UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) in India: Tax Benefits and Investment Growth

Sep 15, 2023

What are Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)? Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are investment funds owned and operated by a government or its entities. These funds typically manage a country's reserves, often generated from commodities or foreign exchange reserves. What's happening with SWF investments in India? SWF investments in India have been steadily increasing. The total assets of many top SWFs investing in Indian equities grew by more than 50% in a year. Which countries have the largest SWF in... Read More...

India's July Industrial Growth:IIP Clarified

Sep 15, 2023

In July, India's industries experienced a significant upswing, with a 5.7% growth rate, the highest in five months. This growth was mainly fueled by an impressive 8% increase in electricity generation and moderate progress in manufacturing at 4.6%. These positive factors helped offset a 3.3% decline in mining and a second consecutive month of reduction in the production of consumer durables. Key Points: Industrial growth at 5.7% in July, the best in five months. Electricity generation surged by 8%. Manufacturing expanded by 4.6%, contrib... Read More...

Doom Loop: Hunger Crisis Explained

Sep 15, 2023

Definition: A "doom loop" is like a never-ending problem that keeps getting worse. The Problem: The World Food Program (WFP) is in trouble because governments are giving them less money to help hungry people. For every 1% less money, 400,000 more people could go hungry. This year, WFP doesn't have enough money; they're missing 60% of what they need, the most ever in 60 years. And more people are hungry. Because of this, WFP has to give less food to nearly half the places they usually help, like Afghani... Read More...

Citizenship Through Naturalization: A Closer Look at Indian Law and the 2019 Citizenship Amendment

Sep 15, 2023

What is citizenship through naturalization? Definition: Citizenship through naturalization refers to the process by which a foreign national, who is not born in a particular country or is not an automatic citizen by descent, or other means, becomes a citizen of that country through a legal process. It typically involves fulfilling certain residency requirements, demonstrating a commitment to the country, passing language and civics tests, and complying with other legal conditions set by the host country's immigration and citizenship laws.The conditions can be waived according to the Citizenship Act 195... Read More...

India-Sri Lanka Relations

Sep 15, 2023

What is the significance of India's recent statement regarding Sri Lanka? A1: India's statement highlights its ongoing interest in the situation in Sri Lanka and its commitment to addressing the concerns of the Tamil population. What are the specific commitments mentioned in the statement? A2: The commitments relate to ensuring fundamental freedoms and human rights for all citizens, especially focusing on the rights and aspirations of the Tamil community. Why is India expressing concern over the "ina... Read More...

Climate Change and Food Security in India: A Detailed Overview

Sep 15, 2023

How does climate change impact food security in India, and what recent phenomena have highlighted this issue? A1: Climate change is seen through a series of disruptive weather and climate phenomena in India, affecting the complex precipitation system. For instance, the Western disturbance remained active late into the summer this year, affecting the southwest monsoon and causing widespread destruction in the western Himalaya and northern India. These events have raised concerns regarding the sustainability and resilience of development projects in these regions, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change... Read More...

Supreme Court's Ruling on Section 6A

Sep 15, 2023

What is the recent ruling of the Supreme Court regarding Section 6A? A1: The Supreme Court's Constitution Bench ruled that the 2014 verdict, which invalidated Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, will have a retrospective effect from 2003, the year the provision was introduced. What was Section 6A? A2: Section 6A stipulated that any investigation into corruption charges against officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above could only commence after receiving approval from the Central government. This provision was introduced to rei... Read More...

Harami Nala: The Treacherous Channel at the Heart of Border Security

Sep 15, 2023

What is Harami Nala? Harami Nala is a natural water channel situated in the Sir Creek area of Kutch, Gujarat, along the India-Pakistan international border. It is characterized by its inhospitable terrain and has historically been a center for cross-border infiltrations and exploitations. Why is it termed "Harami Nala"? The name "Harami Nala" translates to "rogue or treacherous channel" in English. This name is apt given the challenging conditions of the area, including the treacherous tides, morass, and mirages, cou... Read More...

Nyoma Airfield: India's Strategic Move in Ladakh

Sep 15, 2023

What is the Nyoma airfield project? The Nyoma airfield project is a strategic initiative led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to bolster India's air infrastructure in the Ladakh region, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Why is the Nyoma airfield significant? The airfield is set to be one of the world's highest, enhancing the Indian Air Force's capabilities along the northern border and potentially proving to be a game-changer for the armed forces. What is the estimated cost for the development o... Read More...

Sedition and Kedarnath Ruling

Sep 15, 2023

Supreme Court's Examination of Section 124A What is Section 124A? Section 124A, also known as the sedition law, is a provision in the Indian Penal Code formulated in 1860 during the British colonial rule. It criminalizes any words, signs, or visible representation that can cause "disaffection" towards the government. What prompted the Supreme Court to revisit this section now? The Supreme Court decided to revisit this section amidst petitions challenging the consti... Read More...

India's Retail Inflation: A Closer Look

Sep 15, 2023

In August, India witnessed a slight decrease in retail inflation, registering at 6.83% compared to the 15-month peak of 7.44% in July. Despite this, the surge in food prices remained high at approximately 10%, with rural consumers experiencing over 7% inflation. Details of the Inflation Vegetable Prices: Although there was a reduction from the 37.4% spike in July, the prices were still considerably high at 26.1% in August. Cereal and Pulses: Inflation in cereals saw a small dip, going from around 13% in July to 11.85% in August.... Read More...

Nipah Virus (NiV) Overview

Sep 14, 2023

Symptoms Fever Muscle pain Respiratory problems Encephalitis in severe cases (a potentially fatal condition characterized by inflammation of the brain) Some individuals can be asymptomatic but still carry and transmit the virus Transmission From animals to humans: Bats (primary natural hosts) Pigs Contaminated food Human to human: Direct contact with a patient Contact with bodily fluids of an infected person Fatality High case fatality ratio (between 40% and 75% in past outbreaks) Preventive Measur... Read More...

Catastrophe Unleashed by

Sep 14, 2023

In Libya, catastrophic flash floods triggered by"Storm Daniel"have resulted in massive destruction, especially in the eastern coastal city of Derna. The disaster, exacerbated by the breaking of river dams, has claimed at least2,300 lives,with around 5,000 people still missing and about 7,000 injured. Derna, home to 100,000residents, witnessed the collapse of multi-storey buildings along the riverbanks and the sweep... Read More...

FDI in India

Sep 14, 2023

SRIRAM's IAS: Your Path to Mastering Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) India has seen a decade of robust FDI inflows, primarily from Mauritius and Singapore. FDI inflows decreased from $58.77 billion in FY22 to $46.03 billion in FY23. Importance of FDI: FDI is essential for stimulating domestic industries, fostering growth, and enhancing global competitiveness. Sector-Specific Analysis: Over 90% of FDI targets non-manufacturing sectors. Read More...

From T+1 to T+One Hour:SEBI

Sep 14, 2023

Mechanics and Significance What is Sebi’s proposal regarding trade settlement? Sebi, the market regulator in India, is proposing to shorten the trade settlement cycle. Currently, trades are settled in T+1, which means one day after the trade. The new proposal aims to settle trades within just one hour of execution. When is Sebi planning to implement this change? Sebi plans to implement the one-hour trade settlement cycle starting in March 2024 if everything goes according to plan.... Read More...