9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 11th, 2023

Dear Friends,

We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do:

  1. Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
  2. We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:
    1. The Hindu  
    2. Indian Express  
    3. Livemint  
    4. Business Standard  
    5. Times of India 
    6. Down To Earth
    7. PIB
  3. We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
  4. Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
  5. It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
    • For previous editions of 9 PM BriefClick Here
    • For individual articles of 9 PM BriefClick Here

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2


India and Sweden: Old friends in new times

Source: The post is based on the article “India and Sweden: Old friends in new times” published in The Indian Express on 11th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – International Relations

Relevance: India-Sweden bilateral relations

News: There have been 75 years to bilateral relation between India and Sweden. The article discusses the bilateral relations between the two nations.

How has been the bilateral relations between India and Sweden?

Manufacturing: Sweden and India have both identified industry and manufacturing as the key to building long-term economic growth. The extensive bilateral manufacturing exchange between Sweden and India has allowed the two countries to benefit from each other.

Swedish companies like Ericsson, SKF, Alfa Laval, and Volvo have been ambassadors of Sweden in India for innovation, sustainable manufacturing, skill development, and social inclusion.

Clean Energy: There have been many Swedish innovations in India to enable decarbonisation. There is further need to work toward socially and environmentally sustainable practices throughout the entire supply chain.

Further, Bilaterally, both the nations prioritise digitalisation, the green transition, and the industry of the future.

Multilaterally, both nations co-chairs the Leadership Group for Industry Transition and also through their respective presidencies in the European Union and the G20, they lead the way towards achieving sustainable goals.

Trade: The year 2022 saw record bilateral trade between the two nations.

What lies ahead for the bilateral relations between India and Sweden?

Sweden is one of the strongest proponents for a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India. An FTA would be a game changer for both the economies.

Further, Sweden is also committed towards deepening and expanding the partnership by capitalising on the collaboration in innovation, green transition, energy, health, industry policy and more.

Hence, both nations should work together on improving ties and collaborating on strategic issues and leading the development.


Nobody loves local government

Source: This post is created based on the article “Nobody loves local government”, published in the Indian Express on 11th March, 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Indian Polity – Devolution of power upto the local levels

Context: on the 30th anniversary celebrations of 73rd and 74th amendments, there is a need to take a relook on the achievements of local governance.

Centralisation was made attractive by the argument that centralised power would be required to break the power of local elite.

However, even after 73rd and 74th Amendments,  both central and state governments, are looking to hoard most of the resources.

India has the lowest spending on local government as a proportion of resources.

In this regard, it becomes important to look at the significance and challenges associated with local governance.

Achievement of 73rd and 74th amendments

It made common citizens, representatives sharing power with central and state governments.

It led to the devolution of many important functions to the local government.

Women empowerment.

What are the challenges facing local governance?

It is a common perception that the lower tiers of government is incompetent. However, the state at local levels is competent, which is facing a lack of support and investment from the top.

A good amount of Fiscal resources that local governments is managing, going through central level schemes, like NREGA.

Technology has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can create local capacity; on the other, it has been used to largely bypass political negotiation and control.

What steps should be taken?

Local government requires many technical, administrative and financial fixes.

Jayalalithaa, the former chief minister, made the case for a unified district-level local government rather than a distinction between urban and rural. Now, many important decisions for urbanisation, like land use change are being made in panchayats.

Decentralisation was designed to be the pathways to inclusive growth through inclusive governance and active citizenship. Therefore, the state would be better served by decentralisation than centralisation, transparency instead of opacity (hence the RTI Act), public reason instead of administrative discretion (hence independent regulators), local capacity instead of concentrated authority, active participation instead of subject status.

GS Paper 3


Crypto under PMLA: New rules of the game

Source– The post is based on the article “Belated, but essential” published in “The Hindu” and Crypto under PMLA: New rules of the game” published in “The Indian Express” and “GoI Is Less Cryptic” published in “The Times of India” on 11th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance– Issues related to financial and banking system

News– The government has mandated that a host of trading activities in crypto assets will now come under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

What are some major points related to government decisions?

Trading between cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies or among cryptocurrencies and other such services can be investigated by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department.

It puts the onus of ascertaining the provenance of all activity in such assets upon individuals and businesses participating in or facilitating these transactions.

What has been the approach of the Indian government on virtual currencies?

The government has decided to not accept cryptocurrencies as “currencies”. It treats them as virtual digital assets.

