UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Global Peace Summit Excludes Russia Amid Ukraine Crisis

Jun 15, 2024

Ninety states from around the globe have signed up to attend a peace conference aimed at finding a sustainable solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The summit, hosted by Switzerland at Kyiv’s request, will take place on June 15-16, 2024. However, Russia has not been invited to participate. SIMPLIFIER: UNDERSTANDING THE UKRAINE PEACE SUMMIT Q: What is the purpose of the Ukraine peace summit? A: The summit aims to agree on a path towards ending th... Read More...

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

Jun 15, 2024

And Climate Action International climate change litigation reached a milestone on May 21, 2024, when the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered an advisory opinion sought by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) regarding the specific obligations of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for climate change mitigation. The COSIS, an association of small island states established in 2021, prompted this significant move. Read More...

TIRUMANGAI ALVAR: THE HINDU SAINT

Jun 15, 2024

Introduction Tirumangai Alvar is one of the twelve Alvars, revered saint-poets in the Tamil Vaishnavite tradition. His devotional hymns contributed significantly to the Bhakti movement, particularly in South India. Early Life Born in the Kallar community, Tirumangai Alvar was initially a chieftain of the Tirumangai region. His given name was Kaliyan. Transformation His transf... Read More...

RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION (RGM):REVAMP

Jun 15, 2024

What is RGM? The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is an initiative by the Indian government aimed at enhancing milk productivity and preserving the indigenous breeds of cattle. The mission focuses on the genetic improvement of cattle through various advanced techniques and supports the overall development of the dairy sector. Proposal to Revamp RGM The proposal to revamp the Rashtriya Gokul Mission includes: 1. Advanced Genetic Technologies: Implementat... Read More...

HEAT DOME: High Temperatures in US

Jun 15, 2024

DEFINITION A heat dome is a weather phenomenon characterized by a ridge of high pressure that gets stuck in the atmosphere, trapping hot air over a particular region. This trapped hot air acts like a lid, causing temperatures to rise significantly and remain high for extended periods. CAUSES 1. High Pressure Ridge: A heat dome forms when a high-pressure system becomes stationary, often due to a lack of wind to move it. This ridge of hi... Read More...

GENERATIVE AI : JOBS VS PRODUCTIVITY IN INDIA

Jun 14, 2024

BASICS OF GENERATIVE AI Generative AI (GenAI) refers to advanced AI technologies that can create new content such as text, images, audio, and video based on patterns learned from existing data. These technologies hold the potential to revolutionize various industries by automating routine and repetitive tasks. IMPACT ON JOBS Potential Job Displacement 1. Routine Tasks Automation: GenAI is highly effective at automating r... Read More...

NITI Aayog vs. Planning Commission

Jun 14, 2024

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SIMPLIFIER: RESERVE REQUIREMENTS - SLR, CRR, AND ICRR

Jun 14, 2024

Q1: What is the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)? - Definition: The SLR requires banks to hold a portion of their deposits in RBI-approved securities, gold, and cash. The RBI sets the rate, which is 18% in 2023. - Applicability: It applies to Commercial Banks, Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), and State Cooperative Banks/Central Cooperative Banks (StCBs/CCBs) with a range from 0% to 40%. - Objectives: The SLR influences money supply and interest rates, ensures financ... Read More...

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SIMPLIFIER

Jun 14, 2024

WHAT IS PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION? Proportional Representation (PR) is an electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. Unlike the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, PR ensures that political representation is more closely aligned with the overall vote share of each party. COUNTRIES USING PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Countries that follow PR include: Read More...

THE RELEVANCE OF NOTA IN ELECTIONS

Jun 14, 2024

WHAT IS NOTA? NOTA stands for “None of the Above.” It is an option on Indian ballots that allows voters to reject all the candidates in the fray. Introduced in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, NOTA enables voters to express their disapproval of all the candidates standing for election. WHY IS NOTA USED? Voters may choose NOTA for various reasons, including dissatisfaction with the candidates or political parties, to protest against the political system, or ... Read More...

INDO-U.S. TRADE DISPUTE ON POULTRY:RESOLUTION

Jun 14, 2024

THE ISSUE For over a decade, India and the U.S. were embroiled in a trade dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning import restrictions on poultry products. Initiated by the U.S. in 2012, the dispute challenged India’s restrictions due to avian influenza concerns, which the U.S. argued did not comply with international standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. THE SETTLEMENT In March this year, India a... Read More...

DIGITAL PAYMENTS INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM SIMPLIFIER

Jun 14, 2024

WHAT IS THE RBI’S DIGITAL PAYMENTS INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM? The RBI’s Digital Payments Intelligence Platform is a proposed initiative to enhance the security and reliability of digital payments, aiming to boost consumer confidence and mitigate fraud risks. WHO IS LEADING THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS INITIATIVE? The committee is led by A P Hota, who will provide recommendations within two months. WHAT TECHNOLOGI... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: PRIVATE BIOSPHERE IN UTTARAKHAND

Jun 14, 2024

Who are the environmentalists behind the Rajaji Raghati Biosphere? Jai Dhar Gupta, a New Delhi-based entrepreneur and clean air activist, and Vijay Dhasmana, an ecologist known for restoring the Aravalli landscapes, are the key figures behind the Rajaji Raghati Biosphere project. What is the Rajaji Raghati Biosphere? The Rajaji Raghati Biosphere (RRB) is a 35-acre private forest initiative in Uttarakhand, located next to the Rajaji National Park. It aims... Read More...

ARAL SEA’S TRANSFORMATION INTO THE ARALKUM DESERT

Jun 14, 2024

Decline of the Aral Sea The Aral Sea, located on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border, has drastically shrunk due to the diversion of its inflowing rivers, Amu Darya and Syr Darya, for agricultural use. Over the past 60 years, this lake has reduced to about 10% of its original size, leading to the creation of the Aralkum Desert. Impact of River Diversion Once the world’s fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea’s shrinkage has resulted in the formatio... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: CERN’S LARGE HADRON COLLIDER (LHC)

Jun 14, 2024

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is a sophisticated particle accelerator designed to explore the fundamental particles of the universe by accelerating and colliding subatomic particles. Accelerator An accelerator is a machine that increases the energy of a particle beam by passing it through a series of devices, each with increasing energy levels. The LHC is the final stage in this sequence, achieving the highest energy levels for the particles. Collider Read More...