GS3 – Science & Technology Context: The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak in the early hours of April 22, with Indian observers potentially witnessing up to 20 meteors per hour between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM under clear, dark skies — no telescopes required. About the …

GS3 – Environment Context: A recent study, as reported in The Hindu, has introduced an environmentally friendly, water-based recycling method for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), offering a sustainable alternative to conventional toxic processes. Understanding Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs): Structure: Thin-film solar cells comprising a perovskite crystal layer sandwiched between conductive …

GS3 – Science & Technology Context: Russia has officially recognized Ukraine’s indigenously developed Sapsan ballistic missile—also known as Grom-2—as a credible threat, highlighting its growing strategic significance. Key Specifications and Features Alternate Name: Grom-2 (Domestic), Hrim-2 (Export version developed with Saudi support). Range Compliance: Its export version has a range …

GS3 – Environment Context: The United Nations’ Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment highlights a concerning spike in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, calling for immediate global action to mitigate this potent greenhouse gas. Nitrogen: Its Ecological and Biological Relevance Atmospheric Abundance: Nitrogen forms nearly 78% of Earth’s atmosphere, playing a crucial role …

GS2 – International Relations Context: India has withdrawn the transhipment privilege it had extended to Bangladesh in 2020, which enabled the latter to send export consignments to third countries via the Petrapole Land Port. This move follows recent remarks by a Bangladeshi official suggesting that Northeast India’s landlocked geography makes …

GS3 – Internal Security Context: A recent terrorist assault occurred in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed militant group, has claimed responsibility. TRF emerged in 2019 as a front for the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is proscribed under India’s Unlawful …

GS3 – Environment Context: The 2024 European State of the Climate Report, jointly released by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization, warns that Europe is heating nearly twice as fast as the global average, with notable regional differences. Key Findings from the Report Record-Breaking Temperatures: …

GS2 – Governance Context: In a landmark antitrust ruling in 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) found Google guilty of illegally monopolizing the digital advertising technology (AdTech) ecosystem. Understanding the AdTech Ecosystem AdTech refers to the infrastructure that facilitates digital advertising across websites, mobile applications, and social networks. Its …