Approach Introduce with the green revolution Enumerate the success achieved by green revolution like self-sufficiency, productivity etc. Point out the failures of Green revolution like inequalities, degradation of environment etc. Conclude with the way forward Model Answer The draught of 1966 also made it inevitable to develop new technique of agriculture to increase the production and make India self-sufficient in
Read moreCairn wins arbitration ruling against India in tax dispute In News The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague has ruled that the Indian government was wrong in applying retrospective tax on Cairn Energy Plc. This is the second ruling against the Indian government at international tribunals over the retrospective tax issue in three months. In September, 2020, a separate international arbitration
Read moreIn News The Nature Index 2020 Artificial Intelligence was recently released by ‘Nature Research’. About: Nature Research Nature Research is a division of the international scientific publishing company Springer Nature that publishes academic journals, magazines, online databases, and services in science and medicine. Nature Research’s flagship publication is Nature, a weekly multidisciplinary journal first published in 1869. Nature, an international journal, publishes high quality
Read moreManipur’s Zomi people push for BTC-like council In News The Zomi Council, representing nine Zomi tribes, has renewed its demand for the creation of Zoland Territorial Council (ZTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. About: The Zomi tribe Zomi council is an apex body of the Zomi tribes which include Gante, Kom, Mate, Paite, Simte, Tedim Chin, Thangkhal, Zou and Vaiphei.
Read moreAbout Silicosis Silicosis is a fatal respiratory illness caused by inhaling fine silica dust through prolonged exposure in sandstone mines and quarries. Silica is a highly common, crystal-like mineral found in sand, rock, and quartz. Silica can have deadly consequences for people who work with stone, concrete, glass, or other forms of rock. Any level of silica exposure can result
Read moreIn News In order to expand the coastal radar chain network, efforts are in advanced stages to set up coastal radar stations in Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand. Similar proposals are being developed for some more countries. About: Coastal radar chain network After the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which terrorists used a fishing boat to enter the city, the government decided to
Read moreStudy of Mukundpura Meteorite It is a carbonaceous meteorite (these are the meteorites which contain carbon compounds, including organic ones and water). It is one of the most primitive type of meteorite. It is a rare type of meteorite as carbonaceous meteorites constitute only 3%-5% of all meteorites which fall on the Earth. It contains grains of calcium and iron
Read moreBuilt by DRDO and partners, India’s ATAGS is a 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzer artillery gun. Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons (like modern day canons) built to launch munitions far beyond the range and power of normal firearms. The new version has a 48-km strike range, higher than the 35-40 km range of other artillery gun systems in
Read moreIn News: December 21st is the day of Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere, and it is the shortest day (day with the shortest day-time) of the year. This year, the day-time of December 21st in Delhi was approximately 10 hours 19 minutes long. About: Winter and Summer Solstices The winter solstice, hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice occurs when one of the
Read moreKhudiram Bose was born in 1889, in a small village in Medinipur district of West Bengal. He is one of the youngest revolutionaries of the Indian freedom struggle. Khudiram Bose is highly regarded in Bengal for his fearless spirit, and his ultimate sacrifice for the cause. However, his legacy has remained largely limited to Bengal. Now, the Union Home Minister
Read moreSach-Gaurav It is born to a Murrah buffalo. Its birth weight is 54.2 kg and it has a normal physiological parameters and blood profile. The genotype of the calf was confirmed by microsatellite analysis (parentage verification) and chromosome analysis. What is cloning? The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical
Read moreAbout Typhoid (Enteric Fever) Typhoid Fever is a gastrointestinal infection caused by Salmonella enterica typhi It is transmitted from person to person through the fecal-oral route where an infected or asymptomatic individual with poor hand or body hygiene passes the infection to another person when handling food and water. The bacteria multiply in the intestinal tract and can spread to the
Read moreBackground: Working of Antibiotics What are Antibiotics? Antibiotics are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria. In order to be effective, it has to be selectively toxic to only target bacteria which are harmful. Antibiotics work in the following 2 ways Killing the bacteria Inhibiting the ability of bacteria to grow and multiply In order to understand the different targets
Read moreAbout Oxytocin The hormone released by the pituitary gland is responsible for human bonding activities such as sex, childbirth and breastfeeding. Misuse of oxytocin The hormone injection is misused to increase the size of vegetables and fruits. In the dairy industry, livestock are often injected with the hormone to spur the release of milk, which when reaches humans
Read moreHeadline : Kartarpur corridor Background The Kartarpur Sahib corridor was first proposed in 1999 when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a bus ride to Lahore, as a long-standing demand from the Sikh community for easy access to the revered shrine across the border where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. In August this year, during the
Read moreAbout Quantum computers In 1950s quantity of information for the first time were expressed in terms of the number of “bits”. The bits, the 0s and 1s of binary code, are the basis of all conventional computing to store information. 0s and 1s are represented in the form of electric charges. In ordinary computers, charge is stored, and it flows through switches.
