Current affairs

Current Affairs 3rd April 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

ED Powers to Summon Context: The Supreme Court upheld the Directorate of Enforcement's extensive authority, allowing it to summon "anyone for information," while criticising four Tamil Nadu District Collectors for ignoring its summons. About Enforcement Directorate Establishment: 1956 Nodal Ministry:...

Editorial of the Day (3rd Apr): GST-A Reform Window

Context: Net direct tax collections rose by 19.9% by mid-March, reaching 97% of revised budget targets. Robust GST Performance Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection reached ₹20.18 lakh crore, a significant achievement. Gross GST revenue in March (transactions from February)...

Pannun Case, Bacground, Details and Implications

The Pannun case stands at the intersection of international intrigue, diplomatic sensitivity, and the complexities of counterterrorism efforts in the modern era. Centred around Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a figure synonymous with Khalistani separatism and controversy, this case has captured global...

Editorial of the Day (2nd Apr): SCs bar on Unregulated Soil Extraction

Context The Supreme Court revoked a 2020 Environment Ministry notification that allowed extraction of ordinary earth for linear projects like roads and railways without Environmental Clearance (EC). The exemption was initially challenged in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which directed...

Ozone Found on Jupiter’s Moon Callisto

Context: Scientists from around the world, including India, published a study in the journal Icarus detailing the discovery of ozone on Jupiter's moon Callisto. The research focused on recreating the chemical processes occurring on Callisto's surface when exposed to sunlight,...

Current Affairs 2nd April 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

VVPAT Context: The Supreme Court has sent a notice to the Election Commission (EC) regarding a writ petition demanding mandatory cross-verification of EVM counts with VVPAT slips. About Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail  (VVPAT) Introduction of VVPAT: The Indian government...

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for Persons Living with HIV in India

Context: April 1 marked 20 years since the launch of Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) in India. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of medications used to treat HIV infection. HIV is...

Katchatheevu Island, Location, Historical Context

Context: Prime Minister Modi criticised the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974 by the then Indira Gandhi Government. About Katchatheevu Island Geographical Location: Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island in the Palk Strait, positioned northeast of Rameswaram (India)...

Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM)

In News: Election Commission (EC) has developed a prototype of a remote electronic voting machine (RVM) for domestic migrant voters. Need for Remote Voting Stagnation in voter turnout: About 30 crore electors were not exercising their franchise, apart from differential...

Election Commission Launches Know Your Candidate App for Voters

Know Your Candidate App In a democracy, the power of the people lies in their ability to make informed decisions during elections. Recognizing this fundamental principle, the Election Commission of India has taken a significant step towards enhancing transparency and...