Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS)

India is all set to conclude the bilateral logistics agreement with Russia soon while the agreement with the U.K. is in the final stages of conclusion. What is Logistics Agreement? The agreements are administrative arrangements facilitating access to military facilities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement simplifying logistical support and increasing operational… Continue reading

What is Wood Wide Web?

Plants appear to be simple enough in their organization. Whether small shrubs or tall trees, all they seem to be made up of is leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots. But simple they are not. Being rooted in one spot has required very special personality traits. Wood Wide Web Trees in the forest share resources… Continue reading

Common Prosperity Drive in China

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for China to achieve “common prosperity”, seeking to narrow a yawning wealth gap that threatens the country’s economic ascent and the legitimacy of Communist Party rule. What is ‘Common Prosperity’? “Common prosperity” was first mentioned in the 1950s by Mao Zedong, founding leader of what was then an impoverished… Continue reading

What is Glue Grant Scheme?

Forty Central universities will kick off the implementation of innovative measures such as the academic credit bank and the glue grant meant to encourage multidisciplinary in UG courses. Glue Grant Scheme Under the glue grant, announced in this year’s budget, institutions in the same city would be encouraged to share resources, equipment and even allow… Continue reading

The April-June quarter GDP numbers indicated at 20.1 per cent growth

Context The April-June quarter GDP numbers indicated at 20.1 per cent growth. Making sense of the numbers The higher GDP growth was driven by high indirect tax collections, largely GST. The more representative measure of economic activity, gross value added (GVA), grew by 18.8 per cent. GDP is derived by adding indirect tax collections, net… Continue reading

Deputy Speaker for Lok Sabha

With the Delhi High Court asking the Central government to explain its stand on a petition that claimed to keep the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha vacant is a violation of Article 93 of the Constitution, the issue is once again in the spotlight. Article 93: The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of… Continue reading

What is Durand Line?

With the Taliban’s seize of Kabul, a huge exodus of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers is outpouring into Pakistan along the Durand Line. Durand Line The Durand Line is a legacy of the 19th century Great Game between the Russian and British empires in which Afghanistan was used as a buffer by the British against… Continue reading

Taxing interest on Provident Fund

Following its Budget announcement in February, the Finance Ministry has now notified the rules for taxing interest income on contributions made to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) beyond Rs 2.5 lakh (for private-sector employees) and Rs 5 lakh (for government sector employees). What is Provident Fund? Provident Fund is a government-managed retirement savings scheme for… Continue reading

[pib] Formation of Blue Straggler

Carrying out the first-ever comprehensive analysis of blue stragglers, Indian researchers found that half of the blue stragglers in their sample are formed through mass transfer from a close binary companion star. What are Blue Stragglers? A blue straggler is a main-sequence star in an open or globular cluster that is more luminous and bluer… Continue reading

Behler Turtle Conservation Award

Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction. Behler Turtle Conservation Award The Award is a major annual international award honoring excellence in the field of tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation and biology, and leadership in the… Continue reading

China’s new Maritime Law

China’s new maritime rules designed to control the entry of foreign vessels in what Beijing calls “Chinese territorial waters” take effect. What is the new Maritime Law? Foreign vessels, both military and commercial, will be henceforth required to submit to Chinese supervision in “Chinese territorial waters,” as per the new law. Operators of submersibles, nuclear… Continue reading

Govt. tells utilities to ship in coal as demand surges

The govt. has urged utilities to import coal despite having the world’s fourth-largest reserves, with several power plants on the verge of running out of fuel due to a surge in power demand. Coal Mining in India Coal in India has been mined since 1774 and is now the second fastest mined in the world,… Continue reading

Exercise ZAPAD 2021

A contingent of 200 Army personnel will participate in the multinational Exercise ZAPAD 2021 being held at Nizhniy, Russia. ZAPAD 2021 ZAPAD is one of the theatre-level exercises of Russian armed forces and will focus primarily on operations against terrorists. The NAGA Battalion group participating in the exercise will feature an all arms combined task… Continue reading

Freedom of Movement and Residence

The rights to free movement and residence across India cannot be curtailed on flimsy grounds, a Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V. Ramasubramanian held in a judgment. Freedom of Movement and Residence Article 19(1)(d) and (e) of the Indian Constitution guarantees to every citizen of India right to move freely throughout the territory of… Continue reading

China-Myanmar New Passage

The shipments on a newly-launched railway line under the China-Myanmar New Passage from the Myanmar border to the key commercial hub of Chengdu in western China have started. China-Myanmar New Passage The passage provides China a new road-rail transportation channel to the Indian Ocean, were delivered last week, state media reported on Tuesday. The transport… Continue reading

Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is drafting a Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) in a bid to tackle climate challenges. What is the Mumbai Climate Action Plan? Amid warnings of climate change leading to extreme weather events in the city, the civic body has started preparing the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP). It will look… Continue reading

West Nile Virus outbreak in Russia

Russia warned of a possible increase in West Nile virus infections this autumn as mild temperatures and heavy precipitation create favorable conditions for the mosquitos that carry it. West Nile virus (WNV) WNV is mainly transmitted through mosquito bites and can lead to fatal neurological diseases in humans, although most people infected never develop any… Continue reading

Operation Devi Shakti

India has termed the evacuation operation from Afghanistan in the backdrop of the Taliban’s takeover of the country last week as “Operation Devi Shakti”. Operation Devi Shakti Operation Devi Shakti is an ongoing operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals after the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan… Continue reading

The National Monetisation Pipeline may not help realise the best value for assets

Context The Government has launched a National Monetisation Pipeline, or NMP to sell the revenue streams of public assets over the next four years. About NMP Financing infrastructure: As outlined in the Union Budget, the NMP aims to mobilize resources for financing infrastructure. Type of assets: The pipeline mostly includes railway stations, freight corridors, airports,… Continue reading

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