Why in the News? Assessments of the health impacts of the non-sugar sweetener aspartame have been released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives Read More
Context: A team of doctors from Tamil Nadu along with scientists from Japan have developed a disease-modifying treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD): DMD is a genetic disorder that is characterized by growing muscle degeneration and weakness. Cause: It is caused due to the DMD gene failing to produce Read More
Context: India has been experiencing the double burden of two debilitating and severe epidemics – type 2 diabetes (a.k.a. diabetes mellitus, DM) and tuberculosis (TB). The figures for both are staggering. Current Status: India has around 74.2 million people living with diabetes while TB affects 2.6 million Indians every year. Link Read More
Context: ISRO is set to launch the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft using the LVM3 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. About: Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission as well as second attempt to achieve a soft landing of a robotic lander on the moon’s surface. If the Read More
Context Recently, the Rajasthan Government has announced the minimum income guarantee to provide social security to citizens of the state. Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023: The new bill is part of government’s efforts to provide social security to citizens of the State. Aim: The Rajasthan government plans to Read More
Context Prime Minister of India is going to be the Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day parade in Paris. The visit coincides with 25 years of the oldest among India’s almost 30 strategic partnerships around the world —since the two nations committed themselves to it in 1998. France commemorates Read More
Context: Recently, the Indian Prime Minister arrived in Paris on a two-day official visit. Significance of France for India Thriving Relationship: Year 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of India-France strategic partnership. Two countries cooperate closely across various domains, including defence, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, Read More
Context According to the latest update, Russia is consolidating its position as the world’s top wheat exporter, even as Ukraine’s shipments are projected to more than halve from their peak and production plunge to a 11-year-low. This is a point of concern for countries Read More
Context: Indian government is looking at resuming operations of state-run ONGC Videsh Ltd’s (OVL) hydrocarbon exploration block in Iraq, which has been under force majeure since 2003. Image Source: BBC More on News: ‘Block 20’, earlier known as Block 8, is a large on-land exploration block in Read More
Context June-August 2023 marks the sapphire jubilee (65th anniversary) of the exploration of the Siachen glacier held for the first time in 1958. During the geological surevy, a number was assigned to Siachen glacier by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), i.e. ‘5Q 131 05 084’. What Read More