UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Māori Protests in New Zealand:Simplifier

Nov 21, 2024

Māori Protests in New Zealand:Simplifier What's the issue? Māori are protesting a proposed bill that could redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document. They fear it could undermine their rights, limit the Waitangi Tribunal's power, and threaten their self-determination. Why does it matter... Read More...

The Zebu Bull in Harappan Civilization

Nov 21, 2024

The Zebu Bull in Harappan Civilization Q: What is a zebu bull? A: The zebu bull (Bos indicus) is a species of cattle characterized by a distinctive hump on its shoulders and a dewlap (loose skin hanging from the neck). It's been an integral part of Indian culture for millennia. Q: What evidence suggests the zebu bull was important to the Harappans? A: Archaeological evidence points to the zebu's prominence in Harappan society: Artistic Representations: The zebu bull is frequently depicted on seals, terracotta figurines, and p... Read More...

"Priest-King" Statue:Mohenjo-daro

Nov 21, 2024

"Priest-King" Statue:Mohenjo-daro Q: What is the "Priest-King" statue? A: The "Priest-King" is a small steatite sculpture found at the archaeological site of Mohenjo-daro, one of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. It depicts... Read More...

LAPIS LAZULI: A PRECIOUS GEM OF ANTIQUITY

Nov 21, 2024

LAPIS LAZULI: A PRECIOUS GEM OF ANTIQUITY FAQs Read More...

BRONZE AGE TRADING NETWORK: CONNECTING ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

Nov 21, 2024

BRONZE AGE TRADING NETWORK: CONNECTING ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS FAQs Read More...

BRONZE AGE TRADING NETWORK: CONNECTING ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

Nov 21, 2024

BRONZE AGE TRADING NETWORK: CONNECTING ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS FAQs Read More...

INDIAN NOBEL LAUREATES: THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITY, SCIENCE, AND PEACE

Nov 20, 2024

INDIAN NOBEL LAUREATES: THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITY, SCIENCE, AND PEACE 1. Who are some of India’s Nobel laureates? India’s Nobel laureates include Rabindranath Tagore (Literature, 1913), C.V. Raman (Physics, 1930), Har Gobind Khorana (Medicine, 1968, shared), Mother Teresa (Peace, 1979), Amartya Sen (Economics, 1998), and others recognized for their outstanding contributions. 2. What was Rabindranath Tagore’s contribution? Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his poetry, becoming the first non-European to receive this honor. His works emphasize uni... Read More...

Climate Change: Himalayan Treelines Shifting Up

Nov 20, 2024

Climate Change: Himalayan Treelines Shifting Up What's happening to the Himalayan treeline? The treeline, the high-altitude boundary beyond which trees can't grow, is shifting upwards in the Himalayas. This means trees are establishing themselves at higher elevations than before. Why is this happening? The main culprit is climate change. Warming temperatures are making areas that were previously too cold for trees more hospitable. This allows tree seeds to germinate and seedlings to survive at higher altitudes. How fast is this happening? Read More...

MANIPUR VIOLENCE SINCE 2023: EXPLAINER

Nov 20, 2024

MANIPUR VIOLENCE SINCE 2023: EXPLAINER Origins of the Conflict Read More...

Fracking:Simplifier

Nov 20, 2024

Fracking:Simplifier What is fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a well stimulation technique used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground rock formations. The process involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into a wellbore to create fractures in the rock, allowing the hydrocarbons to flow more ... Read More...

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:1000 DAYS

Nov 20, 2024

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:1000 DAYS FAQs 1. What triggered the Russia-Ukraine war? The war began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The roots of the conflict lie in Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s pro-Western alignment, its NATO aspirations, and longstanding territorial disputes, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia sought to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and reassert its influence over Eastern Europe. 2. How has Ukraine responded to the invasion? Ukraine demonstrated remarkable resilience through n... Read More...

AQI-AIR QUALITY INDEX: MEASUREMENT AND LIMITATIONS

Nov 20, 2024

AQI-AIR QUALITY INDEX: MEASUREMENT AND LIMITATIONS 1. What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)? AQI is a numerical scale that indicates the air quality in a specific area. It simplifies complex data on various pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide into a single value and corresponding color code. This value helps people understand how clean or polluted the air is and its potential impact on health. 2. How is AQI calculated? Read More...

AMUR FALCONS IN TAMENGLONG, MANIPUR

Nov 20, 2024

AMUR FALCONS IN TAMENGLONG, MANIPUR 1. What are Amur Falcons? Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) are small, migratory birds of prey from the falcon family. They breed in Siberia and northern China and undertake one of the longest migrations in the avian world. 2. What is unique about the migration of Amur Falcons? aveling from their breeding grounds in Asia to their wintering grounds in southern Africa. They cross the Arabian Sea non-stop for over 3,000 km, one of the longest sea crossings for a bird of their size. 3. Why is Tamenglong, Manipur, significant for Am... Read More...

PARKER SOLAR PROBE & ADITYA L1

Nov 20, 2024

PARKER SOLAR PROBE & ADITYA L1 NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is a pioneering mission aimed at studying the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, to enhance our understanding of solar phenomena and their effects on space weather. Mission Objectives: • Investigate Coronal Heating: Explore why the Sun’s corona is significantly hotter than its surface. • Study Solar Wind Acceleration: Examine the mechanisms that accelerate solar wind particles. • Analyze Solar Energetic Particles: Understand the processes that generate and t... Read More...

CHENNAI-VLADIVOSTOK MARITIME CORRIDOR AND INDIA’S “ACT FAR EAST” POLICY

Nov 20, 2024

CHENNAI-VLADIVOSTOK MARITIME CORRIDOR AND INDIA’S “ACT FAR EAST” POLICY SYNOPSIS The Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, operational since late 2023, enhances trade between India and Russia’s Far East, reducing shipping time by up to 16 days. This development aligns with India’s Act Far East Policy, initiated in 2019, aiming to strengthen economic and strategic ties with the Russian Far East. FAQs 1. What is the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor? The Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor is a sea route connecting Chennai, India, to... Read More...