UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Connection Between Close Relative Marriages and Genetic Diseases

Oct 10, 2023

What is Consanguinity? Consanguinity refers to the practice of marrying close relatives. It's a tradition that still exists in many parts of the world, including Asia and West Africa. Why is it Important to Study? Marrying close relatives can increase the risk of certain genetic diseases. Scientists use modern tools to study how closely related individuals are and what that means for their health. How Did Scientists Learn About This? Earlier, much of what we knew came from studying royal families who often married close relative... Read More...

Board Exams Twice a Year: A Stress-Reducing Reform

Oct 10, 2023

The Union Ministry of Education has introduced a game-changing reform in the Indian education system. Now, students have the option to take their Class 10 and 12 Board exams either once or twice a year. This new policy is a part of the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) and is designed to reduce exam stress among students. Key Benefits: Stress Reduction: One of the main benefits of this educational reform is the reduction of exam stress. The Class 10 and 12 Board exams are often high-stakes, causing significant anxiety among students. This new option provides a safety net, all... Read More...

FAQ: Why Did Hamas Launch a Surprise Attack on Israel?

Oct 10, 2023

What triggered the surprise attack by Hamas? Hamas launched a highly coordinated attack on Israel, involving various means like motorcycles, pickup trucks, boats, paragliders, and mid-range rockets. The attack took Israel by surprise and has been compared to the 1973 Yom Kippur attack by Egyptian and Syrian troops. What are the Palestinian factors? Relations between Palestine and Israel have deteriorated, with daily military raids by Israel in the occupied West Bank. Public anger is growing among Palestinians against both Israeli occupation and the Pale... Read More...

U.S. vs China: Fight Over Computer Chip Tech

Oct 09, 2023

What's Going On? The U.S. and China are in a tug-of-war over computer chips. Some U.S. politicians want to stop American companies from sharing a special kind of chip technology with China. Why Is This Chip Special? This chip tech, called RISC-V, is open-source. That means anyone can use it for free. It's like a recipe for making computer chips that's shared with everyone. Why Are People Worried? U.S. leaders think China could use this free recipe to make their army stronger and get ahead in ... Read More...

R21/MatrixM Malaria Vaccine - A Game Changer?

Oct 09, 2023

What is R21/MatrixM? It's a new malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and made by Serum Institute of India. It's been recommended by WHO but not yet fully approved. Where was it tested? The vaccine was tested on kids in Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Tanzania. Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso have already approved it for kids under 3 years old. What are the results? The vaccine worked well, especially in younger kids (5-17 months). It was 75% effective in places... Read More...

FAQ: Genetically Modified Pig Kidneys for Human Transplants

Oct 09, 2023

What is the study about? The study in Nature discusses successful kidney transplants from genetically modified pigs to monkeys. What challenges does this solve? Two main issues: organ rejection and the risk of transferring animal viruses to humans. How were the pigs genetically modified? 69 changes were made to the pig's genetic code. Three antigens causing rejection were removed, seven human genes were added to reduce immune system hostility, and all pig virus genes were deactivated. Read More...

LIDAR in Amazon Exploration: Revealing Hidden

Oct 09, 2023

Civilizations What is LIDAR? LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create detailed, 3D maps of the Earth's surface. How Does LIDAR Work? A LIDAR system sends out laser beams from an airborne platform like a plane or drone. The beams bounce back after hitting the ground, and the time it takes for the light to return is measured to calculate distance. Why Use LIDAR in the Amazon? The Amazon is dense and difficult to expl... Read More...

mRNA Vaccines & COVID-19

Oct 09, 2023

What are mRNA Vaccines? mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines use a piece of genetic code to instruct cells to make a specific protein, like the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus, to trigger an immune response. How Do They Work? The mRNA is wrapped in a lipid (fat) layer to protect it and help it enter cells. Once inside, the cell reads the mRNA and produces the spike protein, which then triggers the immune system to produce antibodies. Why Are They Important? Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman won the No... Read More...

Nobel Prize Physics 2023

Oct 09, 2023

New Tools for Electron World What Did the Nobel Laureates Do? Anne L’Huillier, Pierre Agostini, and Ferenc Krausz won the 2023 Physics Nobel Prize for creating super short light pulses, called "attosecond pulses," to study how electrons behave. What is an Attosecond? An attosecond is one quintillionth of a second (10^-18 seconds). It's the timescale at which electron properties change. What is Attosecond Science? Attosecond science involves usi... Read More...

Quantum Dots in Nanotechnology

Oct 09, 2023

What is a Quantum Dot? A quantum dot is a super tiny cluster of atoms, just a few nanometers wide. It's like a "mini-atom" that shows off the weird rules of quantum mechanics. Why Are Quantum Dots Special? Quantum dots are unique because their properties can change based on their size. For example, they can emit different colors of light when exposed to light. They're a middle-ground between single atoms and large materials, behaving differently from both. What Did the Nobel Laureates Do? Read More...

Ganga-Ghagra Basin Canals Posing a Threat to Dolphins

Oct 09, 2023

What is the Ganges river dolphin? The Ganges river dolphin is an endangered species native to the Ganga-Ghagra basin in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and is listed as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List. Why are they important? As the national aquatic animal of India, the Ganges river dolphin is an important part of the country's natural heritage. Its presence is also an indicator of the health of the river ecosystem. What are the main threats to the d... Read More...

Indian Wisdom: Ancient Insights, Modern Applications

Oct 09, 2023

Exploring Indian Knowledge Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Applications Training: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is training over 1,000 university teachers to teach Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The six-day training is divided into four parts, focusing on 'parampara' (tradition), 'drishti' (perspective), and 'loukik prayojan' (modern relevance). It begins with an overview of ancient Vedic texts and covers philosophical foundations like Darshana Shastra. The training also includes vocabulary... Read More...

Gaganyaan

Oct 09, 2023

Gaganyaan is India's ambitious space mission aiming to send Indian astronauts to space and bring them back safely to Earth. It's managed by ISRO, India's space agency. Why Abort Mission? The "Abort Mission" is a test to make sure that the astronauts can be quickly and safely pulled away from the rocket in case something goes wrong during the launch. It's like a safety drill but for a spacecraft. Technology & Benefits Crew Module (CM): This is where the astronauts will stay. It's designed to keep them safe and has lif... Read More...

Bhutan-China Border Talks

Oct 09, 2023

Geopolitical Chess: India's Strategic Concerns Amid Bhutan-China Border Talks Bhutan-China Border Talks: A New Phase Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering confirmed that Bhutan and China are nearing the completion of a three-step roadmap to demarcate their boundary, including the Doklam plateau. The talks also include a possible land exchange between Doklam and areas in northern Bhutan. India's Stance and Concerns India has been watching these developments closely. The demarcation and any land swaps between... Read More...

Territorial Army

Oct 09, 2023

The Territorial Army (TA) is a part of the Indian Army that is composed of volunteers who receive military training for a few days in a year. The primary role of the TA is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services. It is controlled by the Indian Ministry of Defence and was established by an Act of Parliament in 1948. Territorial Army Inducts Chinese Language Interpreters for Border Talks with China The TA has recently inducted five Chinese language interpreters to assist during ... Read More...