9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – November 18th, 2022

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


New UGC rules will ensure more of our brightest students can get into PhD programmes at an early age

Source– The post is based on the article “New UGC rules will ensure more of our brightest students can get into PhD programmes at an early age” published in The Indian Express on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Issue related to development and management of education

Relevance: Higher education

News-  The article explains the new UGC rules for PhD programmes.

What are the new regulations of UGC related to PhD?

As per NEP 2020, the four-year undergraduate programme offers an honours degree, with the last year dedicated to research or an honours degree with a primary focus on coursework. The new regulations will permit students from both categories to join PhD degree programmes offered by higher educational institutions

Anyone who has completed a four-year bachelor’s degree programme in any discipline with a minimum of 75 per cent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade is eligible for a PhD programme. UGC prescribes only the minimum qualifications for admission to a PhD programme. Universities can raise the bar to ensure that only the deserving are admitted to PhD programmes.

What is the rationale behind this move of UGC?

It is not true that PhDs who have bypassed the PG degree will have inadequate knowledge of the core discipline, which will lead to degrading teaching or research standards. There are many such examples from top institutes such as IITs, Purdue, and MIT.

Our admission processes are by elimination rather than selection due to intense competition. It generates a huge pool of highly talented students who could not get into top HEIs as part of the university system. Once we provide the opportunity for these students to move into a PhD programme after their UG degree, they will have the chance to be outstanding teachers or researchers.

There is an erroneous belief that UGC has done this to produce more PhDs. The goal of UGC in permitting students after a UG degree into PhD programmes is not numbers but quality.

The four-year bachelor’s degree programme introduced in our university system is designed to equip the students with complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking and communication skills. This training will lead to rigorous specialisation in a chosen disciplinary or interdisciplinary major and minor subject area.

A research study on the Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physiology, or medicine between 1901 and 2003 indicates that the majority of the winners who discovered their prize-winning results were aged between 31 and 40. Our creativity declines with ageing in most of us.


The uplink-downlink puzzle

Source: The post is based on an article “The uplink-downlink puzzle” published in Business Standard on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2- Governance

Relevance: concerns associated with New Guidelines for TV channels

News: The government has recently come with the guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of satellite television channels in India.

What do the guidelines say?

It states that a broadcaster who uplinks a channel from India and then downlinks it for broadcast here will have to broadcast for 30 minutes in a day on themes of national interest and social relevance.

The guidelines include news and non-news channels for broadcasting themes of national interest.

It has also done away with approval for every live event and also allows limited liability partnerships (LLPs) companies for uplinking foreign channels from Indian teleport.

What has been the stand of government regarding these guidelines?

The government used the SC judgment of 1995 which said that “airwaves are public property” to justify its stand.

However, the judgment only specifies the “public trust doctrine” which makes the state as a trustee of public resources and directs the State functionary to be transparent in dealing with public resources.

Therefore, using this doctrine for private TV channels is a misinterpretation of the judgment. Moreover, there are concerns associated with the current guidelines.

What are the concerns?

India wants to become a hub like Singapore but its process is not as easy as Singapore offers. For example, applications for registration have been made online but the process is not online end-to-end.

The process has been made for easing of permissions but Indian board control and trademark registration is required. It also does not provide ease of operation for foreign companies like Singapore does.

Due to these regulatory compliances only 22 channels use India as an uplink hub against a few thousand from Singapore.

According to MIB data, over 772 channels are uplinked out of India but these are downlinked and broadcasted within India.

What was the need of these guidelines?

Cable/DTH is facing tough competition as viewers are moving away from it to OTT platforms, free-to-air television and free OTT.

Further, online streaming platforms such YouTube, Instagram and others have seen a rise in viewers. Google and Meta take away roughly 70 percent of all digital advertising due to their large number of viewers.

The pandemic also put pressure on ad revenues of the TV channels and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai’s) pricing mechanism for channels has put pressure on pay revenues.

These issues have led to the merger of TV channels such as Disney-Star, Zee-Sony.

Therefore, this policy addresses these concerns by providing ease of compliances, ease of doing business and making India a teleport hub.


Opaque political financing could cost democracy dear

Source– The post is based on the article “Opaque political financing could cost democracy dear” published in The Hindu on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS2-Polity

Relevance: Electoral Bonds

News- The article explains the issue related to political financing.

What is the issue all about?

