Edushine IAS

  The disintegration of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War era and the collapse of one of the world's largest and most influential communist states. The process of disintegration was a complex and multifaceted event that unfolded over several years and involved various factors. Here's an overview of the key aspects and events leading to the USSR's disintegration: Economic Challenges: The Soviet economy faced numerous problems, including inefficiency, central planning, and a lack of market reforms. These issues led to stagnation, shortages of essential goods, and a declining standard of living for many citizens. The economic struggles weakened the state's control over its territories. Click here to watch the video Political Reforms: Under the leadership of Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, a series of political reforms were introduced in the mid-1980s. These reforms, known as perestroika (restructuring) a...

  A recent Supreme Court decision has raised concerns regarding the right to default bail and the potential prioritization of investigative authorities over the constitutional rights of the accused. Default bail refers to the right of an accused person to be released on bail if the police fail to complete the investigation within a specified period. The decision directs lower courts to decide pending default bail applications without relying on the court's own judgment in the Ritu Chhabaria case. The decision is seen as alarming because it may compromise the right to default bail and have serious implications for the constitutional rights of the accused. It is argued that procedural legitimacy should not be sacrificed for administrative convenience. Default bail is a statutory right enshrined in Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). It allows an accused person to be released if the investigation is not completed within a specified period. The Ritu Chhabaria c...

 A recent study has highlighted the water footprint of AI models, particularly in relation to data centers that power and train these models. The water footprint of AI refers to the amount of water needed for electricity generation and cooling in data centers. It consists of direct water consumption, which is the water evaporated or discharged during the cooling process, and indirect water consumption, which is the water used for electricity production. The water footprint of AI varies depending on factors such as the AI model's type and size, data center location and efficiency, and the source of electricity. For instance, training a large AI model like GPT-3 can directly consume up to 700,000 liters of clean freshwater, which is equivalent to producing hundreds of cars. Engaging in conversations with AI chatbots like ChatGPT also has a water consumption impact. The study estimates that a single conversation with ChatGPT can consume around 500 ml of water for 20-50 questions a...

  The Liberation War of Bangladesh, also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War, was a nine-month-long armed conflict that took place between the government of Pakistan and the Bengali nationalist forces in East Pakistan, which later became the independent nation of Bangladesh. The war resulted in the independence of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, and is considered one of the most significant events in South Asian history. Background: The political history of East Pakistan had been fraught with tensions and struggles since the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The Bengali-speaking population of East Pakistan had long been marginalized by the Punjabi-speaking elites of West Pakistan, who held most of the political and economic power in the country. The East Pakistanis were also subjected to cultural and linguistic suppression, as the West Pakistani government sought to impose the Urdu language and Islamic identity on the country. The dissatisfaction of the East Pakistanis came t...

  Operation Bluestar, also known as the Golden Temple Raid, was a military operation conducted by the Indian Army in June 1984 to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation was launched on the orders of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, after negotiations with the militant leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, failed. Image Credit: Indian History Collective The Golden Temple complex is a revered site for Sikhs worldwide and is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. It was occupied by Bhindranwale and his armed followers who had turned it into a fortress. The militants were demanding a separate Sikh homeland, Khalistan, which would be carved out of the Indian state of Punjab. Click here to watch the video The Indian government had been grappling with the issue of Sikh militancy for several years before Operation Bluestar. The situation had escalated with the rise of Bhindranwale, who had gained a large following among Sikhs, particularly in...

  UPSC (Mains) 2021 1. Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats 2. Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss 3. what are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples 4. Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment. 5. Why is India considered as a sub-continent? Elaborate your answer. 6. Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. 7. How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. 8. Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. 9. What are the m...

  The Khalistani movement, also known as the Sikh separatist movement, is a political movement aimed at establishing an independent Sikh state in Punjab, India. The movement has its roots in the early 20th century, when some Sikh leaders started demanding greater autonomy and rights for the Sikh community. However, it gained momentum in the 1980s, leading to a violent insurgency that lasted for more than a decade. The roots of the Khalistani movement can be traced back to the British colonial period when the Sikh community demanded the creation of a separate Sikh state within India. Under the leadership of Tara Singh, who believed the Sikh to be a distinct community from Hindus, the demand for separate state gained voice. However, this demand was not accepted by the Indian National Congress and other political parties, and Punjab remained a part of India after independence in 1947. Click here to watch the video In the 1970s, the Akali Dal, a Sikh political party, demanded great...