Latest News
Dec 1, 2021
Over 6 lakh Indians have given up Indian citizenship since 2017, govt informs Parliament
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that more than six lakh Indians renounced citizenship in the past five years.
Criteria for getting Indian citizenship
Transmission:
Treatments:
Core industries
Key Findings:
Coinage of Gupta Period:
The coins belonging to the Kushanas were divided in two categories:
Prithviraj Chauhan:
An international team of researchers has discovered a new marine reptile named Kyhytysuka sachicarum.
Features of the Species:
Recently, an Indian researcher has developed a unique innovation of a prototype of Smart Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCLs)
Criteria for getting Indian citizenship
- Indian citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration, and naturalization.
- The conditions and procedure for the acquisition of Indian citizenship as per the provision of the Citizenship Act, 1955 are given below:
- By Birth:
- A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents.
- A person born in India on or after 1st July 1987 but before 3rd December 2004 is considered a citizen of India by birth.
- If either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
- A person born in India on or after 3rd December 2004 is considered a citizen of India by birth.
- If both the parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of his birth.
- By Descent
- A person born outside India shall be deemed to be a citizen of India
- If either of the person’s parents was a citizen of India at the time of his/her birth.
- The birth is registered within one year of its occurrence or commencement of the Act, whichever is later, at the Indian consulate.
- A person born outside India shall be deemed to be a citizen of India
- Citizenship by registration:
- A person may be registered as a citizen of India
- If the person is married to a citizen of India or has been a resident of India for five years immediately before making an application for registration.
- A person may be registered as a citizen of India
- Citizenship by naturalization:
- A person is granted a certificate of naturalization
- If the person is not an illegal migrant.
- The person resided in India for 12 months before making an application to seek the certificate.
- Of the 14 years preceding this 12-months duration, the person must have stayed in India for 11 years.
- A person is granted a certificate of naturalization
- Citizenship by incorporation of territory:
- If any new territory becomes a part of India, the government of India shall specify the persons of the territory to be citizens of India.
- If the central government believes that an applicant is a person who has rendered distinguished service to the cause of science, philosophy, art, literature, or world peace.
- Then Government may waive all or any conditions specified to attain Indian citizenship.
- If any new territory becomes a part of India, the government of India shall specify the persons of the territory to be citizens of India.
- By Birth:
- The Indian constitution doesn’t have a permanent provision relating to citizenship in India.
- Constitution simply describes categories of persons who are deemed to be citizens of India.
- Article 11 of the Indian Constitution confers power on the parliament to make laws regarding citizenship.
- The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955 was enacted in the exercise of this provision.
- The Citizenship Act (1955) prescribes three ways of losing citizenship that are:
- By Renunciation
- Any citizen of India of full age and capacity can make a declaration renouncing his Indian citizenship.
- Upon the registration of that declaration, that person ceases to be a citizen of India.
- when a person renounces his Indian citizenship, every minor child of that person also loses Indian citizenship.
- By Termination
- When an Indian citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically terminates.
- This provision, however, does not apply during a war in which India is engaged.
- By Deprivation
- It is a compulsory termination of Indian citizenship by the Central government, if:
- The citizen has obtained citizenship by fraud.
- The citizen has shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India:
- The citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war;
- The citizen has, within five years after registration or naturalization, been imprisoned in any country for two years;
- The citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for seven years Continuously.
- It is a compulsory termination of Indian citizenship by the Central government, if:
- By Renunciation
- Theme 2021- End inequalities, End AIDS
- It is a virus that attacks cells of immune system.
- HIV attacks a specific type of immune system cell called CD4 helper cell or T cell.
- It leads to the disease AIDS if left untreated.
- It is the late stage of HIV infection.
- It occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.
Transmission:
- Through unprotected sex with a person with HIV.
- By sharing drug needles
- Through contact with the blood of a person with HIV.
- From mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
- Fever
- Chills
- Rash
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Mouth ulcers
Treatments:
- There is no cure for HIV infection, but it can be treated with medicines.
- ART (antiretroviral therapy) can make HIV infection a manageable chronic condition.
- It reduces the risk of spreading the virus to others.
- PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)-
- It is for people who don't already have HIV but are at very high risk.
- It is a daily medicine that can reduce this risk.
- PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)-
- It is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV.
- It is only for emergency situations.
- India has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world
- It is estimated to have 23.49 lakh people living with HIV in India.
- The High Prevalent States
- Manipur (1.15%)
- Mizoram (0.80%)
- Nagaland (0.78%)
- Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (0.66%)
- Karnataka (0.45%)
- Gujarat (0.42%) and Goa (0.40%
- New infections are declined by 27% between 2010 and 2017.
- AIDS-related deaths are declined by 56%.
- HIV prevalence is higher among men than women.
- 0.25% of men and 0.19% of women
- It is a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of HIV/ AIDS in India.
- Launched- 1992
- Aim- To focus on increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS.
- NACP I
- Launched- 1992
- Objective-
- To slow down the spread of HIV infections.
- To reduce morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS in the country.
- NACP II
- Launched- 1992
- It was a 100% Centrally sponsored scheme
- Objective- to increase India’s capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis.
- NACP III
- Launched- 2007
- Objective-
- Strengthening the infrastructure, systems and human resources.
- To halt and reverse the epidemic over its five-year period.
- People who need access to ART will also be assured first line ARV drugs.
- NACP IV
- Launched- 2012
- Objective-
- Reduce new infections by 50% (2007 Baseline of NACP III)
- Provide comprehensive care and support.
Core industries
- The key industries that constitute the core sectors of an economy are called core industries.
- In India, there are eight sectors that are considered the core sectors.
- They include electricity, steel, refinery products, crude oil, coal, cement, natural gas and fertilizers.
- These sectors have a major impact on the Indian economy and significantly affect most other industries as well.
- The eight industries have a combined share of 40.27 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which gives the growth rates of different industry groups in a specified period.
- Before the IIP is released, the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) is prepared every month and released by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA).
- ICI Objectives:
- To give an indication of the production performance of the industries which are of a ‘core’ nature.
- To measures the individual and collective performances of the production in these eight core industries.
- Components to calculate the ICI:
- Coal – Coal production, excluding Coking coal.
- Electricity – Electricity generation of thermal, nuclear, hydro, imports from Bhutan.
- Crude Oil – Total crude oil production.
- Cement – Production in large plants and mini plants.
- Natural Gas – Total production of natural gas.
- Steel – Production of alloy and non-alloy steel only.
- Refinery Products – Total refinery production.
- Fertilizer – Urea, ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate, complex grade fertilizer, and single superphosphate, among others.
- It is an index which shows the growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a stipulated period of time.
- The IIP index is computed and published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on a monthly basis.
- IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:
- Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity
- Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods and Intermediate Goods.
- Currently IIP figures are calculated considering 2011-12 as base year.
- India’s average rural wage: INR 315.3
- Top 3 states/UT: Kerala (677.6), Jammu & Kashmir (483) and Tamil Nadu (449.5)
- India’s average rural wage: INR 309.9
- Top 3 states/UT: Kerala (706.5), J&K (501.1) and Tamil Nadu (432.2).
- India’s average rural wage: INR 362.2
- Top 3 states/UT: Kerala (829.7), J&K (492.6) and Tamil Nadu (468.3).
- Migrant workers are the main workforce in Kerala.
- GDP is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced within a country during a period of time.
- GDP provides an economic snapshot of a country, used to estimate the size of an economy and growth rate.
- GDP can be calculated in three ways, using expenditures, production, or incomes.
- It can be adjusted for inflation and population to provide deeper insights.
- Types of Gross Domestic Product are:
- Nominal GDP:
- Nominal GDP is calculated with inflation.
- The prices of goods and services are calculated at current price levels.
- Real GDP:
- Real GDP is a calculation of GDP that is adjusted for inflation.
- Real GDP is considered the most accurate portrayal of a country’s economy and economic growth rate.
- Actual GDP:
- Actual GDP is the measurement of a country’s economy at the current moment in time.
- Potential GDP:
- Potential GDP is a calculation of a country’s economy under ideal conditions, like a steady currency, low inflation, and full employment.