The discourse around political finance in India usually revolves around the issue of corruption.Introduction of electoral bonds is either presented as a pious instrument for ‘cleansing’ politics or as a mechanism for legitimating ‘institutionalised corruption’.

It precludes any focus on the structural relationship between the nature of political funding and the shape of our political system. Corruption is merely one symptom of this structural relationship, rather than being a driving factor.

What is the role of political financing in political competition?

One, the degree of transparency of political funding informs the efficacy of institutional safeguards. For example, the inherent opacity of electoral bonds renders the power of the Election Commission of India (ECI) irrelevant in terms of ensuring a level-playing field  between the ruling and the Opposition parties.

Second, the extent to which political funding is centralised within a party determines whether power in the party is drawn from organisational structures or exercised in a personalistic manner. For example, membership-funded parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bahujan Samaj Party of an earlier era were highly organised parties where leaders wielded power in a responsive, programmatic manner.

Third, the political financing regime also shapes the role of ideas in grounding political competition. But, when political finance is anchored to a narrow concentration of economic capital, the ideological basis of political competition tends to become severely corroded.

What are the  impacts of electoral bonds on political competition?

One, the design of electoral bonds, perhaps more than any other instrument of political finance, leans to the advantage of the ruling party.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019-20 got over 75% of the total electoral bonds sold, as opposed to the meagre 9% share of the Congress, according to ECI data.

Second, electoral bonds centralise political funding towards the national units of political parties, further entrenching the leverage of national leadership over the State and local units.

As a reply to a Right To Information (RTI) query revealed, out of the ₹5,851 crore of electoral bonds sold in 2018-19, 80% of the bonds were redeemed in Delhi.

What is the way forward?

The new political financing regime should build on the political pathologies already prevalent in our system that is crumbling organisations, political centralisation, a business-politics compact fuelled by rent seeking and cronyism rather than creating them from scratch.

It is important that independent institutions such as the ECI and the Supreme Court of India step in to layer the seeming black hole of electoral bonds with a minimum level of institutional safeguards.

Otherwise this “reform” of political finance goes down in history as a significant marker in our story of democratic decline.


Weighing in on PMGKAY, the free grains scheme

Source– The post is based on the article “Weighing in on PMGKAY, the free grains scheme” published in The Hindu on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Welfare Schemes

Relevance: Implementation of schemes

News- The article explains the issue related to welfare schemes.

What are the provisions of PMGKAY?

It is aimed at providing an additional allocation of foodgrains (rice or wheat) from the central pool at five kilograms per person per month free of cost.

The PMGKAY benefits cardholders of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories, both falling under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This is over and above the regular monthly quota under the NFSA, i.e., 35 kg per month per family for AAY and 5 kg per month per person for PHH.

The PMGKAY covers even Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) beneficiaries.

What are the reasons for extending this scheme?

The extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a scheme to distribute free foodgrains to the poor, for another three months, comes as a surprise for many reasons.

First, in the months prior to the latest extension made in late September 2022, there was much debate on the relevance of freebies.

Second, there were reports in June that the Expenditure Department at the Centre did not favour it, citing a funds crunch.

It also held the view that such a scheme was no longer needed “in non-pandemic times”.

However,this has to be viewed in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, raging since February 2022, and its adverse impact on the world’s food and energy sectors.

Government’s reason was that it wanted to support the poor and the vulnerable, estimated to be 80 crore during the festive season.

Critics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party point out that the scheme’s extension is with an eye on the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively.

What are the achievements associated with this scheme?

Policymakers and experts concede that the scheme made a difference to food security and public health during the pandemic.

From the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Public Distribution or the authors of an IMF-published working paper, “Pandemic, Poverty, and Inequality: Evidence from India” the scheme has received commendation.

What is the way forward?

The central authorities should commission a study and make its findings public.

To keep the budgetary allocation under control, rules on quota for rice or wheat can be changed suitably.

The central and State authorities need to ponder over the scheme’s continuance, given the chronic problem of diversion from the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The proposed study should be the basis for updating the database of foodgrain,drawing card holders, scrutinising the data critically and zeroing in on the needy.

The task should not be onerous, given the widespread application of technological tools in the PDS .

The culture of providing essential commodities free of cost at the drop of a hat has to go.

The elimination of the problem of diversion of foodgrains has to be taken up with renewed vigour as farmers toil hard in the fields to produce the grains and many deserving persons remain outside the food security net.