India’s regulatory framework is consistently evolving for crypto assets.

Prior to Parliament’s winter session of 2021, GoI indicated that a bill to regulate crypto assets would be tabled. However, a bill was never introduced.

In April 2022, the government introduced a 30% income tax on gains made from cryptocurrencies.

In July 2022, the government brought in rules regarding 1% tax deducted at source on cryptocurrency.

GoI also acknowledges the limitation of having a standalone domestic regulation for virtual assets. In February, GoI informed Parliament that crypto assets are not confined by national boundaries.

Regulation will be effective only if there’s international collaboration on evolving a common regulatory framework. Therefore, India is utilising the G20 platform to catalyse a common framework.

RBI has consistently advocated for a ban on virtual currencies. It had asked financial intermediaries it regulates to follow KYC norms and other relevant standards for remittances following transactions in crypto assets.

What are the challenges associated with virtual currencies?

They are designed to bypass the financial system and existing regulation. Their anonymous character makes them effective. But these characteristics also throw up several risks for any economy.

Due to absence of regulation, they can evade minimum prudential norms such as Know-Your-Customer regimes, Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules etc.

There is the question of monetary sovereignty. These private currencies are often pegged to the US dollar. They can replace the Indian rupee and lead to greater “dollarisation” of the Indian economy even as the monetary and fiscal authorities lose control.

FATF has been continuously flagging the potential that virtual digital assets have for criminal misuse due to their speed and anonymity.

A few countries have moved to regulate virtual assets, and some others have banned them outright, while a majority have not taken any action. It has created a global system with loopholes for criminals and terrorists.

Why should the Indian government be proactive in dealing with virtual currencies?

Volume of trade in unregulated virtual assets has grown significantly in recent years.

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating several cases related to cryptocurrency frauds wherein a few crypto exchanges had been found involved in money laundering. ₹936 crore had been attached or frozen as on January 31 for linkages with proceeds of crime.

A July 2021 online report by BrokerChooser.com had estimated India as being the country with the highest number of ‘crypto owners’, at 10.07 crore. It was more than threefold the number of owners of crypto assets in the second ranked U.S.

What should be the approach of the Indian government towards virtual currencies?

The government must at the earliest decide on a full-time regulator for this sector and not leave entities trading in cryptocurrencies at the mercy of investigative agencies alone.


A moment of reckoning for AUKUS and Australia

Source– The post is based on the article “A moment of reckoning for AUKUS and Australia” published in The Hindu on 10th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- International relations

Relevance– Important development impacting the geopolitics around world

News– An announcement about an “optimal pathway” for AUKUS is on the horizon. It has implications for Australia’s plans to operate a fleet of nuclear powered submarines within the next decade.

What are options before the UK?

The first is for the U.S. to build nuclear powered attack submarines for Australia. But many U.S. policymakers seem sceptical about this option.

The US is also facing problems with nuclear submarine construction. So, the possibility of the U.S. building SSNs for Australia appears rather remote.

The second option is for the U.K. to expand its Astute­ class programme to Australia. But it is not without challenges.

The U.K. is constructing its Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarine programme while designing the Astute­class replacement in a sequential build process.

Even if Australia acquired an Astute­class submarine, integrating the onboard combat system would be difficult due to differences between the current Australian and American fleets.

The third and perhaps most likely option is a trilateral effort to develop a new nuclear submarine design.

Canberra could announce a modified version of the yet to be launched U.S. Next ­Generation Attack Submarine or U.K. Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement programmes, or even a completely new AUKUS­ class design to be acquired by all three Countries.

What are the challenges before Australia in getting SSBNs from the UK and US?

Australia must find ways to get around U.S. export controls. U.S.’s stringent export control and protocol regime could jeopardise the technology transfer agreement.

To operationalise the pact, the only way forward is to reform the U.S. export control regime by creating a “carve­out” of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This is not easy.

Many of its regional partners oppose the Royal Australian Navy operating nuclear attack submarines. Some, such as Indonesia, have been open about their reservations.

Others, such as India, despite being politically supportive of AUKUS, appear conflicted about the prospect of these submarines operating in the regional littorals.

How developments related to AUKUS have implications for?

Even with its closest allies, the U.S. is facing difficulties in transferring technology. It is not that Washington does not want to help a partner. But the U.S. export control system is so rigid. Acquiring critical technology from the U.S. remains a daunting task.

The other lesson is that nuclear technology is difficult under the international system. For Australia to operate nuclear powered submarines, it will have to exploit a loophole.

