UPSC Daily Current Affairs

SIMPLIFIER:CLIMATE CHANGE UNDER THE LAW OF THE SEA

May 30, 2024

In a landmark ruling, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has declared that greenhouse gases are considered marine pollution. This judgement mandates countries to take action against climate change to protect the marine environment under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Key Points of the Ruling: • Climate Change as Pollution: The tribunal confirmed that greenhouse gases meet the definition of “pollution” under UNCLOS, obliging states to preve... Read More...

NASA's PACE satellite and climate change

May 30, 2024

Q: What is the PACE satellite? A: PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) is a satellite launched by NASA to study tiny particles in the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Q: What do these tiny particles do? A: These particles, called aerosols, help form clouds, which affect the climate and weather. Q: Why is it important to study aerosols? A: Aerosols play a big role in shaping our climate, but sci... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: FDI VS FPI – WHICH ONE IS BETTER

May 30, 2024

WHAT IS FDI? Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) involves a foreign entity investing in another country with the intention of establishing a long-term commercial presence. This usually involves purchasing at least 10% of a foreign company’s shares to obtain a controlling position and management power. There are three main ways to make an FDI: • Creating a joint venture • Through mergers and acquisitions • Establishing a subsidiary company WHAT IS FPI?... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: GIFT CITY JOURNEY AND CHALLENGES

May 30, 2024

WHAT IS GIFT CITY? GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) is India’s first and only international financial services hub located in Gujarat. It was conceptualized in 2007 and gained significant momentum after being approved as an operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in 2015. WHAT ARE THE KEY MILESTONES IN GIFT CITY’S DEVELOPMENT? • 2007: Inception of GIFT City. • 2014: M... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: DIRECT AIR CAPTURE (DAC) AND CLIMATE CHANGE

May 30, 2024

WHAT IS DIRECT AIR CAPTURE (DAC)? Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a nascent technology designed to remove CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then stored underground, effectively reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. HOW DOES DAC WORK? DAC plants consist of modular units with fans and filters that suck in air and extract CO₂. This CO₂ is then compressed and stored underground. The modular nature of DAC plants allows for scalabilit... Read More...

Jupiter's Great Red Spot

May 29, 2024

- What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter? The Great Red Spot is a huge elliptical-shaped anticyclone — a long-lasting area of high pressure on Jupiter that creates a persistent storm. - How long will Jupiter's Great Red Spot last? Read More...

Waterhole survey: Godawan population rises in Jaisalmer

May 29, 2024

WATERHOLE SURVEY RESULTS In a recent waterhole census, 64 Great Indian Bustards, also known as ‘Godawans,’ were spotted in Jaisalmer district. The survey, conducted from May 23 to May 24, saw 21 birds in the Ramdevra region and 43 in the Sudasari, Gazai Mata, Jamra, Chouhani, Sipla, and Barna areas. WILDLIFE CENSUS DETAILS This annual wildlife census, timed with Vaishakh Purnima, involved 42 water points set up in the Desert National Pa... Read More...

SIMPLIFIER: PASTORALISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE

May 29, 2024

WHAT IS PASTORALISM? Pastoralism is a traditional livelihood system involving the herding of livestock in migratory patterns. It contributes significantly to the economy, culture, and environmental sustainability by providing goods such as milk, meat, fiber, and hides. HOW DOES PASTORALISM CONTRIBUTE TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY? Pastoralism plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability through practices that enhance biodiversity, promote carbon sequestrat... Read More...

PASTORALISM IN INDIA and CLIMATE CHANGE

May 29, 2024

CONTEXT Pastoralism, an ancient yet dynamic livelihood system, involves the migratory herding of livestock. Despite its historical and contemporary importance, it is often misunderstood and overlooked. Far from being an outdated practice, pastoralism offers a multifaceted production system that contributes significantly to the economy, culture, and environmental sustainability. From providing essential goods like milk, meat, fiber, and hides to offering employment opportunities and environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and biodiv... Read More...

James Webb Space Telescope:

May 29, 2024

What is the James Webb Space Telescope? The James Webb Space Telescope, also called Webb or JWST, is a space-based observatory, optimized for infrared wavelengths, which complements and extends the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. What are the most exciting things we will learn? We will learn about the era of our universe’s history when galaxies began to form. We will learn how galaxies got supermassive black holes in their centers. We will see insid... Read More...

Ross Ice Shelf

May 29, 2024

*Q: What is the Ross Ice Shelf?* A: The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, roughly the size of France. Read More...

INDIA-US SPACE COLLABORATION

May 29, 2024

Strengthening Ties in Space Sector Strengthening ties between India and the US in the space sector has the potential to lead to large-scale missions to the Moon and even a joint lunar observatory in the future. These... Read More...

THE ICJ AND THE ICC:DIFFERENCES

May 29, 2024

Introduction The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are key institutions in the international legal framework, both located in The Hague. They play distinct roles in promoting internation... Read More...

GROUND RADAR SURVEY SIMPLIFIER: BHOJSHALA COMPLEX-

May 29, 2024

Mhow, Madhya Pradesh What is happening at the Bhojshala Complex? The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting a survey at the Bhojshala / Kamal Maulana mosque compound in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, to identify buried structures using ground penetrating radar (GPR). What is ground penetrating radar (GPR)? GPR is a technology that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. It help... Read More...

QUAD AND SQUAD: THEIR ROLES IN REGIONAL SECURITY

May 29, 2024

Emergence of the ‘Squad’ Following the successful US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit and joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, a new group called the ‘Squad’ has formed. This group, consisting of... Read More...