News: Government’s vision of a digital university to reach all students across the country is a landmark step. However, there are many challenges associated with these digital only courses. What are the challenges of teaching students in a digital only mode? Students hardly complete their ‘digital only’ courses. This has been the case with many… Continue reading Phygital education can prove transformative for the country
Conflicts and a settings change for social media
News: Armed conflicts within and between states like the current Ukraine-Russian conflict have also have had some influence on cyberspace over the years. Social media platforms have gone by the mantra of “tech neutrality” to avoid taking decisions that may be considered political for too long. However, there is need for some norms for social… Continue reading Conflicts and a settings change for social media
Economic weakness is a pan-India phenomenon
News: In 2019, the India’s Govt instituted a 10% education-and-employment quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) ineligible for the 49.5% of most public jobs and seats reserved for SC, ST and OBC applicants. To qualify as an EWS candidate, the property owned by one’s family had to be below certain size levels, with annual income… Continue reading Economic weakness is a pan-India phenomenon
How the Kashmir Valley’s ancient mound formations are being levelled
What is the News? Kashmir’s highly fertile alluvial soil deposits called ‘karewas’ are being destroyed in the name of development. What are Karewas? Karewas are lacustrine deposits (deposits in lake) in the Valley of Kashmir and in Bhadarwah Valley of the Jammu Division. These are the flat topped mounds that border the Kashmir Valley on… Continue reading How the Kashmir Valley’s ancient mound formations are being levelled
Snakebite: Researchers purify commercial Indian antivenoms, find them more potent
What is the News? Researchers from the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have shown that purifying commercial antivenoms available in Indian markets can make them more potent and thus save more lives of snakebite victims. Snakebite Deaths in India India is home to over 300 species… Continue reading Snakebite: Researchers purify commercial Indian antivenoms, find them more potent
Explained: How many tigers are too many
What is the News? Preliminary findings of a study by the Wildlife Institute of India(WII) suggest that the density of tigers in the Sunderbans may have reached the carrying capacity of the mangrove forests, leading to frequent dispersals and a surge in human-wildlife conflict. Tiger Density in India In Terai and Shivalik hills habitat —… Continue reading Explained: How many tigers are too many
Defence Expo 2022 deferred, experts say may hamper India’s image
What is the News? The government of India has informed that the 12th edition of Defence Expo 2022 has been postponed. What is Defence Expo 2022? DefExpo is a flagship biennial event of the Ministry of Defence. Objective: To showcase India as a major destination of land, naval, air & homeland security systems and defence… Continue reading Defence Expo 2022 deferred, experts say may hamper India’s image
Brahmaputra (NW2) gets connected with Ganga (NW1) via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route
What is the News? India has successfully conducted the maiden voyage of foodgrains via inland waterways from Patna to Pandu through Bangladesh in Guwahati. What has happened? A self propelled vessel MV Lal Bahadur Shastri carrying foodgrains for Food Corporation of India (FCI) has completed the maiden pilot run from Patna to Pandu via Bangladesh.… Continue reading Brahmaputra (NW2) gets connected with Ganga (NW1) via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route
Democracy Report 2022: Democracies on the slide
What is the News? V-Dem Institute at the Sweden’s University of Gothenburg has released the ‘Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing Nature?’. What is the Democracy Report 2022? Released by: Varieties of Democracy(V-Dem) Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg Purpose: The report measures hundreds of different attributes of democracy. It enables new ways to study the… Continue reading Democracy Report 2022: Democracies on the slide
Northern River Terrapin: Endangered turtles play fast and loose with borders
What is the News? Forest officials had installed GPS transmitters on Northern River Terrapin in Indian Sundarbans. After just six weeks, at least three of these turtles have travelled hundreds of kilometres and are now in Bangladesh. What is Northern River Terrapin? Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska) is a species of riverine turtle native to… Continue reading Northern River Terrapin: Endangered turtles play fast and loose with borders
