Puri Jagannath Temple
Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked the Odisha government to tweak its much vaunted Shree Mandira Parikrama Project (SMPP) — a massive beautification project around the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri — which has already run into a controversy. Relevance: GS I- Art and Architecture Dimensions of the Article: Shree Mandira Parikrama […]
Ken-Betwa Link Project
Focus: GS III- Environment Why in News? A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) has been carried out to identify positive and negative impacts of the project on physical, biological and socio-economic environment. It is estimated that total submergence due to Daudhan reservoir shall be about 9,000 […]
Operation Upalabdh
Focus: GS II- Government Policies and Interventions Why in News? Under Operation Upalabdh, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) began a pan-India drive against accused black marketeers. What is the purpose of Operation Upalabdh? The month-long Operation Upalabdh campaign was successful in significantly reducing the activity of touts and making railway tickets more accessible to the […]
Conservation of Sacred Groves
Context India’s sacred groves are being gradually altered due to ever-expanding human populations, pollution and removal of biomass; effective conservation is the need of the hour to maintain their functional values Relevance GS-III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. Dimensions of the Article What are Sacred Groves? Historical References Regulation and Activities inside […]
Resolution on Chandigarh
Context: The longstanding dispute between Punjab and Haryana over Chandigarh flared up this week after the Centre notified Central Service Rules for employees in the Union Territory instead of the Punjab Service Rules. The Centre had earlier tweaked rules for appointments to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) — recruitments can now be done from […]
UNEP Report On Noise Pollution
Context: A February report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme on the environmental challenges posed by noise, wildfires and the disruption of biological rhythms of plants, animals and ecological cycles became controversial on account of the mention of a single city, Moradabad. Relevance: GS III- Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What was […]
NFC Technology For Instant Payments
Context: Google Pay has recently launched a new feature in India, ‘Tap to pay for UPI’, in collaboration with Pine Labs. The feature makes use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Relevance: GS III- Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: What is NFC and how does it work? How will this technology work with […]
What is Death Penalty
Context: While hearing death sentence appeals since September 2021, the Supreme Court has repeatedly expressed concern over the manner in which trial courts and High Courts have carried out sentencing with very little (relevant) information. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Judiciary, Important Judgements) Dimensions of the Article: What is Death Penalty/Capital Punishment? Capital Punishment in […]
Draft Indian Antarctic Bill
Context: Nearly 40 years after India first signed the Antarctic Treaty, the government has brought in a draft Indian Antarctic Bill, 2020. Earth Sciences Minister tabled the draft Bill in Lok Sabha. Relevance: GS II- Government policies and Interventions Dimensions of the Article: What is the Antarctica Bill? What is the Antarctica Treaty? What are the […]
Central Bureau of Investigation
Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently come under intense public scrutiny, according to Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana. Its actions and inactions have sparked doubts about its credibility. The CJI has recommended an umbrella, independent, and autonomous investigative body in order to overhaul law enforcement agencies. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution, Governance […]