UPSC Daily Current Affairs

INDIA-JAPAN MOON MISSION TO SEARCH FOR WATER: DETAILS

May 16, 2024

What is the goal of the LUPEX mission? The primary goal of the LUPEX mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and JAXA, is to explore the moon's surface and subsurface to detect and analyze water. This involves confirming the presence of water, assessing its quantity, and understanding its distribution and form on and beneath the lunar surface. Who is responsible for the different components of the mission? ISRO is developing the lander that will ... Read More...

Meghalaya's Dinosaur Fossils: Prehistoric Revelations

May 16, 2024

A significant paleontological discovery has been made in the West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, India, where over 25 dinosaur fossils have been unearthed. These fossils, which date back 100 million years, are believed to belong to sauropods, specifically the Titanosauriform clade. This makes Meghalaya the fifth state in India to report such findings, joining Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. The identification of these fossils as belonging to sauropods, likely descendants of Titanosaurs, is based on several physical features. Notably, the fossils... Read More...

ETHYLENE OXIDE IN SPICES

May 16, 2024

1. What is ethylene oxide (ETO)? Ethylene oxide is a chemical compound used primarily as a sterilizing agent. It is used in the spice industry to reduce microbial contamination but is considered carcinogenic if used beyond certain limits. 2. Why is the Spices Board discussing ETO limits with CODEX? The Spices Board of India has raised the issue with CODEX, an international food standards body, to establish uniform global limits for ETO usage in spices. This initiati... Read More...

ISRO'S AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR MANGALYAAN-2 MISSION

May 16, 2024

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making significant strides towards its second Mars mission, aiming to become the third country to land a spacecraft on another planet. The details of this mission, known as Mangalyaan-2, were unveiled during a recent presentation at the Space Application Centre on National Technology Day. KEY FEATURES OF MANGALYAAN-2 1. Rover and Helicopter Combination: &nbs... Read More...

INSURANCE SURETY BONDS

May 16, 2024

1. What is an insurance surety bond? An insurance surety bond is a financial instrument where an insurance company acts as a 'surety' to guarantee that a contractor will fulfill their obligations according to the agreed terms of a contract. This bond serves as a form of financial security, ensuring that contractual duties are performed as specified. 2. How do insurance surety bonds work? In practice, if a contrac... Read More...

DELHI'S WASTE MANAGEMENT CRISIS

May 16, 2024

1. How much solid waste does Delhi generate daily? Delhi produces approximately 13,000 tonnes per day, which is expected to rise to 17,000 tonnes per day by 2031 due to population growth. 2. What percentage of Delhi’s waste is currently processed? Delhi has facilities designed to process about 9,200 tonnes per day, but a significant amount of approximately 3,800 tonnes per day remains unprocessed and is sent to lan... Read More...

COLD LAVA: VOLCANO IN SUMATRA

May 16, 2024

Recent Devastation in Indonesia Flash floods, landslides, and a destructive stream of cold lava from Mount Marapi, an active volcano in Sumatra, Indonesia, have recently resulted in significant destruction and loss of life, highlighting the severe impact of volcanic activity. Understanding Cold Lava Read More...

The impact of social media on Indian politics

May 16, 2024

The impact of social media on Indian politics is indeed profound and multifaceted. Here are some key points from your text: 1. Influence of Social Media Personalities: Personalities like Dhruv Rathee have significant influence, with many people following their content and even attributing potential election outcomes to them. 2. Alternative Viewpoints: Social media has created avenues for alternate viewpoints outside of state control, creating a cognitive dissonance with the government narrative. 3. Shift in Media La... Read More...

Impeachment of the President of India

May 16, 2024

Process Summary Grounds for Impeachment: The President can only be impeached for "violation of the Constitution." Initiation: Either house of Parliament can initiate the impeachment process against the President for violation of the Constitution.Impeachment means bringing charges. Notice and Proposal: A resolution containing the charge must be moved with at least 14 days' written notice, signed by not less than one-fourth of the total members ... Read More...

INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN INDIA 2023:

May 16, 2024

1. How many Internet shutdowns occurred in India in 2023? India experienced 116 Internet shutdowns in 2023, the highest number globally. 2. What organization reported these shutdowns? The Keep It On coalition, a group of civil society organizations advocating against Internet restrictions, reported these shutdown... Read More...

NISAR SATELLITE: MONITORING EARTH WITH PRECISION

May 15, 2024

The NISAR satellite, a collaborative project between NASA and ISRO, aims to significantly enhance Earth observation capabilities. Here’s an in-depth look at its features and applications, explained with examples: Key Features of NISAR 1. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Technology:... Read More...

SOLAR STORMS AND THEIR IMPACT

May 15, 2024

Solar storms, while creating beautiful aurorae, have significant effects on Earth and space systems. Here is an explainer on solar storms, their causes, and their impact, with examples. What are Solar Storms? Solar storms are disturbances on the Sun's surface that release large amounts of energy and charged particles into space. These storms can include solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and other energetic events. 1... Read More...

Nakba: 76 years of Palestinian expulsion, current Gaza crisis

May 15, 2024

What is the Nakba? The Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic, refers to the mass expulsion of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which followed the establishment of Israel. Approximately 700,000 Palestinians, a majority of the pre-war population, were displaced from their homes. Read More...

EXTRA-PULMONARY TB

May 15, 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but about 20% of cases are extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB), affecting other parts of the body. Here’s an overview of the key points regarding EPTB, its challenges, and potential solutions. What is Extra-Pulmonary TB (EPTB)? EPTB is TB that occurs outside the lungs. It can infect various organs like the lymph n... Read More...

REGULATORY SANDBOXES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

May 15, 2024

Regulatory sandboxes are crucial tools for managing the rapid development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Here’s an overview of their importance, benefits, and current global and Indian approaches to AI regulation. What is a Regulatory Sandbox? A regulatory sandbox is a controlled environment where innovations can be tested under regulatory supervision. This framework allows new technologies to be developed and evaluated without immediately subjecting them to th... Read More...