Self Preparation for UPSC IAS

  The Supreme Court of India expressed concerns about the "selective anonymity/confidentiality" associated with electoral bonds. During a hearing on petitions challenging the electoral bond scheme, the Chief Justice and other Justices questioned why the ruling party tends to receive a substantial portion of donations through these bonds, raising the possibility of expectations linked to these donations. The  Supreme Court  raised concerns on the "selective anonymity/confidentiality" that electoral bonds offer. What is Selective Confidentiality  Selective confidentiality”, which does not prevent the ruling party from unearthing the identities of donors to  Opposition  parties and then hounding them through its investigative agencies. A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY  Chandrachud  verbally questioned Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta about his assessment as to why the "substantial portion" of donations go to the ruling party.

Geneva Conventions  Why in News: Gaza attacked suddenly on Israel. In this retaliation, Israel (ratified Geneva Conventions in 1951) is bombing on North Gaza where more civilians were killed and this is violation of Geneva Conventions. Important Key Points related to Geneva Conventions: The  Geneva Conventions (1949)  and  their Additional Protocols  are  international treaties  that contain the most important rules  limiting the barbarity of war. They  protect people who do not take part in the fighting  (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those  who can no longer fight  (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war). The  first Geneva Convention  protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war. The  second Geneva Convention  protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war. The  third Geneva Convention  applies to prisoners of war. The  fourth Geneva Convention  affords protection to civilians, including in occupied territory . Article 3,  

Vienna Convention: Why in news: Canada’s inability to provide safety and security to Indian diplomats challenges the “most fundamental aspect” of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Important Key Points related to Vienna Convention: What is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations? The Convention was adopted on  14 th  April 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse  and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria. India has ratified the convention. It entered into  force on April 24, 1964, and is nearly universally ratified,  with Palau and South Sudan being the exceptions. It sets out the  special rules – privileges and immunities  – which enable diplomatic missions to act without fear of coercion or harassment through enforcement of local laws and to communicate securely with their sending Governments. It makes  provision for withdrawal of a mission  – which may take place on grounds of economic or physical security – and for breach of diplomatic relatio

Supreme Court recently replied that Same Sex Marriage regulation is not a judicial matter but it is a matter of legislature. SC also argued that right to marry is not a fundamental rights but it is a social right. LGBTQIA+ community especially queer community was being 

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Differences between Kula, Potlatch and Moka system of Exchange Distribution, gift giving and exchanging constitute a big issue for archaic societies. In the Western world the natural monetary economy is based on the principle of achieving a material profit during every transaction. That does not mean, however, that it is applicable in all cultures that in an exchange trade both sides must obtain the same economic benefit.  In the 1950’s the economic historian Karl Polanyi developed a system for classifying the different modes of the distribution of commodities.  He identified three different types: reciprocity, redistribution and trade exchange .  Both redistribution and the existence of market are subject to the activities of the central power organisations and therefore these categories are typical of those societies with advanced power and economic hierarchies.  More interesting for us therefore will be the reciprocal relationships in archaic societies. Reciprocity refers to trans

  What is Melanin? Melanin is a major pigment present in vertebrates. The type and rate of melanin synthesized determines both skin and hair color. Melanin is a light absorbing polymer derived from the essential amino acid tyrosine, which scatters UV light and converts it into heat. Melanin’s ability to absorb light has many protective functions in vertebrates, including camouflage, protection from damaging solar UVA and UVB irradiation, and thermoregulation. Populations producing higher levels of epidermal melanin have lower rates of skin cancer, due to its photoprotective qualities. Human Skin: Melanin also acts as an antibiotic and free radical sink. Due to its wide range of functions, melanin is expressed in several areas of the human body, including the skin, hair, eyes and the brain. However, melanin’s specific roles within these tissues are poorly elucidated. The major types of melanin are: Pheomelanin – an orange to red pigment, expressed in the hair and skin. Low protective p