Magnus Carlsen came good when it mattered and stopped R. Praggnanandhaa 2.5-1.5 for his maiden World Cup title in Baku, in Azerbaijan. After the two classical games ended in draws, Carlsen won the first rapid game – Facing a must-win situation in the second game with black pieces, Praggnanandhaa, at …

Other lunar missions this year Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) and Lunar Trailblazer from the U.S.. China’s lunar communication and navigation satellite constellation Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) Other lunar missions next year Beresheet 2 from Israel S.’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) China’s Lunar Exploration Programme …

AR4 Tech, a start-up in Coimbatore, has partnered Sodion Energy of Singapore to make sodium ion battery packs for domestic and export markets. The sodium-ion batteries, developed by Sodion, will be made into battery packs here. AR4 Tech will use the packs to convert existing petroleum vehicles (mainly two-wheelers) into …

Environmental conservation Context: Japan began releasing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. A big step in decommissioning the still highly dangerous site 12 years after one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents. Japan has repeatedly insisted the wastewater is treated and will be harmless backed by …

Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. The story so far: Murmansk, popularly called the capital of the Arctic region and the beginning point of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), is witnessing the rising trend of Indian involvement in cargo traffic. In …

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Context By doubling its number of members from five to 11 in one quick sweep, the BRICS grouping has strengthened its position as a global grouping. New Family The choice of countries, bringing in four major players …

Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Context Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the CBI would investigate cases connected to the violence, the agency has registered 27 cases so far. They include several alleged incidents of sexual assault on women victims. CBI CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is …

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Story so far The Union government introduced a Bill in the Rajya Sabha that proposed that the selection panel for appointing the Election Commission, comprising the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs), will consist …

Security challenges and their management in border areas Context India and China have agreed to step up efforts for the disengagement of troops and de-escalation of tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) Respect the LAC In a conversation with President of China, PM highlighted India’s concerns on the …

Name of twilight when the sun is 12º below the horizon Ans: Nautical Thing that appears at astronomical dusk and disappears at astronomical dawn Ans: Faintest star visible to the naked eye Asura who could only be slain at twilight Ans: Hiranyakashipu Pink border visible above the earth’s shadow at …

Syllabus: Space technology With Vikram, the lander module of Chandrayaan-3, successfully landing on the surface of the moon on Wednesday, the focus has now moved to the rover in its belly, Pragyan. The rover will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface on the move. The Pragyan rover …

Syllabus: Space exploration Aditya L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the sun –  charted for first week of September. INSAT-3DS, an earth / climate observation satellite a test vehicle as part of the human space flight programme NISAR, an India – U.S. synthetic aperture radar – a low-earth …

Syllabus: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Context Chennai Air Customs officials seized 14 ball pythons, 30 blue iguanas, four fiery squirrels at the airport on Monday. A passenger who arrived from Bangkok carried them. Officials seized the animals under the Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Acts. The …

Syllabus: Defence Technology Context An Astra indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile was successfully test-fired from the light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, off the coast of Goa. ASTRA The ASTRA (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) is an indigenously developed beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. …

Syllabus: Security and Disaster Management Context A railway bridge under construction over the Kurung river in Mizoram collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least 18 workers. Pillars intact According to the Railway Ministry, the girder was designed by the Paris-headquartered STUP Consultants and proof-checked by experts from the Indian Institute of …

Syllabus: Welfare schemes Context Around 53% of all of the salaried workforce does not have any social security benefits in India, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2021-22 no access to a provident fund, pension, and health care and disability insurance. Meanwhile, gig workers, or approximately 1.3% …

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Context The concept of ‘One Health’ is currently gaining popularity worldwide; India has of late …

Syllabus: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Why in NEWS The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the Centre’s assurance that it does not intend to “touch” the …

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Context At the plenary session of the 15th BRICS summit in the historic South African city, PM urged member States to take advantage of India’s digital solutions and to work for the welfare of the Global …

1.The founder of Madras. Ans: Francis Day The other statue, apart from the ‘Triumph of Labour’, in Madras that is reminiscent of the photograph of the American Marines in Iwo Jima, is located here. Ans: Inside the DGP HQ opposite the Gandhi Statue on the Marina. Gandhiji established this in …