Upsc Express

Speaker’s Role in Defection Q. Why is this in News? A. Hearing a case related to the Maharashtra crisis in 2022 and whether a speaker facing a notice for his removal can disqualify MLAs in his assembly, the Supreme Court (SC) on February 15, 2023 maintained that Speakers should be the first authority to decide on disqualification. Earlier in 2016, the SC in the Nabam Rebia case had held that a…

Everything about Acid Attacks in India

Acid Attacks in India Q What is the context  ?  An acid attack in in Delhi has once again brought back to focus the heinous crime of acid attacks and the easy availability of corrosive substances. Q What is Acid Attack? An acid attack, also called acid throwing, vitriol attack, or vitriolage, is a form of violent assault involving the act of throwing acid or a similarly corrosive substance…

Everything about Cryosphere Loss

Cryosphere Loss Q. Why is this in News?  At COP27, a broad coalition of 18 governments joined together to create a new high-level group ‘Ambition on Melting Ice (AMI) on Sea-level Rise and Mountain Water Resources’.Q. What is AMI Group? The “AMI” group aims to ensure impacts of cryosphere loss is understood by political leaders and the public, and not only within mountain and polar regions,…

Everything about Ambedkar Tourist Circuit

Ambedkar Tourist Circuit Q. Why is this in news ? The Central government has announced a special tourist circuit encompassing five key sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Activists have urged that Mahad, located in Raigad District of Maharashtra, famous for Mahad Lake Satyagraha should also be included in the proposed circuit. Q. What is Ambedkar Circuit? The five cities in the tourist…

Everything about Community Forest Resource

 Q. What is a Community Forest Resource? The Community Forest Resource (CFR) area is common forest land that has been traditionally protected and conserved for sustainable use by a particular community. The community uses it to access resources available within the traditional and customary boundaryof the village, and for seasonal use of landscape in the case of pastoralist communities. Each…

Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Organization of Islamic Cooperation Q. Why is this in News? Recently, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned and denounced the comments on Prophet Muhammed made by two Indians. Ministry of External Affairs rejected the OIC comments, adding that the views expressed by the individuals did not reflect the views of the Indian government. Earlier, India has lashed out at the OIC…

Linking of Credit Cards with UPI

Linking of Credit Cards with UPI Q What is the context  ? The RBI has proposed to allow the linking of credit cards with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Integrating Credit Cards to UPI The integration will first begin with the indigenous RuPay credit cards.Both the RuPay network and UPI are managed by the same organisation – the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Q What is…

Intellectual Property Rights Q What is the context  ? The US Trade Representative (USTR) said in a report released last month that India was one of the most challenging major economies as far as IP protection and enforcement is concerned. US has decided to retain India on its Priority Watch List along with six other countries —Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela. Q What…

FATF and Pakistan’s position on its ‘Grey List’

FATF and Pakistan’s position on its ‘Grey List’ Q Why is it in News ?  Pakistan which continues to face an economic crunch from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is hoping for some respite in the form of its removal from the FATF’s ‘grey list’. Q What is the FATF?  The FATF is an international watchdog for financial crimes such as money laundering and terror financing.It was established…

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Q What is the context  ? A The official launch of the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the US’s de facto foreign economic policy for Asia, has been lauded and welcomed. Q What is Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ? A  Seen as a means to counter China in the region, it is a U.S.-led framework for participating countries to solidify…

Anti-Defection Law Q Why is it in News ?  Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that there was a need to amend the anti-defection legislation in the country to plug existing loopholes. Q What did Vice President  notice now? Stating that there was no clarity in the law about the time frame for the action of the House Chairperson or Speaker in anti-defection cases.Some cases are taking six…

Misuse of Rape laws

Misuse of Rape laws Q What is the context  ? A Retired Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna has said that there is a blatant misuse of rape laws in the country. Q What did Justice BN Srikrishna say? Lesser convictions: Statistics show that even after the amendment of rape laws, there have been less number of convictions.Need for objective analysis: It is time that rape cases be looked at…

Everything about Death Penalty

Death Penalty Q. Why is this in news ? On April 22, a Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by Justice U.U. Lalit, decided to critically examine the routine and abrupt way in which trial judges often impose the death penalty on convicts. Q. What is Individualistic approach? The challenge before the Court in the instant case of Irfan vs State of Madhya Pradesh was to identify the mitigating…

Everything about Jute Industry

Jute Industry Q. Why is this in news?  West Bengal is experiencing a crisis that has led to the closure of several Jute Mills. Q. What is the Issue? High Rate of Procurement by Mills:Mills are procuring raw jute at prices higher than what they are selling them at after processing.Mills do not acquire their raw material directly from the farmers because:Farmers are far-off from the mills…

Essay : Pandemics and Digital Divide

Title : Pandemics and Digital Divide https://amzn.to/3B0iiIn Digital divide refers to the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital and information technology, and those without this access. It encompasses both physical access to technology hardware and, more broadly, skills and resources which allow for its use. Factors like gender, physical disability, physical access, age,…

Essay : Pandemics and Digital Divide

Title : Pandemics and Digital Divide https://amzn.to/3B0iiIn Digital divide refers to the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital and information technology, and those without this access. It encompasses both physical access to technology hardware and, more broadly, skills and resources which allow for its use. Factors like gender, physical disability, physical access, age,…

ESSAY : Is democracy losing ground?

Title : Is democracy losing ground? Even as there are powerful pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong and Venezuela, there has been a trend in recent years that democracy is in retreat. Many surveys concur. The latest survey by Freedom House, an American think-tank, is called “Democracy in Crisis”. In 2017, for the 12th consecutive year, countries that suffered democratic setbacks outnumbered…