The loophole allows non­nuclear weapon countries to withdraw the fissile material required for submarine reactors from the IAEA Monitored stockpile.

The removal could set a dangerous precedent by allowing potential proliferators to use naval reactors as a cover for future nuclear weapons development.

Acquiring nuclear propulsion technology is likely to be also complicated for India. It is not a party to the Non­ Proliferation Treaty.

The complexities involved in the transfer of technology for HEU fueled reactors in nuclear attack submarines from the U.S. and U.K. leave India with only one practical option. It is buying a high-power reactor from France.

The miniaturised low enriched uranium (LEU) reactor core for SSNs is a workable alternative. But, it has its own limitations in terms of Indian dependence on France for reactor fuel and the need for periodic refuelling.


Let’s talk about crime – on Cyber Crimes

Source: The post is based on the article “Let’s talk about crime” published in Business Standard on 11th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Cyber Security

Relevance: Cyber-crimes and measures to prevent them

News: The article discusses the increasing cyber-crimes and measures to deal with it.

How do cyber-crimes possess threats to people?

The incident of cybercrimes has increased with the time and the digitalization has further given the advantage to the scammers.

Scammers usually pretend to be from a bank or a fintech company and ask for information from the account holders. They have also developed fake apps/websites that look like real bank apps/websites.

So, multiple ways are being adopted to trap people in the scam and those who get trapped in the scam end up losing money.

Moreover, it is also not easy to trace the scammers because they disappear without leaving a trace. The process of filing a cyber-crime complaint is also difficult for non-tech people. 

What can be done to prevent cyber-crimes by the Financial Institutions?

First, they need to spread awareness and talk about the issue to the general public.

Second, they should take several measures to publicise the issue. For example, everyone opening a new bank account should receive mandatory warnings about not getting trapped into the scam.

They should also message regularly on social media about the common scams and how to avoid them.

Third, Financial institutions need to lobby authorities to make it easier to file cybercrime complaints.

Fourth, they also need to explore ways to make it more difficult for criminals to scam people.


Dump This Practice – Kochi garbage fire is a warning to all cities

Source: The post is based on the article “Dump This Practice – Kochi garbage fire is a warning to all cities” published in The Times of India on 11th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 3 – Environmental pollution and degradation.

Relevance: About Kochi garbage fire.

News: Kochi became clouded in toxic fumes after the Brahmapuram dumpyard caught fire recently. The Kochi garbage fire made many people in close vicinity to shift out temporarily. The winds carried noxious dioxins and furans inside faraway homes.

What is the reason behind Kochi garbage fire incident?

The waste treatment plant has been operating without a licence since 2016. This is because, they kept failing at various mandated benchmarks, from plastic waste segregation to bio-mining of legacy waste. Since it is the only dump yard in Kochi, the debris kept rising.

Read more: New e-waste rules and India’s e-waste challenge – Explained, pointwise

What Kochi garbage fire incident highlights about India’s waste treatment plants?

Kochi garbage fire incident is a familiar occurrence across the country. Unsanitary mixed waste dumps are regularly leaking serious health hazards into the air, whether it is the Adharwadi and Deonar landfills in Maharashtra or the massive garbage mountains in Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalswa in Delhi.

Municipal bodies have less accountability for waste treatment. Hence, the waste turns into totally unsustainable ones.

Must read: Waste Management in India: Status, Challenges and Solutions – Explained, pointwise

More urbanisation is generating more waste daily. Scientific management of waste will be the backbone of India’s cities.


Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves

Source: The post is based on the article “A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves” published in the Livemint on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

Ajanta caves tells the story of the rise and sudden demise of the Vakataka empire, but also of the zenith of Buddhism as a state religion in India.

What is the political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves?

Trade activities: Mediterranean trade was passing through the ancient port cities of Kalyan and Sopara on the Konkan coast. Ujjain was also heavily involved in the east-west trade.

The bulk of the Indian Ocean trade also migrated further south down the Konkan coast, and the interior Deccan region became increasingly reliant on local agriculture.

Rise of Vakataka empire: In the fifth century, a branch of the Vakataka empire rose with its capital in Vatsalguma (present-day Washim in Maharashtra). They controlled much of the area from the Konkan coast to the western part of the Deccan plateau through a network of local feudatory kings.

By the late fifth century, during the reign of Harisena, their most illustrious emperor, the Vakatakas had regained control of the old oceanic and overland trade routes. The economic conditions facilitated more lavish Buddhist building work to begin in Ajanta.