- Nominal GDP:
- Formula for Calculating GDP
- GDP = C + I + G +S (X – M) (Where C= Private consumption, I= Gross private investment, G= Government investment S= government spending, X=Export, and M=Import)
- GVA is an economic productivity metric that measures the contribution of a corporate subsidiary, company, or municipality to an economy, producer, sector, or region.
- GVA is the output of the country less the intermediate consumption, which is the difference between gross output and net output.
- It is important because it is used to adjust GDP, which is a key indicator of the state of a nation's total economy.
- It can also be used to measure how much money a product or service has contributed toward meeting a company's fixed costs.
- Formulae for GVA
- It is the apex organization of the Ministry of Water Resources dealing with ground water and related issues.
- It periodically monitors the ground water levels throughout the Country including metro cities on a regional scale.
- It monitors the wells and measures water four times a year during January, March, April, May, August and November.
- 33% of the wells monitored have registered decline in ground water levels.
- Decline of more than 4.0 m has also been observed in few pockets of Delhi, Chennai, Indore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Vijayawada, Dehradun, Jaipur, Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
- Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019.
- Aim: To improve water availability including ground water conditions in the water stressed blocks of 256 districts in India.
- Ministry of Jal Shakti has taken up the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA: CTR) with the theme “Catch the Rain - Where it Falls When it Falls”
- Aim: To cover all the blocks of all districts across the country for focusing on saving and conserving rainwater.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana is being implemented in several water stressed areas.
- Aim: sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation.
- National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM) is being implemented by CGWB.
- It is a part of Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM & R) Scheme, a Central Sector scheme.
- Aim: To facilitate sustainable management of ground water resources through:
- Mapping and characterization of aquifers (water bearing formations)
- Development of Aquifer Management Plans
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in consultation with States/UTs has prepared ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater - 2020’.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
- Aim: To support artificial groundwater recharge/water harvesting works in the country.
- The Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resource is contributed by two major sources – rainfall and surface runoff.
- The overall contribution of rainfall to country’s Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resource is 67% and the share of other sources taken together is 33%.
- The status of ground water development is comparatively high in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and UT of Daman & Diu and Pondicherry.
- Stage of Ground Water Development is more than 100%,
- It also implies that these states the average annual ground water consumption is more than average annual ground water recharge.
- In the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh the average stage of ground water development is 70%and above.
- In rest of the states / UT's the stage of ground water development is below 70%.
- The water table is under critical zones in two-third villages of Rajasthan due to scanty rainfall and geographical location of the state.
- Frequent pumping of water from the ground.
- Continuous extraction of groundwater from aquifers
- Aquifers are the underground water reserves such as saturated rocks that absorb water and hold it, enabling us to pump it for use.
- Continuous extraction of groundwater from aquifers
- Agricultural needs require a large amount of groundwater.
- Presence of massive cultivation of water-intensive crops in India.
- MSP (minimum support price) is provided to these crops, which increases their cultivation.
- Power subsidies given to the farmers also cause decline in the underground water levels.
- Natural reasons like change in climate patterns can also speed up the groundwater depletion.
- Lack of proper laws and regulation
- Lack of an efficient rain water harvesting mechanism.
Key Findings:
- Evidence of human settlement was found in the place and there are indications of religious site as well.
- Nagara-style temple of stones was located as well.
- Evidence of pillar and other material related to the base of the construction has been found.
- The habitation existed between the 4th and 89th Century AD.
- 33 coins were found.
- The coins are Indo-Sasanian coins of Sri-ha type and belonged to 7th C.
- The artifices were of post-Gupta era.
- The bricks found suggest they belonged to the Kushan era.
- Indo-Sasanian coinage belongs to the post-Gupta Empire period, in the areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan and in the Gangetic region from 6th to 12th century CE.
- These coins were derived from three Sasanian prototypes, which were introduced in western India by the Alchon Huns.
- The Alchon Huns were nomadic people who established states in Central Asia and South Asia during 4th and 6th century CE.
- This coinage was evolved during various polities of Western India succeeding the collapse of the Gupta Empire from 530 CE to 1202 CE.
- The design of fire altar with or without two attendants appears as a geometrical motif on this type of coinage.
