Category: Featured Editorials

Context: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for Uttarakhandshowed that the state failed on the rejuvenation of the Ganga through the “NamamiGange” programme. Status and Causes of Pollution in River Ganga: Approximately 12,000 million litres a day (MLD) of sewage is generated in the Ganga basin, for which there is currently a treatment capacity… Continue reading Namami Gange

Context: John Allen Chau, an American national who secretly landed on North Sentinel Island, was allegedly killed by people belonging to the protected Sentinelese tribe (a PVTG) in November 2018 Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups(PVTGs)? The PVTGs are the marginalized section of the Scheduled tribes of India. They are a section who are relatively… Continue reading Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)

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)