Context (TH|DDN): The Prime Minister has introduced the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card as part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Coverage: Provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family specifically targeting elderly individuals aged 70 years and above. If multiple elderly members are …
Read More »Awareness
Reduced Spending by Middle-Income Households in India
Context (IE | ET): Leaders in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector have raised concerns over declining consumer demand among urban middle-income households. Reasons for Reduced Spending High Food Inflation & Essential Service Costs: Rising costs in areas like food, healthcare, and education have reduced disposable income, cutting into discretionary …
Read More »Child Marriage in India
Context: Recent Supreme Court rulings have brought attention to the high prevalence of child marriage in India, despite the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) nearly two decades ago. India remains home to one-third of the world’s child brides. Historical Background of Child Marriage Laws in India …
Read More »Marburg Virus
Context (IE): Recent outbreak of the Marburg virus has been reported in Rwanda. Overview of Marburg Virus Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare but highly dangerous disease, impacting both humans and nonhuman primates. The virus responsible for the disease is the Marburg virus, which belongs to the family of RNA …
Read More »Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005
Context The Satark Nagrik Sangathan’s 2023-24 report has brought attention to issues with the RTI Act, highlighting the pressing need for reforms. Overview of the RTI Act 2005 The RTI Act, enacted in 2005, grants citizens the right to request information from public authorities, promoting transparency, accountability, and participatory governance …
Read More »Prakrit and Pali Languages
Context: Prakrit and Pali have been recognized as Classical languages due to their historical and cultural significance. Prakrits: The Language of the People The term ‘Prakrit’ is derived from ‘Prakriti’, which means ‘source’ or ‘origin’. Most scholars believe that Prakrit languages evolved from Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas and …
Read More »Elephant Census
Context: Recent data from an unreleased elephant census, which incorporated new counting techniques, has revealed a decline in elephant populations across several regions of India, particularly in southern West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Kerala. Previous Counting Methods Total Direct Count Up until 2002, India used the “total direct count” method, …
Read More »Impact of the DPDP Act on the RTI Act
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, has raised concerns about its potential to weaken the Right to Information (RTI) Act, particularly regarding the balance between privacy and transparency. Key Concerns: Amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of RTI: The amendment limits the disclosure of personal information of public officials, even …
Read More »Train Accidents in India
Context: Recently, the Sabarmati Express derailed near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after its engine collided with an object on the tracks. Over the last five fiscal years ending in FY23, India has experienced an average of 44 significant train accidents annually. These consequential accidents include incidents that result in injuries, fatalities, …
Read More »Industrial Accidents
An explosion at a chemical reactor in Dombivli, Maharashtra, caused multiple fatalities and injuries. Frequent Industrial Accidents in Maharashtra: Reports indicate that industrial accidents have been alarmingly frequent in the years 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023. Causes: Lack of Implementation of Relocation Plans: The Maharashtra government has failed to relocate …
Read More »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 »World Press Freedom Index and India’s Performance
About the Index: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) annually publishes the World Press Freedom Index. It ranks 180 countries and territories based on the level of press freedom enjoyed by journalists and media outlets. The ranking is based on five key factors: Pluralism Media Independence Economic Environment Legal Environment Safety and …
Read More »Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)
Introduction: The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974 marks a significant milestone in global public health. It aimed to ensure universal access to life-saving vaccines for children, initially focusing on six childhood diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, and tuberculosis. EPI: A …
Read More »Acid rain and Fossil Fuels
Our dependence on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas comes at a hidden cost. When burned for electricity generation, industrial processes, or transportation, these fuels release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. The primary polutars behind acid rain are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Imagine a power …
Read More »Green rush: RE funding surges past 83%
According to estimates from the Power Ministry, India will see an increase in investments in renewable energy (RE) projects of more than 83%, reaching approximately $16.5 billion in 2024, as the nation concentrates on energy transition to lower carbon emissions. this is consistent with India’s desirable goal of generating …
Read More »Rapid spread of the JN.1 variant
Understanding COVID Coronaviruses: A large family of viruses that typically cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like MERS and SARS. SARS-CoV-2: The specific virus responsible for COVID-19. It’s a single-stranded RNA virus with characteristic spike proteins that give it a crown-like appearance under a microscope. Origin and spread …
Read More »COP28: The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference
What is COP The way the world organises its collective response to the global challenge of climate change is through Conferences of the Parties (COPs). At the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, world leaders came together to establish the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In order …
Read More »Green Credit Program-UPSC
The innovative market-based Green Credit Program (GCP), announced on October 13, 2023, is intended to encourage voluntary environmental actions by a range of stakeholders, including individuals, communities, businesses, and private sector industries, across diverse sectors. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) acts as the GCP Administrator, in …
Read More »The Silkyara Tunnel Collapse Occurred on November 12
The Silkyara tunnel collapse occurred on November 12, 2023, when a portion of the under-construction Silkyara Bend – Barkot tunnel collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. Incident On November 12, 2023, a portion of the under-construction Silkyara Bend – Barkot tunnel collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. The collapse …
Read More »Freebies during election
The word freebie is an informal word used to refer to things given out for free or without payment by any organization, company or a state to gain the receiver’s support or favour. Constitutional Standpoint The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) envisions a welfare state which makes basic amenities …
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