UPSC Important Topics

PRET Initiative ✓The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Initiative was launched by the WHO and operates under the aegis of the INTERNATIONAL health regulations ( IHR) 2005, which is a critical international legal instrument for managing public health emergencies. ✓The initiative was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held […]

Good Samaritan Scheme •The Road Transport and Highways Ministry announced this scheme so that taking a road crash victim to hospital is not just hassle-free but there is also the incentive of a reward and recognition. •Historically, Indians are reluctant in taking victims to hospital because of associated legal processes and investigations that follow. •To

PM’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE) ✓It will fund infrastructure, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti, and social development projects based on felt needs of the northeast. ✓This will enable livelihood activities for youth and women, filling the gaps in various sectors. ✓While the Central Ministries may also pose their candidate projects, priority will

MPLAD Scheme •The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a program first launched during the Narasimha Rao Government in 1993. •It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by Government of India. •It was aimed towards providing funds for developmental works recommended by individual MPs. Funds available •The MPs then were entitled

Challenges faced by the Mudra  scheme: ✓High non-performing assets or bad loans ✓Limited funds that cannot keep up with the pace of demand ✓Regional disparities in the distribution of benefits ✓Lack of financial literacy among beneficiaries leading to defaults ✓Limited outreach to rural entrepreneurs ✓Collateral requirements for loans above a certain amount make it difficult

Seismic Zones in India ▪️ There are four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V) in India based on scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past and tectonic setup of the region. ▪️ Previously, earthquake zones were divided into five zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes but the Bureau

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 overlying

India-France ∆Security and Defence Relations ✓Regular exchange of visits at the level of Services Chiefs takes place. ✓The three services also have regular defence exercises; viz. Exercise Shakti (Army); Exercise Varuna (Navy); Exercise Garuda (Air Force. ✓The Varuna exercise has been taking place since 1983. ✓Apart from service-level staff talks, the two sides have a

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Programme ✅ Cultural Mapping: The process involves identification and mapping the cultural assets and art repositories of the nation i.e., art expressions, crafts and skills, wisdom tradition and other cultural practices whether oral, aural, visual or kinetic. ✅Information about the ritual, social and economic status of artists and craftsmen within the

Related Steps Taken  for Rare Earth metals ✅Globally: Multilateral Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) (est. 2022) by various countries (US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, EU, Japan, etc) (not India) to build robust critical minerals supply chains needed for climate objectives. ✅India: Amendment in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2021 (no mine will