UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):Antibiotic Overuse in Food Supply Chains

Aug 30, 2023

1. What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections in both humans and animals. They work by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth. 2. What is antibiotic overuse? Antibiotic overuse refers to the excessive use of antibiotics, often when they are not necessary for treating infections. This can occur in human medicine and in agriculture, particularly in the context of raising animals for food. 3. Why is antibiotic overuse a concern? Read More...

China's Global Development Initiative (GDI): A New World Order?

Aug 30, 2023

1. What is the Global Development Initiative (GDI)? The GDI is a proposal introduced by China's leader, Xi Jinping, aimed at promoting development, reducing poverty, and enhancing health in the developing world. It is part of China's broader strategy to establish an alternative world order to challenge the dominance of the US-led West. 2. What are the other initiatives introduced by Xi? In addition to the GDI, Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative. These initiatives collectivel... Read More...

Niger Crisis and Geopolitics:Analysed

Aug 30, 2023

1. What is the recent crisis in Niger about? The recent crisis in Niger involves an "extra-constitutional attempt to seize power," characterized by a military takeover that removed the democratically elected president from office. 2. How have western countries reacted to the crisis? Different western countries have responded differently. French President Emmanuel Macron referred to it as a "perfectly illegitimate coup d'état," whereas the U.S. State Department avoided using the term "coup" and engaged i... Read More...

Brics Expansion: Geoeconomics and Geopolitics

Aug 30, 2023

The expansion of the Brics group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, to include six new members—Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, the UAE, and Ethiopia—holds significant implications for both geoeconomics and geopolitics on the global stage. Geoeconomics: Diverse Economic Landscapes: The addition of these new members expands the Brics group's economic diversity, ranging from major oil producers like Saudi Arabia to developing economies like Ethiopia. This diversification could potentially lead to increased trade and i... Read More...

15th BRICS Summit Johannesburg Declaration 2023

Aug 30, 2023

Brics Summit in Johannesburg - Key Points: • The Brics summit took place in Johannesburg, where leaders discussed global economic, financial, and political issues. • The summit was chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa. • The leaders in attendance were Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from Brazil, Vladimir Putin from Russia, Narendra Modi from India, and Xi Jinping from China. Putin participated virtually. • This was the first in-person summit since the C... Read More...

China's Presence in Sri Lanka:Shi Yan 6

Aug 30, 2023

1. Why has China requested permission for its research vessel to dock in Sri Lanka? China has requested permission for its research vessel, the Shi Yan 6, to dock in Sri Lanka to conduct oceanography, marine geology, and marine ecology tests. This request is part of China's broader maritime interests and its focus on maritime infrastructure development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 2. What concerns does India have regarding Chinese vessels in the region? India is concerned about the presence of Chinese vessels, especially those... Read More...

Israel-India Relations

Aug 30, 2023

When is Israel's Prime Minister expected to visit India and what is the agenda of his visit? The visit is expected to take place this year. The agenda includes discussions on a wide range of topics, such as technology cooperation, defence, foreign policy, economic ties, and more. How has cooperation between India and Israel increased, particularly in defence and agriculture sectors? Defence cooperation began in the late 1960s, and Israel supports India's 'Make in India' p... Read More...

Smart Cities in India - Achievements and Rankings

Aug 30, 2023

1. What are the Smart Cities in India? Smart Cities are urban centers in India that focus on implementing advanced technologies and innovative solutions to enhance infrastructure, services, and quality of life for citizens. 2. How are Smart Cities evaluated and ranked? Smart Cities are evaluated based on their implementation of smart solutions across various sectors, including mobility, energy, water, sanitation, waste management, public spaces, and governance. Rankings are determined by the effectiveness of these implementations and their imp... Read More...

Personalities Involved in the Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Aug 30, 2023

S Somanath (ISRO Chairman): As the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath played a pivotal role in overseeing India's ambitious Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3. His leadership extended beyond Chandrayaan-3, encompassing crucial missions like Gaganyaan and Aditya-L1. With a wealth of experience, he guided ISRO's endeavors in space exploration. His previous roles include directing the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, both integral in developing rocket technologies for ISRO. P Veeramuthuvel (Project Director, Chandrayaan-3): P Veeramuthuvel, the ... Read More...

Reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories

Aug 29, 2023

Did Parliament have the authority to split J&K into two Union Territories (UTs)? The decision to convert Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into two Union Territories raises the question of Parliament's power in this matter. The move transforms a State with an elected legislature into UTs with one UT being denied legislature alrtogether and another with limited legislative powers.It can impact the democratic participation of the people. How does this transformation affect governance in J&K? The transformation leads to significant changes ... Read More...

Second Thomas Shoal Incident

Aug 29, 2023

Philippines vs China in the South China Sea What is Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea? Second Thomas Shoal is a location within the hotly contested South China Sea. It is an area where multiple countries, including China and the Philippines, have overlapping territorial claims. The sovereignty over this shoal has been a source of ongoing tension and disputes in the region. What recent incident occurred at Second Thomas Shoal? In a recent incident, eight Chinese ships engaged in a pursuit of a... Read More...

Art.370 and Art.371:Comparison

Aug 29, 2023

Article 370 and Article 371 are distinct provisions in the Indian Constitution that address special provisions for certain states or regions within India. While they both provide special status and autonomy to specific areas, they apply to different regions and have different historical backgrounds. Here's a comparison between Article 370 and Article 371: Article 370: Special Status for Jammu and Kashmir Background: Article 370 was a temporary provision included in the Indian Constitution to provide special autonomy to the state of... Read More...

Impact of Late Monsoon on Agriculture

Aug 29, 2023

What impact does a long dry spell in August have on farmers and crops? A prolonged dry spell in August can lead to significant challenges for farmers as their crops become more vulnerable to pest and insect attacks. This susceptibility can result in reduced yields and increased expenditures for farmers. Which crops are most susceptible to pest and disease attacks during a patchy monsoon? Crops like cotton, paddy (rice), and to some extent, pulses are particularly vulnerable to pests and diseases when the monsoon is inconsistent and patchy thro... Read More...

Minimum Export Price (MEP) in India:Fundamentals

Aug 29, 2023

1. What is the Minimum Export Price (MEP) in India? The Minimum Export Price (MEP) is a mechanism implemented by the Indian government to regulate the export of certain commodities. It sets a minimum price below which the export of these commodities is not allowed. 2. Why is the Minimum Export Price (MEP) imposed? The MEP is imposed to ensure that essential commodities, especially food items, remain available at reasonable prices in the domestic market. It prevents excessive exports that could lead to shortages or price hikes within the countr... Read More...

India's Trade Policies and Industrial Strategy:Protectionism and Import Substitution:Pros and Cons

Aug 29, 2023

1. What are the recent trade policy measures introduced by India? India has implemented licensing requirements for imports of electronic goods, coupled with high tariffs and non-tariff measures in certain sectors. It has also adopted the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to stimulate domestic manufacturing. 2. How do India's trade policies compare to those of developed economies? While developed economies often use targeted subsidy programs, India's protectionist policies appear to be more widespread, affecting multiple industri... Read More...