UPSC Daily Current Affairs

FORM 17 C AND VOTER TURNOUT DATA

May 21, 2024

1. What is Form 17 C? - Form 17 C, also known as the "Polling Station Wise Result Sheet," is a document prepared by the presiding officer at each polling booth. It contains detailed information including the absolute number of votes polled at the booth, the total number of registered electors, and other pertinent details. This form is crucial for ensuring transparency in the electoral process. Read More...

MELTING ANTARCTICA and WORLD'S OCEANS AND ECOSYSTEMS

May 21, 2024

What Is Happening in Antarctica? Ice Melt - Rising Temperatures: Due to global warming, temperatures in Antarctica are rising, causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt at an accelerated rate. - Weddell and Thwaites Glaciers: The Weddell Sea region and Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier," are experiencing significant ice loss... Read More...

WHO BACTERIAL PATHOGENS PRIORITY LIST

May 21, 2024

1. What is the Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL)? - The BPPL is a document published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that categorizes antibiotic-resistant bacteria into critical, high, and medium priority levels based on their threat to global health, ability to resist treatment, and potential to spread resistance. 2. Why was the BPPL updated? Read More...

SINO-RUSSIAN ALLIANCE: IMPACT ON GLOBAL POLITICS AND INDIA

May 21, 2024

Deepening Sino-Russian Relations Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China underscores a deepening alliance between Moscow and Beijing, marked by increasing military collaborations and significant economic ties. This visit, Putin's first foreign state trip since his latest term began, coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's recognition of the People’s Republic of China, reflecting longstanding ties now reinforced by ... Read More...

Targeting of Indian and Pakistani Students in Bishkek: Analysis

May 21, 2024

Why Indian and Pak students were targeted in Kyrgyz capital,Bishkek In May 2024, Indian and Pakistani students were targeted in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, due to a series of events that escalated tensions between local Kyrgyz people and foreign students. The initial trigger was an incident involving the alleged harassment of female students from Egypt by a group of foreign students. This incident led to a brawl, which was perceived by some Kyr... Read More...

SRIRAM's IAS CIVIL SERVICES UPDATES 20/5/24:The Hindu

May 21, 2024

1. IRAN PRESIDENT RAISI DIES FOLLOWING HELICOPTER ACCIDENT - Summary: President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran is dead after his helicopter crashed in the Jolfa region amid poor weather conditions. The incident, which also involved Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, has triggered a full-scale search operation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for national calm, assuring that governmental operations will continue uninterrupted. 2.... Read More...

NEW CALEDONIA UNREST: FAQS

May 21, 2024

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW CALEDONIA? New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, is experiencing severe unrest due to protests against French plans to change voting rules. The unrest has led to violence, roadblocks, and the closure of the main airport. WHY ARE PEOPLE PROTESTING? Protests were sparked by proposed changes that would grant voting rights to tens of thousands of non-Indigenous residents. Indigenous Kanaks believe these changes would dilute their... Read More...

UTTARAKHAND’S PINE TREES AND THE FOREST FIRES

May 20, 2024

THE PROBLEM WITH CHIR PINE TREES Uttarakhand’s chir pine trees, which cover almost 16.5% of the state’s forested area, have been a significant factor in forest fires. The chir pine, scientifically known as Pinus roxburghii, has inflammable needles and resin-filled cones that easily catch fire. These characteristics make forest fires in regions like Mussoorie and Landour particularly difficult to control. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND... Read More...

PROTECTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE FROM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EXPLOITATION

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH CURRENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) LAWS? Current IP laws often fail to protect traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, allowing companies from developed nations to patent products based on knowledge that has been part of traditional practices in developing countries for centuries. This practice is known as biopiracy. WHY IS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VULNERABLE? Traditional knowledge, often passed down orally through generations, does not ... Read More...

India's Critical Minerals: Strengthening Value Chain Initiatives

May 20, 2024

IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL MINERALS Critical minerals, often referred to as the ‘new oil’, are essential for clean energy technologies such as solar modules, wind turbines, batteries, and transmission networks. Minerals like lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, silicon, graphite, and rare earth elements (REE) are crucial for the energy transition. The International Energy Agency predicts a four-fold increase in the demand for these minerals by 2040. However, the concentration of these mineral reserves in a... Read More...

INDIA'S STANCE ON GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

May 20, 2024

INTRODUCTION India, as the fifth highest generator of plastic waste, plays a crucial role in global discussions on plastic pollution. Recently, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) deliberated on a legally binding agreement to combat plastic pollution. KEY POINTS 1. No Binding Targets on Plastic Production: - India opposes binding targets or cap... Read More...

AIRAWAT LOGISTICS DRONE DEPLOYMEN

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS AIRAWAT? AIRAWAT is a high-altitude logistics drone developed by the Ordnance Equipment Factory Hazratpur (OEF Hazratpur). It is designed to strengthen logistical capabilities in the challenging terrains of the Himalayas. WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF AIRAWAT? - Configuration: Multirotor E-VTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) - MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight): 80 kg - Payload ... Read More...

FALLING BIRTH RATES:STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS IT

May 20, 2024

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE Falling birth rates are a concern because they can lead to an aging population and a shrinking workforce. This makes it challenging to support economic growth and pay for pensions and healthcare for the elderly. SUPPORTING FAMILIES 1. Childcare and Financial Support: • Childcare Provision: Governments can provide affordable and accessible childc... Read More...

HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS:KERALA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE

May 20, 2024

WHAT INITIATIVES HAS KERALA TAKEN TO REDUCE HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS? Kerala has introduced species-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in 10 wildlife zones to reduce human-animal conflicts. These SOPs include guidelines such as identifying raiding animals, tracking and radio-collaring them, and developing early warning systems. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES FACED? - Human-animal conflicts, particularly with wild elephants and wild boars, remain significa... Read More...

SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TESTS

May 20, 2024

WHAT IS A SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TEST? A sub critical nuclear test is an experiment conducted to study the behavior of nuclear materials without initiating a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. These tests are designed to gather data on the properties of nuclear weapons materials under controlled conditions. HOW DO SUB CRITICAL NUCLEAR TESTS DIFFER FROM FULL-SCALE NUCLEAR TESTS? Sub critical nuclear tests do not involve a nucl... Read More...