9 PM Current Affairs Brief – 7th November, 2017

On the margins:  Context: India has not signed the Refugee Convention and does not have a domestic asylum law. About refugees: Refugees do not have a formal legal identity and are often wrongly perceived to be “illegal immigrants”. This status has forced them to the margins and has left them wholly dependent on the parallel… Continue reading On the margins: 

Plotting social progress:  Context India needs a cohesive measure of social progress in individual States as the country has now transformed itself into one of the fastest growing major economies. The economic achievements are extensive but the potential for growth remains strong despite some slackening. How to measure the growth? The societal reach of this… Continue reading Plotting social progress: 

2017 is set to be in top three hottest years: WMO:  Context: In its annual review, the UN says the gap between carbon cutting plans and the reductions required to keep temperature rises below 2 degrees Celsius is “alarmingly high”. Introduction: The new emissions gap report finds that global greenhouse emissions by 2020 “are likely… Continue reading 2017 is set to be in top three hottest years: WMO: 

How demonetisation affected the Indian economy, in 10 charts: Context: The rural economy suffered disproportionately due to demonetization because most transactions here are cash-based. What is the meaning of demonetization? Demonetization is the act of stripping a currency unit of its status as legal tender. It occurs whenever there is a change of national currency.… Continue reading How demonetisation affected the Indian economy, in 10 charts:

‘Public credit registry to speed up digitisation’ Context The introduction of a public credit registry will further speed up digitisation that has already changed the way banking is done in the country. What is digitalisation? Digitalization is the use of digital technologies to change a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities; it… Continue reading ‘Public credit registry to speed up digitisation’

Mammals gave up night life only after dinosaur doom: Context: Research says that earliest mammals were night creatures. They emerged from darkness only after the demise of the daytime dinosaurs. What is the explanation behind the research? The earliest mammal ancestor emerged between 220 million and 160 million years ago, evolving from a reptilian forebear.… Continue reading Mammals gave up night life only after dinosaur doom:

Proxima Centauri may host planetary system: Context: Scientists have detected dust belts around Proxima Centauri, a finding that indicates the presence of an elaborate planetary system hosted by the closest star to the solar system. Introduction: New observations by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) Observatory in Chile revealed the glow coming from cold dust… Continue reading Proxima Centauri may host planetary system:

Teaching ethics to aspiring civil servants:  Context The arrest of an Indian Police Service IPS officer for cheating during the civil services examination raises questions on future recruitments to the All India Services and the training of officers What is the significance of civil services exams?   The Civil Service is an integral and key… Continue reading Teaching ethics to aspiring civil servants: