Indian Submarines and Naval Ships for UPSC Exam
Project 75 India P75I was first cleared in 2007, but lay dormant until now after undergoing numerous changes. The P75I project is part of a 30-year submarine building plan that ends in 2030. The project cost is about Rs. 45,000 crore. As part of this plan, India was to build 24 submarines — 18 conventional […]
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: ON SUPREME COURT’S CRYPTOCURRENCY RULING
Why in news? The Supreme Court has struck down a 2018 circular by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that directed entities not to provide services to those trading in “virtual currencies” (cryptocurrencies), as “disproportionate”. What was done about Cryptocurrencies? Ministerial committee recommendations, and warnings by institutions such as the RBI were: The problematic nature […]
WHAT IS NEXT FOR VIRTUAL CURRENCY?
Why in news? The Supreme Court set aside a ban by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on banks and financial institutions from dealing with virtual currency holders and exchanges. Why did SC put aside ban? The court held that the ban did not pass the “proportionality” test. The test of proportionality of any action by […]
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 […]
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, […]
TELEMEDICINE CAN REACH PATIENTS WHERE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IS DIFFICULT
Significance of technology in the COVID-19 Crisis The world has very few devices left to fight COVID-19 with, but technology remains one of them. Whether it is the employ of state-of-the-art technology in the discovery of cures or vaccines, or traditional technology services to enhance health care and consultations, or even tools that keep people […]
EXPLAINED: HOW COVID-19 CAN HELP DEAL WITH THE SILENT TUBERCULOSIS CRISIS
What exactly has WHO said for TB patients during COVID-19? There is a need to maintain TB services during effective response to COVID-19. It is important that the progress made in TB prevention and care is not reversed by the COVID19 pandemic. TB patients who have lung damage or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may suffer […]
MASKS, FINES FOR SPITTING: WINDOW TO NEW NORMAL
What are the changes that we see following COVID-19 guidelines? Among the guidelines for COVID-19 management issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 15th April 2020 are: Face covers are to be worn at all times at work or public spaces Those found spitting in public spaces will be fined All workplaces will have […]
EXPLAINED: AIR POLLUTION’S LINK TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Introduction to Connection between COVID-19 and Air Pollution Coronavirus (COVID-19): Even before the pandemic struck, outdoor air pollution was linked to the deaths of as many as nine million people each year. Now two new studies show that Covid-19 patients are more likely to die if they live in regions with high levels of air […]
EXPLAINED: WHY CHILDREN ARE LESS AFFECTED, MORE SUSCEPTIBLE BY COVID-19
Why in news? Research suggests that while everyone is susceptible to COVID-19, people over the age of 60 and children are particularly vulnerable. Why children are less affected? In the early stages of the outbreak, it was found that COVID-19 was predominantly prevalent in adults over the age of 15 years, while the proportion of […]