UPSC Daily Current Affairs

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...

Anthropogenic Evolution: Humans' Impact on Animal Evolution - FAQs

May 20, 2024

1. What is anthropogenic evolution? Anthropogenic evolution refers to the ways in which human activities are altering the course of evolution for other species. This can happen through habitat alteration, pollution, climate change, hunting, and other factors. 2. How are humans driving this evolution? Humans are causing changes in the environment that force... Read More...

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATERWAYS, COASTS, AND LAKES

May 20, 2024

Rising Sea Levels - Coastal Erosion: Rising sea levels lead to increased coastal erosion, which results in the loss of beaches and homes. - Saltwater Intrusion: Higher sea levels cause saltwater to infiltrate freshwater sources, contaminating drinking water supplies. Ocean Acidification Read More...

NEW CALEDONIA RIOTS

May 20, 2024

Where Is New Caledonia? New Caledonia is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, located between Australia and Fiji. It has been a French territory since the 19th century. What Sparked the Unrest in New Caledonia? The unrest began after lawmakers in Paris voted to change the electoral rolls, allowing more French residents to vote. Indigenous leaders argued that this move would dilute the political influence of the native Kanak people.... Read More...

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIA

May 20, 2024

What Are the Economic Dimensions of Climate Change in India? GDP Decline Climate change is expected to significantly impact India's economy. Research indicates that a 1°C increase in global temperature could lead to a substantial decline in GDP. For India, this could translate into billions of dollars in economic losses annually. Read More...

INDIA'S ECONOMIC INFLUENCE IN AFRICA VS CHINA

May 20, 2024

What Is India's Current Economic Presence in Africa? Trade and Investment - Bilateral Trade: In FY23, India's bilateral trade with Africa reached almost $100 billion, whereas China's trade with the continent was nearly $282 billion. - Foreign Direct Inv... Read More...

Venezuela: First Country to Lose All Glaciers to Climate Change

May 20, 2024

What Happened to Venezuela's Glaciers? Venezuela has reached a significant and grim milestone in the battle against climate change by losing its last glacier. The Humboldt glacier, also known as La Corona, has diminished to the extent that it no longer meets the criteria for glacier classification. How Significant Was Vene... Read More...

MONITORING TECTONIC MOVEMENTS WITH NISAR SATELLITE

May 20, 2024

What Are Tectonic Movements? Tectonic Plates - Earth's Crust: The Earth's outer shell is divided into large pieces called tectonic plates. - Movement: These plates constantly move, albeit very slowly, over the planet's mantle. Read More...

THE NISAR SATELLITE

May 20, 2024

What Is the NISAR Satellite? NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a satellite developed jointly by NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It is designed to monitor and study Earth's land and ice surfaces. What Does the NISAR Satellit... Read More...

SRIRAM'S CIVIL SERVICES UPDATE: THE HINDU TODAY

May 20, 2024

VOTER TURNOUT DATA DELAYS - Summary: This section explains the reasons behind delays in uploading voter turnout data, the concerns raised by such delays, the importance of Form 17C, judicial responses, and possible measures to address these issues. SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN TREE COVER ON INDIAN FARMLANDS: A DETAILED SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS - Summary: This outlines the study on tree cover loss in... Read More...

IMPACT OF LA NIÑA ON INDIA

May 20, 2024

What is La Niña? La Niña is a climate pattern that describes the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It is the opposite phase of El Niño, which is characterized by warmer sea temperatures. La Niña events typically occur every two to seven years and can last from several ... Read More...