Discuss the current status of cross-border electricity trade in India. What are its advantages and significance?

Cross-border electricity exchange has been taking place on the Indian Energy Exchange, which has aided India’s aspirations to build a regional power system (IEX). Cross Border Trade of Electricity: The CBET (Cross-Border Electricity Trade) Regulations were published by the Central ..

Topics: GS-III: Infrastructure Energy Sector

In view of the recent case against The Wire, discuss the legal provisions regarding defamation in India. What is the case for decriminalization of this offense?

The ongoing defamation case against news website ‘The Wire’, has once again sparked the debate to decriminalize this offence, a demand expressed by the media community from time to time. Background: The Wire reported that members of the BJP routinely ..

Topics: GS-II: Basic Structure Doctrine

In light of the recent Supreme Court order upholding the 2014 amendments to the EPFO pension scheme, give an overview of this social security scheme. How is the apex court’s order expected to affect the pensions segment?

Recently, the Supreme Court in a crucial judgment upheld the Employees’ Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014 of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) as “legal and valid”. EPFO Pension Scheme: EPF is the main scheme under the Employees’ Provident Funds and ..

Topics: GS-II: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States • GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors

Examine the effectiveness of the use of economic sanctions to halt nuclear weapon and missile programs of countries like North Korea. What is the way ahead?

The United States has time and again used the tool of economic sanctions as the primary means to exert pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and missile program. However, this strategy has abjectly failed as North Korea’s ballistic ..

Topics: GS-II: India's Foreign Policy Neighbourhood International Relations

What is the R21/Matrix-M vaccine? How does it compare to the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine that was approved by WHO in 2021?

R21/Matrix-M is a vaccine against malaria, developed by the University of Oxford in the UK. The vaccine showed an efficacy of 77% in phase 1 and phase 2 trials. The vaccine showed a high efficacy of 80% as a result ..

Topics: GS-III: Recent Developments in It Space Computers Robotics Nano Technology Bio Technology • GS-III: Technology Missions

Explain how the petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry compare with each other with regards to their sensitivity to geopolitical development.

The petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry are very different in nature and profile. However, there is a lot of structural commonality within the two industries. Common link between petroleum and chip industry: Both are dominated by a few ..

Topics: GS-III: Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology • GS-III: Technology Missions