🔳Romania, Bulgaria will join EU's Schengen area on January 1, 2025
#currentaffairs #UPSC #PSC #IR #prelims
#currentaffairs #UPSC #PSC #IR #prelims
🔳3 Indians Shine On Forbes' 2024 World's Most Powerful Women List
◼️Forbes 2024 list of The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women features three Indians Nirmala Sitharaman, Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
◼️The number 28 on the list is Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman.
◼️Ranked 81st on the list, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the Chairperson of HCL Technologies, one of India's leading IT services firms, and CEO of HCL Corporation.
◼️Ranked 82nd in Forbes' Power Women list and 91st among India's richest individuals in 2024, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has earned her place as a trailblazer in biotechnology. She is the founder and chairperson of Biocon, a biopharmaceutical company she established in 1978.
#currentaffairs #UPSC #PSC #rank #prelims
◼️Forbes 2024 list of The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women features three Indians Nirmala Sitharaman, Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
◼️The number 28 on the list is Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman.
◼️Ranked 81st on the list, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the Chairperson of HCL Technologies, one of India's leading IT services firms, and CEO of HCL Corporation.
◼️Ranked 82nd in Forbes' Power Women list and 91st among India's richest individuals in 2024, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has earned her place as a trailblazer in biotechnology. She is the founder and chairperson of Biocon, a biopharmaceutical company she established in 1978.
#currentaffairs #UPSC #PSC #rank #prelims
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🔳India's dope testing lab gets WADA approval for biological passport
◼️This allows the NDTL to manage the biological profiles of athletes, enhance anti-doping efforts and promote fair play.
◼️With this, India has joined the 17 countries that have such a unit, which will also help neighbouring countries.
#currentaffairs #UPPSC #PSC #prelims
◼️This allows the NDTL to manage the biological profiles of athletes, enhance anti-doping efforts and promote fair play.
◼️With this, India has joined the 17 countries that have such a unit, which will also help neighbouring countries.
#currentaffairs #UPPSC #PSC #prelims
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🔳 Odisha will be the theme state in the International Surajkund Fair
◼️It has been formally announced by the Haryana Tourism Department
◼️ Odisha has been made the theme state for the second time
The Surajkund International Fair is held every year near the Surajkund Lake in the Aravalli valleys.
◼️ The first fair was organized in 1987
◼️ Even before this, Odisha had been the theme state of Surajkund Mela in 1993
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #art_and_culture
◼️It has been formally announced by the Haryana Tourism Department
◼️ Odisha has been made the theme state for the second time
The Surajkund International Fair is held every year near the Surajkund Lake in the Aravalli valleys.
◼️ The first fair was organized in 1987
◼️ Even before this, Odisha had been the theme state of Surajkund Mela in 1993
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #art_and_culture
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Critical Minerals
✅A mineral is labelled as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is relatively higher than the other raw materials.
✅The risk of supply shortage would ideally capture import dependence, recycling potential, and substitutability of these minerals.
✅The Centre for Socio and Economic Progress (CSEP) in its paper “Assessing the Criticality of Minerals in India” (2023) evaluated the criticality of minerals in India based on two dimensions:
🔸economic importance for the Indian economy and
🔸supply risks.
#geography #UPSC #PSC
✅A mineral is labelled as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is relatively higher than the other raw materials.
✅The risk of supply shortage would ideally capture import dependence, recycling potential, and substitutability of these minerals.
✅The Centre for Socio and Economic Progress (CSEP) in its paper “Assessing the Criticality of Minerals in India” (2023) evaluated the criticality of minerals in India based on two dimensions:
🔸economic importance for the Indian economy and
🔸supply risks.
#geography #UPSC #PSC
🔳 PM Modi laid the foundation stone of India's first Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, which is being developed by NTPC Green Energy.
◼️The first Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam is being set up by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
◼️The Hub will produce 1500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen and 7500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen derivatives like Green Methanol, Green Urea
◼️The hub will also include establishing 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacities.
◼️The Green Hydrogen Hub will help in achieving the National National Green Hydrogen Mission target of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum of Green Hydrogen and the addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #environment #economics
◼️The first Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam is being set up by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
◼️The Hub will produce 1500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen and 7500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen derivatives like Green Methanol, Green Urea
◼️The hub will also include establishing 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacities.
◼️The Green Hydrogen Hub will help in achieving the National National Green Hydrogen Mission target of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum of Green Hydrogen and the addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #environment #economics
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🔳 China successfully launched Pakistani satellite 'PRSC-EO1' into space
◼️China has been launching satellites for Pakistan for the past few years, further expanding their evergreen alliance in the space sector.
◼️Last year, China launched a multi-mission communications satellite for Pakistan.
◾️In 2018, China put two Pakistani satellites into orbit. PRSS-1, Pakistan's first optical remote sensing satellite, and PakTES-1A, a small observation vehicle.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #space
◼️China has been launching satellites for Pakistan for the past few years, further expanding their evergreen alliance in the space sector.
◼️Last year, China launched a multi-mission communications satellite for Pakistan.