Read moreNot many overseas students are studying in India: The higher education sector in India remains inwardly oriented, that is, most of the students in Indian colleges and universities are Indians. India has not been able to attract many foreign students in Indian higher education institutions. Statistics on overseas students in India for higher education: Out of over 53 lakh students
Read moreIn focus: Ultima Thule Introduction Ultima Thule is a small rocky and icy trans-Neptunian planetesimal in the Kuiper belt about 30 km in radius. Planetesimal is one of many small solid celestial bodies thought to have existed at an early stage in the development of the solar system Ultima Thule belongs to a class of Kuiper belt objects called the “cold classicals”.
Read moreAbout: India’s agricultural exports Agricultural exports are extremely important as the exports help farmers/producers/exporters to take advantage of wider international market and increase their income. Exports have also resulted in increased production in agriculture sector by increasing area coverage and productivity. Giant strides have been made in agri export since independence. In 1950-51, India’s agri export was about Rs. 149
Read moreAbout: Earth observation satellites Earth observation satellites are used for land and forest mapping and monitoring, mapping of resources like water or minerals or fishes, weather and climate observations, soil assessment and geospatial contour mapping. Data from Earth-observation satellites are in great demand, both from government agencies, which need it for planning and infrastructure development, as well as private companies looking to execute
Read moreWhat is CrispR? CRISPR stands for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”. It is a method of DNA editing more efficient than ones available. CRISPR uses an enzyme called Cas9 to cut strands of DNA at precisely targeted locations. This allows one to insert new genetic material into the gap. CRISPR promises to revolutionize gene editing in organisms, by modifying inherited genes
Read moreAbout Kalpana Lajmi Kalpana Lajmi was a critically acclaimed filmmaker who focused on social issues concerning women. She was one of the earliest feminist filmmakers in Indian cinema. Her body of work covered issues ranging from patriarchy, sexuality and gender, domestic violence to transgender and prostitution. Noted works Lajmi debuted in the film industry in 1977 as an assistant director under
Read moreWhat is a bulk drug park and why Himachal wants one In News Himachal Pradesh (HP) is one of the states trying to get an allotment of a bulk drug park under the central government bulk drug park scheme. The HP government has identified around 1,400 acres in Una district and sent a proposal to the Centre. Several other states including
Read moreIn recent years, the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ has become widely resonant in the geo-strategic discourse. Geographically, the Indo-Pacific refers to the Indian and the Pacific Oceans between the east coast of Africa and the American west coast and their several littoral countries. However, there are slight differences in what various countries perceive as the geographical spread of “Asia-Pacific”. While a 2017
Read moreAbout Stem Cells The most basic unit of any organism is a cell. It is the smallest unit of life that can function independently and perform all the necessary functions of life. Cells develop to form tissues which inturn develop to form organs. Further broadly speaking, cells are of two types, differentiated and undifferentiated. Differentiated cells are the building blocks
Read moreAbout Snakebite envenoming Snakebite envenoming is a potentially life-threatening disease that typically results from the injection of a mixture of different toxins (“venom”) following the bite of a venomous snake. Envenoming can also be caused by venom being sprayed into a person’s eyes by certain species of snakes that have the ability to spit venom as a defence measure. Not
Read moreApproach Introduce with NPAs Explain various factors causing NPAs. Suggest way forward to deal with NPA Model Answer A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days. The higher is the amount of non-performing assets (NPAs), the weaker will be the bank’s revenue stream.
