HARAPPAN CIVILISATION: ENIGMA REMAINS EVEN AFTER 100 YEARS OF EXPLORATION TOPIC: (GS1) ANCIENT HISTORY: THE HINDU The Harappan civilisation, also known as the Indus Valley civilisation, was first announced by John Marshall in 1924 after the excavation of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. A Bronze Age civilisation, it existed from 3200 BC to 1500 BC, flourishing in
ROLE OF FOOD BANKS IN ADDRESSING FOOD WASTE AND MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE Food banks play a critical role in addressing food insecurity by redistributing surplus food to those in need. They also contribute significantly to mitigating climate change by reducing food waste, which, when left to decompose in landfills, produces harmful greenhouse gases like methane.
TEA INDUSTRY IN INDIA The tea industry in India, a vital part of its agricultural sector, has been facing significant challenges due to climate change, policy reforms, and fluctuating demand. Recent extreme weather events have adversely affected tea production, particularly in Assam and West Bengal, leading to an increase in domestic prices. This situation calls
BOMBAY HIGH COURT STRIKES DOWN CENTRE'S AMENDED IT RULES TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU The Bombay High Court recently invalidated the Centre’s 2023 amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules. These amendments sought to establish a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to monitor “fake” or “misleading” news about the government on social media. The
NEWLY APPROVED SPACE PROJECTS The Union Cabinet of India recently approved four major space missions to be executed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These missions, including Chandrayaan-4, the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), the Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS), and the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), mark significant steps in India’s expanding space exploration endeavors.
DECARBONIZATION OF THE STEEL SECTOR The steel industry is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, making its decarbonization a critical step in mitigating climate change. As India is the second-largest steel producer, the Ministry of Steel has begun exploring funding strategies and policy reforms to transition toward green steel production. This includes
‘ASSAM RECORDS 86% DROP IN RHINO POACHING SINCE 2016’ TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU Assam has witnessed a significant reduction in rhino poaching, with an 86% drop recorded since 2016. This milestone reflects the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the one-horned rhinoceros, which is symbolic of the state's identity. Key Highlights Rhino Poaching Decline: Assam
FATF MUTUAL EVALUATION REPORT ON INDIA (2023) The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently released its Mutual Evaluation Report on India, highlighting the country’s substantial progress in combating illicit finance. The report examines how effectively India has implemented anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) measures, identifying areas of strength and those requiring improvement. While
SOLAR STRATEGIES India's solar ambitions have expanded significantly, demonstrated by the recent REINVEST meeting in Gandhinagar, which attracted investment proposals worth USD 386 billion. The country aims to achieve 570 GW of solar power capacity by 2030, exceeding its global commitment of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity. However, to fully realize its estimated solar potential
HOW THE SUPREME COURT STRENGTHENED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY LAW TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY: INDIAN EXPRESS The Supreme Court (SC) of India has expanded the definition of "possession" of child pornography under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The ruling extends to viewing or displaying child pornography, strengthening legal actions against such offenses. Key Highlights
WHITE REVOLUTION 2.0: EMPOWERING INDIA'S DAIRY SECTOR White Revolution 2.0 is a government initiative aimed at boosting milk production, empowering women farmers, and tackling malnutrition in India. It builds on the success of the original White Revolution, also known as ‘Operation Flood’, launched in 1970 by Dr. Verghese Kurien, which transformed India from a milk-deficient
PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATIYA UNNAT GRAM ABHIYAN (PMJUGA) The Union Cabinet recently approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA) to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities. This centrally sponsored scheme focuses on enhancing the welfare of tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts by addressing gaps in basic infrastructure, education, health, and
