UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Jul 23, 2024

1. What does the study reveal about overall morbidity in India? The prevalence of all types of morbidities doubled from 56 per thousand population in 1995 to 106 per thousand in 2014, but dipped to 79 per thousand in 2018. 2. How has the prevalence of NCDs changed? NCDs have tripled, increasing from 8.6 per thousand population in 1995 to 30 per thousand in 2018. 3. What about infectious diseases? The prevalence of infectious and communicable diseases has almost doubled from 8 to 15 per thousand population over... Read More...

Antimalarial resistance in Africa:

Jul 23, 2024

Rising Antimalarial Resistance in Africa: Simplifier 1. What is antimalarial resistance? It's when malaria parasites become able to survive despite treatment with antimalarial drugs. 2. Why is this a problem in Africa? Africa has a high burden of malaria, and resistance is making our best treatments less effective. 3. What are ACTs? ACTs (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies) are the main medicines used to treat malaria. They combine artemisinin with other antimala... Read More...

GENDER GAP IN EDUCATION IN INDIA 2024

Jul 23, 2024

The World Economic Forum (WEF) report of 2024 ranked India 129th out of 146 economies, highlighting a decline in the education sector as a contributing factor to India’s lower rank. Despite significant enrolment levels in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, the gap in literacy rates between men and women remains a challenge. This calls for a closer examination of the statistics and strategies necessary to address these disparities. Read More...

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in India

Jul 23, 2024

1. What is Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)? AES is a broad term for a group of neurological disorders characterized by inflammation of the brain, typically causing fever, altered mental state, and seizures. 2. What causes AES? AES can be caused by various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, as well as toxins and chemicals. 3. What are the main symptoms of AES? Key symptoms include sudden onset of fever, altered mental status (confusion, disorientation, or coma), and new onset of seizures... Read More...

Nipah virus:

Jul 23, 2024

1. What is Nipah virus? Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (transmitted from animals to humans) that can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans. 2. How is Nipah virus transmitted? It can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, particularly bats or pigs, or through consumption of contaminated food or drinks. Human-to-human transmission can also occur. 3. What are the symptoms of Nipah virus infection? Symptoms can include fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental... Read More...

GOBARDHAN SCHEME OVERVIEW

Jul 23, 2024

What is the Gobardhan Scheme? The Gobardhan Scheme is a national initiative launched by the Indian government to address waste management challenges by converting cattle dung and organic waste into valuable resources. This scheme aims to create a sustainable model for waste management and resource recovery by producing compost, bio... Read More...

ODISHA’S SHADOW CABINET: DEEP DIVE

Jul 23, 2024

1. What is a Shadow Cabinet? A shadow cabinet is a group of opposition members assigned to monitor and critique the work of government ministers. Though not an official government body, it provides a mechanism for opposition parties to scrutinize and propose alternatives to the government’s policies. The concept is well-established in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia but is relatively new in India. 2. Naveen Patnaik’s Initiative: Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, has introduced a formal shadow cabinet concept in India... Read More...

MONETARY POLICY: DOVES AND HAWKS

Jul 23, 2024

1. What is Monetary Policy? Monetary policy involves the actions taken by a central bank to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates. It aims to achieve goals like controlling inflation, managing employment, and stabilizing the currency. Read More...

RBI-INTEREST & EXCHANGE RATES: INDIAN RUPEE

Jul 23, 2024

1. What is the Exchange Rate? The exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of another, such as the Indian rupee (INR) to the US dollar (USD). It fluctuates based on supply and demand, similar to stock prices. Higher demand for a currency increases its value, making it stronger. 2. What are Interest Rates? Interest rates represent the cost of borrowing money or the return on savings. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sets these rates to influence the economy. Higher int... Read More...

FOREX RESERVES FAQs: SIMPLIFIER

Jul 23, 2024

1. What are Forex Reserves? Forex reserves are assets held by a country’s central bank in foreign currencies, including the US dollar, euro, and Japanese yen. These reserves may also comprise gold, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and reserve positions with the IMF. Read More...

RUPEE FLOAT: SIMPLIFIER

Jul 23, 2024

What is a Floating Exchange Rate? A floating exchange rate is a currency system where the value of a currency is determined by market forces of supply and demand relative to other currencies. It contrasts with a fixed exchange rate,... Read More...

CURRENCY DEPRECIATION AND DEVALUATION

Jul 23, 2024

What is Currency Depreciation? Currency depreciation refers to the decline in the value of a country’s currency relative to other currencies in the foreign exchange market. This can occur due to various factors such as economi... Read More...

RBI FINANCIAL INCLUSION (FI) INDEX

Jul 22, 2024

INTRODUCTION TO THE FI INDEX The Financial Inclusion (FI) Index is a measure introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2021. It evaluates the level of financial inclusion in India based on three parameters: access, usage, and quality of financial services. The index is designed to reflect how widely financial services are available, how often they are used, and the quality of these services. HISTORICAL TRENDS The FI Index has shown continuous improvement since its intro... Read More...

Stagflation: Causes, Effects, and Economic Impact

Jul 22, 2024

1. What is stagflation? Stagflation is a challenging economic situation characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of high inflation, slow economic growth (or recession), and high unemployment. 2. What causes stagflation? Stagflation can be triggered by various factors, but the most common cause is a supply shock, such as a sudden increase in the price of a crucial commodity like oil. This leads to higher production costs, which in turn fuels inflatio... Read More...

Inflation Expectations in India:Simplifier

Jul 22, 2024

1. What are inflation expectations? Inflation expectations refer to the rate at which consumers, businesses, and investors anticipate prices to rise in the future.These expectations can significantly influence actual inflation, as they impact pricing decisions and wage demands. 2. Why are inflation expectations important for the RBI (Reserve Bank of India)? The RBI monitors inflation expectations closely because they play a crucial role in achieving pric... Read More...