Read moreWhat is an e-cigarette? E-cigarette is a battery-powered device which vaporizes a liquid solution containing water, flavorings, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol. E-cigarette are also called electronics nicotine delivery system (ENDS) They are considered as a healthier smoking alternative as they do not contain carbon monoxide or tar. Arguments in favour of the ban According to the ministry, e-cigarettes
Read moreAbout Zika virus Zika belongs to a group of viruses called the flaviviruses, which includes dengue, West Nile and yellow fever. Zika virus infect and replicate inside the cells of several species, including humans, monkeys, and mosquitoes. History of Zika Zika was first isolated from a monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. The first human case was reported
Read moreHeadline : Personality: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Details : About Atal Bihari Vajpayee Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an Indian politician who thrice served as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, for a period of eleven months from 1998 to 1999, and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004. He was a member of
Read moreBasics: Black holes in theory General theory of relativity and Black holes Einstein completely revolutionized the idea of space and time in his general theory of relativity. Accordingly, space and time is not something that is static, monotonous and unchanging as imagined in Newtonian physics. The general theory of relativity describes gravity entirely in terms of the geometry of both
Read moreWhat is Piezoelectricity? ‘Piezo’ meaning to press or to squeeze. Piezoelectric property essentially is based on the interplay between mechanical and electrical features of a material. Bonds that keep materials together are electrons and these electrons are the basis for electricity. Therefore there exists a connection between material mechanics and material electronics. Changing one will impact the other. Piezoelectricity is the generation
Read moreTelemedicine: A backgrounder The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Telemedicine as- The delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the
Read moreIn Focus: E-Courts in India The Indian judiciary comprises of nearly 15,000 courts situated in approximately 2,500 court complexes throughout the country. The e-Courts project was conceptualized on the basis of the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary – 2005”submitted by e-Committee, Supreme Court of India with a vision to
Read moreAbout The National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC), 2016 The National Plan of Action for Children, 2016 is based on the principles embedded in the National Policy for Children 2013. It seeks to ensure convergence of ongoing programmes and initiation of new programmes so as to focus on pre-determined objectives through well-defined strategies and activities and achieve certain level
Read moreHeadline : Explained: The 67 acres in Ayodhya Details : The news The central government is seeking to return “excess/superfluous land” from the 67.703 acres it acquired in Ayodhya in 1993 to the original owners. To this end, it has moved to the Supreme Court asking to allow the return of land. Background After the demolition of Babri Masjid, the central government
Read moreWhat are the differences between electric and hybrid vehicles? The key difference between hybrid and all-EVs is in the sources of fuel and locomotion available to them. Hybrid vehicle: Hybrid vehicles have two sources available to them— a battery that powers an electric motor and a fuel tank that powers a normal petrol engine. Once the battery is depleted, the
Read moreEmerging Vitamin D defiency in India It used to be a routine in India to massage infants and then give them a sunbath. But changing lifestyles over the years have almost put an end to this practice and children now spend most of their time indoors. This has led to the emergence of vitamin D deficiency as a major problem
Read moreUPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper -1 : Download
Read moreIn Focus: Protection of Children from Sexual OffencesPOSCO Act 2012: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act or the POCSO Act was enacted in 2012 to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography, while safeguarding the interests of children at every stage of the judicial process. The Act defines
Read moreHeadline : BASICS: Changes in Employee Provident Fund (EPF) Details : The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is undergoing many changes. So will the changes enhance the utility of EPF or handicap subscribers? About Employees’ Provident Fund and Employees’ Pension Scheme: EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme 1952) and EPS (Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995) are two different retirement saving schemes under Employees’ Provident