About Ajanta caves

Ajanta is an elegant complex of viharas (monasteries), shrines and chaitya-grihas (stupa-halls).

Salient features:

-The colossal Buddhas at the heart of every shrine-sanctuary sat enthroned in a manner that easily echoes a king seated among his courtiers, attended to by Bodhisattvas, vidyadharas, yakshas and nagas. This also reinforces the narrative settings of the Mahayana sutras, with the Buddha revealing new teachings in a vast court of Bodhisattvas, Brahminical gods and other divine beings.

Read more: ​​What are Ajanta Caves?

What is the evolution of Ajanta Caves?

Early caves(9-12, except 11): The first caves had been excavated around the first-century BCE-first century CE, when the area was part of the large Satavahana empire. These caves have modest viharas with the main focus on devotion. Both caves 9 and 10 feature some of the oldest paintings at the site.

Caves(1-8, 11 and 14-31) from the reign of Harisena(460 CE-477 CE): Unlike the older ones, these caves are clearly of royal commission: by Harisena himself, his minister Varahadeva, and Upendragupta, the feudatory king of the Ajanta area.

These caves have superlative artworks which were created over just 15-20 years. These clusters hold the bulk of the surviving painted murals. The walls are illustrated with scenes from various Jataka tales.

The walls also depict a snapshot of the Vakataka court including the portrayal of Janaka’s gorgeous palace, the depiction of the women dancers and musicians, etc. In short, this period remarks the mixing of the kingly and the divine in art form.

Note: Cave 1 is a vihara with a Buddha shrine. This is the only cave that was built as a donation by Harisena. The dark-skinned Vajrapani(“pre-Chalukya” tradition) to the Buddha’s left and the light skinned Avalokiteshwara (“Gupta tradition”) to the Buddha’s right are understandably considered two masterpieces of the ancient world.

What are the later developments?

-Soon after Harisena’s death, the Vakataka empire came to a sudden end. Ajanta itself was almost immediately abandoned and subsequent Buddhist centres moved to Aurangabad and to Ellora. This is visible from the caves and shrines at Ajanta which were still unfinished.

Buddhism continued to be a major force in the region, especially at sites like Kanheri, close to the trading ports.


Lunar time zone: The moon may get its own time zone: Here is why

Source: The post is based on the article “The moon may get its own time zone: Here is why” published in the Indian Express on 10th March 2023.

What is the News?

The European Space Agency (ESA) wants to give the moon its own time zone (Lunar time zone).

What are the various lunar missions which are on the horizon?

Several lunar exploration missions are planned by various countries and private operators.

M1 lunar lander: It is built by the Japanese company Ispace. It will try to deploy a rover built by the United Arab Emirates; a robot built by Japan’s space agency, JAXA.

Nova-C lander: It is expected to land on the South Pole of the moon.

NASA’s manned mission: NASA prepares to send four astronauts into orbit around the moon next year. That mission will pave the way for the first crewed moon landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972.

ESA: It is contributing to NASA’s effort to build the Gateway lunar station, which will serve as a way station for future crews on their way to the lunar surface.

China: China completed the construction of its own space station and previously hinted that Chinese astronauts would be on the moon by 2030.

South Korea: It has launched its own lunar spacecraft, Danuri. It also joined India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission, as well as lunar missions from NASA and China.

What is the need for a Lunar time zone?

At present, the lunar missions have operated at the time of the country that launched them.

The aforesaid lunar missions will not only be on or around the moon at the same time, but they will often be interacting as well — potentially relaying communications for one another.

For all those interactions to happen smoothly, the current system is unsustainable and the missions will need to operate on a standardized time.

About the Lunar time zone

Objective: To streamline contact among the various countries and entities, public and private, that are coordinating trips to and around the moon.

Significance: The idea of timekeeping on the moon is important because it shows the international development of the moon.

In future, the Martian time zone might be developed along the lines of lunar time.

What are the challenges in formulating the lunar time zone?

The challenges include a) the establishment of a lunar time zone needs international coordination and consensus, b) Time on Earth is precisely tracked by atomic clocks. But clocks run faster on the moon than on Earth, gaining about 56 microseconds each day. Further, the ticking occurs differently on the lunar surface than in lunar orbit.

Note: The space station doesn’t have its own time zone, it runs on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is meticulously based on atomic clocks.


Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols mission: NASA and Italian Space Agency join hands for satellite mission to monitor air pollution

Source: The post is based on the article “NASA and Italian Space Agency join hands for satellite mission to monitor air pollution” published in the Indian Express on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it is partnering with the Italian Space Agency ASI to build and launch the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols mission (MAIA mission).

About Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols mission

Aim: To investigate the health impacts of air pollution in the world’s most populated cities. Its primary goal is to benefit societal health.

The MAIA observatory is set to launch before the end of 2024

Function: The mission will consist of the PLATiNO-2 satellite, which will be provided by ASI, and a science instrument that will be built at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The mission will collect and analyse data from the observatory, sensors on the ground and atmospheric models.

The JPL hosts a pointable spectropolarimetric camera which captures images from multiple angles in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Primary target areas: These include major urban centres across the world: Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Rome, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Barcelona, Spain, Beijing, Johannesburg, New Delhi, Taipei, Taiwan; and Tel Aviv.


H3N2: What is this virus and how can it be prevented from spreading

Source: The post is based on the article “H3N2: What is this virus and how can it be prevented from spreading” published in Indian Express on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

India has recorded deaths of two people, one each in Karnataka and Haryana due to the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus.

What is H3N2 Virus?

H3N2 Virus
Source: TOI

Influenza viruses, which cause the infectious disease known as flu, are of four different types: A, B, C and D. 

Influenza A is further classified into different subtypes and one of them is H3N2. 

According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H3N2 caused the 1968 flu pandemic that led to the death of around one million people globally and about 100,000 in the US.

What are the symptoms of H3N2?

Its symptoms are similar to that of any other flu. They include cough, fever, body ache and headache, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose and extreme fatigue. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea have been seen in very few cases.

How does the virus spread?

H3N2 influenza can be transmitted from one person to another through droplets released when coughing, sneezing, or talking by an infected individual. It can also spread if someone touches their mouth or nose after contacting a surface that has the virus on it. 

Pregnant women, young children, elderly adults, and persons with underlying medical issues are at a higher risk of flu-related complications.

What is the treatment?

Taking proper rest, drinking lots of fluids and using over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever are all part of the H3N2 influenza treatment regimen.

If a patient has severe symptoms or is at a high risk of problems, a doctor may also recommend antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir and zanamivir.


NITI Aayog Releases Task Force Report on “Production and Promotion of Organic and Bio fertilisers with Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of Gaushalas”

Source: The post is based on the following articles

“Help cow shelters market dung-based formulations for farming: NITI Aayog” published in The Hindu on 11th March 2023.

“NITI Aayog Releases Task Force Report on “Production and Promotion of Organic and Bio fertilisers with Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of Gaushalas” published in the PIB on 10th March 2023.

What is the News?

NITI Aayog has released the Task Force report titled “Production and Promotion of Organic and Bio fertilisers with Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of Gaushalas”.

What is the purpose of the task force?

The Task Force was constituted by NITI Aayog to suggest measures to make Gaushalas economically viable, address the problem of stray and abandoned cattle and effective utilization of cow dung and cow urine in the agriculture and energy sectors.

What are the key highlights from the report?

Gaushalas to promote Organic and Natural Farming: In the last 50 years, a serious imbalance emerged in the use of inorganic fertilizer and livestock manure. This is adversely affecting soil health, food quality, efficiency, environment and human health.

– Recognising this, the Government of India is promoting sustainable agriculture practices such as organic farming and natural farming.

– Gaushalas or cow shelters can be of great help in promoting natural farming and organic farming. The agri-inputs developed from cattle wastes- cow dung and cow urine can reduce or replace agrochemicals, serving as plant nutrients and plant protection.

– This effective utilization of cattle waste is an ideal example of a circular economy that harnesses the waste-to-wealth concept.

– Moreover, cow dung­ based organic fertilizers would have a huge impact in fulfilling the constitutional mandate under Article 48 that the State shall take steps for preserving and improving cattle breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves, and other milch and draught cattle.

Gaushalas could also address the problem of stray cattle that damaged crops in many parts of the country.

What are the key recommendations given by the report?

Cow dung is the major produce of Gaushala. It faces several challenges in realizing its economic value. Gaushalas should be helped through capacity development and other means to generate income from gobar. This should include proper processing of gobar using biogas plants, value addition, marketing and certification of the cow dung-based organic as well as biofertilizers. 

Heavy subsidy on inorganic fertilizers especially on urea discourages the use of organic sources of nutrients, which do not get any subsidy. There is a need for some parity in support of chemical fertilizers vis-a-vis organic.

