UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Shadow Banks in India

Sep 09, 2023

What are Shadow Banks? Shadow banks, also known as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), are financial institutions that provide services similar to traditional banks, such as lending and investment, but operate outside the regulatory framework of traditional banking. They are called "shadow banks" because they operate in the shadows of the traditional banking system without the same level of regulatory oversight. Why are They Called Shadow Banks? Shadow banks are termed as such because they perform banking-like activities but are... Read More...

Public Private Partnerships(PPP) for Infrastructure

Sep 08, 2023

NHAI's Road Development Strategies: BOT, HAM, and EPC Models What is NHAI planning for the next fiscal year? The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) intends to allocate approximately one-tenth of its road awards for the upcoming fiscal year through the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) route. This initiative was highlighted by Union road minister as an efficient model for infrastructure development. What is the BOT model? In BOT projects, private investors undertake the responsibility of ... Read More...

Where Do Farmers Get Their Income From?:Read On

Sep 08, 2023

In the wake of the year 2000, a discernible transformation has taken place in the primary income sources for agricultural households in India. Extracted from the Situation Assessment Surveys (SAS) conducted during 2003, 2014, and 2019, the data portrays a shifting landscape in income distribution across crucial categories—crop production, livestock farming, non-farm activities, and wages/salaries. This analysis offers a glimpse into the changing patterns of income allocation, emphasizing the significance of crop production, the role of livestock farming, the influence of non-farm activities, and the growing reliance on wages and salaries. The dataset pro... Read More...

India-China Relations: Points of Convergence and Divergence

Sep 08, 2023

Q1: What are points of convergence in India-China relations? A1: Points of convergence refer to areas where India and China share common interests or goals. These can include economic cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and addressing global challenges. Q2: What are points of divergence between India and China? A2: Points of divergence are areas where India and China have disagreements or conflicting interests. These can include unresolved territorial disputes, strategic competition, and differing geopolitical ambitions. Read More...

Brics Expansion: New Members Lay Bricks in the Wall of Economic Diversity - Presented by SRIRAM's

Sep 08, 2023

GDP Share of New Brics Members: The six new members of the Brics group—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—will collectively contribute only 11% to the GDP of the emerging economies grouping. Saudi Arabia's Highest Contribution: Among the new members, Saudi Arabia's GDP contribution is the highest at 4%, followed by Argentina, the UAE, and Egypt at 2% each, Iran at 1%, and Ethiopia with negligible impact. Impact on Brics' Share in Global GDP and Populat... Read More...

Chandrayaan-3: How Successful?

Sep 08, 2023

The Takeaways 1. What significant achievements has Chandrayaan-3 accomplished? Chandrayaan-3, launched by ISRO, has achieved groundbreaking results. The Pragyan rover equipped with LIBS has identified elements like aluminium, sulphur, calcium, iron, and more on the lunar surface. The Vikram lander recorded a 'moonquake' and detected a super-thin layer of plasma in the moon's atmosphere, revealing unique lunar phenomena. 2. How does the discovery of elements contribute to our knowledge of the moon? Read More...

Farm Mechanisation and the Parliamentary Committee Report 2023

Sep 08, 2023

1. What is farm mechanisation? Farm mechanisation refers to the utilization of machinery and equipment in agricultural activities to enhance efficiency, reduce manual labor, and improve overall productivity. 2. How does farm mechanisation benefit farmers? Farm mechanisation offers several benefits to farmers, including increased operational speed, optimized resource utilization, improved crop yields, reduced labor costs, and enhanced livelihoods. 3. What is the recent parliamentary committee report a... Read More...

Supreme Court Committee on Prison Reforms Recommendations and Their Rationale:

Sep 08, 2023

The "Supreme Court Committee on Prison Reforms," established by the Supreme Court of India, was tasked with addressing the state of affairs in prisons across the country. The committee, headed by ex-judge Amitava Roy, was formed in compliance with a 2018 order from the Supreme Court. Its purpose was to study and recommend reforms related to various aspects of the prison system, including overcrowding, conditions of inmates, and other related issues. 1. Segregation of Inmates: Recommendation: Mandatory segregation of undertrials, convicts, and first-ti... Read More...

Mithun :A "Food Animal"

Sep 08, 2023

What is the recent development regarding the classification of mithun bovine? Starting from September 1, the mithun (Bos frontalis) bovine, primarily found in the Northeastern states of India, has been classified as a "food animal" by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. What implications does this classification have? The classification of mithun as a "food animal" holds several implications: Export Opportunities: This classification opens doors... Read More...

For and Against: ‘One Nation, One Election

Sep 08, 2023

Navin Chawla and SY Quraishi For: A HEAVY POLL TOLL? Navin B. Chawla, former Chief Election Commissioner, suggests that the idea of simultaneous elections for all levels of government is worth considering. He acknowledges the potential benefits of such a move, including substantial time and cost savings. However, Chawla emphasizes the importance of political consultation and consensus-building before implementing such a reform. Chawla highlights the Election Commission’s continuous engagement in conducting elections throughout th... Read More...

G20 Summit and Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs)

Sep 08, 2023

1. What is the main issue surrounding DPIs at the G20 summit? Developed countries have shown resistance towards formalizing interoperable digital public infrastructures (DPIs) at the G20 summit due to concerns about data security and the potential threat to private payment networks. 2. What stance is India likely to take on DPIs? India may consider making interoperability a "long-term goal" in the Delhi declaration by the G20, given the absence of a consensus on DPIs among member countries. Read More...

AI

Sep 08, 2023

Sovereign AI and India's Socio Economic Challenges What is Sovereign AI Sovereign AI refers to a technology that a country controls end-to-end, including intellectual property. This ensures that a nation can run AI models using resources within its own borders and under its regulatory framework. Why sovereign AI? The main objective of having sovereign AI capability is for countries not to be reliant on external entities for data, intellectual property (IP), and cloud services. This is especially s... Read More...

Holding Simultaneous Elections: Merits and Demerits

Sep 08, 2023

Merits of Holding Simultaneous Elections: Developmental Continuity: Simultaneous elections can prevent developmental projects from stalling due to the imposition of the model code of conduct every time an election is held. Political Stability: It might prevent parties from being perpetually in campaign mode, thereby encouraging longer-term, more sustainable decision-making. Economic Efficiency: Conducting elections simultaneously can lead to considerable cost savings for both the... Read More...

Fiscal Impact of El Niño

Sep 08, 2023

What is El Niño? El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This warming can influence global weather patterns, including increased rainfall in some regions and drought in others. How does El Niño affect agriculture? El Niño can cause irregularities in weather patterns. For example, some agricultural areas may experience drought, leading to poor crop yields, while others might encounter excessive rainfall, resul... Read More...