UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Income Tax:Old and New Systems

Aug 10, 2023

The income tax system in India consists of two main regimes: the old tax regime and the new tax regime. Here's an overview of both systems: 1. Old Tax Regime: In the old tax regime, taxpayers can avail various deductions and exemptions under different sections of the Income Tax Act. These deductions can significantly reduce the taxable income and, subsequently, the tax liability. Some common deductions and exemptions under the old regime include: 1) Section 80C: Deductions for investments in specified financial... Read More...

Banks' Bad Loan Write-Offs:Causes,Benefits and Concerns

Aug 10, 2023

1. What is the significance of the information regarding banks' bad loan write-offs? The information highlights the amount of bad loans that banks in India have written off over a period of nine financial years, starting from 2014-15. It provides insights into the scale of non-performing assets (NPAs) and the efforts made by banks to manage their loan portfolios. 2. How much bad loans have banks written off in the past nine financial years? Banks have written off bad loans worth Rs 14.56 lakh crore in the past nine financial years, from 20... Read More...

General Essay

Aug 09, 2023

Loneliness and Changing Societal Dynamics in India Today 1. What are some of the social issues prevalent in India? India is known for various societal problems and challenges, including poverty, socio-economic inequality, religious bigotry, and patriarchal violence. 2. Is loneliness becoming a problem in Indian society? Yes, increasing loneliness is emerging as a significant concern in Indian society, affecting diverse sections of the population. Despite strong family and kinship ties, there is a grow... Read More...

Floods:Poor Disaster Management

Aug 09, 2023

1. What is the current situation of floods in India in 2023? In 2023, India has experienced unprecedented monsoon fury resulting in significant loss of lives, destruction of crops, property, and infrastructure. Several regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, have been severely affected. 2. What data has been presented regarding flood losses in the last decade? A report filed in the Rajya Sabha provides data from the Jal Shakti Ministry for the period of 2012-2021. The report states that over 17,000 people have died in floods ... Read More...

Malabar Exercises

Aug 09, 2023

Q: What is the Malabar multilateral naval exercise and who participates in it? The Malabar exercise is a significant multilateral naval training event that involves the participation of four major maritime powers: India, Australia, Japan, and the United States. Designed to enhance naval cooperation, interoperability, and tactical proficiency, this exercise is a demonstration of the shared commitment to maintaining a secure and stable maritime environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Q: What is the location and duration of the Malabar exercise? ... Read More...

Understanding Ponzi Schemes

Aug 09, 2023

Odisha Fraudster 1. What is a Ponzi scheme? A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment scheme where returns are paid to earlier investors using the capital from newer investors, rather than from actual profit earned. The scheme relies on the constant influx of new investments to sustain itself. 2. How do Ponzi schemes operate? Ponzi schemes typically promise high returns with little or no risk to investors. These schemes often use attractive marketing tactics to lure individuals by emphasizing consiste... Read More...

Aditya L1

Aug 09, 2023

Curtain Raiser Aditya-L1 is tentatively scheduled for August 26 .Aditya L1 is an exciting Indian space mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft will be placed in a special orbit around the Sun, called the Lagrange point 1 (L1), which is about 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth. This unique position allows the spacecraft to continuously observe the Sun without any interruptions. Aditya L1 carries seven special tools, called payloads, to study different parts of the Sun. These tools will help scientists understand the Sun's upper atmosphere and its outermost layer... Read More...

Curbing Film and Digital Piracy

Aug 09, 2023

Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 1. What is the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023? The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a legislative proposal that amends the existing Cinematograph Act of 1952. The bill introduces several changes to the Act to address issues related to film certification and film piracy. 2. What are the key provisions of the Bill? The key provisions of the Bill include the introduction of new age-based film certification categories ("UA 7+", "UA 13+"... Read More...

Drug Abuse in India

Aug 09, 2023

1. What is yesterday’s report about drug abuse in India? The recent report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment is titled "Drug abuse among young persons: Problems and solutions." It highlights the fast spread of drug addiction among adults, young adults, and children in India. 2. What are the alarming findings of the report? The report expresses shock over the widespread drug abuse among children aged 10-17 years. It mentions that opioids, sedatives, and inhalants are prevalent among childr... Read More...

National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023:Contents and Constitutionality

Aug 09, 2023

Q: What is the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023? A: The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is a proposed legislation introduced by the Union Government of India to nullify the effect of the Supreme Court's judgment in Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India. The bill seeks to give primacy to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in matters related to the transfer and postings of civil servants serving the Delhi Government. Q: What was the Supreme Court's judgment in the Government of NCT of Delhi v. U... Read More...

Supreme Court Stay on Rahul Gandhi's Conviction for 'Modi' Remark

Aug 09, 2023

Q: What criminal defamation case is Rahul Gandhi involved in? A: Rahul Gandhi faced a criminal defamation case for his 'Modi' surname remark allegedly made at a political rally in Karnataka in 2019. Q: What did the Supreme Court do in response to Rahul Gandhi's conviction? A: The Supreme Court stayed Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the criminal defamation case. A three-judge Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai issued the stay order. Q: Why was the conviction stayed? Read More...

Yenadi Tribe in Andhra Pradesh

Aug 09, 2023

Q: Who are the Yenadis, and what are the living conditions like for this tribe in Andhra Pradesh? A: The Yenadis, also known as Yanadi, are a Scheduled Tribe living in extreme conditions of poverty and social exclusion in Andhra Pradesh. They have a nomadic way of life, which makes it difficult for governments to reach out to the community with help and support. Q: Where is the village Telaprolu Cheruvu Katta located, and what are some challenges faced by the Yenadi community in this area? A: Telaprolu Cheruvu Katta is a village in Krishna dis... Read More...

Parliamentary Panel on Civil Service Recruitment

Aug 09, 2023

Q&A 1. What is the concern raised by the parliamentary panel about civil service recruitment? The panel is concerned about the higher number of engineers being selected as civil servants, leading to a loss of exceptional doctors and engineers from specialized fields. 2. What percentage of candidates selected in recent years have technical or medical backgrounds? Over 70% of candidates selected in recent years through the UPSC Civil Services Exam had technical or medical backgrounds. ... Read More...

Chandrayaan-3 successfully entered lunar orbit

Aug 09, 2023

Note on Lander and Rover India's third unmanned mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-3, successfully entered lunar orbit after a thruster firing maneuver carried out from the Bengaluru-based ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC). The propulsion module will undergo a series of orbit reductions until it settles into an orbit 100 km above the lunar surface. On the sixth orbit, the module will release the lander, which carries the rover, to attempt a soft-landing near the Moon's south pole on August 23. The mission's primary goal is to achieve a soft-landing, making India the first country to do ... Read More...

BharatNet Project and Digital Divide

Aug 09, 2023

1. What is BharatNet? BharatNet is the government's ambitious project aimed at providing last-mile optical fiber-based connectivity to homes in all 6.4 lakh villages in India. It is one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world and aims to bridge the digital divide by ensuring internet connectivity reaches remote areas. 2. How much funding has been approved for BharatNet? The Union Cabinet has approved funding of ₹1,39,579 crore for scaling up the BharatNet project. This funding will be used to provide connectivity to the remain... Read More...