Om Birla was re-elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha after defeating the opposition candidate, K Suresh, a Congress MP from Kerala. He won by a voice vote. Birla will now start his second term as Speaker. Balram Jakhar, a Congress MP, is the only one who has served two full terms as Lok Sabha Speaker. This was the fourth election for Speaker of the Lok Sabha in its history, following 1952, 1967, and 1976. Birla, 61, is a three-term Member of Parliament from Rajasthan's Kota.

Bio-bitumen: A solution to stubble burning?

India plans to produce bio-bitumen from biomass to reduce imports and tackle stubble-burning issues in road construction. Read here to learn more. Bitumen is a substance produced through distillation of crude oil which removes lighter crude oil components like gasoline and diesel, leaving the heavier bitumen behind. Deposits can also occur naturally at the bottom…

https://www.clearias.com/bio-bitumen/

The World Crafts Council (WCC) has formally recognized Srinagar, as a "World Craft City," highlighting the city's rich history and the extraordinary craftsmanship of its craftspeople that have won it praise from all over the world. The accomplishment comes after Srinagar was named a 2021 Creative City for Crafts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The WCC listed several Kashmiri handicrafts, such as Papier-Mache, Carpets Hand Knotted, Pashmina Shawls, and Kani and Sozni Work.

ClearIAS UPSC CSE Mains Test Series 2024

🏹 It is extremely important to frame your UPSC CSE Mains answers most impressively, within the prescribed time limit.
🏹 ClearIAS UPSC Mains Test Series will provide you with adequate practice regarding framing high-quality answers in the main exam to make your answer sheets stand out.
🏹 You can write exams online or offline.
🏹 Online students can write the exam by taking a printout of the ClearIAS question-cum-answer booklet, scan it, and then email it to ClearIAS for evaluation and personal feedback.
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ClearIAS UPSC CSE Mains Test Series 2024

🏹 It is extremely important to frame your UPSC CSE Mains answers most impressively, within the prescribed time limit.
🏹 ClearIAS UPSC Mains Test Series will provide you with adequate practice regarding framing high-quality answers in the main exam to make your answer sheets stand out.
🏹 You can write exams online or offline.
🏹 Online students can write the exam by taking a printout of the ClearIAS question-cum-answer booklet, scan it, and then email it to ClearIAS for evaluation and personal feedback.
Click here to learn about the course:
https://www.clearias.com/upsc-mains-test-series/

A potsherd from Keeladi with the Tamil letter "Tha" engraved on it has been discovered by archaeologists. Located in Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai River, Keeladi is an urban settlement from the Sangam era that is home to the first Tamili (Tamil-Brahmi) inscribed potsherd. In addition to mounds of potsherds, the first week of excavation in Keeladi has yielded the recovery of over fifty antiquities, beads, spindle whorls, and hopscotch. Keeladi, 12 km southeast of Madurai, is the site of the 2014 excavations. It had sufficient evidence of being an urbanized, industrialized settlement; artifacts from the site were carbon-dated to determine its age, which came out to be 2,600 years.

External Debt: Why is it rising for India?

External debt refers to the portion of a country’s total debt that is borrowed from foreign lenders, including commercial banks, governments, or international financial institutions. These loans and borrowings must be paid back in foreign currency. Read here to learn more. External debt plays a significant role in a country’s economy, offering opportunities for growth…

https://www.clearias.com/external-debt/

India's Beaches with Blue Flag Certification

R.K. Chaudhary, a Samajwadi Party MP, has called for the replacement of the sengol Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was installed in the Lok Sabha, with a "replica of the Constitution," arguing that a symbol of "monarchy" has no place in a democracy. In response, the BJP hailed the sengol as a representation of "righteousness." Your comments?

Join the ClearIAS test series 2025, and get instant access to 40 mock tests.

We follow a highly flexible timetable.

Aspirants, once joined, can take exams at any time convenient before the upcoming Prelims.

40 online mock exams in ClearIAS UPSC Prelims Test Series 2025 are briefly divided as below:

8 NCERT-based exams (subject-wise)
7 Standard Textbook-based exams (subject-wise)
7 Current Affairs exams (dedicated mock exams for current affairs)
18 Full-Topic exams (which cover the whole UPSC syllabus)

Download the Study plan now: https://bit.ly/pts25studyplan

Join the ClearIAS test series 2025, and get instant access to 40 mock tests.

We follow a highly flexible timetable.

Aspirants, once joined, can take exams at any time convenient before the upcoming Prelims.

40 online mock exams in ClearIAS UPSC Prelims Test Series 2025 are briefly divided as below:

8 NCERT-based exams (subject-wise)
7 Standard Textbook-based exams (subject-wise)
7 Current Affairs exams (dedicated mock exams for current affairs)
18 Full-Topic exams (which cover the whole UPSC syllabus)

Download the Study plan now: https://bit.ly/pts25studyplan

Denmark is going to be the first nation to impose taxes on livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases that come from their sheep, pigs, and cows beginning in 2030. One of the main sources of methane emissions, one of the most potent gases causing global warming, is the target of the tax. The Danish government wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels by 2030. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that methane traps roughly 87 times more heat over a 20-year period, despite being less talked about than carbon dioxide. A UN report estimates that 32% of methane emissions caused by humans come from livestock.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

The 185th birth anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was celebrated on 27th June 2024. Read here to learn more about his life. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s political philosophy stemmed from the firm belief that Indian society must synergize the best practices of the West without acknowledging a total subservient self-surrender to Western culture. He was thoroughly…

https://www.clearias.com/bankim-chandra-chattopadhyay/

🏆 Congratulations Team India! 🇮🇳

In a stunning display of skill and determination, India conquered the World T20 Cup! The team's unwavering spirit, strategic brilliance, and commitment to excellence have made the nation proud. You've shown the world what perseverance and teamwork can achieve. Here's to your remarkable victory – a testament to hard work and dedication. Keep inspiring us all!

#TeamIndia #WorldT20Champions #ClearIAS

India won their second T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa by 7 runs, ending a 17-year wait for an ICC World Cup title. In a thrilling match, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh stayed calm under pressure to secure the win. Despite South Africa's strong chase, the Indian bowlers' disciplined performance in the final overs ensured victory. This historic win was a major milestone for Indian cricket, showcasing their determination and resilience, and was celebrated as a memorable achievement in their journey.

Equivalent Rank in Indian Army, Indian Navy & Indian Air Force

Remittance Inflow: How is India faring?

According to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief, the growth in remittance inflows to India will likely halve in 2024 compared to 2023. Read here to learn about remittances. India received USD 120 billion in remittances in 2023 with growth at 7.5%. It is forecasted to grow at 3.7% in 2024 to reach…

https://www.clearias.com/remittance-inflow/