UPSC Daily Current Affairs

China-Russia Relationship: Implications for India's Strategy

May 27, 2024

Background: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a strong and growing partnership, highlighted during their summit in Beijing in May 2024. Their relationship is described as having "no limits" and is significant not just for them, but for the entire world, including India. Read More...

Demystifying Form 17C: Understanding its Role in Elections

May 27, 2024

What is Form 17C? Form 17C is a document used in Indian elections to record the number of votes cast at each polling station. Purpose: - Vote Counting: It provides an official account of the votes recorded in each Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). - Verification: Helps in verifying and cross-checking t... Read More...

Financial Crimes in Cambodia & Neighbors

May 24, 2024

What are Financial Crimes? Financial crimes refer to illegal acts committed with the intent of obtaining a financial gain. These crimes can be perpetrated by individuals, groups, or organized crime syndicates and typically involve fraud, theft, or deception. Common types of financial crimes include: 1. Digital Arrest Scams: Fraudsters falsely claim that the victim’s digital activities have led to an arrest warrant, demanding payment to ... Read More...

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE ON PALESTINE

May 24, 2024

1. What was the recent UNGA vote about? The UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted overwhelmingly in favor of supporting Palestine’s bid to become a full UN member. The resolution, which received 143 votes in favor including India , 9 against (including the US and Israel), and 25 abstentions, recognizes Palestine as qualified to join the UN and recommends that the UN Security Council reconsider the matter favorably. 2. What are the implications of this resolutio... Read More...

DU BOIS AND HIS VISION OF DEMOCRACY

May 24, 2024

W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist, had a profound vision of democracy that extended beyond mere political structures. Du Bois envisioned a democracy deeply rooted in equality, justice, and the full participation of all individuals, regardless of race or class. Key Elements of Du Bois’s Vision of Democracy: 1. Equality: Du Bois emphasized the need for genuine equality, where all citizens, particularly African Americans, would have equal opportunities and rights. He believed t... Read More...

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS (CPI-IW)

May 24, 2024

Introduction to CPI-IW: The Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) measures the relative changes in retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services consumed by industrial workers. This index is crucial for regulating wages and dearness allowance for millions of workers and employees in India. It also helps in measuring inflation and formulating policies. History and Base Years: - 1944 to 1949: Initial compilation of CPI-IW. - 1949 to 1960: Revised bas... Read More...

RBI'S DIVIDEND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA:SIMPLIFIER

May 24, 2024

Understanding the Dividend: A dividend is a portion of a company's or organization's profits distributed to its shareholders. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which functions as the central bank of the country, also generates profits (surplus)from various operations and distributes a portion of these profits as a dividend to the Government of India. How RBI Makes a Profit: The RBI makes profits through several channels: 1. Interest... Read More...

INDIA'S SUPPORT FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION AT THE UNITED NATIONS

May 24, 2024

India’s Statement at the UN: On May 2, 2024, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations reaffirmed India's commitment to a Two-State solution for Israel and Palestine. The representative emphasized that India supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within secure borders while considering Israel's security needs. Condemnation and Humanitarian Aid: India condemned the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas a... Read More...

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2024

May 24, 2024

1. What is the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)? The IDB, held annually on May 22, is a United Nations-recognized day to promote global biodiversity issues. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 during the Rio Earth Summit. 2. What is the significance of the 2024 theme, "Be Part of the Plan"? The 2024 theme emphasizes the role of individual and collective action in supporting the Kunming-Mon... Read More...

RBI's Gold Reserve Strategy

May 24, 2024

Why is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increasing its gold reserves? The RBI is bolstering gold reserves to: Diversify: Reduce reliance on the US dollar and spread risk. Hedge: Protect against inflation and currency fluctuations. Stability: Signal economic strength and instill investor confidence. Latest facts: ♦ A... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: WHY THE OCEAN’S COLOR CHANGES

May 24, 2024

What Causes the Ocean’s Color to Change? 1. What makes the ocean blue or green? • Phytoplankton: These tiny plants contain chlorophyll, which is green. The more phytoplankton present, the greener the water appears. • Clear Water: When there are fewer phytoplankton, the water appears blue because it reflects the sky and absorbs other col... Read More...

SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYDAY USE: SAR ON HAPS

May 24, 2024

Overview of SAR and HAPS High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS): • Solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) • Operate in the stratosphere, about 20 km above ground Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): • Technique for producing high-resolution images from radar systems •... Read More...

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MANGROVES

May 24, 2024

Mangroves, critical coastal ecosystems, are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. These unique forests store around 11 billion tonnes of carbon, nearly three times the amount stored by tropical forests of the same size. However, more than half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk due to climate change, with nearly one in five facing severe threats. Key Linkages Between Climate Change and Mangroves 1. Sea-L... Read More...

FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND WOMEN IN INDIA

May 24, 2024

The financial landscape in India has seen significant strides in recent years. However, the top 15 cities of India account for more than 60% of the total Assets Under Management (AUM), indicating a substantial urban-rural divide in financial product adoption. Progress in Financial Inclusion Bank Accounts and Credit Access: Over the past decade, India has witnessed a considerable increase in household access to bank accounts and UPI payments, with banks... Read More...

Gopi Thotakura: India's First Space Tourist

May 24, 2024

Gopi Thotakura, an Indian entrepreneur and pilot based in the United States, recently became the first Indian space tourist. He flew aboard a spacecraft from Blue Origin, a leading private space company. This short recreational trip to space took only about ten minutes from takeoff to landing, reaching a maximum altitude of 105 km above Earth. This altitude crosses the Karman line, the recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, classifying the journey as a sub-orbital space flight. Read More...