A brief history of India’s Poverty Levels

Poverty in India had increased between 2012 and 2020. What is Poverty? Fundamentally, the concept of poverty is associated with socially perceived deprivation with respect to basic human needs (Tendulkar, 2009). This is a crucial definition to consider since the Tendulkar committee’s estimation method is the last officially recognized method for arriving at poverty numbers… Continue reading

Turmeric Cultivation in India

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), native to India, has been studied extensively for its effects against viral diseases in recent decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest. About Turmeric Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is used as a condiment, dye, drug and cosmetic in addition to its use in religious ceremonies. India is a leading producer and exporter… Continue reading

Sixth Mass Extinction?

A paper published recently has come up with a new reason behind the first mass extinction, also known as the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Species Extinction Extinction is a part of life, and animals and plants disappear all the time. About 98% of all the organisms that have ever existed on our planet are now… Continue reading

Principles of Responsible Banking (PRBs)

Global banks are pledging to report annually on the carbon emissions linked to the projects they lend to in an extension to the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRBs). What are PRBs? The PRBs are a unique framework for ensuring that signatory banks’ strategy and practice align with the vision society has set out for its… Continue reading

Life, work and legend of Adi Shankaracharya

PM has unveiled a 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath, where the acharya is believed to have attained samadhi at the age of 32 in the ninth century. Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD) Adi Shankaracharya was an Indian philosopher and theologian whose works had a strong impact on the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He founded… Continue reading

Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)

The National Highway Authority of India’s first infrastructure investment trust has raised more than Rs 5,000 crore, informed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India. What are InvITs? InvITs are like a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of small amounts of money from possible individual/institutional investors in infrastructure to earn a small… Continue reading

Iran has enriched over 210 kg of Uranium to 20%

Iran’s atomic agency has said that its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium has reached over 210 kilograms, the latest defiant move ahead of upcoming nuclear talks with the West. What is Uranium Enrichment? It is a process that is necessary to create an effective nuclear fuel out of mined uranium. It involves increasing the percentage… Continue reading

Centre cuts Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel

The Government has finally reduced fuel prices by slashing excise duties on petrol and diesel by ₹5 and ₹10 per litre respectively. What is Excise Duty? Excise duty is a form of tax imposed on goods for their production, licensing and sale. It is the opposite of Customs duty in sense that it applies to… Continue reading

Gujarat grants Parole to Prisoners as Diwali gift

The Gujarat government has decided to grant 15-day parole to prisoners above 60 years of age and women prisoners, except those booked in serious offences, as a ‘Diwali gift’. What is Parole? Furlough and parole envisage a short-term release from custody, both aimed as reformative steps towards prisoners. Parole is granted to meet a “specific… Continue reading

RBI issues revised Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework

The RBI has issued a revised Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework for banks to enable supervisory intervention at “appropriate time” and also act as a tool for effective market discipline. What is the PCA framework? Prompt Corrective Action Framework refers to the central bank’s watchlist of weak banks. The regulator imposes restrictions like curbs on… Continue reading

India launches Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS)

The PM has launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations. What is IRIS? The Small Island Developing States or SIDS face the biggest threat from climate change. To mitigate this, India’s space agency ISRO will build a special data window for them to provide them timely… Continue reading

In news: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) will examine the complaint of a decorated Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer against caste-based allegations by a Maharashtra minister. About National Commission for Scheduled Castes NCSC is a constitutional body under Article 338 of the Indian Constitution. It functions under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Social Justice and… Continue reading

[pib] Manipuri Basanta Raasa

As part of the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a celebration of Destination North East India, dance and music of Manipur was organised. Manipuri Raas Leela The Raas Leela, also referred to as Manipuri Dance, is one of the major Indian classical dance forms, originating from the state of Manipur. The dance form is… Continue reading

Mixed signals on growth-inflation dynamics

Context We are now at that point in the cycle where all central banks — the RBI, the US Fed, the European Central Bank, Bank of England and others — have begun to signal, a process of normalisation from the unprecedented loose monetary policy stimulus post the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. Recovery… Continue reading

India offers ‘Panchamrita’ Strategy for Climate Conundrum at Glasgow

PM Modi has proposed a five-fold strategy called the ‘Panchamrita’ for India to play its part in helping the world get closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the first day of the global climate meeting in Glasgow. What is Panchamrita? ‘Panchamrita’ is a traditional method of mixing five natural foods — milk, ghee, curd, honey… Continue reading

[pib] BASIC Countries

The Union Environment Minister has delivered the statement on behalf of the BASIC group of countries at the UN Climate Change Conference underway at Glasgow. Who are the BASIC Countries? The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China. It… Continue reading

There’s a mismatch between India’s graduate aspirations and job availability

Context There is a huge pool of unemployed university graduates with unfulfilled aspirations. This group of dissatisfied, disgruntled youth can lead to disastrous consequences for our society. Enhanced enrollment Reservation: The extension of reservations to OBCs and EWS increased the enrollment of students from these socio-economic backgrounds. Increased education institutions: In addition, the massive increase… Continue reading

MGNREGS faces negative net balance

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) faces a negative net balance of Rs. 8,686 crores, including payments due. About MGNREGA It stands for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005. This is labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the ‘Right to Work’. The act was first… Continue reading

Katol L6 Chondrite Meteorite

Last month, researchers from the Geological Survey of India collected some meteorite fragments near the town of Katol in Nagpur in 2012. Studying this, IIT Kgp researchers have unravelled the composition expected to be present in the Earth’s lower mantle which is at about 660 km deep. Katol L6 Initial studies revealed that the host… Continue reading

[pib] Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar

The Prime Minister has recalled the rich contributions of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on Thevar Jayanthi. Who was M. Thevar (1908-1963)? Muthuramalingam was a politician and a patriarch of Thevar community in the state of Tamil Nadu. He was elected three times to the national Parliamentary Constituency. His legacy: (a) Association with INC Thevar attended the… Continue reading

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