Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this
We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not
Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.
Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam
Click on news headlines to read the full news
High relevance news
[pib] India gets its 37th UNESCO World Heritage Site
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-india-gets-its-37th-unesco-world-heritage-site/
Note the new sites on UNESCO list. Can be asked in Prelims.
[pib] PM reviews progress towards holistic development of islands
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-pm-reviews-progress-towards-holistic-development-of-islands/
Read about Island development Agency (Especially the chairman). UPSC likes to ask such surprise questions.
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-niti-aayog-partners-with-gnfc-ltd-to-implement-fertilizer-subsidy-disbursement-through-blockchain-technology/
There has been a long-standing debate on the use of blockchain in governance but Indian government now seems to be embracing the idea by implementing this in DBT for fertilizers.
IoT appeared in Prelims 2018 and there is a chance that a question related to a mix of technologies like AI, Machine learning, and their future can be asked in Mains.
[op-ed snap] The dream of being an AI powerhouse
https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-the-dream-of-being-an-ai-powerhouse/
While there is an active endeavor to digitize government functioning with help of technologies such as Blockchain, AI etc. there is also a lack of an ecosystem for all such technologies to nurture in India.
Editorial discusses all such problems in case of AI. Note the important points and quote them in Mains
Low Relevance News
Instant e-PAN based on Aadhaar launched
The new PAN will be allotted to an applicant through his electronic Aadhaar-based verification system in a few seconds
Important detail: The e-PAN facility is only for resident individuals and not for Hindu Undivided Family, firms, trusts and companies
Aadhaar is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to an Indian resident. PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the Income Tax Department to a person, firm or entity
Nothing very important from exam perspective but since UPSC has turned towards factual questions, news needs to be skimmed through
Election Commission portal to aid disabled voters
The Election Commission will launch a voter education and electoral participation portal with a section dedicated to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
Under the EC’s Strategic Plan 2016-2025, greater participation of PwDs in the electoral process has been identified as one of the core objectives
Nothing important from exam perspective in this news
Govt. Poster for easy recall
