Integrating Credit Cards to UPI The integration will first begin with the indigenous RuPay credit cards. Both the RuPay network and UPI are managed by the same organisation – the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Q. What is UPI? A. UPI is an instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) facilitating inter-bank transactions. The interface is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and works by instantly transferring funds between two bank accounts on a mobile platform. 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 poli... Read More...
Q What are War Crime? A War crimes are defined as serious violations of humanitarian laws during a conflict. There are specific international standards for war crimes, which are not to be confused with crimes against humanity. The definition is established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is derived from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and is based on the idea that individuals can be held liable for the actions of a state or its military. There is a long list of acts that can be considered war crimes. Read More...
Q Who will launch the central bank digital currency (CBDC)? A The Reserve Bank of India will launch the CBDC in the upcoming financial year. This follows the government’s plans to launch the CBDC that will be backed by blockchain technology. Q What is a CBDC? A CBDC is a legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form. It is similar to a fiat currency issued in paper and is interchangeable with any other fiat currency. One chief difference will be that a Digital Rupee transa... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) has sequenced about 1,00,000 samples. Q What is INSACOG? A INSACOG is a consortium of 10 labs and 18 satellite labs across India tasked with scanning COVID samples from patients and finding the variants that has led to spike in transmission. The institutes involved include the laboratories of the Department of Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Health Ministry. Its work began in... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A Researchers have identified and mapped 139 gigatonnes (Gt) of “irrecoverable carbon” in some of the world’s major forests and peatlands including the Amazon and the Congo to avoid catastrophic climate change. Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A The Ministry of Science & Technology has launched the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) fellowships programme. Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). CPR (not-for-profit society), along with Oxfam India and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF), was surveyed by the Income Tax department earlier. Q. What is the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act? A. About: Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. India recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pokhran-II on 11th May 2023 marking the successful nuclear bomb test explosions which became a significant milestone in its journey to become a nuclear power. May 11 is also celebrated as the National Technology Day to honour Indian scientists, engineers and technologists, who worked for the country's scientific and technological advancement and ensured the successful conduct of Pokhran tests. Q... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) unanimously ruled previously that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners shall be made by the President on the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition of the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India (CJI). In case no leader of Opposition is available, the leader of the largest opposition Party in the Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength will be a part of such committ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), as part of its Vision Insurance for all’ by 2047, has allotted states and union territories to every insurer to increase insurance penetration in India. IRDAI is also planning to launch Bima Trinity - Bima Sugam, Bima Vistar, Bima Vaahaks – in collaboration with general and life insurance firms to make insurance activities hassle free. Q. What is IRDAI Vision 20... Read More...
Q What is the context ? A Historical importance of good nutrition was ignored by the modern therapist who tried to control TB initially with streptomycin injection, isoniazid and para-aminosalisylic acid. In the ecstasy of finding antibiotics killing the germs, the social determinants of disease were ignored. Q Why is there Lack of patient-centric TB treatment ? A With more drug arsenals such as rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, the fight against TB bacteria continued, which became multidrug resistant. The regimes and the mode of delivery... Read More...
Q. What is Stockholm Conference, 1972? A. Background: Climate change was first discussed using emerging scientific evidence in the UN General Assembly in 1968. In 1967, a research study provided the actual estimates of global temperature based on CO2 levels. Also, it was predicted that the doubling of CO2 from the current level would result in nearly 2°C rise in global temperature. The idea of the Stockh... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news? A. Recently, the Central Electricity Authoraity (CEA) (Ministry of Power) released a new publication titled Report on Optimal Generation Mix 2030 Version 2.0. This is an updated version of the report published in 2020 titled Report on Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for 2029-30. The report highlights the changes expected in India's energy mix, with a decline in coal's share and a rise in renewable energy (RE) sources. Earlier, the CEA... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Biased gender social norms continue to impede progress towards achieving gender equality and violate human rights, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Despite global efforts and campaigns advocating for women's rights, a significant percentage of people still hold biased beliefs against women. The UNDP's 2023 Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) provides insights into the persistence of these biases and their impact on various aspects of women's lives. &... Read More...
Q. What is a Carbon Border Tax? A. A carbon border adjustment tax is a duty on imports based on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the production of the product in question. As a price on carbon, it discourages emissions. As a trade-related measure, it affects production and exports. The proposal is part of the European Commission’s European Green Deal that endeavours to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. A carbon border tax is arguably an improvement from a national carbon tax. A national carbon tax... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News? A. Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine that will power the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The test was successfully conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. Q. What are the Highlights of the Test? A. The hot test was carried... Read More...
Q. What is Tycho? A. Tycho is classified as a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when a white dwarf star shreds its companion star, triggering a violent explosion and sending debris hurtling into space at tremendous speeds. Tycho released as much energy as the Sun would emit over ten billion years and blasted particles out into space near the speed of light. Researchers used IXPE to reveal the magnetic field geometry close to Tycho’s ... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? A Recently, 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 20... Read More...