[pib] Fast Track Special Courts

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of 1023 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts for two more years. Fast Track Special Courts Fast Track Special Courts are dedicated courts expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice. They have a better clearance rate as compared to the regular courts and hold… Continue reading

The goal of making the rupee a global reserve currency

Context India will celebrate 100 years of Independence in 2047. This article makes the case that prosperity is possible and best accomplished by the goal of making the rupee a global reserve currency by India@100. What is the purpose of having forex reserves? Official foreign exchange reserves of about $12 trillion across 150 countries are… Continue reading

Governors can pardon death row: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that the Governor of a State can pardon prisoners, including death row ones, even before they have served a minimum of 14 years of a prison sentence. SC Judgement: Section 433-A CrPC The Governor’s power to pardon overrides a provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure — Section 433A. This… Continue reading

Poverty in India is on rise again

In the absence of Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) data, the Periodic Labour Force Survey shows a rise in the absolute number of the poor in India. About Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) A CES is conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) every five years. But the CES of 2017-18 (already conducted a year late)… Continue reading

Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021

The Lok Sabha has hastily passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021 without any debate. Highlights of the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021 The Bill seeks to dissolve certain existing appellate bodies and transfer their functions (such as adjudication of appeals) to other existing judicial bodies: Transfer of functions of key appellate bodies as proposed under the… Continue reading

[pib] Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas Campaign

The Government has launched ‘Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas’ campaign for inclusive and holistic preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas Under Article 243 G of the Constitution, Panchayats have been mandated for the preparation and implementation of plans for economic development and social justice. Thus, Panchayats have a significant role… Continue reading

Disruption of Parliament

Context Last week, a newspaper reported that the government is considering curtailing the monsoon session of Parliament on account of disruptions. Reasons for disruptions In 2001, a day-long conference was held in the Central Hall of Parliament to discuss discipline and decorum in legislatures. The inputs of participants of conference helped identify four reasons behind… Continue reading

Preventive detention a necessary evil: Supreme Court

Preventive detention, the dreaded power of the State to restrain a person without trial, could be used only to prevent public disorder, the Supreme Court held in a judgment. What is Preventive Detention? Preventive detention means detaining a person so that to prevent that person from commenting on any possible crime. In other words, preventive… Continue reading

Pakistan grants statehood to Gilgit-Baltistan

Pakistan has finalized draft legislation to incorporate Gilgit-Baltistan, the region known before 2009 as Northern Areas, as a province of the country. Gilgit-Baltistan: History of the region Gilgit was part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir but was ruled directly by the British, who had taken it on lease from Hari Singh, the… Continue reading

[pib] Haldibari- Chilahati Rail Link

The freight trains have started commuting via the restored Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link. Haldibari- Chilahati Rail Link The Haldibari – Chilahati rail link between India and then East Pakistan was operational till 1965. The distance between Haldibari Railway Station till the international border is 4.5 km, while that of Chilahati is around… Continue reading

[pib] Kuthiran Tunnel

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inaugurated the Kuthiran Tunnel in Kerala Kuthiran Tunnel Kuthiran Tunnel is a Twin-tube tunnel at Kuthiran in Thrissur District of Kerala. It is located on National Highway 544, owned and operated by the National Highways Authority of India. It is Kerala’s first-ever tunnel for road transport… Continue reading

The future of nuclear energy

Context Bill Gates recently announced the decision to launch his own nuclear reactor with an eye on the possibility of exporting fast breeder reactors to power-hungry nations. About the Gates plan TerraPower, the nuclear company founded by Mr. Gates, has just announced an agreement with private funders, including Warren Buffett, and the State of Wyoming,… Continue reading

A cycle of low growth, higher inflation

Context In recent times, several economists have been arguing that the Government does not need to do anything with the economy. They argue that like after the Great Depression, the economy rebounded worldwide, and so will it with us. The argument is fallacious on four accounts: Four factors that make recovery different from the recovery… Continue reading

India set to take over as President of the UNSC

India will take over the Presidency of the UN Security Council on August 1 and is set to host signature events in three major areas of maritime security, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism during the month. Key agendas on the table During its Presidency, India will be organizing high-level signature events in three major areas: Maritime security… Continue reading

Tamil Nadu legislature turns 100

The Assembly chambers at Fort St. George, the 17th-century vestige of the colonial era, and Tamil Nadu’s seat of power have completed 100 years of existence. Do you know? Fort St. George is the first English fortress in India, founded in 1639 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The construction… Continue reading

Strategic Petroleum Reserves

Under Phase II of the petroleum reserve program, the Government has approved two additional commercial-cum-strategic facilities at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (TN) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Strategic Petroleum Reserves Programme To ensure energy security, the govt had decided to set up 5 million metric tons (MMT) of strategic crude oil storage at three locations… Continue reading

Stellar Mid-life Crisis: What ails the middle-aged Sun?

Stars like our Sun can go through a mid-life crisis, according to new research carried out by scientists from IISER Kolkata. Stellar Middle Age At about 4.6 billion years of age, the sun is middle-aged, that is, it will continue to live for roughly the same period. There are accurate methods for estimating the age… Continue reading

[pib] Digital Payment Solution: e-RUPI

The Prime Minister has launched e-RUPI, a person and purpose-specific digital payment solution. What is e-RUPI? e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment. It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries. The users of this seamless one-time payment mechanism will be able… Continue reading

EU’s vaccine travel pass discriminates against low-income countries

Context The introduction of Covid-19 vaccines has opened up opportunities to help revive travel. However, it is important to carefully design policies that help revive travel demand. Vaccine certificates Many countries like China and Israel have introduced vaccine certificates that ease the process of entering and travelling across the destination country for vaccinated travellers. Can… Continue reading

[pib] What are PRIDE Guidelines?

The Union Ministry for Science & Technology has released “Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines” developed by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Biotech-PRIDE These guidelines aim at providing a well-defined framework and guiding principle to facilitate and enable sharing and exchange of biological knowledge, information and data. They will facilitate this… Continue reading

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