भारत में मर्डर रेट में आई गिरावटः UN
भारत में 2015 तक छह सालों की अवधि में हुई हत्याओं की कुल दर में 10 फीसदी की कमी दर्ज की गई है लेकिन उत्तर भारत के कुछ राज्यों में इसमें पर्याप्त वृद्धि देखी गई। संयुक्त राष्ट्र की एक रिपोर्ट में यह जानकारी दी गई है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र मादक पदार्थ एवं अपराध विभाग (यूएनओडीसी) ने 'हत्याओं पर वैश्विक अध्ययन 2019' नामक शीर्षक से जारी रिपोर्ट में यह जानकारी दी है।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20846-un-12
#UN #India #UNODC #NationalCrimeRecordsBureau #Witchcraft #mortality

भारत-आसियान त्रिगुट व्‍यापार मंत्रियों की बैठक आयोजित
भारत-आसियान त्रिगुट व्‍यापार मंत्रियों की बैठक नई दिल्‍ली में आयोजित की गई जिसका उद्देश्‍य वर्तमान में जारी क्षेत्रीय व्‍यापक आर्थिक साझेदारी (आरसीईपी) पर अनौपचारिक सलाह-मशविरा करना था। इस बैठक में केन्‍द्रीय वाणिज्‍य एवं उद्योग और रेल मंत्री श्री पीयूष गोयल, थाईलैंड की कार्यवाहक वाणिज्‍य मंत्री सुश्री चटिमा बुन्‍यप्रफासारा, इंडोनेशिया के व्‍यापार मंत्री एनगैरतियास्‍तो लुकिता, आसियान के महासचि‍व श्री लिम जॉक होई और आरसीईपी के टीएनसी अध्‍यक्ष श्री ईमान पैमबैग्‍यो ने भाग लिया।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20845-2019-07-11-05-31-18
#ASEAN #India #RCEP #PiyushGoyal #RCCE #China #FTA

क्रॉनिक ऑब्सट्रक्टिव पल्मोनरी डिजीज
वायु प्रदूषण के खतरों के प्रति आगाह करते हुए एक अध्ययन में यह बताया गया है कि घर और दफ्तरों से बाहर प्रदूषित हवा (आउटडोर पल्यूशन) के संपर्क में आने से फेफड़ों की कार्यक्षमता में तो कमी आती ही है। साथ ही क्रॉनिक ऑब्सट्रक्टिव पल्मोनरी डिजीज (सीओपीडी) विकसित होने का खतरा बढ़ जाता है।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20844-2019-07-11-05-30-57
#COPD #airpollution #GBD #GlobalBurden #NO2 #Britain #BMI

UN report on sustainable development
Hunger is growing and the world is not on track to end extreme poverty by 2030 and meet other U.N. goals, mainly because progress is being undermined by the impact of climate change and increasing inequality, a U.N. report said. The report on progress toward achieving the 17 U.N. goals notes achievements in some areas, including a 49% fall in child mortality between 2000 and 2017 as well as electricity now reaching nearly 90% of the world’s population.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20850-un-report-on-sustainable-development
#UN #sustainable #shockingly #workforce #LiuZhenmin #development

UN conference on combating desertification
India will host a UN conference on combating desertification in September. At present, 23% of the world’s geographical area is affected by degradation while India faces this problem in nearly 30% of its land due to multiple reasons including deforestation.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20849-un-conference-on-combating-desertification
#UNCCD #UN #India #IUCN #LDN #PrakashJavadekar #COP14 #desertification

US and Iran to clash at UN nuclear watchdog
The United States will use an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s board on 10 July 2019 to raise pressure on Iran over breaches of its nuclear deal, but diplomats expect no concrete action as parties to the deal considers their next move.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20848-us-and-iran-to-clash-at-un-nuclear-watchdog
#US #nuclear #Iran #IAEA #Britain #UnitedStates #clash

State of the Education Report
A UNESCO delegation led by Eric Falt, Director, UNESCO, has called on M. Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India and presented ‘State of the Education Report’ for the year 2019 on ‘Children with Disabilities’ in India.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20847-state-of-the-education-report
#Education #UNESCO #India #RPWD #UnitedNations #MVenkaiahNaidu

