Gupta era temple in Uttar Pradesh
Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered remains of an ancient temple dating back to the Gupta period (5th century) in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: History, GS-I: Art and Culture Dimensions of the Article: About the Gupta Empire About the ASI Discovery in Uttar Pradesh What is the […]
Western Ghats offer major additions to new flora
Context: The Botanical Survey of India, in its new publication Plant Discoveries 2020 has added 267 new taxa/ species to the country’s flora. Of these newly discovered plants – 22% of the discoveries were made from the Western Ghats. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Ecology, Important Protected regions, Species in news), Prelims Dimensions […]
IISc on substitute for single-use plastics
Context: According to a report by Central Pollution Control Board of India, for the year 2018-2019, 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated by Indians. There has been an exponential surge in the usage of single use plastics. According to a report by Central Pollution Control Board of India, for the year 2018-2019, […]
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: World’s Longest Express
Context: Union Minister concluded the two-day review of the work progress on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Industry and Infrastructure Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway Highlights of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway is a 1,350 km long, 8-lane wide (expandable to 12depending on the volume of traffic) expressway connecting […]
G-20 Agriculture Meet 2021
Context: India is becoming the destination country for healthy food items like millets and the government is promoting biofortified varieties to address malnutrition, India’s Agriculture Minister said as he participated in the G-20 agriculture meeting virtually. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Important International Agreements), GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth & Development of Indian Economy) […]
Hindi gains ground via a demographic shift
Context: According to the 2011 Census, Hindi and its variants are the only major languages to have gained mother tongue adherents over the last 40 years, growing from 36.99% of the population in 1971 to 43.63% by 2011. A large factor in this growth comes from demographic changes. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development […]
WMO on Covid-19 barely cutting down carbon emissions
Context: The virus-related economic downturn caused only a temporary downturn in CO2 emissions last year and it was not enough to reverse the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment) Dimensions of the Article: World Meteorological […]
China questions India’s Agni-V missile project
Context: China cited a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution issued after the 1998 nuclear tests to question India’s missile programme amid reports of an upcoming test for the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology (Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology, Defence Technology, Indigenization of Technology) Dimensions of the Article: About […]
Govt. sets up ‘bad bank’ to clear the NPA mess
Context: The Cabinet has cleared a Rs. 30,600 crore guarantee programme for securities to be issued by the National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL). Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy, NPAs, Banking) Dimensions of the Article: NPA stress in the Indian financial system What is an Asset Reconstruction Company? What are […]
Government offers moratorium on AGR dues for telcos
Context: The Cabinet approved several measures to extend a lifeline to the cash-strapped telecom sector, including a redefinition of the much-litigated concept of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) to exclude non-telecom revenue and a four-year moratorium on players’ dues to the government. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy, Taxation), GS-II: Governance […]