No need for laws to enforce duties on citizens: AG

Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal said that there was no need to enact specific laws to “enforce” fundamental duties on citizens. What is the case? The Supreme Court is entertaining a public interest litigation (PIL) petition to enforce the fundamental duties of citizens, including patriotism and unity of nation, through “comprehensive, well-defined laws”. Precursor to AG’s remark… Continue reading

13 new districts created in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has got a new map with the creation of 13 new districts, taking the number of total districts in the state to 26. What are Districts? India’s districts are local administrative units inherited from the British Raj. They generally form the tier of local government immediately below that of India’s subnational states and… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] India-Russia Relations

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context Russia’s war on Ukraine has decisively shaped international opinion. Indian foreign policy is also going to be affected in a profound manner. India-Russia Relation – Background India and Russia have enjoyed good relations since 1947 wherein Russia helped India in attaining… Continue reading

India-Australia sign Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)

India and Australia signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart in Canberra Scott Morrison. India-Australia ECTA It is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade. The Agreement encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic… Continue reading

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for instant payments

Google Pay has recently launched a new feature in India, ‘Tap to pay for UPI’, in collaboration with Pine Labs. The feature makes use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. What is Near Field Communication (NFC)? NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that allows NFC-enabled devices to communicate with each other and transfer information… Continue reading

Raja Ravi Varma and his Arts

Raja Rai Varma’s Draupadi Vastraharan is expected to fetch between Rs 15 and Rs 20 crore at an auction. Who was Raja Ravi Varma? Raja Ravi Varma was born in April 1848 in Kilimanoor, Kerala, to a family which was very close to the royals of Travancore. Often referred to as the father of modern… Continue reading

BIMSTEC

Context The fifth summit of the regional grouping, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), held virtually in Colombo on March 30, has advanced the cause of regional cooperation and integration. Colombo package Economic challenges: Representing a fifth of the world’s population that contributes only 4% of the global GDP,… Continue reading

Building faith in India’s investigative agencies

Context The image of the institution of police is regrettably tarnished by allegations of corruption, police excesses, lack of impartiality and close nexus with the political class. Police and investigation agencies need social legitimacy The police and investigative agencies may have de-facto legitimacy, but as institutions, they are yet to gain social legitimacy. Police should… Continue reading

Indian Antarctic Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha

The government has introduced the ‘Antarctica Bill, 2022’ in the Lok Sabha that envisages regulating visits and activities to Antarctica as well potential disputes that may arise among those present on the continent. Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 Aims and objectives: To provide for national measures to protect the Antarctic environment and associated ecosystems and to… Continue reading

Tripura’s Darlong community in included in ST List

The Lok Sabha recently passed a bill to amend a constitutional order to include Darlong, a tribal clan in Tripura which was among the generic Halam community till now, in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Who are Darlongs? Darlong is a tribal community of 11,000 people. Despite its small population, the community has a… Continue reading

What is a Look Out Notice?

Delhi High Court has sought the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) response on a journalist’s challenge to its action of restraining her from leaving the country. She was stopped in Mumbai on Tuesday evening based on a look out circular (LOC) issued by the ED. Look out notice: What is it, when is it issued? An LOC… Continue reading

[pib] Festivals in news: Gudi Padwa

The President of India has sent his greetings to fellow citizens on the eve of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba. Gudi Padwa Gudi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional New Year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus, but is also celebrated by other Hindus as well. It… Continue reading

[Burning Issue] Groundwater Depletion in India

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here) Context The theme of this year’s World Water Day was ‘Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible’. The primary focus is to draw attention to the role of groundwater in water and sanitation systems, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and climate change adaptation. Groundwater helps reduce… Continue reading

Areas under AFSPA regime reduced: Home Ministry

The Union Home Ministry has considerably reduced the “disturbed areas” under the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. AFSPA: A Backgrounder The AFSPA, 1958 came into force in the context of insurgency in the North-eastern States decades ago. It provides “special power” to the Armed Forces applies to the Army,… Continue reading

Dam Safety Act can end disputes, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has found in the Dam Safety Act of 2021 a panacea to end the “perennial” legal battle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam. What is the Dam Safety Act, 2021? The Act comprehensively postulates for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of dams to prevent disasters. Its key features are… Continue reading

India to set up Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo

India and Sri Lanka have signed an MoU for the Indian public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to set up a state of the art Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo. What is MRCC? MRCCs are part of an international network under the UN’s International Maritime Organisation. They aim to monitor the sea lanes… Continue reading

Old Pension Scheme vs New Pension Scheme

Many states are trying to restore Old Pension Scheme and discontinue the National Pension System (NPS). What is the Defined Pension Benefit Scheme (old)? The scheme assures life-long income, post-retirement. Usually the assured amount is equivalent to 50% of the last drawn salary. The Government bears the expenditure incurred on the pension. The scheme was… Continue reading

FASTER digital platform for Judiciary

‘FASTER’, an abbreviation of ‘Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records’, a digital platform was formally launched by Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana. What is FASTER? The FASTER system proposes transmission of e-authenticated copies of the interim orders, stay orders, bail orders and record of proceedings to the duty-holders for compliance and due… Continue reading

The Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Context The Lok Sabha has approved a Bill to amend the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, the law that governs the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). What are the changes proposed in the Bill? Introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021, and titled the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and… Continue reading

India’s Lithium Dependency Worries

Lithium has been among the most sought-after mineral during the past few years, largely on the back of its usage in battery manufacturing. India is at odds with a major import source for the mineral, China. About Lithium Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft,… Continue reading

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