A portal should be created like the Darpan portal of NITI Aayog for online registration of all Gaushalas. 

The goal of promoting natural farming in the country should be integrated with the cow economy.


In a first, Gujarat to release in the wild 10 wolves bred in captivity — after training

Source: The post is based on the article “In a first, Gujarat to release in the wild 10 wolves bred in captivity — after training” published in Indian Express on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

Gujarat Forest Department is set to shift 10 Indian grey wolves from a conservation breeding centre at Junagadh’s Sakkarbaug Zoological Park(SZP) to forested areas in north Gujarat and north Saurashtra.

The wolves are being released into the forested areas to check the population of wild herbivores, including blue bulls (nilgais), wild boars which have been causing significant crop damage in these parts.

What is Wolf?

The wolf (Canis lupus), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America.

Wolves are known for their speed and can run up to 45 km/hour. Being a natural predator; they tend to prey mainly on rodents, hare and livestock.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Wolves Population in India:

According to a pan-India survey of wolves in 2018-19 by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the population of wolves in India was estimated to be 3,100.

This makes wolves almost as endangered as tigers, whose estimated population in the country is around 2,967. Both tigers and wolves are classified under “Schedule I” of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The highest concentration of wolves is currently in Madhya Pradesh (772), Rajasthan (532) and then Gujarat (494).

The study estimated that the density of wolves was one individual per 100 sq km and an average pack comprised three wolves. It also found that the density of wolves was low in territories dominated by apex predators like lions and tigers, but high in semi-arid scrub, grasslands and open forest systems.

Threats: The wolves are threatened by habitat loss due to development, hybridisation with dogs, fast-traffic roads, diseases, and severe persecution by pastoralists. 


Categorisation of terrorism on the basis of motivation is ‘dangerous’, says India

Source: The post is based on the article “Categorisation of terrorism on the basis of motivation is ‘dangerous’, says India” published in The Hindu on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN has addressed the 8th Review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy(GCTS).

What is the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy?

The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a unique global instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism. 

Through its adoption by consensus in 2006, all UN Member States agreed for the first time to a common strategic and operational approach to fighting terrorism.

Pillars: The strategy is composed of 4 pillars, namely:

– Addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

– Measures to prevent and combat terrorism.

– Measures to build states’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in that regard.

– Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism.

What are the key highlights from India’s Permanent Representative to the UN’s address?

The tendency to categorize terrorism on the basis of motivations behind terrorist acts is “dangerous” and asserted that all kinds of terror attacks, whether motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Sikh, anti-Buddhist or anti-Hindu prejudices are condemnable.

There is no such thing as a good terrorist or a bad terrorist. This will only take us back to the pre-9/11 era of labelling terrorists as ‘Your Terrorists’ and ‘My Terrorists’ and erase the collective gains the international community has made over the last two decades.

States that provide shelter to terrorists should be called out and held accountable for their deeds, a veiled reference to Pakistan.


Central Government launches High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP)

Source: The post is based on the articleCentral Government launches High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP)published in PIB on 10th March 2023.

What is the News?

The Central Government has launched a High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP) – an initiative to ensure greater availability of power during the peak demand season. 

What is Day-Ahead-Market(DAM)?

Day-Ahead-Market (DAM) is the electricity trading market for delivery on the following day. The prices and quantum of electricity to be transacted are determined through a double-sided closed auction bidding process.

Why was the High Price Day Ahead Market(HP-DAM) launched?

In 2022, the Ministry of Power observed that the prices in the electricity exchange had gone up to Rs.20 on some days.

As a result, the ministry directed the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to cap the price at Rs.12 to prevent profiteering. This move rationalized the price for buyers and prevented power producers from charging exorbitant rates.

However, because of the high prices of gas in the international market; the electricity made by using gas was expensive – more than Rs.12 per unit – and this capacity could not be sold on the market.

This year too, the demand for power is expected to be much higher which is why the government has introduced a separate segment called HP DAM for gas-based plants and imported coal-based plants.

These segments may have a cost of generating power higher than Rs.12 and the HP DAM will ensure that these plants can be scheduled and utilized to meet the power demand.

What is a Surplus Power Portal(PUShP)?

The surplus power portal aims to reduce the fixed cost burden on Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).

DISCOMs can now indicate surplus power in block times/days/months on the portal, which can be requisitioned by other DISCOMs in need.

