Vibrant Villages Programme Gets An Upgrade

Central Idea The Indian government has recently announced a significant allocation of funds to improve infrastructure and living conditions in villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Under a “Vibrant Villages” programme, the government will spend Rs 4,800 crore for infrastructure development and to provide livelihood opportunities in the areas bordering China.… Continue reading

Amendments to Organ Transplant Rules

In a major tweak to the organ donation policy, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the clause that people beyond 65 years could not receive cadaver organ transplants had been removed. What are the changes introduced? (1) No Age Bar Now an individual of any age can register for organ transplant.… Continue reading

Latest spike in Inflation and RBI’s efforts

Central Idea India’s post-pandemic economic recovery has hit a roadblock with the resurgence of inflation, hindering progress despite three consecutive months of softening. Recent significant spike in inflation, leading the Reserve Bank of India to adopt an inflation-targeting stance by raising interest rates. However, the battle to curb inflation is still ongoing, and the latest… Continue reading

Startup20 Engagement Group On India’s Proposal

“A small group of determined and like-minded people can change the course of history.”-M.K. Gandhi Central Idea By agreeing to India’s proposal to create the Startup20 Engagement Group, the only new group by which G20 has turned itself into an ambidextrous institution, one where both large corporations and startups have an equal voice in taking… Continue reading

Industry pushes separate Ministry for Microenterprises

Central Idea: The Consortium of Indian Associations (CIA) has suggested the formation of an independent ministry for the self-employed and microenterprises to address specific issues concerning the sector. Why demand for new Ministry? Micro entrepreneurs continue to be governed by complicated and outdated laws and dispensable compliance burdens. Despite the government’s efforts, MSMEs in India… Continue reading

Thwaites glacier at mercy of sea warmth increase

The new research suggests that even low amounts of melting can potentially push Thwaites glacier further along the path toward eventual disappearance. Thwaites Glacier Called the Thwaites Glacier, it is 120 km wide at its broadest, fast-moving, and melting fast over the years. Because of its size (1.9 lakh square km), it contains enough water… Continue reading

Ring around a dwarf planet lies in Roche Limit: What it means, why it matters

Central idea: A new study shows that a dwarf planet, named Quaoar, has a ring system that exists within its Roche limit. What is the news? Astronomers have found a ring around a dwarf planet, located in the Kuiper Belt at the solar system’s edge, called Quaoar, according to a new study. The ring, however,… Continue reading

Folk dance in news: Lavani

Central idea: The article is based on the controversy surrounding the Maharashtra folk dance form, Lavani, which has come under criticism for being ‘vulgar’ and ‘obscene’. What is the Lavani folk art form? The word Lavani comes from ‘lavanya’ or beauty. Lavani is a traditional folk art form in which women dancers wearing nine-yard-long sarees… Continue reading

Japan-India Combat Exercise and the Chinese Concerns

Central Idea Japan and India have launched their second Joint Air Defense Exercise called “Veer Guardian 2023” to conduct multi-domain air combat operations in a complex environment and deepen their mutual operational understanding while fostering closer defence cooperation. This increased military collaboration between Japan and India under US guidance in the Indo-Pacific is causing subdued… Continue reading

Divyang friendly digital infrastructure in India

Central Idea The estimation in Census 2011, that 2.21% of India’s population is disabled is a gross underestimation. According to the World Health Organization, about 16% of the global population is disabled. While technology has enormous potential to level the playing field for the disabled, it can, at the same time, reinforce the barriers that… Continue reading

Green transition during India’s G20 presidency

Central Idea Energy transitions are central to the G20 agenda. In 2023, during India’s presidency, the geopolitics and governance of energy have become immensely challenging, as the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, concerns about energy security and, in many cases, the pressure on keeping financial commitments made related to tackling climate change have… Continue reading

Income Tax Dept. surveys BBC over Transfer Pricing allegations

Central idea: The Income Tax Department has conducted surveys at the premises of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Delhi and Mumbai. The BBC has been deliberately violative of transfer pricing rules. Transfer Pricing: A Tax Evasion Technique Transfer pricing refers to the practice of determining the price at which goods, services or intangible property… Continue reading

Vacancy of Deputy Speaker Chair in States

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and five states — Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand — over the failure to elect a Deputy Speaker. The Post of Deputy Speaker The Deputy Speaker is the second-highest-ranking official of the Lok Sabha, after the Speaker. She/he presides over the House in the… Continue reading

InfoCrop v2.1: Indigenous Crop Simulator

Central idea: Scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute conducted an experiment using InfoCrop version 2.1 to quantify the impact of hot weather on crop yield in Punjab and Haryana. What is InfoCrop v2.1? InfoCrop version 2.1 is India’s only dynamic crop simulation model developed and released by the IARI in 2015 to study the… Continue reading

Marburg Virus

Central idea: Equatorial Guinea has confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Where is Equatorial Guinea located? Equatorial Guinea is a country located in Central Africa. It is situated on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the south and east. It also includes two small islands,… Continue reading

AI to improve maternal and child health in India

Context With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies, there is potential for these tools to support maternal and neonatal healthcare in low-resource settings, although their development in this field is still in its early stages. AI has the capability of transforming maternal and child health in low and middle-income countries by… Continue reading

‘BIMARU’ Tag: What does this term mean?

Central idea: While addressing a summit in UP, PM recalled the tag of ‘BIMARU’, once used to describe the state. What are BIMARU states? The term “BIMARU” is an acronym formed from the first letters of five states – Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, and UP – that were believed to be economically and socially backward in… Continue reading

What is ‘Office of Profit’?

Central idea: Jharkhand CM’s chair remains uncertain as the Election Commission (EC) is understood to have conveyed its decision in an office-of-profit complaint against him to the Governor. Why in news? Under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the CM could face disqualification for entering into a government contract. The Constitution… Continue reading

India’s first Law Minister Dr. Ambedkar’s resignation letter missing from records

Dr. BR Ambedkar was India’s first Law Minister after independence. The letter of his resignation is now missing from official records. Dr Ambedkar as Law Minister Dr. B.R. Ambedkar served as Independent India’s first law minister. He was an Indian jurist, economist, politician, and social reforme, who was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990.… Continue reading

MIIRA: India readies plan to popularise millets on world stage

On the premises of G20, India is planning to propose the launch of a global initiative ‘MIIRA’ to encourage the consumption and production of millets. What are Millets? Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses that are commonly cultivated and consumed as staple foods in many parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. Millets… Continue reading

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

Your better version awaits you!