Author: prashant shekhar

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

News: The Centre will release the final rules on greenwashing, and violations of these rules will invite penalties under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 1. Greenwashing: It refers to the process of a company misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of their products or practices. 2. Also known as ‘green sheen’, it… Continue reading Centre prepares new rules to curb greenwashing

News: The Union Government signed a deal with Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), giving the body the status of an ‘independent and international legal entity’. This diplomatic status is like the status enjoyed by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and International Solar Alliance (ISA). 1. Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA): It was launched by PM Narendra… Continue reading Biofuel alliance gains diplomatic status

News: Commission for Air Quality Management has stated in the Supreme Court that farm fires have reduced by 50% in the last three years, but overage vehicles have reduced the air quality. 1. .Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): It is statutory body established under the provisions of Commission for Air Quality in National Capital… Continue reading CAQM: Overage vehicles adding to winter choke