Watch: KSG DYK - AMRUT Mission comes under which of the following ministry? #SHORTS #AMRUT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHCkcBf43ro

Watch: KSG DYK - The White Revolution in India was the brainchild of? #SHORTS #Whiterevolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7mPLWCRBJM

Watch: NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act #RBIAct #prelims2022 #development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aPxLYKSbs

Watch: All you need to know about Maternal Mortality Ratio of India declines by 10 points #MMR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mka3OZ7wGzs

Watch: NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act #RBIAct #prelims2022 #development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aPxLYKSbs&list=PLCUwtp5IghZlGtWhDAkuXVFs8MLdVey75&index=58
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Watch: All you need to know about Maternal Mortality Ratio of India declines by 10 points #MMR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mka3OZ7wGzs&list=PLCUwtp5IghZlGtWhDAkuXVFs8MLdVey75&index=60
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Today's Headlines - 22 July 2023
India, Sri Lanka adopt vision document
GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

India and Sri Lanka adopted an ambitious vision document to significantly expand economic partnership after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In his statement, the PM, referring to the economic difficulties in Sri Lanka last year, said India stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the people of the island nation during the crisis as a close friend.

More about the document

An agreement for launch of the UPI payment system in Sri Lanka will result in fintech connectivity between the two sides.
The security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are intertwined and it is necessary to work together keeping in mind each other's security interests and sensitivities. A vision document for economic partnership has been adopted.
The vision is to accelerate mutual cooperation in areas of tourism, power, trade, higher education, skill development and connectivity.
The vision is to strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity between the people of both the countries.
It was decided that talks will start soon on an agreement on economic and technological cooperation.
A feasibility study will be conducted on the India-Sri Lanka petroleum pipeline.
On the fishermen issue, the prime minister said it should be handled under a humanitarian approach.

#upsc #news #india #srilanka #document #ambitious #economic #launch #agreement #UPI #payment #development #cooperation #tourism #technological #cooperation #feasibility #study #petroleum #pipeline

Today's Headlines - 01 August 2023
Lok Sabha passes MMDR Amendment bill
GS Paper - 2 (Polity)

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was taken up for consideration and passed by the Lok Sabha. This bill proposes to empower the Central government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for 26 critical minerals in the country.

More about the Amendment

This amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, “would facilitate, encourage and incentivise private sector participation in all spheres of mineral exploration for critical and deep-seated minerals”. Under the existing framework, state governments auction mining blocks.
Even in case of conduct of auction by the central government, the mineral concession shall be granted to the selected bidders by the state government only and the auction premium and other statutory payments shall accrue to the state government.
According to the statement of objects and reasons for the bill, it would help hasten the pace of auction and early production of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite that are crucial for electric vehicles and batteries.
Nickel, platinum, and tin-bearing minerals are also among the 26 that are proposed to be brought under the ambit of the central government.
This would be the Fifth Amendment to the MMDR Act since 2014. Earlier changes included mandating e-auction for mineral resources, and allowing extension of mining leases which were expiring.

#upsc #news #loksabha #MMDR #amendnent #bill #polity #mines #minerals #development #central #goverment #critical #goverments #statutory #exploration #lithium #cobalt #grapite #nickel #platinum #resources #leases #private #sector

Today's Headlines - 07 August 2023
Offshore mining and mineral auctions
GS Paper - 2 (Polity)

In a significant step toward exploiting India's offshore resources, the Council of States passed the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill (OAMDR), 2023. The Bill represents a transformative change for the offshore mining sector, which has remained largely inactive since the enactment of the OAMDR Act in 2002.

More about the Bill

It aims to increase transparency in the allocation of minerals found in the country's offshore basins, permitting the granting of production leases exclusively through auctions and reserving some allocations for government entities and public sector units (PSUs).
The passage of the Bill marks a historic milestone, unlocking India's vast mineral-rich offshore areas.
This move promises strategic benefits, strengthening the nation's territorial waters, which have been frequently threatened by neighboring countries.
The extraction of minerals from these areas is expected to bolster India's strategic position further.

