https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cm544DQCVM The Union Public Service Commission announced the revised annual examination dates for UPSC Civil Services and other examinations conducted by the commission. UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination 2020 will now be conducted on October 4 and UPSC Mains have now been postponed till January 8, 2021. The exams were deferred due to nationwide lockdown imposed … Continue reading Preparing for UPSC 2020-21
Logistics Sector
Overview: The Indian logistics sector is currently valued at $160 Bn, the sector is expected to become worth $215 Bn in the next two years. India’s rank has gone up from 54 in 2014 to 44 in 2018 in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), in terms of overall logistics performance. The Indian logistics … Continue reading Logistics Sector
E-Courts
Quick Pointers: Challenges: Establishing hardware, software and IT systems for courts; Establishing appropriate e-filing systems and procedures; Creating skill training and recognition for paralegals. Lack of awareness among people. Way Forward: Drawing a blueprint - Involvement of judges, technologists, court administrators, skill developers and system analysts to draw up a blueprint for institutionalising online access … Continue reading E-Courts
Herd Immunity
Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune. Watch this video for a discussion and analysis of the concept … Continue reading Herd Immunity
Human Lives Over Profits
2% of the global population are homeless and 20% lack adequate housing. Informal sector employs up to 60% of the working population globally and 90% in India. 35% of the people across the globe lack access to sanitation. According to UNICEF, even prior to COVID-19, diseases directly linked to lack of safe water killed 1,400 … Continue reading Human Lives Over Profits
Dr. Ambedkar signs Poona Pact in 1932
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foYH3er_ZIw This is a short clip from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar movie. Poona Pact, (Sept. 24, 1932), agreement between Hindu leaders in India granting new rights to untouchables (low-caste Hindu groups). The pact, signed at Poona (now Pune, Maharashtra), resulted from the communal award of Aug. 4, 1932, made by the British government on the failure … Continue reading Dr. Ambedkar signs Poona Pact in 1932
Impact of Poona Pact
In September 1932, B.R. Ambedkar negotiated the Poona Pact with Mahatma Gandhi. The background to the Poona Pact was the Communal Award of August 1932, which, among other things, reserved 71 seats in the central legislature for the depressed classes. Mahatma Gandhi was opposed to the Communal Award. In a settlement negotiated with Gandhi, Ambedkar … Continue reading Impact of Poona Pact
Genome Clade A3i
Indian scientists have identified a unique trait in the genetic make-up in the novel coronavirus circulating in India, which is different from the virus that is prevalent in other parts of the world. Watch this episode for a discussion and analysis on this dominant Covid Genome in Indian Samples - Clade A3i. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gv0Vg4pWq0
Transformation of Aspirational Districts
The Transformation of Aspirational Districts Program aims to expeditiously transform 117 districts that were identified from across 28 states, in a transparent manner. It aims to quickly and effectively transform some of the most underdeveloped districts of the country. The broad contours of the programme are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, … Continue reading Transformation of Aspirational Districts
Strategic Oil Reserves & Energy Security
India, the world’s third largest crude oil importer has an existing storage capacity of 5.3 million tonnes at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Paadoor, built at an investment of $600 million in the first phase. This is operational and can support 9.5 days of net imports. In addition, the government has approved the construction of an additional … Continue reading Strategic Oil Reserves & Energy Security
POINT IAS 