How lack of public data on pandemic could harm us

Context Questions are being asked about India’s preparedness as the cases with the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus has been on the rise in the country. Where does India stand? [1] The Positives Addressing oxygen shortage: The extreme shortages of oxygen that we saw barely six months ago will hopefully not be a feature of… Continue reading

Extension for PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The Cabinet has given its approval to extend its umbrella scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for irrigation, water supply, groundwater and watershed development projects for another five years till 2026. PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana The PMKSY was launched on 1st July, 2015 with the motto of “Har Khet Ko Paani”. It is being implemented… Continue reading

WTO rules against India’s Sugar Subsidies

A World Trade Organization panel ruled that India violated international trade rules when it offered excessive subsidies for the production and export of sugar and sugarcane. What did WTO say? Under WTO rules, India’s sugar subsidies are capped at a de minimis limit of 10% of the value of production. India’s policies were inconsistent with… Continue reading

[pib] Chalcolithic sites in news: Eran and Tewar

The Chalcolithic cultures of Central India are adequately investigated and studied informed the Ministry of Culture in particular reference to the sites of Eran and Tewar. Major sites in Central India [1] Eran (Dist. Sagar, MP ) Eran (ancient Airikina) is situated on the left bank of the Bina (ancient Venva) river and surrounded by… Continue reading

Conflation between duties and rights

Context There has been growing advocacy for the integration of duty with rights. On Constitution Day last month, many Union Ministers used the occasion to underline this proposal. What do rights come with duty mean? It is a basic proposition that all rights come with duties. But those duties are quite distinct from the meaning… Continue reading

Cabinet clears push to raise marriage age of women from 18 to 21

The proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 was cleared by the Union Cabinet based on the recommendations of a task force headed by Jaya Jaitley. Minimum Age for Marriage in India Personal laws of various religions that deal with marriage have their own standards, often reflecting custom.… Continue reading

Zero Budget Natural Farming

Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) is back on top of the Government’s agricultural agenda, with PM set to highlight it at a national conclave. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) ZBNF is a set of farming methods, and also a grassroots peasant movement, which has spread to various states in India. Subhash Palekar perfected it during… Continue reading

Historical episodes that PM spoke about in Kashi

In his speech at Kashi, PM has referred to several historical episodes including the battle between Salar Masud and Raja Suhaldev and the conflict between Governor-general Warren Hastings and Raja Chait Singh. He also mentioned the contributions of historical figures like Rani Bhabani from Bengal. Note: UPSC is known to ask contemporaries. [1] Salar Masud… Continue reading

[pib] Durga Puja gets UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag

UNESCO has inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. What is Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)? ICH means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated with them that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as… Continue reading

Amendment to the NDPS Act

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed by Lok Sabha. Must read: [Burning Issue] Substance Abuse in India About NDPS Act The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, commonly referred to as the NDPS Act was promulgated in 1985. It prohibits a person from the production/manufacturing/cultivation, possession, sale, purchasing, transport, storage,… Continue reading

India stands committed to UNCLOS

India remains committed to promoting a free, open and rules-based order rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, the Centre informed Parliament while reiterating support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Background of UNCLOS UNCLOS replaces the older ‘freedom of the seas’ concept, dating from the 17th century.… Continue reading

What is Q-Commerce Model?

Online grocer Grofers has rebranded itself “Blinkit”, in line with its new focus on “quick commerce”, which essentially involves delivering customer orders much faster than it does currently. Q-Commerce Model Q-commerce (‘quick commerce’) – sometimes used interchangeably with ‘on-demand delivery’ and ‘e-grocery’ – is e-commerce in a new, faster form. It combines the merits of… Continue reading

[pib] Lokpal-Online: Platform for management of complaints

The (first) Chairperson, Lokpal of India, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose has inaugurated’ a digital Platform for Management of Complaints called ‘Lokpal-Online’. Lokpal-Online Lokpal-Online is an end-to-end digital solution for the management of complaints against public servants filed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. It is a web-based facility, which will quicken the disposal of… Continue reading

Bank Deposit Insurance Programme

The PM has addressed depositors during a programme titled ‘Depositors First: Guaranteed Time-bound Deposit Insurance Payment up to ₹5 Lakh’. Deposit Insurance Programme The bank savings are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act providing full coverage to around 98 per cent of bank accounts. Earlier, account holders had to wait… Continue reading

Governor’s Role in State Universities

A controversy has erupted in Kerala over the reappointment of a person as the Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University, with Governor saying he approved the decision against his “better judgment” as Chancellor. Role of Governors in State Universities In most cases, the Governor of the state is the ex-officio chancellor of the universities in that state.… Continue reading

What are Chaperone Proteins?

Chaperones are a functionally related group of proteins assisting protein folding in the cell under physiological and stress conditions. What are Chaperones? DNA is a linear chain of nucleotides, portions of which are faithfully transcribed into linear messenger RNA. The message in this RNA is translated into strings of amino acids – proteins. Proteins… Continue reading

Places in news: Buxa Tiger Reserve

In a major success for tiger conservation, a photograph of a tiger was captured in a camera trap in West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve since 1998. Locate all major tiger reserves in India. Buxa Tiger Reserve Buxa Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in northern West Bengal, India, covering an area of 760 km2 (290… Continue reading

Goods and Services Tax as an unfinished agenda

Context Seen purely from a revenue point of view and as a fiscal policy tool, India’s GST is still on a rocky road. Background The GST was launched by India on the midnight of July 1, 2017. Benefits of GST: Hailed as a landmark reform in India’s tax history, it was expected to improve tax-GDP… Continue reading

[pib] Global Methane Initiative (GMI)

India has co-chaired along with Canada the Global Methane Initiative leadership meet held virtually. About Methane Methane is a greenhouse gas, which is also a component of natural gas. There are various sources of methane including human and natural sources. The anthropogenic sources are responsible for 60 per cent of global methane emissions. It includes… Continue reading

NASA’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Mission

NASA has launched a new mission named Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer or IXPE. About IXPE IXPE observatory is a joint effort of NASA and the Italian Space Agency. The mission will study “the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.” The mission’s… Continue reading

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