’... Read More...

VPNs-VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS- COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PLATFORMS

Dec 03, 2024

VPNs-VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS- COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY PLATFORMS FAQs 1. What is a VPN, and how has its role evolved over time? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) initially served as a tool for secure web browsing by masking IP addresses and encrypting data. Today, VPNs have evolved into comprehensive digital protection platforms, offering features like secure cloud storage, password management, malware blocking, and data breach monitoring. 2. Why are VPNs gaining popularity? VPN adoption is rising due to increased internet speeds, zero-log policies, robust encry... Read More...

The Plastic Divide: A Global Treaty Fails to Bridge the Gap

Dec 03, 2024

The Plastic Divide: A Global Treaty Fails to Bridge the Gap What Happened? Global Plastic Treaty Stalled: A major international meeting in Busan, South Korea, aimed at creating a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution ended without an agreement. India's Stance: India opposed regulations on the production of primary plastic polymers (the raw materials for making plastics) and timelines for phasing out certain plastics. Reasons for Failure: Deep divisions emerged betwe... Read More...

Indus, Harappan, or Sindhu-Sarasvati Naming an Ancient Civilization

Dec 03, 2024

Indus, Harappan, or Sindhu-Sarasvati Naming an Ancient Civilization The discovery of the ruins of Harappa in the 1920s unveiled one of the world's oldest civilizations, contemporary to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Yet, even a century later, a definitive name for this civilization remains elusive, sparking debates that intertwine archaeology, history, and ideology. The Basics: Geographical Extent: This Bronze Age civilization flourished in the northwestern regions of South Asia, encompassing parts of modern-day India, Pakistan, and A... Read More...

LOVELACE TEST & TURING TEST

Dec 03, 2024

LOVELACE TEST & TURING TEST The Lovelace Test, proposed in 2001 by Selmer Bringsjord and colleagues, evaluates artificial intelligence (AI) differently from the Turing Test. Named after Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, this test assesses an AI’s creativity rather than its ability to mimic human conversation. Key Criteria for the Lovelace Test An AI passes the Lovelace Test if: 1. It produces an original and creative output, such as writing, art, or music. 2. The process leading to this output cannot be fully explained by the AI’s creator (e.g., they cannot ... Read More...

BANGLADESH UPHEAVAL & INDIA’S BORDER SECURITY

Dec 03, 2024

BANGLADESH UPHEAVAL & INDIA’S BORDER SECURITY The political turmoil in Bangladesh following changes in its leadership has raised concerns about its impact on India’s border security. However, Union government data reveals no significant spike in undocumented migration across the India-Bangladesh border despite heightened vigilance. Between August 5 and November 27, 2024, only 1,393 undocumented individuals were intercepted, a figure consistent with previous years. FAQs 1. What is the impact of the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh on India’s border security? Read More...