UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Food Inflation: impact of Vegetable Inflation on Retail Inflation

Aug 19, 2023

1. What caused the surge in retail inflation in India? A surge in vegetable prices, particularly tomatoes, led to a 42-month high in retail inflation. This unexpected increase pushed the headline retail inflation figure beyond 7%, marking the first time in almost a year. 2. How much of the shift in Consumer Price Index (CPI) was attributed to vegetables? Around one-third (32%) of the year-on-year shift in CPI for July resulted from the substantial rise in vegetable prices. Tomatoes contributed significantly to this increase, posing a challenge... Read More...

Spike in Retail Inflation and Its Implications:Explainer

Aug 18, 2023

1. What is causing the surge in retail inflation? The surge in retail inflation is attributed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which contains a significant share of food items. A rise in food inflation directly contributes to an escalation in overall retail inflation. Over the past year, food inflation reached 11.51%, predominantly due to a substantial 37.34% surge in vegetable prices. Tomato prices, for instance, skyrocketed by a staggering 201.54%, while items like ginger, garlic, and green chili also witnessed notable price hikes. 2. What factors are driving persistently high f... Read More...

Coral Reefs: Great Barrier Reef's Deterioration

Aug 18, 2023

1. What is the Great Barrier Reef, and why is it significant? The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is renowned for its incredible marine biodiversity and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting tourists from around the world. 2. What is coral bleaching, and how does it affect the reef? Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing the corals to turn white. This happens due to stress, often caused by warmi... Read More...

India and Bioecomy

Aug 18, 2023

What is Bioeconomy? Bioeconomy refers to an economic system that utilizes renewable biological resources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, to produce sustainable products, energy, and services. It involves harnessing the power of biology and biotechnology to create value-added products while minimizing environmental impacts. Bioeconomy aims to replace traditional, fossil-based industries with more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives, thereby contributing to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and resource conservation. India's Bioeconomy Vision:... Read More...

India-UAE: Local Currency Trade

Aug 18, 2023

What significant trade agreement was signed between India and the UAE? A: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade in national currencies was signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This agreement aimed to facilitate trade transactions using the local currencies of both countries. Q: What was the outcome of the MoU implementation? A: As a result of the MoU, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) successfully conducted the... Read More...

Internal Security:Challenges and Solutions Bird's Eye View

Aug 18, 2023

Internal security challenges refer to threats, risks, and conflicts that arise within a country's borders and pose a potential danger to its stability, governance, and societal well-being. These challenges can take various forms, ranging from insurgency and terrorism to communal violence, organized crime, cyber threats, and more. Addressing internal security challenges is crucial for maintaining law and order, protecting citizens' rights, and upholding the sovereignty of a nation. Here are some common types of internal security challenges and approaches to dealing with them: &... Read More...

Floating Solar Plants: Harnessing Solar Energy on Water Bodies

Aug 18, 2023

Floating Solar Plants (FSPs) are innovative solar power installations that are set up on water bodies such as reservoirs, ponds, lakes, and even the sea. Unlike traditional solar installations that are mounted on the ground, FSPs float on the surface of water, tapping into the vast potential of water surfaces to generate renewable energy. These installations offer a unique approach to overcoming some of the challenges associated with land acquisition and maximizing the efficiency of solar energy generation. FSPs utilize solar photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on floating platforms that are anchored to the water b... Read More...

Super-Bright Sunlight

Aug 18, 2023

Introduction: Scientists have been baffled by a phenomenon discovered at the HAWC observatory in Mexico. The observatory observed an excess of high-energy gamma rays from the sun over six years, leaving researchers puzzled and seeking explanations. Cosmic Ray Stream: Cosmic rays, energetic particles from space, constantly bombard Earth, but the atmosphere and magnetic field shield us from their impact. These rays are known to originate from massive stars' explosive deaths and the centers of galaxies. Read More...

Bihar's Caste-Based Survey,Patna High Court Upholds : Constitutional Aspects Explained

Aug 18, 2023

Reversal of Ruling: The Patna High Court has overturned its earlier stay on Bihar's caste-based survey, deeming it valid. The survey's purpose is to collect caste-related data for holistic state development. Privacy Considerations Addressed: The court applied the Puttaswamy case's triple-requirement test to address privacy concerns. It stressed that fundamental rights can be restricted if it serves the state's legitimate interests and is proportionate and reasonable. Security Measures Recognized: Read More...

India's Defence Exports and Self-Reliance:Resounding Success

Aug 18, 2023

1. What is India's vision for defence exports and self-reliance? Under the leadership of the Indian government, India aims to enhance its defence exports and achieve self-reliance in the defence sector. The goal is to raise annual defence exports to USD 5 billion by 2024-25. 2. What measures has the Indian government taken to promote defence exports? The Indian Ministry of Defence has implemented several measures, including allocating a significant portion of the defence capital budget for domestic procurements, imposing import embargoes, ... Read More...

MQ-9B Predator Drones :Significance of Acquisition by India

Aug 18, 2023

1. What are the MQ-9B Predator Drones? The MQ-9B Predator drones are advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) designed for high-altitude, long-endurance operations. They are developed by the US defense firm General Atomics and are known for their intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. 2. What is the significance of India's acquisition of these drones? India's acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones holds several significant implications: 1. Enhan... Read More...

Sanhita Bills:Criminal Law Reform

Aug 18, 2023

Pros: Decolonization: The replacement of colonial-era laws with new ones reflects a commitment to decolonization and asserting India's sovereignty in the legal realm. It aligns with the government's efforts to remove vestiges of colonial rule from the country's legal framework. Opportunity for Modernization: The introduction of new laws provides an opportunity to modernize and update the criminal justice system. This can address shortcomings and inefficiencies in the existing laws, making them more relevant to contemporary challenges and technological ... Read More...

India's Global Initiatives in Climate Resilience:G20

Aug 18, 2023

FAQ: International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Global Biofuels Alliance 1. What are the key climate action outreach bodies led by India? India has taken a proactive role in global climate action by leading and creating three significant initiatives: the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the upcoming Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA). 2. What is the purpose of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? Read More...

ISRO:Aditya-L1, A Curtain Raiser

Aug 18, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a significant space mission called Aditya-L1, which aims to study the Sun. Here are the key details about the mission: 1. Purpose of the Mission: Aditya-L1 is India's first space-based observatory designed to study the Sun. The mission's objective is to enhance our understanding of various solar activities and their effects on space weather. 2. Satellite Preparation: The satellite, Aditya-L1, has been developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, Indi... Read More...

Rs.83 for 1 USD:Why?

Aug 18, 2023

The recent decline in the Indian rupee's value against the US dollar, reaching a 10-month low at 82.95 per dollar, can be attributed to several key factors: 1. Strengthening Dollar Index: The dollar index, which measures the strength of the US dollar against major global currencies, rose to a month-high of 103. A stronger dollar typically leads to weaker currencies in other countries, including the Indian rupee. 2. Rising US Bond Yields: The yield on the 10-year US treasury bond increased to 4.18%, signaling higher returns on US government... Read More...