RETAIL INFLATION IN OCTOBER TOUCHES 6.21%, CROSSES RBI TOLERANCE CEILING OF 6% In October 2024, retail inflation, as reflected by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 6.2%. Food inflation, monitored through the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), saw a significant increase, reaching 10.87%, its highest level since August 2023. This inflation rate has breached
UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGING NATURE OF EXTREMIST VIOLENCE TOPIC: (GS3) SEQURITY: THE HINDU Extremist violence has taken on new dimensions globally. While conflicts like the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas crisis dominate headlines, evolving patterns of violence by extremist groups often go unnoticed. This trend has significant implications for law enforcement, national security, and the global
G20 RIO DE JANEIRO SUMMIT The 19th G20 Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet." The summit brought together global leaders to address key challenges, including sustainable development, climate change, energy transition, digital infrastructure, and global health. India, an active participant, highlighted its
DECLINE IN EARTH'S FRESHWATER RESERVES Freshwater resources are vital for human survival, ecosystem balance, and economic development. However, recent findings from NASA-German GRACE satellites and other global reports indicate a sharp decline in Earth's freshwater levels since 2014. This worrying trend is evident both globally and in India, driven by climatic changes, over-extraction, and mismanagement
NUCLEAR ENERGY INVESTMENTS BY BIG TECH AND INDIA'S ROLE IN NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT Amid the rising electricity demands driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers, major tech companies are turning to nuclear energy for its reliable, carbon-free power. By investing in nuclear energy, these companies aim to meet their sustainability goals while supporting AI's intensive
INDIA'S URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING TOPIC: (GS3) INDIAN ECONOMY: THE HINDU A World Bank report highlights that India will require ₹70 lakh crore by 2036 for urban infrastructure, but current annual investments are far below this level. Addressing this challenge requires innovative strategies, reforms, and collaborative efforts. Urban Infrastructure Financing: Current Scenario Funding Gap: India needs
GLOBAL SOIL CONFERENCE (GSC) 2024: ENHANCING SOIL HEALTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Global Soil Conference (GSC) 2024 was recently held in New Delhi, emphasizing the critical role of soil health in ensuring food security, mitigating climate change, and supporting ecosystem services. The event brought together global experts to discuss strategies for sustainable soil management.
GLOBAL SOIL CONFERENCE (GSC) 2024: ENHANCING SOIL HEALTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Global Soil Conference (GSC) 2024 was recently held in New Delhi, emphasizing the critical role of soil health in ensuring food security, mitigating climate change, and supporting ecosystem services. The event brought together global experts to discuss strategies for sustainable soil management.
INDIA-CARICOM SUMMIT: STRENGTHENING TIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, held in Georgetown, Guyana, was a milestone in fostering closer cooperation between India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Chaired by India's Prime Minister and Grenada's Prime Minister, this summit aimed to strengthen collaboration across various sectors. It built upon the success of the
STUBBLE BURNING AND SATELLITE TRACKING TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has emerged as a significant contributor to air pollution, particularly affecting the National Capital Region (NCR). Satellite technology is widely employed to monitor these fires, but challenges persist in accurately tracking them due to evolving farmer strategies. How Satellites
COP29 AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded recently in Baku, Azerbaijan. Representatives from nearly 200 countries participated, focusing on agreements to tackle global climate issues. Key Highlights of COP29 New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) Objective: Triple climate
COKING COAL: IMPORTANCE AND CRITICAL MINERAL STATUS Coking coal, also known as metallurgical coal, is essential for steel production and infrastructure development. India’s high dependence on imported coking coal poses challenges for its economic stability and energy security. A recent NITI Aayog report, “Enhancing Domestic Coking Coal Availability to Reduce the Import of Coking Coal”,
