UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Preserving India's Grasslands: Challenges and Solutions

Jun 06, 2024

Overview of Grasslands From the lofty Himalayas to the montane Shola forests of the Western Ghats, and from the arid Thar Desert to the fertile floodplains in the east, grasslands once covered nearly two-thirds of India. These ecosystems, dominated by grasses with scattered woody plants, are rich in biodiversity, hosting 260 to 500 endemic species, many discovered in the last two decades. They are home to rare birds like the Great Indian bustard and animals like the one-horned rhinoceros and swamp deer, supporting pastoral communities that ... Read More...

INDIA'S DEFENSE EXPORTS: AIMING FOR THE TOP 10

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction India, traditionally one of the largest weapons importers, is now striving to join the ranks of the world's top defense exporters. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently announced that India's defense exports crossed ₹21,000 crores ($2.63 billion) for the first time. India's strategy includes leveraging its 'Big Weapons' such as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, BrahMos Missile, Light Combat Helicopters, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launch System (MLRS), and Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). Growth of Defe... Read More...

Understanding India's Grasslands: Decline, Causes, and Conservation

Jun 06, 2024

India reported a significant loss of grasslands between 2005 and 2015, highlighting a 31% reduction. The area under grasslands reduced from 18 million hectares (mha) to 12.3 mha, severely impacting states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. This decline, presented by the Union government at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) during the 14th Conference of Parties (COP), has brought attention to the various factors driving this loss and the urgent need for conservation efforts. What Are Grasslands? Read More...

CLIMATE CHANGE & MENTAL HEALTH: IMPACT OF EXTREME HEAT

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction Extreme heat, driven by climate change, is not just a physical health concern but also significantly impacts mental health. This is particularly relevant for countries like India, where heat wave... Read More...

ENDANGERED GREATER ADJUTANT STORKS: CONSERVATION IN ASSAM

Jun 06, 2024

Hargila Introduction to Greater Adjutant Storks The Greater Adjutant Stork, locally known as “Hargila” in Assam, is an endangered species of stork primarily found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This large bird is known for its distinct appearance, with a long neck, large bill, and a prominent gular pouch. Habitat and Distribution Greater Adjutant Storks are usually found in wetlands, agricu... Read More...

OCEANS AND CLIMATE: IMPACT ON INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction The Earth’s climate is experiencing unprecedented changes, and the oceans are emerging as a likely candidate for a new mystery feedback affecting global temperatures. Since the start of the industr... Read More...

CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction to Chandra X-ray Observatory The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a space telescope launched by NASA in 1999 to detect X-rays emitted by high-energy events in the universe. These X-rays, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, help astronomers study phenomena like black holes, supernovae, and the formation and death of stars. The telescope is named after the Nobel Prize-winning Indian astrophysicist Read More...

BUGYALS: HIMALAYAN ALPINE MEADOWS

Jun 06, 2024

The Himalayan alpine meadows, known as bugyals, are biodiversity hotspots housing several endemic species of plants and animals. Biodiversity and Significance Bugyals, starting at 3000 meters above sea level, extend up to 4500 meters where the snowline begins. These meadows span the west to east Himalayan mountain range and are home to various endemic species like Indian aconite, spikenard muskroot, and the caterpillar fungus cordyceps. Many of these species are critically endangered and hold significant medicinal and economi... Read More...

INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIA

Jun 06, 2024

What is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)? The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a climate phenomenon characterized by the difference in sea surface temperatures between two regions of the Indian Ocean: the western Indian Ocean (near the coast of Africa) and the eastern Indian Ocean (near Indonesia). It has three phases: positive, negative, and neutral. Phases of the IOD • Positive IOD: Warmer sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean and cooler temperatures in the e... Read More...

ENSO NEUTRALITY: “LA NADA” SIMPLIFIER

Jun 06, 2024

What is ENSO? The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural climate cycle characterized by periodic variations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO has three phases... Read More...

MADDEN JULIAN OSCILLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIA’S MONSOON

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction to Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a moving pattern of unusual rainfall near the equator. It moves eastward, causing changes in rainfall over large areas. This pattern, which lasts between 30-60 days, significantly affects global weather, including monsoons and tropical storms. Behavior of the MJO The MJO is a key factor in tropical weather changes. It involves large patterns in atmospheric circulation and heavy rain, moving slowly east through the Indian and Pacific ... Read More...

ASTROSAT DISCOVERS UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR AROUND BLACK HOLE

Jun 06, 2024

Introduction AstroSat, India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, has made a significant discovery regarding the black hole binary source Swift J1727.8-1613. A collaborative team of astrophysic... Read More...

ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVES and PASSIVE EUTHANASIA

Jun 05, 2024

What is a living will? A living will is a written document that specifies a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment in circumstances where they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. Who was the first person in Goa to register a living will? Justice M S Sonak of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court was the first person to register a living will in Goa. When was the living will registered? Read More...

SOIL MICROORGANISMS

Jun 05, 2024

DEFINITION AND TYPES Soil microorganisms are tiny living organisms in the soil, essential for maintaining soil health and fertility. They include: 1. Bacteria: Single-celled organisms that decompose organic matter, fix nitrogen, and enhance soil structure. 2. Fungi: Decompose complex organic materials, form symbiotic relationships with plants (mycorrhizae), and improve nutrient uptake. 3. Actinomycetes: Bacteria-like organisms that decompose tough plant material... Read More...

ISRO’S “PRAVAHA”:SIMPLIFIER

Jun 05, 2024

WHAT IS “PRAVAHA”? “PraVaHa” is a special software developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to help scientists and engineers design and analyze how air flows around rockets, airplanes, and other vehicles that travel through the atmosphere. It stands for “Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis”. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? When rockets or spacecraft travel through the Earth’s atmosp... Read More...