UPSC Daily Current Affairs

The Budget Preparation Process Gets Underway 24-25

Sep 09, 2023

The Budget preparation process involves various stages and considerations to ensure effective allocation of funds and financial planning. Here's a breakdown of key components: Article 112 and Annual Financial Statement (AFS): Article 112 of the Constitution of India mandates the presentation of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS), commonly known as the Budget, before the Parliament. The AFS comprises estimates of revenue and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year. It includes the Consolidated Fund of India, Contingency Fund, and Public Account. Read More...

G20 and Crypto Asset Regulation in Emerging Economies:Risks and Remedies

Sep 09, 2023

Q1: What areas of concern surround crypto assets in emerging economies within the G20 context? Response: Several areas of concern have emerged: Systemic Risk: The interconnectedness between crypto assets and traditional finance might lead to systemic risks. Monetary Policy: Legitimizing crypto assets could impact the effectiveness of monetary policies. Resource Leakage: Crypto assets might lead to outflows of domes... Read More...

'Adopt a Heritage' Program by ASI:

Sep 09, 2023

The ‘Adopt a Heritage’ program, launched by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, encourages corporate stakeholders to use their CSR funds to enhance historically-important monuments. This initiative promotes responsible tourism, improves visitor amenities, and contributes to heritage conservation. Monuments Adopted Under the Program: Examples of monuments under the 'Adopt a Heritage' program include: Qutub Minar, New Delhi: Ad... Read More...

Invasive Species:Caribbean False Mussel

Sep 09, 2023

Caribbean False Mussel and Its Origin The Caribbean false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) is a mussel species originally from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South and Central America. Impact in Kerala, India The Caribbean false mussel has caused significant issues in Kerala, India. It has led to the depletion of local clams and oysters, which are vital food sources for local fishermen. How Did It Arrive? The mussel likely arrived on ships and was further spread ... Read More...

Gaganyaan Mission: Core FAQs

Sep 09, 2023

What is the Gaganyaan mission? The Gaganyaan mission is India’s ambitious endeavor to send humans into space. It aims to launch a three-person crew on a three-day voyage in a 400-km orbit around Earth and ensure their safe return. First Indian in Space? Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel to space in 1984. Gaganyaan aims for an indigenous mission with Indian astronauts. Challenges Ahead Technical hurdles include a human-certified l... Read More...

NEP 2020: Embracing Mother Tongue

Sep 09, 2023

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 brings a vibrant shift in education, cherishing the beauty of mother tongues in the learning journey. Let's explore the colorful provisions that celebrate linguistic diversity: Medium of Instruction: NEP puts mother tongue at the heart of early education. Learning begins best when guided by the language closest to our hearts - our mother tongue. Bilingual Brilliance: The NEP embraces bilingual magic. Starting with mother tongue, it gently introduces new languages like English, ensuring ... Read More...

Lunar Day

Sep 09, 2023

The duration of a single day on the Moon, from sunrise to sunrise, is approximately 29.5 Earth days. However, this is broken down into roughly 14.75 days of daylight followed by 14.75 days of nighttime, due to the Moon's synchronous rotation with Earth. When we refer to the "life of one lunar day" in the context of a moon mission, it usually pertains to the duration of sunlight (daytime) that the mission equipment can operate within. This is because most moon missions, including rovers and landers, rely on solar panels for power. During the lunar night, temperatures can drop drastically (to below m... Read More...

Federalism & The 'One Nation One Election' Proposal

Sep 09, 2023

What is federalism? Federalism is a system of governance in which powers are divided between a central authority and constituent political units, like states. How does the 'one nation one election' proposal impact federalism? Critics argue that the proposal could erode the autonomous decision-making power of individual states, centralizing authority and undermining India's federal structure. Why is federalism significant for India? India is a divers... Read More...

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and LPG Cylinder Prices

Sep 09, 2023

1. What is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)? PMUY is a scheme aimed at providing LPG gas cylinders to rural and deprived households. 2. How many PMUY beneficiaries did not take cylinders or took only one refill in 2022-2023? One out of every four beneficiaries did not take any cylinders or took just one refill. 3. Why are many beneficiaries not refilling their cylinders? The spike in LPG cylinder prices made them expensive. Rates have nearly doubled sin... Read More...

The French Laïcité and Recent Controversies

Sep 09, 2023

1. What is the French idea of Laïcité? Laïcité is the French principle of secularism. It signifies a formal separation of the State and Church, with religious values removed from the public sphere, replaced by secular values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity. The principle mandates that religion should remain within the private sphere. 2. Why did the French government recently ban the wearing of abaya in state-run schools? The French education minister stated that this decision was in line with the principle of ... Read More...

Old Pension Scheme vs National Pension System

Sep 09, 2023

table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; margin: 20px auto; } th, td { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 8px; text-align: left; } th { background-color: #f2f2f2; } tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f2f2f2; } Aspect National Pension System (NPS) Old Pension Scheme (OPS) Retirement Savings Managed by PFRDA Traditional pension system Membership Covers employees who joined after Jan 1, 2004 Read More...

Depleted Uranium Munitions

Sep 09, 2023

What is uranium? Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element used primarily for nuclear power production due to its ability to undergo fission. It's found in small amounts in the Earth's crust. How does uranium get depleted? Depleted uranium (DU) is a by-product of the enrichment process for producing nuclear fuel. Natural uranium contains about 0.7% of the U-235 isotope, vital for nuclear reactions. During enrichment, the percentage of U-235 is increased, leaving behind uranium with a significantly lower proportion of U-235, ... Read More...

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for Battery Energy Storage

Sep 09, 2023

What is VGF for Battery Storage? VGF is a grant provided to bridge the financial gap in commercially unviable but socially beneficial projects, particularly for battery storage.Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for battery storage is a financial mechanism introduced to make energy storage projects more economically viable. While many renewable energy projects, especially those based on solar and wind, have huge potential, they often face challenges due to the intermittent nature of their energy production. Batteries can store energy during peak production times and discharge it when production is low, ensuring consistent energy ava... Read More...

Pradhan Mantri Kusum Scheme (PM-Kusum)

Sep 09, 2023

Q1: What is the PM-KUSUM scheme in India, and what is its objective? A: The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana) scheme is a government initiative aimed at promoting the use of solar pumps in agriculture. Its primary objectives are to ensure energy and water security for farmers, reduce the environmental impact of traditional pumps, and reduce dependence on grid-connected and diesel pumps. Q2: How significant is the electricity consumption in the agriculture sector in India? A: The electricity consumptio... Read More...

World Bank's G20 Report:Financial Inclusion in india

Sep 09, 2023

India’s Accelerated Financial Inclusion Achievements : India reached its financial inclusion targets in just six years, a milestone originally anticipated to take 47 years, propelled significantly by the advent of digital advancements. JAM Trinity : Leveraging Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) to skyrocket the financial inclusion rate from 25% in 2008 to over 80% recently. PMJDY Growth : Through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana initiative, account owner... Read More...