Read moreIn brief: Internet travel Client-Server Architecture Internet is often defined as a network of networks of computers. Computer connected to the Internet communicate with each other for data exchange under the Client-Server Architecture. Illustration: When you are accessing a mail on Gmail, your computer is a client that wants to access data, information, and other services present on a variety of servers. Data
Read moreLife Insurance Corporation of Indiais an Indian state-owned insurance group and investment corporation owned by the Government of India. LIC is the largest life insurance company in India. GIC Re is the largest reinsurance company or insurer’s insurer. New India which is the largest general insurance company in the country. Government has plans to list the shares of LIC (India’s largest financial entity with assets
Read moreAbout V.S. Naipaul Sir VidiadharSurajprasad Naipaul, also known as Sir Vidia Naipaul or Sir V. S. Naipaulwas, was born Trinidad, where his paternal grandfather had emigrated from India in the 1880s as an indentured servant to work on the sugar plantations. He went to Oxford University on a scholarship and lived the rest of his life in England, where he forged one of the
Read moreFarm bills passed by the Parliament: Three bills with huge impact on Indian agriculture, including two farm bills and one concerning the stocking of agriculture produce, were passed by the Parliament. These are: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 (FPTC) The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 (FAPAFS) The Essential
Read moreAgricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) were brought in to ensure fair prices for farmers: Pre-APMC days in Indai were dominated by price misinformation and arbitrage (quick purchase and sell with middlemen making profits). APMCs were created in the early 1960s to ensure price discovery and fair transactions. They were designed to create infrastructure for auctions and storage out of the cess paid
Read moreAbout: Ballistic missiles A ballistic missile is a missile with a high, arching trajectory (path in the form of an arc), which is initially powered and guided, but falls under gravity on to its target. Thus these weapons are not guided for the entire duration of their flight and most of the flight is unpowered. These weapons are in a distinct category from cruise missiles,
Read moreTo Return To Steady Growth Editorial 25th Sep’20 TimesofIndia Economic downturn due to Covid-19: The GDP of India fell by 23.9% in April-June quarter of 2020 relative to that in the same quarter in 2019, according to recent government estimates. The decline is comparable to countries in which economic activity had been similarly severely impacted during the quarter due to Covid-19. For
Read moreAbout Kofi Annan: Personal Life Kofi Atta Annan was born on April 8, 1938, in the city of Kumasi in what was then Gold Coast and which, in 1957, became Ghana, the first African state to achieve independence from British colonialism. After a spell at the elite Mfantsipim boarding school founded by Methodists, he went on to higher education as
Read moreHeadline : Should India have two time zones? Details : Why in news? Over the years, various citizens and political leaders have debated whether India should have two separate time zones. Now, a proposal for two time zones has come from India’s national timekeeper itself. Scientists at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), which maintains Indian
Read moreIn focus: Blast disease in rice Introduction Blast disease is a fungal disease that infests rice severely threatening food security worldwide. In India, blast disease is epidemics occurred 7 times between 1980 and 1987 in AP, HP, Haryana and TN. Details Blast disease in rice is caused by fungus Magnaporthe oryzae which is one of the top 10 fungal plant pathogens in
Read moreHeadline : Who was Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis or ‘PCM’? Details : About P C Mahalanobis Early life: P.C. Mahalanobis was born in Calcutta on June 29, 1893. He was educated at the Brahmo Boys School, founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and went on to receive a B.Sc in Physics from Presidency College, Kolkata. After completing his majors in Physics from Presidency College
Read moreAbout: Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) AIT was first propounded by Max Muller. According to this model, the Indo-Aryans migrated into India rather than invaded it, which nevertheless had the same effect on the indigenous peoples: their subjugation and the imposition of Indo-Aryan religion (Hinduism) and culture. So far, it’s been the bedrock upon which Indian history has been written. Its central thesis has three main
Read moreHeadline : In Cave 16: the Kailasa temple Details : Introduction Kailasa temple in cave 16 of Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut temples in the world. Story behind the temple According to a legend cited in the 10th century book Katha Kalpa Taru, sometime in the 8th century, the queen of the Rashtrakuta ruler Elu made a vow that she
Read moreHeadline : How govt regulates religious pilgrimages? Details : Amarnath Yatra: About Amarnath cave: Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft), about 141 km from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The peak pilgrimage occurs when the iced stalagmite Shiv lingam reaches
Read moreIn focus: Superconductivity at room temperature Basic concepts ResistanceMaterials that conduct electricity well are called conductors. Eg: Metals. Resistance is an electrical quantity that measures how the device or material reduces the electric current flow through it. The resistance is measured in units of ohms (Ω). SuperconductorsSuperconductors are conductors that have zero resistancee. they don’t impede electricity at all. Superconductors
Read moreRanjit Singh: Personal Life Ranjit Singh was born in 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan. He honoured men of reputed sanctity and enabled them to practise an enlarged charity. He attributed every success to the favour of God. He styled himself and his people collectively the Khalsa. The maharaja was known for his just and secular rule; both Hindus and Muslims were
Read moreAbout Bogibeel Bridge The Bogibeel double-deck bridge is a rail-road bridge across Brahmaputra River connecting Dibrugarh in Assam and Dehmaji in Assam. The 4.94 km long bridge is the longest rail-road bridge in India. The longest road bridge on Brahmaputra is the 9.15 km Dhola-Sadiya Bridge. The double-deck bridge will have a three-lane road in the upper deck and a 74 km two-line railway
Read moreGiving MSMEs the right push Editorial 13th Sep’20 FinancialExpress Importance of MSME sector: The MSME sector contributes approximately 40% to the GDP and generates employment for 114 million Indians, comprising about 93% of the total labour force of the country. This sector under severe stress: Over the last few years, economic distress has hurt the sector on several counts, and
Read moreBackground:About Soras The Saoras inhabit the remote ranges flanking the great Bansadhara river in southern Odisha. The Saora people are a jungle tribe with a shamanic culture. A shaman, usually a woman, serves as an intermediary between the two worlds [of the living and the dead]. One by one the spirits speak through her mouth and communicate with the people
Read moreWhat is demonetisation? Demonetisation is a situation where the Central Bank of the country (Reserve Bank in India) withdraws the old currency notes of certain denomination as an official mode of payment. Notes of a particular denomination cease to be legal tender. In other words, the notes lose their value as a currency On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra
Read moreIn focus: Hayabusa 2 Mission Introduction Hayabusa 2 is the successor of Hayabusa mission of Japan to study the origin and evolution of our solar system. Hayabusa mission was launched in 2003 to study the features of asteroid ‘Itokawa’. Hayabus 2 mission was launched in 2014 and reached its destination, asteroid ‘Ryugu’ in 2018. About the mission Hayabusa 2
Read moreIn Brief: Venus and its exploration About Venus Introduction Venus has a solid surface by virtue of being one of the 3 inner planets besides Mercury and Earth. It is nearly the same size of the earth. Atmosphere The atmosphere of Venus is composed of 95% carbon dioxide and thus high greenhouse effect. Sulfur compounds make up about 0.015% due
Read moreWhat are Non-Banking Financial Company- Factors (NBFC-Factors)? NBFC factors are companies that receive invoices by selling companies at discount prices. An NBFC-Factoring company needs to have a minimum Net Owned Fund of Rs. 5 Crore with the financial assets in the factoring business constituting, at least, 75 percent of its total assets. It also should have income derived from the
Read moreJaipur: India’s first planned city The fortified city of Jaipur in Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. It is also one of the first planned cities in India. The chief architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya designed and built the city on the concepts of ‘shilp shastra’ and ‘vastu shastra’. The walled city is roughly divided into nine rectangular sectors
Read moreHeadline : How jails pay and deduct prisoners’ wages Background In 1998, the Supreme Court asked all states to devise a mechanism so that victims of the offence could be compensated (State of Gujarat & Anr vs Gujarat High Court). Prisons in various states made their own rules, with the amount of compensation varying from state to state. Then in 2008,
Read moreAbout Autonomous Vehicles Autonomous vehicles are mostly light motor vehicles like cars with highest level of automation. They can drive without a human driver and thus called self-driving cars. Basic architecture of Autonomous vehicles: Sense-plan-act architecture Sense Sensors In order to sense the environment, they use a network of sensors including cameras, radars, infrared, Lidar (light detection and ranging) etc.
