What is Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS)?

The government has announced its plan to sell 20 lakh tonnes of wheat from its buffer stock in the market under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). Why such move? The purpose of the move is to cool down the surge in wholesale prices of grain. It will be sold in the open market to… Continue reading

In news: Survey of India

The Survey of India (SOI), India’s 250-year-old map maker, will no longer have a monopoly on making high-resolution maps. SOI will however remain the arbiter of maps that deal with State borders and national boundaries. Key announcements by SOI Focus on map accuracy: The SoI will now take action against digital platforms that violate its… Continue reading

Can’t legislate on Women’s Marriage Age: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking a uniform minimum age of marriage for men and women stating that the matter is within the domain of the legislature and not the judiciary. Central idea: The minimum age of marriage, especially for women, has been a contentious issue. It was evolved in the face of… Continue reading

Marital age: Laws Are Not Enough As Enforcement Is Poor

Central Idea Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking to increase the minimum age of marriage of women in India from 18 years to 21 years. The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, noted that the power to amend the law lies with Parliament. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers The Prohibition of… Continue reading

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill: Need A Pre-legislative Consultation

Central Idea The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has drafted a Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill. A data protection law must safeguard and balance peoples’ right to privacy and their right to information, which are fundamental rights flowing from the Constitution. Unfortunately, this Bill fails on both counts. Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to… Continue reading

APJ Abdul Kalam SLV: India’s 1st Hybrid Rocket launched

India’s first hybrid sounding rocket by private players was launched by some students from Pattipulam village off Tamil Nadu coast. About APJ Abdul Kalam SLV Martin Foundation in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India successfully completed the project known as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023.… Continue reading

Disqualification of Sitting MP: The Conundrum

Central Idea The instance where the Kerala High Court, in January this year, suspended the verdict passed by the Kavaratti District and Sessions Court (in an attempt to murder case) in which the then sitting Member of Parliament (MP) of Lakshadweep was sentenced to 10 years in jail. The issue is on whether disqualification for… Continue reading

Debating the Abolition of Judicial Vacations

Central Idea The longstanding tradition of judicial vacations in India has come under scrutiny as a parliamentary committee. Recent remarks by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud reignited discussions on the allocation of vacation days to Indian judges, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of judicial work patterns and the rationale behind vacation allotments. Vacation in Judiciary… Continue reading

GST Appellate Tribunal gets nod

The GST Council reached a broad consensus on setting up GST Appellate Tribunal; likely to be included in Finance Bill 2023. What is GST Appellate Tribunal? The GST Appellate Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body proposed to be established to resolve disputes related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. It will function as… Continue reading

The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC)

The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) has decided to involve international property consultancy firms to speed up the process of making money by selling or leasing the land owned by the government. What is NLMC? NLMC is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) announced in the Union Budget 2021-22 to carry out monetisation of government and… Continue reading

How is the Stock Market regulated in India?

The Supreme Court asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the government to produce the existing regulatory framework in place to protect investors from stock market volatility. Central idea After short-seller Hindenburg Research published a report accusing the Adani Group of stock market manipulation and accounting fraud, its shares plummeted. Investors were… Continue reading

Underwater noise emissions pose threat to Indian Marine species: Study

Central idea: The rising man-made (anthropogenic) underwater noise emissions (UNE) from ships in the Indian waters are posing a threat to the life of marine mammals like Bottlenose Dolphin, Manatees, Pilot Whale, Seal, and Sperm Whale. What is Underwater Noise Emissions (UNE)? Underwater noise emissions (UNE) refer to sounds that are produced underwater as a… Continue reading

Diyodar meteorite in 2022 was India’s first Aubrite in 170 years

Central idea: A rare and unique meteorite, known as the Diyodar meteorite, was discovered in Banaskantha, Gujarat in December 2022. It is significant because it is the first aubrite to be found in India in 170 years. What are Aubrites? Aubrites are a type of meteorite that are believed to have formed on a different… Continue reading

The question in the minds of students: How to be future-ready?

Central Idea Intelligent Machines are revealing glimpses of a future envisaged long ago in science fiction as they steadily morph from human-assist systems to systems-as-human. The currently indispensable face obsolescence. The question in the minds of students entering college is this: How to be future-ready? Crack Prelims 2023! Talk to our Rankers Learn quickly to… Continue reading

An Overview : UAPA and The Concerns

Central Idea India’s anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been misused and turned into a tool of terror. There are two examples of this misuse in recent times. In 2021, Muhammad Manan Dar, a young Kashmiri photojournalist, was arrested and imprisoned for documenting the daily lives of common Kashmiris with his camera.… Continue reading

What is Special Marriage Act, 1954?

Central idea: An actress recently held her interfaith-marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. What is the Special Marriage Act? The Special Marriage Act of 1954 (SMA) was passed by the Parliament on October 9, 1954. It governs a civil marriage where the state sanctions the marriage rather than the religion. The minimum age to… Continue reading

Nominated members cannot vote in Delhi Mayor Poll: Supreme Court

Central idea: The Supreme Court ordered the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to notify the first meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to elect a Mayor within 24 hours and held that nominated members cannot vote in these polls. What is the issue? The issue at hand is whether the nominated members of the Municipal… Continue reading

Species in news: Pangolins

The World Pangolin Day was observed on February 18. Why in news? A not-for-profit organization working on the international trade of animals and plants, has brought out a fact sheet reporting that 1,203 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022. Pangolins IUCN status: Endangered India is home to… Continue reading

Purse Seine Fishing Gear: A Questionable Fishing Method

Central Idea The Supreme Court of India has allowed purse seine fishing gear to be used for fishing beyond territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (200 nautical miles) of Tamil Nadu, subject to certain restrictions. However, the interim order is primarily concerned with regulating fishing through administrative and transparency… Continue reading

Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs) and The Data Gap

Central Idea India’s parliamentary constituencies (PCs) serve a dual role as geographical and administrative policy units headed by democratically elected Members of Parliament (MPs), The PCs require timely and available data on critical issues related to population health and socioeconomic well-being. The lack of such data at the PC level hinders MPs from effectively engaging… Continue reading

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