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Amid high tensions with Israel, Iran’s missile programme comes into focus

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 15) Topic: GS2 – International Relations Context ● Iran’s missile programme, long seen as a key element of its defence, faced scrutiny after a largely unsuccessful April 2024 assault on Israel. ● Despite launching hundreds of projectiles, many failed or were intercepted, raising questions about…

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Kavach expansion: Railways floats tenders worth over ₹2,200 crore

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 12) Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy –  Infrastructure –  Railways Context ● Indian Railways has initiated tenders worth over ₹2,200 crore for the installation of the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system across 7,228 route kilometres. ● The move aims to enhance safety by preventing…

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The harm principle: how John Mill’s theory defines the extent of liberty

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 11) Topic: GS4 – Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude Context ● John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty introduces the harm principle, arguing that individual freedoms should only be restricted to prevent harm to others. ● His theory advocates for minimal state intervention in personal liberties while recognizing…

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Cabinet approves one more semiconductor unit under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2050859 ) Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy, GS2 – Governance Context ● The Union Cabinet approved Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd’s Rs 3,300 crore investment to set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, with a capacity of 60 lakh chips per day. ● This unit is part of India’s broader semiconductor ecosystem development…

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West Bengal Proposes Death Penalty for Severe Rape Cases in New Aparajita Woman and Child Bill

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Govt & Politics; Page: 05) Topic: GS2 – Governance Context: The West Bengal government has introduced the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024 to create a safer environment for women and children by imposing stricter penalties for rape and sexual offenses. This Bill is…

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Union Cabinet Approves ₹2,817 Crore Digital Agriculture Mission to Revolutionize Farming with Advanced Digital Infrastructure

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 12) Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government Policies Context: The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹2,817 crore Digital Agriculture Mission aimed at creating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agriculture sector. This mission seeks to revolutionize farming through advanced technology and digital solutions.  Analysis of News:               Mission Components AgriStack:…

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Use of regional languages in HCs remains limited

Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity – Judiciary (Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 5 Context ● There is a growing movement to use regional languages in High Court proceedings to make justice more accessible. ● Despite constitutional provisions allowing this, its implementation remains limited due to concerns about language proficiency among…

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Hectic negotiations on for control of House panels

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 5) Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity Context ● The constitution of Parliamentary Standing Committees for the 18th Lok Sabha is delayed due to disagreements between the government and the Opposition. ● The contentious committees include External Affairs, Finance, and Defence. ● These differences have resulted…

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Next-generation sequencing to map genetic blueprint of indigenous cattle

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology (Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 3) Context ● The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) focuses on conserving indigenous cattle breeds using advanced genetic technologies and developing vaccines to combat livestock diseases. ● Under the DBT’s ‘BioE3’ policy, NIAB promotes bio-manufacturing and innovations in…

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Cities in Asia are growing upwards more than outwards

Topic: GS1 –  Society – Urbanization, their problems and their remedies (Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7) Context A study in Nature Cities reveals that cities, especially in Asia, are growing vertically faster than horizontally to accommodate increased populations. The research highlights the need for updated urban planning to address…