UPSC Important Topics

A SECULAR STATE ◇ The Constitution of India stands for a Secular State. Hence, it does not uphold any particular religion as the official religion of the Indian State. □ The following provisions of the Constitution reveal the secular character of the Indian State:- •  The term ‘secular’ was added to the Preamble of the […]

WISER PROGRAM ✓A first-of-its-kind programme to promote women in the field of research and development through lateral entry was launched. ✓The programme called Women’s Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) program was launched by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) for encouraging women researchers in joint R&D projects. ✓This program by IGSTC, a joint

National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR): ✓ It will help in building up a new education ecosystem that will create a digital foundation leading to self-governance of all parties involved, particularly states and the Centre. ✓ It lets educationists do evaluation based on talents and abilities, helping students understand their area of specialties that can be

GeM ✓ GeM is a one-stop National Public Procurement Portal to facilitate online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Central and State Government Departments/Organizations/Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). ✓ The procurement of goods and services by Ministries and the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) is mandatory for goods and services available on

■  Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas- ✓The Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA), the first-of-its-kind state-level bird atlas in India, has created solid baseline data about the distribution and abundance of various bird species across all major habitats giving an impetus for futuristic studies. ✓Conducted as a citizen science-driven exercise with the participation of

Kisan Credit Card The scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit for the comprehensive credit requirements of farmers under single window for their cultivation and other needs as indicated below: •To meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops •Post harvest expenses •Produce Marketing loan •Consumption requirements of farmer household •Working capital

■ HOW ARE EARTHQUAKE WAVES PRODUCED ? ◇ The abrupt release of energy along a fault (sharp break in the crustal layer) causes earthquake waves. Rock layers along a fault tend to move in opposite directions due to the force excreted on them but are held in place by counteracting frictional force exerted by the

Importance of Increasing Foreign Exchange Reserves •The government is in a comfortable position if there are rising forex reserves and the RBI in managing India’s external and internal financial issues at a time of major contraction (23.9%) in economic growth. •It Assist the government in meeting its foreign exchange needs and external debt obligations. •Appreciation

Foreign Exchange Reserves: ✓ Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies, which can include bonds, treasury bills and other government securities. ✓ It needs to be noted that most foreign exchange reserves are held in US dollars. ✓ India’s Forex Reserve include: • Foreign Currency Assets •

Floating Exchange Rate •A floating exchange rate is one that is determined by supply and demand on the open market. •A floating exchange rate doesn’t mean countries don’t try to intervene and manipulate their currency’s price, since governments and central banks regularly attempt to keep their currency price favorable for international trade. •A fixed exchange