UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Differences between meteoroid, a meteor, an asteroid, and a comet:

Sep 11, 2023

1. Meteoroid: • Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic objects that range in size from a grain of sand to a few meters across. • They can be found throughout space and are remnants from the formation of the solar system. • Meteoroids become meteors when they enter Earth’s atmosphere and create a streak of light due to friction. 2. Meteor: • A meteor is a meteoroid that has entered Earth’s atmosphere and is burning u... Read More...

Comet Nishimura

Sep 11, 2023

What is a comet? A comet is a celestial object composed primarily of ice, dust, gas, and rocky material. These objects travel through space in highly elliptical orbits, which means they can come relatively close to the Sun and then move far away into the outer regions of the solar system. Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs” because of their icy composition. What happens when a comet approaches sun? When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes the ices within it to vaporize and release gas and dust. This process cr... Read More...

Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

Sep 11, 2023

India launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) at the G20 Leadership Summit in New Delhi. The launch aims to accelerate the adoption of biofuels, establish global standards, and encourage industry participation. Membership and Participants: 12 international organizations and 15 countries are willing to be initiating members of the GBA. Four nations have expressed interest in becoming observer countries. Notable absences from the al... Read More...

AfPak:Terrorism and Its New Forms for India

Sep 11, 2023

Q1: How has the instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan influenced the security dynamics in South Asia? A1: The instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan has created a more complex and volatile security environment in South Asia. The rise of extremist groups and the increase in cross-border terrorist activities have posed substantial threats to the region's peace and security, urging neighboring countries, including India, to ramp up their security measures and counterterrorism efforts. Q2: What concerns does India have regarding the political instability in Pakistan? Read More...

Lightning and Palm Tree Plantation Drive

Sep 11, 2023

What is the initiative about? The Odisha Government has renewed its effort to increase the plantation of palm trees along vacant road patches and areas bordering forests. This is to leverage the trees' capacity to act as protective barriers against lightning during thunderstorms. Why are palm trees being chosen for this initiative? Palm trees have proven to be effective electrical conductors for lightning, thus helping in reducing the incidence of lightning strikes in the nearby areas. This attribute, coupled with their long lifespan (almo... Read More...

Tribal Culture at G20

Sep 11, 2023

Raimati Ghiuria: Tribal Farmer and Conservationist Journey to the G-20 International Conference Raimati Ghiuria, a renowned farmer from Kundura Block in Koraput district, is headed to Delhi to partake in discussions at the prestigious G-20 International Conference. Representing her region, she aims to share insights into the diverse varieties of ragi and other millet grains that are traditionally cultivated in the Koraput region. Farming Expertise and Achievements Read More...

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) Overview

Sep 11, 2023

Definition Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are strategic units established by companies to house critical functions such as R&D (Research and Development), IT (Information Technology), and BPM (Business Process Management) in locations different from their headquarters. These centers aim to leverage the local talent pool, technological advancements, and economic benefits to support a company's global operations. Current Landscape in India (2023) Number of GCCs: 1,580 established, housing over 1.66 million professionals. ... Read More...

World Bank's G20 Report:Financial Inclusion in india

Sep 09, 2023

India’s Accelerated Financial Inclusion Achievements : India reached its financial inclusion targets in just six years, a milestone originally anticipated to take 47 years, propelled significantly by the advent of digital advancements. JAM Trinity : Leveraging Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) to skyrocket the financial inclusion rate from 25% in 2008 to over 80% recently. PMJDY Growth : Through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana initiative, account owner... Read More...

Pradhan Mantri Kusum Scheme (PM-Kusum)

Sep 09, 2023

Q1: What is the PM-KUSUM scheme in India, and what is its objective? A: The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana) scheme is a government initiative aimed at promoting the use of solar pumps in agriculture. Its primary objectives are to ensure energy and water security for farmers, reduce the environmental impact of traditional pumps, and reduce dependence on grid-connected and diesel pumps. Q2: How significant is the electricity consumption in the agriculture sector in India? A: The electricity consumptio... Read More...

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for Battery Energy Storage

Sep 09, 2023

What is VGF for Battery Storage? VGF is a grant provided to bridge the financial gap in commercially unviable but socially beneficial projects, particularly for battery storage.Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for battery storage is a financial mechanism introduced to make energy storage projects more economically viable. While many renewable energy projects, especially those based on solar and wind, have huge potential, they often face challenges due to the intermittent nature of their energy production. Batteries can store energy during peak production times and discharge it when production is low, ensuring consistent energy ava... Read More...

Depleted Uranium Munitions

Sep 09, 2023

What is uranium? Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element used primarily for nuclear power production due to its ability to undergo fission. It's found in small amounts in the Earth's crust. How does uranium get depleted? Depleted uranium (DU) is a by-product of the enrichment process for producing nuclear fuel. Natural uranium contains about 0.7% of the U-235 isotope, vital for nuclear reactions. During enrichment, the percentage of U-235 is increased, leaving behind uranium with a significantly lower proportion of U-235, ... Read More...

Old Pension Scheme vs National Pension System

Sep 09, 2023

table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; margin: 20px auto; } th, td { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 8px; text-align: left; } th { background-color: #f2f2f2; } tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f2f2f2; } Aspect National Pension System (NPS) Old Pension Scheme (OPS) Retirement Savings Managed by PFRDA Traditional pension system Membership Covers employees who joined after Jan 1, 2004 Read More...

The French Laïcité and Recent Controversies

Sep 09, 2023

1. What is the French idea of Laïcité? Laïcité is the French principle of secularism. It signifies a formal separation of the State and Church, with religious values removed from the public sphere, replaced by secular values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity. The principle mandates that religion should remain within the private sphere. 2. Why did the French government recently ban the wearing of abaya in state-run schools? The French education minister stated that this decision was in line with the principle of ... Read More...

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and LPG Cylinder Prices

Sep 09, 2023

1. What is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)? PMUY is a scheme aimed at providing LPG gas cylinders to rural and deprived households. 2. How many PMUY beneficiaries did not take cylinders or took only one refill in 2022-2023? One out of every four beneficiaries did not take any cylinders or took just one refill. 3. Why are many beneficiaries not refilling their cylinders? The spike in LPG cylinder prices made them expensive. Rates have nearly doubled sin... Read More...

Federalism & The 'One Nation One Election' Proposal

Sep 09, 2023

What is federalism? Federalism is a system of governance in which powers are divided between a central authority and constituent political units, like states. How does the 'one nation one election' proposal impact federalism? Critics argue that the proposal could erode the autonomous decision-making power of individual states, centralizing authority and undermining India's federal structure. Why is federalism significant for India? India is a divers... Read More...