Why our obsession with ranking universities does more harm than good

Source– The post is based on the article “Why our obsession with ranking universities does more harm than good” published in The Indian Express on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Issue related to development and management of education

Relevance: Higher education

News- The article explains the issue related to our continued obsession with ranking universities.

What are the issues related to ranking universities?

The universities that occupy no significant place in the list suffer from chronic anxiety. They are compelled to feel a sense of “lagging behind”. It leads to their stigmatisation by people.

We are preoccupied with the “value-neutral” scale of ranking. In this process, most of us will lose the moral courage to problematize this scale and reimagine the relationship between the university and the world.

Universities become more concerned about showcasing their products through the numbers, calculations, tables. These numbers include citations per paper, papers per faculty, proportion of international students, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio or international research network.

While the statisticians can quantify the papers per faculty, they are incapable of understanding the relevance of these papers, even if published in “international” journals. It is difficult to tell whether these tools are really contributing to the development of refreshingly new ideas in natural and social sciences, and simultaneously enhancing the ethical conscience of the world.

In this academic race for publications, citations and international networking, professors have mastered the technique of indulging themselves in the practice of  manufacturing papers. They are capable of managing the cleverly developed circuits of networking for enhancing the citations.

What is the way forward?

Good universities need to equate knowledge with awakened intelligence. It should aim at uniting engaged pedagogy and meaningful research.

It must nurture sensitive and compassionate learners. These learners should sharpen their academic skills in the process of eradicating social evils like caste, patriarchy, racism and religious bigotry; and

It should equate knowledge with wisdom. The wisdom needs to redefine the meaning of research in science, technology, economics and sociology to strive for an egalitarian, ecologically sensitive and spiritually elevated world.

GS Paper 3


COP27: To decarbonise by 2050, India needs investments of at least $7 trn

Source: The post is based on an article “COP27: To decarbonise by 2050, India needs investments of at least $7 trn” published in Business Standard on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3- Climate Change

Relevance: concerns associated with transition from fuel-based economy to green economy.

News: India’s transition from fuel-based economy to a green economy and achieving net zero by 2070 is based on multiple factors and challenges.

What are the climate targets set by India?

India announced its goal to become a net-zero emitter by 2070 last year at COP26. It will be the last major economy to get there.

India has committed to reduce its power generation by half from fossil fuel-based plants by 2030. Thus, achieving a 45 per cent reduction in emissions intensity from 2005 levels. However, there are challenges in achieving these.

What are the challenges with India?

Investment: Power, industry and agriculture are the three major sectors that emit around 80 percent of the carbon emission. India is also currently the world’s third largest emitter of CO2 even though its emission per capita is less than the US and China.

Further, India has the second highest emissions intensity or volume of emissions per unit of GDP after Russia. The US and Japan by comparison are lower.

Therefore, decarbonizing the economy will require investments of $7-12 trillion until 2050 which is around 6 percent of GDP.

Economic growth: India’s economy is expected to grow further by 2070 and this will increase demand across power and steel sectors which would ultimately increase the greenhouse gas emission.

About 70 percent of India’s emissions are driven by six sectors: power, steel, automotive, aviation, cement and agriculture. Out of these electricity generation contributes 34 per cent, industry at 28 per cent and agriculture at 18 per cent.

Therefore, India would need to create 500 Gw of non-fossil fuel-based plants to achieve net zero.

Changing Priorities: Electric vehicles (EVs) are effective only if they are powered by renewables and not coal. Vehicular emission in India only accounts for 9 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, there is a need to look at bigger emitters of greenhouse gas such as power, agriculture, etc.

Moreover, India has reduced the emissions intensity by 1.3 percent of GDP per year over the last decade. However, this speed of reduction is not enough.

What is the way forward?

First, India needs proper implementation of the existing policies because climate action must match with the intensity of the climate crisis.

Second, India needs to increase its renewable capacity by five times to 50 Gw per year in 2030 and nine times a year in 2040 to achieve net zero by 2070.

Third, all two-wheelers, three-wheelers and light truck sales may need to be electric early in the next decade and all car sales electric by 2035.

  • The cost of the battery needs to decline by 40 percent in 2030 and charging stations would need to increase 40 times by 2040 to boost the sales of EVs.

Fourth, the government should provide subsidies to green hydrogen along with carbon pricing.

