Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Punjab Arhtiyas Advocate for Agricultural Policy Reform
Punjab’s arhtiyas, the intermediaries between farmers and buyers, are currently urging the state government to adopt the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, as a national model. This Act has been very important in shaping Punjab’s agricultural landscape for over six decades. The arhtiyas’ advocacy stems from concerns over the proposed National Policy Framework for…
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Goa Shipyard Launches New Fast Patrol Vessels
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has made advancements in shipbuilding with the recent launch of two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard. This event took place on January 5, 2025, and marks a milestone in GSL’s commitment to technological innovation and operational excellence. The launch was presided over by CMD Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay,…
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Uttarakhand’s Action Plan for Glacial Lakes
The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) is actively working on a comprehensive action plan to study and monitor glacial lakes in the region. This initiative aims to establish early warning systems to prevent disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 13 glacial lakes in Uttarakhand,…
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Why Rupee Fell to Record Low
In December 2024, the Indian rupee reached a record low of 85.81 against the U.S. dollar. This decline marked a 3% depreciation over the year, continuing a long-term trend. Various factors contribute to currency depreciation, primarily involving supply and demand dynamics in the foreign exchange market. Currency Value Determinants The value of a currency is…
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Why did Government Scrap No-Detention Policy?
In December 2024, the Union government amended the Rules of the Right to Education Act, 2009. This change allows schools to detain students in Classes 5 and 8 if they fail to meet promotion criteria after year-end examinations. Students will have the opportunity for a re-examination after two months of additional teaching. This amendment marks…
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Global Nutrition Targets – Progress and Challenges
Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs) were established by the World Health Assembly to combat maternal and child malnutrition. The targets aim to reduce stunting, anaemia, and childhood overweight by 2030. A recent evaluation published in The Lancet brought into light the slow progress made towards these targets from 2012 to 2021 across 204 countries. The findings…
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Farmers’ Protests and Supreme Court Committee Update
Recent events have intensified the ongoing farmers’ protests at the Punjab-Haryana border. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Political) has declined to engage with a high-powered committee established by the Supreme Court to address their demands. On January 4, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) also refused to meet the committee. The committee has previously interacted with the…
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Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom 2025
On January 5, 2025, President Joe Biden honoured 19 distinguished individuals during a ceremony at the White House. This event recognised contributions across various fields, including politics, entertainment, and sports. The honourees included prominent figures such as Hillary Clinton, philanthropist George Soros, and posthumously awarded Robert F. Kennedy. Notable personalities like Lionel Messi, Jane Goodall,…
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Banded Royal Butterfly Discovered in Tripura
Tripura has achieved milestone in biodiversity documentation with the discovery of the Banded Royal butterfly (Rachana jalindra indra). This rare species was recorded for the first time in the state, specifically within the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary. Wildlife officials announced this finding, which has been documented in the peer-reviewed journal Munis Entomology & Zoology. The discovery…
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Discovery of 13th Century Saint Narahari Tīrtha’s Idol
In a notable archaeological find, Saikumar K. from the Team of Research on Culture and Heritage (TORCH) has unearthed a three-foot idol of the 13th Century saint, Narahari Tīrtha. This discovery adds to the historical narrative surrounding Narahari, who is believed to have originated from Chikakolu, present-day Srikakulam. His lineage traces back to aristocrats within…
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