- These coins were derived from the Sasanians in the Gangetic region.
- These coins depicted the images of the rulers like Vigrahapala, and the Pratihara ruler Bhoja I.
Coinage of Gupta Period:
- Gupta coinage is among the most beautiful of ancient India.
- The Gupta monarchs or the Gupta rulers were famous for their gold coins. They also used silver coins.
- The Gupta gold coins were known as Dinars.
- The coins depicted the ruling monarch on the obverse while the reverse depicted the figure of a goddess.
- The Gupta rulers hold a spear, standard, battle-ax, bow and a sword.
- On some coins of Samudragupta and Kumaragupta I, the king is shown seated on a couch playing Veena.
- These coins were issued to pay a graceful tribute to the king’s accomplishments.
- Gold coins issued by the Gupta rulers facilitated long-distance transactions from which kings also benefited.
The coins belonging to the Kushanas were divided in two categories:
- The coins issued by the early Kushanas when their yueh-chi inclination was strong.
- A Nomadic Tribe known as Yueh-chi, left their homeland on the Chinese frontier early in the second century B.C.E.
- Their successors spread their rule in the regions of northern India.
- The coinage inaugurated by Wima Kadphises, who consolidated the Kushana empire.
- The kushanas issued the largest hoards of gold coins first gold coins in first century CE.
- These were virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran.
- They have been found from several sites in north India and Central Asia.
- Kushanas coined the precious metals of gold and copper into circular shapes and design.
- Their original coins had the king figuring on obverse and some deity, preferably Greek God on the reverse.
- All these coins are bilingual having Greek inscriptions on the obverse and Kharosthi on the reverse.
- Coins were belonged to, the era of Rajput king Prithvi raj Chauhan from the late 12th century AD.
- A bull and a horseman were engraved on them.
Prithviraj Chauhan:
- He was the Rajput warrior king of the Chauhan clan.
- He ruled present-day north-western India.
- Capital- Ajayameru (modern Ajmer).
- He was also known as Rai Pithora.
- Chand Bardai was his court poet who wrote Prithviraj Raso.
- It is epic poem about the life of king Prithviraj Chauhan.
- He ascended the throne in 1177.
- He was expert in Shabdabedi baan vidya which means he could shoot arrows without seeing just with help of sound.
- He defeated Chandel ruler of Mahoba in 1182.
- He fought against Chalukyas and Guhadwats of Kannauj.
- He successfully attacked Kannauj and married princess Sanyogita, daughter of King Jaya Chand.
- He fought two major battles:
- First Battle of Tarain, 1191
- Fought between the Ghurids (Mohammad Ghori) against the Chahamanas (Prithiviraj Chauhan) and their allies near Tarain, Haryana.
- Prithiviraj Chauhan defeated the Mohammad Ghori.
- Second Battle of Tarain, 1192
- Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithiviraj Chauhan
- Chauhan was captured and taken as a prisoner.
- The battle marked a landmark event in the Islamic conquest of India.
- First Battle of Tarain, 1191
An international team of researchers has discovered a new marine reptile named Kyhytysuka sachicarum.
Features of the Species:
- It was discovered in Colombia.
- It belongs to a species called Platypterygius Sachicarum.
- It is one of the last surviving ichthyosaurs.
- Ichthyosaurs are ancient animals that look like swordfish.
- It has 1-m-long skull.
- It has a unique dentition that allow it to eat large prey like big fishes and other marine reptiles.
Recently, an Indian researcher has developed a unique innovation of a prototype of Smart Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCLs)
- SFCLs are devices that help to protect power grids from short circuits.
- Aim: To reduce Short-circuit situations that often occur in power distribution networks like power grids, resulting in huge current surges that can damage the power grids
- Benefits: High-precision, Fast-response, and Energy efficient.
- Superconductor :An element inter-metallic alloy, or compound that will conduct electricity without resistance below a certain temperature called critical temperature (Tc). Resistance is undesirable because it produces losses in the energy flowing through the material.
POSTED ON 01-12-2021 BY ADMIN
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General Studies
Political Science and International Relations
Some Reference Essays
List of previous year essay topics (1997-2019)
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