However, there will be challenges with this transition as employment, tax revenues from the automotive fuel would decline with increased issues on land acquisition for renewable plants.


Three decades after military opened doors to women, they remain at courts’ mercy

Source– The post is based on the article “Three decades after military opened doors to women, they remain at courts’ mercy” published in The Indian Express on 18th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- Security

Relevance: Women empowerment

News- The article explains the issue of women induction into armed forces.

What is the position of higher courts on this matter?

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Centre and the Indian Air Force to consider granting Permanent Commission to 32 retired women Short Service Commission officers based on their suitability with the purpose of giving them pensionary benefits.

In 2010, Delhi HC directed the government to give permanent commission to women serving in the army.

What are steps taken by the government for induction of women into the army?

Women have been inducted into the army since 1992.

Government has followed a piecemeal approach for induction of women. It is taking decisions at various times on whether girls can enter the National Defence Academy, Sainik Schools or RIMC.

What are the issues related to women induction into the army?

Women have been allowed in combat in the Air Force, but we are yet to see women in combat roles in the army and navy. All career options in the armed forces are not offered to them.

They are not considered fit for many roles in the armed forces. There are doubts on their capabilities for core work of the army that is traditionally performed by males.

There still exist many gaps. Court has also not given full judgment about women’s induction into the army.

What is the way forward?

The military should consolidate its position on the matter. The policymakers need to go back to the drawing board and decide on all the cases as a whole rather than having to address the issue piecemeal.


Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

FDA approval for human consumption of lab-grown meat in the US

Source: The post is based on the article “FDA approval for human consumption of lab-grown meat in the US” published in Business Standard on 17th November 2022

What is the News?

The US Food and Drug Administration has given a safety clearance to lab-grown meat for the first time.

Note: Till now, Singapore was the only country to have approved the sale of cultivated meat products.

What is Lab-Grown Meat?

Lab-grown meat, which can also be referred to as cultivated or cultured meat, is real meat that’s grown directly from animal cells. This meat is made without the need to raise and slaughter animals.

How is Lab Grown Meat made?

Lab-grown meat is made by using the more-than-100-year-old technique of in vitro muscle tissue growth.

The process starts by taking a few cells from high-quality livestock animals, like a cow or chicken, and then figuring out which of those cells have the ability to multiply and form delicious meat food products.

From there, we put the cells in a clean-and-controlled environment and provide them with the essential nutrients they need to naturally replicate and mature. 

In essence, we can recreate the conditions that naturally exist inside an animal’s body so that the cells can continue growing. 

Once the meat is ready, we harvest it, process it like conventional meat products, and then package, cook or otherwise prepare it for consumption.

What are the benefits of Lab-Grown Meat?

Less contamination: Advocates of cultured meat say it’s much less likely to be infected by E. coli bacteria (which lives in animal poop) and other contaminants you might find in a meat processing plant.

Fewer antibiotics: Traditionally raised livestock are often given antibiotics to help keep them healthy. This can lead to antibiotic resistance, where the drugs don’t work as well on infections as they once did.

Less environmental impact: As global demand for meat goes up, more forested land is converted into ranches and crop fields. Cultured meat requires much less land, uses less water, and produces less pollution.

No killing of animals: While cultured meat requires a small sample of tissue, it does not require an animal to be killed.

What are the concerns related to Lab-Grown Meat?

It’s not vegan: Since lab-grown meat contains animal cells, it’s not considered vegan. 

Its price: Scientists made the first cultured meat hamburger in 2012. It cost $325,000 to create. But as technology advances, the cost of cultured meat should go down. But it will still be expensive.


Baliyatra: Celebrating Odisha’s ancient links with Indonesia and Southeast Asia

Source: The post is based on the article “Baliyatra: Celebrating Odisha’s ancient links with Indonesia and Southeast Asia” published in Indian Express on 18th November 2022

What is the News?

In his address to the Indian diaspora in Bali, Indonesia on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Prime Minister mentioned the annual Baliyatra on the banks of the Mahanadi in Odisha which celebrates the ancient trade relations between India and Indonesia.

Note: This year’s Baliyatra found a place in the Guinness World Records for achieving an impressive feat of origami, the creation of beautiful paper sculptures.

What is Baliyatra?

Baliyatra literally means ‘voyage to Bali’. It is one of the country’s largest open-air fairs organized on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack, Odisha.

