Q Why is it in News ?A The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has formulated a draft National Cyber Security Strategy, which holistically looks at addressing the issue of security of national cyberspace, the government informed the Lok Sabha.Q What is the National Cyber Security Strategy?A Conceptualised by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), the report focuses on 21 areas to ensure a safe, secure, trusted, resilient, and vibrant cyberspace for India.The main sectors of focus of the report are:Large scale digitisation of public services: There ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Microsoft's new version of Bing search engine includes a chatbot that can answer questions in clear language. However, some of the answers generated by the chatbot have been inaccurate, misleading, or bizarre.This has led to concerns that the chatbot has become sentient or aware of the world around it.Q. What is a Chatbot?A. Chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate conversation wit... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ?A European Parliament and European Union (EU) Member States had announced that they have reached a political agreement on the Digital Services Act (DSA).Q What is Digital Services Act ?A Digital Services Act is a landmark legislation to force big Internet companies to act against disinformation and illegal and harmful content, and to “provide better protection for Internet users and their fundamental rights”.The Act, which is yet to become law, was proposed by the EU Commission (anti-trust) in December 2020.As defined by the EU Commission, th... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India released Draft Reserve Bank of India (Government Securities Lending) Directions, 2023.The RBI proposed introduction of securities lending and borrowing in Government Securities (G-sec) with an aim to facilitate wider participation in the securities lending market by providing investors an avenue to deploy idle securities and enhance portfolio returns.Norms : Government Securities Lending (GSL) ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. India sent written financing assurances to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), becoming the first bilateral creditor of the island nation to officially support its crucial debt restructure programme after last year’s economic meltdown.A bilateral agreement between India and Sri Lanka on raising the limit of the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) was also signed during the India’s External Affairs Minister’s Visit.Q. What is the Significance of India’s Financing Assurance? Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. China is constructing a new dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in Tibet, close to the tri-junction of India, Nepal and Tibet, raising concerns since China has ramped up creation of military and dual use infrastructure and in the eastern and western sectors of the LAC (Line of Actual Control).Q. What is the Background?A. The development comes in the wake of China unveiling plans in 2021 to build a massive dam on the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo to generate up to 70 GW of power, three times ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. The United States (US) shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over US airspace for a couple of days.Q. What is a Surveillance Balloon?A. About:These cheap, quiet and hard-to-reach balloons have been used for reconnaissance purposes, including in conflicts like the American Civil War.The practice became widespread during World War I and was used extensively during the Cold War when the US l... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to form a partnership to work together in the fields of nuclear and solar energy, as well as in tackling climate change and preserving biodiversity.The idea of this partnership was first discussed at a meeting in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022.Q. What Are the Major Highlights of the Trilateral Initiative?A. This... Read More...
Q. Why in News?A. Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the 18th Edition of Global Risks Report 2023 which seeks that the world be prepared for ‘Natural disasters and extreme weather events’ in the next two years.The WEF report has been released ahead of its flagship Davos 2023 Meeting, which is titled as Cooperation in a Fragmented World.Q. What are the Findings of the Report?A. Most Severe Risks:‘Failure to Mitigate Climate Ch... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news?A. Recently, some Environmental Activists have raised concerns over the 10,000-acre Aravali safari park Project proposed in Haryana.What are the Key Points of Safari Park?This project will be the largest such project in the world. Currently the largest curated safari park outside Africa is in Sharjah, which opened in February 2022, with an area of about two thousand acres.It aims to boost tourism and employment opportunities for the local people.Q. What are the ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. India recently handed over 100 nautical charts to Kenya, the result of a collaborative survey between the navies of both countries of the coastal area near the Lamu Archipelago.From India, the survey was conducted by the Indian Navy's National Hydrography Office.Q. What are the Key Points Related to Kenya?A. Kenya is located in East Africa. Its terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateaus at its centr... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. The Government of India, through the National Health Mission, is supporting the states in their efforts to prevent and manage sickle cell disease.In Union Budget 2023-24, the government has announced a mission to eliminate Sickle cell Anaemia by 2047.Q. What is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?A. About:SCD is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating syste... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. As part of India’s G20 presidency, Gujarat will host the first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in the state’s Rann of Kutch from 7 to 9 February 2023.Rural and Archaeological tourism will be the focus area of Tourism. Also, Dholavira, which is a UNESCO World heritage site, will be the second spot for foreign delegates.Q. How is the G20 Emphasizing Interventions in the Tourism Sector?A. ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) has published a ‘Zero-Draft’ of the Pandemic Treaty, aiming to bring in Global and National-Level Pandemic Preparedness.The treaty aims to address the challenges posed by pandemics and other global health emergencies.The zero-draft of the pandemic treaty was established based on recognising the catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.Q... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the deadline to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India to March 2026 under PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan).Q. What is PM KUSUM?A. About:The PM-KUSUM was launched by the MNRE in 2019, in order to endow installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.Components: Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Pakistan inaugurated a USD 2.7 billion nuclear reactor under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), providing some relief as the nation grapples with an energy crisis.This is a 1,100 megawatts capacity power plant, which will generate some of the nation’s cheapest electricity.Q. What is the Background?A. Pakistan experienced nationwide power outages recently due to a breakdown in its national grid.The country has struggled with blackouts for years and is facing surging ene... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, the Supreme Court has rejected a petition to bar candidates from contesting from more than one constituency in the general or assembly elections, calling it a matter of “parliamentary sovereignty” and “political democracy”.The plea had challenged the constitutionality of Section 33(7) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, citing that it is unreasonable for creating extra burden on the public exchequer as by-elections will invariably follow because candidates have to give up one seat&nbs... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news?A. Government e-Marketplace achieves a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Rs. 1.5 Lakh Crores.GeM has been effectively contributing to the government’s commitment of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”.Q. What is Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)?A. GMV refers to the value of goods sold via customer-to-customer or e-commerce platforms.It is calculated prior to the deduction of any fees or expenses.It is ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. African countries are facing Cholera vaccine shortage, that is a looming threat amid increasing cholera cases in the region.Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 27,300 new cases of cholera including 687 deaths in five African countries.The WHO (World Health Organization) has said Climate Change could make cholera epidemics more common, as the bacteria that causes the disease can reproduce more quickly in warmer water.Q. What is Cholera?A. Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, the Government of India has announced that 111 payloads and 105 space debris have been identified as Indian objects orbiting Earth.All orbiting debris will affect the future of outer space and future missions. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has also been carrying out several studies on the impact of growing space debris on the space environment.Q. What is Space Debris?A. About:Space debris ref... Read More...