Category: Uncategorized
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High Net-Worth Individuals
Context: According to The Capgemini Research Institute’s World Wealth Report 2024, the count of high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in India surged by 12.2% in 2023 compared to the previous year, elevating the total HNWI population to 3.589 million. Key Finding of the Report: Global HNWI wealth increased by 4.7% in 2023, reaching $86.8 trillion.…
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High-Speed Railways in India
Context: The Ministry of Railways has directed the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai to produce two state-of-the-art trains designed to achieve speeds of up to 250 km per hour. More on News: Directive issued by the Railway Board, as part of the 2024-25 production programme. High-speed trains with a steel body, maximum speed…
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ESO’s ANDES Project
Context: Recently the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has signed an agreement for the design and construction of the ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph. More on News The advanced instrument will be installed on ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The University of Cambridge is part of the ANDES project, which includes scientists…
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Zircon Crystals
Context: A Nature Geoscience recent study of ancient zircon crystals suggests Earth had life-supporting conditions and early water-land interaction much earlier than previously believed, challenging theories of a water-covered early Earth. Key Highlights of the Study: Early Conditions for Life: A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that Earth may have had conditions for…
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Places in News: Cuba
Context: India is providing humanitarian aid to Cuba through a shipment of approximately 90 tonnes of nine different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) made in India. More on news: Cuban drug manufacturers will use these APIs to produce essential antibiotics in various forms, including tablets, capsules, syrups, and injections, to treat chronic communicable diseases. The…
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Places in News: Abu Musa Island
Context: China reaffirmed its support for the United Arab Emirates in a rare public disagreement with Iran over disputed Gulf islands, marking a rare clash between Beijing and Tehran. More on News China supports the UAE’s efforts to resolve the issue peacefully through bilateral negotiations in accordance with international law. Iran seized control of…
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Ethics in AI
Context: UNESCO South Asia Regional Office,in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted the National Stakeholder Workshop on Safe, Trusted and Ethical AI. More on news: The event followed the Government of India’s approval of the IndiaAI Mission with over Rs 10,000 crore allocated. Ensured AI deployment aligns…
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UNESCO State of the Ocean Report
Context: UNESCO’s State of the Ocean Report emphasizes significant knowledge gaps in research and data regarding the alarming rise in ocean temperatures. More on News: The UNESCO State of the Ocean Report offers insights on ocean-related scientific activities and analyses describing the current and future state of the ocean. As per the report, observations and…
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Special Category Status for States
Context: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu, after winning 16 Lok Sabha seats, has become crucial for the BJP’s 240-seat majority, likely leveraging support to secure Special Category State status for Andhra Pradesh. What is Special Category Status (SCS)? In 1969, the Fifth Finance Commission of India introduced Special Category Status (SCS) to…
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Places in News: Netherlands
context: Netherlands also known as Holland, is a charming country located in northwestern Europe. The region is famous for its windmills, vibrant tulip fields, picturesque canals, and liberal social policies. Geography Location: Western Europe, bordered by Belgium (south) and Germany (east), North Sea (north and west). Size: Larger than Maryland, smaller than West Virginia. Land…
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First Metal 3D Printing on International Space Station
Context: The ISS’s Columbus laboratory module recently hosted the first metal 3D printing event. More on News A single s-curve deposited in liquefied stainless steel represents a significant advancement in in-orbit manufacturing. The ESA technical officer confirmed that the commissioning of their Metal 3D Printer has been completed using an S-curve test line. The achievement…
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Paradiplomacy
Context: In coalition governments, the role of allies becomes crucial in shaping foreign diplomacy. More on News: Coalition governments often rely on the support of alliance partners to navigate the complexities of international relations at the subnational level. The recently concluded election has emphasised the importance of allies in the realm of paradiplomacy. …
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National Human Rights Commission
Context: NHRC appointed Vijaya Bharathi Sayani as its acting chairperson after former Supreme Court judge Arun Mishra completed his three-year term. More on news: The President, under Section 7(1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, authorised Vijaya Bharathi Sayani to act as the NHRC Chairperson. The NHRC chairperson post was vacant for…
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Senkaku Islands
Context: China’s Coast Guard vessel’s presence in the waters surrounding Japanese controlled Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, raises concerns about potential tensions between Japan and China. More on News: For the 158th consecutive day, Chinese ships were spotted near the Japanese controlled Senkaku Islands. The island is a disputed territory, with Japan,…
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Phenome India Project
Context: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) successfully concluded the first phase of its longitudinal health monitoring project, ‘Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase’ (PI-CHeCK). More on News: The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa hosted a special event, ‘Phenome India Unboxing 1.0’, to celebrate this achievement. About Phenome India…
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Preston Curve
Preston Curve It posits an empirical relationship between life expectancy and per capita income in a country. It suggests that as per capita income increases, so does life expectancy. The concept was first proposed by American sociologist Samuel H. Preston. Trends in the Preston Curve: Initial Growth: When a poor country experiences economic…
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Project Varsha
Context : Varsha India is developing a secret nuclear submarine base under Project Varsha. More on News: The most intriguing feature of the project is an underground complex to house a fleet of 12 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines(SSBNs). This base will cater to a wide range of navy operations and will reduce congestion on …
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Living Will
Context: Justice M S Sonak, of the Bombay High Court Goa Bench became the first person in Goa to register a “living will” – an advance medical directive for his family for when he cannot make his own decisions. About Living Will: “Living will” is a written statement that outlines a person’s wishes regarding…
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Disaster Databases Limitation
Context: Disaster databases have several limitations, including risk, time, accounting, and geographical biases, which raise questions about the accuracy of data and whether natural disasters are truly increasing. More on News: Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) noted that disaster events worldwide have increased from 100 events per year in the 1970s to around 400 per year…
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Termite Control Method.
Context: Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered a highly effective, nontoxic, and inexpensive way to kill western dry wood termites. More on News: The Journal of Economic Entomology explains a method using pinene. A pleasant-smelling chemical from forests, to attract western drywood termites to an insecticide-injected spot in wood. UCR entomologists discovered significant differences…