Purpose: The festival is organized every year to commemorate the 2,000-year-old maritime and cultural links between ancient Kalinga (today’s Odisha) and Bali and other South and Southeast Asian regions like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar), and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

The festival starts on the day of Kartika Purnima (full moon day in the month of Kartik i.e October-November).

What is the ancient maritime link between Odisha and Indonesia?

The Kalinga Empire (present-day Odisha) is known for its glorious maritime history. 

Due to the geographical location of Kalinga, this area saw the growth of ports as early as the 4th and 5th century BC. Some of the famous ports, Tamralipti, Manikpatna, Chelitalo, Palur, and Pithunda allowed India to connect with other countries via the sea.

The Kalingas constructed large boats called the ‘Boitas’ to trade with the Indonesian islands. 

Popular items of trade between Kalinga and Southeast Asia included pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, silk, camphor, gold, and jewellery.

The trade-in commodities also led to the interchange of ideas and beliefs. Odia merchants formed settlements in Bali and influenced its culture and ethics. 

As a result of these influences, the Balinese also celebrate Hindu Festivals such as Shivaratri, Durga Pooja, and Saraswati Pooja.

Interestingly, the ‘Masakapan ke Tukad’ festival celebrated in Bali is similar to the Bali Yatra festival in Odisha. Both festivals are celebrated in memory of their maritime ancestors.

Note: The dominance of the Kalingas over the sea routes can be understood from the fact that Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsa referred to the King of Kalinga as ‘The Lord of the Sea’.


India- Norway join hands to for a GREEN MARITIME SECTOR

Source: The post is based on the articleIndia- Norway join hands to for a GREEN MARITIME SECTORpublished in PIB on 17th November 2022

What is the News?

The 8th Norway-India Joint Working Group Maritime meeting was held in Mumbai. 

What was the purpose of the 8th Norway-India Joint Working Group Maritime meeting?

The focus of the discussion was cooperation between India and Norway for developing a green maritime future.

As a part of the cooperation, Norway will help India in realizing its maritime potential and help in creating a large pool of trained seafarers.

Discussions were also held on the use of alternative fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen for futuristic shipping. 

India is a signatory to the Hong Kong Convention for the recycling of ships. India requested that the EU regulation should not hinder ship recycling for non-European countries, which are compliant with international conventions.

India and Norway are also part of the Green Voyage 2050 project. Both countries agreed on willingness, devotion, partnership, and capacity building for achieving common goals.

What is the Green Voyage 2050 Project?

The Green Voyage 2050 Project is a partnership project between the Government of Norway and the International Maritime Organization(IMO) launched in May 2019 aiming to transform the shipping industry towards a lower carbon future. 

Objective: To support developing countries, including Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), in meeting their commitment towards relevant climate change and energy efficiency goals, for international shipping.


Rhino horns trafficked with impunity: report

Source: The post is based on the article “Rhino horns trafficked with impunity: report” published in The Hindu on 17th November 2022

What is the News?

The Wildlife Justice Commission has published a report titled “Rhino horn trafficking as a form of transnational organized crime (2012–2021): 2022 Global Threat Assessment”. The report was prepared with the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

What are the key findings of the report?

Rhino horn seizures increased significantly in number and weight, despite a reduction in poaching.

Six countries and territories have dominated the rhino horn trafficking routes from the source to the destination locations, though more than 50 countries and territories were implicated in the transnational crime. These six countries are South Africa, Mozambique, Malaysia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Vietnam, and China.

A third of rhino horns were smuggled unconcealed, suggesting a potential reliance on corruption to move shipments along the supply chain.

There are various types of crime convergence associated with rhino horn trafficking. The seizure data indicate that there could be crime convergence with firearms, illicit drugs, and other commodities in approximately 10% of cases.

What are the recommendations given by the report?

Countries need to treat wildlife crime as a transnational organized crime.

All countries along the trafficking routes need to coordinate their action to address corruption that undermines many law enforcement efforts.  

What is the Wildlife Justice Commission?

The Wildlife Justice Commission was set up in 2015.

It is an independent, not-for-profit organization operating globally to disrupt and help dismantle organized transnational criminal networks trading in wildlife, timber, and fish.

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.


Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change participates in a session on “Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” at COP 27

Source: The post is based on the articleUnion Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change participates in a session on “Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” at COP 27” published in PIB on 17th November 2022

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change has addressed a session on Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure in Small Island Developing States(SIDS).