Auctions as primary means

The Bill stipulates a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals. Under this new legislation, the government plans to introduce auctions as the primary means to award production leases for offshore minerals.
The amendment enables the granting of production leases to the private sector solely through competitive bidding auctions.
Under the composite licensing system, explorers will also have the right to develop and mine minerals under a single license.
The Bill introduces a four-year timeline for the start of production and dispatch following the execution of a composite license or production lease.
It also establishes a two-year timeline (extendable by one year) for the resumption of production and dispatch after a discontinuation.

#upsc #news #headline #offshore #mineral #polity #resources #development #regulation #OAMDR #bill #PSU #india #strategic #water #nations #territorial #award #production #lease #legislation #singlelicense #compositelicensing #historic #milestone #amendment

Today's Headlines - 12 August 2023
‘Sponge cities’ not stopped the floods
GS Paper - 1 (Geography)

China has been hit by devastating floods, inundating cities and causing deaths and infrastructural damage, as well as raising questions about the effectiveness of its 2015 “sponge city” initiative aimed at reducing urban flood risks. The initiative was launched to boost flood resilience in major cities and make better use of rainwater through architectural, engineering and infrastructural tweaks.

Why was the initiative launched?

China has long sought to improve the way it handles extreme weather, and make highly populated cities less vulnerable to flooding and drought.
The “sponge city” initiative was designed to make greater use of lower-impact “nature-based solutions” to better distribute water and improve drainage and storage.
Those solutions included the use of permeable asphalt, the construction of new canals and ponds and also the restoration of wetlands, which would not only ease waterlogging, but also improve the urban environment.
Breakneck urbanisation has encased vast stretches of land in impermeable concrete, often along banks of major rivers that traditionally served as flood plains. With wetlands paved over and nowhere for surplus water to settle, waterlogging and flooding was commonplace.

What has been done so far?

Studies show that many of the local pilot initiatives launched so far have had a positive effect, with low-impact projects like green roofs and rain gardens reducing run-offs.
But implementation has so far been patchy. A total of 30 pilot sponge cities were selected in 2015 and 2016.
By last year, only 64 of China’s 654 cities had produced legislation to implement sponge city guidelines, researchers said in January.
The researchers said the government had so far paid “minimum attention” to sponge city construction, and called for national legislation to be drawn up as soon as possible.

What are the limitations of sponge cities?

Even if sponge city measures had been implemented in full, they would have been unable to prevent this year’s disasters.
Zhengzhou in Henan province was one of the most enthusiastic pioneers of sponge city construction, allocating nearly 60 billion yuan to the programme from 2016 to 2021. But it was unable to deal with its heaviest rainfall in history in 2021.
Experts believe sponge city infrastructure can only handle no more than 200 millimetres (7.9 inches) of rain per day.
At the height of the rainstorms that lashed Beijing at the end of July, rainfall at one station reached 745 millimetres over three and a half days. In July 2021, Zhengzhou saw rainfall in excess of 200 mm in just one hour.
Authorities are also playing catch-up to climate change. This year’s heavy rain hit cities in the normally arid north, where sponge city development is less advanced.

#upsc #news #headline #sponge #floods #geography #china #weather #launched #damage #city #rainwater #wetlands #urbanisation #restoration #canals #ponds #limitations #legislation #disasters #zhengzhou #henan #development #climatechange #rainstorms #rainfall

Today's Headlines - 17 August 2023
'PM-eBus Sewa' approved
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister approved the Rs 57,613 crore PM-eBus Sewa initiatives to augment the use of electric buses in 169 cities. The scheme will augment city bus operations, under which priority will be given to cities having no organised bus service.

