Category: Current Affairs
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ADHD Symptoms Linked to Higher Risk of Teen Nicotine Use
Those showing symptoms of ADHD are more likely to smoke: Study Context: A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has found a strong correlation between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and nicotine/tobacco use among teenagers. Research Insights The study was led by Sean Esteban McCabe, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, and is…
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India-UK Free Trade Agreement: A Transformative Leap for India’s Textile Sector and Global Trade Integration
India-UK Free Trade Agreement: A Game-Changing Opportunity for India’s Textile Sector and Trade Context: Recently, India and the UK concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), described by PM Narendra Modi as a “historic milestone”. More on News The FTA comes at a time of global protectionism and tariff hikes (e.g., by the US),…
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Rethinking Air Quality in India
India’s air pollution strategy needs atmanirbharta Context: India’s Make in India initiative has sparked a wave of innovation and national pride. From space exploration and the Moon Mission to Covid-19 vaccine development and Vande Bharat trains, the country has showcased its growing capabilities across sectors. However, this self-reliant spirit has yet to take root in…
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India-Pakistan Ceasefire
Dealing with Pakistan, weak or strong Context: The recently announced ceasefire between India and Pakistan, brokered by the U.S. President Donald Trump, is a welcome, albeit fragile, pause in a deeply entrenched conflict. More on News While peace is always preferable to war, the precarious nature of this ceasefire highlights the need for strategic…
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Vanishing Wolves of Kadbanwadi
How Stray Dogs Threaten India’s Grey Wolves Context: Located 276 km from Mumbai, the Kadbanwadi grassland in Maharashtra’s Pune district transforms with the seasons—golden in summer, lush green in monsoon. This 2,000-hectare ecosystem is home to the Shegar Dhangar shepherds, Bengal foxes, striped hyenas, and the Indian grey wolf—an apex predator crucial to maintaining ecological…
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Boosting High-Tech Manufacturing
A fundamental reset to drive manufacturing growth Context: Global manufacturing is rapidly transitioning toward innovation-driven, high-tech products, fueled by advanced R&D, skilled labor, and complex supply chains. More on News With rising U.S. tariffs reshaping trade dynamics, countries must strengthen their manufacturing fundamentals—regardless of trade barriers. India has made strides with initiatives like Make…
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Fight for Just Development and Climate Justice
The women who remain largely invisible Context: Across India and South Asia, women have been the driving force behind grassroots resistance to unjust development, environmental degradation, and extractivist projects. More on News From opposing destructive mining operations to challenging large-scale infrastructure and nuclear projects, women have consistently stood on the frontlines. However, when it…
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Small Savings Schemes: A Powerful Tool for Financial Security in India
Small Savings Schemes: A Smart Investment Choice Amid Falling Interest Rates Context: Recently, the India Government revised the quarterly Small Savings Scheme interest rates. As per an old decision of the Government, the rate of interest on Small Savings Schemes will be aligned with Government Security (G-Sec) rates of similar maturity with a spread i.e.…
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Songar Drones
What are Turkish Songar drones, used by Pak to attack India? Context: India on Friday (9 May) accused Pakistan of attempting a coordinated drone incursion targeting 36 military and civilian sites during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9. The drones used in the attempted intrusion are suspected to be Turkish-made Asisguard Songar…
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National Security Doctrine
It’s time India framed a national security doctrine Context: The word doctrine, though rooted in theology, has found deep resonance in military strategy worldwide. Today, most global powers operate with clearly defined strategic doctrines—frameworks that guide military, political, and diplomatic responses to evolving security threats. More on News In the context of rising tensions…
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Pakistan–Turkey Nexus: A Growing Threat to India’s Strategic Interests
Pakistan–Turkey Nexus: India’s Bold Response to a Rising Alliance Context: The evolving Pakistan–Turkey military nexus, symbolised recently by the use of Turkish drones in Pakistani attacks on India, reflects deeper ideological, geopolitical, and defence collaborations between the two nations. This development has compelled India to recalibrate its strategic partnerships to counterbalance this growing alliance, which…
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Pakistan’s Proxy War: A Bold Blueprint to End State-Sponsored Terrorism
Pakistan’s Proxy War: Transformative Solutions for Ending a Decades-Long Threat Context: The April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 civilians including tourists were killed, yet again underscored the persistent threat of Pakistan-sponsored proxy war against India. India’s kinetic response via Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps across the LoC, signaled a calibrated but firm retaliation.…
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India-US Energy and Defence Ties
The Building Blocks of an India-U.S. Energy Future Context: The recent statement by the U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance underscoring America’s intent to deepen cooperation with India in the fields of energy and defence marks another milestone in an evolving strategic partnership. More on News While the announcement made headlines, the core issues—energy security, technological…
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India’s Judicial Credibility Crisis
Reimagining Access to Justice and Rectifying Systemic Barriers Context: Public confidence in the Indian judiciary is showing signs of erosion, with concerns around judicial corruption, lack of transparency, and political interference increasingly in the spotlight. More on News The recent discovery of burnt currency notes at the residence of High Court judge Justice Yashwant…
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I2U2: Forging a Climate-Resilient Minilateralism in a Disrupted World
I2U2: Unlocking Climate-Resilient Minilateralism for a Stronger Global Future Introduction: In an increasingly volatile and multipolar world, marked by tariff wars, strategic decoupling, and climate-induced disasters, traditional multilateralism has lost momentum. About I2U2 The I2U2 grouping—comprising India, Israel, UAE, and the US—emerges as a flexible and action-oriented platform to address pressing global challenges. Amid rising…
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Cabinet Approves Revised SHAKTI Policy
Cabinet approves Revised SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) Policy for Coal Allocation to Power Sector Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the grant of fresh coal linkages under the Revised SHAKTI Policy. Objective To streamline and simplify coal linkage…
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Climate Change and Gut Microbiota
Climate change is disrupting the human gut in a new path to illness Context: A recent review published in The Lancet Planetary Health explores a critical but underexplored consequence of climate change: its effect on the human gut microbiota through climate-driven food shortages and undernourishment. Key Findings and Insights from the Review Climate change…
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Integrating Indigenous Rights for Sustainable Biodiversity Protection
India’s Forest Rights Act Stands Apart from Exclusionary Laws Globally Context: Conservation efforts worldwide are increasingly scrutinised for their exclusionary practices, particularly those that marginalise Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). More on News The traditional “fortress conservation” model, which seeks to protect nature by isolating it from human activity, often results in the displacement…
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India’s Biofuel Push
Mapping The Evolution Of Biofuels in India Context: India’s road transport sector, a critical component of its economic engine, is also a significant contributor to fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. More on News As of 2021, the sector consumed 44% of the country’s total oil, with petroleum-based fuels meeting 95% of its energy…
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India’s West Asia Policy: Strategic Realignments and Promising Areas of Cooperation
India’s West Asia Policy: Exploring New Frontiers of Cooperation and Growth Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s abrupt return from Riyadh after the Pahalgam terror attack symbolised the fusion of foreign policy assertiveness with national security imperatives. The visit was originally designed to reflect the transformation of India’s Middle East doctrine—but it became a moment of…