News: China paraded Qi Fabao, A PLA regiment commander who was involved in China’s Galwan Valley border confrontation with India. He acted as one of the torchbearers for the Winter Olympics. Read more: Explained: Why artificial snow needs to be pumped to pull off Beijing Winter Olympics Why the China move is problematic? China welcomed the… Continue reading China parading Galwan soldier at Winter Games is indefensible
India, heal thyself
News: National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to replace the Hippocratic Oath in medical colleges with the Charak Shapath from the new academic session. The Hippocratic Oath is taken by medical students worldwide. Contents1 Why this move is not very appropriate? 2 What is NMC and what are its responsibilities? 3 What is the status of medical… Continue reading India, heal thyself
Clearing the airways
News: New Government guidelines have allowed fully vaccinated passengers from 82 countries to skip the mandatory quarantine period. Also the requirement of compulsory on-arrival testing for passengers from certain countries identified as “at-risk” has also been removed. Contents1 Why is this relaxation being given? 2 What are the reasons for this fall in numbers? 3 How… Continue reading Clearing the airways
‘Enmity Will Be With Your Kin Or Your Neighbour’
News: Historian Shruti Kapila explores the role of violence in 20th-century Indian political ideas in her book ‘Violent Fraternity: Indian Political Thought In The Global Age’. How India is different from the West on violence? The history of the west shows that the state was the legitimate author of violence. But the Indian story is different.… Continue reading ‘Enmity Will Be With Your Kin Or Your Neighbour’
India’s Employment problem predates COVID. The pandemic has deepened the faultlines
News: Data from the Periodic labour force survey (PLFS) suggests that urban unemployment during January-March 2021 had declined to the pre-Covid level of around 9%, after peaking at 20.8% during the first wave. Various other estimates also point towards the same. However, it necessarily does not reflect an expansion of more productive forms of… Continue reading India’s Employment problem predates COVID. The pandemic has deepened the faultlines
Exercise Milan: Amidst tense Ukraine standoff, US & Russia to take part in India’s largest naval exercise
What is the News? The US and Russia will be participating in India’s biggest maritime exercise named “Milan-2022” amidst escalating tensions between them over Ukraine. What is Exercise Milan? Exercise Milan is a biennial multilateral naval exercise conducted by the Indian Navy. It was first held in the year 1995 in the Andaman and Nicobar… Continue reading Exercise Milan: Amidst tense Ukraine standoff, US & Russia to take part in India’s largest naval exercise
Benzo[b]thiophene: Woman scientist from Chennai granted patent for green technology producing medicinally important compound
What is the News? A Women Scientist from IIT Madras has been granted a patent for developing a green methodology for producing a medicinally important compound called Benzo[b]thiophene. What is Benzo[b]thiophene? Benzo[b]thiophene is a medical compound present in a range of medicines such as raloxifene (used in osteoporosis), zileuton (used in asthma), and sertaconazole (antifungal… Continue reading Benzo[b]thiophene: Woman scientist from Chennai granted patent for green technology producing medicinally important compound
Tax laws made complicated by exemptions, need to be simplified: Tarun Bajaj
What is the News? According to the Revenue Secretary, there is a need to simplify direct tax laws as various exemptions announced every year have made them complicated. What are the views of the Revenue Secretary on Taxation Structure? On Corporate Taxation Structure: In 2019, the Finance Minister had announced a cut in corporate tax to… Continue reading Tax laws made complicated by exemptions, need to be simplified: Tarun Bajaj
Understanding oceans: Why UNESCO wants to map 80% of the world‘s seabed
Contents1 What is the News?2 Why is the ocean floor being mapped by UNESCO?3 How will be the ocean floor get mapped?4 What is the significance of ocean floor mapping? What is the News? The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has pledged to map around 80% of the world’s ocean floors by… Continue reading Understanding oceans: Why UNESCO wants to map 80% of the world‘s seabed
Quad meet focuses on Indo-Pacific cooperation
What is the News? Quad has recently held its fourth ministerial meeting in Melbourne, Australia. Read here: Quad Ministers set to meet in Australia What are the key outcomes of the Quad summit? On terrorism: Group requested countries not to let use their territories to launch terror attacks. They also condemned the terrorist attacks in India, including the… Continue reading Quad meet focuses on Indo-Pacific cooperation
