UPSC Daily Current Affairs

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...

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...

MASTER OF THE ROSTER: CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

Sep 25, 2024

MASTER OF THE ROSTER: CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA 1. What does ‘Master of the Roster’ mean? A roster is a schedule or list that assigns tasks or duties to individuals. In courts, it refers to the allocation of cases to judges by a designated authority like the Chief Justice. The term “Master of the Roster” refers to the exclusive authority of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to allocate cases to various judges or benches in the Supreme Court. This includes deciding which judge or bench will hear a particular case. While the phrase is used colloquially, it is not defined in any Indian legal instrument. 2. ... Read More...

ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ANRF) AND VIKSIT BHARAT 2047: CREATING A FUTURE THROUGH RESEARCH

Sep 24, 2024

ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ANRF) AND VIKSIT BHARAT 2047: CREATING A FUTURE THROUGH RESEARCH SYNOPSIS India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 – the vision of a fully developed nation by its centenary year – goes beyond job-creation and wealth-creation. While economic growth is essential, it is not sufficient on its own to achieve this ambitious goal. To truly transform into a developed nation, India must heavily invest in research, innovation, and technology, much like the developed nations that have invested in human knowledge to drive progress. The recently launched Anusandhan National Researc... Read More...

AGRICULTURAL REFORMS IN 2024: FAQs

Sep 24, 2024

AGRICULTURAL REFORMS IN 2024: FAQs SYNOPSIS In 2024, the focus of India’s agricultural reforms continues to address farmers’ needs and boost rural development. Key initiatives include schemes like PM-KISAN, which provides direct cash transfers to farmers, and efforts to digitise agriculture to improve efficiency and reduce data fragmentation. The reforms also emphasize investments in rural infrastructure, ensuring better crop yields, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, and improving farmers’ livelihoods. A major goal is to create a comprehensive agricultural stack by integrating various data sets, ensu... Read More...

LEFT WING EXTREMISM(LWE)/NAXALISM/MAOSIM and ROAD CONNECTIVITY:THE MULTIPLIER DEVELOPMENT EFFECT

Sep 24, 2024

LEFT WING EXTREMISM(LWE)/NAXALISM/MAOSIM and ROAD CONNECTIVITY:THE MULTIPLIER DEVELOPMENT EFFECT SYNOPSIS Improved road connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas plays a crucial role in socio-economic development, significantly amplifying the multiplier effect. The Indian government has increased funds under the Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) to improve infrastructure in 44 worst-affected districts. This initiative aims to strengthen rural connectivity, facilitating access to markets, healthcare, education, and employment, while also aiding security and governance in conflict-prone regi... Read More...

Shale Gas and India: Simplifier

Sep 24, 2024

Shale Gas and India: Simplifier What is shale gas? Shale gas is natural gas trapped within fine-grained sedimentary rocks called shale, found deep underground. It requires specialized techniques like hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" for extraction. Why is shale gas important for India? Energy Security: India heavily relies on energy imports. Tapping into domestic shale gas reserves could reduce this dependence and bolster energy security. Economic Growth: Shale gas development could create jobs, attract investments, and stimulate economic ... Read More...

SUPREME COURT’S NEW FLAG: SYMBOLISM AND SIGNIFICANCE

Sep 24, 2024

SUPREME COURT’S NEW FLAG: SYMBOLISM AND SIGNIFICANCE 1. What does the new Supreme Court flag look like? T... Read More...

VAN ALLEN BELTS

Sep 24, 2024

VAN ALLEN BELTS 1. What are the Van Allen belts? The Van Allen belts are two zones of charged particles (mainly electrons and protons) surrounding Earth, trapped by its magnetic field. They are named after Dr. James Van Allen, who discovered them in 1958. These belts protect Earth from harmful solar and cosmic radiation but can be dangerous to satellites and astronauts. 2. How are the Van Allen belts formed? The belts are formed by charged particles from the solar wind and cosmic rays, which are trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. The particles become concentrated in the region around the planet, creating two ... Read More...

SPACEX POLARIS DAWN MISSION: SIMPLIFIER

Sep 24, 2024

SPACEX POLARIS DAWN MISSION: SIMPLIFIER What is the Polaris Dawn Mission? The Polaris Dawn Mission is a private space mission launched by SpaceX. Unlike traditional space missions run by government agencies like NASA, this mission was led by a crew of private astronauts, including engineers and a billionaire entrepreneur. It is part of a larger push by SpaceX to open space travel to non-professional astronauts and expand the capabilities of the commercial space industry. Who were the astronauts on board? The four-member crew included: • Jared Isaacman (Commander): Read More...

GIG WORKERS:SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

Sep 24, 2024

GIG WORKERS:SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME 1. What is the social security scheme announced for gig workers in India? The Union government has rolled out a social security scheme aimed at providing benefits like health insurance, unemployment support, maternity benefits, and accident injury coverage for India’s gig workers. The scheme is intended to offer financial and social protection to the country’s informal workforce. 2. Who will be eligible for the scheme? All gig workers, approximately 7.7 million of them, will be eligible for this scheme. To access the benefits, gig workers will need to r... Read More...

FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD: UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sep 24, 2024

FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD: UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY The phrase “The fish rots from the head” is an ancient proverb that emphasizes the critical role of leadership in the success or failure of an organization or society. It suggests that when problems arise within a group, they often stem from the leadership, whether through incompetence, corruption, or neglect. This essay will explore the meaning of this phrase, its relevance in various sectors, and the consequences of poor leadership. It will also highlight how strong leadership can positively impact organizations, governments, and communities. ORIGINS AND M... Read More...

Fracking: FAQs

Sep 24, 2024

Fracking: FAQs What is fracking? Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract oil and natural gas from shale rock deep underground. It involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into a well to create fractures in the rock, allowing the trapped oil and gas to flow to the surface. Why is fracking used? Fracking has enabled access to vast reserves of oil and natural gas that were previously uneconomical to extract. This has led to increased domestic energy production, lower energy prices, and reduced reliance on foreign oil in some countries. Read More...

NUCLEAR CLOCK: A NEW WAY TO MEASURE TIME

Sep 24, 2024

NUCLEAR CLOCK: A NEW WAY TO MEASURE TIME Imagine you want to measure time as accurately as possible. In the past, people used the movement of the sun and moon, but we’ve found better ways since then. Now, we use something called atomic clocks, which rely on the vibrations of atoms to keep super-precise time. These clocks are so accurate that they only lose one second every 100 million years! Scientists have been working on making an even more accurate clock by going deeper into the atom—into its tiny center called the nucleus. This new type of clock is called a nuclear clock. What Makes a Nuclear Clock Special? ... Read More...

MICRO IRRIGATION IN INDIA: A DETAILED OVERVIEW

Sep 24, 2024

MICRO IRRIGATION IN INDIA: A DETAILED OVERVIEW 1. What is micro irrigation and how is it implemented? Micro irrigation is a water-efficient technology where water is delivered directly to the plant’s root zone through low-pressure systems like drips, sprinklers, or bubblers. This method ensures minimal water wastage by controlling the water’s flow rate and timing, allowing precise application directly where it’s needed most. 2. What are the different types of micro irrigation systems? Micro irrigation includes several methods: • Drip irr... Read More...