The new buyer will pay both the variable charge (VC) and fixed cost (FC) as determined by regulators. Once power is reassigned, the original beneficiary cannot recall it, and the entire FC liability is shifted to the new beneficiary.

The financial liability of the new buyer is limited to the temporary allocated/transferred power. This will optimize available generation capacity utilization.


India and Australia sign audio-visual co-production agreement

Source: The post is based on the article “India and Australia sign audio-visual co-production agreement” published in The Hindu on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

India and Australia have signed an Audio-visual co-production agreement.

What is the purpose of the India-Australia audio-visual co-production agreement? 

Under this agreement, private, quasi-government or governmental agencies of the two countries can enter into contracts to produce films together.

The agreement seeks to offer filmmakers financial incentives amounting to up to 30% of the expenditure incurred in the respective countries.

A third country can also participate in the co­-production as a multilateral project, subject to conditions and limits laid down in the laws in force, between the party countries.

Significance of the agreement: Australia is the 16th country with which India has an audio-visual co-production agreement.

– India has such audio-visual co-production agreements with Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany, Brazil, France, China, and Bangladesh among others.

Note: India is fast emerging as a major content hub for film makers looking for new projects.

– India has established a Film Facilitation Office(FFO) to ease the process of film shooting in India. The FFO acts as a single-window platform for coordination with various states as well as bodies such as the Indian Railways and the Archaeological Survey of India among others.


Union Minister launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme under MSME Champions Scheme

Source: The post is based on the article Union Minister launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme under MSME Champions Scheme” published in PIB on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Minister for MSME has launched the MSME Competitive(LEAN) Scheme.

What is Lean Manufacturing?

Lean manufacturing is a production process based on an ideology of maximizing productivity while simultaneously minimizing waste within a manufacturing operation. The lean principle sees waste as anything that doesn’t add value that the customers are willing to pay for.

The benefits of lean manufacturing include reduced lead times and operating costs and improved product quality.

What is the MSME Competitive(LEAN) Scheme?

The scheme is an extensive drive to create awareness amongst MSMEs about LEAN Manufacturing practices and motivate and incentivize them to attain LEAN levels while also encouraging them to become MSME Champions.

Under the scheme, MSMEs will implement LEAN manufacturing tools like 5S, Kaizen, KANBAN, visual workplace, and Poka Yoka under the able guidance of trained and competent LEAN consultants to attain LEAN levels like basic, intermediate and advanced.

Incentives under the scheme: Government will contribute 90% of implementation cost for handholding and consultancy fees.

– There will be an additional contribution of 5% for the MSMEs which are part of SFURTI clusters, owned by women/SC/ST and located in the Northeast Region(NER).

Significance: With the help of the scheme, MSMEs can reduce wastage substantially, increase productivity, improve quality, work safely, expand their markets, and finally become competitive and profitable.


India, U.S. to launch a semiconductor sub-committee

Source: The post is based on the article “India, U.S. to launch a semiconductor sub-committee” published in The Hindu on 11th March 2023.

What is the News?

India-US bilateral Commercial Dialogue 2023 was held during the visit of US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to India.

What is India-US bilateral Commercial Dialogue?

Co-chaired by: India’s Union Commerce and Industry Minister and US Secretary of Commerce.

Purpose: The dialogue is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, develop inclusive and fair trade and investment policies and leverage the interests of the private sector in pursuing new market opportunities that advance prosperity in both countries.

What are the key takeaways from the dialogue?

Established Semiconductor sub-committee: It will be led by the US’s Department of Commerce and, on the Indian side, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 

The US welcomed India’s active partnership in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity(IPEF).

Both countries also welcomed the recently launched U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology(iCET) which elevates and expands the strategic technology partnership between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of our two countries.

The two countries also noted the strong impetus being given to comprehensive green energy development under the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).

U.S.–India Standards and Conformance Cooperation Program(SCCP): It aims to increase cooperation in the areas of standards, conformity assessment, and technical regulations in different sectors.

– It is to be carried out in partnership between ANSI (American National Standard Institute) from the US side and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) from the Indian side.

About India-US Trade

The US is India’s largest exporter and trading partner while India is the ninth-largest trading partner for the US. Bilateral merchandise trade during April-January stood at $108.43 billion. Both nations aim to achieve bilateral trade of $500 billion by 2025.

The US is also the third-biggest source of foreign direct investment for India and is one of the top five investment destinations for India.


