Q. Why is this in News? A. India ranks 13th on The Global Terrorism Index (GTI). The report shows that Afghanistan continues to be the country most affected by terrorism for the 4th year in a row, even though attacks and deaths decreased. Q. What are the Major Highlights of the GTI? A. The GTI report is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank, using data from TerrorismTracker and other sources. Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. According to the 4th and final installment Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), there is increased evidence of maladaptation in various sectors and regions. The Synthesis Report integrates the main findings of the AR6 cycle based on contributions from the three Working Groups, and the three Special Reports. Q. What are the Key Findings? A. Unprecedented Global Warming: Human-indu... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the ‘City Finance Rankings 2022’ under which Urban Local Bodies (ULB) in the country will be evaluated on the basis of their financial health. Q. What is City Finance Rankings 2022? A. About: All the Participating cities or ULBs will be evaluated on 15 indicators across three key municipal finance assessment parameters, namely: ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. A Member of Parliament has urged the government to issue a notification that would include women from the Scheduled Tribe community in the inheritance rights provisions of the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005. Section 2(2) of the Act excludes these women, which results in the denial of their equal rights to inherit their father's or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) properties. Q. What are th... Read More...
Q .Why is this in News? A. In its Technology and Innovation Report 2023, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has stated that developed countries are benefiting more from green technologies than developing countries, and this could deepen global economic inequality. Q. What are the Key Findings and Recommendations of the Report? A. Findings: Green technologies can create a market worth USD 9.5 trill... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, an MP (Member of Parliament) was sentenced to two years in jail in a 2019 Defamation Case over his remarks about another political leader by the Surat Court. The case was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, dealing with defamation. Q. What do IPC sections 499 and 500 say? A. Section 499 of the IPC elaborates on how defamation could be through words – spoken or i... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. A political party recently called for the long-delayed Women's Reservation Bill to be introduced in Parliament. The Rajya Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill on 9 March 2010. However, the Lok Sabha never voted on the bill. The bill lapsed since it was still pending in Lok Sabha. Q. What is the Background of the Reservation for Women in Politics in India? A. The issue of reservation for women in politic... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. In 2020, a study revealed that the gradual separation of the African continent is leading to the formation of a new ocean basin. The division of the continent is connected to the East African Rift (also called the Great Rift Valley), a crack that stretches 56 kilometres and appeared in the desert of Ethiopia in 2005, triggering the formation of a new sea. Q. What are the Factors Responsible for Africa’s Rifting Plates? A. Factor... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The agriculture sector in India has experienced buoyant growth in the past two years. India’s agricultural exports are poised to scale a new peak in the financial year ending March 31, 2023. But so are imports, bringing down the overall farm trade surplus. Q. What are the Agri-Stats? A. The value of farm exports in April-December 2022 was 7.9% higher (USD 39 Billion) than the USD 36.2 bn for the corresponding period o... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Ministry of Electronics and IT’s (MeitY) BHASHINI is working on a ChatGPT-Powered WhatsApp Chatbot to help Indian farmers learn about various government schemes. BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) is India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) led language translation platform. The launch of the WhatsApp chatbot may take time as ChatGPT currently relies on input in English, and the support for local languages is limited. Q. What are th... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Centre approved a plan for setting up 2 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy, and fisheries cooperatives in the country in the next five years to strengthen the cooperative movement. Earlier, the Union Budget 2023 announced Rs 2,516 crore for computerisation of 63,000 PACS over the next five years, with the aim of bringing greater transparency and accountability. Q. What are the Key Points of the Plan? A. ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, the Ministry of Mines has notified Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022. The Bill is aimed at providing for the declaration, preservation, protection and maintenance of geo-heritage sites and geo-relics of national importance, for geological studies, education, research and awareness purposes. The GSI has declared 32 geo-heritage sites, including the Siwalik Fossil Park, Himachal Pradesh; Stromatolite Fossil Park, Jhar... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, physicists working with the Kamioka Liquid Scintillator Antineutrino Detector (KamLAND) in Japan reported that after analysing two years’ data, they could not find signs that neutrinos could be their own anti-particles. Q. What was the Experiment? A. KamLAND looks for an event called neutrinoless double beta-decay. In normal double beta-decay, two neutrons in an atom turn into two protons by emitting two ... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A Union Minister of Earth Sciences has launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission Samudrayan at Chennai. Q What is Mission Samudrayan ? A The Samudrayan project has been undertaken by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). It will be a part of the Rs 6,000 crore Deep Ocean Mission. It is designed to carry 3 persons in 2.1meter diameter Titanium Alloy Personnel Sphere with an operational endurance of 12hrs and systems to support emergency endurance up to 96hrs. It could work at a dept... Read More...
Q What is Manual Scavenging? A Manual scavenging is the practice of removing human excreta by hand from sewers or septic tanks. India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). The Act bans the use of any individual for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta till its disposal. In 2013, the definition of manual scavengers was also broadened to include people employed to clean septic tanks, ditches, or railway tracks. The Act recognizes... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has even in past and now proposed certain changes to some provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985. The recommendations have assumed importance in the backdrop of some high-profile drug cases including the recent arrest of Bollywood actor’s son. Key amendments suggested To decriminalise the possession of narcotic drugs in smaller quantities for personal purposes. Persons using drugs in smaller quantities be treate... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, India ranks 42nd among 55 leading global economies on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index 2023 released by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, according to which India is ripe to become a leader for emerging markets seeking to transform their economy through IP-driven innovation. US topped the International IP Index followed by United Kingdom and France. Q. What is International IP Index? A. Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban caste-based discrimination. It included caste as a class to be protected against discrimination, alongside race, gender, and religion. It has been hailed by anti-caste movement activists as a historic win. Q. What is the Status of Social Discrimination in India? A. About: Caste, through its rigid social control and networks facilitates economic mobili... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A The Union Government approved the continuation of more than 1000 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for two years (April 2021-March 2023). It includes 389 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Courts. The Central share will be provided from the Nirbhaya Fund. Q What is background of this News ? A Fast track courts (FTCs) were first recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000 &q... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Supreme Court has sought more information from the government about Mission Shakti, an umbrella scheme for the safety, security, and empowerment of women. This comes after concerns were raised about a possible shortage of protection officers to handle domestic violence cases. Q. What are the Raised Concerns Regarding Domestic Violence? A. According to a government document presented in court, 4.4 lakh cases of domestic assault are pendin... Read More...