The changing scenario of Asia and Europe is important to consider for India, as the world geo-politics is more concerned about the Indo-pacific.
How is the geo-politics between Asia and Europe changing?
Eurasia is a geological and geopolitical term that relates in the former sense to the single enormous landmass composed of the continents of Europe and Asia and in the latter sense to the socio-political entity within that landmass whose exact borders are debated by scholars. The term is a portmanteau of the words Europe and Asia. Although the physical combination of Europe and Asia constitutes geologic Eurasia, the land boundary between those two continents is not universally agreed upon. |
How did the ties between Russia and China help in the emergence of new Eurasia?
How did the alliance between Russia and China impact Japan?
India is changing scenario:
The recent issue emerged as the Kesavananda Bharati case was questioned in view of the parliamentary sovereignty against the Constitutional provisions, and has highlighted the concerns surrounding the basic features of the Constitution.
Constitutional Supremacy vs. Parliamentary sovereignty:
Basic structure doctrine:
Checks to parliamentary sovereignty by various provisions of the constitution:
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has organised a half-day Conference on cyber security titled ‘Financial Services Cyber Security (FINSCY)’ in New Delhi.
Department of Financial Service (DFS):
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Issues of Cyber security in the financial sector:
Major Cyber Security Threats Faced in the financial sector:
Suggestive measures:
Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad, Telangana for establishing its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).
About the Centre of Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR):
Some prominent works of C4IR:
What is the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution'?
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How will it be different from the 3rd revolution?
There are 3 reasons why today's transformations represent not merely a prolongation of the 3rd Industrial Revolution but rather the arrival of a 4th and distinct one: velocity, scope, and systems impact. The speed of current breakthroughs has no historical precedent. When compared with previous industrial revolutions, the 4th is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace. Moreover, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country. And the breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance.
Pros and cons of the Fourth Industrial revolution:
Positives:
Negatives:
Farmers in Kerala continue to protest across several high ranges of the state against the Supreme Court’s recent order to establish 1 km Eco-Sensitive Zones around all protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
Who notifies them?
They are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Recent Supreme Court order on Eco-sensitive zones:
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ESZ Guidelines classify activities under three categories:
Why are people protesting against it?
Recently, researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have reported that a particular genus of plankton, namely Halteria, can ‘grow and divide given only viruses to eat’. This could be significant for the marine food chain.
We already know of other cells that can ‘consume’ viruses in an effort to destroy them — such as the macrophage cells of the human immune system. |
What is Halteria plankton?
How does Halteria consume viruses?
In the new study’s paper, the authors wrote that by also consuming viruses for nutrition, Halteria plankton can recover the nutrients lost in the viral shunt and bring them back into the food chain.
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Plankton contributes to the food chain:
International Relations (GS-II) Community Development Project (HICDP) scheme of Maldives funded by India |
In a bid to strengthen ties, India and Maldives signed pacts on development projects and held talks with the top leadership in the country. About the pact:
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Polity and Governance (GS-II) India’s population has already overtaken China’s
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According to estimates from the World Population Review, India may have already surpassed China as the world’s most-populous nation. About the Report:
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Environment (GS-III) Spot Bellied Eagle Owl spotted in Seshachalam forest of Andhra Pradesh |
A wildlife team recently stumbled upon a ‘Spot Bellied Eagle Owl’ for the first time in Seshachalam forest, and for the third time in Andhra Pradesh. About the species:
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Science and Technology (GS-III) Rare dinosaur eggs found in Narmada Valley |
A group of Indian researchers found rare cases of fossilised dinosaur eggs —among 256 newly discovered eggs from the Narmada Valley. About the study:
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Context:
The demands raised by the government:
Verifying, please be patient.