Supreme Court of India Allows Sub-Classification of Reserved Categories
Context: The Supreme Court of India, in a review judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has delivered a landmark verdict allowing states the authority to sub-classify reserved category groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), for reservation purposes. This 6-1 majority decision overturns the 2004 ruling in E.V. Chinnaiah vs. […]
Ministry of Civil Aviation Introduces Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024
Context: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has tabled the “Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024,” replacing the Aircraft Act 1934, in an effort to move beyond the colonial legacy of aviation and modernize the sector. The Aircraft Act 1934 was originally enacted to regulate the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import, and export of aircraft. Relevance: […]
The Relevance of Pumped Storage Projects
Context: The Union Budget for 2024-25 promised a new policy to promote pumped storage projects for electricity storage, aiming to smoothly integrate the increasing share of renewable energy, which is inherently variable and intermittent. Relevance: GS3- Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Infrastructure- Energy Mains Question: Discuss the principle of operation of pumped storage projects highlighting their significance. Where […]
Supreme Court’s Decision in Allowing GM Mustard
Context: India’s challenging journey with genetically modified (GM) food crops reached another milestone last week. A two-judge Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol from the Supreme Court of India delivered a split decision on whether to allow GM mustard in farmers’ fields. Relevance: GS3- Biotechnology Mains Question: GM crops might not be perfect, but […]
India and US Sign Historic Cultural Property Agreement
Context: India and the US have signed their first Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) to tackle illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts and facilitate the return of antiquities to their countries of origin. Relevance: GS II: International Relations Cultural Property Agreement
About Ideas4LiFE Portal
Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched Ideas4LiFE at IIT Delhi. Relevance: GS III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Ideas4LiFE Portal About Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Aim of LiFE: Pro-Planet People: Vision and Mission of LiFE: Vision of LIFE: The vision of ‘LIFE’ is to live a […]
AI Needs Cultural Policies, not Just Regulation
Context: The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be secured by regulation alone. To ensure AI is safe and trustworthy for everyone, we must complement regulation with policies that promote high-quality data as a public good. This approach is essential for fostering transparency, creating a level playing field, and building public trust. Only by providing fair and broad […]
Small Modular Reactors and the Cost of Proliferation Resistance
Context: Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in the global energy mix as it awaits the development and advancement of other renewable energy technologies, while fossil fuel sources, particularly coal, remain relevant and more affordable. It is in this context that the Indian government plans to collaborate with the private sector to research and test small […]
About Advanced Land Navigation System
Context: Recently, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded to the procurement of Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) Mk-II for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of the Indian Army. Relevance: GS II: Health Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) Overview
NITI Aayog’s 9th Governing Council Meeting
Context: In the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by the Prime Minister, leaders from 20 states and 6 union territories gathered to discuss the “Viksit Bharat @2047” theme. The meeting aimed to establish a comprehensive framework for India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Relevance: GS II: Government Policies and […]