Source: Down to Earth Relevance: Impact of light pollution Synopsis: Excessive use of light in urban areas has negative impact on human and animal life. Analysis of the impact and mitigation measures that can be taken. Context Watching the night sky, the stars and other astronomical objects is an absolute delight. While one may still… Continue reading Switch it off!: How light pollution disorients ecosystems
The dangers of India’s palm oil push
Source: Indian Express Relevance: Issues associated with Palm oil cultivation Synopsis: The recent push by Government of India to promote production of palm oil in Northeast and Andaman Nicobar islands has raised various concerns. A brief look. Context On August 15th, 2021, PM announced a support of Rs 11,000 crore to incentivize oil palm production.… Continue reading The dangers of India’s palm oil push
The class divide that threatens to thwart our educational goals
Source: LiveMint Relevance: Understand the learning loss due to Pandemic Synopsis: The article highlights the “learning loss” that occurred due to school closure during the pandemic. India has to work hard to ensure that learning loss does not translate to a loss in future. Introduction The lockdowns because of the Pandemic impacted the learning, especially for… Continue reading The class divide that threatens to thwart our educational goals
Helping and hindering justice
Source: The Hindu Syllabus: GS 2 Judiciary, Digital divide & health Relevance: To understand eCourts initiative Synopsis: Pandemic exposed the eCourts system to the outer world. Digitization enabled Judiciary to respond the online world. However, many challenges also surfaced which need careful consideration. Judiciary pointed that despite CoWIN initiative,there were many digital impediments to the delivery… Continue reading Helping and hindering justice
Income and quotas
Source: The Hindu Syllabus: GS 2 – Fundamental rights Relevance: To understand dimensions of creamy layer Synopsis: Supreme Court (SC) lays bare the limit of using economic criteria to determine reservation ability SC ruled that economic criteria alone cannot be used to classify “creamy layer” members of Backward Class (BC). Apart from the economic criterion,… Continue reading Income and quotas
Don’t chase the mirage of iron-fortified rice
Source: Indian Express Relevance: about rice fortification programme Synopsis: Rice fortification programme might not be the answer to India’s food security and nutritional challenges. A push to a balanced and diverse diet is a far more superior strategy. Issues with the recently announced mandatory rice fortification programme. Background Read these articles in sequence PM announces… Continue reading Don’t chase the mirage of iron-fortified rice
Indian treasures at home and abroad
Source: Business Standard Syllabus: GS 1 – Art and Culture Relevance: To understand India historical artefacts. Synopsis: Historically significant sites, artefacts and papers in India and the UK should be made accessible to wider audiences. Many Indian art & other valuables were acquired by East India Company & officials between 1858-1947. These are exhibited in:… Continue reading Indian treasures at home and abroad
Afghans can enter India now only on e-visas
Source: The Hindu What is the News? The Government of India has said that all Afghan nationals must travel to India only on a special e-Visas issued by the Government of India. What is the decision taken by the Government of India? The Government of India has cancelled all previously issued visas to Afghan nationals… Continue reading Afghans can enter India now only on e-visas
The Saroop of Sikh Holy Book
Source: Indian Express What is the News? The Union Minister of India has received one of the Saroops of the holy Guru Granth Sahib flown in from Afghanistan. What is Saroop? Saroop is a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib also called Bir in Punjabi. Every Bir has 1,430 pages, which are referred to… Continue reading The Saroop of Sikh Holy Book
Fukushima nuclear water to be released via undersea tunnel
Source: The Hindu What is the News? The Japanese Fukushima nuclear power plant operator has planned to build an undersea tunnel so that massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water can be released into the ocean. About Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant: Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is located in the town of Okuma, Japan. The… Continue reading Fukushima nuclear water to be released via undersea tunnel
