Subject: Agriculture Concept: Agriculture’s contribution to air pollution Agriculture’s contribution to air pollution runs deeper than what happens between crop seasons. The Indo-Gangetic plain is also one of the world’s largest and rapidly-growing ammonia hotspots. Atmospheric ammonia, which comes from fertiliser use, animal husbandry, and other agricultural practices, combines with emissions from power plants, transportation […]
Subject: Governance Context: The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) reviewed the cyclone preparedness of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry which are facing the threat of a severe cyclone. Concept: At the national level, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) are the key committees involved in the top-level decision-making wrt […]
Subject: Geography Context: The Bay of Bengal will see its second Severe Cyclone of the year, after Super Cyclone Amphan formed in May. It is likely to hit Tamil Nadu coast by midweek. Concept: The depression will intensify into a cyclone. At this stage, the wind speed will range between 70 to 80 km/hr gusting […]
Subject: Economics Context: China sold negative-yield debt for the first time, and this saw a high demand from investors across Europe. As yields in Europe are even lower, there was a huge demand for the 4-billion-euro bonds issued by China. Concept: China’s 5-year bond was priced with a yield of –0.152%, and the 10-year and […]
Subject: Governance Context: Central government has announced its decision to reopen anganwadis across the country after a gap of seven months. Concept: Women and Child Development ministry issued an order allowing the States to reopen anganwadis outside containment zones with immediate effect. Anganwadi: Anganwadi is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the States / UTs which […]
Subject: Governance Context: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) wants to expedite the environment appraisal of industrial projects. Concept: The recommendations include ensuring that EAC meetings are held at least once in 15 days. All proposals that were placed for approval 10 days before a meeting ought to be considered (It is 15 days […]
Subject: Science and technology Context: China is preparing to launch an unmanned spacecraft to bring back lunar rocks, the first attempt by any nation to retrieve samples from the moon in four decades. Concept: The Chang’e-5 probe, named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, aims to shovel up lunar rocks and soil to help scientists […]
Subject: Government Schemes Context: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday published on its website the list of beneficiaries under the Roshni Act. Concept: The Roshni Act envisaged the transfer of ownership rights of state land to its occupants, subject to the payment of a cost, as determined by the government. It set 1990 as […]
General Studies-II Judicial Reforms: More than 40 mn cases are pending in India in various courts. According to National Judicial Data Grid more than 80,000 cases are more than 30 years old in district courts. General Studies-III MSP NSS survey and NITI Aayog study showcase that MSP awareness remains low. The regime favors […]
General Studies-II Food Security If a person in New York has to pay $1.2 for a plate of food, the same plate will cost $7 in India and $15 in Pakistan. The same plate would cost $300 in Sudan. Women and Food Security Women comprise an average of 43 per cent of the […]