For Prelims: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs), Forever chemicals, Incineration, Supercritical Water Oxidation, Plasma Reactors

For Mains: Impacts of Environment Pollutants on Human body

According to a recent study, scientists have found that rainwater from many places across the globe is contaminated with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs).

Q. Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? (2013)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 3 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

For Prelims: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), One Belt One Road (OBOR)

For Mains: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its implications on India

Recently, China gave nod to Pakistan's decision to scrap the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority amid reports of growing rift between the all-weather friends over the slow pace of the USD 60 billion project.

Q. Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (2016)

(a) African Union (b) Brazil (c) European Union (d) China

Q. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. (2018)

Q. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for the development of an economic corridor. What threat does this pose for India’s security? Critically examine. (2014)

Q. “China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia”. In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (2017)

For Prelims: Facial Recognition Technology, Right to Information, Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, Biometric Technology, Artificial Intelligence

For Mains: Facial Recognition Technology, Uses of FRT, Challenges in FRT

Right to Information (RTI) responses received by the Internet Freedom Foundation, a New-Delhi based digital rights organisation, reveals that the Delhi Police treats matches of above 80% similarity generated by its facial recognition technology (FRT) system as positive results.

Q. The identity platform ‘Aadhaar’ provides open “Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)”. What does it imply? (2018)

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q. In addition to fingerprint scanning, which of the following can be used in the biometric identification of a person? (2014)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only  (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q. E-governance is not only about utilization of the power of new technology, but also much about critical importance of the ‘use value’ of information. Explain. (2018)

Q. Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth. (2014)

For Prelims: National Hydrogen Mission, Green Hydrogen, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Climate Change Goals, Green Hydrogen/Green Ammonia Policy, FAME India, EV30@30 campaign, Ethanol Blending

For Mains: Hydrogen fuel cell - India’s innovations, National Hydrogen Energy Mission, Climate Change and Green Fuel Transition

Recently, the Union Minister of State of Science & Technology launched India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) Bus.

Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Q. With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements: (2015)

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Recently, the Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have shown how a transcriptional regulator can boost grain yields and shorten the growth duration of rice.

Q. Consider the following crops: (2013)

Which of these are Kharif crops?

(a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4

Recently, the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released figures for the Gross State Domestic Products.

Q. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements: (2015)

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

The government has recently awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana.

Q. Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status? (2015)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q. India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to (2018)

(a) ILO (b) IMF (c) UNCTAD (d) WTO

Recently, a study has noted that a common weed named “Portulaca oleracea”, commonly known as purslane, offers important clues about creating drought-tolerant crops in a world beset by climate change.

Recently, Memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Space Applications Centre (ISRO) and the Indian Navy on data sharing and cooperation on Satellite-based Naval Applications in Oceanology and Meteorology.

Q. Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: (2011)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Recently, Europe was suffering from the worst drought, therefore rivers have dried up and there is the emergence of Hunger Stones.

Editorial on Rainbow of Hope: LGBTQIA+

One Nation One Fertiliser - Article

Wind Projects in India - Article

One Year of Taliban 2.0 - Article

ISRO: Tracing The Footsteps — Blog

ANPR: Government’s New Model for Toll Collection on Highways - IN FOCUS | Drishti IAS Engish – Watch On YouTube

Editorial on Universal Basic Income

Bhitarkanika National Park - Article