Current Affair Category: Social Justice

PCSK9 & VERVE-102 PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9): A protein that regulates LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. PCSK9 binds to LDL receptors on liver cells and promotes their degradation. Fewer LDL receptors → less LDL removed from blood → higher LDL-C. VERVE-102 VERVE-102 is an experimental gene-editing therapy designed to reduce PCSK9 production. Developed by Verve Therapeutics. Uses CRISPR-based gene editing delivered to liver cells. It aims […]

Why in News? Modern medicine possesses vast clinical knowledge, but bridging the gap between this expertise and patients who need it immediately remains challenging due to the limited number of trained clinicians and healthcare infrastructure. For India, where healthcare capacity is expanding alongside an increasingly complex disease burden, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scale medical […]

Why in news? ICMR has launched the second edition of the SHINE 2026 initiative to open its research laboratories for school students across the country. What is ICMR-SHINE? ICMR-SHINE stands for Science and Health Innovation for NextGen Explorers. It is a nationwide outreach initiative organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian […]

Why in news?: A fresh outbreak of the Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) during the monsoon season in western India—particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan—has claimed the lives of 22 children. This has prompted the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to deploy the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to assist state health authorities with […]

The Challenge for School Consolidation (Concise Notes – UPSC GS-2) Why in News?Around 94,000 government schools have closed/merged in the last decade due to declining enrolment and lower fertility rates, sparking debate over quality vs accessibility. School Consolidation: Merger of low-enrolment schools into better-equipped composite schools. Objective: Improve quality of education, infrastructure, and teacher availability. Education is a Concurrent List subject; states decide mergers. […]

UPSC GS2 – Health + GS3 – Science & Tech Why in the News?  Michigan, USA is facing its largest recorded cyclosporiasis outbreak with 11,234 confirmed cases and 2 deaths as of August 2025. Response: In response, Michigan State University’s Rose Lab is developing wastewater surveillance to detect Cyclospora cayetanensis and track outbreak hotspots. What […]

What is the Bill? The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 amends the 2024 anti-cheating law to tackle exam fraud, paper leaks and organised cheating networks. It was introduced after controversies over NEET-UG paper leaks and aims to ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and admissions. The Bill focuses on time-bound investigation and speedy trials. Why was the Bill introduced? The NEET-UG […]

Philosophy of Governance: Why in News? BJP launched a mass outreach campaign from Varanasi on the 650th Jayanti of Sant Ravidas. The debate links Sant Ravidas’ idea of “Begumpura” with modern welfare-oriented governance. UPSC Relevance: GS 1: Bhakti Movement, Indian Culture. GS 2: Welfare Governance, Social Justice. GS 4: Equality, Human Dignity, Compassion, Public Service. Essay: Inclusive Growth, Good Governance, Indian Philosophy. What is Begumpura? […]

Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, is a vital legislative measure designed to fortify the legal framework against question paper leaks, organised cheating, and diverse unfair practices in public examinations. By proposing amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, this bill introduces […]

Why in News? A major three-year study published in the scientific journal Gut Microbes has created the first-ever reference database of the gut microbiome across South Asia. Led by researchers from India and the US, the study reveals that changes in the gut bacteria of urbanizing Indians—driven by processed foods rather than genetics—help explain the […]