UPSC Daily Current Affairs

PM-WANI:SIMPLIFIER

Sep 05, 2024

PM-WANI:SIMPLIFIER 1. What is PM-WANI? The Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) is a government initiative launched in December 2020 to provide widespread public Wi-Fi access across India. It aims to enhance internet penetration, especially in rural and underserved areas, by setting up Wi-Fi hotspots through Public Data Offices (PDOs). 2. How does PM-WANI work? PM-WANI operates through a network of PDOs, which are local shops, kiosks, or small businesses that set up and manage Wi-Fi hotspots. These PDOs purchase internet bandwidth from Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) or Internet Service ... Read More...

HIMACHAL PRADESH RAISES MARRIAGE AGE FOR WOMEN: CRITICAL REVIEW

Sep 05, 2024

HIMACHAL PRADESH RAISES MARRIAGE AGE FOR WOMEN: CRITICAL REVIEW What Happened? The Himachal Pradesh Assembly recently passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024, which raises the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The Bill was introduced by Women Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and passed by a voice vote. Why Was the Bill Introduced? The primary objective of the Bill is to promote gender equality and support higher education for women. Early marriages often hinder women’s progress, both in terms of their educational and career aspirations, and c... Read More...

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: FAQs

Sep 05, 2024

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: FAQs 1. What is protein synthesis? Protein synthesis is the process by which cells produce proteins, essential molecules that perform various functions within the body. It involves converting genetic information from DNA into functional proteins. 2. What are the main stages of protein synthesis? Protein synthesis occurs in two main stages: • Transcription: The process where DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus. • Translation: The process where the mRNA is translated into a protein at the ribosome in t... Read More...

Mass Wasting Events:Sedongpu Gully in Tibet

Sep 04, 2024

Mass Wasting Events:Sedongpu Gully in Tibet What is happening in the Sedongpu Gully in Tibet? The Sedongpu Gully is a valley in Tibet that is experiencing a high number of landslides and other mass wasting events (when rocks and soil move downhill due to gravity). A recent study shows that over 700 million cubic meters of debris have been mobilized in the gully since 2017. This increase is linked to long-term warming and earthquakes in the area. The debris from these events can temporarily block the Yarlung Tsangpo River (which becomes the Brahmaputra in India), leading to potential dangers downstream.... Read More...

OUTLAY, OUTPUT, AND OUTCOME BUDGETS

Sep 04, 2024

OUTLAY, OUTPUT, AND OUTCOME BUDGETS 1. Outlay Budget • Definition: Outlay refers to the financial resources allocated to a specific project, scheme, or initiative. It reflects the monetary investment made by the government or an organization. • Example: The government allocates ₹10,000 crore for the development of primary education across the country. This amount represents the outlay for the project. 2. Output Budget • Definition: Output is the tangible, measurable, and physical results produced by the allocated res... Read More...

BASE YEAR FOR THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI):NEED FOR REVISION

Sep 04, 2024

BASE YEAR FOR THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI):NEED FOR REVISION 1. What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices of a basket of goods and services commonly consumed by households, tracking inflation at the retail level. It plays a critical role in economic analysis and policy decisions. 2. What is meant by the “base year” in CPI? • The base year in CPI is the reference year against which current price levels are compared. The index for the base year is set to 100, and all subsequent years’ price changes ... Read More...

Pragyan Rover: Unveiling the Moon's Ancient Secrets

Sep 04, 2024

Pragyan Rover: Unveiling the Moon's Ancient Secrets Q: What is Pragyan and what was its mission? A: Pragyan is a small, six-wheeled rover that was part of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission. It successfully landed on the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023. Its mission was to explore the lunar surface, analyze the soil, and send valuable data back to Earth. Q: What significant finding did Pragyan recently make? A: Pragyan discovered a type of rock called ferroan anorthosite in the lunar soil. This finding supports the theory that the moon was once... Read More...

MANGROVE RESTORATION WITH BIO-SHIELDS

Sep 04, 2024

MANGROVE RESTORATION WITH BIO-SHIELDS Tamil Nadu is making significant strides in coastal conservation by restoring and expanding its mangrove cover. Villagers are at the core of these efforts, contributing to the creation of ‘bio-shields’ that protect against floods, erosion, and climate change. Here are some key details about the initiative: 1. What Is Tamil Nadu’s Bio-Shield Initiative? The state government’s initiative involves planting mangroves to create natural barriers, or bio-shields, along the coastline. These bio-shields are essential for safeguarding coastal communities from disasters while revi... Read More...

