Sri Lanka’s has successfully launched its first satellite Raavana-1 into space.It was launched from NASA’s Flight Facility on Virginia’s east shore. The satellite weighs around 1.05 kg and the lifespan of the satellite is around one and a half years. The launch marks Sri Lanka’s entry into the global space age.The satellite was designed and… Continue reading Sri Lanka’s 1st satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched into space
Author: ForumIAS
World Heritage Day 2019: All you need to know about the history, significance and this year’s theme
Recently,World Heritage Day has been celebrated on April 18th,2019.The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day. The objective of World Heritage Day is to raise awareness about monuments and other sites which form a part… Continue reading World Heritage Day 2019: All you need to know about the history, significance and this year’s theme
Out of a drawer comes a vicious ancient beast
A new species of giant meat-eating mammal has been identified from fossil fragments found in a drawer of Nairobi National Museum, Kenya. The gigantic carnivore has been dubbed as Simbakubwa kutokaafrika, meaning “big African Lion” in Swahili. The findings of the research has been published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. According to scientists, the… Continue reading Out of a drawer comes a vicious ancient beast
HIV used to fix ‘bubble boy’ disease
US scientists have used HIV to make a gene therapy that cured eight infants of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), or “bubble boy” disease. Results of the research have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The gene therapy involved collecting the babies’ bone marrow and correcting the genetic defect in their DNA soon… Continue reading HIV used to fix ‘bubble boy’ disease
Right to travel abroad is a basic human right: SC
In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court has held that the right to travel abroad is a genuine and basic human right like marriage and family. The judgement comes in the backdrop an appeal filed by an IPS officer who was refused permission to take a private trip abroad to visit relatives. The officer has… Continue reading Right to travel abroad is a basic human right: SC
‘Naidu violated code by holding review meetings’
A complained has been made to Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh stating that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has violated the Model Code of Conduct by holding official review meetings. Chief Minister had conducted a meeting to review the progress on the Polavaram project. Provision 19.5 of the Model Code of Conduct for Elections prohibits… Continue reading ‘Naidu violated code by holding review meetings’
In a first, voting takes place at Institute of Mental Health
For the first time ever in India, voting has taken place at an institution for mentally ill. The voting took place in the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Ayanavaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Before the voting, a massive exercise was conducted in which patients were screened to ascertain their decision-making capacity. Article 326 of the… Continue reading In a first, voting takes place at Institute of Mental Health
Genome sequencing to map population diversity
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has planned to roll out a major mission to sequence the genes of a 1,000 rural youth across India. The project aims at educating a generation of students on the significance of genomics. The project is an adjunct to an Indian government-led programme which is still in the… Continue reading Genome sequencing to map population diversity
Cross-LoC trade suspended after ‘misuse by arms, drugs smugglers’
The Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI has decided to suspend all cross-LoC trade with Pakistan. This is because the routes were allegedly being used as a conduit by elements in Pakistan to push weapons, narcotics and counterfeit currency into India. The decision has been taken based on a probe by National Investigation Agency (NIA). The… Continue reading Cross-LoC trade suspended after ‘misuse by arms, drugs smugglers’
Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – April 18, 2019
Archives Q.1) Discuss capability approach of Amartya Sen in the context of India? Answer: The capability approach is a theoretical framework that entails two claims: the freedom to achieve well-being is of primary moral importance freedom to achieve well-being is to be understood in terms of people’s capabilities, that is, their real opportunities to do… Continue reading Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – April 18, 2019
