Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Arunachal Pradesh’s Religious Conversion Act Revival
The Arunachal Pradesh government is reactivating a 1978 Act aimed at preventing forced religious conversions. This move occurs nearly five decades after the Act was enacted by the first Legislative Assembly of the then Union Territory. The Act prohibits religious conversion by coercion, inducement, or deceit, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. The government is…
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New PLI Scheme for Steel Sector Launched
The Union government is launching a new round of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the steel sector. This initiative aims to enhance domestic production of specialty steel and reduce import reliance. The announcement was made by the Union Ministry of Steel, with the launch scheduled for January 6, 2025. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will…
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Telangana Government Engages IIT to Study Polavaram Irrigation Project
The Telangana government has initiated a collaboration with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) to assess the effects of the Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari River. This decision follows concerns regarding the project’s impact on local ecosystems and communities. The Polavaram project aims to provide irrigation to approximately 295,000 hectares, stabilise…
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Kerala Forest Act Amendment Sparks Controversy
The Kerala government has introduced a Bill to amend the Kerala Forest Act of 1961. This Bill is set to be debated in the upcoming session of the state Assembly. Farmer organisations have expressed concerns regarding the proposed amendments. They argue that the changes will negatively impact the lives of residents in approximately 430 village…
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ISRO Successfully Sprouts Cowpea Seeds in Space
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made strides in space exploration with two recent experiments. On January 4, 2025, ISRO announced the successful sprouting of cowpea seeds in space, marking a major milestone in agricultural research beyond Earth. This achievement occurred shortly after the PSLV-C60 SpaDeX mission, which launched on December 30, 2024, carrying…
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Major Infrastructure Projects Launched in Delhi
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development projects in Delhi, amounting to over ₹12,200 crore. These initiatives aim to enhance connectivity and improve transportation for millions. Key projects include the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor and the Janakpuri-Krishna Park section of Delhi Metro Phase-IV. The government emphasises that these projects will transform Delhi’s infrastructure and contribute…
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Adopting F-T-P Approach for Sustainable Sugar Industry
The biofuel sector is currently at important point where sustainable development, energy security, and climate action converge. The Feedstock-Technology-Product (F-T-P) approach provides a structured framework that integrates biofuels into various industries, particularly sugar. This method aligns with India’s National Policy on Biofuels 2018 and aims to make the sugar industry a driver of sustainable growth.…
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HPAI H5N1 Outbreak Affects Indian Wildlife
Recent events have brought into light a serious outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in India. Three tigers and a leopard have succumbed to the virus at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur. This incident marks first, as it is the first recorded case of HPAI causing mortality among captive…
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Net Neutrality – Recent Developments and Context
The ongoing debate surrounding net neutrality has seen developments recently. On January 2, 2025, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its second attempt to enforce net neutrality. This ruling contrasts sharply with India’s approach over the past decade, where telecom companies have sought to navigate net…
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Targeting Lipid Metabolism to Control Malaria Mosquitoes
Recent research has revealed a promising approach to combat malaria by targeting the lipid transport in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The study, published in PLOS Biology, marks the critical role of lipophorin in the development of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite. By inhibiting lipid metabolism, particularly through the use of broad-spectrum lipase inhibitors, researchers demonstrated that…
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