What is the News? A self-amplifying mRNA vaccine named ARCT-154 has shown promising results against Covid-19 in ongoing phase 1/2/3 trials. What is ARCT-154 Vaccine? It is a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine against Covid-19. Developed by: Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, based in San Diego, California, and its trials are in progress in Vietnam. Efficacy: It offered 95%… Continue reading New research: How self-replicating mRNA Covid-19 vaccines work, and what the trial results show
Category: PUBLIC
Explained | What is NASA’s space equity action plan?
What is the News? NASA has released its first-ever Space Equity Action Plan. What is the Space Equity Action Plan? Released by: NASA Objective: To allow the agency to track progress toward improved diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility both internally and externally. Focus Areas: The four focus areas the plan addresses are: – Increasing integration… Continue reading Explained | What is NASA’s space equity action plan?
Trilateral Development Corporation(TDC) Fund: To counter China’s BRI, MEA launches growth model
What is the News? The Ministry of External Affairs has launched a platform called the Trilateral Development Corporation(TDC) Fund. What is the Trilateral Development Corporation(TDC) Fund? Launched by: Ministry of External Affairs Aim: To provide an alternative to the Chinese development partnership model that has pushed parts of the developing world into a debt trap.… Continue reading Trilateral Development Corporation(TDC) Fund: To counter China’s BRI, MEA launches growth model
Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
Context: EVs are being pitched as cleaner, greener and sustainable. But are they? Underlying the shiny exteriors of an electric vehicle lies a shocking story of blood batteries, extreme poverty and child labour. Contents1 What is the usage of Cobalt in production of EVs?2 What are the humanitarian problems associated with production of EVs?3 Is… Continue reading Electric vehicles have a dark side too: Blood batteries and child labour
PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Context: Its golden chapter was scripted in an environment of low global commodity prices and surplus domestic foodgrain production. That party is over, even as food inflation is back. Why was the 2020-21 year very important for the agricultural sector? (1) In 2020-21, Agriculture was the only sector to grow at 3.3%, even as the… Continue reading PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Public Sector Banks must move beyond recapitalization bonds
News: Recently, the public sector banks (PSBs) had a huge amount of gross non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans. It peaked at ₹8.96 trillion or around 14.6% of total loans in March 2018. However, the gross NPAs have fallen to ₹5.59 trillion, or around 7.9% of total loans as of December 2021. What are the challenges before… Continue reading Public Sector Banks must move beyond recapitalization bonds
“India as a democratic superpower
News: India is the world’s third-largest economy, at least in purchasing power terms. Further, it has been argued that India has emerged as a democratic superpower capable of providing the leadership that the world needs. What are the geopolitical and other challenges in front of the international community? Russia has launched an unprovoked war against… Continue reading “India as a democratic superpower
Mission Antyodaya’ should not fall by the wayside
Context: Recently, the Mission Antyodaya Project related report on infrastructure and service gaps and the other on a composite index have been released so far. The Government of India launched the mission in 2017-18 to revive the objectives of the great democratic reforms in India. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Rural… Continue reading Mission Antyodaya’ should not fall by the wayside
Data-dependent policy
Context: Recently, the World Bank and the other by the International Monetary Fund published two different papers to assess the level of poverty in India. They concluded that poverty in India had declined considerably in recent years. In this backdrop, the government has done well to restart the consumer expenditure survey process because the survey… Continue reading Data-dependent policy
Common values, shared threats in India-Australia cyber security ties
Context: The signing of India-Australia ECTA is a concrete example of the bilateral faith in common values, and understanding of threats and goals. A reflection of this is cooperation in cybersecurity. Contents1 Significance of cybersecurity as an important area of cooperation2 Efforts to promote cooperation in cybersecurity b/w India and Aus3 What steps have been… Continue reading Common values, shared threats in India-Australia cyber security ties
