INDIA ANNOUNCES $500 MN PACKAGE FOR MALDIVES
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? India announced a slew of new connectivity measures for the Maldives, including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications in an effort to help the Indian Ocean Islands deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details Among the initiatives announced at a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister […]
NHRC MEMBERS FLAG LACK OF FORENSIC LABS
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Members of the National Human Rights Commission have raised concerns over the inadequate number of forensic science laboratories in the country that delays evidence gathering, leading to cases pending in courts and undertrial prisoners remaining behind bars. Details If forensic evidence was collected and preserved on time, […]
RETAIL INFLATION ACCELERATES TO 6.93% IN JULY
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? India’s retail inflation accelerated to 6.93% in July from 6.23% in the preceding month, dimming chances of further policy rate cuts by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India any time soon. Details Data released by the National Statistical Office showed food inflation again picked […]
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IMPROVES BUT GAPS REMAIN
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Industry and Infrastructure Introduction to internet in India The internet was first used in India in 1980s, but was available to a limited educational and research community. It was thrown open to public use for the first time on India’s 49th Independence Day in 1995. Internet is now at the […]
Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 16 & 17th August 2020
Contents Defending Rewa villages empowered women Suo motu contempt power is inherent: SC Kuki: Weigh ‘genocide’ by NSCN (IM) in Naga Peace Agreement Madras HC: Law to bar criminals in election SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity India eyes global front runners: COVID Vaccine Issues facing online education PMO denies RTI plea seeking info on PM-CARES DEFENDING […]
WHY ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL IS CRUCIAL?
Focus: GS-III Agriculture, Environment and Ecology Introduction In the past five decades, Punjab had achieved several firsts in the field of agriculture and even became the first state in the country to install soil fertility map in each village to improve soil health. However, the soil of Punjab has always been an issue of debate […]
A DIGITAL PUSH FOR HEALTHCARE
Focus: GS-II Social Justice Introduction A personal health record (PHR) is a health record where health data and other information related to the care of a patient is maintained by the patient. An electronic health record (EHR) is the systematized collection of patient and population electronically-stored health information in a digital format, which can be […]
MAURITIUS OIL SPILL EXPLAINED
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology Why in news? A Japanese ship named struck a coral reef resulting in an oil spill of over 1,000 tonnes into the Indian Ocean. The area where it happened which was a cause for concern as the spill had taken place near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue […]
HE-ENHANCED COOL BRIGHT STARS DISCOVERED
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? A team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) studied numerous stars of this cluster and discovered He-enhanced cool bright stars among the metal-rich sample of Omega Centauri. Details and Significance Though there are estimations of He-enhancement in the H-core burning main-sequence stars (like Sun) […]
INDIGENOUS AIR UNIQUE-QUALITY MONITORING (AUM)
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? Air Unique-quality Monitoring (AUM) The AUM system (patent pending) is an innovative application of the principles of laser backscattering, statistical mechanics, optoelectronics, artificial intelligence, machine/deep learning, and Internet of Things. It can identify, classify, and quantify various pollutants simultaneously (of orders of less than one part per […]