Category: Featured Editorials

Context: Recently a dust storm has hit Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the beginning of May 2018. Background: Over 100 people were killed and more than 180 injured when a dust storm created havoc in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan leaving behind a trial of destruction. The Meteorological Department has also issued warnings that another dust… Continue reading Rise of extreme weather events

Context: The Telecom Commission recently allowed in-flight connectivity of Internet and mobile communications on aircrafts in the Indian airspace. What is In-Flight Connectivity: 1)Inflight connectivity consists of internet and mobile connectivity in the airspace. As the aircraft is out of reach of the mobile towers on the ground, an inflight service provider provides a link… Continue reading In-Flight Connectivity: On-Board Internet and Mobile Communication on aircrafts.

Context: The central government on May 2019 told the Supreme Court that BS-VI auto fuel can be introduced in most districts of the National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Agra by 1 April 2019.This is the first step towards meeting the deadline of pan-India BS-VI roll out by April 1, 2020. What are Bharat… Continue reading Shift to BS-VI fuels to begin earlier than expected.

Context Global Adult Tobacco survey 2016-17 has observed that India has made massive gains on account of recent anti-tobacco measures. Large, graphic pictorial warnings on tobacco products have a telling effect on consumer behavior resulting reduction in percentage of smokers. About status of tobacco in India: Tobacco use is a major cause of premature death… Continue reading Tobacco Challenges in India: A scenario

Context: Australia pledged Aus $500 million ($379 million) in new funding to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef.This has highlighted the seriousness of the problem of coral bleaching. What are coral reefs: 1)Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of coral, which are marine invertebrate animals 2)Coral Reefs are also called… Continue reading Coral bleaching and initiative by Australia

Context: A two day informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in the last week of April 2018. Background: Since the Doklam Standoff, there have been no high level meetings between India and China. An informal summit was thus called to… Continue reading The “informal” India-China Summit at Wuhan

Context On 28th of April 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that all villages in the country have now access to electricity. Background: According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a village is considered electrified only if the Gram Panchayat certifies that the basic infrastructure has been provided to the inhabited area, including Dalit hamlets,… Continue reading Rural Electrification: An overview

Context India is facing a serious challenge of malnutrition. Many children have reportedly died due to malnutrition. Ending Malnutrition is on the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals. What is malnutrition? Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition indicates that children are either too short for their… Continue reading Malnutrition in India: An overview

Context The 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in London on 19-20 April 2018 which was hosted by the United Kingdom. Commonwealth theme for the year 2018: Towards a Common Future NOTE: 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting saw India’s proactive role in a Commonwealth Summit nearly after a decade. What is… Continue reading India’s renewed Interest in Common Wealth – An Overview

Context: The leaders of North  and South Korea will meet in the demilitarised zone between the two countries on April 27th to discuss the ‘denuclearisation’ of the Korean peninsula. The officials will also discuss the strategies to end the Korean War (1950-53) which is technically still going on. Background: 1) A communist regime, North Korea,… Continue reading North and South Korea Summit and expectations: