Medicine Nobel for Work on Human Evolution

Swedish scientist Svante Paabo won the Nobel Prize in medicine for his discoveries on human evolution that provided key insights into our immune system and what makes us unique compared with our extinct ancestors. Svante Paabo: His work, explained Svante Paabo’s seminal discoveries provide the basis for exploring what makes us uniquely human. Hominins refer… Continue reading

Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand inducted into IAF

The indigenous Light Combat Helicopter LCH-Prachand was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). LCH- Prachand The LCH has been designed as a twin-engine, dedicated combat helicopter of 5.8-ton class, thus categorized as light. It features a narrow fuselage and tandem — one behind the other — configuration for pilot and co-pilot. The co-pilot… Continue reading

Jal Jeevan Mission

Around 62% of rural households in India had fully functional tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Jal Jeevan Mission Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to ensure access to piped water for every household in India. The mission’s goal is to provide all households in… Continue reading

Satellite Broadband Services in India

The race for providing satellite broadband connectivity in India is heating up as companies like Jio, Oneweb, Hughes and Tata-backed Nelco are preparing to provide these services. Recent developments on satellite broadband Earlier last month, Hughes Communications India (HCI), a satellite internet service provider launched India’s first high throughput satellite (HTS) broadband service powered by… Continue reading

Natural Gas: The energy future of India

Context The announcement at the end of August by the ministry of petroleum that they had constituted a committee, headed by energy expert Kirit Parikh, to review the domestic natural gas pricing regime. Background Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to raise the share of gas in India’s energy mix to 15% by 2030 from 6.2%,… Continue reading

Nord Stream Pipeline Leakage: A climate Catastrophe

Context Four leakages were reported at different points in the Nord Stream pipelines, linking Russia and Europe, since September 26. Two of the leaks were in Swedish waters while the other two were reported from Danish waters. The European Union said they suspected “sabotage” behind the leaks. What is Nord Stream Pipeline? Nord Stream 1:… Continue reading

How Tokenization will change your online purchase?

The RBI’s deadline for tokenization of cards used in online payments passed on 30 September. What is Tokenization? Tokenisation refers to the replacement of credit and debit card details with an alternative code called a ‘token’. This token is unique for a combination of card, token requestor (the entity that accepts a request from the… Continue reading

‘Professors of Practice’ for all colleges, universities

University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued new guidelines under which higher education institutes can create a new teaching position called Professor of Practice to hire experts from various sectors, in line with provisions that already exist in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Professors of Practice If one is a distinguished professional in any field… Continue reading

All women have Right to Legal and Safe Abortion: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that all women, irrespective of their marital status, are entitled to safe and legal abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. A case for safe abortion A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing the appeal of a woman who wanted to… Continue reading

MHA bans PFI for five years under UAPA

The Union Home Ministry has declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organizations as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). PFI under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA) The UAPA is aimed at the effective prevention of unlawful activity associations in India. Its main objective was to make… Continue reading

Centre extends Free Ration Scheme PMGKAY for 3 months

The Union government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months from October 1. What is PMGKAY? PMGKAY is a food security welfare scheme announced by the GoI in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The program is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution… Continue reading

Forex Reserves to dip by $23 billion by Dec

India’s depleted foreign exchange reserves are likely to drop further, falling to their lowest level in more than two years by end-2022. Forex to dip In a battle that has so far failed to staunch the rupee’s fall to a record low against the greenback, the RBI has drawn down its foreign exchange reserves by… Continue reading

Maharashtra Election Symbols Issue

In a blow to one faction, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission (EC) to take a decision on the Maharashtra CM claim that his faction represents the “real” party. What is the news? The Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud rejected the plea to stay the EC proceedings under the… Continue reading

Places in news: Ram Setu

A movie has once again generated buzz around the chain of shoals off the southeast coast of India that many believe is the Ram Setu or the bridge to Lanka mentioned in the Ramayana. The Ram Setu The Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a 48-km chain of limestone shoals between Rameswaram on… Continue reading

Jaldoot App to capture data on Groundwater Levels

With the rapidly declining water table threatening to push many regions into drought, the Union government on has launched a mobile application — Jaldoot. Jaldoot App Jaldoot is jointly developed by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ministries to monitor the groundwater levels across the country. The App will enable Gram Rojgar Sahyak to measure… Continue reading

Carl-Gustaf M4 to be produced in India

Swedish defense major SAAB announced plans to manufacture its Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system in India. What is the Carl-Gustaf M4? The Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system that allows dismounted soldiers to effectively deal with multiple challenges on the modern battlefield. A proven performer in battle, the Carl-Gustaf M4 is said to… Continue reading

In news: Rotterdam Convention

International trade of two new hazardous pesticides — Iprodione and Terbufos — has been recommended for “prior informed consent” (PIC) procedure under the Rotterdam convention. Why in news? In India, the use of these chemicals was permitted by the 2015 Anupam Verma committee report. The country is among the largest exporters of Terbufos. The chemicals… Continue reading

Why India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace ?

Context Discrimination in employment is a worldwide phenomenon. Gender, ethnic, racist discrimination are well known but discrimination towards neurodiverse persons are hardly debated in public forums. Despite having special abilities companies are not using their potentials. What is neurodiversity? Harvard Health Publishing defines, neurodiversity as a notion that every person interacts and experiences their surroundings… Continue reading

Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) formed by 5 South Asian Countries

Edible oil trade associations from five palm oil importing countries in South Asia – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal – on Thursday announced the setting up of Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA). What is Oil Palm? Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp of the fruit of the oil… Continue reading

Gender pay gap in India

Context Despite notable progress in closing the gender pay gap over time in India, the gap remains high by international standards. Asymmetries still abound in the country’s labor market stopping women empowerment . Time to reassess the progress made in to close the Gender pay gap. Background The third International Equal Pay Day is observed… Continue reading

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