What is the News? India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Indian public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to set up a state of the art Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo. What is the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre(MRCC)? MRCCs are part of an international network under the UN’s… Continue reading Explained: Why India’s pact with Sri Lanka on a maritime rescue center is significant
Pluto: ‘Recent’ volcanism raises puzzle — how can such a cold body power eruptions?
What is the News? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s(NASA) New Horizons probe has reported new findings of Pluto. The probe reported that icy lava flows have recently (no more than a billion years ago) covered substantial tracts of its surface. The findings drew particular attention to a mountainous feature named Wright Mons. What is… Continue reading Pluto: ‘Recent’ volcanism raises puzzle — how can such a cold body power eruptions?
Annual Dolphin Census: Dip in Chilika lake’s dolphin population
What is the News? The Odisha Government has conducted the Annual Dolphin Census recently. The Census was carried out in Chilika lake, Rajnagar Mangrove wildlife division , Baleswar wildlife division, Bhadrak wildlife division, Puri wildlife division and Berhampur forest division. What are the key findings from the Annual Dolphin Census? The Dolphin population recorded along… Continue reading Annual Dolphin Census: Dip in Chilika lake’s dolphin population
20TH EDITION OF INDIA FRANCE NAVAL EXERCISE VARUNA – 2022
What is the News? The 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between Indian and French Navies – ‘VARUNA’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea. What is Exercise Varuna? Type: Bilateral Naval Exercise Countries Involved: India and France. Started in: 1993. The exercise was named ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Aim: To develop interoperability between the… Continue reading 20TH EDITION OF INDIA FRANCE NAVAL EXERCISE VARUNA – 2022
Union Minister says about 33.6% of the coastline is under varying degree of erosion
What is the News? The government has informed Rajya Sabha that about 33.6% of the Indian Coastline is under varying degrees of erosion. What is Coastal Erosion? Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides,… Continue reading Union Minister says about 33.6% of the coastline is under varying degree of erosion
Explained: What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them?
What is the News? The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has said it would protect the ancient Buddha statues in Mes Aynak. This is the site of a copper mine where the Taliban are hoping for Chinese investment. This Taliban’s position is in marked contrast to the time they ruled Afghanistan earlier. Earlier, they brought down… Continue reading Explained: What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them?
This is a criminal attack on privacy
News: Recently, the Criminal procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 was introduced in the parliament by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Bill aims to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920 that has been in need of amendment for several decades. What has been proposed in the bill? The definition of measurements has been… Continue reading This is a criminal attack on privacy
Opening up procurement
News: Recently, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between India and the United Arab Emirates last month. Further, such a free trade agreement is also going to be signed between India and Australia. What are the provisions in the India-UAE trade deal? The deal provides for harmonisation in the regulatory system. It also… Continue reading Opening up procurement
Thinking hard on AI
News: Recently, two Indian researchers wrote an unpublished paper “Artificial Intelligence and the armed forces: Legal and ethical concerns”. This has led to the resurgence of a debate on Artificial Intelligence (AI) based arms and weapon system. In 1950, Alan Turing in a paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”, considered the question: “Can machines… Continue reading Thinking hard on AI
How to survive and grow in a warming world
News: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report on climate impacts. It highlights the need for adaptation. What does the report state regarding adaptation? It suggests that adaptation to climate impacts in the near to medium term can help communities and ecosystems become resilient against the threats from current and future… Continue reading How to survive and grow in a warming world
