UPSC Daily Current Affairs

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...

Casteism

Oct 09, 2023

Facts and Perspective on Caste Discrimination in IITs Survey Findings 75% of SC/ST/OBC students negatively affected by casteist comments. 59% of general category students either agree with or are neutral to casteist remarks. 41% of respondents across categories reported casteist remarks on campus. 11% knew of professors/administrative staff making casteist comments. 53% of SC and ST students felt intentional casteist comments are passed on campus. 33% of general category respondents found certain casteist comments a... Read More...

52nd GST Council Meeting - Outcomes and Rationale

Oct 09, 2023

What were the main decisions made during the meeting? Tax Rates on Millet-Based Products:Lowered Age-Related Norms for GST Appellate Tribunals: Tweaked Taxation Rights on Extra Neutral Alcohol: Ceded to States 28% Tax on Online Betting: Affirmed, effective from October 1 Tax Demands on E-Gaming Firms: Discussed but clarified as not retrospective Future Perspective Plan: Discussed imposing a cess or surcharge on top of GST levies after March 2026 Treatment of Guarantees: Clarified ... Read More...

FAQ: Israel 'at war' as Hamas Attack Leaves 200 Dead

Oct 09, 2023

What happened in the recent attack by Hamas on Israel? Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing at least 200 people. The attack involved gunmen crossing into Israel and firing rockets from Gaza. Hamas also claimed to have taken dozens of hostages, including senior Israeli officials. What has been Israel's response? Israel has retaliated with air strikes into Gaza, resulting in at least 198 Palestinian deaths and 1,610 injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is in a war and vowed that the enemy will pay a heavy p... Read More...

Non-Tariff Barriers at WTO

Oct 07, 2023

India is gearing up to address the issue of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that its industries face in global markets. The country plans to bring this up at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) committee meeting. The Commerce Department is collecting data from various industry bodies to prepare a comprehensive list of items that face such barriers. Key Points: Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs): These are trade barriers that restrict imports but are not in the usual form of a tariff. They include standards, licenses, and quotas. ... Read More...

RBI's Decision Explained:Repo Rate Stayed

Oct 07, 2023

Inflation Targeting: RBI aims to keep inflation at a 4% target, viewing high inflation as a risk to macroeconomic stability. High inflation erodes purchasing power and can lead to economic instability. A 4% target is seen as a balanced level that neither stifles growth nor allows prices to spiral out of control. Unchanged Interest Rates: The policy repo rate remains at 6.50%, unchanged for the fourth consecutive meeting. Despite a decline in core inflation, uncertainties like volati... Read More...

Revenue Riddles in India's GST Collections

Oct 07, 2023

Q: What is the overall trend in GST collections? A: GST collections stand at over ₹9.92 lakh crore halfway through the financial year, marking an 11.1% increase over the same period last year. The average monthly revenue is ₹1,65,418 crore. Q: Is there a slowdown in GST inflows? A: Yes, the growth rate dropped to 10.2% in September, the slowest since July 2021. The average growth also dipped to 10.6% in Q2 from 11.5% in Q1. Q: What impact did compliance measures have? Read More...

Study Highlights Extinction Risk for Amphibians Due to Climate Change

Oct 07, 2023

Q: What is the main finding of the study? A: The study reveals that 2 out of every 5 amphibians are threatened with extinction, primarily due to climate change and habitat degradation. Q: Who conducted the study? A: The study was coordinated by the Amphibian Red List Authority,part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and managed by Re:wild, a wildlife conservation group. Q: How many species were evaluated? A: Over 8,000 amphibian specie... Read More...

National Medical Commission's Guide on Professional Ethics

Oct 07, 2023

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a booklet titled "Professional Conduct Review - lessons from case archives," aiming to guide Registered Medical Practitioners on ethical conduct. The publication emphasizes the importance of compassion and empathy in the doctor-patient relationship, explored through nine case studies. It identifies the communication gap as the most frequent cause of complaints against medical professionals. The booklet warns that a deficit in trust can lead to legal actions against doctors. This initiative highlights the critical role of effective communication and trust-building in medical ethics, serving as a valua... Read More...

2023 Nobel Peace Prize

Oct 07, 2023

Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned Iranian activist, won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her work on women's rights and democracy, and against the death penalty. Despite multiple arrests and years in prison, she continues to lead women-led protests in Iran. The Nobel Committee hopes the award encourages the movement and urges Iran to release her for the ceremony. Mohammadi sees the prize as a boost for Iranians advocating for change. Read More...

Exploring the Treasure Trove of Ghoda Gali

Oct 07, 2023

1. Where is Ghoda Gali located? • About 3 km before the main historical town of Gool Gulab Garh. 2. What kind of statues can be found in Ghoda Gali? • Equestrian statues, life-sized horses, and spring Bowles adorned with floral and geometrical designs. 3. What is the significance of these statues? • The riders on horseback statues are shown with armory suits, hinting at a historical or warrior context. ... Read More...