Six years of Digital India Mission
Context: 2021 marks the completion of six years of Digital Indian programme. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology, GS-II: Social Justice (Welfare Schemes) Dimensions of the Article: What is Digital India Mission? Vision and Vision area of Digital India Approach and Methodology for Digital India programme are: Highlights on Completion of 6 years of Digital India […]
Drone attacks at IAF Jammu station
Context: In a terror attack, two low-intensity explosions left two Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel injured at the Jammu Air Force Station and the devices are suspected to have been dropped and detonated by unmanned aerial vehicles. Relevance: GS-III: Internal Security Challenges (Defence Technology), GS-III: Science and Technology, GS-II: Governance (Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions […]
Centralised farmer database under ‘AgriStack’
Context: The Union government’s new exercise to give agriculture a shot of technology — by creating a centralised farmer database under ‘AgriStack’— may not run a smooth course. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology (Use of Developments in Science and Technology), GS-III: Agriculture (Use of Technology to aid farmers and agriculture) Dimensions of the Article: About […]
Why only some bacteria develop multi-drug resistance?
Context: A recent study subjected E. coli to fluctuating and steady environments, noting their evolutionary response in order to understand why some bacteria evolve multi-drug resistance while others do not. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)? What is Multi drug resistance? Findings of the recent study on […]
China cracking down on cryptocurrencies
Context: China has broadened a crackdown on its massive cryptocurrency mining industry with a ban on mines in a key southwestern province. Values of prominent cryptocurrencies are crashing and China’s crackdown against crypto-currencies, which are those that aren’t sanctioned by a centralised authority and are secured by cryptography, is said to have a lot to […]
China launches crewed spacecraft Shenzhou-12
Context: China launched a spacecraft Shenzhou-12, carrying three astronauts to part of a space station still under construction for the longest stay in low Earth orbit by any Chinese national. China is the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to carry out a manned mission on its own. Relevance: Prelims, […]
Sale of illegal HTBt cotton seeds doubles
Context: The illegal cultivation of herbicide tolerant (HT) Bt cotton has seen a huge jump in 2021, with seed manufacturers claiming that the sale of illegal seed packets has more than doubled since 2020. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Science and Technology (Biotechnology, Genetically Modified crops), GS-III: Agriculture Dimensions of the Article: What are GM Crops? Regulating […]
National AI Portal (INDIAai)
Context: The ‘National AI Portal’, celebrated its first anniversary on May 28, 2021, in a virtual event attended by nearly 400 participants and dignitaries. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Significance of Artificial Intelligence: Pros and Cons of AI About the ‘National AI Portal’ What is […]
EnVision mission to Venus
Context: Following NASA’s footsteps, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it has selected EnVision as its next orbiter that will visit Venus sometime in the 2030s. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Science and Technology (Space Technology) Dimensions of the Article: About Venus Difference between Earth and Venus What is EnVision? Why are scientists interested in studying […]
World First: El Salvador makes bitcoin legal tender
Context: El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after the country’s Congress, approved President Nayib Bukele’s proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency, a move that delighted the currency’s supporters. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Science and Technology (Blockchain technology), GS-I: Geography (Maps) Dimensions of the Article: About El Salvador About […]