What is the News? Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru has conducted a study on Blue Stragglers to understand their aberrant behaviour. For this, the researchers used the UVIT instrument (Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope) of ASTROSAT, India’s first science observatory in space. What are Blue Stragglers? Blue Straggler Stars are hot, blue, massive stars and seem… Continue reading Why are blue stragglers stars different from the norm
All you need to know about protected cultivation, or vertical farming
What is the News? According to experts, all crops grown via vertical farming methods are usually over 95 percent water efficient. Background and Concept of Vertical Farming In 1915, Gilbert Ellis Bailey coined the term “vertical farming” and wrote a book titled “Vertical Farming”. In the 1980s, Åke Olsson, a Swedish ecological farmer, invented a… Continue reading All you need to know about protected cultivation, or vertical farming
At $76.6 billion, India is third highest military spender in world, says report
What is the News? Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI) has released a report on global military spending in 2021. What are the key findings of the report? Largest Military Spenders: The five largest military spenders in 2021 were the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom and Russia. These countries together account for 62% of… Continue reading At $76.6 billion, India is third highest military spender in world, says report
Rethinking innovation in defence
News: Recently, a report was released by the Parliamentary Standing Committee which draws a comparison of India’s defence sector spending on research and development with the US and other countries. What are the findings of the report? According to the report, India spends too little on research and development (R&D) in the defence sector. The… Continue reading Rethinking innovation in defence
Free India from the grip of regulations and compliances
News: Recently, a report titled as “Jailed for Doing Business” was released by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) which referred to the laws and regulations regime in India – first ‘Impediments to Growth’. In addition, India’s Prime Minister used the occasion of the 15th Civil Services Day to point towards excellence in public administration What are… Continue reading Free India from the grip of regulations and compliances
India, Europe and the Russian complication
News: Recently, Emmanuel Macron was re-elected as the President of France. This comes amid the geopolitical waves being witnessed in Europe. The Ukraine war has persuaded Delhi to recalibrate its great power relations. For the first time since independence, India’s interests are now aligning with those of Europe as both can help reshape Eurasia as… Continue reading India, Europe and the Russian complication
The goal of an energy-secure South Asia
Context: The electricity generation in South Asia has risen exponentially. Recently, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have achieved 100% electrification in the last two years. However, the status of electrification in India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is 94.4%, 97.7% and 73.91% respectively. What are the divergences in the electricity policies of South Asian countries? … Continue reading The goal of an energy-secure South Asia
On EU’s Digital Services Act: Responsible content
News: Recently, the European Union (EU) has approved landmark legislation known as the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). What are the issues with social media platforms? They are being used for spreading disinformation and hate speech to influence elections, racist violence etc. The major problem lies in revenue models of the social media platforms. They… Continue reading On EU’s Digital Services Act: Responsible content
9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – April 26th, 2022
Dear Friends, We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do: Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you. We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough… Continue reading 9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – April 26th, 2022
Niti Aayog’s battery swapping policy provides direction, but lacks a constructive roadmap
Context: The Niti Aayog released the first draft of the Battery Swapping Policy 2022 on April 21, 2022, to improve interoperability and push for faster adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segment. Why the battery swapping segment if significant? This segment has competitive prices compared to others. Further, it also constitutes… Continue reading Niti Aayog’s battery swapping policy provides direction, but lacks a constructive roadmap
