UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Superconductivity at Room Temperature South Korea Claims Breakthrough

Aug 02, 2023

Why are we talking about it? A team of physicists from South Korea has announced the creation of a new room-temperature superconductor. The material, which is called LK-99, is made up of a modified form of lead apatite. It has been shown to conduct electricity with zero resistance at temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, which is well above room temperature. The discovery of LK-99 is a major breakthrough in the field of superconductivity. What is a superconductor? Regular conductors, li... Read More...

Israel's Judicial Reforms and Controversy

Aug 02, 2023

Changes to Israel's legal system are aimed at limiting the powers of the Supreme Court and reshaping the process of selecting judges. Main provisions of the legislative reforms are as follows: ☛ Limiting Supreme Court's Powers: It limits the Supreme Court's ability to rule against decisions made by the legislature and the executive.The Knesset (Israeli parliament) would have the authority to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority. This move is aimed at reducing judicial oversight and increasing the influence of the elected branches of government. ☛ Restricting Review of Basic Law... Read More...

Reservation Benefits for Transgender Persons in India

Aug 02, 2023

1. What is the recent development regarding reservation benefits for transgender persons in India? The Central government has informed the Supreme Court that there is no separate reservation provided exclusively for transgender persons in education or employment. 2. Can transgender persons avail of any reservation benefits? Yes, transgender persons can avail of reservation benefits if they belong to existing categories, which include Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educat... Read More...

India's Proposal for UN Counter-Terrorism Sanctions Regime and China's Double Standards

Aug 02, 2023

Q.What is India's proposal regarding UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime within BRICS? India has proposed that BRICS nations should jointly prepare a list of terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime. The objective is to ensure a fair and unbiased approach to countering terrorism within BRICS countries and avoid the use of double standards in dealing with terrorist entities. Q.How has China responded to the proposal? China's response to previous... Read More...

BRICS Summit and Expansion

Aug 01, 2023

Q. What is BRICS, and who are its member countries? BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These five countries are part of an association that aims to promote cooperation and collaboration in various areas, including economics, finance, culture, and geopolitics. Q. When and where is the 15th BRICS Summit taking place? The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participat... Read More...

Decline in Sex Ratio at Birth in India: Trends

Aug 01, 2023

Q. What is the recent trend in India's sex ratio at birth? The sex ratio at birth in India has shown a decline in 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) in the last three years, as per the Centre's reply in the Lok Sabha. This includes states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Q. What does the declining sex ratio at birth indicate about Indian society? The declining sex ratio at birth indicates a deeply ingrained societal preference for male children and a bias against ... Read More...

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023

Aug 01, 2023

Q1: What is the J&K Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023? A: The J&K Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a proposed amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. The Bill offers reservation of 9 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly for Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the first time. It seeks to complete the process of reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, where assembly elections are long due. It aims to increase the strength of the legislative assembly of the union territory to 114 from 107.It aims to reserve three seats in the J&K assembly for nom... Read More...

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023

Aug 01, 2023

Q: What is The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023? A: The Jan Vishwas Bill is a legislative proposal that seeks to decriminalize minor offenses in 42 central acts related to various sectors, including environment, agriculture, media, industry, trade, and publication. The objective of the bill is to reduce the burden of compliance and promote ease of living and doing business in India. It replaces criminal penalties with monetary fines for certain offenses to provide relief to small businesses, shopkeepers, hawkers, and owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME... Read More...

Nuclear families comprise half of Indian households in 2022. Implications of India having 50% of its families as nuclear:

Jul 31, 2023

The implications are multi pronged as given below: Changing Social Fabric: The rise of nuclear families signifies a transformation in the traditional social fabric of India. With fewer extended family members living together, there may be a shift in the dynamics of family relationships, support systems, and intergenerational interactions. Demographic Trends: The prevalence of nuclear families can influence India's demographic trends. Smaller family sizes may lead to slower population growth and changes in fertility rates, impacting the country's overall population dynamics. Read More...

Chabahar ,International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and India

Jul 31, 2023

1. What is the India-Iran Chabahar deal? The India-Iran Chabahar deal aims to develop and operate the Chabahar Port in Iran. Chabahar Port is a strategically located port in the Gulf of Oman, and India seeks to utilize it as a gateway to access landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian markets. 2. When was the deal initiated? India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) and Arya Banader of Iran signed a contract to develop the Chabahar Port in 2016. 3. What is the current status... Read More...

Ethanol & Food Security:The Trade-off

Jul 31, 2023

Q1: What is ethanol, and how is it produced? A: Ethanol is a type of biofuel produced from renewable plant sources such as sugarcane, maize, rice, and other grains. It is commonly used as a fuel additive to gasoline, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner fuel options. Q2: What is the significance of ethanol production in India? A: Ethanol production plays a crucial role in India's efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. It of... Read More...

Vibrant Village Programme vs Chinese Border Development Programmes

Jul 31, 2023

Government launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' at Kibithoo - a border village in 2023.It is a Centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages. The Vibrant Village Programme aims at comprehensive development of the select villages in mission mode and through multi-pronged strategy, by identification and development of key economic drivers based on local, natural, human and other resources. It will cover the border areas of Himachal Prade... Read More...

No Confidence Motion, Confidence Motion and constructive no confidence motion

Jul 29, 2023

No-confidence motion(NCM) in the Indian parliamentary system is a crucial mechanism to test the government's majority in the Lok Sabha. It is based on Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution which says that the Lok Sabha holds the Council of Ministers accountable as . There is a procedure in the Lok Sabha rules for it in Rule 198. In the Lok Sabha, a member has to submit a written notice for a no-confidence motion before 10 am. NCM need not mention any reasons for moving the motion. The speaker has no power to admit or reject it. The power is with the Lok Sabha itself. The Speaker read... Read More...

Stapled visa issue between India and China

Jul 28, 2023

Q: What are "stapled visas"? A: "Stapled visas" are a type of visa issued by China that denotes their contention that the Indian state to which the visa recipient belongs is a disputed territory. Q: Why did India lodge a protest against China's decision to issue stapled visas? A: India lodged a strong protest because China issued stapled visas to three Indian sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh who were part of a 12-member team traveling to the World University Games in Chengdu. Q: When did China first start issuing stapled visas to Indians? A... Read More...

Simultaneous Elections to Lok Sabha (House of The People) and Vidhan Sabhas (State Legislative Assemblies) For and Against

Jul 28, 2023

In India, simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha (House of The People) and Vidhan Sabhas (State Legislative Assemblies) were held in the years 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967. Thereafter, however, the schedule could not be maintained as there were midterm elections at both the levels and the election cycles differed. The justification for holding simultaneous elections is as follows: Cost Reduction: Conducting separate elections every year incurs massive expenditure. Simultaneous elections would save costs as the elections for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies would be combined, reducing the financial burden. Read More...