UPSC Daily Current Affairs

INDIAN CHESS REVOLUTION

Jun 03, 2024

A STAR-STUDDED TEAM'S QUEST FOR GOLD India's chess team, featuring prodigies D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, Raunak Sadhwani, and B Adhiban, secured a historic bronze at the Chennai Chess Olympiad. This remarkable achievement has fueled both the male and female teams' aspirations for gold, showcasing their determination and high ambitions. YOUTHFUL BRILLIANCE ON DISPLAY R Praggnanandhaa, at just 18 years old, faced World... Read More...

INDIA: AN EMERGING SCIENCE JUGGERNAUT SIMPLIFIER

Jun 03, 2024

Current Status of India's Scientific Research: - India ranks third globally in research output and eleventh in quality. - The number of universities increased from 760 to 1,113 between 2014 and 2021. Challenges Faced by Indian Scientific Research: - Many universities lack essential resources like advanced labs and access to scientific literature. - High costs of accessing commercial journals, with institutions spending ₹1,500 crore annually. Initiatives to I... Read More...

VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL

Jun 03, 2024

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, located off the coast of Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, is a tribute to Swami Vivekananda, a revered Hindu philosopher-saint. The memorial stands close to the monolithic statue of Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar and is considered a sacred place since ancient times. It commemorates Swami Vivekananda's meditation and enlightenment at "Shripada Parai" on December 24, 25, and 26 in 1892. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES Read More...

American Presidential Election: The Constitutional Process Simplifier

Jun 03, 2024

The President of the United States is elected through the Electoral College system, which is a bit complex and let's break it down step by step: 1. Primaries and Caucuses: Candidates from each political party compete to become their party's nominee. 2. General Election: The nominees from each party (usually two main parties: Democratic and Republican) run against each other. 3. Electoral College: Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its population (total: 538). 4. Popular Vote: Cit... Read More...

LIBERALISM:WHAT IS IT AND WHY NEED IT IN INDIA: SIMPLIFIER

Jun 03, 2024

What is Liberalism? Liberalism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, freedom, social justice, and democratic governance. It promotes the protection of individual rights and equality before the law. Why is Liberalism Necessary? - Promotes Democracy: Ensures that everyone has a voice in the political process and protects individual freedoms. - Encourages Equality: Strives to reduce... Read More...

US Elections: Primaries and Caucuses -Simplifier

Jun 03, 2024

Q: What are primaries and caucuses? A: Primaries and caucuses are ways for political parties to choose their candidates for the general election. Q: What's the difference between primaries and caucuses? A: Primaries are like elections, where you vote in a private booth. Caucuses are like meetings, where you discuss and vote with others in a public setting. Q: Why do we have primaries and caucuses? Read More...

BUILDING FIRES IN INDIA: SIMPLIFIER

Jun 03, 2024

Why Do Fire Accidents Happen? Fire accidents in India often result from: Negligence: Builders, proprietors, and regulatory authorities frequently disregard fire safety norms.Inadequate Infrastructure: There is a shortage of fire stations and fire service personnel. Outdated Safety Measures: Many buildings do not comply with modern fire safety standards. Recent Tragic Incidents: Rajkot, Gujarat: A fire at a gaming center. Delhi: A fire at a newborn nursing clinic. Read More...

India's Economic Growth: Harnessing Labor and Human Capital

Jun 03, 2024

1. What is the 'Make in India' strategy? The 'Make in India' initiative, launched in 2014, aims to boost domestic manufacturing, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and promote export-led growth. It focuses on sectors like industrial manufacturing, information technology, and digitalization. 2. Why has India struggled to reduce its trade deficit despite the 'Make in India' initiative? Several factors contribute to India's persistent ... Read More...

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ON VENUS SIMPLIFIER

Jun 03, 2024

What is Venus? Venus is the second planet from the Sun in our solar system. It is similar in size and structure to Earth but has a very harsh environment with extremely high temperatures and pressures. What is volcanism? Volcanism refers to the eruption of molten rock (lava), ash, and gases from beneath a planet's surface. It plays a crucial role in shaping the planet's surface and atmosphere. Why is Ve... Read More...

RUDRAM-II MISSILE TEST SIMPLIFIER

Jun 03, 2024

What is the RudraM-II missile? RudraM-II is an indigenously developed solid-propelled air-to-surface missile designed to neutralize various enemy assets. When and where was the RudraM-II successfully tested? The RudraM-II missile was successfully flight-tested on May 29, 2024, off the coast of Odisha. Which platform was used for the RudraM-II missile test? The test was conducted f... Read More...

CHENAB BRIDGE

Jun 03, 2024

What is the Chenab Bridge? The Chenab Bridge is the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge, located over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Read More...

WHY ZIMBABWE INTRODUCED THE NEW ZiG CURRENCY

Jun 03, 2024

WHAT IS ZiG? ZiG stands for "Zimbabwe Gold," the new gold-backed currency introduced by Zimbabwe to stabilize its economy. WHY WAS ZiG INTRODUCED? 1. Economic Crisis: Zimbabwe's economy has been in crisis for 25 years, with frequent currency issues and high inflation. The previous currency, the RTGS dollar, lost three-quarters of its value in a year. Annual inflation reached 55% in March... Read More...

SPICE EXPORTS and ETHYLENE OXIDE: SIMPLIFIER

Jun 01, 2024

CURRENT STATUS OF INDIAN SPICE EXPORTS India is a major player in the global spice market, exporting spices worth $4.4 billion in 2023-2024, marking a 12.3% increase from the previous financial year. Major exported spices include chilli, spice oils and oleoresins, curry powder and paste, cumin, mint products, cardamom, and pepper. Key markets for Indian spices are China, Bangladesh, West Asian countries, and the U.S. WHY ETHYLENE OXIDE IS USED FOR STERILISATION Ethylene Oxide (ETO) is used in India not as a pesticide but as a sterilis... Read More...

EUROPE’S AI CONVENTION SIMPLIFIER

Jun 01, 2024

WHAT IS EUROPE'S AI CONVENTION? Europe's AI convention, formally known as Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law, was adopted by Council of Europe (COE) on May 17, 2024. This convention aims to ensure AI activities align with human rights, democracy, and rule of law. WHAT IS A FRAMEWORK CONVENTION? Framework convention is a legally binding treaty that sets broad commitments and objectives. Specific targets and detail... Read More...

DAKHNI: SIMPLIFIER

Jun 01, 2024

WHAT IS DAKHNI? Dakhni is a language that shares the Perso-Arabic script with Urdu and Farsi. It is prevalent across the Deccan plateau, particularly in Hyderabad. Variants of Dakhni are spoken in Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. WHY IS DAKHNI SIGNIFICANT? Dakhni has historical and cultural significance. It has been a language of the common people since medieval times, with loan words from Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi. Sufis used Dakhni to ... Read More...