VIOLENCE IN BALOCHISTAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

Sep 04, 2024

VIOLENCE IN BALOCHISTAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS 1. What happened in Balochistan recently? • In a series of violent attacks across Pakistan’s Balochistan province, at least 38 people were killed within 24 hours. The attacks, including shootings and bombings, were attributed to separatists from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent years. 2. Who is responsible for the attacks? • The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group demanding independence from Pakistan, is primarily blamed. The BLA has been involved in numerous violent campaigns target... Read More...

ISRO’S HUMANOID SKULL FOR THE GAGANYAAN MISSION

Sep 04, 2024

ISRO’S HUMANOID SKULL FOR THE GAGANYAAN MISSION 1. What is the Gaganyaan mission? • The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first manned space mission, scheduled for 2025. If successful, India will become the fourth country to send humans into space after Russia, the US, and China. Before the main mission, ISRO will conduct two unmanned test flights. 2. What is the humanoid skull designed for? • The humanoid skull is part of a half-humanoid robot called Vyommitra, which will be sent on unmanned test flights as part of the Gaganyaan mission. The skull is designed to mimic human-like f... Read More...

Justice Verma Committee(2013) Recommendations on Rape Laws, Death Penalty, and Marital Rape

Sep 04, 2024

Justice Verma Committee(2013) Recommendations on Rape Laws, Death Penalty, and Marital Rape 1. Q: What prompted the formation of the Justice Verma Committee? A: The committee was set up following the gang rape of a paramedic student in Delhi on December 16, 2012. It was tasked with recommending amendments to criminal laws related to sexual assault. 2. Q: What did the Justice Verma Committee recommend regarding the death penalty for rape? A: The committee specifically stated it was not inclined to recommend the death penalty for rape, even in the rarest of rare cases. They considered it a regressive step in ... Read More...

WEATHER FORECASTING IN INDIA:NEED TO IMPROVE

Sep 04, 2024

WEATHER FORECASTING IN INDIA:NEED TO IMPROVE Introduction: Weather forecasting plays a vital role in safeguarding lives, protecting property, and ensuring economic stability, especially in a country like India, which is highly susceptible to extreme weather events. Over the years, India has made significant advancements in weather prediction, yet challenges remain in accurately forecasting localized and sudden extreme weather events. The increasing frequency of such events, driven by climate change, calls for urgent upgrades in the country’s meteorological capabilities. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is now gea... Read More...

The Hema Committee Report: Reforming Cinema

Sep 04, 2024

The Hema Committee Report: Reforming Cinema Q: What is the Hema Committee report? A: The Hema Committee report is the result of a study conducted by a three-member committee led by Justice K. Hema. It investigates issues faced by women in the cinema industry, particularly in Kerala's Malayalam film industry. Q: When was the committee formed and why? A: The committee was constituted in 2017 in response to a petition submitted by the Women in Cinema Collective, a Kerala-based organization. It aimed to address concerns about gender-based discrimination and harassment in the film industry. Read More...

NEW US-INDIA DEFENCE AGREEMENTS

Sep 04, 2024

NEW US-INDIA DEFENCE AGREEMENTS 1. What are the two new US-India defence agreements signed in August 2023? • The two new agreements are the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and the Memorandum of Agreement on the Assignment of Liaison Officers. These agreements aim to enhance defence cooperation, focusing on priority supply chains and the integration of liaison officers between the two nations. 2. What is the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)? • SOSA is an agreement under which the US and India will provide each other with priority access to defence products and services during ti... Read More...

Sonoluminescence: A Brief Overview

Sep 04, 2024

Sonoluminescence: A Brief Overview What is it? Sonoluminescence is the phenomenon where a tiny bubble in a liquid, when hit by strong sound waves, emits a brief flash of light. How does it happen? Sound waves hit the bubble: The sound waves cause the bubble to expand and contract rapidly. Bubble collapses: During the collapse, the bubble's contents are squeezed incredibly tightly. Intense heat and light: This compression generates extreme heat inside the bubble, sometimes reaching thousands of degrees. This heat cau... Read More...