Category: Current Affairs

Context: A study by doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, published in Mycoses, examined the efficacy of itraconazole in treating chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. What Are Generic Drugs? A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength,…

Context: Amid ongoing farmer protests in Haryana over the demand for a legal framework for Minimum Support Price (MSP), a parliamentary panel has urged the Central Government to double the annual entitlement under the PM-Kisan Nidhi scheme from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000.  More on News The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing…

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans from ₹1.6 lakh to ₹2 lakh per borrower, effective January 1, 2024.  More on News This decision is aimed at addressing rising stress in banks’ farm loan portfolios and encouraging them to improve asset quality. The RBI last increased the…

Context: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed new recommendations that redefine international traffic, significantly impacting global tech companies like Amazon, Meta, Google, Uber, and WhatsApp.  The move comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of existing regulations and the financial implications for telecom operators.  TRAI’s recommendations aim to address “grey traffic” issues…

Context: The discussion surrounding minority rights must evolve beyond the traditional framework of communalism versus secularism and be reframed within the context of democracy and substantive equality.  More on News: Acknowledging the importance of minority rights, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic…

Context: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a cornerstone of India’s digital payments ecosystem. With over 400 million active users, it facilitates transactions between individuals (peer-to-peer) and with merchants (peer-to-merchant).  In 2024, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) reported an average of 14.13 billion UPI transactions every month, showcasing its widespread adoption across the…

Context: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ensures that all individuals, regardless of economic status, have access to essential and quality healthcare services without financial hardship. It is integral to achieving equitable health outcomes and economic growth. What is Universal Health Coverage? Comprehensive Healthcare Access: UHC provides access to a full spectrum of health services, including prevention,…

Context: A study published in Nature highlighted that emissions from private aviation increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023. More on News: The aviation sector, if considered as a country, would rank among the top 10 greenhouse gas-emitting nations worldwide.  Private aviation alone contributed an average of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per flight, according to…

Context: A recent survey by TeamLease EdTech has revealed that despite high demand, only 2% of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India currently offer work-linked degrees. This highlights a significant gap between student aspirations and the offerings of educational institutions. Key Highlights of Report: High Demand: The survey, which included over 10,000 students aged 17…

Context: India has scrapped a policy that allowed duty-free imports of equipment for solar power generation, a move that has significant implications for the renewable energy sector.  More on News: The decision, effective from December 17, was made by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which prohibited the use of customs-bonded warehouses…

Context: A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs has urged the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to conduct a third-party assessment of the Smart Cities Mission projects. This is essential to identify and address gaps before advancing to the next phase of the mission. Concerns About Progress in Smaller Cities Big-Small…

Context: La Niña, a phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), occurs when the Pacific Ocean region between Indonesia and South America cools down, impacting global weather patterns.  Its counterpart, El Niño, represents a warming of the same region, and the interplay between these two phases significantly affects atmospheric circulation and weather worldwide. Effects…

Context: The Arctic tundra, traditionally a carbon sink that stores vast amounts of carbon, has now become a source of greenhouse gas emissions due to the combination of rising temperatures and increased wildfires. Key Highlights: This alarming transformation is highlighted in the 2024 Arctic Report Card by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), showing…

Context: Recently, 55 Rajya Sabha Members submitted a motion to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Allahabad High Court Judge, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav.  About the Current Issue:  Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s remarks at a public event triggered this controversy. Speaking at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Justice…

Context: The Ministry of Steel’s implementation of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) for importing steel is posing significant challenges for manufacturers and service providers, particularly those involved in infrastructure development.  Ministry’s Measures One key hurdle arises from the government’s quality control orders (QCOs), which apply to approximately 800 items across various sectors, including consumer goods, construction materials,…

Context: Canada has recently announced its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45-50% by 2035 compared to 2005 levels. While this is a step towards climate mitigation, Canada’s continued reliance on fossil fuel production raises concerns about achieving this target. Canada’s NDC Target New Target: Canada aims to reduce…

Context: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with biotechnology is revolutionising drug development, genomics, and diagnostics.  More on News AI’s ability to integrate and analyse complex data sets from diverse domains has paved the way for innovations such as biomarker development for Alzheimer’s disease, precision medicine for genetic disorders, and novel biomolecule production.  Beyond these…