Recently, the French government announced that the practice of wearing abaya would be banned in state-run schools as it violated the principle of Laïcité, which is the French idea of secularism.
What is the meaning of Laïcité?
Origin Laïcité, a product of the struggle of anti-clerical Republicans against the power of the Catholic Church, was an abstract idea following the French Revolution in 1789. |
How Secularism is managed in a nation of 1.25 billion people?
Secularism in India vs. the Western World: A Comparative Exploration
|
Western Secularism |
Indian Secularism |
Definition |
|
|
Basis |
|
|
Historical Evolution |
|
|
Legal Framework |
|
|
The Centre proposed before the Supreme Court forming a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan States.
What is the need?
What is carrying capacity?
Are hill stations not prepared?
Why carrying capacity is out of focus?
Although carrying capacity has been taught in planning schools, it has rarely been used by urban planners while planning for cities’ development. It is due to:
Toyota recently unveiled a prototype of the Innova Hycross with a flex-fuel hybrid powertrain, its first car in India with this option, and one that the Japanese carmaker claims is the world’s first BS6 Stage II-compliant flex-fuel vehicle.
What is flex fuel technology?
Hycross prototype
|
Key Components of a Flex Fuel Car
How flex fuel cars work?
Advantages of Flex-Fuel |
Disadvantages of Flex-Fuel |
|
|
Invasive species are costing the world at least $423bn every year and have become a leading threat to the diversity of life on Earth, according to a UN assessment.
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
|
Key-highlights of the Report
What is invasive species?
List of invasive flora and fauna in India
Name |
State / Region |
Native to |
African apple snail |
Andaman and Nicobar |
|
Papaya Mealy Bug |
Assam |
Mexico and Central America, |
Cotton Mealy Bug |
Deccan |
North America |
Amazon sailfin catfish |
West Bengal |
|
Black Wattle |
Western Ghats |
South East Australia |
Water Hyacinth |
It is found throughout India |
Tropical America |
Black Mimosa |
Himalaya, Western Ghats |
Tropical North America |
Parthenium/ Congress grass, Parthenium |
It is found throughout India |
Tropical North America |
Cannibal Snail / Rosy wolf snail |
– |
Native to the southeastern United States. |
Indian Bullfrog |
Andaman and Nicobar |
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan |
Lantana camara |
In the Bandipur National Park, Karnataka |
South America |
Additional examples:
In a recent study published in the journal Science, an international team of scientists has shed new light on the “Atlantification” of the Arctic Ocean. This phenomenon explains the trend in Arctic Ocean sea ice loss that seems to have plateaued since 2007.
Key-highlights of the Study
Arctic Dipole
|
Major Layers of the Arctic Ocean
What factor is responsible for maintaining the layered structure?
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been bestowed with the status of a deemed-to-be university.
What is a deemed university?
About NCERT
|
The PMJDY has completed nine years recently.
About PMJDY
Progress so far
|
The Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), recently, distributed toolkits and machinery to artisans in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, as part of the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana.
About Gramodyog Vikas Yojana:
About KVIC
|
The finance ministry notifed that imports of LPG, liquified propane and liquified butane have been fully exempted from Agriculture Infrastructure Development cess (AIDC).
What is AIDC?
Cess is a kind of special-purpose tax which is levied over and above basic tax rates. |
The annual training exercise, Trishul, of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Western Air Command (WAC) began.
Key-highlights
The Delhi zoo now houses a new animal species – the stump-tailed macaque.
Context
India's 2023 G20 presidency is a historic pivot in global governance, emphasizing the theme "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "The world is one family." This presidency reflects India's efforts to revive, reform, and defend globalisation while prioritizing the concerns of the Global South.
Democratisation and Decentralisation of Global Economy:
Reforming Global Finance and Fostering Inclusivity:
The Global South's Redefined Role:
Context
The current era is marked by moral decay, where leaders fail to uphold their pledges, majoritarianism thrives, and communal harmony is overshadowed by political divisions. A sense of justice, freedom, and humanism seems distant as societal values shift.
Erosion of Moral Values
Decline in Compassion and Justice
Normalization of Injustice
Context
The 'one nation one election' proposal by the Indian government is being criticized as deeply flawed and unfeasible. Arguments are being made that the government's reasons for pushing this proposal are fallacious and suggests that it is merely a distraction from other pressing issues.
Flawed Proposal and Fallacious Reasons
Attack on Federalism and Misleading Arguments
Impractical and Ideological Divide
Context
Given the interconnection between gender equality and environmental goals, addressing both issues together can accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Disproportionate Impact on Women
Gender-Specific Challenges
Empowering Women for Climate Resilience
Verifying, please be patient.