India extends $900 mn aid to Sri Lanka

India has confirmed a $400 million currency swap with Sri Lanka while deferring another $500 million due for settlement to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). What is the news? Sri Lanka is facing a severe dollar crunch that economists say might lead to a default on external debt and create a food shortage in the… Continue reading

Millimeter Wave band in 5G auctions

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked for views on band plan, block size, and conditions for auction of spectrum in 5G bands, which includes Millimetre (mm) Wave band of 24.25-28.5 GHz. Must read: Status of 5G Rollout in India What is 5G technology? 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in… Continue reading

Dravidian Model of Development

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is pushing for a ‘Dravidian Model’ where economic development is inclusive. What is the Dravidian Model? The goal is equal economic development that will be in tune with social justice. It has taken root since the days of the Justice Party government [in pre-Independent India]. TN polity has divided… Continue reading

BARC ratings for news channels to resume soon

Ratings by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for the news channels will resume, after the organisation revised its procedures and protocols. The ratings were suspended after the Mumbai police busted a racket involving a private channel’s efforts to tamper the TRPs. Try this question: Q.What do you mean by “TRP Journalism”? Discuss the loopholes in… Continue reading

[pib] Harvest Festivals in India

The President has greeted the people of India on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal festivals. Makar Sankranti Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi or simply Sankranti is considered as the transition day of Sun into the Capricorn. Now the sun moves northwards in the Hindu calendar. Dedicated to the deity Surya, many native… Continue reading

Reaping India’s demographic dividend

Context Countries like Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea have already shown us how demographic dividend can be reaped to achieve incredible economic growth by adopting forward-looking policies and programmes. The window of demographic opportunity With falling fertility (currently 2.0), rising median age (from 24 years in 2011, 29 years now and expected to be 36… Continue reading

[Sansad TV] Perspective: Innovation in Education

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context The buzzword across the globe for the 21st century is Innovation which is considered to be the primary driver of progress. Incentivising innovation and intellectual property creation is important for India’s future growth prospects. Making all these considerations, the Ministry of… Continue reading

Govt releases revised guidelines for Universal Accessibility

From the design plan to the implementation, various aspects of the built environment have been covered under the new guidelines for universal accessibility recently drafted by the Centre. What is Universal Accessibility? Universal Accessibility can be defined as the conditions for easy access. It would allow any individual (even those whose mobility, communicative ability, or… Continue reading

Election Campaign Funding by Political Parties

With several Assembly elections coming up, the issue of campaigning is back on the track. Campaign funding reforms are one of the biggest issues in electoral reforms worldwide. Why in news? Elections are fought with huge funds nowadays. Estimates vary, but a candidate may spend in crores in just one constituency. This vital issue is… Continue reading

Mullaperiyar Dam Issue

The Supreme Court has told Tamil Nadu and Kerala that it was not there to “administer the dam” when a supervisory committee was already in place to examine the issue of safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam and the management of its water level. Do you know? The Mullaperiyar dam is located in Kerala on the… Continue reading

Issues with India’s GDP data

Context There are three major reasons why the GDP data, and hence any narrative of economic recovery based on it, are questionable. Background The NSO released the current GDP series in 2015, using 2011-12 as its base year. Some have argued that the problem in the new series is the real growth rate. This is… Continue reading

Places in news: Darvaza Gas Crater

Turkmenistan President has ordered experts to find a way to extinguish a fire in a huge natural gas crater, the Darvaza gas crater also known as the ‘Gateway to Hell’. Darvaza Gas Crater Located in the Karakum desert, 260 kilometres away from Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, the crater has been burning for the last 50 years.… Continue reading

Red Sanders falls back in IUCN’s ‘endangered’ category

Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) has fallen back into the ‘endangered’ category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. A recently released and trending Telugu movie plot provides a fictional account of red sandal smuggling. About Red Sanders The species, Pterocarpus santalinus, is an Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical… Continue reading

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Delhi and most of the other non-attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) have shown only a marginal improvement, said a new analysis released. About NCAP The NCAP was implemented across India in 2019 to reduce particulate matter levels in 132 cities by 20-30% in 2024. Cities are declared non-attainment if they consistently… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Gig Economy in India

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) The surge in demand for gig workers, particularly in the shared services and logistics segments, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic led to mushrooming of job discovery platforms. What is the gig economy? In a gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are… Continue reading

The Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to review

Context The report of the Standing Committee on External Affairs on ‘India and bilateral investment treaties (BITs)’ was presented to Parliament last month. Factor’s that necessitated the review of India’s BITs Investor’s started suing India frequently: Since 2011, when India lost its first investment treaty claim in White Industries v. India, foreign investors have sued India around… Continue reading

Punishing Online Abusers of Women

Taking cognizance of multiple complaints that photographs of women had been posted on a mobile app (with a very informal slang name) for fake auctions, the police in Delhi and Mumbai have registered cases. What is the controversy? Hundreds of women in India including journalists, social workers, and other prominent personalities found their images and… Continue reading

What is Inner Line Permit System (ILPS)?

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court opposing the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur. What is Inner Line Permit? A concept drawn by colonial rulers, the Inner Line separated the tribal-populated hill areas in the Northeast from the plains. The concept originates from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation… Continue reading

Draft Regional Plan 2041 for NCR

Many environment analysts and activists has offered objections to the Draft Regional Plan-2041 for National Capital Region (NCR). Draft Regional Plan 2041 The National Capital Region Planning Board had sought objections and suggestions to the Draft RP-2041 from public. Under the NCRPB plan, Delhi, two districts of Rajasthan, eight districts of Uttar Pradesh and 14… Continue reading

Veer Baal Diwas to be observed on December 26

Prime Minister has declared that December 26 shall henceforth be marked as Veer Baal Diwas to pay homage to the courage of the Sahibzades, four sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh guru. What is the legend of Sahibzades? The word “Sahibzada” means “son” in Punjabi and is a term commonly used to refer… Continue reading

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