UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Global Digital Economy, Sovereign Tax Reforms and India

Sep 13, 2023

1. What is the OECD's BEPS initiative? The OECD's BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) initiative is a global effort to combat tax avoidance strategies employed by multinational corporations (MNCs). It aims to ensure that companies pay taxes in the countries where they generate profits, preventing the shifting of profits to low-tax jurisdictions. 2. Read More...

Edible Oil Economy of India

Sep 13, 2023

Oilseeds and Edible Oil Overview: Oilseeds: Crops grown for edible oil extraction. Variety: Soybeans, groundnuts, sunflower, mustard seeds, palm kernels. Essential for Indian cuisine. Production and Demand: Crucial Role: India's oilseed production meets edible oil demand. Influencing Factors: Weather, soil quality, agricultural ... Read More...

India-China Border

Sep 13, 2023

China's Build-up, India's Response and Strategic Implications 1. What has been China's recent activity in the India-China border region? China has been involved in significant infrastructure development, including roads, railways, airfields, and military installations along the India-China border region. This includes areas like Tibet, Aksai Chin, Depsang Plains, Galwan Valley, and Pangong Tso. 2. How is India responding to China's actions along the border? India has initiated a compre... Read More...

Land Subsidence and Joshimath

Sep 13, 2023

What Is Land Subsidence? Land subsidence is a gradual and intriguing natural phenomenon. It involves the slow descent or settling of the Earth's surface, resulting in a gradual lowering of the ground level. This intriguing process occurs when the layers of soil or rock beneath the surface undergo compression or compaction, causing the land above to gently sink. The causes of land subsidence can vary, encompassing both natural occurrences and those driven by human activities. Natural Causes of Land Subsidence: In some instances, land subsid... Read More...

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):All that the UPSC Aspirant Should Know

Sep 13, 2023

Overview of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are collective entities formed by farmers to address common challenges and improve their overall socio-economic conditions. These organizations function as cooperatives or associations and are aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers. Formation and Purpose Farmers voluntarily come together to create FPOs. The primary purpose is to empower smallholders by pooling resources, knowledge, and skills. FPOs strive to achieve economies of scal... Read More...

Freebies,Welfare and Development:Examples and Arguments

Sep 13, 2023

Freebie: A government policy or program that provides goods, services, or benefits to people at no cost, often seen as a means to garner political favor. Welfare: A policy aimed at protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens, often through financial or other resources. Deveopment: A strategy or policy aiming at the economic growth and advancement of a state or region, generally involving infrastructure development, educational advanceme... Read More...

Italy say Goodbye to BRI

Sep 13, 2023

What is the BRI? The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a massive project started by China in 2013. The plan is to better link China with various countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe through networks of trade routes on land and sea, reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road. Why Didn't India Join? India chose not to join mainly because a part of the BRI, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, passes through territory claimed by India, raising sovereignty concerns. Furthermore, India raised issues regarding the transparency and fiscal respons... Read More...

Internationalisation of the Rupee

Sep 13, 2023

Rupee Goes Global: The Story So Far As the world comes closer together, different countries' money starts to mix and mingle. The Indian Rupee, or INR, is starting to step outside of India and become a part of this global mix. We've seen some exciting things happening recently — from setting up special bank accounts in rupees to even buying oil with rupees instead of dollars. Let's break down this journey step by step: Special Rupee Bank Accounts The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave a thumbs up to 60 banks in 18 countries to s... Read More...

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Sep 13, 2023

Introduction On the sidelines,during the G20 summit in New Delhi, the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was announced, which is a bold step towards fostering enhanced connectivity and economic partnerships spanning India, the Middle East, and Europe. Objective Counter to BRI: The corridor serves as a counter to the extensive Belt and Road Initiative spearheaded by China, thereby forging a new pathway that could be termed as a “new spice route” by analysts. Strengthening Connections: The strategic ini... Read More...

India,US and WTO

Sep 13, 2023

India's Import Duty Reduction on Food Items Why is India reducing import duties on certain food items? India has agreed to reduce import duties on some fresh and processed food items as part of a dispute settlement with the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This decision follows negotiations between India and the US. Which food items will have reduced import duties? The reduced import duties will apply to frozen turkey, frozen duck, fresh/frozen/dried/processed blueberries, and cranberries. Currently, these items attract... Read More...

Human Embryo in the Lab

Sep 12, 2023

Scientists have made a big discovery about how human embryos develop in the womb. This was hard to study before because it's ethically complicated and technically tricky. Now, they've managed to create models of human embryos in the lab using special cells called embryonic stem cells. These models cover the time from when an embryo attaches to the womb up to two weeks later. These models mimic how real embryos look and work. They have the same parts and structures as real embryos and can even produce hormones that sh... Read More...

Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs)

Sep 12, 2023

What are Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) and their purpose? Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) are data repositories established under the National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) by the Indian Education Ministry. These repositories aim to consolidate and store data from various educational schemes and programs run by the Ministry. What kind of data do VSKs contain? VSKs house a wide range of educational data, including information on programs such as the midday meal scheme (PMPOSHAN), teacher training, textbook content, sch... Read More...

India's Power Demand Surge: An Analysis

Sep 12, 2023

Introduction In recent times, India witnessed a significant surge in power consumption, exceeding the expectations and previous records. Let's delve into the statistics, reasons behind this surge, and the response of power companies to this unprecedented demand. Statistics of Power Demand August Performance: In August, power consumption grew by 21% compared to the same month in the preceding year. Recent Peaks: ... Read More...

China's Border Disputes

Sep 12, 2023

China's Land Border Disputes: India: Arunachal Pradesh: China claims it as part of southern Tibet. Ladakh: The two nations have clashed over this region, with disputed borders in places such as the Pangong Lake and the Galwan Valley. Bhutan: There have been ongoing disputes over the Doklam Plateau and other areas, with periodic military stand-off... Read More...

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC)

Sep 12, 2023

Formation: The corridor idea was crafted last year by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, alongside his National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed, and Indian and US NSAs, Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan. They held several meetings in Dubai and in May of the recent year in Jeddah. Route: The corridor envisages a multi-modal connectivity plan which includes: First Leg: A rail bridg... Read More...