With reference to the ‘Vishwas Scheme’ launched recently, consider the following statements: It was launched by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). Its objective is to reduce litigation by rationalising penal damages imposed for belated remittances of Provident Fund dues. The CBT, which oversees the scheme, is a tripartite body consisting … Read more
The concept of ‘Tipping Points’ is often discussed in the context of climate change. Consider the following: A tipping point is a critical threshold in a system which, when crossed, can lead to irreversible change. Warm-water coral reefs have reportedly crossed their thermal tipping point, triggering irreversible dieback. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and … Read more
With reference to the geography of Madagascar, consider the following statements: It is the fourth-largest island in the world. It exhibits high endemism due to its long isolation from mainland Africa. The Mascarene High, a high-pressure area near the island, is a key driver of the Indian South-West Monsoon. Select the correct answer using the … Read more
The Economics Nobel Prize 2025 was awarded for explaining innovation-driven economic growth. In this context, consider the following ideas: ‘Creative Destruction’ is a process where new, innovative products lead to older versions losing their market competitiveness. A continual flow of ‘useful knowledge’, combining propositional and prescriptive knowledge, is a prerequisite for sustained growth. Commercial knowledge … Read more
Regarding India’s strategy for the Blue Economy, consider the following statements: The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a key initiative that provides financial assistance to traditional fishermen for acquiring deep-sea vessels. One of the major challenges identified is the absence of specific regulatory laws for fishing activities within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). … Read more
With reference to the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), consider the following statements: It integrates geospatial data from Central Ministries, Departments, and all States/UTs. The Network Planning Group (NPG) is a key component for evaluating major infrastructure projects under the plan. A recent initiative, ‘PM GatiShakti – Offshore’, is a digital platform for managing … Read more
Consider the following statements regarding the IUCN Green Status of Species, recently in news: It is a new framework that completely replaces the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A species is defined as ‘fully recovered’ when it is viable and performs its ecological functions across its entire historical range. The first-ever assessment for the … Read more
With reference to the Civil Registration System (CRS) in India, consider the following statements: The annual report on Vital Statistics of India is compiled and released by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The 2023 amendment to the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, enabled the creation of national and state-level databases. According to … Read more
Rhodamine B, a substance recently in the news, is known for being what?
