Context: India’s coal consumption has surpassed that of North America and Europe, highlighting the significant environmental impacts associated with its usage. Coal Mining: Habitat Destruction and Contamination: Coal mining devastates natural habitats and pollutes the environment, affecting humans, animals, and plants. It leaves permanent scars on the landscape. Mine Wastes: …

The eSakhsya App is a mobile-based application designed to assist police in recording crime scenes, conducting searches and seizures, and uploading evidence to a cloud-based platform. About eSakhsya (eEvidence) App: Developer: National Informatics Centre (NIC) Purpose: Record the scene of the crime. Facilitate search and seizure in criminal cases. Upload …

India recently hosted the 64th Council Meeting of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO). Overview of the International Sugar Organisation: The ISO is an intergovernmental body headquartered in London, established under the International Sugar Agreement of 1968, dedicated to improving the global sugar market. It has around 88 member nations, including …

India and Kenya are set to enhance their bilateral collaboration in space, focusing on expanding Africa’s space capabilities to address climate change and food security challenges. A Brief History of India-Kenya Relations: Historically, India and the Swahili Coast (including modern-day Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Mozambique) were connected by a …

The PESA Act 1996 was enacted to empower Scheduled Tribes by recognizing them as key political stakeholders. Historical Background: Tribal communities in India have faced marginalization and exclusion from mainstream political and economic systems. They have encountered challenges such as displacement, loss of land and resources, and cultural erosion. The …

The Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) stated that individuals found assisting militants in J&K should be prosecuted under the Enemy Agents Ordinance, 2005. Historical Background The ordinance was initially issued by the Dogra Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir in 1917. It is referred to as …

Fatalities in the Kallakurichi (TN) liquor tragedy are linked to methanol poisoning. Ethanol and Methanol in Illicit Liquor Ethanol Ethanol, commonly referred to as alcohol, is naturally produced through the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or through petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. In India, ethanol is primarily obtained from …

To address peak power demand, the Indian government has allowed trading of surplus electricity generated from “linkage coal” in the country’s power markets. What is Coal Linkage? Coal linkages are agreements that guarantee a continuous supply of coal from mines to consumers such as power plants, steel, and cement industries. …

Event: To commemorate the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation, an exhibition featuring 115 oil paintings was organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). Guidance: The paintings were created under the guidance of Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare. …

Kerala Assembly Resolution: The Kerala Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to rename the state as “Keralam’’ in the Constitution. Constitutional Provision: Article 3: Empowers the Centre to change the name of existing states. This requires an amendment to the name of the state listed under Article …

The ongoing severe heatwave across the country has reignited discussions about officially recognizing heatwaves as disasters under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. How India Manages Disasters Constitutional Context There is no mention of disasters in the Constitution of India. Legislative Framework Disaster Management Act (DMA) 2005: Enacted following the 1999 …

Relevancy for Mains: Need for an Internal Security Plan, Importance of having a National Security Doctrine (NSD) for India, etc. India enjoys a position of international prestige unseen since independence, and the economy thrives. Notably, China has acknowledged India’s resolve to resist undue pressure. However, to capitalize on this momentum, …

Australian researchers have uncovered the origin of pink garnet sand found on South Australian beaches, tracing it back to ancient mountains in Antarctica. Their findings have shed light on the timing of the Australian tectonic plate’s subduction beneath the Pacific plate and unveiled previously unknown ancient mountains in Antarctica. Pink …