UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Strategic Importance of Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea

Dec 18, 2023

Strategic Importance of Bab al-Mandeb Strait Geographical Significance: Location: The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a narrow waterway, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) wide, connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. Key Shipping Lane: It is a vital passage for maritime traffic, linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Significant Oil Route: About 10 percent of the world’s seaborne crude oil passes through this strait, making its security vital for global energy supplies. Economic and Trade Importance: Read More...

Ketamine: Medical Marvel and Therapeutic Potential

Dec 18, 2023

What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a medication primarily used for starting and maintaining anesthesia. It induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss. How is Ketamine Administered? Ketamine can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or as a nasal spray. Its form of administration depends on its intended use. What are the Medical Uses of Ketamine? Anesthesia: Used in surgery to induce loss of consciousness and pain relief. Pain Management: Effecti... Read More...

Pangolin Conservation in India

Dec 18, 2023

Q1: What is the status of Indian Pangolins? A1: Indian Pangolins are listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, indicating they require the highest degree of protection. They are categorized as endangered by the IUCN and included under Appendix II of CITES. Q2: Why are Indian Pangolins endangered? A2: Pangolins are endangered due to rampant poaching for their scales, meat, and other body parts, primarily for illegal international trade. Habitat destruction also plays a significant role in their declining numbers. Read More...

Myanmar Turmoil and India

Dec 18, 2023

The situation in Manipur, a northeastern state in India, is intricately connected to the ongoing instability in Myanmar, especially following the military coup in 2021. This connection has several dimensions, impacting both internal security within Manipur and the broader geopolitics of the region. Impact of Myanmar’s Instability on Manipur 1. Refugee Influx: The military coup in Myanmar has led to a significant influx of refugees into Manipur. Many of these refugees are from the Kuki-Chin ethnic group, which shares kinship ties with tribes in Manipur. The influx of refugees has complicated the... Read More...

Cloud Seeding

Dec 18, 2023

The initiative by Pakistan to employ artificial rain through cloud seeding in Lahore offers a fascinating look into the technical nuances of this modern environmental intervention. Here’s a detailed exploration of the technical aspects involved in this process. Cloud Seeding: The Process Equipment and Execution: Specialized aircraft are equipped with cloud seeding gear. In Lahore’s case, planes were flown over the city, dispersing chemicals into the clouds. Chemicals Used: Common salt (sodium chloride) or a mixture of various salts is typically used. These particles serve a... Read More...

Metaverse : Transforming Indian Cities

Dec 18, 2023

Introduction to the Metaverse: The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality, augmented reality (AR), and the internet. It’s a digital universe that coexists with the physical world, where users interact through avatars in a 3D environment. This cutting-edge technology blurs the lines between physical and virtual realities, offering immersive experiences. The metaverse integrates various technological elements like virtual reality (VR), AR, AI, and blockchain, providing a platform for social interaction, economic transactions, and more, in a seamless vi... Read More...

ISRO’s Shukrayaan-1 Venus Mission

Dec 18, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is advancing its space exploration capabilities with the Shukrayaan-1 mission to Venus. This follows the successful launches of the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions. Shukrayaan-1 is designed to orbit Venus and investigate the planet’s subsurface and the enigmatic environment beneath its sulfuric acid clouds. This mission will contribute significantly to our understanding of Venus, a planet with atmospheric conditions vastly different from Earth. It has an atmospheric pressure 100 times greater than Earth’s and is covered with thick acidic clouds, making it an intriguing subject for plane... Read More...

Hangul Conservation in Dachigam National Park

Dec 16, 2023

What is the hangul? The hangul, also known as the Kashmir stag (Cervus hanglussp.hanglu), is a critically endangered subspecies of red deer found only in the Indian subcontinent, primarily in Dachigam National Park. Why is the hangul population not increasing? Despite protection efforts, the hangul population has struggled due to factors like habitat fragmentation, poaching, livestock grazing, ecological threats, predation, disturbed corridors, landscapes, and low genetic variability. What is the significance of the hangul? ... Read More...

Freshwater Rock Pools in India

Dec 16, 2023

What are freshwater rock pools? Freshwater rock pools are temporary wetlands that form in natural depressions within rocks, typically as a result of the weathering of parent rocks. They fill with water through precipitation and undergo cyclical phases of wetness and dryness, relying on rain rather than groundwater. How are freshwater rock pools created? They originate from the weathering of rocks, which leads to the formation of depressions that collect rainwater. The size and shape of these pools are influenced by local climate, rock composition, and geological feat... Read More...

Green Ammonia: Paving the Way for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy

Dec 16, 2023

What is green ammonia? Green ammonia is an eco-friendly variant of ammonia produced using renewable energy sources, primarily solar or wind power, to extract hydrogen from water. It is considered ‘green’ because it doesn’t rely on fossil fuels and thus, reduces greenhouse gas emissions during production. How does green ammonia benefit the environment? By not using fossil fuels for its production, green ammonia cuts down the high emissions typically associated with the conventional Haber-Bosch process used to produce synthetic fertilizers, reducing e... Read More...

Heat Pumps as a Solution for Energy Efficiency

Dec 16, 2023

What are heat pumps? Heat pumps are devices that transfer heat from one place to another. They can extract heat from the air or ground outside a building and transfer it inside to provide heating and can also work in reverse to cool a building. How can heat pumps reduce energy bills? Heat pumps are more efficient than traditional heating systems because they move heat rather than generate it by burning fuel. This efficiency can translate into lower energy bills over time despite the higher initial investment. Do heat pumps help the ... Read More...

India’s Advancement in Stealth UAV Technology

Dec 16, 2023

India’s Advancement in Stealth UAV TechnologyWhat is India’s recent achievement in aerial technology? India has successfully conducted a flight trial of an autonomous flying-wing technology demonstrator, marking a significant step towards developing a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). What is a flying-wing technology demonstrator? It’s a type of drone with a design where the wings make up the main body of the aircraft, improving aerodynamics and stealth capabilities. How does flying-wing tech contribut... Read More...

Protecting Endangered Turtles

Dec 16, 2023

Why are Ganges turtles endangered? The Ganges turtles are endangered due to illegal hunting and smuggling, habitat destruction, and pollution in their natural habitats, such as the Ganges river and its tributaries. What are the challenges in turtle conservation? Conservation efforts are challenged by illegal wildlife trade, inadequate funding for habitat restoration, and a lack of public awareness about the plight of these species. How are authorities combating the illegal turtle trade? Authorities like ... Read More...

GRIHA Council: FAQs on Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment

Dec 16, 2023

What is GRIHA? GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is India’s national rating system for green buildings, which evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a ‘green building’. Who governs the GRIHA rating system? The GRIHA Council, an independent, not-for-profit society jointly setup by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India, administers GRIHA. Read More...

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023

Dec 16, 2023

Mining Law to Allow Private Sector Participation in Critical Mineral Exploration 1. What is the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023? The bill amends the MMDR Act of 1957 to encourage private sector participation in exploring essential and deep-seated minerals. It designates six minerals, including lithium, as “critical and strategic,” previously reserved for government entities. 2. Why are these minerals termed “critical and strategic”? These minerals, like lithium and cobalt... Read More...