National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans Tracker
Context: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans Tracker revealed that only 10% of nations fulfil their biodiversity commitments ahead of COP16. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP) Tracker: Key Insights on Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF): Goals and Targets: -Source: Down To Earth
About The Annular Solar Eclipse
Context: An annular solar eclipse was visible in parts of South America on October 2 while a partial solar eclipse was visible in parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Relevance: GS-I Geography Dimensions of the Article: Solar eclipse Types of Solar Eclipse Total Solar Eclipse: Partial Solar […]
Regulatory Oversight in India’s Food Service Sector
Context: The Uttar Pradesh government mandates that food establishments display the names of key personnel to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, a similar proposal in Himachal Pradesh was rejected by the state government. The Supreme Court has clarified that only authorities under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are empowered to issue such directives, preventing police […]
Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project
Context: A significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for the implementation of the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP). This river link project forms a part of India’s ambitious National Perspective Plan (NPP), which aims to interlink various rivers to enhance water availability across […]
Inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Context: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained on the Delhi border on Monday night while leading a protest. The demonstration aimed to petition the Central government for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with other autonomy-related demands for the region. Similar autonomy demands have also been voiced in […]
Caste-Based Segregation in India’s Manual Scavenging Workforce
Context: Recent data from the NAMASTE scheme involving over 3,000 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) shows that 92% of the 38,000 workers engaged in manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning tasks in India’s cities are from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities. This significant statistic not only underscores the prevalence of […]
About The Samajik Adhikarita Shivir
Context: Recently, a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir was organised at 75 locations across India for distribution of aids and assistive devices to over 9000 pre-identified Divyangjan beneficiaries under the ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons) Scheme. Relevance: GS II: Government policies and Interventions Samajik Adhikarita Shivir The Samajik Adhikarita Shivir (Social Empowerment Camps) is an initiative launched to assist people with disabilities and senior […]
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
Context: Prime Minister recently launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand with an outlay of around Rs 80,000 crore. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions About Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is a government initiative aimed at promoting comprehensive development in tribal villages, aiming for socio-economic […]
An Obsession with Rankings is Harming India’s Universities
Context:The increasing focus on global and national rankings has negatively impacted the core purpose of Indian universities, shifting attention from holistic education and research to metrics-driven outputs. With the rise of global ranking agencies and India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), universities prioritize boosting research publications, citations, and quantifiable metrics at the expense of teaching […]
Why Italy Matters to India
Context:Italy and India share significant common interests in the Indo-Mediterranean region, which is vital for global trade and regional security. In recent years, Italy has increased its engagement in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), focusing on defence cooperation, maritime security, and economic collaboration. Italy’s contributions to EU-led naval operations and its strategic involvement in African […]