Contents1 What is the News?2 What are Urban Heat Islands?3 Why are cities hotter than rural areas?4 Why do cities absorb more heat?5 How can urban heat islands be reduced? What is the News? Several parts of India are reeling under heatwave conditions. Cities, especially, are a lot hotter than rural areas. This is due… Continue reading Explained: What are urban heat islands, and why are they worsening during summers?
How to tackle the inflation spiral
News: Recently, The World Economic Outlook, published by the IMF in April, expects global growth to be slower than the forecast made in January, with inflation on the rise. The global macroeconomic situation is showing signs of macro instability. The global debt has increased sharply during the pandemic, inflation is on the rise, and macroeconomic… Continue reading How to tackle the inflation spiral
Needed: An economic response plan for a green transition shock
News: India is facing severe heat waves in many parts of the country. This is a reminder that the risks from climate change are rising. What are the issues involved in transition towards a green economy? Around a fifth of Indian households have access to either air-conditioners or coolers in their home. Nearly half of… Continue reading Needed: An economic response plan for a green transition shock
Boon to ban: How the wheat export story changed in two months
News: On May 13, the government effectively banned the export of wheat. Why were wheat exports banned? On May 4, the government revised down its wheat production estimates from 111.32 million tonnes (MT) to 105 MT for the crop year ending June. – 18 MT of wheat were procured till May 14 of the ongoing… Continue reading Boon to ban: How the wheat export story changed in two months
Technological advancement often has a sting in its tail
Context: In his book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari made the somewhat controversial statement that human beings have been domesticated by wheat. In other words, every science-driven improvement in agriculture has come at a price. How science has enabled humankind to overcome many of the challenges we face as a species? Having learnt farming or how… Continue reading Technological advancement often has a sting in its tail
On sedition, the Supreme Court has aligned itself with the collective conscience of India
News: The Supreme Court’s seminal intervention in a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of section 124A of the Indian Penal Code is a watershed moment in the progressive expansion of human rights jurisprudence. The SC directed the Union government and the states to refrain from using the law of sedition. In addition, the… Continue reading On sedition, the Supreme Court has aligned itself with the collective conscience of India
On Gyanvapi Mosque, we are debating the wrong question
Context: Recently, the Varanasi court ordered a video survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The implied intention was to find out whether the fundamental claim of the petitioners that the mosque has been built by destroying or appropriating a temple is correct or not. This issue here is not about secularism or that of minority rights.… Continue reading On Gyanvapi Mosque, we are debating the wrong question
Improving cold chain systems
News: The pandemic showed us that there were weak links in the supply chain, especially in the cold chain. This means that vaccines alone do not save lives. It requires a strong service delivery network, What are the factors that can lead us to a sustainable vaccination programme? A key factor is cold chain management… Continue reading Improving cold chain systems
A concerted effort in re-imagining museums
News: On the occasion of International Museum Day on May 18, the Ministry of Culture allowed free of cost admissions to all museums which are under its ambit for a week. Contents1 Advantages of making free admission into the museums 2 What transformational shift has been visible with respect to our perspectives of our heritage? 3 What… Continue reading A concerted effort in re-imagining museums
[UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #189 : M. Sathiyavathy Board, Zoology Optional, singing, Hobby
Date of Interview: 2nd may afternoon 1st to go Board: M. Sathiyavathy OPTIONAL: Zoology Background: Calcutta University HOBBIES: Singing Tagore songs, Diploma in Classical music, Tagore songs , Fine arts To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2021, visit this page YOUR EXPERIENCE IN INTERVIEW-very cordial board, very positive environment even in waiting room, all my nervousness… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2021] – Transcript #189 : M. Sathiyavathy Board, Zoology Optional, singing, Hobby
