UPSC Daily Current Affairs

PUNNAPRA-VAYALAR UPRISING:FAQs

Sep 26, 2024

PUNNAPRA-VAYALAR UPRISING:FAQs Introduction The **Punnapra-Vayalar Uprising** was a militant communist movement that took place in October 1946 in the princely state of **Travancore**, now part of Kerala, British India. The uprising was a response to the policies of the then-Prime Minister of Travancore, **C. P. Ramaswami Iyer**, and his attempts to make Travancore an independent state, separate from the Indian Union. The movement, primarily led by the **Communist Party of India**, was deeply rooted in the struggles of peasants and workers who faced severe famine and economic exploitation during World War II. The upris... Read More...

ESG RATINGS: FAQs

Oct 09, 2024

ESG RATINGS: FAQs SYNOPSIS ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings are becoming essential for businesses worldwide, including in India, as sustainable investing gains momentum. These ratings evaluate a company’s performance on environmental, social, and governance factors, helping businesses benchmark against global standards. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has taken steps to promote ESG disclosures through the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework and introduced guidelines for ESG rating providers to use a standardized 100-point scale. For Indian companies, strong... Read More...

JAL SANCHAY JAN BHAGIDARI: COMMUNITY-DRIVEN WATER CONSERVATION IN INDIA

Sep 25, 2024

JAL SANCHAY JAN BHAGIDARI: COMMUNITY-DRIVEN WATER CONSERVATION IN INDIA 1. What is the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative? • Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 6, 2024, in Surat, Gujarat, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative is a community-driven program aimed at conserving water. It emphasizes community partnership and ownership for rainwater harvesting and long-term water sustainability across India. 2. How does this initiative align with the government’s broader water conservation efforts? • Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari complements existing schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan, A... Read More...

NUCLEAR FAMILY: A HUNDRED YEAR OLD TERM

Sep 25, 2024

NUCLEAR FAMILY: A HUNDRED YEAR OLD TERM 1. What is a nuclear family? A nuclear family is typically defined as a household unit consisting of two parents and their biological or adopted children. It does not include extended family members like grandparents, uncles, or aunts. 2. When did the nuclear family concept originate? The nuclear family gained recognition in modern times, particularly in the early 20th century, but the term itself became popular around 1924. It symbolized a shift from large extended family structures to smaller, more independent family units. 3. What factors contributed... Read More...

The Great Game: And its Impact on India

Sep 25, 2024

The Great Game: And its Impact on India What was the Great Game? The Great Game refers to the intense geopolitical rivalry between the British and Russian empires during the 19th century for dominance in Central Asia, particularly in Afghanistan, Persia (Iran), and Tibet. When did the Great Game take place? It is generally considered to have spanned most of the 19th century, starting in the early 1800s and concluding around the early 1900s. What were the main objectives of the Great Game? Both empires sought to expand their infl... Read More...

Durand Line: Simplifier

Sep 25, 2024

Durand Line: Simplifier 1. What is the Durand Line? The Durand Line is the 2,640-kilometer international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 as the boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the British Indian Empire. 2. Who established the Durand Line? The Durand Line was established through an agreement between Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan. 3. Why was the Durand Line created? It was created to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanista... Read More...

NIPAH VIRUS

Sep 25, 2024

NIPAH VIRUS What is Nipah Virus (NiV)? Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or directly between people. The virus is associated with severe respiratory illness and encephalitis (brain inflammation), and it can be fatal. The primary hosts of the virus are fruit bats (flying foxes), but it can also infect domestic animals like pigs. How does Nipah Virus spread? The virus spreads in several ways: • Animal to human: By direct contact with infected bats, p... Read More...

DISTRICT MINERAL FOUNDATION (DMF) FAQs

Sep 25, 2024

DISTRICT MINERAL FOUNDATION (DMF) FAQs SYNOPSIS In 2015, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act was amended by the Indian government to mandate auctions and create the District Mineral Foundation (DMF). DMF aims to ensure that mining-affected communities directly benefit from the mineral wealth extracted from their regions. Through the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), DMFs have collected nearly ₹1 lakh crore in funds over the past decade, facilitating development projects in 645 districts across 23 states. DMFs focus on projects that enhance livelihoods, infrastructure, and ... Read More...

