What is a waterspout, which may have sunk the luxury yacht off Sicily? Sub: Geo Sec: Climatology Context: A yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, Italy after being hit by a Waterspout. Waterspout: A waterspout is a large column of air and mist rotating over a water body. It typically lasts for […]
Can blood tests for cancer save more lives? Sub : Sci Sec: Health Context: A multi-cancer early detection test can identify circulating tumour DNA or circulating tumour cells at an early stage, allowing for more effective treatment. Cancer in India: Cancer is responsible for 18% of deaths from noncommunicable diseases, making it the […]
What must NASA decide to bring Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore home? Sub: Sci Sec: Space sector The situation of American astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams being stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft highlights significant challenges in space exploration and the […]
Vaccine-Derived Polio in Meghalaya Sub: Sci Sec: Health Context: A recent case of polio in a two-year-old child from Tikrikilla, Meghalaya has garnered significant attention. Announced on August 20, 2024, by a senior official from the Union Health Ministry, this case is notable as it represents a vaccine-derived form of polio rather than […]
JUICE mission Sub: Sci Sec: Space sector The JUICE mission’s primary aim is to explore Jupiter and its major moons, which are thought to have subsurface oceans beneath their icy crusts. These moons—Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa—are of immense interest because they could harbor conditions suitable for life. By studying these celestial bodies, JUICE […]
Jan Poshan Kendras Sub: Schemes Sec: Welfare In a significant move towards enhancing the efficacy and reach of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, the Union Government has launched a pilot project to convert 60 Fair Price Shops (FPS) into “Jan Poshan Kendras” (Public Nutrition Centres). This initiative aims to address multiple […]
Inflation Targeting in India: Risks of Abandoning the Current Regime Sub: Eco Sec: Monetary Policy Effectiveness of Current Inflation Targeting: The RBI’s inflation targeting regime has been effective in managing inflation. Abandoning this regime in favor of a more discretionary approach could be risky and counterproductive. Appropriateness of the Current Framework: The existing […]
Rising Deposit Costs and Their Impact on Lenders’ Net Interest Margins Sub: Eco Sec: Monetary Policy Narrowing Net Interest Margins (NIM): Rising deposit costs amid the intense competition for deposits have caused a narrowing in banks’ Net Interest Margins (NIM) during the June quarter. The overall NIM for banks narrowed by 0.13% to […]
Hayflick limit: Why immortality remains out of humans’ reach Subject: Science Section: Health Context: Biomedical researcher Leonard Hayflick, known for his discovery of the Hayflick limit, passed away on August 1 at the age of 98. The Hayflick Limit: Hayflick’s work fundamentally altered the understanding of aging by demonstrating that normal somatic cells […]
On the ethanol blending programme Sub: Schemes Sec: Env Progress Towards Ethanol Blending Targets: India aims to blend 20% ethanol with petrol by 2025-26 and is progressing well toward this goal. Current blending rates have increased to 13% to 15% from about 8% in 2021. Ethanol production capacity has risen significantly, with total […]