Author: prashant shekhar

News: Free To Think 2024 report states that India’s academic freedom has slipped from 0.6 points to 0.2 points from 2013 to 2023. 1. Academic Freedom Index: It is a measurement tool that assesses the level of academic freedom across the world, covering 179 countries and territories. It is published by V-Dem and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg.… Continue reading India slipped on academic freedom index over the past decade: Report

News: This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology (Medicine) has been awarded for the discovery of microRNA, which has altered the understanding of gene regulation. 1. MicroRNA: They are tiny molecules that play an important role in the functioning of genes. Its discovery will help in the treatment of several non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes,… Continue reading Regulation role

News: Halari donkeys, native to Halar region of Gujarat, are endangered and intelligent animals, working closely with human beings. 1. Halari donkeys are native to the Halar region of Gujarat. 2. These are important domesticated animal in the semi-arid landscape of Jamnagar and Dwarka districts in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region. 3. These donkeys are endangered, with… Continue reading Brains and brawn

News: The silent pandemic of Anti-Microbial Resistance has become a global phenomenon. There is a need to enhance R&D spendings on antibiotics development. 1. Anti-Microbial Resistance is a global health threat which occurs when microorganisms (like bacteria, virus, fungi, parasites) no longer respond to anti-microbial medicines. 2. Due to drug resistance, antibiotics become ineffective, and… Continue reading Hidden pandemic of AMR poses challenge

News: The civil war in Sudan, between two military factions- Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces, has been going on for more than 18 months. 1. International Organisation for Migration (IOM): It was established in 1951 as a part of the United Nations system. 2. Its aim is to promote humane and orderly… Continue reading The status of civil war in Sudan

News: Israel fighting a three-tier regional war in West Asia indicates a conflict loop, where no side is deterring its rival. 1. Abraham Accords are a series of normalisation agreements signed between Israel and several Arab nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco. The Abraham accords were signed in 2020. 2. The accords aim to… Continue reading A three-tier war in West Asia with no endgame

News: Maldives President is expected to seek India’s support in the form of currency swap arrangement, debt support to resolve the economic crisis faced by the domestic economy. 1. Currency swap arrangement is a financial arrangement between two countries where one of them agrees to provide a loan to another in a foreign currency. 2.… Continue reading Muizzu to meet Modi, request India’s support over looming economic crisis

News: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend SCO’s Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad. This visit to Pakistan by EAM is first in 9 years, after Sushma Swaraj last attended the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in 2015. 1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent inter-governmental, Eurasian organisation, established in 2001, in Shanghai by… Continue reading Jaishankar: Going for multilateral event, not to discuss India-Pak ties

News: Union Cabinet has accorded classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Bengali, Assamese, and Prakrit. 1. The Centre had created a new category of ‘classical language’ in 2004. 2. Prior to this decision, India had 6 classical languages namely, Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia. 3. Tamil was the first language to be accorded… Continue reading Marathi, four more languages get classical tag