04.10.17 Uttarakhand (UKPCS) Current Affairs

UTTARAKHAND   Now, an app for rainwater harvest queries   People interested in installing rainwater harvesting plants in their homes would soon be able to do so with a smart phone app. The Uttar Pradesh groundwater department will soon launch an Android-based mobile application which will enable people to easily install rainwater harvesting plants. The app will also … Read more

19.04.18 Karnataka (KPSC) Current Affairs

KARNATAKA Facebook to fact-check posts in poll-bound Karnataka   With Karnataka heading for the polls in May, Facebook has announced a third-party fact checking programme in the State to fight spread of fake news on its platform.   The social media giant on Tuesday announced a partnership with BOOM, an independent digital journalism initiative, for a pilot … Read more

Climate Change

Climate Change   It is the long term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time Though it has been happening naturally for millions of years, in recent years it has accelerated due to anthropogenic causes and has been causing global warming. UNFCCC defines climate change as – “a change of … Read more

Development and environment

Environmental influences are important both at the prenatal and postnatal stages of human development. At the prenatal stage, when a fetus is in the mother’s womb,  internal or external harmful agents, such as certain legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, lead and pollutants can harm the unborn baby’s development. The mother’s nutrition, diseases and emotional stress … Read more

Ethical, social, legal and IPR (intellectual property rights) issues related to biotechnological development.

Biotechnology through Genetic engineering has made food crops more resistant to disease, but the mere act of modification of the naturally selected food crops may actually disturb the delicate balance of biodiversity which exists in nature causing a disturbance to the natural balance. The production of GMOs has negative impacts on the natural ecosystem which … Read more

Biodiversity and its conservation, Hotspots and threats to Biodiversity.

Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Basically biodiversity is the total number of genes, species and ecosystems of a region. It includes … Read more

Universalizing Science and Technology literacy

Universalizing Science and Technology literacy Scientific and technological literacy, in its broadest sense, means much more than simply being able to read, understand and write about science and technology, however important these are. STLalso includes the ability to apply scientific and technological concepts and process skills to the life, work and culture of one’s own … Read more

Preservation & promotion of culture and indigenous knowledge- Use of Regional Language in ICT

Preservation & promotion of culture and indigenous knowledge- Use of Regional Language in ICT “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” -Mahatma Gandhi  Indigenous Knowledge (IK) refers to the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous groups in matters related to agriculture and environmental management, medicine and health, … Read more

23.05.18 Karnataka (KPSC) Current Affairs

INTERNATIONAL     26th BASIC Ministerial meeting of Environment Ministers in Durban   The 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of Environment Ministers was held in Durban, South Africa for co-operation to protect the climate for present and future generations.   The BASIC grouping is a bloc of four countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – … Read more