Category: Featured Editorials

What is Gaganyaan Mission? Gaganyaan is India’s first Human Space Flight Programme to be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022. The programme will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions. A brief… Continue reading Gaganyaan Mission

Context: INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine, has completed its first “deterrence patrol”, operationalising India’s nuclear triad.  What is Nuclear Triad? Nuclear Triad is a three-sided military-force structure consisting of land-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines, and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles. Nuclear Triad essentially has three major components-the strategic bombers, Inter… Continue reading India’s Nuclear Triad

What is sanitation and hygiene? Sanitation means measures necessary for improving and protecting health and wellbeing of the people. Sanitation is any system that promotes proper disposal of human and animal wastes, proper use of toilet and avoiding open space defaecation. Hygiene is the practice of keeping oneself and the surroundings clean, especially to avoid… Continue reading Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan

What is migration? Migration is defined as the movement of people from one place to another across the political boundaries- national (internal) or international. It is an integral part and an important factor in redistributing the population over time and space. Migrants who move within the boundaries of their own country are known as internal… Continue reading Internal migration in India

What is a slum? Slum is a contiguous settlement where the inhabitants are characterized as having inadequate housing and basic services. Cities Alliance Action Plan describes slums as neglected parts of cities where housing and living conditions are appallingly poor. Census of India 2011 explained slums as residential areas where dwellings areunfit for human habitation… Continue reading Slums in India

What is 3D Printing? Three-dimensional printing (3-D printing), also known as Additive manufacturing (AM) is a process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer. It is basically a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. This is opposite of ‘Subtractive Manufacturing’which works on removal of… Continue reading 3D Printing

Context: APEC members failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea What is APEC? The forum initially started as an informal dialogue of economic leaders in 1989 in Canberra, Australia. It was formally established in 1993 with 12 members. Currently, APEC has 21 member economies. Goal and objectives: The primary goal… Continue reading Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Payment Ecosystem in India: A “payment system” means a system that enables payment to be effected between a payer and a beneficiary, involving clearing, payment or settlement service or all of them. Settlement’ means the settlement of payment instructions received and these include settlement of securities, foreign exchange or derivatives or other transactions.  Based on the… Continue reading Payment Regulation in India

Context: RBI Board Meeting to be held on 19th November 2018 Reserve Bank of India: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India’s central bank, also known as the banker’s bank. The RBI controls monetary and other banking policies of the Indian government. The origins of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 1926: The Royal Commission on Indian Currency… Continue reading Centre-RBI Conflict