Read moreIn focus: Moonquakes Moon is a one-plate world unlike a number of plates (major and minor) on earth. Further since moon also has no atmosphere, it was believed to be a dead world geologically. Origin of Moonquakes The moon’s upper mantle is much more rigid and less fluid than the interior of the Earth as shown in the
Read morePrehistoric period It is known as the period before history i.e. it is the time period before the emergence of writing. The prehistoric period is divided into three ages: Stone age Bronze age Iron age In India, the prehistoric period is divided into: Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) Neolithic (New Stone Age) Metal Age Palaeolithic
Read moreIn focus: Blockchain technology Definition In simple words, blockchain is an information sharing platform where multiple authorities cooperate, coordinate and collaborate in a decision making process. Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed database on a peer-peer network which works on the basis of a consensus mechanism involving every node (computer) on the network. Understanding blockchain with an example A block
Read moreIn focus: EMISAT EMISAT is an electronic intelligence satellite developed by ISRO and DRDO. The 435-kg EMISAT was developed under project KAUTILYA of Defence Electronics Research Laboratory of DRDO. It is basically designed to intercept signals from enemy radars in order to develop effective jamming techniques to counter the enemy radar. Satellite-based electronic intelligence will augment the armed forces to
Read moreHeadline : What role did Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel play in the Dandi march of 1930? Details : Context of the topic: On the occasion of the 89th anniversary of the Dandi March, tributes have also been paid to the contributions made by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the movement. About Dandi March Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent
Read moreIn Brief: Features of the moon The distinctive features of moon when observed from a telescope or even naked eye are: Impact craters Lunar craters, large and small, are the result of the bombardment of meteorites on the lunar surface. That is why they are called impact craters Light-coloured highlands Most of the lunar surface constitutes light-coloured highlands. About 85% of lunar
Read moreAbout: Mauritius Oil Spill Cause In July, a Japanese ship ran aground and got stuck on a coral reef off Maurtius coast. The ship was carrying about 3,800 tons of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil and 200 tons of diesel oil. Most of the oil from the vessel has been pumped out. But, in August, the ship began leaking oil
Read moreIn Focus: Israel and the Gulf Region It’s a landmark agreement given that the UAE is only the third Arab country and the first in the Gulf region to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. With the exception of Jordan and Egypt, Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab states owing to its long-standing conflict with Palestinians. Israel had signed
Read moreIn brief: In-vitro fertilization and frozen embryos Basics In case of sexual reproduction, the beginning of development of an offspring is fertilization of male and female gametes into zygote (a fertilized egg or embryo). The zygote (embryo) is then implanted into the uterus where it develops into full-fledged organism in various stages. From the day of fertilization (union of male
Read moreWhy Primary Agriculture Credit Society needs to be propped up Editorial 14th Aug’20 HindustanTimes Rural credit cooperatives: Just about two decades ago, credit cooperatives covered 69% of the rural credit outlets and their share in rural credit was 45% of the total rural credit in the country. They had a lion’s share of 57% in providing short-term credit for purchase of
Read moreAbout Kambala Kambala is the traditional buffalo slush track race Buffalo Race held annually in coastal Karnataka. The Kambala season lasts from November to March. About 150 kambalas are held in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and neighbouring Kasaragod (Kerala) districts in the season between November and March. This area is called Tulunadu (Land of Tulu Language). A pair of buffaloes is
Read moreBackground: ASAT Test On March 27, India became the 4th country after US, China, Russia, to test the Anti-Satellite missile capability under Mission Shakti. The ASAT test demonstrated India’s capability to destroy a satellite in the low earth orbit using a missile. India’s position on weaponisation of outer space Principle India in principle opposes the weaponsiation of space. Party to
Read moreWhat are Mutual Funds? A mutual fund is an investment vehicle made up of a pool of money collected from many investors for the purpose of investing in securities such as stocks, bonds, money market instruments and other assets. Mutual funds are operated by professional money managers, who allocate the fund’s investments and attempt to produce capital gains and/or income
Read moreWhat is PETN? It is a highly explosive organic compound belonging to the chemical family same as of nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose. Origin of PETN PETN was first prepared and patented in 1894 by the explosives manufacturer Rheinisch-Westfalische Sprengstoff in Germany. It was introduced as a commercial explosive after World War I. How does it operate? PETN does not
Read moreIn Focus: Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) was introduced in April 2014 with an aim to have inclusive growth of farm mechanisation to boost productivity. The scheme is implemented in all the states, to promote the usage of farm mechanization and increase the ratio of farm power to cultivable unit area up to 2.5 kW/ha. Significance
Read moreAbout Indus Water Treaty It is the treaty between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan with twin objectives- Water sharing of river Indus and its tributaries between the upper riparian India and lower riparian Pakistan. Optimum utilisation of the waters of the Indus system of rivers. It was signed under the arbitration of the International Bank for Reconstruction
Read moreIn focus: Clean Meat Introduction Clean meat or synthetic meat or lab-grown meat is a term used for transgenic meat prepared ex-vivo in the laboratory. The stem cells taken out of the body of the animals are cultured in a petri dish giving rise to cell-based cultured meat. Advantages Equivalent Clean meat is equivalent to its conventional counterpart in terms
Read moreAbout Girija Devi She was an eminent Indian classical vocalist representing the Benaras gharana. She was proficient singer of different genres of Hindustani vocal music like Khyal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti and Kajari. She is known as the ‘Queen of Thumri’. Awards She was a genius in her sphere of Indian classical vocal rendition. She had been felicitated with the
Read moreIn brief: Meteorites Introduction Meteoroids are chunks of rocks in space just like asteroids. (only difference is size) When these meteoroids strikes the earth’s atmosphere, they appear are flash of light called meteor. In its travel to earth it the meteor survives it is called as meteorite. Thus meteorites are inter-planetary rocks that have been formed elsewhere in the solar
Read moreHeadline : Why Soyabean is key to MP Details : The Topic Significance of Soyabean for Madhya Pradesh has been explained. History of Soyabean in India Malwa is India’s Midwest US and Indore its Chicago and that’s only because of soyabean. Soyabean in India has an American connection. The leguminous oilseed was hardly grown in the country till the mid-sixties.