What are the key highlights from his address?

India’s low per capita emissions: The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) states that the responsibility for warming is directly proportional to the contribution to cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide.

If we consider per capita emissions for an objective scale for comparison, India’s emissions are even today about one-third of the global average.If the entire world were to emit at the same per capita level as India there would be no climate crisis.

Note: According to a  United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) report, India’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions at 2.4 tCO2e (tonne carbon dioxide equivalent) is far below the world average of 6.3 tCO2e.

– Per capita emissions in the US (14 tCO2e) are far above the global average followed by Russia (13 tCO2e), China (9.7 tCO2e), Brazil and Indonesia (around 7.5 tCO2e each) and the European Union (7.2 tCO2e).

India’s Vulnerability to Climate disasters: ​​India with over 7,500 km of coastline and more than 1,000 islands in the surrounding seas and a large coastal population dependent on the sea for livelihood is a highly vulnerable nation on the global scale.For instance, India recorded 1,058 climatic disasters between 1995 and 2020.

What is Infrastructure for Resilient Island States(IRIS) Initiative?

Click Here to read


To globalize or not: Everything you need to know about friendshoring

Source: The post is based on the article “To globalize or not: Everything you need to know about friendshoring” published in Business Standard on 17th November 2022

What is the News?

The US secretary of treasury has pushed for “friendshoring” to diversify trade away from countries that are present at geopolitical risk.

What is Friendshoring?

Friendshoring is also called allyshoring.

It is a strategy where a country sources raw materials, components, and even manufactured goods from countries that share its values. The dependence on the countries considered a “threat” to the stability of the supply chains is slowly reduced.

Example: Friendshoring is already visible, with Western companies diversifying supply chains and investing beyond China. For instance, Apple’s announcement to shift its iPhone manufacturing facilities from China to India.

What are the implications of Friendshoring?

Firstly, friendshoring may push the world towards a more isolated place for trade and reverse the gains of globalization. It is a part of the “de-globalization” process.

Secondly, one of the important things about the global supply chain is that it allows firms to manufacture goods wherever it is cheapest. Hence, the final products become more affordable and consumers are benefited. With friendshoring, there can be a change in the dynamics of the global supply chain, restricting manufacturers and ultimately increasing costs for consumers.


Indian PM gifts Italian PM a Patan Patola scarf: What is the ancient Gujarat art form

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian PM gifts Italian PM a Patan Patola scarf: What is the ancient Gujarat art form” published in Indian Express on 17th November 2022

What is the News? 

The Prime Minister of India gifted a ‘Patan Patola’ scarf to the Prime Minister of Italy at the G20 summit.

What is Patan Patola?

Source: ANI

Patola is a double ikat woven fabric, usually made from silk in Patan (North Gujarat).

Note: Ikat, or ikkat, is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employ resist dyeing on the yarns prior to dyeing and weaving the fabric.

Origin: The ancient art of Patola dates back to the 11th century. It has its origins in an intricate and difficult technique of dyeing or knot dyeing, known as ‘bandhani’, on the warp and weft separately before weaving.

GI Tag: It received a Geographical Indication(GI) tag in 2013.

Practised by: One of the major practitioners of the Patola art form is the Salvi family from North Gujarat.

Making of Patola: Patola is woven on primitive hand-operated harness looms made out of rosewood and bamboo strips. The loom lies on a slant.

– The process is labour-intensive, time-consuming, and requires a high order of skill and expertise

– Wearing a Patola is considered a matter of pride, and this fabric has largely remained inaccessible to common people because of its high price.

Significance: In 1342 AD, the foreign traveller Ibn Batuta carried patolas as gifts to many kings. They were amply used in the 17th and 18th centuries as precious gift items.


[UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #161: Suman Sharma Board, Zoology Optional, Haryana Home State,

Date of Interview: 27/02/2024 Board: Suman Sharma Maam Optional: Zoology Home State: Haryana Time: Forenoon, 2nd one to go Duration: 32 minutes DAF Keywords – Haryana, Zoology (Nothing asked from Hobby and other key words in DAF) To view all IAS Interview Transcripts 2023, visit this page Chairman What you were doing after your Post graduation?… Continue reading [UPSC Interview 2023] – Transcript #161: Suman Sharma Board, Zoology Optional, Haryana Home State,

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[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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