UN Peacekeeping: The United Nations Peacekeeping (UNPKO) is a crucial instrument deployed by the UN to assist countries ravaged by conflict in transitioning towards lasting peace. Established in 1948, UN Peacekeeping has evolved significantly, with over 70 missions undertaken and over two million personnel deployed Role of Peacekeeping Operations Peacekeeping …
Read More »Monthly Archives: May 2024
Hunar se Rozgar Scheme, The Skilling Potential of Tourism
Relevance : Hunar se Rozgar Scheme, India Skills Report 2024 And Skill Development In India, and Higher Education & The Skill Requirements In The Job. Since 2006, the Ministry of Tourism is implementing a relatively less-known scheme called ‘Hunar se Rozgar’ meaning skill to employment, primarily aimed at catching the …
Read More »Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Surplus Transfer: A Boon or Bane?
Reserve Bank of India Surplus Transfer: A Boon or Bane? GS3 :Reserve Bank Of India (RBI), Income and Expenditure of Central Bank, RBI Surplus Transfer To Government, Sources and Uses of RBI Surplus, Significance of RBI’s Surplus Transfer The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent announcement of a record-breaking ₹2.11 …
Read More »To preserve forests, it’s important to listen to tribal communities
GS3: Biodiversity Conservation, Engaging Tribal communities in Forest Management, The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, National Forest Academy, Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Recently, the President of India gave a congratulatory message to the 2022 batch of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) trainee …
Read More »The First International AI Treaty – challenges and regulation
The First International AI Treaty In a significant development, the Council of Europe (CoE) adopted the first-ever international treaty specifically addressing Artificial Intelligence (AI). This groundbreaking convention, crafted collaboratively over two years, establishes a legal framework for AI that intersects with human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law. …
Read More »Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs) in India
Introduction Define Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs): Infections acquired by patients while receiving medical care in a hospital or other healthcare setting. Highlight the global concern: HCAIs pose a significant public health threat worldwide, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Emphasize the Indian context: The situation in India is particularly …
Read More »Judicial Appointments: Political Neutrality in Global Perspective
GS Paper 2 : Mains: Issues with Collegium system, Global Examples of appointing Judges Recently, a retiring Calcutta High Court judge revealed that he has always been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Timeline for changes in Political Ideology in Judicial Appointments in India Historical Context Pre-1970s: Political …
Read More »Rangeland Degradation: Impacts, Causes, and Responses in India
Introduction Rangelands, vast swathes of grasslands, shrublands, and savannahs, are crucial ecosystems supporting livestock grazing, biodiversity, and ecological balance. However, rangeland degradation is a growing concern globally, with significant implications for India. Rangeland Degradation: Causes Overgrazing: Excessive livestock numbers exceeding the carrying capacity of the land lead to depletion of …
Read More »Revival of X chromosome in older women and Autoimmune disease
X chromosome revival in older women increases risk of autoimmune disease GS Paper III: Questions related to biotechnology or genetic engineering might benefit from knowing about chromosomes. These fields use techniques like Karyotyping (Chromosomal Analysis). If a question asks about advancements in Genetics or the Human Genome Project, a basic …
Read More »Antarctic Parliament meets in Kochi
GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Social Justice and International Relations): India’s foreign policy: India’s role in the Antarctic Treaty System and its strategic interests in the region. International relations and security: Challenges of environmental protection in Antarctica and the role of international cooperation. GS Paper III (Science and Technology): India’s …
Read More »China’s High Energy Photon Source (HEPS)
Introduction China’s High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) marks a significant leap forward in scientific research capabilities. This next-generation synchrotron light source promises to unlock new avenues of discovery across various fields. To understand HEPS, let’s delve deeper into the world of synchrotron light and its applications. What is Synchrotron Light? …
Read More »50 years of Pokhran-I: Why India conducted its first nuclear tests
GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Social Justice and International Relations): Security issues and challenges: India’s nuclear doctrine (No First Use) and its role in strategic stability. India’s relations with its neighbors: Impact of Pokhran tests on India’s relations with Pakistan and other major powers. GS Paper III (Science and Technology): …
Read More »Deregistration of Political Parties in India
Can parties be de-recognised or de-registered? GS Paper -2 Electoral Process: The deregistration of political parties is a mechanism within the electoral system that governs how parties register, function, and potentially lose their official recognition. Understanding this process is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Indian elections. Role of Election …
Read More »Indian Literary in UNESCO – Treasures in Memory of the World
Introduction Three Indian literary works, Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahdayaloka-Locana, were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register during the tenth meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), held earlier this week in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.The inclusion of Indian literary in UNESCO …
Read More »FLiRT variant of Covid virus – KP.2
GS Paper III (Science and Technology): Focus on Developments in Biotechnology: FLiRT variant of Covid : Briefly mention the FLiRT variant as an example of a recent mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. You can explain its key characteristics, such as increased transmissibility and immune evasion. GS Paper II (International Relations): …
Read More »Solar Storms: Sun’s Fury Affecting Earth
Solar storms are disturbances on the Sun that can hurl charged particles and intense radiation towards Earth. Types of Solar Storms: Solar Flares: Intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation released from the Sun’s surface. They can disrupt radio communications and power grids. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive clouds of charged particles …
Read More »NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Introduction A joint mission between NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) to co-develop and launch a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on an Earth observation satellite. First radar imaging satellite to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes of our …
Read More »Asymmetric Federalism in India: Balancing Diversity and Unity
Introduction “Asymmetric federalism in India” emphasizes unequal power-sharing arrangements within a federation, has become a prominent topic in Indian politics. Understanding Asymmetric Federalism Definition: Asymmetric federalism describes a federal system where the central government and constituent units (states/UTs) possess unequal powers and relationships across political, administrative, and fiscal domains. Dimensions …
Read More »Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) – A project by Indian Government
Introduction: The Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model introduced by the Government of India in 2016. It aims to address the funding challenges in infrastructure development, particularly in the road sector. HAM combines elements of two existing models: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC): Under EPC, the …
Read More »Vibrant Villages Programme
Scheme Overview: Launched: Union Budget 2022-23 (ongoing till 2025-26) Target: Border villages along the northern borders of India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh) Focus: Comprehensive development of these villages to improve living standards and curb outmigration. Funding: Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a budget of ₹4,800 crores. Key Objectives: …
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