Category: Featured Editorials

Context: As part of graded action plan against rising air pollution in Delhi, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has said private cars will be stopped from plying in Delhi if air pollution continues to worsen. Basics What is air pollution? Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that… Continue reading Air Pollution in India

Context: Data privacy, security, cybercrime and related issues, currently under the purview of the IT ministry, may soon be overseen by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Telecom Commission (TC) What is cyber space? It is an electronic world created by interconnected networks of information technology and the information on those networks.… Continue reading Cyber Security in India

Context:The Indian Ports Association (IPA) has appointed M/s Tech Mahindra as the Managed Service Provider for the five major ports at Mumbai ,Kolkata, Chennai, Deendayal Port  and Paradip Port Trust. Ports in India- A snapshot There are 13 major ports in the country; 6 on the Eastern coast and 6 on the Western coast. Further… Continue reading Port Infrastructure: Issues and Challenges

Context: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has approved field studies of GM mustard on honey bee and other pollinations at its 136th meeting. Basics: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO): Genetically Modified Organisms, are the ones in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in such a way as to get the required quality. The technology is often… Continue reading GM Crops in India: Issues and Challenges

Context: The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to apprise it on whether observations homes, where minors in conflict with law kept, and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) are equipped with video-conferencing facility Who is a Juvenile? A juvenile can be defined as a child who has not attained a certain age at which he can… Continue reading Juvenile Delinquency in India

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has come out with a draft notification proposing 56,825 square kilometre area of the Western Ghats as an ESA and providing guidelines on development projects in the region. About the Western Ghats The Western Ghats, also known as ‘Sahyadri’, constitute a 1600 km long mountain… Continue reading Threats to Western Ghats and the Way Forward

Context: In response to the debt default by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS), the government has appointed a 6-member board to manage the IL&FS. What is IL&FS? IL&FS Ltd, or Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services, is a core investment company and serves as the holding company of the IL&FS Group. IL&FS was founded in 1987… Continue reading IL&FS crisis

Context Union ministry of law and justice has ratified a proposal of women and child development ministry to remove the time limit and age limit for reporting cases of sexual abuse among children. Who is a child? The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines child as “a human being below the age of 18 years… Continue reading Child Abuse

What is wetland? Wetlands are area of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. Examples: Wetlands include mangroves, peatlands and marshes, rivers… Continue reading Threats to Wetlands and conservation

Context:India has been ranked at 115 out of 157 countries on Human Capital Index (HCI) released by World Bank as part of World Development Report (WDR) 2019.Broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) is “The Changing Nature of Work”. What is human capital? Human capital consists of the knowledge, skills, and health that people… Continue reading Human Capital Index