Read morePart of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach: The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of America’s larger Moon to Mars exploration approach that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. NASA is planning to send the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024. Thereafter, NASA will establish
Read moreIn Focus: Smog Very simply, smogis a type of air pollution that reduces visibility. The term “smog” was first used in the early 1900s to describe a mix of smoke and fog, when smoke came from burning of fossil fuels like coal in thermal power plants. Sulphurous Smog It is also called “London smog”. It results from a high concentration of sulphur oxidesin the air and is caused
Read moreHeadline : When Indira banked on socialism Details : In News It’s now 50 years since the Indian government nationalized the 14 biggest commercial lenders on 20 July, 1969. News Summary: The Indian financial sector underwent a massive shift 50 years ago, when the government nationalized the 14 biggest commercial lenders. The official history of the Reserve Bank of India
Read moreAbout GRAPES-3 The Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3 experiment is located at TIFR’s Cosmic Ray Laboratory in Ooty in Tamil Nadu. It is a collaboration of the Indian Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Japanese Osaka City University and the Japanese Nagoya Women’s University. GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) is designed to study cosmic rays with an
Read moreIn brief: Ancient monuments in India What is Ancient monument? Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years. It includes Remains of an ancient monument Site
Read moreAbout Ocean Energy: Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface and represent an enormous amount of energy in the form of wave, tidal, marine current and thermal gradient. Deployment of ocean energy is currently limited but the sector has the potential to grow, fuelling economic growth, reduction of carbon footprint and creating jobs not only along the coasts but also inland
Read moreHeadline : Explained: What ails the existing microcredit model Details : In News Studies suggest that the existing systems of microcredit have a limited impact on the long-term wellbeing of the recipients. About: Microcredit Microcredit refers to the granting of very small loans to impoverished borrowers. Rationale Loans given as microcredit are often given to people who may lack collateral,
Read moreAbout Wolbachia Wolbachiaare naturally occurring bacteria found in 60% of all insect species. It is also the most common reproductive parasite in the biosphere. However, it is not found in the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The World Mosquito Program has also shown that when introduced into the Aedes aegyptimosquito, Wolbachia can help to reduce the transmission of viruses to people Wolbachiais safe for humans, animals and
Read moreHIV and AIDS: in brief Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system, our body’s natural defence against illness. If HIV is left untreated, a person’s immune system will get weaker and weaker until it can no longer fight off life-threatening infections and diseases. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a set of symptoms and illnesses that happen
Read moreAbout: Pied Cuckoo Different Names Scientific Name- Clamator jacobinus The genus ‘Clamator’ literally translates to being a shouter, a bird which is quite vocal. The word ‘jacobinus’ relates to pied birds. These birds are also called as Chatak locally in India or pied crested cuckoo and Jacobin Cuckoo. It is a bird with black and white plumage (pied) with a fancy crest on
Read moreSome Basic Concepts What is Gross Value Added (GVA)? It is a measure of total output and income in the economy. It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services. It also gives
Read moreWhat is Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)? Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the ratio of a bank’s capital in relation to its risk weighted assets and current liabilities. It is decided by central banks and bank regulators to prevent commercial banks from taking excess leverage and becoming insolvent in the process. It is measured as: Capital Adequacy Ratio = (Tier I
Read moreAbout the Temple Rudreswara (Ramappa) temple at Palampet near Warangal, got its name Ramappa because of its chief sculptor Ramappa. It’s probably the only temple in the country to be known by the name of its sculptor. The medieval Deccan Ramappa Temple which dates back to 1213 AD, was built by the patronage of the Kakatiya ruler Kakati Ganapathi Deva
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