UPSC Daily Current Affairs

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics:Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson

Oct 22, 2024

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics:Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson Institutions Matter: Nobel Prize Recognizes the Key to Prosperity Who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics? The prize was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson for their research on how institutions impact economic development. What are institutions? Institutions are the "rules of the game" in a society. They include laws, regulations, social norms, and cultural practices that shape economic and political interactions. What did Acemoglu, Johnso... Read More...

Nile River Water Sharing Agreement 2024: A New Chapter in Cooperation

Oct 22, 2024

Nile River Water Sharing Agreement 2024: A New Chapter in Cooperation? What is the Nile River Basin? The Nile River Basin is the area of land where all the water drains into the Nile River. It covers eleven countries in eastern Africa, including Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and others. Why is the Nile River important? The Nile is the longest river in the world and a vital source of water for the countries in the Nile Basin. It's used for drinking water, agriculture, industry, and transportation. How many countries are covered by the Nile River basin The Nile River ... Read More...

FISHING CAT SURVEY IN CHILIKA LAKE, ODISHA:BASICs

Oct 22, 2024

FISHING CAT SURVEY IN CHILIKA LAKE, ODISHA:BASICs 1. When was the first fishing cat survey conducted in Chilika Lake? The survey was conducted in two phases, the first in 2021 and the second in 2022. 2. Which areas were covered during the two phases of the survey? Phase I in 2021 focused on the 115 sq km marshland in the north and northeast of Chilika Lake, while Phase II in 2022 covered the Parikuda side and the coastal islands of the lake. 3. What methods were used for the survey? The survey used 150 camera traps and the Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) method to ... Read More...

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics:Understanding Global Economic Inequality

Oct 22, 2024

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics:Understanding Global Economic Inequality The vast differences in wealth between nations are driven by a complex interplay of historical, institutional, geographical, and economic factors. Addressing global economic inequality requires a multifaceted approach that focuses on strengthening institutions, investing in human capital, promoting inclusive growth, and fostering innovation. This is reflected in the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics, awarded to Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson for their research highlighting the crucial role of institutions in economic development. India's efforts in these areas will be crucial in determining its ability to ... Read More...

The Haber-Bosch Process: Feeding the World, but at What Cost

Oct 22, 2024

The Haber-Bosch Process: Feeding the World, but at What Cost? What is the Haber-Bosch process? It's a chemical process that takes nitrogen from the air and turns it into ammonia, which is used to make fertilizers. Think of it like a recipe for plant food. Why is nitrogen important for plants? Plants need nitrogen to grow and be healthy, just like we need vitamins and minerals. But plants can't use the nitrogen that's already in the air. They need it in a special form called "reactive nitrogen," which is found in fertilizers. How did farmers fertilize crop... Read More...

Chinese EVs:Connected Cars and US Cybersecurity Fears

Oct 22, 2024

Chinese EVs:Connected Cars and US Cybersecurity Fears What are connected cars? Connected cars are like smartphones on wheels. They use the internet and wireless technologies to connect to other devices, access information, and offer features like GPS navigation, entertainment systems, and even self-driving capabilities. Why are there concerns about the cybersecurity of connected cars, especially those from China? Software vulnerabilities: The software that controls many car functions can have weaknesses that hackers could exploit. Data collection: Read More...

RARE DISEASES AND 2021 POLICY

Oct 22, 2024

RARE DISEASES AND 2021 POLICY 1. What are rare diseases? • Rare diseases are medical conditions that affect fewer than 1 in 1,000 people. Examples include Gaucher’s disease, Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs), and certain forms of muscular dystrophy. These conditions are often chronic and debilitating, requiring lifelong treatment and care. 2. What are orphan drugs? • Orphan drugs are medications specifically developed for rare diseases. Due to the small patient population, these drugs are often not commercially viable for pharmaceutical companies, resulting in limited availability and high costs wi... Read More...

MALABAR TREE TOAD(MTT) - A BIOINDICATOR

Oct 22, 2024

MALABAR TREE TOAD(MTT) - A BIOINDICATOR 1. What is the Malabar Tree Toad (MTT)? • The Malabar Tree Toad (MTT) is an arboreal amphibian species endemic to India’s Western Ghats. It is unique in its ability to climb trees and dwell in arboreal habitats, unlike other ground-dwelling toads. MTT is the only species in the genus Pedostibes. 2. Why is the Malabar Tree Toad important? • MTT is a key species in the Western Ghats ecosystem, which is a global biodiversity hotspot. It helps in controlling insect populations and plays a role in maintaining the ecological balance. Being sensitive to environm... Read More...

