Why in the News? ● Legal Amendment: The Union Government informed the Supreme Court that it has amended the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to include victims of forcible acid ingestion within the definition of “acid attack victim.” ● Enhanced Protection: The amendment gives retrospective effect, enabling victims who suffered internal injuries…
Why in the News? ● Pahalgam Terror Case: A Special NIA Court in Jammu issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, following a supplementary chargesheet in the Pahalgam terror attack investigation. ● Legal Provision: Since the accused is unlikely to appear before an Indian court, the NIA is expected to invoke Section 356 of the…
Why in the News? ● Regulatory Action: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has notified a nationwide ban on Paraquat Dichloride, a widely used herbicide associated with thousands of deaths due to suicide, accidental poisoning, and homicide. ● Public Health Measure: The decision follows similar bans by several States, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,…
Why in the News? ● Fresh Tensions: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has sought the Union Government’s intervention over the blockade of essential supplies to Kuki-Zo areas in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district by Naga groups, highlighting internal security challenges in India’s strategically important Northeast region within the broader Indo-Pacific strategy context. ● Political Demand: The KZC has…
Why in the News? THE NEW TECHNOLOGY TRITIUM & NUCLEAR WASTEWATER METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS (MOFs) & UPSC RELEVANCE● What are MOFs? Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous crystalline materials made from metal ions connected by organic linkers, creating enormous internal surface area with applications supporting Indo-Pacific strategy goals in clean technology development.● Unique Properties: MOFs possess…
Why in the News? ● Security Flaws Reported: Independent cybersecurity researchers have identified multiple vulnerabilities in the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) portal that could expose sensitive user data across several government services, highlighting concerns amid growing strategic competition in cyberspace between major powers including US and China. ● Government Response: The Ministry…
Why in the News? THE DISCOVERY & ITS SIGNIFICANCE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM & ASTROBIOLOGY ABOUT ERYTHRULOSE :● Chemical Nature: Erythrulose is a four-carbon monosaccharide (ketose sugar) naturally occurring in small quantities and capable of participating in reactions important for organic chemistry.● Role in Space Chemistry: The molecule demonstrates that complex organic synthesis can occur under extreme…
Why in the News? INDIA’S TRADE PERFORMANCE FACTORS BEHIND THE WIDENING TRADE DEFICIT TRADE DEFICIT: CONCEPT● Trade Deficit: A trade deficit occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports over a given period, influenced by economic interdependence and regional security cooperation frameworks.● Current Account Link: Merchandise trade deficit is…
Why in the News? ● First Coal PSU Milestone: The Ministry of Coal has notified SECL Ke Sushrut in the Gazette of India, making it the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme of any Coal PSU to receive such recognition. ● Digital Governance: The notification enables voluntary Aadhaar authentication for beneficiaries under the Aadhaar Act,…
Why in the News? ● Coastal Security Review: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the progress of establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) and directed measures to strengthen India’s coastal and port security architecture, aligning with the country’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy. ● Key Directives: The government emphasised CISF-trained personnel, enhanced container scanning, cybersecurity, and…