Bedti-Varada Interlinking Project

Environmental groups in Karnataka have criticised the project to link the Bedti and Varada rivers in Karnataka, calling it ‘unscientific’ and a ‘waste of public money’. Bedti-Varada Interlinking Project The Bedti-Aghanashini-Varade river-linking project was also included in the country’s major rivers project devised by the then PM Vajpayee government. The Central Government had created a… Continue reading

Places in news: Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP)

Activists surrounding the Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) in Manipur have now taken up the cudgels to ensure that the government does not shift the proposed heritage park from the approved site. Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) The KLNP is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It… Continue reading

Explained: BSF powers and jurisdiction

A blueprint that defines the extended jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) and its new logistical requirements in frontier States has been prepared and is soon expected to be submitted to the Union Home Ministry. What is the news? While in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, the BSF jurisdiction, from the border towards the… Continue reading

Judicial Validity of the Talaq-e-Hasan mode of Divorce

A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to invalidate Talaq-e-Hasan, the prescribed Islamic way of divorce, has been filed in the Supreme Court. What is the PIL about? The petition seeks to make the prescribed Islamic way of divorce Talaq-e-Hasan unconstitutional as it is violative of Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The petitioner… Continue reading

Summer Solstice 2022: What is it and how is it significant?

Yesterday, June 21 was the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. What is Summer Solstice? Solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin. The longest day of 2021 for those living north of the Equator is June 21. This day is characterized by a greater amount of energy received from the sun. In… Continue reading

Places in news: Strait of Hormuz

A US Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Why in news? The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Middle East marks the most sensitive transportation choke point for global oil supplies. Strait of… Continue reading

Communication gap between the MPC and RBI

Context Communication is a critical element of monetary policy. Yet there seems to be a gap between what the MPC says and what the RBI does. About MPC The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) has been amended by the Finance Act, 2016, to provide for a statutory and institutionalised framework for a… Continue reading

What is a ‘Black Swan’ Event?

A study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has spoken about the possibility of capital outflows to the tune of $100 billion (around Rs 7,80,000 crore) from India in case of a major global risk scenario or a “black swan” event. What is a ‘black swan’ event? A black swan is a rare, unpredictable… Continue reading

single-use plastic

The Centre has banned the use of ‘single-use plastic’ from July 1. What is the news? The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change had issued a gazette notification last year announcing the ban, and has now defined a list of items that will be banned from next month. The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale… Continue reading

Explained: Occurrence of Lightning

At least 70 people died in lightning strikes across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. What is lightning? Scientifically, lightning is a rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere some of which is directed towards earth. The discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall. The base of these… Continue reading

Need for a National Security Doctrine

Context All major powers undertake a periodic (every 4-5 years) review of their evolving national security objectives. The government of India, on the other hand, has neglected to undertake any such exercise, in the past 75 years. India’s defence budget for FY 2022-23 In 2022-23, the Ministry of Defence has been allocated Rs 5,25,166 crore.… Continue reading

What West Seti Power Project can mean for India-Nepal ties?

India will be taking over an ambitious hydropower project in Nepal — West Seti — nearly four years after China withdrew from it, ending a six-year engagement between 2012 and 2018. What is West Seti Hydel Project? The West Seti Dam is a proposed 750-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric dam on the Seti River in the Far-Western… Continue reading

Outcomes of the WTO Ministerial Conference

Recently, member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) wrapped up the Ministerial Conference’s twelfth outing (MC12). Key outcomes: “Geneva Package” The conference has secured key agreements on Relaxing patent regulations to achieve global vaccine equity Ensuring food security According subsidies to the fisheries sector Continuing moratoriums relevant to e-commerce Together they constitute what WTO Director-General… Continue reading

Explained: Critical Information Infrastructure

The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has declared IT resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and UPI managing entity NPCI as ‘critical information infrastructure’. Try this PYQ: In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of (a) Digital security infrastructure (b) Food security infrastructure (c) Health care and education… Continue reading

What is the I2U2 Initiative?

The US administration has named the new grouping as “I2U2” — “I” for India and Israel and “U” for the US and UAE. This was earlier referred as West Asian Quad. What is the news? US President Joe Biden will host a virtual summit with PM Modi, Israel PM Naftali Bennett and UAE President Mohammed… Continue reading

How Marine Heatwave fuelled super cyclone Amphan

The super-cyclone Amphan is said to have been triggered by Marine Heatwaves. What is the news? A study has found the presence of a strong MHW beneath the track of the cyclone with an extremely high anomalous sea surface temperature of more than 2.5°C. This coincided with the cyclone track and facilitated its rapid intensification… Continue reading

The Cyber factor in the Russia-Ukraine war

Context After 100 days of Ukraine crisis, Russia is yet to achieve what can be termed as a decisive victory in any sector of the current conflict. Reasons for the lacklustre performance of Russia Several reasons have been adduced by experts in the West for the lacklustre performance of the Russian army. Lack of motivation:… Continue reading

Analysing the Agnipath scheme

Context Recently, the Agnipath scheme for recruitment of short-term contracted soldiers was announced. About Agnipath Scheme This will be the only form of recruitment of soldiers into the three defence services from now. The scheme aims at strengthening national security and for providing an opportunity to the youth to serve in the armed forces. Recruits… Continue reading

Enemy Property in India

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered some cases on allegations that huge losses to the exchequer was caused by leasing out prime-value land under the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) on forged documents. Why in news? Hectares of commercial land located in Uttar Pradesh were leased out at nominal rates in… Continue reading

Extending the Aspirational District Programme (ADP)

The PM has hoped to extend the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) to block and city levels. Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) Launched in January 2018, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative aims to remove this heterogeneity through a mass movement to quickly and effectively transform these districts. The broad contours of the program are Convergence (of… Continue reading

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