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Symbol Row: Who Gets the Clock?

Oct 22, 2024

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Symbol Row: Who Gets the Clock? FAQs What is the dispute about? The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split into two factions in 2023, one led by Sharad Pawar and the other by Ajit Pawar. The Election Commission of India (ECI) recognized Ajit Pawar's faction as the "real" NCP and allowed them to use the party's "clock" symbol. Sharad Pawar's faction is now challenging this decision in the Supreme Court. Why are election symbols important? In India, where literacy rates vary, election symbols help voters e... Read More...

SUPREME COURT and STUBBLE BURNING: FAQS

Oct 22, 2024

SUPREME COURT and STUBBLE BURNING: FAQS The Supreme Court of India has been actively involved in addressing the issue of stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi and its neighboring states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Stubble burning, particularly after the harvest season, has been a recurring problem that worsens air quality every winter, leading to severe health and environmental impacts. Over the years, the Supreme Court has issued multiple directives aimed at controlling the practice, ensuring accountability, and mitigating pollution. COURT INTERVENTIONS AND DIRECTIVES 1. In... Read More...

Right to Information (RTI) Act @20: Stocktake

Oct 22, 2024

Right to Information (RTI) Act @20: Stocktake What is the Right to Information (RTI) Act? The RTI Act, passed in 2005, is a landmark law that empowers Indian citizens to seek information from public authorities. It's a powerful tool for transparency and accountability, allowing citizens to hold the government responsible. How does the RTI Act work? Filing an application: Citizens can file an RTI application to any public authority, requesting specific information. Respon... Read More...

Precision Medicine in India

Oct 22, 2024

Precision Medicine in India What is precision medicine? Precision medicine is a personalized approach to healthcare that tailors treatment and prevention strategies to individual patients based on their unique genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. It's like creating a custom-made suit instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. What are biobanks? Biobanks are like libraries of biological samples. They store things like blood, DNA, tissues, and organs, along with associated data, for research purposes. These samples are donated by consenting individuals.... Read More...

OPEN RAN AND VIRTUALISED RAN (vRAN): TRANSFORMING TELECOM TECHNOLOGY

Oct 22, 2024

OPEN RAN AND VIRTUALISED RAN (vRAN): TRANSFORMING TELECOM TECHNOLOGY WHAT IS OPEN RAN TECHNOLOGY? Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) is an innovative approach that allows telecom operators to build their networks using hardware and software from different vendors. Unlike traditional Radio Access Network (RAN) systems, which are proprietary and controlled by a single vendor, Open RAN decouples hardware and software. This enables greater flexibility, cost savings, and interoperability between different components of the telecom infrastructure. WHY IS OPEN RAN IMPORTANT? 1. Cost Reduction: Read More...

Hurricane Milton & Climate Change

Oct 21, 2024

Hurricane Milton & Climate Change 1. What made Hurricane Milton unusual? • Hurricane Milton intensified rapidly from a Category 1 storm to a Category 5 hurricane (wind speeds of over 252 km/h) in just 12 hours. This quick transformation, from October 6 to 7, and its landfall as a Category 3 storm, is highly rare. The storm also dropped more than 45.72 cm of rain on St. Petersburg, Florida, which represents a more than 1-in-100-year rainfall event. 2. How severe was the impact of Hurricane Milton? • The storm killed at least 12 people in eastern Florida, destroyed homes, knocked out power to more ... Read More...

FAST BREEDER REACTORS: TOWARDS ENERGY SECURITY

Oct 21, 2024

FAST BREEDER REACTORS: TOWARDS ENERGY SECURITY 1. What is the significance of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam? • The PFBR at Kalpakkam is India’s first fast breeder reactor, set to become operational after receiving approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in July 2024. It marks a major step in India’s nuclear energy program, making it the second country in the world after Russia to operationalize such a reactor. It utilizes indigenous technology and aims to reduce India’s dependency on imported nuclear fuel by using thorium and plutonium. 2. What is India’s three-... Read More...