◾️In 2018, China put two Pakistani satellites into orbit. PRSS-1, Pakistan's first optical remote sensing satellite, and PakTES-1A, a small observation vehicle.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #space
🔳 4th edition of La Perouse
◼️The Indian Navy is participating in this mega war game along with the navies of eight countries including the US and France
◾️ This naval exercise is going on in the Malacca Sunda and Lombok Strait between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
◾️ The 9-day exercise, which began on January 16, aims to enhance cooperation among the participating countries in the field of maritime surveillance air operations and information sharing
◾️ The French Carrier Strike Group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the mainstay of this mega exercise
◾️India, America, France, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Britain are participating in the exercise
◾️India's indigenous missile destroyer INS Mumbai is part of it
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #defence
◼️The Indian Navy is participating in this mega war game along with the navies of eight countries including the US and France
◾️ This naval exercise is going on in the Malacca Sunda and Lombok Strait between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
◾️ The 9-day exercise, which began on January 16, aims to enhance cooperation among the participating countries in the field of maritime surveillance air operations and information sharing
◾️ The French Carrier Strike Group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the mainstay of this mega exercise
◾️India, America, France, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Britain are participating in the exercise
◾️India's indigenous missile destroyer INS Mumbai is part of it
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #defence
◾️Deccan Volcanism, a major event of volcanic eruptions which occurred ~66 million years ago and led to mass extinctions of fauna, did not have such negative impact on tropical flora, says a new study.
◾️A study by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, suggests that despite highly devastating consequences for terrestrial faunas (dinosaurs, in particular), the Deccan Volcanism only caused regional and short-term impacts on the flora.
#UPSC #PSC #geography #prelims
◾️A study by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, suggests that despite highly devastating consequences for terrestrial faunas (dinosaurs, in particular), the Deccan Volcanism only caused regional and short-term impacts on the flora.
#UPSC #PSC #geography #prelims
🔳 India became the 7th largest coffee producer in the world
◼️The exports reached $1.29 billion in the last financial year.
◼️This is almost double the exports of $719 million in 2020-21, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release.
◼️The ministry also said that India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee in the first half of this month, with Italy, Belgium and Russia being the top buyers.
◼️ Karnataka leads in coffee production, contributing 248,000 metric tonnes in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #geography
◼️The exports reached $1.29 billion in the last financial year.
◼️This is almost double the exports of $719 million in 2020-21, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release.
◼️The ministry also said that India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee in the first half of this month, with Italy, Belgium and Russia being the top buyers.
◼️ Karnataka leads in coffee production, contributing 248,000 metric tonnes in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #geography
🔆 Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb Islands
📍 Location
✅ The Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb islands are located in the eastern Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route.
✅ Abu Musa is another strategically important island in the region.
📍 Recent Context
✅ Iran has summoned China's ambassador to protest a joint China-UAE statement regarding the sovereignty of these islands.
✅ Iran has held control over these islands since 1971, a move that has been contested by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
📍 Significance
✅ Strategic Importance: Proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil supply passes.
✅ Geopolitical Tensions: Sovereignty disputes highlight the region's sensitive geopolitical dynamics.
📍 Current Status
✅ Despite claims by the UAE, the islands remain under Iranian control, adding to the complexity of regional diplomacy.
#UPSC #PSC #currentaffairs #prelims #geography
📍 Location
✅ The Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb islands are located in the eastern Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route.
✅ Abu Musa is another strategically important island in the region.
📍 Recent Context
✅ Iran has summoned China's ambassador to protest a joint China-UAE statement regarding the sovereignty of these islands.
✅ Iran has held control over these islands since 1971, a move that has been contested by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
📍 Significance
✅ Strategic Importance: Proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil supply passes.
✅ Geopolitical Tensions: Sovereignty disputes highlight the region's sensitive geopolitical dynamics.
📍 Current Status
✅ Despite claims by the UAE, the islands remain under Iranian control, adding to the complexity of regional diplomacy.
#UPSC #PSC #currentaffairs #prelims #geography
🔳 Critics Choice 2025 Awards: 'Anora' won the Best Film Award; 'Emilia Perez', 'Wicked' and 'The Substance' won 3 awards each
📌 2025 Critics' Choice Awards:
📌 Best Film: Anora
🔹 Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
🔹Best Actress: Demi Moore (The Substance)
🔹 Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
◼️ Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez) TV Awards:
🔹 Shogun took the top spot with 4 awards, including Best Drama Series.
🔹Hacks won 3 awards including Best Comedy Series.
🔹 Baby Reindeer won the award for best limited series.
#UPSC #PSC #currentaffairs #prelims #awards
📌 2025 Critics' Choice Awards:
📌 Best Film: Anora
🔹 Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
🔹Best Actress: Demi Moore (The Substance)
🔹 Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
◼️ Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez) TV Awards:
🔹 Shogun took the top spot with 4 awards, including Best Drama Series.
🔹Hacks won 3 awards including Best Comedy Series.
🔹 Baby Reindeer won the award for best limited series.
#UPSC #PSC #currentaffairs #prelims #awards
◼️Share of states in national GDP (in percentage)
◼️Despite having the highest GDP, Maharashtra ranks 16th among 19 states in terms of capital expenditure
◼️Top 5 States-
🔹Maharashtra 12.9%
🔹Tamil Nadu 9.4 %
🔹Gujarat 8.5%
🔹Uttar Pradesh 8.1%
🔹Karnataka 7.7%
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #economics
◼️Despite having the highest GDP, Maharashtra ranks 16th among 19 states in terms of capital expenditure
◼️Top 5 States-
🔹Maharashtra 12.9%
🔹Tamil Nadu 9.4 %
🔹Gujarat 8.5%
🔹Uttar Pradesh 8.1%
🔹Karnataka 7.7%
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #economics