UPSC Daily Current Affairs

ISRO launched seven Singaporean satellites

Aug 05, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched seven Singaporean satellites using its PSLV rocket from Sriharikota. The main payload, was DS-SAR satellite was developed in Singapore. It will support the satellite imagery requirements of various Singaporean government agencies. The PSLV-C56 mission also carried six co-passenger customer satellites, including technology demonstration microsatellites, nanosatellites, and an experimental satellite. The launch placed all seven satellites into near-equatorial orbits at an altitude of 535 km. This successful launch m... Read More...

All India Services (Leave) Rules, 1955 Amended for Childcare by Father

Aug 05, 2023

Single Male Officers' Two-Year Paid Childcare Leave 1. Who is eligible for the two-year paid childcare leave? Single male officers belonging to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS) are eligible for the two-year paid chldcare leave. 2. When did this change come into effect ? The change allowing single male officers to avail two-year paid childcare leave came into effect on July 29. Read More...

Meri Mati Mera Desh campaign

Aug 05, 2023

What is the 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Answer: The 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign is an initiative launched to honor the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. It involves installing special inscriptions in panchayats across the nation in memory of these heroes. The campaign was announced during the monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast by PM Modi. What is the 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' under the campaign? Answer: The ... Read More...

Black Sea Grain Deal: On and Off

Aug 05, 2023

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched in Istanbul by the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations on 22 July 2022. Through this initiative, a mechanism was established for the safe exports of grain, related foodstuffs and fertilizer, including ammonia, from designated Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea to global markets. The purpose of the Initiative is to contribute to the prevention of global hunger, to reduce and address global food insecurity, and to ensure the safety of merchant ships delivering grain and foodstuffs. What has the initiative achieved so far? Read More...

India and Critical Minerals & Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)

Aug 04, 2023

What is the significance of the Critical Minerals List released by the Government of India? The Critical Minerals List is a comprehensive compilation of 30 minerals that are essential for various industrial sectors such as defence, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and telecom. The list helps prioritize the exploration and mining of these critical minerals to ensure self-reliance and security in the domain of mineral resources. Does India have these critical minerals? With a few exceptions such as copper, gallium , graphite, cadmiu... Read More...

Green Bonds and Blue Bonds

Aug 04, 2023

What are green bonds ? Green bonds are financial instruments that are specifically used to fund environmentally friendly projects and initiatives. They are issued by governments, municipalities, corporations, or other organizations to raise capital for projects that have positive environmental impacts. (Inke proceeds ko exclusively environmentally sustainable projects ke liye use kiya jata hai jaise renewable energy development, energy efficiency improvements, sustainable agriculture, waste management, energy efficiency.) The proceeds from green bonds are exclusively used for projects such as r... Read More...

Tamil Question in India-Sri Lanka Relations

Aug 04, 2023

What is the "Tamil question" in India-Sri Lanka relations? The "Tamil question" refers to the longstanding issue of the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Northern and Eastern provinces, seeking greater autonomy and devolution of powers. The Tamil community has faced historical grievances, including concerns over language, culture, and political representation, leading to tensions in bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. What was the outcome of President Ranil Wikramasinghe's visit? The leaders ... Read More...

North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) :Expansion and Implications for India

Aug 04, 2023

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance among 31 member states – 29 European and two North American. The most recent country to join is Finland and Sweden is set to join. Article Five Article 5 is the North Atlantic Treaty, which is the founding document of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Article 5 is commonly referred to as the "collective defense clause" and is the essence of NATO's principle of mutual defense. Article 5 means that if any NATO member country faces an armed attack, ... Read More...

Sportswomen of India Today

Aug 03, 2023

Women's sports are seeing quite a revolution in India. At the turn of the millennium, something unprecedented happened — an elusive Olympic medal was won by an Indian woman for the first time when Karnam Malleswari won a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in weightlifting. Since then, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal in London 2012, PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik in Rio 2016 and Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu and Lovlina Borgohain in Tokyo have brought Olympic success to the country. So,what is the significance of the success of Indian sportswomen today? Indian sportsw... Read More...

Goa Civil Code

Aug 03, 2023

What is a uniform civil code? A Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a set of fair and equal laws that apply to all citizens, regardless of their religion or personal beliefs in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.It means that all people, regardless of their faith, will follow the same rules. The idea behind a Uniform Civil Code is to ensure that no one feels discriminated against and denied justice based on their religion. It promotes a sense of harmony and equality in a diverse society like India. However, UCC is a sensitive matter as it deals with matters close to one's ... Read More...

Right to Silence

Aug 03, 2023

What is the right to silence? The right to silence means that if someone is accused of a crime, they have the right to remain silent and not answer questions or provide information that could be used against them in a court of law. It is based on the fundamental principle that no person can be compelled to be a witness against themselves.(Iska purpose hai ki sabko ek fair trial mile)It ensure a fair trial. Does the Constitution of India provide for it? Yes. Under Article 20(3) of the Constitution of India, a person accused of an offense cannot... Read More...

India and UAE Local Currency Trade

Aug 03, 2023

During the fifth visit of PM Modi to the UAE last week, the two countries signed an agreement to trade in local currencies. What is it? The trade of local currencies between India and the UAE refers to the exchange of Indian Rupees (INR) and Emirati Dirhams (AED) in bilateral trade and transactions between the two countries. (Iska Matlab Indians imports ke liye Rupees use kar sakte hain aur UAE residents Dirham use kar sakte hai thereby overcoming the need for international currencies like US dollar for trade) This practice allows businesses an... Read More...

India's Proposal for UN Counter-Terrorism Sanctions Regime and China's Double Standards

Aug 02, 2023

Q.What is India's proposal regarding UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime within BRICS? India has proposed that BRICS nations should jointly prepare a list of terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime. The objective is to ensure a fair and unbiased approach to countering terrorism within BRICS countries and avoid the use of double standards in dealing with terrorist entities. Q.How has China responded to the proposal? China's response to previous... Read More...

Reservation Benefits for Transgender Persons in India

Aug 02, 2023

1. What is the recent development regarding reservation benefits for transgender persons in India? The Central government has informed the Supreme Court that there is no separate reservation provided exclusively for transgender persons in education or employment. 2. Can transgender persons avail of any reservation benefits? Yes, transgender persons can avail of reservation benefits if they belong to existing categories, which include Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Socially and Educat... Read More...

Israel's Judicial Reforms and Controversy

Aug 02, 2023

Changes to Israel's legal system are aimed at limiting the powers of the Supreme Court and reshaping the process of selecting judges. Main provisions of the legislative reforms are as follows: ☛ Limiting Supreme Court's Powers: It limits the Supreme Court's ability to rule against decisions made by the legislature and the executive.The Knesset (Israeli parliament) would have the authority to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority. This move is aimed at reducing judicial oversight and increasing the influence of the elected branches of government. ☛ Restricting Review of Basic Law... Read More...