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES

Sep 26, 2024

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES The **International Space Station (ISS)** is a large spacecraft that orbits the Earth at an average altitude of about 400 km. It serves as a unique laboratory for scientific research and space exploration, where astronauts from different countries live and work together. The ISS is a collaborative project involving five space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). It has been continuously inhabited since the year 2000, making it one of the longest-lasting space missions in human history. The ISS provides a plat... Read More...

SUB-CLASSIFICATION OF SC/STs IN RESERVATIONS and CASE LAWS

Sep 25, 2024

SUB-CLASSIFICATION OF SC/STs IN RESERVATIONS and CASE LAWS 1. What is the Supreme Court’s stance on sub-classification of SC/STs? In State of Punjab v Davinder Singh (2024), a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of sub-classification within Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). This overruled the five-judge decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v State of Andhra Pradesh (2005), which had previously prohibited sub-classification. The Court held that states could create sub-groups within SCs/STs to address disparities in representation and social backwardness, provided they have quantifiable data. ... Read More...

1931 CASTE CENSUS IN INDIA: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND PRESENT CHALLENGES

Sep 25, 2024

1931 CASTE CENSUS IN INDIA: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND PRESENT CHALLENGES 1. What is the historical significance of the 1931 Caste Census? The 1931 Caste Census was the last caste-based enumeration conducted by the British colonial government in India. It was significant because it provided detailed data on various caste groups, particularly the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), who constituted around 52% of India’s population at the time. This census later influenced policies such as the Mandal Commission’s recommendations in 1980, which sought to address social inequality by reserving 27% of government jobs for OBCs. 2. Why... Read More...

ORGANISED CRIME and INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY

Sep 25, 2024

ORGANISED CRIME and INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY 1. What is organized crime and how does it affect national security? Organized crime refers to criminal activities carried out by highly structured groups or networks that operate within and across borders. These groups engage in illegal activities like extortion, drug trafficking, gunrunning, money laundering, human trafficking, and terrorism. The objective is to generate profit, assert control over territories, and influence political or financial systems. Organized crime undermines national security by destabilizing regions, fostering corruption, and weakening the authority of governments and law enf... Read More...

RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INDIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH: STOCKTAKE

Sep 25, 2024

RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INDIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH: STOCKTAKE 1. What is India’s target for achieving net-zero carbon emissions? India has set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This plan heavily relies on the expansion and integration of renewable energy sources, aligning with the country’s commitment to sustainable development. 2. What are the major milestones in India’s solar energy capacity? In 2014, India had just 2.5 GW of solar energy capacity. Over the last decade, this has increased more than 30 times, reaching 89 GW by 2023. The plan is to continue this expan... Read More...

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY, SEPTEMBER.15:PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN INDIA:

Sep 25, 2024

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY, SEPTEMBER.15:PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN INDIA: 1. What is the significance of the International Day of Democracy? The International Day of Democracy, observed on September 15 each year, promotes democratic values, human rights, and the importance of active civic participation. It was established by the United Nations in 2007 to celebrate and strengthen democratic governance globally. 2. How has India’s democratic journey evolved? India’s modern democracy began with independence in 1947, followed by the adoption of its Constitution in 1950. India’s democratic roots, ... Read More...

Supreme Court of India:Women Judges Are Very Few

Sep 25, 2024

Supreme Court of India:Women Judges Are Very Few Q: How many women judges have served on the Supreme Court of India in its 75-year history? A: As of September 2024, only 11 women have served as judges on the Supreme Court of India since its establishment in 1950. Q: Out of the total number of judges who have served on the Supreme Court, what percentage are women? A: Women represent approximately 4% of the total 276 judges who have served on the Supreme Court in its 75-year history. Q: When was the first woman judge appointed to the Supreme Court of India? Read More...