NO 100% QUOTA FOR TRIBAL TEACHERS: SC
Why in news? A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held it unconstitutional to provide 100% reservation for tribal teachers in schools located in Scheduled Areas across the country. The five-judge Bench was answering a reference made to it in 2016 on whether 100% reservation is permissible under the Constitution. What was said in […]
ATTACKS ON HEALTH WORKERS TO ATTRACT UP TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON
Why in news? The Union Cabinet on 22nd April 2020, approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognizable and non-bailable offence and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property. The ordinance proposes that in […]
27th April – Editorials/Opinions Analyses
Contents At the edge of a new nuclear arms race Protecting the poor from becoming poorer Nations opting to trade with economies having political trust Where does COVID-19 virus first strike? AT THE EDGE OF A NEW NUCLEAR ARMS RACE Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? In mid-April, a report […]
Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 27 April 2020
Contents Executive is better-suited to deal with COVID-19: CJI Pandemic will deepen job and livelihood crisis of migrants Assam’s BTAD might see Governor’s rule Pandemic is China’s biggest crisis since Tiananmen First-ever digital geological map of moon India Registered a total of 826 fatalities and 26,917 cases EXECUTIVE IS BETTER-SUITED TO DEAL WITH COVID-19: CJI […]
ORGANIC-INORGANIC HYBRID NANOCOATINGS FOR DISPOSABLE MASKS
Why in news? The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has approved support for large scale production of organic-Inorganic hybrid nanocoating for disposable masks. Why is this Nanocoating needed? The N95 masks available in the market are capable of filtering out all types of particles, including viruses and bacteria, but they are expensive and need […]
COVID 19 MAY CAUSE LOSS OF SMELL AND TASTE
Why in news? Scientists of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur have explored the neuroinvasive nature of the COVID 19 virus SARS-CoV-2 highlighting that loss of smell and taste of infected patients makes their entire Central Nervous System (CNS) and the underlying structures in the brain more prone to viral infection with devastating effects. Details […]
NTPC LAUNCHES HYDROGEN FUEL BUS AND CAR PROJECT
Why in news? NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power producer and a central PSU under Ministry of Power, has invited Global Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide 10 Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FC) based electric buses and an equal number of Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric cars in Leh and Delhi. Details The move to procure Hydrogen […]
RUHDAAR: A LOW-COST MECHANICAL VENTILATOR
Why in news? A team of engineering students from IIT Bombay and other institutes have come up with a low-cost ventilator using locally available materials. 3-D printing and laser-cutting technologies also were instrumental in the success of the prototype. Why are Ventilators important right now? Among those getting infected by COVID-19, around 80% will experience […]
LIKELY LOW-PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTH ANDAMAN SEA
Why in news? As per the forecast guidance from various numerical weather prediction models and the environmental and thermo-dynamical conditions prevailing over the region, a Low-Pressure Area is very likely to form over South Andaman Sea and neighbourhood around 30th April 2020. It is very likely to intensify further during subsequent 48 hours and very […]
UV DISINFECTION TROLLEY
Why in news? Scientists have developed a UVC based disinfection trolley to fight against COVID-19 by rapid cleaning of hospital environment. How does UV help and how is it better? UV light in the range of wavelengths between 200 and 300 nm is capable of inactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, thus disinfecting both […]