Author: prashant shekhar

News: Expanding the Kavach protection system should be a national priority, but it cannot be regarded a silver bullet. 1. Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in partnership with three Indian companies to improve railway safety. 2. It oversees train speed and helps… Continue reading Take the gauntlet

News: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government meeting in Pakistan. 1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent inter-governmental, Eurasian organisation, established in 2001, in Shanghai by China, Russia and 4 CARs (Central Asian Republics)- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 2. SCO membership has been expanded to 10… Continue reading Jaishankar to visit Pakistan today for SCO meeting

News: Class action lawsuits are gaining prominence in India following recent cases against Ola Electric Ltd and Jindal Poly Films Ltd. Also, CCPA has issued show cause notice to Ola Electric after several complaints were received against it. 1. Class Action: It is a legal recourse in which a group of people with common grievance… Continue reading What are class actions, why are such lawsuits on the rise in India?

News: India is building a consortium of state-run port ventures to acquire and develop foreign ports and terminals as it seeks to strengthen its maritime heft. The focus will be on potential development opportunities along INSTC, IMEC, Eastern Maritime Corridor. 1. International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC): It is a proposed 7200 km long multi… Continue reading India builds a port consortium to snap up foreign assets

News: Inflation in India’s wholesale prices hiked up to 1.84% in September from 1.31% in August, with food prices surging to a two-year high of 9.5% from August’s 10- month low of 3.3%. 1. Wholesale Price Index (WPI): It is an economic indicator that captures the changes in the prices of goods at the wholesale… Continue reading September wholesale food prices leapt 9.5%

News: Last week, the India-Russia working group on cooperation in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) held their first meeting. The meeting discussed targets for Indian- Russian cargo transit, possible training of Indian sailors for polar navigation and development of joint projects in Arctic shipbuilding. 1. Northern Sea Route (NSR): It is a maritime route about… Continue reading India discusses training of sailors for polar navigation with Russia

News: Following the devastating floods and landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district in July 2024, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved the installation of an X- band radar in the district. 1. Radar: It stands for radio detection and ranging. It functions by utilising radio waves to detect and locate the objects, measure their… Continue reading What is Wayanad’s new X- band radar?

News: India exported coffee worth Rs. 6,467 crores in the first five months of 2024-25, up 45% year-on –year. 1. India produces 2 major types of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. 2. Arabica has a higher market value due to its mild aromatic flavour. 3. Robusta is used in making various blends due to its strong… Continue reading Coffee exports a hit despite supply woes

News: Climate Change and Global Warming are believed to be the reasons behind the shrinking of the Roopkund lake. 1. Climate Change: United Nations defines climate change as long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural or anthropogenic in origin. 2. Roopkund Lake: It is located 16,500 feet above sea level… Continue reading Concerns grow as Uttarakhand’s ‘skeleton lake’ is shrinking

News: Last week, the Delhi High Court had issued directions to improve the availability of ‘orphan drugs’. 1. Orphan Drugs: They are the medicines used to diagnose, prevent or treat an orphan (rare) disease. 2. Rare Diseases: World Health Organisation defines rare disease as a debilitating lifelong disease or disorder with a prevalence of 1… Continue reading Issues in the treatment of ‘rare diseases’, and what the govt can do