DPN Topics
America’s missile defence umbrella Subject: Science and Technology Context: Military and financial support from the West, particularly the United States, has been critical in Ukraine’s successful counter-offensive in the Russia-Ukraine war. Details: Months later, after Ukraine lost territories along the border region, including Mariupol, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, the U.S. decided to send medium-range […]
Scientists freeze Great Barrier Reef coral in a world-first trial Subject: Environment Context: Scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have successfully trialled a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae they say could eventually help rewild reefs threatened by climate change. Cryomesh: Cryomesh is a specially fabricated mesh used as a […]
Covid pill molnupiravir does not cut hospitalisation, the death rate in many vaccinated adults Subject: Science and Technology Context: Merck & Co Inc’s COVID antiviral molnupiravir speeds up recovery but does reduce the hospitalisation or death rate in higher-risk vaccinated adults, detailed data shows. Detail: The study, called PANORAMIC, compared the oral pill […]
Amid VHP row over song in school, recalling Muhammad Iqbal, also the poet of Saare Jahan Se Achcha Subject: History Context: Recitation of the prayer ‘Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua’ written by Muhammad Iqbal has once again triggered a controversy — this time in UP’s Bareilly district. After a complaint from a Vishwa […]
HDFC secures $400 mn IFC loan for financing ‘green’ affordable housing units Subject: International relations Context: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has extended a $400-million loan to mortgage major HDFC for financing green affordable housing units, as part of their efforts towards supporting climate goals. Details: It will help close the urban housing […]
What is China’s One Country Two Systems policy? Subject: International relations Context: Protests in Hong Kong, now in its 13th consecutive week, have brought a decades-old policy of the People’s Republic of China back into focus — One Country Two Systems. One Country Two Systems policy means that the Hong Kong and Macau […]
Centrally Protected Monuments Subject: History Context: Uttar Pradesh has largest number of Centrally Protected Monuments encroached upon; Tamil Nadu is a close second. Details: While 75 protected monument sites have been trespassed in Uttar Pradesh, the corresponding number for Tamil Nadu is 74. Karnataka and Maharashtra are third and fourth with 48 and […]
Cuetlaxochitl: The story of America’s Christmas Eve shrub has lessons for free trade, and patents Subject: Environment Context: Poinsettia can be an example of intellectual property rights or biopiracy; it depends on whose interests one wants to nourish and protect: the breeder’s or the cultivator’ Poinsettia: The shrub, known for its showy red […]
GSAT communication satellite costing Rs 508 crore unused for half its lifetime: CAG report Subject: Science and Technology Context: A lack of coordination between the Department of Space (DoS) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) led to the underutilisation of the GSAT-6 satellite, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of […]
All is well for moa makers this winter Subject : History It is a seasonal Bengali sweetmeat delicacy prepared from date palm jaggery and Kanakchur khoi. This variety of Moa originated in Jaynagar of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is now a popular sweet, being produced in Kolkata and elsewhere, sometimes with cheaper ingredients and chemical flavours. Jaynagarer Moa was given a Geographical […]