Northeast African Cheetah: A Unique Subspecies
Context: A group of experts have appealed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to reclassify the status of the Northeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii) to ‘endangered’ from ‘vulnerable’. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Northeast African Cheetah: A Unique Subspecies Geographical Presence: Genetic Relations: Distinctive Features: Physical Characteristics: Habitat and Distribution: […]
About The Photocatalysts
Context: Researchers at IISER Bhopal recently developed a new photocatalyst called UC-POP-Au, which absorbs the entire spectrum of light, making it a potent catalyst for chemical processes. Relevance: GS III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: Photocatalysts: Material Effectiveness: Categories of Photocatalysis: Applications: Valuable for: -Source: Times of India
Revised Interest Rates on Financial Schemes
Context: The Union government has announced an increase in returns for the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme (SSAS) from 8% to 8.2% and for the 3-year Post Office Time Deposit Scheme (POTDS) from 7% to 7.1% for the first quarter of 2024. The interest rates for all other small savings schemes remain unchanged. Relevance: GS II: […]
Study on Liquid Nano Urea Efficacy
Context: A two-year field experiment conducted by Punjab Agricultural University reveals a significant decrease in rice and wheat yields with Liquid Nano Urea compared to conventional nitrogen fertilizers. The findings underscore the importance of extended, long-term field evaluations spanning 5-7 years to determine nano urea’s equivalence to conventional urea and its sustainability in maintaining crop […]
What is Biodiversity Credit
Context: Biodiversity Credits, proposed as a financial mechanism, aim to support initiatives aligned with the ambitious targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Established during the 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the KMGBF outlines comprehensive goals for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and fair benefit sharing. Relevance: GS […]
Space Exploration Highlights in 2023 and Upcoming in 2024
Context: The year 2023 witnessed significant space missions, including NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return from an asteroid and India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. The momentum continues into 2024 with NASA’s upcoming missions under Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiatives, focusing on lunar exploration. Relevance: GS III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: Upcoming Space Missions in […]
New Regulations for Symbol Allocation to RUPPs
Context: The Election Commission of India has implemented fresh regulations for the allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). To obtain symbols, these parties are now required to submit audited accounts from the past three financial years, expenditure statements from the last two elections, and the signature of the authorized party official along […]
About PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)
Context: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approves the “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” scheme by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions About PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Sub-schemes under PRITHVI: Major Objectives: Functions of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): Holistic Approach of PRITHVI Scheme: Integrated Research and Development: […]
Indian Toy Industry’s Remarkable Growth
Context: According to a case study on “Success Story of Made in India Toys” released by the DPIIT, the Indian Toy industry witnessed a rise of 239% in exports (and decline in imports by 52%) in 2022-23 as compared to 2014-15. Relevance: GS III: Indian Economy Dimensions of the Article: Evolution and Status of the […]
New Hit-and-Run Accident Cases
Context: India grapples with the grim reality of being one of the world’s leading nations in road fatalities, with over 1.5 lakh lives lost annually. Among these tragedies, hit-and-run accidents stand out for their callous disregard for human life and potential for prolonged agony for victims’ families. This context sheds light on the recent controversy surrounding Section 106 […]