More about the Initiatives

These include all the capital cities of Union Territories (UTs), north eastern and hill states. The e-buses will be provided under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for 10 years.
The scheme will cover cities of 3 lakh and above population and priority will be given to cities not having organised bus services.
Ten thousand e-buses will be deployed on public-private partnership (PPP) model in 169 cities.
Infrastructure will be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
The Scheme has two segments

Segment A – Augmenting the City bus services (169 cities)

The approved bus scheme will augment city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Associated Infrastructure will provide support for Development/ up-gradation of depot infrastructure; and Creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure (substation, etc.) for e-buses.
Segment B– Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): (181 cities)

The scheme envisages green initiatives like bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, Charging infrastructure, etc.
Support for Operation: Under the scheme, States/Cities shall be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators.
The Central Government will support these bus operations by providing subsidies to the extent specified in the proposed scheme.
Boost to E-Mobility:

The scheme will promote e-mobility and provide full support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure.
Cities will also be supported for development of charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
The support to bus priority infrastructure shall not only accelerate the proliferation of state-of-the-art, energy efficient electric buses but also foster the innovation in the e-mobility sector as well as development of resilient supply chain for electric vehicles.
This scheme shall also bring in economies of scale for procurement of electric buses through aggregation for e-buses.
Adoption to Electric mobility will reduce noise and air pollution and curb carbon emission.
Modal shift due to increased share of bus-based public transportation will lead to GHG reduction.

#upsc #news #headline #PM #ebus #sewa #infrastructure #cabinet #electric #cities #operations #service #unionterritories #partnership #population #mobility #scheme #segments #public #private #depot #infrastructure #development #NCMC #collection #system #airpollution #carbonemission #transportation #GHG #adoption #procurement

The 640-page NCF, an update on the draft released in April, was developed by a 13-member steering committee led by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan.

#upsc #news #headline #national #curriculim #NCF #education #indian #school #vision #national #policy #interdisciplinarity #proposals #preparatory #secondary #grades #middlestage #nativetoindia #mathematics #arteducation #physical #enviromental #subjects #period #communication #writingskills #local #global #twolanguages #mandatory #history #journalism #semestersystem #bank #comprehensive #annualsystem #NCERT #development #academicsession #NEP #NCF #kKasturirangan #ISRO #commerce #science #humanities #english #sanskrit

Today's Headlines - 10 September 2023
Scientists grew whole model of human embryo
GS Paper - 3 (Biotechnology)

Scientists have successfully grown a “human embryo” in the lab without using an egg or sperm. They used a mix of stem cells — early cells that have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells — that were able to spontaneously assemble into an embryo-like structure, mimicking molecular characteristics of an early embryo.

How was the embryo model created?

The scientists have called it one of the most complete models of a 14-day-old human embryo.
Several teams have been working on developing these human embryo-like models — around six such models have been published this year itself.
None of them fully replicate the processes that happen during the early stages of embryo development, but all of them add to their understanding.
The researchers from Israel used a mix of stem cells and chemicals, a small portion of which was able to spontaneously assemble to form different types of cells that form the foetus, those that provide nutrients to the foetus, cells that lay out the plan for development of the body, and cells that create structures like placenta and umbilical cord to support the foetus.
One of the problems that the team faced, however, was that only 1% of this mixture actually assembled spontaneously, making the process not very efficient.
Why are embryo models and research important?

There is no way for scientists to ethically research the early stages of development of an embryo, as it is difficult to study it after it implants in the uterus. Scientists currently study these initial changes in various lab models or donated embryos.
This research is crucial because the initial days of embryo development is when the majority of miscarriages and birth defects occur.
Studying the initial stages, scientists say, may help understand genetic and inherited diseases better.
The understanding of why some embryos develop normally, retain the proper genetic code, and implant properly in the womb while others do not, may also help in improving success rates of in vitro fertilisation.
Can lab-grown embryos be used to get pregnant?

No. These models are meant to just study the early stages of development of a foetus.
It is generally accepted — and legally supported in most countries — that these embryo models will be destroyed after studying the first 14 days. Attempts to implant are not allowed.
Also, creating a lab-based model that mimics the properties of early embryos is still far from an actual embryo that can implant to the lining of the womb.

#upsc #headline #news #scientists #grew #whole #model #human #embryo #biotechnology #egg #sperm #stem #cells #structure #embryo #mimicking #spontaneously #created #development #israel #chemicals #cells #fortus #placenta #umbilical #cord #body #efficient #research #birth #fertilisation #getpregant #foetus #implant #womb