CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
According to the Space.com, 3200 Phaethon—an Apollo asteroid—came the closest to Earth it has ever been on December 16. On that date, the Arecibo Observatory Planetary Radar—the world’s second largest single dish radio telescope captured high-quality images of the asteroid, which won’t be in such close proximity to Earth until the year 2093. The new radar images show off the asteroid’s immense size, shape, as well a, a notable dark feature near Read More …
Researchers from University of Michigan in the US have developed a new type of neural network chip that can dramatically improve the efficiency of teaching machines to think like humans. -The network, called a reservoir computing system, could predict words before they are said during conversation, and help predict future outcomes based on the present. -Reservoir computing systems, which improve on a typical neural network’s capacity and reduce the required Read More …
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the electronic-Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS), on December 25 in Delhi. -It was launched during the observance of Good Governance Day (December 25) by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The Minister launched the 25 applications of Read More …
-The country’s first air-conditioned (AC) suburban (local) train made its maiden journey on December 25 from Borivili to Churchgate in Mumbai. It was inaugurated by state education minister Vinod Tawde. -Initially, the Mumbai AC local will run between Borivali and Churchgate and will be extended up to Virar. -The Mumbai AC local is built in Chennai at a cost of Rs 54 crore, earlier it was meant to be run Read More …
According to the data released by I-T department, just over 2 crore Indians, or 1.7 per cent of the total population, paid income tax in the assessment year (AY) 2015-16. -The number of income-tax return filers increased to 4.07 crore in assessment year 2015-16 (FY 2014-2015) from 3.65 crore in the previous year but only 2.06 crore actually paid tax as the others claimed income below taxable limits. -In the Read More …
Question: To tackle urban air pollution, apart from technological solutions, we also need to re-imagine and rethink our use of urban space. Describe. What are the technological solutions for increasing urban air pollution? Pollution embarrassment: On Day 2 of the final Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Delhi ( December 3, 2017) , bowlers Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal left the Kotla cricket ground early in the game complaining Read More …
Question: Government intent in banning condom advertisements during prime time television, might be laudable, the manner in which it has been drafted is likely to have a drastic and chilling effect.’ Comment and elaborate the intentions behind the government action. Government Action: On December 11, 2017 the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to television channels banning all “advertisements of condoms which… could be indecent/inappropriate for viewing by Read More …
Question 1: Mizoram and Jharkhand, both are tribal states, yet Mizoram is among the top five literate states while Jharkhand, is among the bottom five. Why? Question 2: ‘To improve tribal learning outcomes, teachers must integrate traditional wisdom with educational methods’. Elucidate and identify the causes of low literacy level in tribal community in India. John Dewey, an american philosopher, said any education, in its forms and methods, is an Read More …
Recently, in a social media interaction Centre for Science and Environment’s director-general Sunita Narain said that if one had to pick the ‘2017 person of the year’, it would be the weather. Perhaps She is right. Why: From farmers’ distress to floods, drought, and air pollution, weather related events dominated this year’s news cycle. With climate change and rapid urbanisation becoming regular features in our lives, these weather-related crises could Read More …
Jai Ram Thakur (BJP), the 52-year-old, five-time MLA from the Siraj constituency in Mandi district will be the sixth (as a person sixth, in number 13th) Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. -Mr. Thakur was first elected to the Vidhan Sabha in 1998 during the first Prem Kumar Dhumal government from the Chahiot constituency, which was renamed as Siraj after delimitation. -He will be the first Chief Minister from Mandi district, Read More …
The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) will set up 100 gurukulas across the country. -Each gurukulas will be headed by the gurus which will be selected from retired professors or historians, and be assisted by scholars or research officers. Their mandate would be to edit and translate manuscripts and finally publish four books each year. -To be initially set up in 15 institutions to conduct research on manuscripts in various Read More …
The parliamentary panel on empowerment of women submitted its report ‘Women in Detention & Access to Justice’ in Lok Sabha on December 23. As per the report, over 90% of custodial rapes in the country have been reported in Uttar Pradesh. -Uttar pradesh reported 95 cases of custodial rape, followed by two from Uttarakhand and one each from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. -However, the number of cases declined dramatically Read More …
According to the latest RBI data released on December 24, the gross non-performing assets (NPA) of public sector and private sector banks as on September 30, 2017 were Rs 7,33,974 crore, Rs 1,02,808 crore, respectively -Among the major public sector banks, State Bank of India (SBI) had the highest amount of NPAs at over Rs 1.86 lakh crore followed by Punjab National Bank (Rs 57,630 crore), Bank of India (Rs Read More …
World’s largest amphibious aircraft in production, China’s indigenous AG600, , took to the skies on 24 December for its maiden flight from the southern city of Zhuhai -This aircraft is codenamed Kunlong. With a wingspan of 38.8 metres (127ft) and powered by four turboprop engines, the aircraft is capable of carrying 50 people and can stay airborne for 12 hours. -According to Chinese state media, the amphibious aircraft has military applications Read More …
A team of scientists at Advanced Science Research Centre at the City University of New York has developed wonder material that is so hard that it can stop speeding bulet and as flexible as tinfoil . The scientists have named this very very thin material as diamene. According to scientists on impact from any fast-moving or heavy object, this graphene material becomes harder than diamond. That means when a bullet touches Read More …
