A BLOW AGAINST SOCIAL JUSTICE
Why in news? The recent verdict of a two-judge Supreme Court Bench on reservations and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes promotions — “that no individual could claim reservation in promotions and that the court could not issue a mandamus directing State governments to provide reservation”. Details: This judgement has mainly raised four constitutional questions: Whether […]
HOW TO HANDLE THE CORONAVIRUS(COVID-19) SCARE?
What test is done for coronavirus? The first test that samples of all suspected patients are sent for is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. If that is positive, the sample is sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, which is the only government laboratory currently doing genome sequencing, for final confirmation. This […]
BOTTOM OR MIRAGE?
Why in news? Official estimates of gross domestic product for the fiscal third quarter have pegged growth in the festival demand-filled October-November month period at 4.7%, a distinct slowdown from the revised year-earlier and preceding quarters’ 5.6% and 5.1% paces respectively. Growth of different sectors: Manufacturing, which contributes just under a fifth to gross value added (GVA), was […]
A BIG, BAD DEAL
Why in news? The deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha on 29th February 2020 sets the stage for America to wind down the longest war in its history. The Afghan war is estimated to have cost $2-trillion, with more than 3,500 American and coalition soldiers killed. Afghanistan lost hundreds of thousands of people, […]
VIRAL ECONOMIES
Why in news? The global economy appears headed for uncharted, troubled territory because of the second wave of the coronavirus that has now spread to countries as far apart as Nigeria and New Zealand Financial impact of COVID The virus has crippled global supply chains, hit air travel and convulsed markets as it appears all set to adversely impact the U.S. […]
A PLURAL LEGACY MORE VITAL THAN EVER
To ensure good health by 2023, focus on agriculture, sanitation, women education: Why in news? President Donald Trump applauded India’s achievements in his February 24. These achievements ranged from religious freedom to reducing poverty to becoming an emerging giant economy. Facts about Poverty reduction: The World Bank’s estimates of extreme poverty — measured as $1.9/per […]
EXPLAINED: WHY SNOW IN ANTARCTICA IS TURNING BLOOD-RED
Why in news? Snow around Ukraine’s Vernadsky Research Base, located off the coast of Antarctica’s northernmost peninsula, has started to take on a red tinge, courtesy of an algae that thrives in freezing weather. Because of the red tinge, the snow is often dubbed “watermelon snow”. Why is the snow turning red? Algae found around […]
NPR 2020 SKIDS
Why in news? On February 25 2020, the Bihar Assembly passed a unanimous resolution stating that there is no need for a National Register of Citizens in the State and that the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) would be done strictly according to the 2010 format. What is the National Population Register (NPR)? […]
EXPLAINED | WHY IS COVID-19 NOT A PANDEMIC YET?
Why in news? On February 26, for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak began in China on December 8, the number of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) cases reported in a single day was more outside mainland China than within the country. All about the Spread of Corona Virus Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, […]