[Download] New 10 PM Weekly Compilation – March 2024 – 3rd week

Hello, everyone. We are posting a Compilation of the 10 pm current affairs quiz – March 2024 – 3rd week for practice of current affairs. All Questions have been framed based on the format of 2024 UPSC prelims exam. The compilation has been arranged based on the Prelims syllabus. Click on the following link to download… Continue reading [Download] New 10 PM Weekly Compilation – March 2024 – 3rd week

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[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #160: Dinesh Dasa sir Board, Agriculture Optional, Rajasthan Home State

Date of Interview: 29 Feb Board: Dinesh Dasa sir Optional: Agriculture Home State: Rajasthan Keyword- Agriculture, Rajasthan Duration: 30-35 min To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page Chairman I ll give you one statement reflect on it Gm crops are good but we degrading our genetic biodiversity Tell me why onion inflation is… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #160: Dinesh Dasa sir Board, Agriculture Optional, Rajasthan Home State

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[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #159: Lt, Gen Raj Shukla Board, PSIR Optional, Bihar Home State

Date of Interview: 19th Feb, Bihar Board: Lt, Gen Raj Shukla Optional: PSIR Home State: Bihar Background: IIT Roorkee Key words: IIT Roorkee , Bihar, patent office(DAF) Last to go forenoon session To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page Chairman Discussion on Electoral bond. Issue with SC decision on bond Alternative to electoral… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #159: Lt, Gen Raj Shukla Board, PSIR Optional, Bihar Home State

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[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #158: Bidyut Behari Swain Board, Commerce & Accountancy Optional, Arunachal Pradesh Home State, JRF, writing Hobbies

Date of Interview: 28-02-24 (forenoon) Board: Bidyut Behari Swain Optional: Commerce & Accountancy Home State: Arunachal Pradesh Hobbies: Writing (others not asked) Daf- JRF, writing Time- around 35 mins To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page Chairman Tell me about Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura (I am from NE) Tell me about JRF How to boost… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #158: Bidyut Behari Swain Board, Commerce & Accountancy Optional, Arunachal Pradesh Home State, JRF, writing Hobbies

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Must Read Daily Current Affairs Articles 28th March 2024

About Must Read News Articles is an initiative by Team ForumIAS to provide links to the most important news articles of the day. It covers The Hindu newspaper. This saves the time and effort of students in identifying useful and important articles. With newspaper websites requiring a paid subscription beyond a certain number of fixed… Continue reading Must Read Daily Current Affairs Articles 28th March 2024

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Ace CSE 2024 Prelims with ForumIAS All-India Simulator Tests!

Dear CSE 2024 Aspirants,   Prelims 2024 has been postponed by almost a month. While this shift might have disrupted some of your plans, it also presents an invaluable opportunity to further refine your preparation and approach the examination with even greater confidence. Therefore, to capitalize on this opportunity, you need a thorough practice, to… Continue reading Ace CSE 2024 Prelims with ForumIAS All-India Simulator Tests!

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[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #157: Sanjay Verma Board, Sociology Optional, Maharashtra Home State, Teaching Hobby

Date of Interview: 28-02-24 (forenoon) Board: Sanjay Verma Sir Optional: Sociology Home State: Maharashtra Hobby: Teaching DAF- Maharashtra,  Civil engg graduate, solid waste management, teaching, Sociology optional To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page Chairman It was quite a long wait for you. How was your experience As you are from Maharashtra, have… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #157: Sanjay Verma Board, Sociology Optional, Maharashtra Home State, Teaching Hobby

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Better utilization of fertilizer and food subsidies: Basic subsidies can be climate focused and aimed better

Source: The post better utilization of fertilizer and food subsidies has been created, based on the article “Basic subsidies can be climate focused and aimed better” published in “Live mint” on 27th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-economy- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices. News: The article… Continue reading Better utilization of fertilizer and food subsidies: Basic subsidies can be climate focused and aimed better

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Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA): Indian cities cry out for UMTA

Source: The post Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) has been created, based on the article “Indian cities cry out for UMTA” published in “Business standard” on 27th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- economy- infrastructure News: The article discusses the need for Indian cities to create a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA). This… Continue reading Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA): Indian cities cry out for UMTA

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The shift in India’s foreign policy language – How Delhi talks to world

Source: The post India’s foreign policy language has shifted from being defensive to more assertive and confident has been created, based on the article “How Delhi talks to world” published in “Indian express” on 27th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-International Relations-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s… Continue reading The shift in India’s foreign policy language – How Delhi talks to world

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